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Background Data on real-world use of everolimus (EVR) in Japanese maintenance kidney transplant (KTx) patients are limited. This post-marketing surveillance study was conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of EVR, and identify factors affecting renal impairment. Methods Adult maintenance KTx patients were enrolled within 14 days of initiating EVR. Patient medical data were collected using electronic data capture case report forms at 6 months, 1, and 2 years after initiating EVR, or at discontinuation. Results All patients receiving EVR in Japan during the surveillance period were enrolled (N = 263). Mean time from transplantation to EVR initiation was 75.7 months. Decreased renal function (31.56%) was the primary reason for initiating EVR. In combination with EVR, the mean daily dose of tacrolimus and cyclosporine could be reduced to ~ 79 and ~ 64%, by 2 years, respectively. Incidences of serious adverse events and adverse drug reactions were 15.97 and 49.43%, respectively. Two-year graft survival rate was 95.82% and low in patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; modification of diet in renal disease) 2 (69.57%; P P = 0.0206). Throughout the survey, mean eGFR values were stable (> 55 mL/min/1.73 m2). Renal impairment was influenced by patient and donor age, eGFR, and UPCR at baseline. Conclusions No new safety concerns for the use of EVR in adult maintenance KTx patients were identified. Early EVR initiation may be considered in these patients before renal function deterioration occurs.

Purpose Optic nerve damage leads to impairment of visual functions. We previously demonstrated that apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins (E-LPs) protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from degeneration in a glaucoma model of glutamate/aspartate transporter-deficient mice. This study aimed to determine whether E-LPs protect RGCs from N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity, and to investigate the details of an indirect neuroprotective mechanism of E-LPs by reducing α2-macroglobulin, which interferes with the neuroprotective effect of E-LPs, in Muller glia. Methods Excitotoxicity was caused by intravitreal injection of NMDA, and then retinae were subjected to immunoblotting or quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Primary cultures of mouse mixed retinal cells and mouse Muller glia were used for evaluating the effects of E-LPs on the expression of α2-macroglobulin. Results Intravitreal injection of E-LPs protected the optic nerve from degeneration and attenuated the increase in α2-macroglobulin in aqueous humor and retina of rats. E-LPs directly decreased the expression and secretion of α2-macroglobulin in primary cultures of Muller glia; this decrease in production of α2-macroglobulin was blocked by knockdown of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) with small interfering RNA. E-LPs promoted the phosphorylation of STAT3, whereas Stattic, an inhibitor of STAT3, restored the expression of α2-macroglobulin decreased by E-LPs. Conclusions In addition to our previous findings of the protection of RGCs by E-LPs, the new observations in Muller glia indicate that a reduction of the intraocular α2-macroglobulin, regulated by the E-LP-LRP1-STAT3 pathway, might be an additional protective mechanism against excitotoxicity in the retina.

