Glycans, Lipids and Biomembranes Team　Koichi Honke, M.D., Ph. D.

Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Kochi Medical School　

Award
1997, 2012 JB Award (Japanese Biochemical Society)

Selected papers
1) Functional Compartmentalization of the Plasma Membrane of Neurons by a Unique Acyl Chain Composition of Phospholipids.
Kuge H, Akahori K, Yagyu KI, Honke K.
J Biol Chem 2014; 289:26783-26793

2) Expressed glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored horseradish peroxidase identifies co-clustering molecules in individual lipid raft domains.
Miyagawa-Yamaguchi A, Kotani N, Honke K.
PLoS One. 2014; 9:e93054

3) Biochemical visualization of cell surface molecular clustering in living cells.
Kotani N, Gu J, Isaji T, Udaka K, Taniguchi N, Honke K.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008; 105:7405-7409

Outline of Research：

　We intend to approach biological systems from the viewpoint of biomembranes. Biomembranes consist of lipids and glycans that are not a direct product of the gene. Additionally, membrane proteins that are a direct product of the gene are integrated into them, forming a functional unit. So far, understanding of the expression mechanism of proteins is considerably progressed by genomics and proteomics research. However, little is known about the mechanism of how expressed proteins are collected to the particular site of the plasma membrane. In order to answer this question, we will study the following themes.
■Theme 1: Intracellular distribution of particular membrane lipids and the mechanism underlying generation of its polarity.
■Theme 2: Identification of functional proteins collected to the particular membrane lipid domain and their assembling mechanisms.

1982　Bachelor of Medicine, School of Medicine, Ehime University, M.D.

1986　PhD, Graduate school of Medicine, Ehime University

Career
1985-1988 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania
1988-1991 Postdoctoral fellow, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1991-1993 Research fellow, the Humboldt Foundation Department of Immunogenetics,Max-Planck Institute of Biology
　　　　　 in Tuebingen
1994-1994 Assistant professor with no stipend, Department of Immunology, Juntendo University
1994-1999 Assistant professor, Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University
1999-2002 Associate professor, Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University
2003-2003 Professor, Department of Immunology, Kochi Medical School
2003　　　Professor, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kochi University

Selected papers
1) A naturally occurring peptide recognized by alloreactive CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes in association with a class I MHC protein.
Keiko Udaka, Theodore J. Tsomides, Herman N. Eisen.
Cell　1992 69: 989-998
2) Empirical evaluation of a dynamic experiment design method for prediction of MHC class I-binding peptides.
Keiko Udaka, Hiroshi Mamitsuka, Yukinobu Nakaseko and Naoki Abe.
J Immunol 2002 169:5744-5753
3) Lipid-mediated presentation of MHC class II molecules guides thymocytes to the CD4 lineage.
Komaniwa S, Hayashi H, Kawamoto H, Sato S.B, Ikawa T, Katsura Y and Udaka K.
Eur J Immunol 2009　39：96-112

　　　
Anti-tumor immunotherapy has once been thought to be difficult due to self-tolerance. However, recent development of anti-cancer immunotherapy clearly demonstrates its potential as a major arsenal against malignant tumors while keeping damage to normal tissues to the minimum. We have been developing a peptide-based immunotherapy to induce tumor antigen-specific T cells. The immune checkpoint inhibitors, currently introduced for clinical use, rely on tumor-specific T cells naturally occurring in patients and only a part of the patients respond to the therapy.
In collaboration with NEC, we have developed a computational method to identify MHC class I- and class II-binding peptides which can induce tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and helper T cells (Th), respectively. We further investigated the mechanism how antigen presentation takes place in tumor tissues. Using this knowledge we are able to develop a next generation immunotherapy which induces active recruitment of T cells into tumor tissues, thereby destructing tumors efficiently in vivo.

Education:
Tottori Univ, Faculty of Med, Japan / M. D. / 1991 / Medicine
Tottori Univ, Faculty of Med, Japan / PH. D. / 2000 / Medicine

Career:
1991-1993: Resident at Department of Urology, Tottori University Hospital
1993-1996: Postdoctoral Associate at the Section of Urology, Yale University School of Medicine
1995-2004: Assistant Professor at Department of Urology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine
2004: Junior Associate Professor at Department of Urology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine
2004-2008: Junior Associate Professor at Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine
2008-2013: Associate Professor at Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine
2013-: Professor at Department of Pharmacology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University

Award:
The first prize of Japan Continence Society (Japan Neurogenic Bladder Society) (2001)
The best basic research award of 7th Hellenic Andrology Association Biannual Meeting (2006)
Hiromaru Prize (2006)
The first prize of 98th Japan Urological annual meeting (Andrology/ Infertility/ Sexal medicine) (2009)
The first prize of 23rd Japanese Society for Sexal Medicine annual meeting (2012)
International Journal of Urology Reviewer of the Year 2011 and 2012 (2011 and 2012)

1. Shimizu T, Shimizu S, Higashi Y, Nakamura K, Yoshimura N, Saito M.
   A Stress-related Peptide Bombesin Centrally Induces Frequent Urination through Brain Bombesin Receptor Types 1 and 2 in the Rat.
   J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2016 Mar;356(3):693-701.
2. Shimizu S, Shimizu T, Tsounapi P, Higashi Y, Martin DT, Nakamura K, Honda M, Inoue K, Saito M.
   Effect of Silodosin, an Alpha1A-Adrenoceptor Antagonist, on Ventral Prostatic Hyperplasia in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat.
   PLoS One. 2015 Aug 26;10(8):e0133798. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133798. eCollection 2015.
3. Saito M, Tsounapi P, Oikawa R, Shimizu S, Honda M, Sejima T, Kinoshita Y, Tomita S:
   Prostatic ischemia induces ventral prostatic hyperplasia in the SHR; possible mechanism of development of BPH.
   Sci Rep 4: 3822, 2014

Mechanisms for stress induced frequent urination
Generally we have experiences of temporary frequent urination when we are under transient stress conditions. On the other hand, some people visit a hospital by psychogenic frequent urination, which can significantly impact their quality of life. Therapy for psychogenic frequent urination includes psychotherapy and psychopharmacological therapy, however the efficacy of these therapies is not very high. By performing cystometrogram, we have demonstrated that intracerebroventricularly administered stress-related neuropeptides (bombesin and angiotensin II)-induced micturition pattern in rats is quite similar to the pattern in human patients with psychogenic frequent urination. We are now investing molecular mechanisms for frequent urination in order to further clarify the relationship between changes of brain neurotransmitters in response to stress and regulation mechanisms for micturition.

