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Arsine is one of the most potent hemolytic agents. It is important to clarify arsine metabolism as well as its chemical interactions with biological components. The aim of the present study was to clarify arsine metabolism by arsenic speciation analysis in serum and urine from an acute poisoning patient with hematuria, anemia, and renal and liver dysfunction. Speciation analysis of arsenics in serum and urine was performed using HPLC-ICP-MS. The total arsenic (T-As) concentration in serum was 244.8 μg/l at admission and 97.1 μg/l at discharge. In the speciation analysis, four kinds of As compounds derived from arsine metabolism were detected in serum and urine. The concentration of arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in serum at admission were 45.8, 5.2, 17.9 and 9.3 μg/l, respectively. The concentrations of AsIII, AsV, and MMA decreased with biological half time (BHT) of 30.1, 43.0, and 96.3 h, respectively. Only DMA was increased at discharge. The urinary AsIII, AsV, MMA and DMA concentrations were 223.0, 12.1, 317.5 and 1053.5 μg/l at discharge, and decreased with BHT of 15.1, 20.8, 14.7, and 16.0 d, respectively. The results indicate that arsine was quickly metabolized to AsIII and subsequently up to DMA, with the result that the toxic effects of inorganic arsenic were added to those of arsine toxicity.

Seaweed contains large amounts of various arsenic compounds such as arsenosugars (AsSugs), but their relative toxicities have not yet been fully evaluated. A risk evaluation of dietary arsenic would be necessary. After developing an arsenic speciation analysis of wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida), we conducted a wakame ingestion experiment using volunteers. Five volunteers ingested 300 g of commercial wakame after refraining from seafood for 5 days. Arsenic metabolites in the urine were monitored over a 5-day period after ingestion. Total arsenic concentration of the wakame seaweed was 34.3 ± 2.1 mg arsenic/kg (dry weight, n = 3). Two AsSugs, 3-[5′-deoxy-5′-(dimethyl-arsinoyl)-β-ribofuranosyloxy]-propylene glycol (AsSug328) and 3-[5′-deoxy-5′-(dimethyl-arsinoyl)-β- ribofuranosyl-oxy]-2-hydroxypropyl-2,3-dihydroxy-propyl phosphate (AsSug482) were detected, but arsenobetaine, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), monomethylarsonic acid, and inorganic arsenics (iAs) were not detected. The major peak was AsSug328, which comprised 89% of the total arsenic. Approximately 30% of the total arsenic ingested was excreted in the urine during the 5-day observation. Five arsenic compounds were detected in the urine after ingestion, the major one being DMA, which comprised 58.1 ± 5.0% of the total urinary arsenic excreted over the 5 days. DMA was believed to be metabolized not from iAs but from AsSugs, and its biological half-time was approximately 13 h.

This paper studies the effect of preload treatment on the elastic modulus of braided high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) rope for static loading in tendon-driven robot. Two different methods of preload treatment were applied on HMPPE rope namely preload in tensile and cyclic loadings. A suitable load level of preload treatment was also investigated in order to apply in the real application. Furthermore, the cause of the lowest elastic modulus of the stabilized rope was identified by performing preload treatment on the strand constituting the rope. After completing preload treatment, the preloaded rope and strand were tested in five cyclic loadings further in order to examine the stability of rope modulus. To detect the change in construction geometry of the rope during preload treatment and cyclic loading of preloaded rope in term of rope diameter and strand angle, acoustic emission (AE) testing and a high speed camera were used. Results show that preload treatment in tensile loading could be conducted as an alternative method to replace the preload treatment in cyclic loading which is commonly used. It is also found that elastic modulus of the preloaded rope and strand at the first cycle have smallest value compared to the other cycles (cycles 2–5). This phenomenon is caused by elastic recovery of the material itself which could occur after preload treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that moderate alcohol consumption decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes but that elevated liver enzymes increased it. The comparative importance of alcohol consumption and liver enzymes as predictors of type 2 diabetes remains unconfirmed. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The participants included 8,576 Japanese men, aged 40-55 years, without type 2 diabetes at entry. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed if a fasting plasma glucose level was >or=126 mg/dl or if participants were taking oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin. RESULTS: During the 4-year follow-up period, we confirmed 878 cases. In multivariate models, moderate daily alcohol consumption (16.4-42.6 g ethanol/day) decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes, and higher levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased the risk. In joint analyses of alcohol consumption and liver enzymes, moderate drinkers with the lowest tertile of GGT had the lowest risk of type 2 diabetes. Compared with them, nondrinkers with the highest GGT had the highest risk of type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 3.18 [95% CI 1.75-5.76]). At every level of GGT, moderate or heavy alcohol drinkers (>or=42.7 g ethanol/day) had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than nondrinkers. The relationship of ALT and daily alcohol consumption with the risk of type 2 diabetes was almost the same as that of GGT. CONCLUSIONS: GGT, ALT, and daily alcohol consumption were independently associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Nondrinkers with the highest GGT or ALT had a high risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that bioluminescence sensor systems were developed for monitoring environmental mercury contamination. How the biological mercury measurement sensor systems were constructed by DNA recombination technique; Use of a bacterial mercury-resistant operon (mer operon) from Pseudomonas sp. K-6y4 and a bacterial bioluminescence operon (lux operon) from an ocean bacterium Vibrio fischeri which were fused in a vector plasmid.