Introduction:Exercise stress echocardiography and layer-specific strains are emerging as important tools for cardiac assessment. This study was aimed to evaluate layer-specific strains and torsion parameters during exercise in order to investigate the characteristics of cardiac dysfunction in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and to detect subclinical left ventricular dysfunction.Materials and Methods:Thirteen patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (median age, 17.3 [interquartile range, 14.5–22.9] years; 6 males) and 13 controls (median age, 28.5 [interquartile range, 27.6–31.6] years; 13 males) underwent echocardiography at rest and during supine exercise. Layer-specific longitudinal strain and circumferential strain of three myocardial layers (endocardium, midmyocardium, and epicardium), torsion, and untwisting rate were measured using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.Results:Peak endocardial papillary circumferential strain (−21.1 ± 2.6% vs. −25.8 ± 3.8%, p = 0.007), midmyocardial apical circumferential strain (−11.1 ± 4.0% vs. −15.6 ± 3.2%, p = 0.001), epicardial apical circumferential strain (−11.1 ± 4.0% vs. −15.6 ± 3.2%, p = 0.021), and torsion (8.9 ± 6.0 vs. 14.9 ± 4.8 degree, p = 0.021) were significantly lower in the repaired tetralogy of Fallot group than in the control group during exercise, though no significant difference was found between patients and controls at rest.Conclusions:Analysis of layer-specific strains and torsion parameters during exercise could detect subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot, which might reflect potential myocardial damage, at a stage where these parameters have normal values at rest. This finding provides new insight into the mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular function has been shown to be an important prognostic indicator in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) and tends to decrease with age. In recent years, left atrial (LA) function was reported to be a useful prognostic indicator more than or equal to left ventricular function in acquired heart diseases. However, atrial function in rTOF has not yet been sufficiently examined. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between LA dysfunction and age in rTOF using strain analysis. METHODS In order to assess the relationship between LA function and age, we recruited 59 patients with rTOF ranging in age from 5-40 years. We stratified the patients into 3 groups (T1: 5-10 years, T2: 11-20 years, T3: 21-40 years) and divided 54 controls of similar age into 3 corresponding groups (N1, N2, and N3). Two-dimensional speckle tracking images (2D-STI) obtained from four- and two-chamber views were used to assess LA functions by measuring reservoir, conduit, and pump strain. Additionally, we measured the strain rate (SR) in the systole, early diastole, and late diastole. RESULTS LA reservoir strain (37.4 ± 2.2% vs. 47.9 ± 1.7%, P= 0.004), LA pump strain (8.3 ± 1.4% vs. 14.1 ± 2.7%, p Early diastole SR was significantly decreased in the T1 and T3 groups compared with the N1 and N3 groups (T1 vs N1, 3.00 ± 0.63% vs. 4.03 ± 0.0.80%, p CONCLUSIONS In rTOF, most of the LA functions assessed by strain analysis decreased compared to normal controls in over 20 years old age. Furthermore, all measured functions decreased with age in rTOF while only two parameters decreased with age in normal controls. These results suggest that LA function may be an important indicator in long-term rTOF follow-up. These are new insights into LA function in patients with rTOF.

Thalidomide was originally used as a sedative and found to be a teratogen, but now thalidomide and its derivatives are widely used to treat haematologic malignancies. Accumulated evidence suggests that thalidomide suppresses nerve cell death in neurologic model mice. However, detailed molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here we examined the molecular mechanism of thalidomide’s neuroprotective effects, focusing on its target protein, cereblon (CRBN), and its binding protein, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays an important role in maintaining intracellular energy homeostasis in the brain. We used a cerebral ischemia rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). Thalidomide treatment significantly decreased the infarct volume and neurological deficits of MCAO/R rats. AMPK was the key signalling protein in this mechanism. Furthermore, we considered that the AMPK–CRBN interaction was altered when neuroprotective action by thalidomide occurred in cells under ischemic conditions. Binding was strong between AMPK and CRBN in normal SH-SY5Y cells, but was weakened by the addition of H2O2. However, when thalidomide was administered at the same time as H2O2, the binding of AMPK and CRBN was partly restored. These results suggest that thalidomide inhibits the activity of AMPK via CRBN under oxidative stress and suppresses nerve cell death.

Background Anthracycline cardiotoxicity affects clinical outcomes, and its early detection using methods that rely on conventional echocardiography, such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and the differences in cardiac dysfunction among childhood cancer survivors in 3 age groups using layer-specific strain analysis in a wide age range.Methods and Results:The 56 patients (median age: 15 [range: 6.8-40.2] years) who had been treated with anthracycline for childhood cancer were divided into 3 age groups (C1: 6-12 years, C2: 13-19 years, C3: 20-40 years) after anthracycline treatment, and 72 controls of similar ages were divided into 3 corresponding groups (N1, N2, and N3). Layer-specific longitudinal strain (LS) and circumferential strain (CS) of 3 myocardial layers (endocardium, midmyocardium, and epicardium) were determined using echocardiography. Myocardial damage had not occurred yet in C1. Endocardial CS at the basal level was less in C2 than in N2. Endocardial CS at all levels and midmyocardial CS at the basal and papillary levels were lower in C3 than in N3. LVEF and LS were not significantly different between patients and controls. Conclusions Among survivors of childhood cancer, impaired myocardial deformation starts in adolescence and extends from the endocardium towards the epicardium and from the base towards the apex with age. These findings are a novel insight into the time course of anthracycline cardiotoxicity.

