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Investigation by the column method of removal of heavy metals from plating factory wastewater with economical materials is done. This method is highly effective as removal efficiency tended to increase with increasing pH and decrease with increasing metal concentration.

Concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and carbonaceous particulates in indoor and outdoor air at roadside private households were measured in Osaka, Japan. The particulate samples were collected on filters using a portable AND sampler capable of separating particles intothree different size ranges: over 10 mu m, 2-10 mu m (coarse) and below 2 mu m (fine) in aerodynamic diameter. The filters were weighed and then analyzed for elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) bythermal oxidation using a CHN CORDER. The results showed that indoorfine PM concentration is considerably affected by fine EC and the fine EC in indoor air is significantly correlated to that in outdoor air, r=0.86 (n=30, p<0.001). A simple estimation from EC content ratio in diesel exhaust particles indicated that about 30% of indoor particulates of less than 10 mu m (PM10) were contributed from diesel exhaust. Additionally, the size characteristics of outdoor PM at roadside and background sites were examined using Andersen Cascade Impactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric particulates were monitored on a typical high concentration day in early winter in Osaka, Japan, using a compact and portableeye-safe laser radar system. The height of mixing layer was about 0.4 km at 8:00 and gradually increased to 0.8 km at 14:00. The development of the layer was in inverse proportion to the decrease of particulates near the ground surface. Analysis of particulates collected with high-volume air samplers showed that concentrations of elemental carbon (EC), lead and ammonium ion near the surface decreased significantly from morning to midday, while concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, sodium and calcium ions were almost constant. The results obtained in the preliminary study suggest that anthropogenic particulates suchas EC and lead are on the rise with development of mixing layer frommorning to midday. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, an increased emphasis on enhancing the care and health management of captive marine mammals has been observed. Belugas (White Whale, Delphinapterus leucas), belonging to the family Monodontidae, are of considerable importance and often the centerpiece of aquarium collections worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the administration of prebiotics on the gut microbiota and overall health of the beluga. Prebiotic 1-kestose, a fructooligosaccharide comprising sucrose and fructose, was administered to three belugas, alongside their regular vitamin supplements for a duration of 8 weeks. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of intestinal DNA revealed that the relative abundance of the genus Turicibacter, a potentially pathogenic bacteria, significantly reduced after 1-kestose administration when compared to that at baseline (P=0.050). In addition, a quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the levels of collagenase gene, a putative virulence factor gene of Turicibacter, significantly reduced after 1-kestose administration (P=0.050). Blood creatinine levels that were initially above the normal value also reduced after 1-kestose administration (P=0.023). Therefore, this study demonstrated the potential of 1-kestose to improve the health and welfare of aquarium belugas.

Background/purpose: Gut microbiota status after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is unclear, and postoperative fatty liver is an important complication after PD. This study evaluated the relationship between postoperative fatty liver and gut microbiota after PD., Methods: Fecal samples were collected from patients who had undergone PD and remained stable after 6 months of follow-up. A comprehensive bacterial analysis using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed. The results were compared with those of 85 healthy volunteers. The association between perioperative factors, gut microbiota, and development of fatty liver was investigated., Results: Twenty-four patients after PD, including 10 in the fatty liver (FL) group and 14 in the normal liver (NL) group were investigated. The β-diversity of the gut microbiota was significantly different between the healthy volunteers and patients after PD, with more Escherichia coli and Streptococcus gallolyticus and less Bifidobacterium catenulatum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the patients with PD. Lactobacillus gasseri was significantly less abundant in the FL group than in the healthy volunteers, although this change was not observed in the NL group., Conclusions: The gut microbiota of patients after PD was in dysbiosis at postoperative ≥6 months. Development of fatty liver might be associated with significant differences in gut microbiota., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Tadashi Fujii, Hideaki Takahashi, Yoshiki Hirooka, and Takumi Tochio are members of BIOSIS Lab. Co., Ltd. The other authors have no conflicts of interest regarding this paper. This study was supported by the Fujita Health University Faculty Research Grant., (Copyright © 2024 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Recent studies have linked Ruminococcus gnavus to inflammatory bowel disease and Fusobacterium nucleatum to various cancers. Agarooligosaccharides (AOS), derived from the acid hydrolysis of agar, have shown significant inhibitory effects on the growth of R. gnavus and F. nucleatum at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.2%, respectively. RNA sequencing and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analyses revealed the downregulation of fatty acid biosynthesis genes ( fab genes) in these bacteria when exposed to 0.1% AOS. Furthermore, AOS treatment altered the fatty acid composition of R. gnavus cell membranes, increasing medium-chain saturated fatty acids (C8, C10) and C18 fatty acids while reducing long-chain fatty acids (C14, C16). In contrast, no significant growth inhibition was observed in several strains of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillales at AOS concentrations of 0.2 and 2%, respectively. Co-culture experiments with R. gnavus and Bifidobacterium longum in 0.2% AOS resulted in B. longum dominating the population, constituting over 96% post-incubation. In vivo studies using mice demonstrated a significant reduction in the Lachnospiraceae family, to which R. gnavus belongs, following AOS administration. Quantitative PCR also showed lower levels of the nan gene, potentially associated with immune disorders, in the AOS group. These findings suggest that AOS may introduce a novel concept in prebiotics by selectively inhibiting potentially pathogenic bacteria while preserving beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillales.