To develop biotechnology for biological treatment of mercury-contaminated wastes or for bioremediation of mercury-polluted sites, mercury-resistant microorganisms have been isolated and characterized. However, understanding of the mercury resistance mechanism by anaerobic bacteria is lacking. In this study, we tried to isolate anaerobic mercury-resistant bacteria from mercury-polluted sediment in Minamata Bay, Japan. One strain of the bacterial isolates, designated Mersaru, was used for the identification and for the growth capability of mercurials. We also analyzed genetic characteristics of mercury resistance genes (merA and merB gene) from the strain Mersaru. The strain Mersaru, which was isolated from Minamata Bay sediment, was identified as Clostridium butyricum and showed resistance to both inorganic mercury and organomercurials. Furthermore, nucleotide sequence analysis showed that merA and merB genes of the strain Mersaru were identical to those of the B. cereus RC607 an aerobic mercury-resistant bacterium in the nucleotide sequence level. From the pulsed field gel electrophoresis analysis, it is suggest that the mer operon of the strain Mersaru is located on chromosomal DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryAims To investigate association between leisure-time physical activity at weekends and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods Prospective examination of 6013 Japanese men aged 35–60 years who were free of DM, impaired fasting glycaemia, or hypertension at study entry. Type 2 DM was defined by a fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 7.0 mmol/l or a 2-h post-load plasma glucose level ≥ 11.1 mmol/l. Data on physical activity obtained from questionnaires consisted of overall leisure-time physical activity weekly and leisure-time physical activity at weekends. Results During the 59 966 person-years follow-up, 444 cases developed Type 2 DM. Regular physical exercise at least once a week was associated with a reduced risk of Type 2 DM. After adjustments for age, body mass index, daily alcohol consumption, smoking habits, blood pressure levels and a parental history of Type 2 DM, men who engaged in regular physical exercise at least once a week had a relative risk of Type 2 DM of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.61–0.93) compared with men engaging in exercise less often. Even vigorous activity only once a week at weekends was associated with a reduced risk of Type 2 DM. Men who engaged in vigorous activity at least once a week at weekends had a multiple-adjusted relative risk of Type 2 DM of 0.55 (95% CI, 0.35–0.88) compared with sedentary men. Conclusions Regular physical exercise at least once a week and vigorous activity even only once a week at weekends are associated with a decreased risk of Type 2 DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Aims To assess the impact of cigarette smoking on the incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in middle-aged Japanese men. Methods The study enrolled 6250 men aged 35–60 years and free of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and hypertension at entry. Type 2 DM was defined by a fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 7.0 mmol/l or physician-diagnosed Type 2 DM. Results Four hundred and fifty cases of Type 2 DM were confirmed during the 60 904 person-years follow-up. After adjustment for multiple covariates, including age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, parental history of diabetes and the level of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and haematocrit, the relative risk of Type 2 DM among current smokers compared with non-smokers was 1.47 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–1.92). Men who smoked > 30 cigarettes/day had a multivariate-relative risk of 1.73 (95% CI 1.20–2.48) compared with non-smokers. The number of cigarettes smoked daily and the pack-year values were positively related to the development of Type 2 DM in a dose-dependent manner (P for trends = 0.0026 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions A cigarette smoking habit is an independent risk factor for Type 2 DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We prospectively assessed whether the combined measurements of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and A1C were effective for predicting type 2 diabetes.Research Design and Methods: Study participants included 6,736 nondiabetic Japanese men aged 40-55 years. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in those who had an FPG >or=126 mg/dl or who were being treated with an oral antidiabetic agent or insulin. The models including FPG, A1C, and both were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves.Results: During the 4-year follow-up period, we confirmed 659 diabetes cases. In multivariate analysis, both FPG and A1C were independently associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. The model including both FPG and A1C had a greater AUROC curve than that including FPG alone (0.853 vs. 0.818; P < 0.001) or A1C alone (0.853 vs. 0.771; P < 0.001).Conclusions: The combined measurement of FPG and A1C was effective for predicting type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Because skeletal muscle is one of the target tissues for insulin, skeletal muscle mass might be associated with type 2 diabetes. Serum creatinine is a possible surrogate marker of skeletal muscle mass. The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum creatinine level is associated with type 2 diabetes.Research Design and Methods: The study participants were nondiabetic Japanese men (n = 8,570) aged 40-55 years at entry. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed if fasting plasma glucose was >or=126 mg/dl or if participants were taking oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin.Results: During the 4-year follow-up period, 877 men developed type 2 diabetes. Lower serum creatinine was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The multiple-adjusted odds ratio for those who had serum creatinine levels between 0.40 and 0.60 mg/dl was 1.91 (95% CI 1.44-2.54) compared with those who had levels between 0.71 and 0.80 mg/dl.Conclusions: Lower serum creatinine increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biotransformation following oral administration of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), an organoarsenical herbicide and the main metabolite of inorganic arsenic in mammals, was studied in rats. Male F344/DuCrj rats were administered a single dose of DMA (50 mg/kg) orally. Urine was collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 24, and 48 h after administration byforced urination. Arsenic metabolites in urine were analyzed by ion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS). The proportions of urinary elimination of DMA, trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO), methylarsonic acid (MMA), an unidentified arsenic metabolite, and arsenite were determined at various timepoints after administration. Unmetabolized DMA was the most common form excreted during the first 4 h. Thereafter, a gradual decrease in the proportion of DMA was observed, while progressive increases in those of TMAO, theunidentified metabolite, and arsenite occurred. The proportion of TMAO excreted amounted to over 50% of all arsenic in urine between 6 and 24 h. The proportion of the unidentified metabolite and arsenite were each approximately 10% at 10 and 24 h after administration. The findings indicate that DMA administered to rats was initially excreted as unchanged DMA, and later as the methylated metabolite, TMAO. Arsenite, a demethylated metabolite of DMA, also was excreted later than elimination of DMA and TMAO. The hypothesis of demethylation by intestinal microorganisms can be supported by comparing the metabolites following oral and intraperitoneal administration. The unidentified metabolite was readily decomposed by HCl but was left unchanged by NaOH; these findings suggest that it was present in a complexed form in urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxic effects of arsenic compounds on cell division were studied, using Chinese hamster V79 cells. Seven arsenic compounds were tested. Inorganic arsenic compounds (arsenite and arsenate), which have been found in drinking water, inhibited cell growth at very low concentrations. Monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO), which are methylated metabolites of inorganic arsenics, were less cytotoxic than the inorganic arsenics themselves. The cytotoxicity of the three methylated metabolites decreased as the number of methyl groups increased. Arsenobetaine (AsBe) and arsenocholine (AsC), which have been found in some marine products,did not show any cytotoxicity. Three methylated metabolites; MMA, DMA and TMAO induced mitotic arrest. Tetraploidy production was observed in cells exposed to DMA or TMAO. Arsenite, arsenate, AsBe and AsC did not induce mitotic arrest or tetraploids. These results suggest that MMA, DMA and TMAO exert some effect on cell division in metaphase and may thereby give some clue as to the carcinogenic mechanism of arsenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gardenia fruit (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) is widely used as a natural food colorant and as a traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of hepatic and inflammatory diseases. “Gardenia yellow” is a natural food colorant which is extracted by ethanol from gardenia fruit. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of gardenia yellow. Genotoxicity of gardenia yellow and its components, crocetin, gentiobiose (a component of crocin), geniposide and genipin (formed by hydrolysis of geniposide), was studied by Ames test, rec-assay, and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) using V79 cells. Gardenia yellow and its components were found not to be mutagenic in the Salmonella reverse mutation assay. Gardenia yellow and genipin caused damage of DNA in rec-assay. Gardenia yellow induced a significant dose-dependent increase of SCE frequency (8.6 times at 1000 μg/ml as the value for the solvent control). Only genipin induced SCEs significantly among the components of gardenia yellow. Moreover, genipin induced a significant increase of tetraploids at all doses tested (95% at 8 μg/ml). Gardenia yellow preparation was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE), and geniposide was detected. However, genipin was not observed. In conclusion, we have shown that genipin possesses genotoxicity. Furthermore, there were unidentified genotoxicants in gardenia yellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative method for arsenic (As) contaminated water treatment. This study conducted a two-year year-round field study (cycle1 and cycle2) in a temperate area (Sendai, Japan) using small As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata seedlings to reduce pre-cultivation time and associated costs. The number of seedlings was changed from 256 in the cycle1 period to 165 in the cycle2 period to evaluate the As removal efficiency of P. vittata for As-contaminated water in field conditions with different plant densities. Before the winter season, with continuously increasing fronds, rhizomes, and roots growth, this reduction did not affect the plant's As removal efficiency for As-contaminated water to decrease the As concentration from 30 μg/L to the environmental quality standard for As in water, set at 10 μg/L in Japan. During the winter season, we found that cold weather caused P. vittata to wither and release the accumulated As into water without a greenhouse (cycle1). In the meantime, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and the translocation factor (TF) values for fronds of P. vittata decreased (BAF for fronds: from 66,089 to 8,460; TF for fronds: from 13.4 to 3.4). On the other hand, with greenhouse protection (cycle2), P. vittata did not severely wither and kept accumulating As. Moreover, BAF and TF values for fronds of P. vittata increased (BAF for fronds: from 24,372 to 36,740; TF for fronds: from 5.2 to 17.2). Maintaining the air temperature inside the greenhouse, particularly around the rhizomes, above 0 °C may be the reason why P. vittata remained alive and functional during the cold winter. These results indicate that a single-layer polyethylene greenhouse was sufficient for the tropical-subtropical As-hyperaccumulator fern P. vittata to survive the cold winter and snow in the temperate area, enabling year-round phytoremediation treatment of As-contaminated water in the open field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Total syntheses of borolithochromes H1, H2, I1, and I2, the red pigments isolated from fossils of Jurassic putative red alga Solenopora jurassica, have been achieved. The naphthoquinone possessing a chiral sec-butyl side chain has been synthesized from (S)-2-methylbutanol. The Diels-Alder reaction of the chiral naphthoquinone and the previously reported diene was followed by one pot S-methylation/intramolecular Corey-Chaykovsky reaction/epoxide rearrangement to provide the benzo[gh]tetraphene skeleton. Complexation of the resulting ligand with trimethyl borate and the following O-demethylation furnished a 1:1 mixture of borolithochromes I1 and I2, which were separated by HPLC using CHIRALPAK IC® to afford optically pure borolithochromes I1 (6) and I2 (7). On the other hand, borolithochromes H1 and H2 were not separated by HPLC in our laboratory. Fortunately, the mixture of the methyl ethers of borolithochromes H1 and H2 were separated and O-demethylation with magnesium iodide furnished optically pure borolithochromes H1 (4) and H2 (5)., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.)

