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[Introduction] Personalized health care is recommended for the prevention and early detection of breast cancer. Advances in technology have made it possible to estimate genetic risk, PGV (pathogenic/likely-pathogenic germline variant) or PRS (polygenic risk score), in practice. However, linkage after risk assessment to personalized health care is still developing. One of the issues is how to tell the result especially in case of newly diagnosed PGV after Genetic Panel Testing or PRS. In this study, we evaluated genetic counseling (GC) using an established patient-reported outcome measure for clinical genetics services scale (Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale24 (GCOS24)) at genetic counseling for disclosure the results of the previous study, and examined the association with management after GC. [Method] We performed targeted sequencing for 11 breast cancer-related genes using peripheral blood DNA from 1995 female breast cancer patients. Of 1995 cases, 101 patients were PGV carriers, who were candidates of this study. Participants were referred to the Clinical Genetics unit, Kyoto University Hospital from 10 institutions (January 2018-March 2022). GCOS24 and relating questionaries were asked before and after GC. GCOS24 is a scale consisting of 24 items that assess five factors: decision control, cognitive control, behavioral control, emotional regulation, and hope. (In light of the current status of hereditary breast cancer care in Japan, 23 items were used.) Each item is rated on a scale of 1-7 points, for a total score of 23-161. In addition, we reviewed medical records to evaluate the post-GC management. [Results] Of the 101 cases, 38 cases were enrolled. The reasons of 63 not-enrolled cases were: 30 cases without follow-up (deaths or transfer to another hospital), 11 cases already diagnosed in clinical practice, 18 cases that did not wish to know their results, and 4 cases whose hospital were developing for hereditary breast cancer care. Median age at the time of genetic GC was 55 (min-max 30-83) years. Details of PGV cases were: BRCA2 23 cases, BRCA1 2, PALB2 4, PTEN 3, TP53 3, ATM 1, CHEK2 1 and NF1 1. GCOS24 after GC were improved than before GC. (Average 99 (min-max 17-124) vs 114 (91-138), Mean difference 23.9, 95% Confidence intervals (CI) 29.6 to 18.3). Thirty patients (79%) had higher increase in scores than 10.3, which was the previously reported Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) of this scale. In all items except 4 items (#6,11,13,21), GCOS24 after GC were significantly improved than before GC. In post-GC management, 8 patients received or planned RRSO (risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy) among 25 BRCA1/2 cases. There was a case with dysplastic cells detected in the resected ovary. After GC, average of GCOS24 in RRSO cases was 120 (95% CI 110 to 129), while average of GCOS24 of other BRCA1/2 cases was 110 (95% CI 104 to 116). On the other hand, two patients stopped visiting to the hospital because of fear after GC. Average of GCOS24 of 15 junior-high/high school graduate cases were 111 (95% CI 105 to 117), while average of GCOS24 of 23 college graduate cases were 117 (95% CI 111 to 122). [Discussion] In patients diagnosed with hereditary breast cancer by genetic panel testing, GC worked well except for 4 items. These 4 items (#6,11,13,21) were related to emotion. This study revealed there was also a risk to reject surveillance due to fear, suggesting that it is necessary to provide psychological support in some cases. Although the limitation of this study is the small number of cases, GCOS24 were high in RRSO cases, suggesting that GC played an important role when proceeding with intervention. We believe that the findings are helpful for the future implementation of genetic panel testing or PRS testing in healthy subjects for personalized health care. Citation Format: Nobuko Kawaguchi-Sakita, Noriko Senda, Yukiko Inagaki-Kawata, Hiromi Murakami, Sayaka Honda, Takahiro Yamada, Yuki Kataoka, Shoko Takahara, Shigeru Tsuyuki, Kazuhiko Yamagami, Yoshio Moriguchi, Masae Torii, Tatsushi Kato, Hirofumi Suwa, Wakako Tsuji, Eiji Suzuki, Akira Yamauchi, Ryuji Okamura, Shinji Kosugi, Masakazu Toi. Potential Empowerment and risk of Genetic Counseling with Genetic Breast cancer risk assessment in Personalized Health Care: Prospective Cohort Study using Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale (GCOS-24) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-02.