Assessment of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is vital in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). The early diastolic intraventricular pressure gradient (IVPG) in the LV plays an important role in diastolic function. IVPG is calculated as the intraventricular pressure difference divided by the LV length, which allows to account for differences in LV size and therefore calculate IVPG in children. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of LV diastolic dysfunction by measuring mid-to-apical IVPG as an indicator of the active suction force sucking blood from the left atrium into the LV. We included 38 rTOF patients and 101 healthy controls. The study population was stratified based on age group into children (4–9 years), adolescents (10–15 years), and adults (16–40 years). IVPGs were calculated based on mitral inflow measurements obtained using color M-mode Doppler echocardiography. Although total IVPGs did not differ between rTOF patients and controls, mid-to-apical IVPGs in adolescents and adults were smaller among rTOF patients than among controls (0.15 ± 0.05 vs. 0.21 ± 0.06 mmHg/cm, p

Background Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) is an important risk factor for adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the details and time course of such LV dysfunction using layer-specific strain analysis by echocardiography.Methods and Results:The 66 patients with rTOF (mean age, 16.3±9.3 years) were divided into 3 groups (T1: 4-10 years, T2: 11-20 years, T3: 21-43 years), and 113 controls of similar age (mean age, 17.2±9.3 years) were divided into 3 corresponding groups (C1, C2, and C3). Layer-specific longitudinal strain (LS) and circumferential strain (CS) of 3 myocardial layers (endocardial, midmyocardial, and epicardial) were determined by echocardiography. Basal and papillary endocardial CS values were decreased in T1 compared with C1. With the exception of papillary epicardial CS, basal/papillary CS and LS of all 3 layers decreased in T2 compared with C2. Excepting papillary epicardial CS, all other values were decreased in T3 compared with C3. Conclusions Potential myocardial damage was found in the endocardium at the basal and papillary levels of the LV in young patients with rTOF, extending from the endocardium to the epicardium and from the base to the apex. This is the possible time course of LV dysfunction in patients with rTOF.

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) plays pivotal roles in endocytosis and signaling in the cell. Immature LRP1 is processed by furin in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and transported to the cell surface as its mature form. Activation of mature LRP1 exerts a protective effect against glutamate-induced degeneration of the rat retinal ganglion cells, as was shown in our previous study. However, the roles of LRP1 in the pathogenesis of excitotoxic neuronal injuries remain to be determined. The aim of this present study was to achieve further insight into the pathophysiologic roles of LRP1 after excitotoxic neuronal injuries. Our findings are the first to demonstrate that LRP1 was significantly cleaved by furin after cerebral ischemia in rats as well as after exposure of cultured cortical neurons to NMDA. It was noteworthy that the intracellular domain (ICD) of LRP1 was co-localized with TGN and furin. Furthermore, a furin inhibitor inhibited the cleavage of LRP1 and co-localization of LRP1-ICD with TGN or furin. Our findings suggest that furin-mediated cleavage of LRP1 and changes in the localization of LRP1-ICD were involved in the excitotoxic neuronal injury.

Sake, a traditional Japanese rice wine, contains various oligosaccharides (Sake oligosaccharides; SAOs) derived from rice starch. We previously found that SAOs reach a high degree of polymerization (DP). In this study, we developed a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (HILIC-TOF/MS) based analytical method to separate isomeric SAOs. Isomers of SAOs with DP = 6, 7, and 8, which were named DP6-1, DP7-1, DP8-1 and DP8-2, respectively, were purified from sake and their structures were determined by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. These were novel oligosaccharides containing two α-1, 6 bonded branches on an α-1, 4-linked glucose main chain. Interestingly, adjacent double α-1, 6 branches that have not been identified in starch, were found in DP6-1, DP7-1, and DP8-1, suggesting the presence of the branching pattern in starch. DP6-1 was poorly digested by fungal glucoamylase, and this may be attributed to its adjacent double branches at the non-reducing end.

