Taping is widely used in sports medicine to prevent injury, protect affected sites post injury and relieve pain. However, it is not clear whether taping affects the perception of noxious stimulation because in previous studies, it was difficult to selectively activate Aδ fibers. A recently developed, useful, new tool named intra-epidermal electrical stimulation (IES) can preferentially activate Aδ fibers. We aimed to clarify the effect of taping on pain-related somatosensory evoked potentials (pSEPs) using IES. We recorded pSEPs following IES of the right medial forearm in twelve healthy volunteers. pSEPs were recorded from 9 electrodes on the scalp under control, elastic-taping and white-taping conditions. Under the control condition, subjects relaxed on a comfortable reclining seat without taping, whereas under the taping conditions, they were subjected to taping along the forearm with tension (elastic-taping) and without tension (white-taping). Subjects were asked to assign a visual analog scale (VAS) score after each session. The peak amplitudes of N2-P2 were significantly lower under the elastic-taping and white-taping conditions than those under the control condition. VAS was significantly lower elastic-taping condition than those under the control and white-taping conditions. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the amplitude of N2-P2 and VAS. We revealed that taping along the forearm decreased pSEPs and subjective pain perception under the white-taping and elastic-taping conditions. The underlying mechanism of pain relief was the distraction effect in both taping conditions. In addition, elastic-taping with tension changes afferent inputs mainly from the skin, and this might more effectively decrease the subjective pain perception than that achieved under the white-taping condition.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the status of number 3b lymph node (LN) station in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) and to investigate the optimal indications for radical proximal gastrectomy (PG) for AEG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 51 patients with clinically advanced Siewert types II and III AEG who underwent total gastrectomy (TG) between April 2010 and July 2017 were reviewed. The proportion of metastatic LNs at each LN station was examined. Number 3 LN station was separately classified into number 3a and number 3b. The risk factors for number 3b LN metastasis and the clinicopathological features of number 3b-positive AEG patients were investigated. RESULTS: The incidences of LN metastasis were the highest in number 1 (47.1%), followed by number 2 (23.5%), number 3a (39.2%), and number 7 (23.5%) LN stations. LN metastasis in number 3b LN station was detected in 4 patients (7.8%). A gastric invasion length of more than 40 mm was a significant risk factor for number 3b LN metastasis. All 4 patients with number 3b-positive AEG had advanced cancer with a gastric invasion length of more than 40 mm. The 5-year survival rate of patients with a gastric invasion length of more than 40 mm was 50.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Radical PG may be indicated for patients with AEG with gastric invasion length of less than 40 mm.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Esophagogastric Junction* ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide, with over 265 million participants. Soccer is unique in that the ball can be directed deliberately and purposefully with the head, an act referred to as ‘heading’. In recent years, there has been concern about the association between repetitive subconcussive head impacts associated with heading and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Heading causes immediate changes in biochemical and electrophysiological markers of traumatic brain injury, and some studies have reported brain structural changes and dysfunction in former soccer players. In 2019, it was reported that the mortality associated with neurodegenerative diseases was about 3.5 times higher among former professional soccer players. Following that, in early 2020, the guidance have been published to limit heading by age in some regions including England and Scotland. In this review, we will expound the immediate and long-term effects of heading associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy and the measures that should be taken into consideration in the practice of soccer instruction, based on the latest findings.

Objective: The differences in clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with hematological disorders (HD) who developed either coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or seasonal influenza (SI) are not fully understood. To examine these differences, we retrospectively analyzed the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with HD admitted from 2016 to 2021.Patients and Methods: Patients with HD who developed COVID-19 (in the past 1 year) (n=21) or SI (in the past 5 years) (n=23) in the Department of Hematology/Oncology, Asahikawa Kosei General Hospital were evaluated.Results: The median ages of the patients with HD with either COVID-19 or SI were 80 and 68 years, respectively (P=0.03). The groups showed no significant differences in sex ratio, body mass index, or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. In the COVID-19 and SI groups, the most common primary diseases were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (43%) and multiple myeloma (39%), respectively. The median numbers of days of oxygen administration (8 vs. 0 days), quarantine (25 vs. 6 days), and hospitalization (72 vs. 21 days) were significantly higher in HD patients with COVID-19 than those in HD patients with SI (all P<0.001). The overall 90-day survival of patients with HD and COVID-19 was significantly shorter than that of patients with HD and SI (P=0.019). Moreover, patients with HD and COVID-19 had a higher risk of in-hospital mortality (43% vs. 9%; odds ratio, 7.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.26–82.4; P=0.01) compared to patients with HD and SI.Conclusion: Patients with HD and COVID-19 required longer periods of in-hospital medical and showed poorer survival than those with SI. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hematologists should closely monitor the condition of patients with COVID-19 to closely monitor their condition to prevent deaths.