Background Salmonella infections are associated with gastroenteritis, enteric fever, bacteremia, focal infection, and chronic carrier state. Cases of Salmonella osteomyelitis are uncommon and mainly occur in individuals with immunosuppressive conditions. Herein, we report a case of Salmonella osteomyelitis that required differentiation from malignancy in an immunocompetent adult patient. Case presentation A 31-year-old previously healthy male truck driver presented with a 2-week history of pain in his left upper arm. He had fallen off the back of a truck 2 months previously and injured the left side of his body. He also had bloody diarrhea and fever. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion that appeared to be a bone tumor in the left humerus, and the patient was referred to our cancer center from another clinic. Culture of a biopsy specimen of the left humerus was negative; however, the consensus sequence in broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed the highest similarity to the 16S rRNA gene of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica. Curettage of the left humerus was performed, and the patient was administered levofloxacin for 6 weeks. He recovered left arm function and had no recurrence during 2 months of follow-up. Conclusions When the culture of blood or biopsy specimens is negative in situations wherein a specific infection is suspected, broad-range PCR with sequencing should be considered to determine the causative organism.

Background Schizophyllum commune is a basidiomycete that lives in the environment and can cause infections, mainly those of the respiratory system. Although S. commune is increasingly reported as a cause of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis and sinusitis, cases of fungal ball formation are extremely uncommon. Identification of S. commune is difficult using routine mycological diagnostic methods, and in clinically suspicious cases, internal transcribed spacer sequencing should be used for diagnosis. Here, we report a first case of lung cancer with a fungal ball formation of S. commune, confirmed by analyzing the internal transcribed spacer. Case presentation A 76-year-old man with diabetes and hypertension was admitted to the hospital with a chief complaint of hemosputum, which he had for about 19 months. A computed tomography image of the patient’s chest showed a cavity and internal nodule in the left upper lobe of his lung. A left upper lobectomy was performed, and histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and a fungal ball. The isolate from the surgical specimen was identified as S. commune by analyzing the internal transcribed spacer. The patient had no recurrence of the infection during 5 months of follow-up. Conclusions Only three cases of lung fungal balls caused by S. commune have been previously reported, and this is the first case of lung cancer cavity with a fungal ball formation. In cases of fungal ball formation in the lung, S. commune should be considered a possible causative microorganism.

Background Exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis is a clinically relevant black yeast. Although E. dermatitidis rarely causes human infection, it can cause superficial and deep-seated infections, and cutaneous and subcutaneous diseases. Cases of fungemia and central line-associated bloodstream infections due to E. dermatitidis are extremely uncommon, and their clinical manifestations and prognosis are still not well-known. Herein, we report a case of central line-associated bloodstream infections in a patient with cancer. These infections were caused by melanized yeast that was finally identified as E. dermatitidis via internal transcribed spacer sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Case presentation A 75-year-old man with thoracic esophageal cancer and early gastric cancer presented with a 1-day history of fever during his hospitalization at our hospital. A central venous port was placed in the patient for total parenteral nutrition. Two E. dermatitidis isolates were recovered from two blood samples drawn at different times from a peripheral vein and this central venous port. The isolate was identified as E. dermatitidis by internal transcribed spacer sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The central venous port was removed, and the patient was administered micafungin and voriconazole. Although the minimum inhibitory concentrations of E. dermatitidis for voriconazole and minimum effective concentrations for micafungin were 2 μg/mL and 4 μg/m, respectively, the bacteremia was successfully treated. Conclusions Although no clear treatment guidelines have been proposed for E. dermatitidis infections, immediate removal of central venous catheters is the key to improving central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Sphingobacterium is an aerobic, glucose non-fermenting, Gram-negative rod bacterium that has been isolated from soil, plants, food, and water sources, including in hospitals. Reports of systemic infections caused by Sphingobacterium multivorum (S. multivorum) are rare, and their clinical and microbiological characteristics remain unclear. Moreover, conventional microbiological methods have limited ability to identify S. multivorum. We report the first case of obstructive cholangitis with bacteremia caused by S. multivorum in a patient with gastric cancer.A 68-year-old woman with advanced gastric cancer, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia was admitted with obstructive jaundice, and subsequently developed obstructive cholangitis during the hospital stay. S. multivorum were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of the patient's blood samples. Based on the antibiotic susceptibility results of the isolates, cefepime was administered intravenously for 14 days, with good therapeutic outcomes.S. multivorum infection is rare, and its microbiology and pathogenicity in humans is mostly unknown. Therefore, multiple diagnostic approaches should be used to identify S. multivorum, and antimicrobial therapy should be selected based on the in vitro susceptibility. This report provides clinicians with novel information on the clinical manifestations and diagnostic methods for an accurate diagnosis of S. multivorum.

