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BackgroundInfluenza is a public health issue that needs to be addressed strategically. The assessment of detailed infectious profiles is an important part of this effort. Household transmission data play a key role in estimating such profiles. We used diagnostic and questionnaire-based data on influenza patients at a Japanese clinic to estimate the detailed infectious period (as well as incubation period, symptomatic and infectious periods, and extended infectious period after recovery) and the secondary attack ratio (SAR) of influenza for households of various sizes based on a modified Cauchemez-type model.ResultsThe data were from enrolled patients with confirmed influenza who were treated at the Hirotsu Clinic (Kawasaki, Japan) with a neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) during six northern hemisphere influenza seasons between 2010 and 2016. A total of 2342 outpatients, representing 1807 households, were included. For influenza type A, the average incubation period was 1.43 days (95% probability interval, 0.03–5.32 days). The estimated average symptomatic and infective period was 1.76 days (0.33–4.62 days); the extended infective period after recovery was 0.25 days. The estimated SAR rose from 20 to 32% as household size increased from 3 to 5. For influenza type B, the average incubation period, average symptomatic and infective period, and extended infective period were estimated as 1.66 days (0.21–4.61), 2.62 days (0.54–5.75) and 1.00 days, respectively. The SAR increased from 12 to 21% as household size increased from 3 to 5.ConclusionAll estimated periods of influenza type B were longer than the corresponding periods for type A. However, the SAR for type B was less than that for type A. These results may reflect Japanese demographics and treatment policy. Understanding the infectious profiles of influenza is necessary for assessing public health measures.

It is common sense that some subjects have strong relationships while others are perhaps almost mutually independent, but a quantitative and systematic approach to describe such sense is a deficiency. A technique called pointwise mutual information (PMI) from information science helps to fulfill the request, but the calculation through a large-scale database is computationally infeasible if one requires an instantaneous value. This work provides a two-step remedy via deep learning for estimating and predicting relationships among two subject types that are found in the large-scale citation database called the Web of Science. The resulting model successfully replicates existing PMI values among subject types, and it can be used for predicting PMI values of two subject types if one or both subject types does not exist in the database.

Based on 10 years of data on academic papers from 2005 to 2014 available on the “Web of Science”, we conducted an in-depth review and analysis of collaborative academic research activities and relationships in mathematics/mathematical science and 21 other fields. We focused on the “academic papers co-authored with researchers in other fields” and derived new methods for measuring the degree of research cooperation among disciplines. Our new methods consist of two steps. The first step involves measuring and deriving new indices for identifying the specialized field of each researcher and the degree of concentration of each researcher’s work in his or her field of specialization. The second step, based on the indices, utilizes the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient to identify the characteristics of each field. We analyzed the temporal trends in the data for 15 major countries from 2007 to 2014, to determine if the degree of cooperation between disciplines is changing. We also analyzed the characteristics of different regions: the European Union, North America, Asia without Japan, and Japan. We confirmed the effectiveness of our new methods and obtained some interesting findings that offer a new perspective on academic research activities.

A 32-year-old pregnant woman in her 39th week of pregnancy presented at the emergency room complaining of sudden-onset dizziness with gaze disturbance and was admitted to our hospital. Her past medical history included hypertension, diabetes mellitus and infarction in the right medulla oblongata 18 months prior to this event. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography showed multiple irregular stenosis of the intracranial arterial system. Although MR images revealed no fresh ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions, she was diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RVCS) associated with pregnancy. Cesarean section immediately resolved the headache-free ischemic RCVS. The postpartum course of the patient was uneventful as well as that of her baby. Follow-up MR angiography showed improvement of intracranial vasoconstriction and follow-up MR imaging showed improvement of a left medial pontine ischemic lesion on diffusion-weighted image. This report describes a rare manifestation of pregnancy-related RCVS.