Neural Circuit Function Team　Masahiro Yamaguchi, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Physiology (Integrative Physiology), Kochi Medical School

Education
1987 Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University; M.D.
1994 Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University; Ph.D.

Career
1987 Resident: Kyoto University Hospital
1988 Physician: Shizuoka General Hospital
1994 Postdoctoral Fellow: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
1995 Research Fellow: Japan Society of Promotion of Science
1996 Research Fellow: Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO
Research Fellow: Brain Science Institute, RIKEN
1999 Assistant Professor: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo
2000 Lecturer: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo
2016 Professor: Department of Physiology (Integrative Physiology), Kochi Medical School, Kochi University

Selected Papers
1)Mapping of learned odor-induced motivated behaviors in the mouse olfactory tubercle.
Murata K, Kanno M, Ieki N, Mori K, Yamaguchi M.
Journal of Neuroscience. 35: 10581-10599 (2015)

2)Top-down inputs from the olfactory cortex in the postprandial period promote elimination of granule cells in the olfactory bulb.
Komano-Inoue S, Manabe H, Ota M, Kusumoto-Yoshida I, Yokoyama TK, Mori K, Yamaguchi M.
European Journal of Neuroscience. 40: 2724-2733 (2014)

3)Elimination of adult-born neurons in the olfactory bulb is promoted during the postprandial period.
Yokoyama TK, Mochimaru D, Murata K, Manabe H, Kobayakawa K, Kobayakawa R, Sakano H, Mori K, Yamaguchi M.
Neuron. 71: 883-897 (2011)

Throughout the evolution, the brain has been endowed with the fundamental role to direct proper behaviors in the changing external world. The brain learns to direct novel behaviors in response to new environment, and gives rise to emotion and motivation to urge behaviors. It is therefore essential to understand the mechanisms of how information from the external world is translated into appropriate behaviors, how learning and memory are operated, and how emotion and motivation are generated, in the neural circuit of the brain.
We are addressing these questions by using olfactory system as a model system. Odor information elicits strong emotion and motivation, and induces fundamental behaviors including food eating, escaping from dangers, mating and social interaction.
In addition, the olfactory system has a unique property that new neurons are continually generated even in adulthood. New neurons are considered to participate in the reorganization of neural circuit and potentiate the ability of learning and memory.

We are addressing two major points using mice and rats:
Theme 1. Neural circuit mechanisms for acquiring odor-induced motivated behaviors
Theme 2. Mechanisms of neural circuit reorganization by new neurons
We use a variety of research methods including behavior analysis, electrophysiological exanimations of freely-behaving animals and brain slices, brain imaging, optogenetics, and cellular and molecular-level analysis. We are analyzing various olfactory behaviors including attraction to food odor and escape from danger-notifying odor, as well as pheromone-based recognition of mating partner and colleagues.
Theme 1 leads to the understanding of how emotion and motivation are generated in the brain and regulated by odor input, which helps us to live happily and comfortably through the utilization of odors. We are actually planning to address the mechanisms in human brain how odor induces our emotion and motivation.
Theme 2 gives us a hope that our brain can rejuvenate and develop even after maturity. This will contribute to the restorative medicine and also to the field of education and the improvement of QOL of the elderly.

Work Experience
Graduate of Tokyo Medical &Dental University (1984.3)
Visiting fellow, Laboratory of Kidney Electrolyte, and Metabolism, National Institutes of Health (1988.1-1991.3)
Assistant Professor of Homeostasis medicine &Nephrology, Tokyo Medical &Dental University (1994.11-2002.3)
Associate Professor of Homeostasis medicine &Nephrology, Tokyo Medical &Dental University (2002.4-2008.3)
Professor and Chairman, Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nephrology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University (2008.4-)

Selected papers
1) Terada Y, Tomita K, Nonoguchi H, Yang T, Marumo F: Different localization and r egulation of two types of vasopressin receptor messenger RNA in microdissected rat nephron segments using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. J Clin Invest 92: 2339-2345, 1993

2) Terada Y, Tomita K, Homma MK, Nonoguchi H, Yang T, Yamada T, Yuasa Y, Krebs EG, Marumo F: Sequential activation of raf-1 kinase, MAP kinase kinase, MAP kinase, and S6 kinase by hyperosmolality in renal cell. J Biol Chem 269: 31296-31301, 1994

3) Taniguchi K, Kohsaka H, Inoue N, Terada Y, Ito H, Hirokawa K, Miyasaka N: Introduction of p16INK4a sequence gene as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Nature Med 5: 760-767, 1999

Background:
The molecular basis of the events leading to tubular regeneration after AKI (acute kidney injury) is only partially established. The mechanisms that lead to renal cell proliferation and regeneration must be better understood before novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ischemic AKI can be explored. Evidence has suggested that regeneration processes may recapitulate developmental processes in order to restore organ or tissue function. Regeneration processes may be similar to developmental processes. Embryonic genes such as Wnt-4, Ets-1, and Delta-Notch pathway are markedly induced in the mature kidney after ischemic renal injury and apparently play crucial roles in the regeneration and repair of the organ.
1) Dedifferentiation of renal tubular cell
We have reported that embryonic genes such as Wnt-4, Ets-1, and Delta-Notch pathway are markedly induced in the mature kidney after ischemic renal injury. We and other researchers have called this phenomena as “dedifferentiation” of renal tubular cells. We proposed that the dedifferentiation of renal tubular cells after AKI plays a key role in regeneration of renal tubular cells.
2) Regenerative medicine of renal disease using growth factors or genes
We also examine the possible approach of regeneration using growth factors or gene transfer. Some growth factors such as hepatocyte growth factor or erythropoietin cause proliferation of renal tubular cells and prevent apoptosis. These growth factors may be potency for regeneration of renal tubular cells in vivo. We are planning to examine the effects these factors in AKI.
3) Regenerative medicine of renal disease using iPS cells and ES cells
We already reported that ES cells which were stably transfected with Wnt-4 gene can differentiate renal tubular cells in presence of Activin A and HGF (hepatocyte growth factor). It may be possible to differentiate iPS cells to renal tubular cells using same methodology. We will examine these approaches for regenerative medicine of renal disease

