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Aim: Liver allografts from brain‐dead donors, which were declined and were eventually not transplanted due to accompanying marginal factors, have never been surveyed in Japan. We surveyed the declined allografts and discussed the graft potential focusing on various marginal factors. Methods: We collected data on brain‐dead donors between 1999 and 2019 from the Japan Organ Transplant Network. We divided their liver allografts into declined (nontransplanted) and transplanted ones, and then characterized declined ones focusing on their timepoints of decline and accompanying marginal factors. For each marginal factor, we calculated the decline rate from the number of declined and transplanted allografts, and assessed the 1‐year graft survival rate from transplanted allografts. Results: A total of 571 liver allografts were divided into 84 (14.7%) declined and 487 (85.3%) transplanted ones. In the declined allografts, a majority was declined after laparotomy (n = 55, 65.5%), most of which had steatosis and/or fibrosis (n = 52). Out of the moderate steatotic (without F ≥ 2 fibrosis) allografts (n = 33), 21 were declined and 12 were transplanted, leading to a 63.6% decline rate. The latter 12 achieved a 92.9% 1‐year graft survival rate after transplantation. Comparison of donor background showed no significant difference between the declined and transplanted allografts. Conclusion: Pathological abnormalities of steatosis/fibrosis seem to be the most common donor factor leading to graft decline in Japan. Allografts with moderate steatosis were highly declined; however, transplanted ones achieved promising outcomes. This national survey highlights the potential utility of liver allografts with moderate steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate oxygen stress induced by low-dose irradiation activates biodefense system, such as induction of the synthesis of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase. We studied the possibility for alleviation of oxidative damage, such as diabetes and nonalcoholic liver disease. Results show that low-dose ?-irradiation increases SOD activity and protects against alloxan diabetes. Prior or post-low-dose X- or γ-irradiation increases antioxidative functions in livers and inhibits ferric nitrilotriacetate and carbon tetrachloride-induced (CCl4) hepatopathy. Moreover, radon inhalation also inhibits CCl4-induced hepatopathy. It is highly possible that low-dose irradiation including radon inhalation activates the biodefence systems and, therefore, contributes to preventing or reducing reactive oxygen species-related diabetes and nonalcoholic liver disease, which are thought to involve peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal variation in body size and nutritional condition of juvenile walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma was examined to elucidate the mechanism underlying their first-winter survival on the continental shelf of the Doto area, northern Japan, based on monthly samples collected over 2 years. Stored lipid mass was highest during autumn, but 93% (2004) and 80% (2005) of lipids were exhausted by the onset of winter. Lipid levels in the winter of 2004 remained low (7–14% of the autumnal maximum), and there was reduced growth rate until the spring, whereas in 2005 lipid levels were higher and more variable (10–46% of the maximum) and some growth occurred. An analysis of the allometric relationships between body size and stored energy showed that larger individuals accumulated disproportionately more energy in the autumn, but the advantage disappeared prior to the winter. In January 2004, stored lipid energy was low throughout the Doto continental shelf relative to the continental slope area. These results suggest that winter feeding opportunities on the shelf are severely limited but not completely absent. Previous studies have shown that winter temperatures on the shelf are lower than those in the slope area. It is possible that juvenile T. chalcogramma survive winter on the shelf without a high level of pre-winter lipid storage because the occasional feeding in the cold shelf water benefits energy conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]