Refrigerant leakage due to the occurrence of formicary corrosion, also called ant nest corrosion, has been serious problem in copper piping used for the heat exchangers 1, 2). Because the ant nest corrosion begins at small pit and progresses rapidly in the depth direction, it is difficult to detect the occurrence of the ant nest corrosion. Notoya 2) reported that the progress of the ant nest corrosion in the depth direction was related to the repetition of the proportional reaction composed of copper and divalent carboxylic acid copper complex. In the present study, the corrosion potential measurement was performed to investigate the influence of proportional reaction composed of copper and divalent copper ions on the progress of the ant nest corrosion. A silicon sheet and two copper plates were used to simulate the pore environment on the ant nest corrosion. The small hole was drilled on the silicon sheet and copper plates. The diameter of the holes was 1 mm. The silicon sheet was sandwiched between copper plates, and the small hole penetrated into the silicon sheet and coper plates. This hole, which simulates the pore on ant nest corrosion, was filled with an aqueous solution of 100 ppm formic acid. In this case, the upper and lower copper plates were defined as working electrode 1 and 2 (WE1 and WE2), respectively. The corrosion potential measurement of the WE2 was carried out during the galvanostatic polarization of the WE1. A phosphor-deoxidized copper plates were used as the WE1 and WE2, and the electrochemical measurement was performed by a four-electrode system using a dual potentiostat. The corrosion potential of the WE2 was measured during the applying the constant current of 20 μA to the WE1. The corrosion potential of WE2 was shifted to noble potential because of the dissolution of the divalent copper ions on the WE1. This implies that the cathodic reaction rate of WE2 was increased due to the increase of the divalent copper ions concentration near the electrode interface of WE2, leading to the repetition of the proportional reaction composed of copper and divalent copper ions. References: [1] S. Yamauchi, K. Nagata, S. Sato, M. Shimono, Sumitomo light metal technical reports, 52, 1-7 (1984). [2] T. Notoya, T. Hamamoto, K. Kawano, Sumitomo light metal technical reports, 30, 123-128 (1989).

Background Natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) has been developed as a means of decreasing the incidence of surgical wound complications. However, NOSE performed using a conventional multiport technique has been reported previously. The current authors performed totally laparoscopic anterior resection with transvaginal specimen extraction (TVSE) using the reduced-port surgery (RPS) technique. The Alexis wound retractor (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA) and Free Access (Top Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were attached to the transvaginal route for transvaginal assistance and smooth specimen extraction. The authors documented this simple and safe technique and its short-term results. Methods Data were prospectively collected for five patients who underwent totally laparoscopic anterior resection with TVSE for colorectal cancer between June 2012 and December 2012. A multiport access device (GelPOINT advanced-access platform; Applied Medical) was inserted into the navel, and a 5-mm port was inserted into the right lower quadrant to be used as a drain site. Transverse transvaginal posterior colpotomy then was performed. One ring of an Alexis ring pair was inserted into the peritoneal cavity through the vagina. The other white ring was placed outside of the vagina and then covered with a Free Access to maintain the pneumoperitoneum for insertion of a 12-mm port. Lymph node dissection and transection of the distal colon were performed with transvaginal assistance. The specimen then was extracted transvaginally. After the Alexis had been removed, the vaginal incision was closed transvaginally. End-to-end colorectal anastomosis was performed using the double-stapling technique. Results Transvaginal extraction was completed in all five cases. The median operation time was 235 min. One case was complicated by chyloperitoneum. The median hospital stay was 6 days. Only one patient required intravenous analgesics once on postoperative day 1. All the patients remained disease free. Conclusion Totally laparoscopic anterior resection using TVSE with RPS appears to be feasible, safe, and oncologically acceptable for selected cases.

GOAL The aim was to investigate the clinical utility of RAPID Access 6.5 Quickview software and to evaluate whether preview of the capsule endoscopy video by a trained nurse could detect significant lesions accurately compared with endoscopists. BACKGROUND As reading capsule endoscopy is time consuming, one possible cost-effective strategy could be the use of trained nonphysicians or newly available software to preread and identify potentially important capsule images. STUDY The 100 capsule images of a variety of significant lesions from 87 patients were investigated. The minimum percentages for settings of sensitivity that could pick up the selected images and the detection rate for significant lesions by a well-trained nurse, two endoscopists with limited experience in reading, and one well-trained physician were examined. RESULTS The frequency of the selected lesions picked up by Quickview mode using percentages for sensitivity settings of 5%, 15%, 25%, and 35% were 61%, 74%, 93%, and 98%, respectively. The percentages for sensitivity significantly correlated (r=0.78, P