Total syntheses of borolithochromes A, D and G, red pigments isolated from fossils of Jurassic putative red alga Solenopora jurassica, have been achieved. The benzo[gh]tetraphene skeletons of the borate ligands in these substances were constructed using Diels-Alder reactions of aryl dienes with naphthoquinone, followed by intramolecular Corey-Chaykovsky reactions. Complexation of these ligands with trimethyl borate generated homocomplexes, which upon sequential O-demethylation produced borolithochromes A and G. In the route to borolithochrome D, a heterocomplex was prepared by stepwise complexation of the ligands with 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl dimethyl borate. The strategy devised to accomplish the first total synthesis of borolithochromes A, D and G should be applicable to the preparation of other borolithochromes as well as spiroborates possessing two fused polycyclic aromatic ligands., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Aim: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) test for solid tumors is now increasingly utilized in clinical practice, especially in pancreatobiliary cancer, and specimens obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) are often submitted for tissue-based CGP test. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of EUS-TA using a 22-gauge Franseen needle for the CGP test., Methods: Consecutive patients with solid tumors who underwent EUS-TA using a 22-gauge Franseen needle, and whose tissue samples were pre-checked for suitability for CGP test, were included in this single-center, retrospective analysis. The success rates of appropriate sample collection for CGP evaluated by pathologists (1st quality control) and CGP test (2nd quality control) were evaluated. In addition, The EUS-TA slides were evaluated for the tissue area and tumor area content, using the image software., Results: A total of 50 cases, with 78% of pancreatic cancer, were included in the analysis. A median of 3 passes of EUS-TA were performed with an adverse event rate of 4%. The success rates for 1st and 2nd quality control for CGP tests were 86% and 76%, respectively. The image analyses suggested EUS-TA specimen did not always fulfill CGP test criteria, with 18% of tissue area ≥16 mm 2 and 38% of tumor area content ≥20%, even in cases with successful CGP tests. The suction method yielded a significantly larger amount of DNA but without a significant difference in the multivariate analysis., Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the feasibility of EUS-TA using a 22-gauge Franseen needle for CGP test., Competing Interests: Yousuke Nakai is an Associate Editor of Digestive Endoscopy. YN received a research grant from Boston Scientific Japan, Fujifilm Corporation, and honoraria from Boston Scientific Japan, Fujifilm Corporation, and Olympus Corporation. MF received a research grant from Olympus Corporation, Fujifilm Corporation, and honoraria from Fujifilm Corporation, Olympus Corporation., (© 2024 The Authors. DEN Open published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Objectives: Endoscopic management of unresectable hilar malignant biliary obstruction (HMBO) is technically challenging, and effectiveness of stent-in-stent using large-cell, metal stents was reported. A new, large-cell stent with a 6F tapered delivery system was recently developed. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of slim-delivery and conventional large-cell stents., Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective comparative study of stent-in-stent methods using slim-delivery stents (Niti-S Large Cell SR Slim Delivery [LC slim-delivery]) and conventional stents (Niti-S large-cell D-type; LCD) for unresectable HMBO., Results: Eighty-three patients with HMBO were included; 31 LC slim-delivery and 52 LCD. Overall technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 90% in LC slim-delivery group and 98% and 88% in LCD group. Use of the LC slim-delivery was associated with shorter stent placement time in the multiple regression analysis, with a stent placement time of 18 and 23 min in LC slim-delivery and LCD groups, respectively. The early adverse event (AE) rate of LC slim-delivery was 10%, with no cholangitis or cholecystitis as compared to 23% in the LCD group. Recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) rates and time to RBO were comparable between the two groups: 35% and 44%, and 8.5 and 8.0 months in LC slim-delivery and LCD groups, respectively. The major cause of RBO was tumor ingrowth (82%) in the LC slim-delivery group and sludge (43%) and ingrowth (48%) in LCD group., Conclusion: Stent-in-stent methods using LC slim-delivery shortened stent placement time with low early AE rates and comparable time to RBO in patients with HMBO., (© 2023 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Background: Studies have demonstrated a prognostic role of sarcopenia (i.e., loss of skeletal muscle volume and functionality) in patients with various cancer types. In patients with biliary tract cancer, the quantity and quality of skeletal muscles and