Education
1984 Graduated Kochi Medical School
1989 Completed a medical degree at Kochi graduated Medical School
1989 M.D. at Kochi Medical School
Career
1989 Research Fellow at the Department Immunology of Kochi Medical
1990 Medical Staff at Kochi Medical School Hospital
1993 Medical Staff at the Department of Medicine at Kochi Medical School
1995 Research Fellow at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Osaka University
1996 Assistant Professor at Kochi Medical School
1997 Lecturer at Kochi Medical School
2004 Associate Professor at Kochi Medical School
Membership
Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Japan Society of Immunology
Japan Society of Reproductive Immunology
Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Endoscopy
Japan Society of Endometriosis

Selected papers
1) Maeda N, Izumiya C, Yamamoto Y, Oguri H, Kusume T, Fukaya T.
Increased killer inhibitory receptor KIR2DL1 expression among natural killer cells in women with pelvic endometriosis.
Fertil Steril. 77:297-302, 2002 (IF 4.174)

2) Maeda N, Izumiya C, Taniguchi K, Matsushima S, Fukaya T.
Role of NK cells and HLA-G in endometriosis.
Front Biosci. 4:1568-1581, 2012 Review (IF 3.286)

3) Syngeneic transplantation of newborn splenocytes in a murine model of neonatal ischemia-reperfusion brain injury.
Wang F, Shen Y, Tsuru E, Yamashita T, Baba N, Tsuda M, Maeda N, Sagara Y.
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2015 May;28(7):842-7.

Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage occurred in fetal and neonatal period, and is a incurable diseases that impairs physical and mental capabilities for life. There is no fundamental therapy for cerebral palsy, without a symptomatic treatment such as rehabilitation. Recently in our university, there is increasing possibility of clinical trials for cerebral palsy treatment using umbilical cord blood stem cell. Beside the clinical studies, basic research to investigate the mechanisms of the recovery from brain injury and also improvement the methods of treatment. Our research team has created a mouse model for cerebral palsy. We evaluate the functional improvement after treatment, and investigate the blood stem cell differentiation and interaction with other stem cells particularly with neural stem cells by using the our mouse of cerebral palsy.

1. Identification of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the brain from cerebral palsy model mouse and activation of neural stem cell

2. Mechanism of function improvement by umbilical blood stem cell blood transfusion

3. Molecular mechanism of nerve regeneration by umbilical cord blood stem cell blood transfusion with the neural stem cell activation. Revival of a nervous tissue and restored

4. Analysis of cell surface marker and functional property of umbilical blood stem cell

5. Activation of tumor immunity using umbilical cord blood stem cell

Studies and Degrees:

1999 Graduated Tokyo Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, Department of Computer Science

2004 Graduated Tokyo Institute of Technology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering

Professional Activities:

2004-2007 Assistant Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology

2007-2022 Associate Professor at Kochi University, Center of Medical Information Science

2022-Present Professor at Kochi University, Center of Medical Information Science

Selected papers

１．Hatakeyama, Y., Mitsuta, A., Hirota, K.: Detection algorithm for color dynamic images by multiple surveillance cameras under low luminance conditions based on fuzzy corresponding map. Applied Soft Computing Journal 8(4):1344-1353, 2008

２．Hatakeyama, Y., Kataoka, H., Nakajima, N., Watabe, T., Fujimoto, S., Okuhara, Y.: Prediction model for glucose metabolism based on lipid metabolism. Methods of Information in Medicine 53(5):357-363, 2014

３．Hatakeyama Y., Horino T., Yasui S., Komori M., Terada Y., Okuhara Y.: Incidence of acute kidney injury and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate according to the site of cancer, Clinical and Experimental Nephrology 27, 262–271, 2023

The development of Hospital Information Systems has made it possible to accumulate a vast amount of various type data and order information. Time-series data over a long period has also been maintained for data analysis. In addition, improvements in computer performance have made it possible to analyze this vast amount of information in a short period of time. On the other hand, there is a growing belief that not only the analysis results of prospective studies but also Real-World Evidence (RWE) should be obtained by conducting analytical studies based on Real-World Data (RWD).
Therefore, we aim to clarify the influence of various background factors on the onset and progression of disease in actual patients by linking the various types of data accumulated at the Medicine School Hospital. By conducting these analytical studies, we aim to accumulate RWE and return it to actual medical care.
We will study the construction of a database environment that integrates not only the ordering information but also the data from each departmental system, as well as methods for anonymizing electronic medical record information. Furthermore, we will conduct a comprehensive search of these various factors, and conduct analytical research by combining various methods such as network analysis and combination optimization.

1999 Graduated Tokyo Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, Department of Computer Science

2004 Graduated Tokyo Institute of Technology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering

Professional Activities:

2004-2007 Assistant Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology

2007-2022 Associate Professor at Kochi University, Center of Medical Information Science

2022-Present Professor at Kochi University, Center of Medical Information Science

Selected papers

１．Hatakeyama, Y., Mitsuta, A., Hirota, K.: Detection algorithm for color dynamic images by multiple surveillance cameras under low luminance conditions based on fuzzy corresponding map. Applied Soft Computing Journal 8(4):1344-1353, 2008

２．Hatakeyama, Y., Kataoka, H., Nakajima, N., Watabe, T., Fujimoto, S., Okuhara, Y.: Prediction model for glucose metabolism based on lipid metabolism. Methods of Information in Medicine 53(5):357-363, 2014

３．Hatakeyama Y., Horino T., Yasui S., Komori M., Terada Y., Okuhara Y.: Incidence of acute kidney injury and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate according to the site of cancer, Clinical and Experimental Nephrology 27, 262–271, 2023

With the development of information processing technology, it has become possible to accumulate and manage high-dimensional data such as images, text data, and numerous item data, and to analyze these vast amounts of data. In other words, it has become possible in recent years to construct models that describe the relationships among high-dimensional data.
Logistic regression models and exponential and Weibull distributions for survival time analysis were used to predict and evaluate the influence of factors with respect to disease transition. In these models, each risk factor is evaluated as an independent factor or as an interacting factor. While it is possible to evaluate the impact of risk factors in these models, it is necessary to evaluate dependencies among factors, such as multilevel analysis and hierarchical Bayesian models, to more accurately evaluate the magnitude of impact and to evaluate the impact among factors, although it increases the computational complexity. By clarifying these dependencies, more accurate analysis of time-series variation in pathological conditions can be expected.
Therefore, we aim to examine what kind of dependency model is appropriate to construct for long-term status transitions in renal function and glucose metabolic function, and to evaluate the impact of each risk factor.