Background and Aim: The clinical utility of capsule endoscopy (CE) is often limited by incomplete small-bowel transit. The aim was to determine whether the use of an external real-time viewer could reduce delays caused by delayed gastric emptying of the capsule or delayed intestinal transit and also improve the rate of positive findings. Methods: We compared the proportion of completed exams and positive results among a group of patients studied before introduction of real-time viewer and a group in which capsule transit through the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel was regularly monitored and actions (e.g. administration of water or intravenous metoclopramide) were taken if it was delayed. Results: One hundred procedures in the viewer group and 100 control procedures in the age-matched controls were analyzed. In the viewer group, additional water intake (22 cases) and/or administration of metoclopramide (26 cases) were required. Endoscopic-assisted duodenal placement of the capsule was required in three cases. Overall one-third (n = 33) of cases required viewer-prompted interventions. The completion rate (86% vs 66%, P = 0.002) and the rate of positive findings (80% vs 67%, P = 0.04) were significantly higher in the viewer group compared to the no viewer group. Conclusions: Checking the progress of the capsule with the external real-time viewer improved the diagnostic yield and completion rate of CE.

Antithrombotics is increasingly being used for cardiovascular prevention. In more recent studies, small bowel injury and enteropathy associated with low-dose aspirin are increasingly being recognized. Aim of this study was to evaluate small bowel injury using video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) patients taking low-dose aspirin including other antithrombotics.This is a retrospective review of chronic users of antithrombotics who underwent VCE for suspected small bowel bleeding. Small bowel mucosal injury was evaluated using VCE findings.Fifty-four OGIB patients (36 men and 18 women, mean age 72.4 years) underwent VCE from January 2007 to May 2009. Twenty-two patients were taking 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin (aspirin group), 8 taking thienopyridine, (ticlopidine or clopidogrel, thienopyridine group), 13 taking aspirin combined with thienopyridine (combined group), and 11 taking warfarin (warfarin group). The mucosal injury, especially ulcers were most frequently detected in the combined group (46.2%, p = 0.01) among the four groups. The median number of redness lesions in the combined group was the highest among the four groups and was significantly higher than that in the warfarin group. The lesions of redness or small erosions in the aspirin and the combined groups tended to exist in the proximal part of small bowel.Combination of low-dose aspirin therapy and thienopyridine may exacerbate small bowel injury, and the preventive strategies should be established.

To establish reference ranges for ductus venosus waveform indices in the Japanese population. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 791 singleton fetuses of healthy Japanese couples were examined from January 2004 to January 2008. Reference ranges for ductus venosus waveform indices were constructed from cross-sectional data obtained at between 18 and 41 weeks of gestation. With a success rate of 84%, a total of 667 measurements in 791 women were eligible for analysis. The median pulsatility index (PI) of fetal ductus venosus decreased from 0.54 at 18 weeks of gestation to 0.30 at 41 weeks of gestation. The median end-diastolic velocity/peak systolic velocity (a/S) of the ductus venosus increased from 0.56 at 18 weeks of gestation to 0.76 at 41 weeks of gestation. In this study, we established reference ranges for the PI and a/S of the ductus venosus in the Japanese population, which differed slightly from other published reference data. The results will be useful for further studies to determine the validity of the clinical importance of the ductus venosus for at-risk fetuses.

Background Rikkunshito, a traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine, is widely prescribed as an oral preparation for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). In our previous study, we reported that extracorporeal ultrasonography (US) is a useful technique for the assessment of the gastric accommodation reflex (AR) and duodenogastric motility. In this study, we examined the effects of Rikkunshito on the gastroduodenal function in patients with FD. Methods Sixteen FD patients (median age, 45 y) underwent US, before and after 14 days of treatment with Rikkunshito (7.5 g b.d.). For assessment of the AR, a cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach was measured after incremental ingestion of a liquid meal up to 400-mL. The expansion rate was used as the parameter to determine the AR. Then, the gastric emptying rate (GER), motility index (MI), and reflux index (RI) were evaluated using previously reported methods. Results Although no significant changes were observed in the total score of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), the scores of 3 of the 15 symptoms of GSRS decreased significantly after treatment with Rikkunshito. The expansion rate of the proximal stomach was significantly greater after treatment with Rikkunshito than before the treatment. Although the GER and MI increased significantly, no significant differences in the RI were observed after treatment with Rikkunshito. Conclusion These observations suggested that Rikkunshito may be beneficial for the treatment of FD patients with impaired AR and gastric motility. These results also suggested that Rikkunshito has a therapeutic potential for FD and GERD.

