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Objectives: Fever and increased inflammatory responses sometimes occur following endoscopic resection (ER). However, the differences in causes according to the organ are scarcely understood, and several modified ER techniques have been proposed. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive prospective study to investigate the cause of fever and increased inflammatory response across multiple organs after ER. Methods: We included patients who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and duodenal endoscopic mucosal resection at our hospital between January 2020 and April 2022. Primary endpoints were fever and increased C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels following ER. The secondary endpoints were risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. Blood tests and radiography were performed on the day after ER, and computed tomography was performed if the cause was unknown. Results: Among the 822 patients included, aspiration pneumonia was the most common cause of fever and increased CRP levels after ER of the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, 53%; stomach, 48%; and duodenum, 71%). Post‐ER coagulation syndrome was most common after colorectal ESD (38%). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, lesions located in the esophagus (odds ratio [OR] 3.57; P < 0.001) and an amount of irrigation liquid of ≥1 L (OR 3.71; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. Conclusions: Aspiration pneumonia was the most common cause of fever after upper gastrointestinal ER and post‐ER coagulation syndrome following colorectal ESD. Lesions in the esophagus and an amount of irrigation liquid of ≥1 L were independent risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skeletal muscle plays an important role in maintaining body temperature, which is mediated by thermogenesis and glucose or lipid metabolism. Mangalica is a native Hungarian pig that has cold tolerance and can live in grazing environments throughout the year. We evaluated the morphological and genetic aspects of Mangalica using muscle tissues to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the tolerance to seasonal effects in grazing environments. The muscle tissues in each season were analysed using morphological evaluation and electron microscopy. The cross‐sectional area of skeletal muscle cells in summer was significantly larger than that in winter. The thickness of myofibrils in summer was significantly higher than in winter. The thickness of the Z‐line in winter was significantly higher than in summer. The expression of MYH4 and GLUT4 was significantly lower in winter than in summer. The result of ATPase staining indicated significantly increase the muscle fibre ratio of type 1 in winter than that in summer. These findings indicate that the muscle fibre in Mangalica shifts from fast‐twitch to slow‐twitch fibre, and the metabolic physiology of the muscle was adapted to the cold environment. This study demonstrates that Mangalica gained tolerance to both seasonal heat and cold stresses that are caused by significant changes in ambient temperature in a year because of changes in their muscle fibre type and metabolic function. This study may contribute to elucidating the mechanism of thermogenetic adaptation in cold and heat environments among mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) training is important, quantitative assessments have not been established. This study aimed to explore a novel quantitative assessment system by analyzing an electrical surgical unit (ESU). Methods: This was an ex vivo study. Step one: to identify the novel efficiency indicators, 20 endoscopists performed one ESD each, and we analyzed correlations between their resection speed and electrical status. Step two: to identify the novel precision indicators, three experts and three novices performed one ESD each, and we compared the stability of the electrical status. Step three: three novices in step two performed 19 additional ESDs, and we analyzed the learning curve using novel indicators. Results: Step one: the percentage of total activation time (AT) of ESU in the procedure time (β coefficient, 0.80; P < 0.01) and AT required for submucosal dissection (β coefficient, −0.57; P < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the resection speed. Step two: coefficient of variation of the AT per one pulse (0.16 [range, 0.13–0.17] vs. 0.26 [range, 0.20–0.41], P = 0.049) and coefficient of variation of the peak electric power per pulse during mucosal incision (0.14 [range, 0.080–0.15] vs. 0.25 [range, 0.24–0.28], P = 0.049) were significantly lower in the experts than in the novices. Regarding the learning curve, the percentage of total AT of ESU in the procedure time and AT required for submucosal dissection had a trend of improvement. Conclusion: Novel indicators identified by analyzing ESU enable quantitative assessment for endoscopist's skill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult male brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) display tree-marking behavior to chemically signal