Cardiac dysfunction due to cardiotoxicity from anthracycline chemotherapy is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in survivors of childhood cancer. The intraventricular pressure gradient (IVPG) of the left ventricle (LV) is the suction force of blood from the left atrium to the LV apex during early diastole and is a sensitive indicator of diastolic function. We assessed IVPG as a new indicator of the cardiac dysfunction in survivors of childhood cancer after anthracycline therapy. We performed a prospective echocardiographic study on 40 survivors of childhood cancer aged 6–26 years who received anthracycline therapy (group A) and 53 similar-age normal controls (group N). The subjects were divided into the younger groups, N1 and A1 (age < 16 years); older groups, N2 and A2 (age ≥ 16 years). IVPG was calculated using color M-mode Doppler imaging of the mitral inflow using Euler’s equation. Total IVPG was divided into the basal and mid-to-apical IVPG to demonstrate more clearly the mechanisms of the LV diastolic suction force. The total anthracycline dose was 16.2–600.0 mg/m2 (median 143.5 mg/m2). Total IVPG significantly decreased in group A2 compared with that in group N2 (0.39 ± 0.07 vs. 0.29 ± 0.11 mmHg/cm; p = 0.010). The mid-to-apical IVPG significantly decreased in groups A1 and A2 compared with that in groups N1 and N2, respectively (N1 vs. A1: 0.20 ± 0.05 vs. 0.16 ± 0.05 mmHg/cm, p = 0.036; N2 vs. A2: 0.21 ± 0.06 vs. 0.14 ± 0.06 mmHg/cm, p = 0.001). Basal IVPG, E wave, and E/e′ were not significantly different between patients and normal controls. The total and mid-to-apical IVPG, especially mid-to-apical IVPG, could be sensitive new indicators in survivors of childhood cancer after anthracycline therapy.

Cell adhesive biomaterials have been used for various cells in culture, especially for primary cultures of neurons. Here we examined laminin-111 and its active peptides conjugated to chitosan matrices (ChtMs) for primary culture of rat cortical neurons. Laminin-111 on poly-d-lysine substrate promoted neuronal cell attachment and differentiation. The biological activity of six active laminin-111-derived peptides was examined using a peptide-ChtM construct. When the syndecan-binding peptides, AG73 (RKRLQVQLSIRT, mouse laminin α1 chain 2719-2730) and C16 (KAFDITYVRLKF, laminin γ1 chain 139-150), were conjugated to chitosan, AG73-ChtM and C16-ChtM showed potent neuronal cell attachment activity and promoted axon extension by primary cultured rat cortical neurons. However, the remaining peptides, including integrin-binding peptides, did not show activity when conjugated to ChtM. AG73-ChtM and C16-ChtM also supported neuron survival for at least 4 weeks in serum-free medium without a glia feeder layer. These data suggest that AG73-ChtM and C16-ChtM are useful for primary cultures of central nervous system neurons and have a potential for use as functional biomaterials for tissue engineering in the central nervous system.

The proprotein convertases (PCs) act as serine proteases and are known to convert diverse precursor proteins into their active forms. Among the PCs, furin has been considered to play a crucial role not only in embryogenesis, but also in the initiation and progression of certain pathologic conditions. However, the roles played by furin with respect to neuronal cell injuries remain to be determined. An excessive influx of Ca2+ through the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been associated with diverse neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to achieve further insight into the pathophysiologic roles of furin in cultured cortical neurons. We demonstrated that furin inhibitors dose-dependently prevented neuronal injury induced by NMDA treatment. Neuronal injury induced by NMDA treatment was attenuated by the calpain inhibitor calpeptin. And the increase observed in the activity of calpain after NMDA treatment was significantly inhibited by these furin inhibitors. Furthermore, calpain-2 activity, which was evaluated by means of the immunoblotting assay, was increased by NMDA treatment. It was noteworthy that this increased activity was almost completely inhibited by a furin inhibitor. Our findings suggested that furin is involved in NMDA-induced neuronal injury by acting upstream of calpain.