Investigation team for correlation between comorbidities and chronic respiratory diseases

Akihito Yokoyama, M.D., Ph. D.

Professor, Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kochi Medical School

1) Airflow limitation in smokers is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.Iwamoto H, Yokoyama A, Kitahara Y, Ishikawa N, Haruta Y, Yamane K, Hattori N, Hara H, Kohno N.　Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009;179(1):35-40.

2)Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is associated with more severe asthma.Nakashima T, Yokoyama A, Ohnishi H, Yamasaki M, Shiode M, Haruta Y, Hattori N, Hozawa S, Yamakido H, Kohno N.　Allergol Int. 2011;60(3):299-304.

3)Cross-sectional and prospective study of the association between lung function and prediabetes.Yamane T, Yokoyama A, Kitahara Y, Miyamoto S, Haruta Y, Hattori N, Yamane K, Hara H, Kohno N.　BMJ Open. 2013;3(2).

The chronic respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma and COPD, often involve a variety of diseases as comorbidities. These disease groups are sometimes expressed as "comorbidome". We have been trying to clarify the relationship between COPD and cardiovascular disease. We found that arteriosclerosis and COPD of the carotid artery is deeply related. Furthermore, we found that insulin resistance in the muscle was associated with reduced lung function. We also revealed the association of severe asthma and hepatitis C infection. We would like to investigate the mechanisms for association between chronic lung diseases and comorbidities to clarify the causal relationship with comorbidities.

（Schematic illustration）

Genetic Analysis Team of Cardiovascular Disease

Hiroaki Kitaoka, M.D., Ph. D.

Professor, Department of Cardiology, Neurology and Aging Science, Kochi Medical School

The aims of our research are to clarify the genotype-phenotype correlations in cardiovascular diseases and to develop new methods of diagnosis and novel treatments for prevention and better prognosis.

First, mutation screenings of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) populations often report that mutation detection in known genes is around 50% of study subjects. This low detection rate leads to the possibility of other defects in unknown disease genes. We are going to identify novel disease-causing genes.

Secondly, our study showed that not all patients with the identical mutation in the cardiac myosin-binding protein C gene present the same or similar clinical phenotype, even within the same family. These data suggest that phenotypic heterogeneity of HCM can also be affected by modifier factors. We are planning to find other genetic (the existence of modifier gene and/or polymorphisms) and/or environmental factors (differences in lifestyle, exercise, and so on).

Thirdly, we will perform genetic analysis in other cardiomyopathies and clarify the genotype-phenotype correlations. Fourthly, genetic screening will be performed in arrhythmic diseases including long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome, and we are going to establish genotyping as tools for practical clinical applications.

Finally, we are going to investigate the mechanisms by which genetic alterations result in the characteristic pathological, morphologic, and functional features of cardiovascular diseases including multifactorial disorders such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

EDUCATION
1993 MD Okayama University School of Medicine, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
1998 PhD Graduate School of Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
2000 - External Programme of MSc for Epidemiology: Principle and Practice
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK (Not completed)

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT
1993 - 1995 Resident, Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital in Otsuka, Tokyo, Japan
1998 - 1999 Internist (full-time), Mizushima Central Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan
1999 - 2003 Lecturer of Epidemiology and International Health, Department of Environmental Health, Fukui Medical University School of Medicine, Fukui, Japan
2003 Lecturer of Epidemiology and International Health, Department of International and Social Medicine, University of Fukui School of Medicine (re-organized)
2004 - Assistant Professor of Environmental Health, Department of International and Social Medicine, University of Fukui School of Medicine
2006 - 2007 Associate Professor of Environmental Health, Department of International and Social Medicine, University of Fukui School of Medicine
2007 - Professor and Chief, Department of Environmental Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University

2010 - Vice President, Kochi University

Selected papers
1: Suganuma N, Kusaka Y, Hering KG, Vehmas T, Kraus T, Arakawa H, Parker JE, Kivisaari L, Letourneux M, Gevenois PA, Tuengerthal S, Crane MD, Shida H, Akira M, Henry DA, Nakajima Y, Hiraga Y, Itoh H, Hosoda Y. Reliability of the proposed international classification of high-resolution computed tomography for occupational and environmental respiratory diseases. J Occup Health. 2009;51(3):210-22. Epub 2009 Apr 17. PubMed PMID: 19372629.

2: Arakawa H, Fujimoto K, Honma K, Suganuma N, Morikubo H, Saito Y, Shida H, Kaji Y. Progression from near-normal to end-stage lungs in chronic interstitial pneumonia related to silica exposure: long-term CT observations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Oct;191(4):1040-5. PubMed PMID: 18806140.

3: Arakawa H, Honma K, Saito Y, Shida H, Morikubo H, Suganuma N, Fujioka M. Pleural disease in silicosis: pleural thickening, effusion, and invagination. Radiology. 2005 Aug;236(2):685-93. PubMed PMID: 16040925.