Aim: To investigate the characteristics and prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atz/Bev) who achieved a complete response (CR) according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)., Methods: A total of 120 patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) 0 or 1 and Child-Pugh A at the start of Atz/Bev treatment were included. Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C was recorded in 59 patients., Results: The CR rate with Atz/Bev alone was 15.0%. The median time to CR was 3.4 months, and the median duration of CR was 15.6 months. A significant factor associated with achieving CR with Atz/Bev alone was an AFP ratio of 0.34 or less at 3 weeks. Adding transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the six patients who achieved a partial response increased the overall CR rate to 20%. Among the 24 patients who achieved CR, the median progression-free survival was 19.3 months, the median overall survival was not reached, and 14 patients (58.3%) were able to discontinue Atz/Bev and achieve a drug-free status. Twelve of these patients developed progressive disease (PD), but eleven successfully received post-PD treatments and responded well., Conclusions: Achieving CR by mRECIST using Atz/Bev alone or with additional TACE can be expected to offer an extremely favorable prognosis.

Introduction. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Gap statement. Monitoring of HCC and predicting its immunotherapy responses are challenging. Aim. This study explored the potential of the gut microbiome for HCC monitoring and predicting HCC immunotherapy responses. Methods. DNA samples were collected from the faeces of 22 patients with HCC treated with atezolizumab/bevacizumab (Atz/Bev) and 85 healthy controls. The gut microbiome was analysed using 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results. The microbiomes of patients with HCC demonstrated significant enrichment of Lactobacillus , particularly Lactobacillus fermentum , and Streptococcus , notably Streptococcus anginosus . Comparative analysis between Atz/Bev responders (R) and non-responders (NR) revealed a higher abundance of Bacteroides stercoris in the NR group and Bacteroides coprocola in the R group. Using qPCR analysis, we observed elevated levels of S. anginosus and reduced levels of 5α-reductase genes, essential for the synthesis of isoallolithocholic acid, in HCC patients compared to controls. Additionally, the analysis confirmed a significantly lower abundance of B. stercoris in the Atz/Bev R group relative to the NR group. Conclusions. The gut microbiome analysis and specific gene quantification via qPCR could provide a rapid, less invasive, and cost-effective approach for assessing the increased risk of HCC, monitoring patient status, and predicting immunotherapy responses.