Background and Aims: There are limited data concerning the clinical outcome of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) after double-balloon endoscopy (DBE). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with OGIB after DBE. Patients and Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with OGIB (47 men and 40 women; mean age 65.3 years) underwent DBE between July 2006 and December 2009. The criteria for assessment included documented iron deficiency anemia/occult or obscure small intestinal bleeding, and overt small intestinal bleeding. They were followed for a mean period of 41.4 months after DBE, and were divided into two groups according to their outcome, that is a good clinical course group (GC group) and a poor clinical course group (PC group). The clinical characteristics associated with rebleeding after DBE were analyzed by comparison of these two groups. Results: The source of bleeding was identified in 40 patients (46.0%) and endoscopic treatment was required in 21 of them (52.5%). The most frequent source of bleeding was ulcers/erosions (18.4%). During the follow-up period, 39 patients (44.8%) experienced bleeding and/or persistent iron deficiency anemia after DBE, while 48 patients did not. There were no significant differences of clinical characteristics between the two groups. However, there were more patients with diverticular bleeding in the GC group than the PC group, and there were significantly more patients with treatable small intestinal tumors/polyps in the GC group. There were also more patients with normal DBE findings in the GC group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the rebleeding rate after DBE varies depending on the source of bleeding.

This paper has three goals. First, it addresses the problem of ambiguity induced by a large number of kanji graphemes that are used in the current Japanese writing system. Secondly, it summarises and examines claims that this ambiguity is reduced by an orthographic device called okurigana. Thirdly, it argues that the disambiguating function of okurigana is seriously restricted by several constraints. To support this argument, a survey of the Joyo Kanji Hyo (i.e., inventory of kanji graphemes and their readings recommended by the Japanese Cabinet for daily use) is presented. The results of this survey demonstrate that even though okurigana actually disambiguates a number of kanji graphemes, it fails to do so in many cases because of the constraints. This indicates that a significant amount of ambiguity remains unresolved in the kanji script.

Low-dose enteric-coated aspirin is increasingly being used for prevention of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) could prevent aspirin-induced small bowel injury.This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, pilot study of GGA versus placebo in subjects taking low-dose enteric-coated aspirin. Young healthy volunteers were enrolled and each received 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin per day plus either GGA (150 mg/day) or matching placebo for 7 days. Video capsule endoscopy of the small bowel and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaire were performed before and after the administration of aspirin.Twenty volunteers were evaluated. There was no significant difference in the number of lesions in any category between those receiving or not receiving GGA. Large erosions or ulcers were observed in 12 (60%; 95% confidence interval 36%- 80%) aspirin users. Mucosal breaks were most frequently found in the latter half of the proximal small bowel.Short-term administration of low-dose enteric-coated aspirin was associated with visible small bowel damage in the majority of users. We could not prove that aspirin-induced small bowel mucosal injury was prevented by GGA.

The Japanese kana script represents morae by assigning either graphs or digraphs. Kana digraphs are characteristic in that they each comprise two mora-bearing graphs and yet correspond to single morae. This paper develops a structural analysis of kana digraphs, in which the monomoraic value of every digraph is consistently derived from the bimoraic value of a two-graph string. It is argued that the derivational process involves two events, namely cancellation of moraicity in the first mora and amalgamation of all relevant segments into the resultant single mora. This accounts for the observed fact that each constituent of a kana digraph regularly corresponds to one portion of a single mora. The validity of the analysis is supported by evidence drawn from two orthographic phenomena, namely positioning of diacritics and use of a common constituent in digraphs denoting partially isomorphic morae.

A case of depressed early gastric cancer with nodular gastritis is described. A 47-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital and admitted for surgical treatment of gastric cancer. Barium upper gastrointestinal study and endoscopy examination showed a 4.5 × 3.0 cm depressed lesion with a deep central ulceration in the anterior wall of the lower corpus. An unusual miliary pattern resembling ‘goose flesh’ was observed endoscopically in the antrum. Biopsy specimens from the tumor showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and specimens from the antrum showed many lymphoid follicles with a germinal center. Immunoglobulin G antibody and histological tests (Giemsa stain) for Helicobacter pylori were both positive. Early gastric cancer with nodular gastritis was diagnosed and a subtotal gastrectomy was performed. Histological examination of the resected specimen showed a stage I tumor infiltrating a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with a depressed lesion in the corpus (type 0 IIc + III) and nodular gastritis in the antrum. The patient is doing well 1 year after surgery.