Membrane-bound quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from acetic acid bacteria produces lactobionic acid by the oxidation of lactose. Its enzymatic activity on lactose and maltose is much lower than that on d-glucose. For that reason, the activity of the enzyme on disaccharides has been considered low. In this study, we show that the isomaltose-oxidizing activity of acetic acid bacteria is much higher than their lactose-oxidizing activity. In addition to isomaltose, the enzyme oxidized gentiobiose and melibiose to the same extent. According to the characteristics of the isomaltose-oxidizing activity and investigations using dehydrogenase-deficient mutant bacteria, we identified the responsible enzyme as membrane-bound quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase. Abbreviations: AAB: acetic acid bacteria; m-GDH: membrane-bound quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase; DCIP: 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol; DP: degree of polymerization; HPAEC-PAD: high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection; NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance; TLC: thin layer chromatography; COSY: correlation spectroscopy

Background Campylobacter rectus is a gram-negative rod, and Parvimonas micra is a gram-positive coccus, both of which are oral anaerobes that cause chronic periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis can cause bacteremia and systemic diseases, including osteomyelitis. Hematogenous osteomyelitis caused by anaerobic bacteria is uncommon, and to date, there have been no reports of mixed bacteremia with C. rectus and P. micra. Here, we report the first case of osteomyelitis of the femur caused by anaerobic bacteria with mixed bacteremia of C. rectus and P. micra caused by chronic periodontitis. Case presentation A 75-year-old man with chronic periodontitis, hyperuricemia, and benign prostatic hyperplasia was admitted to the hospital with a fracture of the left femur. The patient had left thigh pain for 4 weeks prior to admission. Left femoral intramedullary nail fixation was performed, and a large amount of abscess and necrotic tissue was found intraoperatively. The cultures of abscess specimens were identified as P. micra, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and C. rectus. C. rectus and P. micra were also isolated from blood cultures. C. rectus was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16 S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Sulbactam-ampicillin was administered for approximately 1 month, after which it was replaced by oral clavulanic acid-amoxicillin for long-term suppressive treatment. Conclusions Only five cases of bloodstream infection with C. rectus have been reported, and this is the first report of mixed bacteremia with P. micra. Clinicians should consider that chronic periodontitis caused by rare oral anaerobic bacteria can cause systemic infections, such as osteomyelitis.

Despite the recommendations of the latest guidelines, the practical efficacy of universal screening for identifying Lynch syndrome (LS) among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) may be limited in the real world due to infrequent referrals and the difficulties of genetic testing. Thus, the present study aimed to retrospectively analyze the results of universal screening of patients with CRC at a referral hospital in Japan. Immunohistochemistry was performed for mismatch repair proteins [including DNA mismatch repair protein MSH6 (MSH6), mismatch repair endonuclease PMS2 (PMS2), DNA mismatch repair protein Msh2 (MSH2) and DNA mismatch repair protein Mlh1 (MLH1)] and BRAF V600E mutation. Tumors that showed the following were considered to indicate LS and patients with such tumors were designated as genetic testing candidates (GTCs): i) Loss of MSH6/MSH2; ii) loss of MSH6 alone; iii) loss of PMS2 alone; and iv) loss of PMS2/MLH1 with negative BRAF V600E. MLH1 methylation and BRAF V600E mutation were analyzed in deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) tumors retrospectively. The frequency of dMMR and GTCs in an independent cohort of patients with young-onset CRC were also investigated. Universal screening revealed dMMR tumors, GTCs and LS probands in 7.3, 3.9 and 0.4%, respectively, of 463 patients with CRC. Although dMMR tumors were observed in both younger (

