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Objectives: In order to screen for gastric cancer effectively, its interval should be set according to the risk. This study aimed to determine whether risk stratification is possible using the data obtained from medical examination or endoscopic findings., Methods: First, subjects who underwent both cancer screening and medical examination from 2009 to 2015 and underwent cancer screening once more by 2016 were studied. Data such as the lipid profile and history of smoking obtained during the medical examination, and the grade of atrophy and presence of peptic ulcers were studied using multivariate analysis. Next, subjects who underwent cancer screening twice or more between 2009 and 2015 with or without medical examinations were studied to analyze any correlation between the grade of atrophy and cancer occurrence using univariate analysis. In both studies, the status of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection was determined., Results: In the multivariate analysis, 9378 subjects were included. Aging, advanced atrophy, presence of ulcers, and uric acid levels were identified as risk factors. Among subjects who underwent successful HP eradication therapy, advanced atrophy and aging were observed to be crucial risk factors. In the univariate analysis, there were 12,941 subjects. Gastric cancer occurred more frequently in the more severe atrophy group (P < 0.001). The annual rate of cancer occurrence in the most severe atrophy group was 0.31%, which was approximately thrice as that in the less atrophy group., Conclusions: Risk stratification was possible based on endoscopic examination alone. The interval should be set depending on each case.

One of the pathological characterizations of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the deposition of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) in cerebral cortical cells. The deposition of Abeta in neuronal cells leads to an increase in the production of free radicals that are typified by reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby inducing cell death. A growing body of evidence now suggests that several plant-derived food ingredients are capable of scavenging ROS in mammalian cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether enzyme-treated asparagus extract (ETAS), which is rich in antioxidants, is one of these ingredients. The pre-incubation of differentiated PC 12 cells with ETAS significantly recovered Abeta-induced reduction of cell viability, which was accompanied by reduced levels of ROS. These results suggest that ETAS may be one of the functional food ingredients with anti-oxidative capacity to help prevent AD.

Neuropeptide FF, one of the mammalian PQRFamides, has been reported to affect the latency of the tail-flick response in rat. We intended to examine the nociceptive effect by the peptide PQRFamides from the comparative aspect. Using the dot immunoblot method with antiserum to FMRFamide as an assay system, a peptide (frog's nociception-related peptide, fNRP) which has the C-terminal sequence PQRFamide was isolated from the brain of the frog, Rana catesbeiana. The determined sequence, SIPNLPQRF-NH(2), is the same as that named first (frog growth hormone-releasing peptide-gene-related peptide-1: fGRP-RP-1, which is encoded in the cDNA of the fGRP precursor. Since the peptide was isolated from the frog brain, we tested another amphibian, the newt, which has a tail, by the hot beam tail-flick test. Intraperitoneal injection of fNRP significantly increased the latency of the pain response (tail-flick) 90 min after administration. The effect was blocked by simultaneous administration of 5 mM naloxone. The result provides evidence for the interaction of fNRP and opioid steps in the analgesia pathways in the newt.

Amphibians possess the ability to vomit in response to a variety of stimuli that provoke emesis in mammals. Pharmacological studies have establish that the ejection of gastric contents and the basic mechanism for vomiting have been phylogenetically conserved among these tetrapods. As part of on-going comparative studies on emesis in vertebrates, we previously documented that some postmetamorphic anurans and salamander larvae experience motion-induced emesis when exposed to the provocative stimulus of parabolic aircraft flight. However, more recent experiments suggest that there are strict conditions for inducing emesis in amphibians exposed to parabolic flight and that amphibians are not as sensitive to this stimulus as mammals. Further studies on emesis in lower vertebrates may help us understand the processes that cause emesis in abnormal gravitational regimes.

A novel bioactive peptide with the C-terminal RFamide was isolated from the brain of the Japanese crucian carp, Carassius auratus langsdorfii, by using the intestine of the fish as the bioassay system. The primary structure of the peptide was determined to be SPEIDPFWYVGRGVRPIGRFamide and it was designated Carassius RFamide (C-RFa). The sequence of C-RFa was found to be significantly homologous to the molluscan neuropeptide termed Achatina cardioexcitatory peptide 1 (ACEP-1). Both peptides have RPXGRFamide structure in their C-terminal moieties. C-RFa was found to have an excitatory effect on visceral muscle tissues of fish, newt, quail, and rat. In the stomach of the fish, Zacco temminckii, IGRFamide (C-RFa 17-20) was shown to be the minimal structure required for the excitatory effect and PIGRFamide (C-RFa 16-20) to be almost equipotent with the parent peptide C-RFa.

During the past 20 years, 1,064 cases of non-small cell lung cancer underwent resectional surgery in which all accessible mediastinal lymph nodes were dissected. Among 288 patients with histologically proven N2 disease, 182 underwent complete dissection of the mediastinal lymph nodes; 77 had one-level and 105 had multi-level metastases. Fifteen percent of the patients having primary lesions with a maximal diameter between 21 and 30 mm had N2 disease. Nodal metastases to the lower mediastinum from upper lobe cancer (nonregional metastasis) were frequently observed as were metastases of lower lobe cancer to the upper mediastinum. In addition, there were often skip metastases to the nonregional parts of the mediastinum without regional nodal involvement in the mediastinum. Among left-lung cancer patients, the group that underwent nodal dissection after mobilization of the aorta by dividing the Botallo's ligament frequently had a verified metastatic node at the tracheo-bronchial angle (#4) which might not have been detected without that procedure. In addition, many N2 and N3 diseases were detected by additional dissection through a median sternotomy. From the results of the present study, it appears that extensive mediastinal dissection should be recommended in surgery for lung cancer irrespective of the location and the size of the primary tumor.

