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Presents a study which analyzed whether hydrogen peroxide produced by viridans group streptococci inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization of oral cavities in newborns. Materials and methods used; Inhibition of bacteriocin-like activity by horseradish peroxidase or catalase; Production of bacteriocin-like activity in saliva.

A case-control study was carried out to assess the association between pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) and working conditions, including occupational exposure to organic solvents. Thirteen patients with primary PCI were individually matched with controls by sex, age, and admission year. It was found that there was a close association between the development of primary PCI and occupational exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE). Twelve of 13 patients with PCI (92.3%) were found to have been exposed occupationally to TCE, and the healing and recurrence of PCI in these patients substantially paralleled the profile of their occupational exposure to TCE. Two pairs of patients with PCI had been working in the same factories, where they had degreased camera lenses with TCE. These results suggest that chronic exposure to TCE could be one of the etiological factors in PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: To assess the sensitivity of an immunochemical fecal occult blood test for colorectal flat adenomas, and to determine the relation between the size of flat adenomas and the results of this test., Methodology: Eleven colorectal flat adenomas under 1cm, 18 flat adenomas 1cm or larger, 187 polypoid adenomas under 1cm, 42 polypoid adenomas 1cm or larger and 144 healthy controls were investigated. Each subject was tested with an immunochemical occult blood test on two consecutive days, and the accuracy of this test was evaluated., Results: The sensitivity of this test was 18% for flat adenomas under 1cm, 67% for flat adenomas 1cm or more, 19% for polypoid adenomas under 1cm and 60% for polypoid adenomas 1cm or more. Specificity was 95%, showing a significant difference in the sensitivity between flat adenomas 1cm or more and those under 1cm (p<0.05) as well as a significant difference between flat adenomas 1cm or more and polypoid adenomas under 1cm (p<0.001), whereas no significant difference was seen in the sensitivity between flat adenomas 1cm or more and polypoid adenomas 1cm or more., Conclusions: These results indicate that the sensitivity of immunochemical occult test for flat adenomas was similar to the sensitivity for common polypoid adenomas. The size of adenomas is a more important morphological factor for determining the sensitivity of this fecal occult blood test.

Background/aims: To evaluate any risk of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal adenomatous polyp., Methodology: In a screening program-based cross-sectional study, 44821 subjects received an immunochemical fecal occult blood test using a 2-consecutive-day method. They were divided into two groups, according to the results of a self-completed questionnaire on family history of colorectal adenomatous polyps, and the positivity rate of an immunochemical fecal occult blood test as well as the positive predictive value for colorectal cancer were determined in these two groups., Results: The fecal occult blood test was positive in 8.5% of subjects with family history and in 4.8% of subjects without family history, and the positive predictive value for colorectal cancer was 6.8% and 2.4% in subjects with and without family history of colorectal adenomatous polyps, respectively, indicating a significant difference in the positivity rate of the fecal occult blood test (P < 0.01) as well as the positive predictive value for colorectal cancer (P < 0.05) between these two groups., Conclusions: These results show that first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal adenomatous polyp have an increased risk for colorectal cancer, and that the subjects with family history of colorectal adenomatous polyps as well as cancers should be considered as a priority group for prevention of colorectal cancer.

Background/aims: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of an immunochemical fecal occult-blood test for colorectal cancer between the stool specimens obtained during the routine screening and those during the digital rectal examination., Methodology: One hundred and fourteen patients with colorectal cancer and 228 healthy controls served as subjects of the study. Fecal occult-blood was tested by both of two methods; by the routine screening and by the digital rectal examination, and the sensitivity and specificity of an immunochemical fecal occult-blood test were determined in these two methods., Results: The sensitivity and specificity were 79.8% and 96.5% in the routine screening method, and 86.0% and 79.8% in the digital rectal examination method, respectively, showing a significant difference in the specificity (P < 0.01) between these two stool collection methods. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity between these two stool collection methods., Conclusions: These findings indicate that the stool specimens collected at the time of the digital rectal examination is not suitable for testing of fecal occult-blood.