Less than half of all patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) respond to chemotherapy, and the prognosis of PDAC is poor, which may be mediated by the gut microbiota. We investigated the clinical improvement effects of 1-kestose, a fructooligosaccharide, on PDAC chemotherapy in this single-center, randomized, controlled pilot trial conducted at Fujita Health University Hospital, which enrolled patients with PDAC. The trial included 1-kestose administration and non-administration groups. The 1-kestose group received 9 g of 1-kestose daily for 12 weeks, and their blood markers, imaging studies, physical findings, and gut microbiota were evaluated. In the 1-kestose administration group, the cancer marker CA19-9 significantly decreased, and there was a reduction in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). There was also suppression of the reduction of albumin levels and of an increase in C-reactive protein. Additionally, Escherichia coli , which typically increases in PDAC, significantly decreased in the 1-kestose group. Thus, 1-kestose altered the gut microbiota and improved the prognostic factors for PDAC. Large-scale, long-term trials of 1-kestose interventions for PDAC are thus warranted to improve the prognosis of PDAC.

The relationship between antitumor response and tumor marker changes was evaluated in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with durvalumab plus tremelimumab (Dur/Tre). Forty patients were enrolled in this retrospective evaluation of treatment outcomes. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors version 1.1 at 8 weeks, the objective response (OR) rate was 25% and the disease control (DC) rate was 57.5%. The median alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ratio at 4 weeks was 0.39 in patients who achieved OR at 8 weeks (8W-OR group), significantly lower than the 1.08 in the non-8W-OR group ( p = 0.0068); however, it was 1.22 in patients who did not achieve DC at 8 weeks (non-8W-DC group), significantly higher than the 0.53 in the 8W-DC group ( p = 0.0006). Similarly, the median des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP) ratio at 4 weeks was 0.15 in the 8W-OR group, significantly lower than the 1.46 in the non-8W-OR group ( p < 0.0001); however, it was 1.23 in the non-8W-DC group, significantly higher than the 0.49 in the 8W-DC group ( p = 0.0215). Early changes in tumor markers after Dur/Tre initiation were associated with antitumor response. In particular, changes in AFP and DCP at 4 weeks may offer useful biomarkers for early prediction of both response and progressive disease following Dur/Tre.

The new Kyoto guidelines for the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of IPMN. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a diagnostic modality with a high spatial resolution that allows detailed observation and obtaining cyst fluid or tissue samples via EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Currently, EUS is an indispensable examination method for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. On the other hand, there have been concerns that EUS imaging tends to be highly operator-dependent, and may lack objectivity. Previous guidelines have assigned EUS as an option for patients with worrisome features. However, recent reports indicate that the sensitivity of EUS for the diagnosis of mural nodules (MNs) is more than 90%, comparable or superior to that of contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. The specific advantages of EUS in the diagnosis of IPMN are: (1) high spatial resolution imaging for the diagnosis of MNs, (2) contrast-enhanced EUS for differentiation of intra-cystic MNs from mucous clots, and (3) pathological diagnosis using EUS-FNA and differential diagnosis of a pancreatic cystic tumor by cystic fluid analysis. In order to utilize EUS in the diagnosis of IPMN, endoscopists are required to have the skills to provide sufficiently objective imaging findings., Competing Interests: None., (© 2024 The Author(s). DEN Open published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Background and Aims: Early gastric cancers (EGCs) after Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication often appear as reddish depressed lesions (RDLs); the same features are also appeared in benign stomachs after eradication. We compared clinic-pathological and endoscopic features of benign and neoplastic RDLs after H. pylori eradication., Methods: 228 neoplastic RDLs after H. pylori eradication were studied. All lesions were divided into neoplastic RDLs (differentiated carcinoma or adenoma, n=114) and benign RDLs (n=114) according to the histology. Clinical and pathological characteristics were compared in neoplastic and benign groups. Endoscopic diagnostic yields using the white light (WL) endoscopy, chromoendoscopy (CE) using indigo carmine dye and the magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (ME-NBI) were also evaluated in relation to the pathological diagnosis., Results: Size of neoplastic RDLs was larger than that of benign RDLs (p<0.01). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for predicting pathological types of RDLs was 70.1%, 52.6% and 61.4% for the WL, 65.8%, 63.1% and 65.4% for the CE, while the ME-NBI scored better with the 88.6%, 88.6%, 99.1% and 93.9% of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The accuracy of the ME-NBI was 99.9% (113/114) in the benign RDLs and 89.4% (101/114) for the neoplastic RDLs. Undiagnosed neoplastic RDLs using the ME-NBI were associated with more differentiated tumors such as adenoma and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (tub1) and the presence of an unclear demarcation line., Conclusions: ME-NBI is useful to diagnose RDLs after H. pylori eradiation, while some of neoplastic lesions are difficult to diagnose using the ME-NBI.