Background PillCam patency capsule (PC) is a novel and radiofrequency identification tag-free device that remains intact in the gastrointestinal tract for 30-33 h after ingestion and then disintegrates. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical relevance of PC combined with abdominal ultrasonography as a reliable indicator of functional patency. Patients and methods The study was prospective and PillCam PC was administered to consecutive patients with known or suspected small bowel strictures. PC was verified if it was excreted intact in 33 h after administration. Following excretion failure and radiograph detection in the pelvic cavity, ultrasonography was used to detect the PC in relation to the stricture. Results The participants were 52 patients with known or suspected small bowel strictures (58% women, mean age 51 years, including 32 with or suspected Crohn's disease). Twenty-two patients (42.3%) retrieved PC in the stool within 33 h after ingestion. Radiograph identified the four PCs in the colon and eight were not observed. Ultrasonography precisely judged all 17 PCs retained including six PCs at the proximal side of small bowel stricture in the patients considered ineligible for capsule endoscopy (CE). In all eligible patients, CE passed through the small intestine without incident. Conclusion PillCam PC combined with ultrasonography before CE appears to be a reliable indicator of functional patency to predict and minimize the risk of impaction in suspected or even known cases with small bowel stricture.

Fecal hemoglobin-haptoglobin (Hb-Hpt) complex testing is theoretically superior to immunochemical fecal occult blood test detecting human hemoglobin (Hb), as Hb-Hpt is more stable compared to Hb during passage through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim was to examine the role of fecal Hb-Hpt complex testing in predicting small bowel lesions detected by video capsule endoscopy (VCE).Stools from patients undergoing small bowel VCE for obscure GI bleeding (OGIB) without ongoing overt bleeding were included. Two stool specimens were obtained on different days just before VCE to measure Hb-Hpt complex by ELISA and Hb by latex agglutination turbidimetric immunoassay.Seventy-six patients (39 men and 37 women, average age 66 years) with suspected small bowel lesions entered. Median Hb-Hpt complex and Hb levels were significantly higher (p0.001) in those with small bowel lesions compared to those without. Using the suitable cutoff points (Hb0 ng/ml and Hb-Hpt complex5 ng/ml), the sensitivity and specificity of the Hb-Hpt complex test to predict small bowel lesions were 71.4% and 73.3%, and those of the Hb test were 61.2% and 89.3%. Small bowel lesions were found in 58.3% with only Hb-Hpt complex positive results (15.8% of total subjects) compared to 83.3% when both were positive (55.3% of total).Measuring fecal Hb-Hpt complex in addition to Hb may be useful to predict the presence of small bowel lesions in patients with OGIB.

Objective: To clarify whether there are susceptible HLA-DQB1 or HLA-DPB1 alleles in women with preeclampsia. Methods: The frequency of HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DPB1 alleles was analyzed in 47 women with previous severe preeclampsia and compared with that in 85 normal fertile women. The types of HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DPB1 alleles were assessed using a polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The frequency of HLA-DQB1∗04 allele in previously preeclamptic women was 21.3% (20 of 94 loci) and in the controls was 11.2% (19 of 170 loci). Thus, the HLA-DQB1∗04 allele frequency was significantly higher in preeclamptic women compared with controls ( P 2 test, OR 2.15, 95% confidence interval 1.08, 4.27). The frequency of other HLA-DQB1 alleles and all HLA-DPB1 alleles was not significantly different between groups. The incidence of homozygosity of HLA-DQB1 or HLA-DPB1 alleles in preeclamptic women was not significantly different compared with that of normal fertile women. Conclusion: These data suggest that women who have the HLA-DQB1∗04 allele might be susceptible to preeclampsia.