In this paper, we axiomatically characterize the price mechanism for economies including satiated agents. A path-breaking category-theoretic argument in Sonnenschein (1974) is generalized to include possibly satiated agents under a price mechanism with dividends or money. That is, the price–money mechanism is characterized uniquely and efficiently representing all other allocation mechanisms satisfying several basic axioms, including the weak core and Pareto properties. To obtain our generalization results, we use a replica rejective core limit theorem to dividend equilibria in Murakami and Urai (2017).

Background Pulmonary infections can imitate pulmonary neoplasms. Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a typical example of an infection that mimics cancer and results in unexpected exposure of healthcare workers to TB. A large number of patients with suspected lung malignancy are referred to cancer centers, although the epidemiology of the final diagnosis is unclear in Japan. This study aimed to determine the frequency and nature of pulmonary infections that imitate malignancy among patients with presumed lung cancer that is subsequently diagnosed as a pulmonary infection based on bronchoscopy findings. We also aimed to identify the prevalence of formerly undiagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis that could pose an occupational risk to healthcare workers. Methods This single‐center retrospective cross‐sectional study included patients with suspected pulmonary malignancy who underwent bronchoscopy at a tertiary care cancer center in Japan between April 2017 and March 2020. Electronic medical records of the bronchoscopy database were reviewed to identify the final diagnoses recorded by physicians. Results Among the 460 patients enrolled in the present study, 362 (78.7%) and 8 (1.7%) had primary or metastatic pulmonary lesions and benign lesions, respectively. Sixty‐six patients (14.3%) had nonspecific findings or other pulmonary diseases. Infection was confirmed in 24 patients (5.2%). Mycobacterial infections (n = 16) were the most frequent infectious disease; four patients had TB and 12 had nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. Conclusions Despite the rare occurrence of TB in patients with suspected lung malignancy, healthcare workers should remain vigilant regarding the possibility of TB to prevent occupational exposure during invasive procedures such as routine bronchoscopy., There is no epidemiological information on the final diagnosis of patients suspected malignancy at Japanese cancer centers. Among patients referred for the confirmation of suspected pulmonary malignancy, 5.2% were confirmed to have lung infections, and 16.7% of these patients were unexpectedly found to have pulmonary TB. Our findings indicate the need to use a fit‐tested N95 particulate respirator to prevent occupational exposure to TB from patients with suspected malignancy during routine bronchoscopy.

Dividend equilibrium, defined by Aumann and Dreze (1986), is one of the most general competitive equilibrium concepts for markets that include satiated consumers. Konovalov (2005) shows a core equivalence theorem to the dividend equilibrium using the concept of rejective core. Konovalov’s argument, however, is based on the setting of a continuum atomless economy with a finite number of types, and the core limit problem for dividend equilibrium remains unsolved. In a previous paper, Urai and Murakami (2016), we provided a generalization of the Debreu–Scarf (1963) core limit theorem for monetary overlapping generations economies under an extended concept of replica core allocation. In this paper, we show that the concept and method also provide rejective core limit and equivalence theorems for economies with satiation.

In tumor-only next-generation sequencing (NGS), identified variants have the potential to be secondary findings (SFs), but they require verification through additional germline testing. In the present study, 194 patients with advanced cancer who underwent tumor-only NGS between April 2015 and March 2018 were enrolled, and the incidences of possible and true SFs were evaluated. Among them, 120 patients (61.9%) harbored at least one possible SF. TP53 was the most frequent gene in which 97 variants were found in 91 patients (49.5%). Nine patients provided informed consent to undergo additional germline testing, and a total of 14 variants (BRCA1, n = 1; BRCA2, n = 2; PTEN, n = 2; RB1, n = 1; SMAD4, n = 1; STK11, n = 1; TP53, n = 6) were analyzed. Three variants (BRCA1, n = 1; BRCA2, n = 2) were confirmed to be SFs, whereas TP53 variants were confirmed to be somatic variants. To confirm the low prevalence of SFs in TP53, we analyzed 24 patients with TP53 variants who underwent a paired tumor–normal NGS assay. As expected, all TP53 variants were confirmed to be somatic variants. A total of 30 patients were tested for germline variants in TP53, but none of them resulted in true SFs, suggesting the low prevalence of SFs in this gene. Therefore, the significance of additional germline testing for TP53 variants appears to be relatively low in daily clinical practice using a tumor-only NGS assay, unless patients have any relevant medical or family history.

