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Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare disorder caused by reduced ferrochelatase activity and shows incomplete autosomal dominant inheritance. Meticulous perioperative management can avoid characteristic complications. This report describes a case of a bleeding jejunal tumor in a patient with EPP. A 49-year-old man with a history of EPP was admitted to our department with abdominal distention and severe anemia. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed an abdominal tumor measuring 5 cm, originating from the small bowel wall or mesentery. Tumor resection was planned after correction of anemia. Red blood cell transfusion restored his hemoglobin to acceptable levels; however, his liver function worsened. Institution of liver support therapy achieved gradual reduction in his elevated liver enzymes; however, hyperbilirubinemia persisted. He underwent tumor resection on the 12th day of hospitalization. Yellow filters were used to avoid operating room light-induced tissue injury. The tumor was located in the jejunum 30 cm from the Treitz ligament toward the anal aspect. The histopathological diagnosis was desmoid-type fibromatosis of the jejunum. Postoperatively, his hemoglobin levels were stabilized; however, his serum bilirubin level remained high. His serum bilirubin level gradually decreased following hemin injections (150 mg/day). Reducing heme synthesis and minimizing protoporphyrin generation are important perioperatively. Additionally, preventing operating room light-induced tissue burns and selecting appropriate anesthestic agents are important during surgery. The institution of appropriate treatment and adequate intra- and perioperative measures can ensure safe surgery in patients with EPP even under emergency conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We performed partial gastrectomy with LECS as palliative treatment. • It was an invasive gastric cancer, but the patient had many comorbidities. • LECS was successfully used as minimally invasive palliative treatment. Abstract Introduction Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) is a minimally invasive hybrid procedure that facilitates the precise dissection of gastrointestinal malignancies. We report the use of LECS as palliative treatment for a patient with advanced gastric cancer at a high risk due to comorbidities. Presentation of case A 68-year-old woman with general malaise was admitted to the hospital and received multiple transfusions for anemia. Endoscopy examination detected an ulcerative lesion in the stomach. She was at high risk due to comorbidities including liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh score B), aortic stenosis, and coronary artery stenosis requiring operative treatment. Discussion Imaging revealed no evidence of metastasis. We resected the tumor using LECS to control bleeding. Postoperatively, there were no short-term complications, and there was no recurrence during 6-month follow-up. Conclusion LECS as palliative treatment may be a viable option for high-risk patients with advanced gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Reaction rate experiments on the accelerator-driven system (ADS) are conducted by combining a critical assembly of a solid-moderated and -reflected core with a pulsed neutron generator. Neutrons (14MeV) generated from the accelerator are injected into a subcritical system and the reaction rates are measured by the foil activation method to obtain neutronic spectrum data. The numerical calculations are executed by MCNPX with ENDF/B-VI.8, JENDL-3.3 and JENDL/D-99 libraries to evaluate the reaction rates of activation foils set in the center of the core. For the ADS experiments with 14MeV neutrons, the C/E values between the experiments and the calculations are found to be well within the relative difference of about 30% in all foils up to subcriticality 1.05%Δk/k. The reaction rates do not depend on the subcriticality level in cases of 115In, 56Fe (purity 99.99%), 27Al, whereas subcriticality dependence is observed in 93Nb. In the critical experiments carried out in the A, B and C cores, special mention should be made of the remarkable effect of the composition rate of 56Fe material. Thus a remarkable improvement is observed in the accuracy of experimental and numerical reaction rates, demonstrating the importance of material impurity for subcritical experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Turmerones (α-turmerone, β-turmerone, and ar-turmerone), the main bioactive compounds in turmeric (Curcuma longa), are used as herbal medicines in Asia. The distinct feature of turmerones is their strong flavor, which is attributed to their volatility. Orally administered turmerones are reportedly distributed in their intact forms in organs; however, the distribution of inhaled volatile turmerones in the body remains unknown. This study aimed to estimate the distribution of inhaled volatile turmerones. After mice were exposed to volatile turmeric oil, turmerones were found in the lung, olfactory bulb, brain, serum, heart, liver, kidney, epididymal fat, and brown adipose tissue. Each turmerone had a different range of concentrations in the different organs: α-turmerone (5.74–425 ng/kg), β-turmerone (6.41–231 ng/kg), and ar-turmerone (61.0–594 ng/kg). These results suggested that volatile turmerones could be incorporated into the animal body with a distinct range of concentration for each organ. [Display omitted] • Inhaled turmerones are found in their intact forms in many organs of the mouse. • Volatile turmerones have characteristic distribution properties. • Among the 3 turmerone species, ar-turmerone is the most abundant in the mouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ・SNEDDS A composed of castor oil significantly improved oral absorption of clofazimine. • ・SNEDDS A provided the fine droplets under acidic, neutral and basic conditions. • ・Over 90% of clofazimine systemically absorbed would be via lymphatic transport. Clofazimine, an anti-leprosy drug, has been anticipated for a candidate to treat tuberculosis, cryptosporidiosis, and coronavirus infection, but its low oral bioavailability is considered a reason for its limited activity. In the current study, we have tried to improve the oral bioavailability of clofazimine by several SNEDDS formulations and characterized the absorption behavior from various aspects. Among four SNEDDS formulations prepared, SNEDDS A, prepared with castor oil as an oil component, provided the highest bioavailability (around 61%) and SNEDDS D, prepared with Capryol 90, gave the second highest bioavailability. SNEDDS A formed the finest nanoparticles, which were maintained under gastric and intestinal luminal conditions. The comparison in oral bioavailability between the SNEDDS formulation and its corresponding preformed nanoemulsion suggested that SNEDDS A would efficiently form nanoemulsion in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. AUC of mesenteric lymph node concentration was the highest for SNEDDS A, which would be one of the reasons for SNEDDS A to reveal the highest oral bioavailability. A cycloheximide-treated oral absorption study and single-pass perfusion study by utilizing a vascular–luminal perfused small intestine–liver preparation clearly indicated that over 90% of clofazimine absorbed to systemic circulation should be derived from lymphatic transport for both SNEDDS A and D. Furthermore, the fraction of dose absorbed was around 65% for SNEDDS D, but SNEDDS A achieved around 94%, indicating the excellent performance of SNEDDS A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-caryophyllene (BCP) is a volatile bicyclic sesquiterpenoid found in essential oils obtained from several spices such as black pepper, oregano, basil, rosemary, cinnamon, and clove. BCP is a selective agonist of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2 receptor), and orally administered BCP exhibits various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. However, it is still unclear how volatile BCP affects living organisms. We previously reported that inhaled BCP is transferred to sera and organs in mice; additionally, metabolomic analysis revealed inhaled BCP affect the dynamics of metabolites in the livers of mice. These data suggest that inhaled BCP may affect several biological activities by stimulating biological systems. In this study, we evaluated the effects of BCP inhalation on nicotine-induced degeneration of the aortic wall. In the group of mice which inhaled volatile BCP, nicotine-induced increases in elastic fiber degradation and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)-positive areas were attenuated. In addition, BCP improved the nicotine-induced stiffness of aortae and vulnerability to aortic rupture. In cultured aortae, the suppressive effects of BCP were inhibited by the CB2 receptor inhibitor AM630. These results suggest that inhaled BCP is incorporated into the aortic wall and prevents nicotine-induced degeneration of the aorta via a CB2 receptor-dependent pathway. [Display omitted] • Inhaled volatile β-caryophyllene attenuates nicotine-induced aorta degeneration. • Nicotine-induced aortic stiffness was improved by BCP inhalation. • Inhaled BCP is incorporated into the aortic wall. • Suppressive mechanism of BCP is via a CB2 receptor-dependent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: At the Kyoto University Critical Assembly (KUCA), spallation neutrons generated by high-energy proton beams are injected into the thorium-loaded systems on March 2010. By combining the Fixed Field Alternating Gradient (FFAG) accelerator with the thorium-loaded system at KUCA, a series of the ADS experiments is carried out under conditions whereby the spallation neutrons are generated at a tungsten target by 100MeV protons at an intensity of 30pA. Prompt neutron behavior in the time evolution is observed and thorium fission reactions are attained through the experiments and calculations, respectively. And the effects of neutron leakage and spectrum softening are experimentally observed through the neutron multiplication and reaction rate analyses. From the experimental and numerical analyses, in the future, experimental conditions need to be improved to attain further neutron multiplication using the variation of fuels (thorium, highly-enriched and natural uranium) and moderators (graphite, polyethylene, aluminum and beryllium). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]