1. -For the Brighter Future for the Healthy Children-
Kochi University as one of the fifteen Unit Center for the Japan Environment & Children’s Study (JECS)
Since the 1997 Declaration of the Ministers of Environment of the Eight Nations (G8) on Children’s Environmental Health, increasing number of countries worldwide has been conducting the research on children’s health and environment as well as the risk assessment, and have been working on setting up standards to provide healthy environment for children. There have been various cohort studies within the countries, with the scale of several hundred to 20,000 participants. The USA, Denmark, and Norway are running the national-level epidemiological studies, recruiting 100,000 participants each. Following this global trend, Japan is now launching the Japan Environment & Children’s Study (JECS) from January 2011. The study is based on the hypothesis that children’s exposure to chemicals during their early life stage - embryonic to pediatric could be crucial for their life-long health. In the JECS, 100,000 pregnant women nationwide will be recruited through fifteen Unit Centers, and it is a twenty-one-year project of research and analysis.
As one of the fifteen Unit Centers and the only one in the Shikoku Island, Kochi University has set up the Center for Children’s and Environmental Health, and will start the research which targets expecting mothers in their early stage. The study will be continued until the children reach thirteen years old. Making the best use of the local networks already established in Kochi, and with the support by various institutes, such as local bureaus, OB/GYNs, and pediatricians, it is our target to recruit 5,000 pregnant women between January 2011 and December 2013, in the cities of Kochi, Nangoku, and Shimanto, and the municipality of Yusuhara. Using the opportunity to conduct the JECS, Kochi University will also carry out its own projects in the field of environmental health specific to Kochi, as well as comparison studies between our research and cohort studies overseas.

2. What is happening with Children today? The importance of the JECS-

In Japan, the diseases which could be possibly caused by environmental factors, such as the chemical exposures and unhealthy lifestyle, have been increasing. For instance, the number of asthma patients has tripled in the last twenty years, congenital abnormalities have doubled in the last twenty five years, and there are 1. 5 times as many obese children as thirty years ago. The JECS sheds the light on the effect of chemical exposures and social/lifestyle factors on 1) pregnancy/reproductive health; 2) birth defects; 3) mental/neuronal development; 4) immunity/allergies and; 5) metabolism/internal secretion. Collaborating with other university departments, our goal is to provide healthier environment for the next generations and to raise specialists in environmental medicine, through interdisciplinary and long-term analysis on environmental factors, which are complicatedly intertwined with social and lifestyle factors.

EDUCATION
1980 MD Okayama University School of Medicine, Okayama 700-8558, Japan

CAREER
1980-1982 Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital
1982-1990 Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Kochi Medical School
1990-1992 Research fellow, University of Kansas Medical Center
1992-2002 Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Hospital
2002-2009 Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
2009-Present Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Kochi Medical School

Selected papers
1) Obata N, Mizobuchi S, Itano Y, Matsuoka Y, Kaku R, Tomotsuka N, Morita K, Kanzaki H, Ouchida M, Yokoyama M. Decoy strategy targeting the brain-derived neurotrophic factor exon I to attenuate tactile allodynia in the neuropathic pain model of rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011 Apr 29;408(1):139-44.

2) Omori M, Yokoyama M, Matsuoka Y, Kobayashi H, Mizobuchi S, Itano Y, Morita K, Ichikawa H. Effects of selective spinal nerve ligation on acetic acid-induced nociceptive responses and ASIC3 immunoreactivity in the rat dorsal root ganglion. Brain Res. 2008 Jul 11;1219:26-31

3) Yokoyama M, Hanazaki M, Fujii H, Mizobuchi S, Nakatsuka H, Takahashi T, Matsumi M, Takeuchi M, Morita K. Correlation between the distribution of contrast medium and the extent of blockade during epidural anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 2004 Jun;100(6):1504-10

At the Kochi University Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, we contribute to improving the health of the community in all areas of anesthesiology, including cardiac, thoracic, obstetrics, neurological, pain, and intensive care. Our mission is to be the world leader in patient care, advancing basic science and clinical research, and training tomorrow's leaders in academic anesthesiology and intensive care medicine. Faculty members are deeply committed to achieving excellence in education. Our academic programs emphasize excellence in clinical practice and advanced research. A number of graduates and research students have progressed to undertake research degrees.

Our department conducts a broad range of epidemiological, clinical and basic science research. Experts from multiple disciplines study specific pathology and disorders in order to improve human health and well-being. The specific research areas are as follows: 1) postoperative cognitive dysfunction, 2) neuropathic pain 3) respiration and circulation dynamics, 4) perioperative nutrition, and 5) perioperative outcomes.

EDUCATION
1991 Graduated Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan
1998 Completed the Doctoral Program at the Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

Career
1991-1996 Resident and Clinical fellow at the Department of Emergency and Critical care Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
1997 Official Staff at the Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
1998-2000 Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency and Critical care Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
2001-2003 Official Staff at the Department of Emergency and Critical care Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
2003 Completed UN-CMCoord Training Course by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Sweden
2003-2005 Official Medical Staff at the Air-Self Defense Force, Japan
2005-2011 Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency and Critical care Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
2011-2020 Senior Lecturer at the Department of Emergency and Critical care Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
2020-2023 Associate Professor at the Department of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Kochi Medical School
2023-present Professor at the Department of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Kochi Medical School

Selected papers
1.Miyauchi M, Hayashida M, Yokota H: Evaluation of residual toxic substances in the stomach using upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for management of patients with oral drug overdose on admission: a prospective, observational study. Medicine (Baltimore), 94(4), e463, 2015Suganuma N, Kusaka Y, Hering KG, Vehmas T, Kraus T, Arakawa H, Parker JE, Kivisaari L, Letourneux M, Gevenois PA, Tuengerthal S, Crane MD, Shida H, Akira M, Henry DA, Nakajima Y, Hiraga Y, Itoh H, Hosoda Y. Reliability of the proposed international classification of high-resolution computed tomography for occupational and environmental respiratory diseases. J Occup Health. 2009;51(3):210-22. Epub 2009 Apr 17. PubMed PMID: 19372629.

2.Miyauchi M, Hayashida M, Yokota H: Successful retrieval using ultrathin transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy of a significant amount of residual tricyclic antidepressant following serious toxicity: a case report. Int J Emerg Med, 22(6), 39, 2013

3.Miyauchi M, Hisayasu S, Shimada T：Influenza Fusogenic Peptide in DNA Complex Enhances Asialoglycoprotein Receptor-Mediated Gene Transfer to Hepatoma Cells: A Strategy for Liver-Targeting Gene Therapy, J Clin Biochem Nutr, Vol. 23, 85-93, 1997

(1)Research on improving disaster medical care systems in anticipation of Nankai Trough earthquake
In the face of the upcoming Nankai Trough earthquake, our hospital will not only provide medical treatment as a wide-area disaster key hospital, but will also be responsible for transporting patients outside Kochi prefecture, and will have to fulfill its role as a last resort. We will promote research to minimize the number of preventable deaths caused by disasters, first by improving our in-hospital system, while collaborating with Kochi Prefecture and many other organizations outside Kichi prefecture.