Acetic acid bacteria are used in the commercial production of lactobionic acid (LacA). However, the lactose-oxidizing enzyme of these bacteria remains unidentified. Lactose-oxidizing activity has been detected in bacterial membrane fractions and is strongly inhibited by d-glucose, suggesting that the enzyme was a membrane-bound quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase, but these dehydrogenases have been reported to be incapable of oxidizing lactose. Thus, we generated m-GDH-overexpressing and -deficient strains of Komagataeibacter medellinensis NBRC3288 and investigated their lactose-oxidizing activities. Whereas the overexpressing variants produced ~2–5-fold higher amounts of LacA than the wild-type strains, the deficient variant produced no LacA or d-gluconic acid. Our results indicate that the lactose-oxidizing enzyme from acetic acid bacteria is membrane-bound quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase. Abbreviations: LacA: lactobionic acid; AAB: acetic acid bacterium; m-GDH: membrane-bound quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase; DCIP: 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol; HPAEC-PAD: high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

Lactobionic acid was produced by acetic acid bacteria to oxidize lactose. Gluconobacter spp. and Gluconacetobacter spp. showed higher lactose-oxidizing activities than Acetobacter spp. Gluconobacter frateurii NBRC3285 produced the highest amount of lactobionic acid per cell, among the strains tested. This bacterium assimilated neither lactose nor lactobionic acid. At high lactose concentration (30%), resting cells of the bacterium showed sufficient oxidizing activity for efficient production of lactobionic acid. These properties may contribute to industrial production of lactobionic acid by the bacterium. The bacterium showed higher oxidizing activity on cellobiose than that on lactose and produced cellobionic acid.

We treat a three-dimensional continuous-time model that includes one predetermined variable and two non-predetermined variables. We assume (1) that the model has a two-dimensional well-located invariant manifold and (2) that the manifold includes a one-dimensional closed curve that could be either a homoclinic orbit or a closed orbit. We construct a stationary sunspot equilibrium in this three-dimensional model by means of generalizing the methods due to Nishimura and Shigoka (2006) and Benhabib et al. (2008). By appealing to the same argument as in Nishimura and Shigoka (2006) we can apply our result to some variants of the Lucas (1988) model the transitional dynamics of which is three-dimensional and undergoes homoclinic bifurcation.

From a mixture of 4-nitrophenyl α-L-fucopyranoside and D-mannopyranose, 3-O-α-L-fucopyranosyl-D-mannopyranose was synthesised through the transferring action of α-fucosidase (Sumizyme PHY). 6(I),6(IV)-Di-O-(3-O-α-L-fucopyranosyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl)-cyclomaltoheptaose {8, 6(I),6(IV)-di-O-[α-L-Fuc-(1→3)-α-D-Man]-βCD} was chemically synthesised using the trichloroacetimidate method. The structures were confirmed by MS and NMR spectroscopy. A cell-based assay using the fucosyl βCD derivatives, including the newly synthesised 8, showed that derivatives with two branches of the α-L-Fuc or α-L-Fuc-(1→3)-α-D-Man residues possessed slight growth-promoting effects and lower toxicity in HCT116 cells compared to those with one branch. These compounds may be useful as drug carriers in targeted drug delivery systems.

This study attempts to clarify the origin of the developmental state by exploring the degree and the nature of interests articulated by the state and private sector in the realm of economic development, specifically demonstrated in the case of Japanese-occupied Manchuria during 1931–1945. The case of Japanese-occupied Manchuria represents the eclectic early evolution of developmental state patterns, combining an ideology derived from German industrial rationalization as reinterpreted by reform-minded Japanese bureaucrats with the Soviet five-year economic plans adapted to suit military purposes. In order to realize these ideals, the Manchukuo government, under the heavy influence of the Japanese Kwantung Army, used both a form of monopolistic corporations for which each purpose was defined by special law and a form of joint investment by private and state capital. This study attempts to identify the roles of the state and private enterprises in economic development by carefully examining the fram...