Introduction. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths, closely linked to the intestinal microbiota and bile acid metabolism. Secondary bile acids, like deoxycholic and lithocholic acid, are associated with increased CRC risk due to their disruption of vital cellular functions. In contrast, isoallolithocholic acid (isoalloLCA) shows potential health benefits, highlighting the complex role of bile acids in CRC. A specific primer set was previously developed to amplify homologs of the 5α-reductase gene ( 5ar ), which are involved in the biosynthesis of isoalloLCA, thereby enabling the estimation of abundance of 5ar ( 5ar levels) in the intestine. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. We hypothesized that 5ar levels in the intestine are associated with CRC. Aim. This study aimed to investigate intestinal 5ar levels and compare them across different stages of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, providing insights into novel strategies for monitoring CRC risk. Methodology. DNA was extracted from intestinal lavage fluids (ILF) collected during 144 colonoscopies. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was employed to examine the sequence of 5ar homologues, using a specific primer set on DNA from seven selected ILFs - four from carcinoma patients and three from individuals with non-neoplastic mucosa. Additionally, we used quantitative PCR (qPCR) to measure 5ar levels in all 144 DNA samples. Results. We conducted 144 colonoscopies and categorized patients according to the adenoma-cancer sequence: 52 with non-neoplastic mucosa, 69 with adenomas and 23 with carcinoma. Analysis of 292,042 NGS-derived 5ar sequences revealed the seven most prevalent amplicon sequence variants, each 254 base pairs in length. These closely matched or were identical to 5ar sequences in Bacteroides uniformis , Phocaeicola vulgatus and Phocaeicola dorei . Furthermore, qPCR analysis demonstrated significantly lower 5ar levels in the carcinoma group compared to those in the non-neoplastic mucosa group ( P = 0.0004). A similar, though not statistically significant, trend was observed in the adenoma group ( P = 0.0763), suggesting that 5ar levels decrease as CRC progresses. Conclusion. These findings indicate that PCR-based monitoring of 5ar levels in intestinal samples over time could provide a non-invasive, rapid and cost-effective method for assessing an increased risk of CRC.

Despite the well-known potential health benefits of prebiotics and non-viable probiotics (paraprobiotics) in various animal species, research regarding their use in penguins is scarce. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of a combined administration of prebiotics and paraprobiotics (referred to here as "parasynbiotics") on the gut microbiome and overall health of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). The parasynbiotics consisted of 1-kestose, which is a fructooligosaccharide comprising sucrose and fructose, and heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FM8, isolated from pickled vegetables. It was administered to eight penguins aged <3 years (Young-group) and nine penguins aged >17 years (Adult-group) for 8 weeks. Results from 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that compared to baseline, parasynbiotic administration significantly decreased the relative abundance of intestinal Clostridiaceae&#95;222000 in both groups and significantly increased that of Lactobacillaceae in the Young-group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed a significant decrease in the plc gene levels encoding alpha-toxin of Clostridium perfringens in the Young-group after parasynbiotic administration (P=0.0078). In the Young-group, parasynbiotic administration significantly increased the plasma levels of total alpha-globulin (P=0.0234), which is associated with inflammatory responses. Furthermore, exposure of dendritic cells to heat-killed L. plantarum FM8 promoted the secretion of interleukin 10, a major anti-inflammatory cytokine. Overall, parasynbiotic administration enhanced the activity of gut Lactobacillaceae, decreased the levels of C. perfringens and its toxin encoding plc gene, and reduced inflammatory response in penguins. These results provide novel insights into the potential benefits of parasynbiotics for improving penguin health.

