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At the second Dialysis Access Symposium held in Nagoya, Japan, a proposal was made to investigate the differences in vascular access methods used in different countries. In this article, we describe the management of vascular access in Japan. The Japanese population is rapidly aging, and the proportion of elderly patients on dialysis is also increasing. There were 325,000 dialysis patients in Japan at the end of 2015, of whom 65.1% were aged 65 years or above. The number of patients with diabetic nephropathy or nephrosclerosis as the underlying condition is also increasing, whereas the number with chronic glomerulonephritis is steadily decreasing. The Japanese health insurance system enables patients to undergo medical treatment at almost no out-of-pocket cost. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty suffers from a severe device lag compared with other countries, but although there are limitations on permitted devices, the use of those that have been authorized is covered by medical insurance. One important point that is unique to Japan is that vascular access is performed and managed by doctors involved in dialysis across a wide range of disciplines, including nephrologists, surgeons, and urologists. This may be one factor contributing to the good survival prognosis of Japanese dialysis patients.

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INTRODUCTION: New treatments to inhibit neointimal formation after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) are needed for patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). We compared the efficacy and safety of AMG0102, a balloon catheter containing nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) with the PTA balloon catheter (control group) for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis. METHODS: In total, 175 patients (age ≥20 years, undergoing HD, with venous stenosis at the anastomotic region) were registered in this prospective open-label, randomized study. Patients were followed postoperatively for 36 weeks. The duration of primary patency on the targeted venous stenosis site (primary endpoint) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A lower restenosis risk was observed for the AMG0102 group, but it was not statistically significant (stratified log-rank test P = 0.250, hazard ratio [HR] 0.774; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.500-1.198). The median duration of primary patency was 245 days and 172 days in the AMG0102 and control groups, respectively. After stratification based on the status of diabetes complications, the HR was 0.666 (95% CI: 0.366-1.212; P = 0.183) and the median duration of primary patency was prolonged by 108 days in the AMG0102 group with diabetes complications (245 days) compared with the control group (137 days). Adverse event (AE) incidence up to 36 postoperative weeks did not differ between groups. Four device failures occurred in 3 patients (AMG0102 group), but none resulted in AEs. CONCLUSION: Further modifications to enhance NF-κB decoy ODN uptake and efficacy are necessary to show its clinical utility for AVF stenosis in chronic HD.

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INTRODUCTION: To promote the increase in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) in Japan, the Japanese Society for Dialysis Access started offering workshops on peritoneal access (PA) preparation procedures for doctors with less experience. Since the transfer of technology used in surgical procedures is difficult in small communities such as individual hospitals, a specialist group such as a society should take the initiative and fulfill this responsibility. METHODS: Here we used a hybrid simulator developed by Terumo Medical Pranex that uses the abdominal wall of an edible pig (a lump from the peritoneum to skin) and a mannequin. Since the structure of the porcine abdominal wall is similar to that of humans, the PA procedure can be simulated in this actual procedure. With three-dimensional reproduction of the Douglas pouch and other features of the pelvis using human computed tomography images, we created a system in which even drainage is possible if the catheter is well placed. RESULTS: Using this simulator, students were able to experience the PA access preparation procedure 2-4 times and easily observed the catheter position after insertion by peeling the abdominal wall from the mannequin. CONCLUSIONS: In the future, by leveraging the advantages of the hybrid simulator, we aim to promote the training of medical staff interested in PD health care and increase the number of patients able to benefit from the many advantages of PD.

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The number of examinations using interventional radiology (IVR) has increased recently. Because of the more advanced and more complex procedures for IVR, longer treatment time is required. Therefore, it is important to determine exposure doses. We measured operator exposure dose during IVR using a thermoluminescence dosimeter. The results revealed the dose equivalent to the operator's hands and fingers to be higher than that of other parts, although the effective dose for the operator was low. Moreover, we looked into the factors that affected exposure dose to the operator's fingers, and examined ways to reduce the dose. In regard to the exposed dose to the operator's fingers, dose reduction was possible as a result of a geometric arrangement of the fluoroscopic unit, the radiation field size, using a radiation protective device and deliberation to exposure dose reduction of the operator. It is possible to carry out IVR more safely using the method of exposure dose reduction to the operator's fingers.

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INTRODUCTION: We investigated how generic and disease-specific measures differ in estimating the quality of life (QoL) impact of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 172 men and 67 women >or=40 years old who attended the public lectures completed the questionnaire comprising the International Prostate Symptom Score, benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index and SF-36 Health Survey. The multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the QoL impact of LUTS. RESULTS: Both storage and voiding symptoms showed significant correlations with disease-specific QoL. Among men, voiding symptom correlated more closely with disease-specific QoL than storage symptom did, and this finding was reversed among women. Storage but not voiding symptoms showed a significant correlation with generic QoL. Among men, storage symptom correlated more closely with mental health than physical health, and the reversed finding was obtained among women. Generic QoL, especially physical health, was significantly influenced by some comorbid diseases, but disease-specific QoL was not. CONCLUSIONS: The QoL impact of LUTS was differentially estimated by disease-specific and generic measures with sex differences.