(2)Usefulness of image diagnosis with abdominal CT and upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy in gastrointestinal decontamination
Poison is mainly absorbed in the small intestine, although it can be partially absorbed in the stomach. Therefore, it is important to evaluate residual drug levels in the stomach to determine the indication for gastrointestinal decontamination, including gastric lavage, when dealing with poisoning by drug overdose.

In the Position Statements published in 1997 and the successive Positionpaper and Position paper update, the indication for gastric lavage depends on the physician in charge with no clear time setting for the indication of gastrointestinal decontamination. However, at the beginning of treatment, residual drug in the stomach is estimated based on the duration after intake,and there is the possibility that the drug remains depending on the type of drug, such as sustained preparations or enteric tablets. In addition,it was reported that various factors, such as food intake, general conditions, including dehydration, and intake of a drug to induce intestinal hypoperistalsis, were related with various drug forms and amounts; for example, a drug maintained its form in the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach, or a drug was dissolved. Thus, the evaluation of residual drug in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, based on CT images or upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy is useful for the diagnosis of poisoning and may affect therapeutic policies, including gastrointestinal decontamination. On the other hand, upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy may be effective in the evaluation of residual drug in the gastrointestinal tract and decontamination of intoxicating substances, such as residues of toxic drugs and clots.

EDUCATION
1997 Graduated with a degree in Medicine, Okayama University School of Medicine
2006 Doctor of Medicine (Okayama University)

Career
1997 Residency at Okayama University Hospital
1999 Worked at Matsuyama Municipal Hospital
2000 Worked at Kochi Prefectural Central Hospital
2002 Research Student, Okayama University School of Medicine
2003 Completed UN-CMCoord Training Course by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Sweden
2005 Medical Fellow, Department of General Medicine, Okayama University
2006 Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology, Immunology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University
2011 Lecturer, Department of Rheumatology and Collagen Disease, Okayama University Hospital
2015 Associate Professor, Department of Nephrology, Immunology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Medicine, Kochi Medical School
2020 Specially Appointed Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Kochi Medical School

Award
2007 The 4th iHOPE International Award for Clinical Research Design School for Nephrologists and Dialysis Therapists

Selected papers
1.Grit personality of physicians and achievement of treatment goals in patients with system lupus erythematosus. Sada KE, Miyawaki Y, Shidahara K, Nawachi S, Katayama Y, Asano Y, Hayashi K, Ohashi K, Katsuyama E, Katsuyama T, Takano-Narazaki M, Matsumoto Y, Oguro N, Ishikawa Y, Sakurai N, Hidekawa C, Yoshimi R, Kishida D, Ichikawa T, Shimojima Y, Kurita N, Yajima N. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023;62(6):2154-2159.

2.Clinical practice guidelines of the Japan Research Committee of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare for Intractable Vasculitis for the management of microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis: The 2023 update. Sada KE, Nagasaka K, Kaname S, Nango E, Kishibe K, Dobashi H, Hiromura K, Kawakami T, Bando M, Wada T, Amano K, Murakawa Y, Harigai M.Mod Rheumatol. 2023: road081.

3.Bicarbonate concentration as a predictor of prognosis in moderately severe COVID-19 patients: A multicenter retrospective study.Sada KE, Yamamoto R, Yano A, Miyauchi A, Kawamura M, Ito H.PLoS One. 2022;17(6):e0270141.

The Challenge of Training Local Medical Professionals

1.Outline of the Kuroshio Medical Personnel Training Project
The Kuroshio Medical Personnel Training Project, adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) in 2022, aims to train medical personnel for a new era to meet the challenges of modern Japan, such as depopulation and an aging society. In collaboration with Mie University and Wakayama Medical University, we are jointly addressing these challenges.

2.Mission of This Research Group
Our research group is dedicated to scientifically elucidating local issues and proposing solutions. Would you like to join us and help address the challenges found in your community?

3.Roles and Learning for Course Participants
A)Clarification of local medical issues: Participants will analyze local medical issues based on their actual experiences in the medical field. Findings from this analysis will guide research aimed at solving specific problems.
B)Research design skills: During the second year, participants learn to construct clinical questions, conduct literature searches, understand the significance of research, and choose and analyze the most appropriate research designs. In the third year, participants conduct actual analyses of collected data and provide support for the second-year students' research designs.
C)Presentation of research results at academic conferences: By the fourth year, participants aim to present their findings at academic conferences. They also focus on writing papers in English to achieve international recognition.
D)Participation in academic conferences: Participants are encouraged to attend the annual conference of Japanese Primary Care Association. Engaging with doctors and students from across Japan offers a wealth of new knowledge and perspectives.

Discover new knowledge from the needs of the local medical field and contribute to shaping a new form of medicine. We eagerly anticipate your passion and talent!

EDUCATION
1978-1984　　Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan
1984-1988　　Graduate student, Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Japan

Career
1988-2002　　Research Associate to Lecturer at the Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Japan
2002-2012　　Associate Professor, at the Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Japan
2012-2024　　Professor at the Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Japan
2024-present Director at the Education and Human Resource Center for Clinical Research, Kochi Medical School Hospital, Japan

Award
2007　14th Congress of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association "Blue Ribbon Award” for the excellent poster presentation
2007　37th Congress of the West region of the Japanese Society of Nephrology The excellent oral presentation Award
2017　2019　Pediatrics Internatinal Best Reviewer Award

Selected papers
1.Baba N, Wang F, Iizuka M, Shen Y, Yamashita T, Takaishi K, Tsuru E,Matsushima S,　Miyamura M, Fujieda M, Tsuda M, Sagara Y, Maeda N. Induction of regional chemokine expression in response to human umbilical cord blood cell infusion in the neonatal mouseischemia-reperfusion brain injury model.PLoS One. 2019 Sep4;14(9): e0221111.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221111. eCollection 2019. PubMed

2.Kikuchi H, Saitoh S, Tsuno T, Hosoda R, Baba N, Wang F, Mitsuda N, Tsuda M, Maeda N, Sagara Y, Fujieda M. Safety and feasibility of autologous cord blood infusion for improving motor function in young children with cerebral palsy in Japan: A single-center study. Brain & Development 44: 681-689, 2022 doi: 10.1016/j.braindev. 2022.08.004

3.Mitsuda N, Eitoku M, Yamasaki K, J-P NA, Fujieda M, Maeda N, SuganumaN,Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group. Association between maternal cholesterol level during pregnancy and placental weight and birthweight ratio: data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 23: 484, 2023 doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05810-3

　It is important and unmet need for medical institutions to develop creative ideas and original research (seeds) and their integration into clinical research that may contribute to improving medical health care in Japan.