their serial changes have not been fully investigated in relation to survival outcomes., Methods: We identified 386 patients with unresectable or recurrent biliary tract cancer and calculated skeletal muscle index (SMI) and skeletal muscle density (SMD) to estimate muscular quantity and quality, respectively, based on computed tomography images. Using the Cox regression model with adjustment for potential confounders, we calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) according to skeletal muscle status and its serial change., Results: Compared to patients without sarcopenia, patients with sarcopenia were associated with shorter PFS (multivariable HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.15-2.22; P = 0.005), but not with OS (P = 0.027) at the adjusted α level of 0.013. SMD at baseline was associated with OS (multivariable HR comparing the extreme quartiles, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.07-2.14; P trend  = 0.012), but not with PFS (P trend  = 0.13). A reduction in SMI rather than that in SMD was associated with OS. Progressive disease was a risk factor for reductions in SMI and SMD., Conclusions: Skeletal muscle quantity and quality and their serial changes were associated with survival outcomes in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. Our data highlight the importance of designing nutritional and physical interventions for improvements in skeletal muscle status., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We herein present the first known case of bacteremia caused by Kluyvera georgiana in a 67-year-old female undergoing chemotherapy for recurrent pancreatic cancer. The patient underwent choledochojejunotomy and thereafter developed ascending cholangitis. The diagnosis of K. georgiana was confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A literature review of Kluyvera spp. infections indicated potential risk factors including an underlying malignancy and immunosuppression. Although Kluyvera spp. infections are typically sensitive to antibiotics, multidrug resistance is possible. This case highlights the importance of the early diagnosis and treatment of K. georgiana and its associated risk factors.

Background: Trajectories of serological and morphological signatures have not been documented in pancreatic carcinogenesis related to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs)., Methods: Using a prospective cohort of 3437 IPMN patients, we identified 100 IPMN patients who developed pancreatic carcinomas during long-term surveillance. We examined serial changes of blood markers (carbohydrate antigen 19-9 [CA19-9], hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c], and pancreatic enzymes) and morphological features (worrisome features and high-risk stigmata) during the prediagnostic period of pancreatic carcinomas, overall and by carcinoma types (IPMN-derived vs. concomitant pancreatic carcinomas)., Results: CA19-9 elevation was observed in 39 patients and was associated with a metastatic stage. Compared to IPMN-derived carcinomas, concomitant carcinomas were more likely to represent CA19-9 elevation (60% vs. 30%, respectively; P = 0.005). HbA1c levels elevated only in 3 patients. Pancreatic enzyme elevation was observed in 18 patients with no differences in frequencies between the carcinoma types. All patients with elevated levels of blood markers had positive findings on cross-sectional imaging. High-risk stigmata or worrisome features were observed in all patients but one with concomitant carcinoma. The most common types of worrisome features were the main pancreatic duct dilatation and CA19-9 elevation in IPMN-derived and concomitant carcinomas, respectively. Compared to IPMN-derived carcinomas, concomitant carcinomas were less likely to harbor high-risk stigmata (16% vs. 86%, respectively; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: The usefulness of currently available blood biomarkers was limited in early detection of pancreatic carcinomas related to IPMNs. Morphological alterations were well correlated with long-term risk of IPMN-derived carcinomas, but not with that of concomitant carcinomas., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Endoscopic self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement is a current mainstay for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), but symptomatic recurrence due to initial SEMS dysfunction commonly occurs. We aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of second SEMS for recurrent GOO (RGOO). Methods: Between April 2006 and December 2022, a total of 95 cases with malignant RGOO undergoing second endoscopic SEMS placement were enrolled. Technical and clinical success rates, RGOO, time to RGOO (TRGOO), stent patency rate, adverse events (AE), and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively compared between covered and uncovered SEMS (cSEMS/uSEMS) groups. Risk factors for TRGOO were also explored. Results: Baseline characteristics were well balanced between cSEMS ( n = 48) and uSEMS ( n = 47) groups, except for the causes of the initial SEMS