Introduction  NPO Japan Heart opened a children’s medical center in Cambodia in 2018 to treat pediatric cancer. In many public hospitals in Cambodia, patients’ meals must be prepared by their families with little knowledge about hygiene and nutrition, so patients may not always receive sufficient nutrition for their treatment. We considered a hygienic and nutritious diet essential for effective pediatric cancer treatment.  Therefore, the “Japan Heart Children’s Medical Center Meal Project” was launched. The objectives of this study were as follows; (1) to describe that patients receive hygienic and nutritious meals during their hospitalization and after discharge, (2) to measure the effects of providing hospital meals and nutrition education by Cambodian staff who are not qualified dietitians, and to clarify the changes in the nutritional status of pediatric cancer patients as a result of these activities.Methods  The target group was pediatric cancer patients and their families.  Japanese dietitians and chefs conducted study sessions, created menu standards based on the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) , and trained local staff to provide meals and nutrition education.   To provide hospital meals, local staff conducted hygiene management, prepared menus based on standards, and measured eating rates. They also provided nutrition education to the patients and their families, and connected survey before and after education. Nutrition assessment was conducted based on WHO Growth Chart BMI for age by measuring height and weight.Results  The MDD achievement rate for the menu increased from 72% to 100% (after intervention 1week-2 week (January, 2020)), and the eating rate increased from 45.9% to a maximum of 80.5% (April, 2020-January, 2022). Surveys before and after nutrition education showed that 89.1% of patient families improved their knowledge and awareness. Height and weight were assessed by BMI, and the percentage of patients with ≤−2SD decreased from 28.1% at admission to 15.9% at discharge.  Conclusions  In Cambodia where there is no dietitian system, it is important to do activities with contents that is feasible for local staff who have never studied nutrition.  In order to further support treatment from the nutritional aspect, it is desirable to develop nutritional human resources in Cambodia.

Objective: Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is receiving an attention as a therapeutic target in various types of cancers. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of MELK expression in ovarian cancer using clinical samples, and assessed the efficacy of a small molecule MELK inhibitor, OTS167, using patient-derived ovarian cancer cells as well as cell lines. Methods: Expression levels of MELK in 11 ovarian cancer cell lines were confirmed by western blotting. Inhibitory concentration of OTS167 was determined by colorimetric assay.MELK messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was evaluated in 228 ovarian cancer patients by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Growth inhibition of OTS167 was also evaluated using freshly-isolated primary ovarian cancer cells including spheroid formation condition. Results: MELK mRNA expression was significantly higher in ovarian cancer than in normal ovaries (p<0.001), and high MELK mRNA expression was observed in patients with advanced stage, positive ascites cytology and residual tumor size. Patients with high MELK mRNA expression showed shorter progression-free survival (p=0.001). Expression of MELK was also confirmed in 10 of 11 ovarian cancer cell lines tested, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration of MELK inhibitor, OTS167, ranged from 9.3 to 60 nM. Additionally, OTS167 showed significant growth inhibitory effect against patient-derived ovarian cancer cells, regardless of their tumor locations, histologic subtypes and stages. Conclusions We demonstrated MELK as both a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for ovarian cancer using clinical ovarian cancer samples. MELK inhibition by OTS167 may be an effective approach to treat ovarian cancer patients.

Background/Aims: Intestinal Behçet disease is typically associated with ileocecal punched-out ulcers and significant morbidity and mortality. Intestinal ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging technique for disease monitoring. However, no previous reports have compared intestinal ultrasound with endoscopic ulcer activity or histopathological findings for intestinal Behçet disease. We evaluated the usefulness of intestinal ultrasound for assessing the activity of ileocecal ulcers in intestinal Behçet disease. Methods: We retrospectively compared intestinal ultrasound findings with 73 corresponding endoscopic images and 6 resected specimens. The intestinal ultrasound findings were assessed for 7 parameters (bowel wall thickness, vascularity [evaluated using the modified Limberg score with color Doppler], bowel wall stratification, white-plaque sign [strong hyperechogenic lines or spots], mesenteric lymphadenopathy, extramural phlegmons, and fistulas), and endoscopic ulcer activity was classified into active, healing, and scar stages. Histopathological findings were evaluated by consensus among experienced pathologists. Results: Bowel wall thickness (P< 0.001), vascularity (P< 0.001), loss of bowel wall stratification (P= 0.015), and white-plague sign (P= 0.013) were significantly exacerbated in the endoscopic active ulcer stage. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a bowel wall thickness of > 5.5 mm (sensitivity 89.7%, specificity 85.3%) was potentially useful for detecting active lesions. When compared with histopathological findings, an increase in bowel wall thickness reflected the ulcer marginal ridge, and the white-plaque sign reflected the ulcer bottom. Conclusions Intestinal ultrasound is useful for monitoring intestinal ulcer activity in intestinal Behçet disease.