　For this reason, medical educational institutions throughout Japan are focusing on developing original and innovative research and promoting them as clinical research. However, few universities in Japan seem to incorporate this policy into their education system for medical students.

　The basic philosophy of EHRCCR, under Kochi Medical School (KMS), is to train medical students to become good doctors and researchers who can promote clinical research in the future. This approach may motivate medical professionals to participate in international medical stage and focus their working value by learning the basic and clinical research. This may enlighten the importance of creative research development among medical students and young doctors by proper learning, mutual discussion, improving their presentation style at international conferences and writing skills of scientific papers.

　Our center would also like to propose collaboration with each team (education and human resource) of the center for the promotion of advanced medical sciences in order to educate and develop medical students and young doctors using the Yaneya System and Terakoya Method.

　The ultimate goal of our center is to send talented individuals, after completing their graduation under this educational program, to the higher organizations such as the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in a rotation system, After returning to KMS, they will educate the young generation of KMS and contribute their effort and achievement to the development of medical science in Japan.

　By educating medical students and developing human resources, two integral parts of “Center for Innovation and Translational Medicine”, our EHRCCR aims to transform KMS into an "academia" filled with a "research culture."

Selected papers

1) Yamagami T, Arai Y, Matsueda K, Inaba Y, Sueyoshi S, Takeuchi Y: The cause of nontumorous defects of portal perfusion in the hepatic hilum revealed by CT during arterial portography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 172: 397-402, 1999

2) Yamagami T, Kato T, Iida S, Tanaka O, Nishimura T: Value of transcatheter arterial embolization with coils and n-butyl cyanoacrylate for long-term hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy. Radiology 230: 792-802, 2004

3) Yamagami T, Yoshimatsu R, Kajiwara K, Ishikawa M, Matsumoto T, Kakizawa H, Toyoda N, Hasebe T, Awai K: Effectiveness of combined use of imprint cytological and histological examination in CT-guided tissue-core biopsy. Eur Radiol 24: 1127-1134, 2014

Education

1989-1995 Kochi Medical School, Japan

Career

1995-1998 Orthopaedic surgeon, Kochi Medical School, Japan

1999-2001 Orthopaedic surgeon, Hosogi Hospital, Japan

2001-2002 Orthopaedic surgeon, Tokyo teishin hospital, Japan

2002-2003 Orthopaedic surgeon, Kochi red cross hospital, Japan

2003-2007 Assistant professor, Kochi Medical School, Japan

2007-2008 Research fellow, Iowa University Medical School, USA

2009-2012 Lecturer, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan

2013-2014 Associate professor, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan

2014-present Professor, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan

Selected papers

1) Ikeuchi M, Yamamoto H, Shibata M, Otani M (2001). Mechanical augmentation of the vertebral body by calcium phosphate cement injection. J Orthop Sci 6: 39-45.

2) Izumi M, Ikeuchi M, Mitani T, Taniguchi S, Tani T (2010). Prevention of venous stasis in the lower limb by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 39, 642-645.

3) Ikeuchi M, Ushida T, Izumi M, Tani T (2011). Percutaneous radiofrequency treatment for refractory antero-medial pain of osteoarthritic knees. Pain Med 12: 546-51.

(1) Pulmonary embolism is a fatal postoperative complication arising from the deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the limbs. As the so-called ‘post-operative’ DVT is ‘intra-operative’ in origin in most cases, any prophylactic measure should start during, rather than after the operation. The intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices for the legs, commonly used as a mechanical prevention of DVT, are not applicable to the legs undergoing operation despite the highest incidence of DVT.

Our method of thromboprophylactic transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TpTENS) can circumvent this problem. TpTENS using a pair of sterilized surface stimulating electrodes can be carried out during hip and knee surgeries to prevent DVT in the leg under operation, overcoming the inherent limitations of IPC. Our experimental data in humans, detailed previously, confirmed that TpTENS applied to the peroneal nerve at a rate of 10/s promoted the ‘pump action’ with an artificial muscle contraction, increasing the popliteal vein velocity and flow volume more than when performing IPC.

We are currently conducting a prospective trial on hip and knee surgeries to verify the clinical value of this technique in the prevention of DVT. We are also developing neurostimulating equipment with optimal characteristics specified for this purpose, since a TpTENS device should be commercialized to make this technique popular as a simple, easy to use, and readily available one.

(2) Japan is moving toward an aging society at an unprecedented speed, resulting in a steady increase in the number of elderly people who are chairbound or bedridden. We have developed specially designed assistive devices for people who have difficulty in walking and transferring unassisted to help them maintain mobility and continue an active lifestyle. We are currently developing a special machine of walking exercises for the elderly with gait disturbance. Unlike conventional wheeled walkers requiring much open space for training, our machine contains an electronically controlled treadmill on a turntable with stable support for protecting against falls, allowing the user to safely train using walking exercises not only in a forward direction but also backwards and diagonally.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), developed by Malik et al. in 1987, has recently been attracting attention as a third-generation photosensitive substance. 5-ALA is a natural amino acid that has existed in animals and plants for 3.6 billion years, and is a common precursor of hemoglobin and chlorophyll. 5-ALA is an endogenous porphyrin synthesized from succinyl CoA and glycine by 5-ALA-synthesizing enzymes in mitochondria. It is converted to protoporphyrinogenⅨ and then to a photoactive substance, protoporphyrinⅨ (PpⅨ), in mitochondria through several precursors in the cytoplasm, such as porphobilinogen, uroporphyrinogen III, and coproporphyrinogen III. Intracellular iron is then inserted into PpⅨ by a catalyst, ferrochelatase, and metabolized to heme and bilirubin. Exogenously administered 5-ALA is rapidly incorporated into the cytoplasm and biosynthesized into PpⅨ in mitochondria, similarly to endogenous ALA, but the negative feedback mechanism acts depending on the heme synthesis level in the metabolic process of PpⅨ in normal cells, and PpⅨ synthesis is the rate-limiting step. In contrast, in cancer cells, elevations of the β-transporter (gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor) and porphobilinogen diaminase activity levels promote PpⅨ biosynthesis. Moreover, PpⅨ metabolism is inhibited due to enhanced transferrin receptor activity and reduced ferrochelatase activity, resulting in the marked progression of PpⅨ biosynthesis and accumulation. These phenomena involved in PpⅨ biosynthesis and metabolism are considered to be due to the common biological characteristic of cancers: preference for anaerobic metabolism of various abnormal enzyme activities and cancers (Warburg effect).

