Peritoneal loose bodies (PLBs) are defined as fibrotic or calcified-free bodies within the peritoneal cavity; they commonly autoamputate from appendices epiploicae that have undergone torsion. Pedunculated, subserosal uterine leiomyomas (PSULs) are subserosal uterine leiomyomas connected to the uterus via a pedicle. In the present report, we describe the case of a PLB that originated from the autoamputation of a PSUL, confirmed based on histological evidence consistent with a uterine leiomyoma and the laparoscopic findings of a broken pedicle. This case clearly demonstrates the potential for a uterine leiomyoma to be the source of a PLB. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the etiological relationship between PLBs and uterine leiomyomas.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limited vasculitis of unknown etiology that occurs predominantly in young children (≤5 years of age). We herein report the case of an 18-year-old Japanese man with a history of incomplete KD during infancy; later, despite an initial diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess, he was ultimately diagnosed with retropharyngeal edema associated with recurrent KD. Adult-onset or recurrent KD is an uncommon event, and retropharyngeal edema is a rare manifestation of this disease. Internists should be aware of the possibility of KD that mimics a retropharyngeal abscess, even in adult patients.

The Language and Its SpeakersShiraho is spoken in Shiraho village on Ishigaki Island, which is located in the southernmost islands of the Ryukyu archipelago. While Shiraho village has a population of about 1,600, the number of speakers of Shiraho is under 100. This is because the majority of speakers are over seventy years of age. Community members in their fifties and sixties seem to have passive language knowledge of Shiraho, but the situation among younger generations is not known. Shiraho belongs to Yaeyaman, which is a sub-branch of Macro-Yaeyaman, within the Southern Ryukyuan languages (Pellard 2015). The language-internal genealogical classification of Yaeyaman is the subject of discussion, but according to Lawrence (2000), Shiraho and Hateruma diverged from other Yaeyaman dialects at an early stage. This genealogical relationship with Hateruma is due to the twice forced migration from Hateruma Island in 1710 and 1771.There are previous works focused on Shiraho written in Japanese. Notable works are Nakagawa et al. (2016), which is the first grammar sketch of Shiraho, and Ryūkyū Hōgen Kenkyū Club (2006), which gives a vocabulary list. This chapter gives a grammatical overview of Shiraho with new data collected in my fieldwork. This paper is also a grammar sketch, but diverges from Nakagawa et al. (2016) in terms of (i) updated analysis of simple sentences, and (ii) giving basic description of complex sentences. There are descriptive studies on other Yaeyaman dialects: Aso (2020) for Hateruma, Harada (2015) for Kuroshima, and Izuyama (2003) for Miyara. Lawrence (2011) describes Southern Ryukyuan, focusing on the data from the Hatoma dialect.