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR genotype was determined in 54 Japanese women with severe pre-eclampsia in order to elucidate the relationship between HLA-DR antigen systems and pre-eclampsia. The patients were divided into two groups according to positivity for the anticardiolipin antibody (ACA), i.e. one patient group negative for ACA (n = 41) and the other patient group positive for ACA (n = 13). The frequency of each HLA-DRBI allele in both groups was compared with that in 81 normally fertile Japanese women who had not experienced pre-eclampsia. The genotypes of HLA-DR antigens were determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The frequency of DRB1 * 04 and DRB1 * 0403 in the patient group positive for the ACA was significantly higher compared with that in the group of normal fertile women (P< 0.05). The frequency of each HLA-DRB1 allele was not significantly different between patient group with pre-eclampsia negative for ACA and group of normal fertile women. These results suggest a difference in the immunogenetic background between the patient groups with severe pre-eclampsia positive and negative for the ACA.

Palladium-catalyzed polycondensation between 2,5-diiodo-3-hexylthiophene I-Th(Hex)-I with mixtures of p-diethynylbenzene HC≡C-Ph-C≡CH and α,ω-diethynylalkane HC≡C(CH 2 ) 1 C≡CH (1 = 3 or 8) gives poly(aryleneethynylene) PAE-type copolymers [C≡C(CH 2 ) 1 C≡C-Th(Hex)] m [C≡C-Ph-C≡C-Th(Hex)], containing the methylene unit. The copolymers have a molecular weight (M n ) of about 1.2 × 10 4 as determined by GPC (polystyrene standard) and are considered to possess essentially a random sequences in view of the -C≡C(CH 2 ) 1 C≡C- and -C≡C-Ph-C≡C-units as judged from their UV-visible spectra. By the incorporation of the (CH 2 ) 1 unit, the λ max position of the corresponding PAE homopolymer [C≡C-Ph-C≡C-Th(Hex)] n is shifted to a shorter wavelength. However, the copolymers give rise to a photoluminescence PL peak essentially agreeing with a PL peak of the homopolymer, suggesting occurrence of energy transfer in the copolymer.

Palladium-catalyzed polycondensation between p-diethynylbenzene (HC⋮CPhC⋮CH) and 2,5-diiodo-3-hexylthiophene (ITh(Hex)I) has been carried out under various conditions by changing the polymerization temperature, medium, and added amines. The polycondensation gives the polymer (PAE-1) with a Mn of about 3 × 104 (by GPC, polystyrene standards) and an [η] value of 0.8 dL g-1. By using neat NEt3 as the medium, the polymerization proceeds fast. 1H-NMR spectroscopic analysis indicates that oligomeric PAE-1 obtained at short polymerization time has a CI bond (Th(Hex)I bond) as the major terminal group, which is consistent with results of the basic Pd-catalyzed CC coupling reaction. The CI terminal bond of oligomeric PAE-1 reacts with 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene and 1,2,4,5-tetraethynylbenzene to give polymers with Mn values of 8.7 × 105 and 2.3 × 106 (by GPC), respectively, and the polymers are considered to have star-type structures. All the polymers show two (main and sub) photoluminescence PL peaks at 456 ± 3 and ...

Rectal administration of indomethacin induces longitudinal ulcers in the rat small intestine. The current study investigated a sequence of progressive villus injury in this enteropathy, especially by the use of scanning electron microscopy. The initial change was the distortion of several villi on the mesenteric side in the mid-small intestine identified at 0.5 h, even though there was no obvious change under light microscope or dissecting microscope at this time. During the subsequent 2h, distortion of the villi was accompanied by several epithelial defects, and epithelial detachment occurred on the villi tips. Extension of epithelial defects and exposure of the villus core progressed during subsequent periods. The injured villi were confluent with each other on the mesenteric side throughout the 12h after dosing. These findings suggest that the initial mucosal injury induced by the rectal route of administration was not extensive; rather, several villi were focally damaged on the mesenteric side in the mid-small intestine, eventually resulting in a longitudinal ulcer. Although the overall progression after indomethacin administration by the rectal route was similar to that occurrmg after subcutaneous administration, villus change seems to occur much earlier after rectal dosage.

重縮合の分野において,遷移金属錯体を用いる高分子合成の研究は,一つの時代を切り開きつつある.特に,ニッケルやパラジウム錯体を用いた重縮合では,モノマー合成の自由度の高さを活かし,機能性材料を目指した研究が活発に行われている.本総説では,最近の研究成果について,新規合成法だけではなく,その応用面についても紹介する.