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AIM: The expression of the telomerase subunits such as human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and human telomerase RNA component (hTR) may be associated with tumor development and progression. We evaluated the relationship between mRNA quantification of both hTERT and hTR and clinicopathologic parameters in bladder cancer. METHODS: We examined the mRNA expression of hTERT and hTR in 29 specimens with bladder cancer (Grade: Grade I, 9 cases; Grade II, 13 cases and Grade III, 7 cases. Stage: pTa-pT1, 18 cases; pT2-T4, 11 cases). We immediately froze all of specimens obtained during TUR-Bt and isolated the total RNA from each specimen. We measured the quantity of hTERT, hTR and GAPDH mRNA by a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method based on TaqMan technology. RESULTS: The hTERT/GAPDH mRNA ratio and hTERT mRNA/total RNA in superficial bladder tumor was significantly lower than in invasive bladder tumor. The hTR/GAPDH mRNA ratio and hTR mRNA/total RNA in superficial tumor were significantly lower than in invasive bladder tumor. The hTERT mRNA expression significantly correlated with tumor grade, but the hTR mRNA expression did not correlate with tumor grade. There was no significant difference in the hTERT/GAPDH mRNA ratio and hTR mRNA/total RNA according to multiplicity of bladder tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that the expression of hTERT mRNA correlated with the progression of stage and grade in bladder cancer. The quantitative analysis of hTERT and hTR mRNA might be a marker for clinicopathologic parameters in bladder cancer.

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A 59-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of left flank pain and a possibility of gross hematuria. Left renal cell carcinoma stage II was diagnosed and radical left nephrectomy was performed. Twenty-two months postoperatively, lung metastases were demonstrated and 6 x 10(6) units of alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) were administered for 9 months, only to keep the sizes of the metastases unchanged. Thirty-four months after the operation, liver metastases and bone metastasis in the left sacroiliac joint were revealed. The combination cytokine therapy was performed with 1.4 x 10(6) U of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and 3 x 10(6) U of IFN-alpha for 16 weeks, and the left sacroiliac joint metastasis was treated with radiation therapy of 4 Gy per day for 7 days. Six months after the 16 weeks of immunotherapy, computed tomography and bone scintigraphy revealed that the metastases of the lung, liver and bone substantially disappeared and this complete response is still kept after 16 months.

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OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and the relationship between UI and generic quality of life (QOL) in working women. METHODS: Of 7229 female hospital nurses in Japan, 3734 (51.7%) responded to a self-administered postal questionnaire that included the Rand Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Health Survey (SF-36) and the International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire (ICIQ) for evaluating symptoms and health-related QOL. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of UI in Japanese working women aged 20 to 64 years (mean 35.2) was 16.7%. The main type of incontinence was stress UI (73%). Its prevalence increased with age and reached a plateau at age 45 to 49 years (34.7%). The ICIQ score also correlated significantly with age. Generic QOL, especially physical functioning, role-physical, social functioning, and role-emotional, was significantly impaired by UI. A comparison of subjects with and without UI revealed that the differences in the physical and mental component summary scores of the SF-36 were largest in the age groups of 25 to 29 and 55 to 59 years, respectively. The correlations of the ICIQ score with the physical and mental component scores were most significant in the age groups of 25 to 29 and 45 to 49 years, respectively. The impact of mixed UI on QOL showed a greater tendency than that of stress or urge UI. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of UI showed an age-related increase, with a peak at 45 to 49 years old. The impact of UI on physical health was great in individuals in their 20s, but its impact on mental health increased in the older age groups.

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PURPOSE: We examined the influence of aging on bladder function in men and women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire with an additional question on urinary incontinence lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated in all outpatients who first visited our urological department from June 2001 to December 2002. In 550 of the 1,201 patients who completed the questionnaire any pathological conditions that might cause micturition disorder could not be detected with urological examinations. Symptom scores of these patients without underlying disease causing micturition disorder were the basis of this study. RESULTS: In men and women total and storage symptom scores but not the voiding symptom score increased significantly with age. In each age group total, storage and voiding symp-tom scores were not significantly different between men and women. Women 50 to 69 years old had significant higher incontinence scores than men of the same age, whereas a significant increase in the incontinence score with age was found only in men. The quality of life score increased with age in men but not in women. However, the 2 sexes did not significantly differ in quality of life score. CONCLUSIONS: Lower urinary tract symptoms, especially storage symptoms, showed age related alterations in the 2 sexes without any underlying disease causing micturition disorder. The prevalence of urinary symptoms was not different between men and women. Therefore, bladder function in each sex might be subject to a gender independent aging process.

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BACKGROUND: Many reports indicate that a high homocysteine (Hcy) level is a potential risk factor for such thrombotic diseases as arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction in healthy individuals or hemodialysis (HD) patients. The methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism has been reported to be closely related to plasma Hcy level. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design in this study, the relationship between arteriovenous fistula (AVF) obstruction and the MTHFR C677T point mutation was examined in 337 HD patients. RESULTS: Results of multivariate analysis showed no significant influence of age, HD therapy duration, sex, or the presence of diabetes mellitus, cerebral infarction, or myocardial infarction. Only the presence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism yielded a significant difference. Percentages of patients who experienced AVF obstruction were as follows: CC (12.6%), CT (20.3%), and TT (31.8%). The number of those who experienced obstruction was significantly larger with the TT than CC (P < 0.01). Moreover, total obstruction episode ratios were as follows: CC, 1 in 107.21 episodes/patient-month; CT, 1 in 74.08 episodes/patient-month; and TT, 1 in 50.33 episodes/patient-month. Episode percentages tended to be greater when the degree of mutation was greater, and a significant difference was observed between the CC and TT alleles (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Although AVF obstruction is affected by numerous factors, there was a strong relationship between MTHFR C677T mutation and AVF obstruction. These findings suggest that the MTHFR C677T point mutation could serve as an important indicator in identifying susceptibility to AVF obstruction.

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