Although the suction force that moves blood into the left ventricle during early diastole is thought to play an important role in diastolic function, there have been a few studies of this phenomenon in normal children. Suction force is measured as the intraventricular pressure difference (IVPD) and intraventricular pressure gradient (IVPG), which is calculated as IVPD divided by left ventricular length. The purpose of this study was to determine the suction force in infants, children, and adolescents using IVPD and IVPG. We included 120 normal children categorized into five groups based on age: G1 (0–2 years), G2 (3–5 years), G3 (6–8 years), G4 (9–11 years), and G5 (12–16 years). The total, basal, and mid–apical IVPD and IVPG were calculated using color M-mode Doppler imaging of the mitral valve inflow using the Euler equation. The total IVPD increased with age from G1 to G5 (1.75 + 0.51 vs. 2.95 + 0.72 mmHg, respectively; p

The epidermis of Pinus mikii leaves was studied. Pinus mikii is a fossil species from the lower Miocene to lower Pleistocene of Japan. In P. mikii, the stomata are closely set and guard cells have polar extensions of cuticle on their inner cell walls. These features suggest that P. mikii is closely related to P. luchuensis, an extant species endemic to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Pinus mikii also shares some epidermal characters with P. thunbergii, which is semiendemic to Japan. It is possible that P. mikii is a common ancestor of both of these extant species. The distribution of P. mikii expanded during the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO), but its distribution shifted southwards as global temperatures declined. Pinus luchuensis likely speciated from the retreating population, whereas P. thunbergii arose from a population that adapted to the cooler climate. This study provides a new perspective on the contribution of MMCO relicts to the floristic diversity of Japan.

Aim: Investigation of responses of multifocal visual-evoked potentials (mfVEPs) in schizophrenic patients under treatment in whom no abnormality was detected on the conventional perimetry.Methods: Recordings of mfVEPs were performed in 31 schizophrenic patients and 30 normal subjects using a VERIS Junior Science recording apparatus (Mayo, Aichi, Japan). Responses from eight sites in each subject were divided into four quadrants (superior and inferior temporal quadrants, and superior and inferior nasal quadrants). In each quadrant, two response waves were grouped and averaged, and the latency and amplitude of main waveforms that appeared near 100 ms were evaluated.Results: The peak latency was about 7–9 ms prolonged and the amplitude was reduced by about 2–5 nV/deg2 in the schizophrenic patient group compared to those in the normal subject group, and significant differences were noted in both parameters in all quadrants.Conclusion: In schizophrenic patients under treatment with psychotropic agents, prolongation of the latency and amplitude reduction were noted in mfVEPs even though no abnormality was detected on the conventional perimetry.

The major mechanisms of gas permeation through solid membranes are described and the applicable equations describing the permeance are presented. The mechanisms depend on the relative size of the permeating molecules and the diameter of the pores. As pore size decreases the operable mechanisms are Hagen-Pouiselle flow, Knudsen diffusion, surface diffusion, gas-translation, and finally solid-state diffusion. The Hagen-Pouiselle mechanism involves flow through large pores, while the Knudsen mechanism involves collision of molecules with the walls of pores of intermediate size. Surface diffusion deals with movement of molecules trapped in the potential field of the walls of pores of relatively small size, while gas-translation involves molecules that can escape the field, but are constrained by the small pores. Finally, solid-state transport comprises dissolution and transport by diffusion within the solid. These mechanisms are illustrated for hydrogen permeance with the use of two membranes, an alumina membrane with intermediate sized pores and a silica on alumina membrane of dense structure.

Wheat flour has an ability of forming dough by mixing with water, which exhibits a rheological property required for making bread. The major protein is gluten, which is a valuable protein material for food industry. In this study, gluten protein gels and films were formed with cysteine and sodium alginate. Adding cysteine improved gel and film properties (stress relaxation behavior, bending strength). The gel containing 0.01 M cysteine had a longer relaxation time and was more rigid than the gel without cysteine. Although adding sodium alginate to the gluten suspension containing cysteine improved the water-holding ability and homogeneity of the gel network, the film from this gel was more brittle than the gluten film with cysteine alone. Microstructural observations of the gels and films with scanning electron microscopy suggested that water evaporation was more heterogeneous from the gel containing sodium alginate than from the gel with cysteine alone. Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) analysis during film formation suggested that the presence of cysteine encourages interaction between gluten molecules and results in intermolecular beta-sheet formation in earlier stages than in the no additive condition. FT-IR results also suggested that the combined effect of sodium alginate and cysteine on the protein secondary structure was remarkably different from that of cysteine alone. Our results suggest that addition of a suitable amount of cysteine (0.01 M) and heat treatment to 80 degrees C during gluten gel and film formation induces a homogenous network in the gel and film by regulating disulfide-sulfide interactions.