With the increase in arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, etc., in order to find out the cause, research of the flow characteristic of blood attracts attention. As for the analysis of the flow phenomenon of the RBC (Red Blood Cell or Erythrocyte), the numerical simulation (Wada et al., 2000, Tanaka et al., 2004) as well as experiment observation (Gaehtgens et al., 1980) is becoming a strong tool. Particle methods, such as SPH method (Monaghan J., 1992) and the MPS method (Koshizuka, 1997), treats both solid and liquid as particles, and can be applied to complicated flow analysis. When applying a particle method to the flow analysis of RBC, RBC is divided into the elastic film and internal liquid, and its deformation was analyzed in detail (Tanaka et al., 2004, Tsubota et al., 2006). The RBC which is actually flowing in our body occupies 40-60% by volume ratio of blood (hematocrit), and is numerous. The objective of our research is clarifying the flow characteristic of the blood flow containing many RBCs. We reported preliminarily simulation of 2D blood flow (Nagayama et al., 2004), where many RBCs were simply treated as a lump of an elastic particle, the flow was analyzed qualitatively. Moreover, three dimensional RBC was modelled with double structure, and the RBC shape in flow was more realistic (Nagayama et al., 2005). The relation of the blood vessel diameter and the bloodflow with many RBCs was studied by 2D model (Nagayama, 2006) and by 3D model (Nagayama et al., 2008a). The model was also applied to 3D blood flow in capillary bend tube (Nagayama et al., 2008b). The objective is to understand the fundamental flow phenomenon in a blood vessel. In this paper, 3 dimensional blood flows with RBCs in capillary tube were simulated. In Section 2, simulation model was described. And the shape of single red blood cell in static fluid was shown. In Section 3, blood flows with RBCs in capillary straight tube were simulated. And the relations of the blood vessel diameter and the hematocrit were investigated. Furthermore, transient phenomena of interacting red blood cells and their shape were investigated. In Section 4, the model is applied to the capillary vessel flow at finger tip edge. The capillary vessel is modelled as two cases. One case is bent tube and another is bent and twisted tube, and RBC deformation were investigated.

The effects of ultrasonic wave irradiation on cell growth and the formation of ethanol and other volatile components in the fermentation process were investigated. The fermentation periods were reduced to 50–64% in wine, beer, and sake made from saccharified rice solution when weak ultrasonic waves were irradiated at 30 mW/cm2; the total intensity was 590 mW. YEPD medium fermented by a combination of optimal thermal trajectory control and continuous ultrasonic irradiation yielded a concentration of isoamylacetate about 2.5 times greater than the maximum concentration under isothermal conditions (20°C). Irradiation had virtually no effect when the dissolved carbon dioxide concentration (DCO2) was maintained at a level lower than the experimental value of Bunsen's CO2 absorption coefficient. Therefore, it is suggested that irradiation accelerates the formation of ethanol and other components mainly by decreasing DCO2.

A 81-year-old female was admitted to our hospital to undergo endoscopical treatment for a gastric adenoma and received YAG-laser therapy. The gastric adenoma was completely removed by laser therapy. However, following treatment, she complained of having mucous feces. Although she had undergone a colonoscopy twice during the previous six month, we examined her large intestine using colonoscopy and barium enema. A colonoscopy revealed a large-flat elevated lesion of the same color as the surrounding mucosa and no transmucosal vascularity of the rectum. A well demarcated flat lesion 4 cm in size with conglomerated nodules on its surface was confirmed using the dye-spraying contrast method with 0.2% indigo carmine solution. A lower anterior resection of the rectal lesion was performed and the patient is now living and well 16 month following surgery. We believe that, if we encounter gastric adenomas, more careful observation and use of the dye-spraying contrast method are necessary for the detection of adenomas or cancers in the colon.

The Lewis acid-promoted versions of the cycloaddition reaction between methyl 2-(benzoylamino)methylene-3-oxobutanoate and methylketene diethyl acetal are shown to provide a 1β-methylcarbapenem intermediate with high diastereoselectivity and moderate enantioselectivity.