dysfunction. High technical and clinical success rates with a similar incidence of AE (15% vs. 17%, p = 0.78) and OS (median of 101 vs. 102 days, p = 0.68) were achieved in both groups. There were no statistical differences in cumulative incidence of RGOO (19% vs. 13%, p = 0.58), TRGOO (median, not reached in both groups, p = 0.57), and stent patency rates at 1, 2, and 3 months between the groups (60%, 47% and 26%, respectively vs. 70%, 55% and 38%, respectively). However, TRGOO tended to be longer in cSEMS in cases with RGOO due to tumor ingrowth (median, not reached vs. 111 days, p = 0.19). A Cox regression analysis demonstrated that chemotherapy after second SEMS placement was significantly associated with an improved TRGOO (the hazard ratio of 0.27 [95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.93], p = 0.03). Conclusions: Regardless of the type of SEMS, second SEMS placement was similarly safe and effective for RGOO. The type of second SEMS might be considered based on the cause of initial SEMS dysfunction.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is widely used for the pathological diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions but in cases with obstructive jaundice, transpapillary sampling can be performed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with transpapillary biliary stent placement. Thus, it is still controversial whether EUS-FNA should be performed prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with biliary stent placement or only after negative transpapillary sampling., Methods: The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of EUS-FNA for solid pancreatic lesions with or without indwelling biliary stents were retrospectively studied in patients undergoing EUS-FNA between January 2017 and December 2021. We also conducted a meta-analysis including our data to compare the accuracy and sensitivity of EUS-FNA with or without biliary stents., Results: A total of 509 patients (40 with biliary stents and 469 without biliary stents) were included. The accuracy (77.5% vs. 94.5%, p < 0.001) and sensitivity (71.0% vs. 91.7%, p < 0.001) were lower in EUS-FNA with biliary stents. A meta-analysis confirmed that accuracy (odds ratio [OR] of 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.62, p < 0.001) and sensitivity (OR of 0.46, 95% CI 0.33-0.64, p < 0.001) were lower in EUS-FNA with biliary stents. There were no statistically significant differences between plastic stents and self-expandable metallic stents for accuracy or sensitivity., Conclusions: The presence of biliary stents had a negative impact on the diagnostic performance of EUS-FNA, and EUS-FNA prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with biliary stent placement should be considered in cases with obstructive jaundice., Competing Interests: Author Mitsuhiro Fujishiro has received honoraria from Fujifilm Corporation and Olympus Corporation and research grants from Fujifilm Corporation and Olympus Corporation. Author Yousuke Nakai is an editorial board member of Digestive Endoscopy and has received honoraria from Boston Scientific Japan, Gadelius medical corporation, Olympus Corporation, and research grants from Fujifilm Corporation and HOYA Corporation., (© 2023 The Authors. DEN Open published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Gripping slippery and flexible tissues during minimal invasive surgery (MIS) is often challenging using a conventional tissue gripper. A force grip has to compensate for the low friction coefficient between the gripper's jaws and the tissue surface. This study focuses on the development of a suction gripper. This device applies a pressure difference to grip the target tissue without the need to enclose it. Inspiration is taken from biological suction discs, as these are able to attach to a wide variety of substrates, varying from soft and slimy surfaces to rigid and rough rocks. Our bio-inspired suction gripper is divided into two main parts: (1) the suction chamber inside the handle where vacuum pressure is generated, and (2) the suction tip that attaches to the target tissue. The suction gripper fits through a∅10 mm trocar and unfolds in a larger suction surface when being extracted. The suction tip is structured in a layered manner. The tip integrates five functions in separate layers to allow for safe and effective tissue handling: (1) foldability, (2) air-tightness, (3) slideability, (4) friction magnification and (5) seal generation. The contact surface of the tip creates an air-tight seal with the tissue and enhances frictional support. The suction tip's shape grip allows for the gripping of small tissue pieces and enhances its resistance against shear forces. The experiments illustrated that our suction gripper outperforms man-made suction discs, as well as currently described suction grippers in literature in terms of attachment force (5.95±0.52 N on muscle tissue) and substrate versatility. Our bio-inspired suction gripper offers the opportunity for a safer alternative to the conventional tissue gripper in MIS., (Creative Commons Attribution license.)