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) in the central nervous system (CNS) is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder with low grade malignant potential. Here we report a case of CNS-LYG, in particular, its characteristics of radioisotope imaging and pathological findings. A 65-year-old man complained of visual disturbance and homonymous hemianopsia was designated. CT and MRI revealed an edematous, enhanced irregular and nodular lesion in the right occipital and parietal lobes. Although 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed low uptake in the lesion, Methionine (MET)-PET scan indicated high uptake. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) at 3T revealed a decrease of the peak of the N-acetylaspartate (NAA), suggesting a possible neoplastic lesion. The patient was diagnosed with CNS-LYG based on the surgically removed material showing perivascular infiltration of CD3-positive small T-lymphocytes with granulomatous lesions. The post-operative steroid therapy was effective and the recurrence or exacerbation has not been observed by radiological imaging until now.

卓球競技は、瞬時に多くの情報を入力し、判断を求められる競技である。従って卓球競技において視機能は競技力の優劣を決定する重要な因子の1つである。卓球競技の競技力向上に小学生期からの選手育成は不可欠である。しかしながら競技力に重要な役割をもたらすと思われる視機能の小学生期の特性が明らかにされていない。そこで日本卓球女子ホープスナショナルチームの選手(HNTP群)を対象にスポーツビジョンの測定を実施し、関西学生リーグ所属のトップクラス女子卓球選手(UVP群)と比較し、卓球女子ホープスナショナルチームの選手にどのような視機能の特性がみられるのか検討した。各測定項目を平均値で見ると、HNTP群がUVP群よりOMS, VRT,E/H に有意に劣った値を示した。その他の測定項目(SVA,KVA,DVA,CS,DP)の平均値には有意な差は見られなかったが、SVA,CSを除いて劣った値を示した。HNTP群の視機能の貢献度はKVA動体視力、コントラスト感度、静止視力、深視力が、UVP群は静止視力、深視力、眼と手の協応動作、コントラスト感度が重要な視機能であり差異が認められた。以上の結果から、小学生期の視機能は成熟した機能と未成熟な機能が共有しており、年齢による評価の必要性が認められた。このことは小学生期の視機能は神経系の発達と密接な関係があり、今後、スポーツビジョンの測定は縦断的に追跡していく必要性が示唆された。, A study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of sports vision of hopes national team female table tennis players and contribution rates. In the present experiment, sports vision of hopes national team female table tennis players and university female table tennis players were measured; hopes national female team table tennis players (HNTP group: aged 10.8±1.1yrs), university female table tennis players(UVP group: aged 20.1±1.0yrs, The first group of Kansai Student Table Tennis League),and Kyoto sangyo university student female non-athletes (NA group: aged 18.8±0.4yrs). Then players 12 numbers in HNTP group,11 numbers in UVP group and 12 numbers in NA groups(their static visual acuity>1.0) were selected as subjects. Static visual acuity, kinetic visual acuity, dynamic visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, ocular motor skill, depth perception, visual reaction time and eye-hand coordination of them were measured. Physical characteristics and experience of training of table tennis were investigated using questionnaire. Significant difference found between different groups were as follows; HNTP groups showed lower mean values of ocular motor skill, visual reaction time and eye-hand coordination than UVP groups. In conclusion, HNTP groups had worse sports vision than UVP group. Sports vision of HNTP groups and UVP groups showed difference about contribution rates., 研究(Research Work)

Horseradish peroxidase catalyzed an oxidative coupling reaction of 4′-hydroxyphenyl β-glucoside (arbutin) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid sodium salt (gentisate) using H2O2 as an electron acceptor to yield a precipitating yellow compound. An approximate arbutin/gentisate ratio of 1:2 was effective for the synthesis. The addition of 100–300 mM H2O2 to the mixtures of 100 mM arbutin and 200 mM gentisate attained optimized yields of 50–60% in the initial arbutin. Mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance data revealed that the precipitated compound was a novel glycoside bound between the C3′-position of the hydroxyphenyl moiety of arbutin and the C6-position of gentisate, followed by the intramolecular esterification between the phenolic hydroxyl group of arbutin moiety and the carboxyl group of gentisate moiety. The product exerted anti-oxidation and competitive inhibition against mushroom tyrosinase higher than arbutin, while it inhibited mouse melanoma tyrosinase lower than arbutin.