A peptide that relaxes catch tension of the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis was purified from pedal ganglion extracts of the mussel. Its primary structure was determined to be H-Ala-Met-Pro-Met-Leu-Arg-Leu-NH2. This peptide was found to have not only catch-relaxing action on the byssus retractor muscle but also modulatory actions on contractions in various molluscan muscles.

The responses of melanophores of a cyprinid fish Zacco temmincki to changes in illumination were examined in isolated scale preparations of the adult fishes. Melanosomes in the melanophores aggregated in darkness and dispersed in light. These responses were invariably induced, even in denervated melanophores. These light responses, the dark-induced aggregation and the light-induced dispersion, were not affected by a number of alpha and beta adrenergic blocking agents. It was concluded that the melanophores of Zacco temmincki were themselves light sensitive and responded directly to light by melanosome translocations. The light responses were quantitatively assessed in relation to the intensity of illumination.

1. Alpha MSH was extremely effective in inducing melanosome dispersion in both innervated and denervated melanophores in isolated scales of Zacco termmincki. 2. The sensitivity of the melanophores to MSH did not change after denervation. 3. The MSH action was blocked by mersalyl, a SH inhibitor, but not by any of alpha and beta adrenergic blockers. 4. Ca2+ was required for the MSH action, but not for melanosome dispersion itself, since the beta adrenergic response was normally produced in the absence of this ion. 5. Mg2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ could not replace the Ca2+. 6. Mn2+ reversibly inhibited the MSH action.

Acetone extract of the ganglia of Fusinus ferrugineus was applied to C-18 cartridges, and the flowthrough and retained materials were bioassayed on the radula retractor muscle of the animal. The flowthrough was found to have a potent contractile action and the retained material a potent contraction-inhibiting action in addition to a weak contractile action. The retained material was then applied to a column (2.6 x 40 cm) of Sephadex G-15. Fractions of 4 ml each were collected, and their activities were assayed on twitch contractions of the radula retractor. Three peaks (E1, E2 and E3) of contraction-potentiating activity and one peak (I) of contraction-inhibiting activity were obtained. The maximum activities of peaks E1, E2 and E3 were found at fractions 22, 44 and 50, respectively. The maximum activity of peak I was found at fractions 28-30. All of the activities of these peaks were destroyed by incubating the fractions with the peptidase subtilisin, suggesting that the active substances in the peaks are peptides. Using some kinds of molluscan muscles, the actions of the substances were examined in greater detail. The results suggest that peak E1 may contain a novel excitatory peptide whose molecular weight is more than 1,000, and that peaks E2 and E3 may contain FMRFamide-related peptides. It is also suggested that peak I may contain two or more myomodulin-CARP-related inhibitory peptides.

Forty-eight patients with a well-differentiated thyroid cancer that occupied unilateral lobe were given, a modified radical neck dissection (unilateral or bilateral). After an examination of their lymph nodes, a retrospective analysis showed that the metastasis extended to the lateral cervical lymph node on the ipsilateral neck in 43.8% of all cases, and to at least the paratracheal lymph node on the contralateral neck in 27.2% of all cases. Therefore a bilateral modified radical neck dissection is needed surgical treatment for such patients.

1. The melanophores of a freshwater teleost, Zacco temmincki, responded to changes in illumination: in darkness the melanophores induced a melanosome aggregation and when subjected to light they caused a melanosome dispersion. 2. Using monochromatic light, the spectral sensitivity of the melanophores was examined. 3. The melanophores showed a different sensitivity to light between 400 and 600 nm with a maximum at about 525 nm. 4. The action spectrum closely resembled a porphyropsin absorbance curve, suggesting a porphyropsin or similar photopigment is active in the melanophore light response of Zacco temmincki.

Two congeneric peptides that inhibit contraction of the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis were isolated from the pedal ganglia of the mussel. Their structures were determined to be H-Gly-Ser-Pro-Met-Phe-Val-NH2 and H-Gly-Ala-Pro-Met-Phe-Val-NH2. These hexapeptides also showed inhibitory action on contractions in several other molluscan muscles, such as the cardiac muscle of Meretrix lusoria and the penis retractor muscle of Achatina fulica.

Responses of melanophores of the teleost, Zacco temmincki, to local light stimulation were examined in preparations of isolated scales. The melanophores induced the aggregation of melanosomes in darkness and their dispersion in light. Local illumination of a melanophore in the melanosome-dispersed state inhibited centripetal migration of melanosomes only in the stimulated area. Local illumination of a pigment-free branch of a melanophore with aggregated melanosomes generally brought about pigment dispersion into the stimulated area. However, when that area was at a significant distance from the edge of the central melanosome mass, the melanosomes never migrated into the irradiated area. Local illumination of the centrosphere of a cell inhibited the full aggregation of melanosomes in the dispersed and aggregated state. The degree of the inhibition depended on the size of the irradiated area. The results suggest that photoreceptive sites are distributed over the whole of a cell, and that the movements of melanosomes are regulated locally in a very precise manner.

Sound recordings of courtship in Drosophila mercatorum were analyzed with an oscilloscope. Sounds in this species consist of two kinds of pulses, referred to as the A and B sounds, respectively. These differ from each other in their oscilloscope pattern and in the behavior accompanying them. A comparative study of three strains from widely separated geographical regions (New York, El Salvador, and Hawaii) revealed significant differences among strains in the interpulse interval (ipi) of the A sound. The ipi of the B sound increased as it proceeded for New York and Hawaii males but not for males from El Salvador. These characteristics may influence mating success in interstrain crosses. The present results suggest that the first steps toward divergence in the nature of the sound are quantitative; this may affect the response threshold of the female. Genetic systems responsible for female receptivity may have been independently developed in the two sexes.