Here we report a rare case of peritonitis caused by radiation enteritis. The 82-year-old woman who underwent surgery and radiotherapy for uterine cancer in her 30s. Emergency operation was performed for the perforation of the ileum. The small intestine showed changes of radiation enteritis extensively on macroscopy. The first surgery was performed to resect the perforated ileum and make intestinal anastomosis at the change of radiation enteritis. However, suture failure was occurred, reoperation was performed after conservative therapy. Reoperation was performed extensively resection of the intestinal tract and made anastomosis where was mild change of radiation enteritis. Pathological findings of the intestinal stump revealed that the arterial vessels of the submucosal layer were highly thicken and the lumen of artery was stenosis and occlusion with severe changes of radiation enteritis at the first operation. Blood flow disorders by irradiation were presumed to be the cause of suture failure. On the other hand, the intestinal stump did not indicate thickened of vascular wall and lumen stenosis of the vessels, only edematous changes in the submucosal layer were observed at the reoperation. It was important to determine the surgical procedure with the change of radiation enteritis for gastrointestinal operation with abdominal irradiation.

In this study, the phytoremediation potential of tropical and subtropical arsenic (As) hyperaccumulating fern Pteris vittata in an As contaminated farmland field near an abandoned goldmine was investigated. The tested field is located in a subarctic area of northeast Japan. This study was aimed at decreasing the risk of As in the soil (water-soluble As) with nurturing the soil and respecting the plant life cycle for the sustainable phytoremediation for 8 years. The field was tilled and planted with new seedlings of the fern every spring and the grown fern was harvested every autumn. The biomass and As concentration in fronds, rhizomes and roots of the fern were analyzed separately after harvesting each year. The biomass of the fronds of P. vittata was significantly affected by the yearly change of the weather condition, but As concentration in fronds was kept at 100-150 mg/kg dry weight. The accumulated As in P. vittata was higher than that of As-hyperaccumulator fern Pteris cretica, the native fern in the field trial area. Harvested biomass of P. vittata per plant was also higher than that of P. cretica. More than 43.5 g As/154 m 2 (convertible to 2.82 kg of As per hectare) was removed from the farmland field by P. vittata phytoremediation at the end of the 8-year experiment. Because of the short-term plant growth period and soil tilling process, total As in soil did not show significant depletion. However, the water-soluble As in the surface and deeper soil, which is phytoavailable and easily taken in cultivated plants, decreased to 10 μg/L (Japan Environmental Quality Standard for water-soluble As in soil) by the 8-year phytoremediation using P. vittata. These research data elucidate that the tropical and subtropical As hyperaccumulating fern, P. vittata, is applicable for As phytoremediation in the subarctic climate area., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Illumina MiSeq platform has been widely used as a standard method for studying the rumen microbiota. However, the low resolution of taxonomic identification is the only disadvantage of MiSeq amplicon sequencing, as it targets a part of the 16S rRNA gene. In the present study, we performed three experiments to establish a high-resolution and high-throughput rumen microbial profiling approach using a combination of MinION platform and buccal swab sample, which is a proxy for rumen contents. In experiment 1, rumen contents and buccal swab samples were collected simultaneously from cannulated cattle ( n  = 6) and used for microbiota analysis using three different analytical workflows: amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using MiSeq and amplicon sequencing of near full-length 16S rRNA gene using MinION or PacBio Sequel II. All reads derived from the MinION and PacBio platforms were classified at the species-level. In experiment 2, rumen fluid samples were collected from beef cattle ( n  = 28) and used for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing using the MinION platform to evaluate this sequencing platform for rumen microbiota analysis. We confirmed that the MinION platform allowed species-level taxa assignment for the predominant bacterial groups, which were previously identified at the family- and genus-level using the MiSeq platform. In experiment 3, buccal swab samples were collected from beef cattle ( n  = 30) and used for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing using the MinION platform to validate the applicability of a combination of the MinION platform and buccal swab samples for rumen microbiota analysis. The distribution of predominant bacterial taxa in the buccal swab samples was similar to that in the rumen samples observed in experiment 2. Based on these results, we concluded that the combination of the MinION platform and buccal swab samples may be potentially applied for rumen microbial analysis in large-scale studies., Competing Interests: YO and KIw are affiliated with MEIJI FEED. CO., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Miura, Takeda, Yamaguchi, Ohtani, Endo, Masuda, Ito, Nagura, Iwashita, Mitani, Suzuki, Kobayashi and Koike.)