(π-Allyl)palladium triflate coordinated with 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-bis(2,4,6-tri- t -butylphenylphosphinidene)cyclobutene (DPCB–OMe), [Pd(η 3 -C 3 H 5 )(DPCB–OMe)]OTf, efficiently catalyzes cyclodehydration of cis –2-butene-1,4-diol with active methylene compounds such as acetylacetone and ethyl acetoacetate in toluene in the presence of pyridine. The reactions can be performed in air, giving 2-vinyl-2,3-dihydrofurans in good to high yields.

Polyaromatic compounds that carry several side residues of d -glucose, d -galactose, and d -mannose were synthesized from hydroquinone β-glucoside (arbutin) through two successive enzymatic reactions: glycosylation of the glucose residue in arbutin, followed by oxidative polymerization of the hydroquinone moieties. In the first step, Bacillus macerans cyclodextrin glucanotransferase, B. circulans β-galactosidase, and jack bean α-mannosidase were used to obtain glycosylation products in yields of 56.0, 29.5, and 25.2%, respectively, where the main products were a series of α-1,4-linked glucosyl/maltooligosyl arbutin, β-1,4-linked galactosyl arbutin, and α-1,6-linked mannosyl arbutin, respectively. In the second step, horseradish peroxidase was used and the enzyme efficiently polymerized glycosyl arbutin(s) together with the remaining arbutin using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. The water-soluble products, glycosyl poly(arbutin)s, showed approximate molecular weight distribution of 0.5–25 kDa which was estimated by gel permeation chromatography calibrated with maltooligosaccharides and pullulan markers. There were no differences in the phenolic main chain structures of glycosyl poly(arbutin)s and poly(arbutin), where the binding of neighboring hydroquinone moieties occurred at ortho -positions. Glycosyl poly(arbutin)s containing α-linked mannose and β-linked galactose residues exhibited increased absorbability to immobilized concanavalin A and castor bean lectin (RCA 120 ), respectively.

From a mixture of N-acetylglucosaminyl-beta-cyclodextrin (GlcNAc-betaCD) and lactose, beta-D-galactosyl-GlcNAc-betaCD (Gal-GlcNAc-betaCD) was synthesized by the transfer action of beta-galactosidase. GlcNAc-maltotriose (Glc3) and Gal-GlcNAc-Glc3 were produced with hydrolysis of GlcNAc-betaCD by cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, and Gal-GlcNAc-betaCD by bacterial saccharifying alpha-amylase respectively. Finally, GlcNAc-Glc3-betaCD and Gal-GlcNAc-Glc3-betaCD were synthesized in 5.2% and 3.5% yield when Klebsiella pneumoniae pullulanase was incubated with the mixture of GlcNAc-Glc(3) and betaCD, or Gal-GlcNAc-Glc3 and betaCD respectively. The structures of GlcNAc-Glc3-betaCD and Gal-GlcNAc-Glc3-betaCD were analyzed by FAB-MS and NMR spectroscopy and identified as 6-O-alpha-(6(3)-O-beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminyl-maltotriosyl)-betaCD, and 6-O-alpha-(4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-6(3)-O-beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminyl-maltotriosyl)-betaCD respectively.