Design methods of nanoparticle formulations are divided into a break-down method and a build-up method. Furthermore, the former is further divided into dry and wet processes. For drug nanoparticle preparations, the wet process is generally employed, and organic solvents are used in most formulations. In this study, we investigated the preparation of nifedipine (NI) nanoparticles without using any organic solvent. NI nanoparticles with a mean particle size of approximately 50 nm could be prepared without organic solvent by a combination of roll mixing and high-pressure homogenization. The X-ray diffraction peak of the sample prepared by roll mixing was present at an identical position (2theta) to that of NI crystals, showing that no peak shift was induced by interaction with lipid. These findings clarified that most NI remained as crystals in lipid. To maintain the particle size of the nanoparticles in suspension for a long time, a method of adding gelatin powder to the NI-lipid nanoparticle suspension, dissolving the mixture by heating, and then solidifying by cooling was investigated. The mean particle size of the sample was about 55 nm, and that after heat-liquefaction of the NI-lipid nanoparticle suspension gelated at 5 degrees C for 24h was also about 55 nm, showing that the nanoparticle condition was retained.

Pinus trifolia Miki 1939 (Pinaceae) was originally proposed based on seed cones from the upper Miocene of Aichi and Gifu Prefectures, central Japan. However, before the publication of P. trifolia, a different name (Pinus fujiii (Yasui) Miki) was given to a female cone with the same morphology. On the other hand, P. fujiii auct. non (Yasui) Miki has been used for seed cones with different morphologies from Yasui's holotype, i.e., apophyses arranged in 5:8 parastichies and a perexcentromucronate slightly-pointed umbo. As a result of re-examination on the Miki and Yasui specimens, we concluded that P. trifolia was a synonym for P. fujiii and proposed here Pinus mikii sp. nov. for cones assigned to P. fujiii auct. non (Yasui) Miki. We also emended the diagnosis of P. fujiii based on these specimens. Pinus fujiii is characterized by a large female cone in which the apophyses with a centromucronate prickle-like umbo are arranged in 8:13 parastichies, and deciduous seed wings. These characters suggest that P. fujiii belongs to the section Trifoliae of the subgenus Pinus, which is now restricted to North and Central America and the Caribbean islands. Fossil data suggest that the P. fujiii lineage firstly appeared in Japan around the Eocene/Oligocene boundary. We speculate that the P. fujiii lineage might have moved southward to Japan from a refugium located elsewhere in high-latitude areas in response to the late Eocene cooling event, as occurred with other Trifoliae species in North America. © 2015 Yamada et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

O,O′‐decanoyl chitosan and O,O′‐decanoyl N,N‐didecanoyl chitosan, the lipophilic chitosans, as well as O,O′‐decanoyl chitin, the lipophilic chitin, were prepared from chitosan and chitin, respectively. All of these were soluble in chloroform, and the lipophilic chitosans were also soluble in toluene while O,O′‐decanoyl N,N‐didecanoyl chitosan was soluble also in hexane and kerosene. Solvent extraction of some selected metals, Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Fe(III) and Pb(II), were tested using these lipophilic polysaccharides in chloroform. For extraction with O,O′‐decanoyl N,N‐didecanoyl chitosan, tests were also carried out using kerosene as the diluent. With O,O′‐decanoyl chitin, none of the metals tested were appreciably extracted. With O,O′‐decanoyl chitosan, copper(II) was highly selectively extracted over the other metals, while iron(III) was not appreciably extracted. On the other hand, iron(III) and copper(II) were selectively extracted over the other metals with O,O′‐decanoyl N,N‐didec...