Background: Rebleeding after hemostasis of the gastroduodenal ulcer (GDU) is one of the indicators associated with death among GDU patients. However, there are few studies on risk score that contribute to rebleeding after endoscopic hemostasis of bleeding peptic ulcers., Aims: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with rebleeding, including patient factors, after endoscopic hemostasis of bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers and to stratify the risk of rebleeding., Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 587 consecutive patients who were treated for Forrest Ia to IIa bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers with endoscopic hemostasis at three institutions. Risk factors associated with rebleeding were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The Rebleeding Nagoya University (Rebleeding-N) scoring system was developed based on the extracted factors. The Rebleeding-N score was internally validated using bootstrap resampling methods., Results: Sixty-four patients (11%) had rebleeding after hemostasis of gastroduodenal ulcers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed four independent rebleeding risk factors: blood transfusion, albumin <2.5, duodenal ulcer, and diameter of the exposed vessel ≧2 mm. Patients with 4 risk factors in the Rebleeding-N score had a 54% rebleeding rate, and patients with 3 risk factors had 44% and 25% rebleeding rates. In the internal validation, the mean area under the curve of the Rebleeding-N score was 0.830 (95% CI = 0.786-0.870)., Conclusions: Rebleeding after clip hemostasis of bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers was associated with blood transfusion, albumin <2.5, diameter of the exposed vessel ≧2 mm, and duodenal ulcer. The Rebleeding-N score was able to stratify the risk of rebleeding., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.)

Helicobacter pylori induces DNA methylation in gastric mucosa, which links to gastric cancer (GC) risk. In contrast, CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) is defined as high levels of cancer-specific methylation and provides distinct molecular and clinicopathological features of GC. The association between those two types of methylation in GC remains unclear. We examined DNA methylation of well-validated H. pylori infection associated genes in GC and its adjacent mucosa and investigated its association with CIMP, various molecular subtypes and clinical features. We studied 50 candidate loci in 24 gastric samples to identify H. pylori infection associated genes. Identified loci were further examined in 624 gastric tissue from 217 primary GC, 217 adjacent mucosa, and 190 mucosae from cancer-free subjects. We identified five genes (IGF2, SLC16A2, SOX11, P2RX7, and MYOD1) as hypermethylated in H. pylori infected gastric mucosa. In non-neoplastic mucosa, methylation of H. pylori infection associated genes was higher in patients with GC than those without. In primary GC tissues, higher methylation of H. pylori infection associated genes correlated with CIMP-positive and its related features, such as MLH1 methylated cases. On the other hand, GC with lower methylation of these genes presented aggressive clinicopathological features including undifferentiated histopathology, advanced stage at diagnosis. H. pylori infection associated DNA methylation is correlated with CIMP, specific molecular and clinicopathological features in GC, supporting its utility as promising biomarker in this tumor type., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and study aims Esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has a higher complication rate than gastric ESD. Scissor-type devices, including the stag beetle (SB) knife, are reportedly safer and have shorter procedure times than tip devices. To clarify the characteristics of the SB knife, we compared the treatment outcomes of esophageal ESD with a tip-type knife to those with an SB knife combination. Patients and methods Between January 2016 and March 2023, clinical data from 197 lesions in 178 patients who underwent esophageal ESD were analyzed retrospectively. Every lesion was assigned to either the tip-type group or the SB group based on the devices with which the submucosa was initially dissected. We compared procedure time and complications and analyzed the risk of muscular exposure using multivariate analysis. Results Procedure time was not significantly different between the tip-type and SB groups (60.3±42.2 min vs. 58.8±29.1 min). The variation in procedure time was significant according to F test P =0.002). Incidence of muscular exposure was significantly lower in the SB group than in the tip-type group (24.5% vs. 11.1%, P =0.016). These differences were significant in resected specimens larger than 21 mm. Procedure time over 60 minutes (odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-5.42, P =0.02) was a risk factor for muscular exposure, and submucosal dissection with an SB knife was a safety factor (OR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.18-0.89, P =0.02). Conclusions Performing esophageal ESD with an SB knife is a safe procedure with less variation in procedure time and less muscule exposure., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.