Since capsule endoscopy (CE) is time consuming, one possible cost-effective strategy could be the use of an expert endoscopic assistant and available software to select images. Aims were to examine the clinical utility of RAPID(®) 5 Access software and find the optimum setting mode for reading. We also evaluated whether a nurse could preview the CE video and detect significant lesions accurately.The capsule images in 14 volunteers with known mucosal injury induced by low dose aspirin and in 30 patients who were known to have a variety of significant lesions were selected. Using three setting modes of RAPID(®) 5 Access software, the detection rate and reading time for CE images by two well-trained physicians and one expert nurse were compared.There was no significant difference in detection rate among the three readers. The detection rate using Quickview RAPID(®) 5 Access was significantly higher than that using RAPID(®) Reader version 4.1. Comparison among the three modes of RAPID(®) 5 Access showed that auto mode as well as displaying a single image at 12 fps was superior in the detection rate of denuded redness, while its reading time was longer compared to the other modes. Some significant lesions were not detected by using Quickview and Quadview modes.RAPID(®) 5 Access improves diagnostic yield, reducing reading time; however, it is still unacceptable because of the diagnostic miss rate and may be useful as an ancillary reading tool. Developing further improved software and training expert assistants for reading capsule images are necessary.

The patient, an 18-yr-old male (admission ht 153 cm, wt 30 kg), had been suffering from growth arrest and intermittent abdominal pain since he was 13yr old, which was left untreated. Examinations on admission disclosed almost normal pituitary function, while levels of testosterone and somatomedin C were low. Roentgenological examination revealed extensive skipstenotic lesions and longitudinal ulcers in the ileum, diagnostic of Crohn's disease. Therapy involving high-caloric parenteral and enteral alimentation resulted in a marked increase in both ht and wt, and improvement in roentgenological and colonoscopical findings. The interrelation between Crohn's disease and malnutrition with reference to some reports in the literature is discussed.(Internal Medicine 31 : 39-43, 1992)

The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of famotidine in Japanese patients with peptic ulcers; it was analyzed the pooled data from previously conducted clinical trials in Japan.In the present study was performed a meta-analysis of controlled trials of famotidine and proton pump inhibitors executed between 1985 to 2005. The patients included in this study were Japanese adults (or = 19 years old) diagnosed with gastrointestinal ulcers, treated for an on-label indication at doses approved in Japan, and whose treatment outcomes were clearly shown. It was searched the JMEDPlus database for relevant data. Data were synthesized and the results expressed as relative risk (RR).Of the nine articles analyzed with a total of 1,771 patients, 879 received famotidine, and 892 received proton pump inhibitors. For duodenal ulcer and the hemostatic effect on the upper gastrointestinal tract, there were no significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.064, p = 0.066, respectively), although proton pump inhibitors showed a significantly greater efficacy compared to famotidine for gastric ulcers (RR: 0.86 [95% CI: 0.78-0.93], p0.001).In Japanese patients, there were no significant differences for duodenal ulcer and hemostatic effect on the upper gastrointestinal tract between famotidine and proton pump inhibitors.

When we have to write programs for statistical data visualization using a generalpurpose programming language, for example, to achieve new functions or extensibility, the Java language is an appropriate choice. The object-oriented characteristics of Java are suitable for building graphical and interactive programs. Java has well-prepared standard graphical libraries that reduce our programming tasks and increase the portability of software to different platforms. Furthermore, recently developed solutions for object-oriented programming – so called “design patterns” – are useful for building statistical data visualization programs.

We propose to extend traditional 2 dimensional (2D) Parallel Coordinates plot (PCP) to the one in 3 dimensional (3D) space for showing relationships among many variables intuitively. We also illustrate that 3D PCP can be used for variable selection. In 2D PCP, we often use a brushing operation to sweep from small values to large values of one reference variable. This operation makes the relationships among the reference variable and other variables clear by using time axis. Our basic idea is to use spatial 3rd orthogonal axis instead of time. We locate line segments which show observations with respect to the values of a selected reference variable in 3D space. We show some rearrangements of order and directions of axes are useful to see the similarity between the reference variable and other variables clearly, so it can be used in the first step of variable selection. We also propose to divide values of one variable into several intervals and perform ordering with respect to the reference variable within each interval. This operation is useful to show non-linear interaction by two variables to the reference variable.