Extant pines of subsection Pinus (section Pinus, genus Pinus, Pinaceae) are predominantly distributed in Eastern Asia. However, the extent of diversification in the section has yet to be fully clarified. We reviewed fossil records of subsection Pinus from Japan and collected permineralized materials, in which anatomical details are preserved for better understanding of the diversification. Our results suggest that this subsection appeared in Japan no earlier than the Middle Eocene, with extant species (i.e., Pinus densiflora and Pinus thunbergii) appearing around the beginning of the Pleistocene. Pinus fujiii (Early Miocene to Early Pleistocene) is inferred to have a close affinity to P. thunbergii based on the medial arrangement of its leaf resin canals. Additionally, P. fujiii has a similar cone morphology to those of extant species living in China, bridging the morphological gap between P. thunbergii and Chinese relatives of P. thunbergii as inferred by molecular phylogenetic analyses. Our results also suggest that taxonomic revisions of Pinus miocenica and Pinus oligolepis are required among the Japanese fossil species reported to date.

To investigate the clinical outcome of double balloon enteroscopy (DBE)-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (DB-ERCP) in patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy.Between September 2006 and April 2011, 47 procedures of DB-ERCP were performed in 28 patients with a Roux-en-Y total gastrectomy (n = 11), Billroth II gastrectomy (n = 15), or Roux-en-Y anastomosis with hepaticojejunostomy (n = 2). DB-ERCP was performed using a short-type DBE combined with several technical innovations such as using an endoscope attachment, marking by submucosal tattooing, selectively applying contrast medium, and CO₂ insufflations.The papilla of Vater or hepaticojejunostomy site was reached in its entirety with a 96% success rate (45/47 procedures). There were no significant differences in the success rate of reaching the blind end with a DBE among Roux-en-Y total gastrectomy (96%), Billroth II reconstruction (94%), or pancreatoduodenectomy (100%), respectively (P = 0.91). The total successful rate of cannulation and contrast enhancement of the target bile duct in patients whom the blind end was reached with a DBE was 40/45 procedures (89%). Again, there were no significant differences in the success rate of cannulation and contrast enhancement of the target bile duct with a DBE among Roux-en-Y total gastrectomy (88 %), Billroth II reconstruction (89%), or pancreatoduodenectomy (100%), respectively (P = 0.67). Treatment was achieved in all 40 procedures (100%) in patients whom the contrast enhancement of the bile duct was successful. Common endoscopic treatments were endoscopic biliary drainage (24 procedures) and extraction of stones (14 procedures). Biliary drainage was done by placement of plastic stents. Stones extraction was done by lithotomy with the mechanical lithotripter followed by extraction with a basket or by the balloon pull-through method. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 14 procedures with a needle precutting knife using a guidewire. The mean total duration of the procedure was 93.6 ± 6.8 min and the mean time required to reach the papilla was 30.5 ± 3.7 min. The mean time required to reach the papilla tended to be shorter in Billroth II reconstruction (20.9 ± 5.8 min) than that in Roux-en-Y total gastrectomy (37.1 ± 4.9 min) but there was no significant difference (P = 0.09). A major complication occurred in one patient (3.5%); perforation of the long limb in a patient with Billroth II anastomosis.Short-type DBE combined with several technical innovations enabled us to perform ERCP in most patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy.

A 70-year-old man presented with a 0-IIc lesion in the lower esophagus. He underwent esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The pathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma with small cell carcinoma. The patient received chemoradiotherapy after ESD, but this was interrupted because of myelosuppression. Follow-up endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) at 5 months after the ESD revealed paracardial lymph node swelling (17mm). He underwent EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA), and lymph node metastasis of small-cell-type endocrine cell carcinoma was diagnosed. He received VP-16 chemotherapy but died 22 months after the ESD.

We report 3 cases with unusual complications of gastric outlet obstruction caused by a gastrostomy tube balloon. All cases developed vomiting, and 2 cases were accompanied by hematemesis. Gastric ulcer was observed in 1 case, aspiration pneumonia was observed in 2 cases, and pancreatitis was observed in 1 case. This condition improved rapidly by correction of the position of the balloon in all cases. In patient vomiting during management for gastrostomy we need to consider migration of the gastrostomy tube balloon. Careful management of the gastrostomy tube balloon is important.