Since PpⅨ possesses photoactivity, it emits red fluorescence when it is excited by light irradiation at a specific wavelength, mainly visible blue light (375-445 nm), and cancer cells can be accurately identified by detecting the fluorescence. This is the mechanism of PDD employing 5-ALA (ALA-PDD).

Similarly, when PpⅨ is excited by light irradiation at a specific wavelength and low output, mainly visible red light (600-740nm) or visible green light (480-580nm), reactive oxygen, such as singlet oxygen, is produced in and injures cancer cells upon energy conversion from the excited state, in which PpⅨ absorbs photo energy, to the baseline condition. This is the mechanism of PDT employing 5-ALA (ALA-PDT).

ALA-PDD and ALA-PDT are photodynamic technologies based on the common biological characteristic of cancers, and are expected as new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for many cancers.

Education
Graduate from Kochi Medical School in 1984.
Research fellow 1986-1988 at John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii (Department of Pathology, Kuakini Medical Center)
Graduate from post-graduate school of Kochi Medical School in 1988.

Career
1989 Assistant Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School
1996 Assistant Professor
2004 Associate Professor
2006 11 Professor of Department Human Health and Clinical Sciences, Hospital Administration section
Director of Cancer Treatment Center, Kochi Medical School Hospital
2012 4 Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery Education and Training Center
2012 4 Professor of Department of Surgery, Clinical Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Kochi Medical School

Award
1999.9 The Clinical Electron Microscopy of Clinical Molecular Morphology Best Paper Award
2005.4 SAGES 2005 (Society for American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons) Distinction Award
2013.9 The Japanese Society for Clinical Molecular Morphology Yasuzumi Memorial Award
2014.6 Excellence in Reviewing 2013, European journal of Surgical Oncology & ELSEVIER
2014.9 All-japan Federation of National Health Insurance Organizations Award
2015.2 Kochi Federation of National Health Insurance Organizations Award
2015.6 Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, European Journal of Surgical Oncology & ELSEVIER

Selected papers
1) Laparoscopic lymph node dissection around the inferior mesenteric artery for cancer in the lower sigmoid colon and rectum: is D3 lymph node dissection with preservation of the left colic artery feasible?. Kobayashi M, Okamoto K, Namikawa T, Okabayashi T, Araki K. Surg Endosc 20(4)Apr:563-569

2) Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair: a new mesh fixation method without stapling. Kobayashi M, Ichikawa K, Okamoto K, Namikawa T, Okabayashi T, Araki K. Surg Endosc 20(10)Oct:1621-1625

3) Laparoscopic D3 lymph node dissection with preservation of the superior rectal artery for the treatment of proximal sigmoid and descending colon cancer. Kobayashi M, Okamoto K, Namikawa T, Okabayashi T, Sakamoto J, Hanazaki K. J Laparoendosc Advanced Surg Tech A 17(4)Aug:461-466

Education
Graduate from Kochi Medical School in 1984.
Research fellow 1986-1988 at John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii (Department of Pathology, Kuakini Medical Center)
Graduate from post-graduate school of Kochi Medical School in 1988.

Career
1989 Assistant Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School
1996 Assistant Professor
2004 Associate Professor
2006 11 Professor of Department Human Health and Clinical Sciences, Hospital Administration section
Director of Cancer Treatment Center, Kochi Medical School Hospital
2012 4 Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery Education and Training Center
2012 4 Professor of Department of Surgery, Clinical Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Kochi Medical School

Award
1999.9 The Clinical Electron Microscopy of Clinical Molecular Morphology Best Paper Award
2005.4 SAGES 2005 (Society for American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons) Distinction Award
2013.9 The Japanese Society for Clinical Molecular Morphology Yasuzumi Memorial Award
2014.6 Excellence in Reviewing 2013, European journal of Surgical Oncology & ELSEVIER
2014.9 All-japan Federation of National Health Insurance Organizations Award
2015.2 Kochi Federation of National Health Insurance Organizations Award
2015.6 Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, European Journal of Surgical Oncology & ELSEVIER

Selected papers
1) A feasibility study of sequential paclitaxel and S-1 (PTX/S-1) chemotherapy as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. Kobayashi M, Tsuburaya A, Nagata N, Miyashita Y, Oba K, Sakamoto J. Gastric Cancer 9(2):114-119
2) Pharmacokinetic study of weekly administration dose of paclitaxel in patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer in Japan. Kobayashi M, Oba K, Sakamoto J, Kondo K, Nagata N, Okabayashi T, Namikawa T, Hanazaki K. Gastric Cancer 10(1)Feb:52-57.
3) Sequential paclitaxel followed by tegafur and uracil (UFT) or S-1 versus UFT or S-1 monotherapy as adjuvant chemotherapy for T4a/b gastric cancer (SAMIT): a phase 3 factorial randomised controlled trial. Tsuburaya A, Yoshida K, Kobayashi M, Yoshino S, Takahashi M, Takiguchi N, Tanabe K, Takahashi N, Imamura H, Tatsumoto N, Hara A, Nishikawa K, Fukushima R, Nozaki I, Kojima H, Miyashita Y, Oba K, Buyse M, Morita S, Sakamoto J. Lancet Oncol 15(8)Jul:886-893.