We investigated the effects of FK228 on cell proliferation and apoptosis against human glioblastoma (GM) T98G, U251MG, and U87MG cells. Upon exposure to FK228, cell proliferation was inhibited, and apoptosis detected by the cleavage of CPP32 was induced. FK228 increased the expression levels of p21 (WAF-1) and of pro-apoptotic Bad protein in all GM cells. Furthermore, FK228 treatment also reduced the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL in all GM cells and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 in U87MG cells, thereby shifting the cellular equilibrium from life to death. An increased accumulation of histone H4 was detected in the p21 (WAF-1) promoter and the structural gene (exon 2) and the Bad structural gene (exon 2 and 3) upon treatment with FK228, as assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Thus, the results indicated that an increased expression of p21 (WAF1) and Bad due to FK228 is regulated, at least in part, by the degree of acetylation of the gene-associated histone. We also found that FK228 inhibits cellular invasiveness and decreases MMP-2 activity. In addition, the growth of transplanted human GM m-3 cells into the subcutaneous tissue of hereditary athymic mice was significantly inhibited, and apoptosis was induced with FK228 treatment. The results suggested that FK228 might be useful in the treatment of human GM, although further studies will be needed.

(pi-Allyl)palladium triflate bearing a 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenylphosphinidene)cyclobutene ligand (DPCB-OMe), [Pd(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))(DPCB-OMe)]OTf, efficiently catalyzes deallylation of a variety of allyl ethers in aniline to give corresponding alcohols in high yields under mild conditions. The reactions can be performed in air without loss of a variety of functionalities including vinyl, alkynyl, hydroxy, acetoxy, silyloxy, and acetal groups. Allyl 2-allyloxybenzoate selectively undergoes deallylation of the allyloxy group to give allyl salicylate in quantitative yield.

The mechanism of C−O bond cleavage of allylic alcohols promoted by the hydridopalladium complexes PdH(OTf)(DPCB-Y) (2), bearing 1,2-diaryl-3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]cyclobut...

We aimed to develop microbial production systems for lactobionic acid (LA) for utilization of surplus lactose (Lac) from whey. Screened and selected strain Burkholderia cepacia No. 24 grew even in highly concentrated Lac syrup and had high oxidizing activity against Lac. We examined the conditions for fermentation and microbial conversion of Lac to LA. A three-day batch culture produced 200 g/L of LA. A ten-day fed-batch culture with periodic additions of Lac and CaCO3 accumulated 400 g/L of LA. Lac (150 g/L) was completely converted to LA by bioconversion with Burkholderia cepacia cells in 24 h.

Lactobionic acid (LA) is derived from lactose (Lac) and has been reported to have several useful functions. LA has been supplied only as a reagent for study because it has been produced chemically in a small scale in Japan. We aimed to develop microbial production systems of LA and examined LA fermentation conditions. A three-day batch culture produced 200 g/L of LA. A ten-day fed-batch culture with periodic additions of Lac and CaCO3 accumulated 400 g/L of LA. There was no by-product and no loss of Lac, and the yield of LA-conversion was 100%. The addition of ethanol (75 % (v/v), final concentration) to culture supernatant resulted in recovery of 98 % of LA as precipitate.

We have reported that lactobionic acid is produced from lactose by Acetobacter orientalis in traditional Caucasian fermented milk. To maximize the application of lactobionic acid, we investigated favorable conditions for the preparation of resting A. orientalis cells and lactose oxidation. The resting cells, prepared under the most favorable conditions, effectively oxidized 2-10% lactose at 97.2 to 99.7 mol % yield.

Lactobionic acid (LA) is derived from lactose and expected to be a versatile material for grow-ing bifidobacterium and forming mineral salts with high solubility in water for supplements. We aimed to develop microbial or enzymatic production systems of LA. To this aim, we screened lactose-oxidizing microorganisms, and obtained a strain of Burkholderia cepacia. The lactose-oxidizing activity existed in the membrane fraction of disrupted cell preparation of the strain. Only oxygen was necessary for lactose-oxidizing activity as a proton acceptor. A crude cell-free enzyme preparation was prepared, and its oxidizing ability and other properties on several saccharides were examined. The cell-free preparation oxidized D-glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose, D-xylose, L-arabinose and D-ribose. It also reacted with lactose, cellobiose, maltose, maltotriose, maltotetaose and maltopentaose. The strain accumulated LA in the culture supernatant with no loss of lactose. The strain is advantageous to production of LA by both fermentation and enzymatic reaction.