The i-gel (Intersurgical Ltd., Wokingham, Berkshire, UK) is a new single-use noninflatable supraglottic airway device. It is composed of a soft, gel-like, transparent, thermoplastic elastomer, which provides a perilaryngeal seal without cuff inflation. In this case report, we describe the airway management using i-gel in two patients scheduled for awake craniotomy. One patient underwent the implantation of brain stimulator electrodes and the other patient underwent the removal of a glioma near Broca's area. After anesthesia was induced with propofol and remifentanil, airway was secured using i-gel. Anesthesia was maintained using oxygen, air and propofol, supplemented with an infusion of remifentanil. Anesthesia was discontinued after completion of craniotomy. The i-gel was removed when patients opened their eyes upon calling their names out. The i-gel was reinserted before the closure of the dura without difficulties despite the fact that necks were rotated about 30 degrees rightward, and remained in place until the end of surgery. All procedures finished uneventfully and without adverse events. We conclude that i-gel is effective in asleep-awake-asleep technique because of its easiness in reinsertion under condition of rotated neck.

The toluene-degrading bacterium Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5 is highly adhesive through cell-surface nanofibers. Previously, we identified two morphologically distinct nanofibers on Tol 5 cells, namely, nonperitrichate anchor-like and peritrichate pilus-like nanofibers. In the present study, the application of improved electron microscopy techniques enabled discrimination of three distinct types of peritrichate nanofibers on Tol 5 cells. Interestingly, production of these nanofibers was affected by the available growth substrate. Thick, long, straight nanofibers a, which were present on cells grown on toluene, lactate, and ethanol, were not observed on cells grown on triacylglycerol (TAG). In contrast, cells grown on TAG were covered with long, curved nanofibers c , which only existed sparsely on cells grown on toluene, lactate, and ethanol. Thin, short, straight nanofibers b were found densely covering the margin of cells grown on all four growth substrates. SDS-PAGE of Tol 5 cell-surface proteins detected a protein of 17.5 kDa that was expressed at a high level on ethanol, but was undetectable on TAG. Conversely, a 26 kDa protein was identified that was exclusively expressed on TAG, but was only faintly expressed by cells grown on the other substrates. Based on N-terminal amino acid sequences, the 17.5 and 26 kDa proteins were identified as the major subunits of type 1 and Fil pili, respectively, which are typical bacterionanofibers. From these results, we deduced that nanofibers a and c are type 1 and Fil pili, respectively. The adhesiveness of Tol 5 cells was low only when they were grown on TAG.

In factory automation (FA) industry, it is essential for the working environment using industrial robots to be provided with measures that assure operator's safety and good usability of machines. We have studied the operator's safety and usability of portable robotic operation terminals, and have developed the standardized terminals for one-hand operation suitable to many types of applications. The findings and knowledge we obtained through the development materialized recently as the new two-hand portable robotic operation terminal which is designed ergonomically. In this paper, we report on the new operation terminal which provides excellent operational safety and usability, and also a study on the effectiveness of wireless terminals for improving the usability of entire system.

In factory automation (FA) industry, it is essential for the working environment using industrial robots to be provided with measures that assure operator's safety and good usability of machines. We have studied the operator's safety and usability of portable robotic operation terminals, and have developed the standardized terminals for one-hand operation suitable to many types of applications. The find`ings and knowledge we obtained through the development materialized recently as the new two-hand portable robotic operation terminal which is designed ergonomically. In this paper, we report on the new operation terminal which provides excellent operational safety and usability, and also a study on the effectiveness of wireless terminals for improving the usability of entire system.

Mobile IPv6 is considered to be one of the key technologies for realizing mobile Internet which enables seamless communication between fixed line and wireless access networks. In this paper, we introduce the basic concept of mobile IPv6 and describe the detail procedure of handoff of mobile terminal. We analyze its effectiveness of mobile IPv6 handoff by using network simulator 2 and constructed mobile IPv6 testbed based on wireless LAN IEEE802.11b. Finally, we connect two mobile IPv6 testbeds and test video transmission each other. This is the first test that three nodes of the mobile IPv6 located separately in China and Japan.