their dominance throughout the nondenning period, and this behavior peaks during the breeding season. Within the scent-marking sequence, back rub is a core marking posture. The present study investigated (i) seasonal changes in sebaceous glands in the back skin of brown bears and (ii) the relationship between those changes and testosterone levels. Back skin tissue samples and blood were collected from captive adult intact and castrated males during prebreeding, transitional, breeding, and postbreeding seasons, which were concurrent with back skin observations. In intact males, during the transitional and breeding seasons, an oily secretion from the back skin was observed along with enlarged sebaceous glands. The plasma testosterone concentrations during the transitional and breeding seasons were increased compared with the pre- and post-breeding seasons. Secretions and enlarged sebaceous glands were not found in castrated males, and the plasma testosterone concentrations remained at baseline levels. Oily secretions of the back skin glands that appear more abundant during the breeding season are rubbed against trees. Changes in size and volume of sebaceous glands, and thus their secreting capacity, are likely testosterone-regulated. Key words: brown bear, sebaceous gland, testosterone, tree-rubbing, back skin, scent gland, Ursus arctos. Les ours bruns (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) males adultes presentent un comportement de marquage des arbres pour signaler chimiquement leur dominance en dehors de la periode de mise bas, et ce comportement atteint un maximum durant la periode de reproduction. Dans la sequence de marquage olfactif, le frottement du dos est une importante posture de marquage. L'etude a examine (i) les variations saisonnieres des glandes sebacees dans la peau du dos des ours bruns et (ii) le lien entre ces changements et les concentrations de testosterone. Des echantillons de tissus de peau du dos et de sang ont ete preleves de males adultes captifs intacts et castres durant les periodes precedant la reproduction, de transition, de reproduction et suivant la reproduction, en meme temps que la collecte d'observations sur la peau du dos. Chez les males intacts, durant les periodes de transition et de reproduction, une secretion huileuse provenant de la peau du dos a ete observee, ainsi qu'une taille accrue des glandes sebacees. Les concentrations de testosterone plasmatique durant les periodes de transition et de reproduction etaient plus grandes que durant les periodes precedant et suivant la reproduction. Les secretions et la plus grande taille des glandes sebacees n'ont pas ete observees chez les males castres, et leurs concentrations de testosterone plasmatique demeuraient egales aux valeurs de reference. Les secretions huileuses des glandes de la peau du dos qui semblent plus abondantes durant la periode de reproduction sont frottees contre les arbres. Les variations de la taille et du volume des glandes sebacees et, donc, de leur capacite de secretion sont vraisemblablement modulees par la testosterone. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : ours brun, glande sebacee, testosterone, frottement contre les arbres, peau du dos, glande odoriferante, Ursus arctos., Introduction Olfactory communication is the primary form of communication between individuals in many mammalian species, and it represents a key source of information (Gorman and Trowbridge 1989; Muller-Schwarze 2006). Animals [...]

Background and Aim: Multiple duodenal polyposis associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a high risk of duodenal cancer development. We evaluated the feasibility of intensive endoscopic resection that is a comprehensive treatment strategy combining multiple kinds of endoscopic treatments. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. From January 2012 to July 2022, a total of 28 consecutive patients in FAP who underwent endoscopic resection for multiple duodenal polyposis more than twice were included. Various endoscopic treatments, such as cold polypectomy (CP), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), underwater EMR (UEMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic papillectomy (EP), were applied depending on lesions size and location. We evaluated individual information from patients' medical records, including patient characteristics, lesion characteristics, details of endoscopic treatment, pathologic findings, and Spigelman index (SI). We compared the differences in the number of treatments and observation periods with and without SI decrease. Results: A total of 1040 lesions were removed by 138 sessions of endoscopic resections. The median follow‐up period was 3.2 years. At the beginning of the endoscopic intervention, median SI was 9 (6–11) and the proportion of Spigelman stage (SS) IV was 61%. Repeated endoscopic treatments finally reduced SI in 26 patients (93%), and the proportion of SS IV significantly decreased to 13% with every endoscopic treatment. The mean SI change was −4.2 points per year (95% confidence interval: −0.6 to −5.9). There were no patients required surgical duodenectomy during the follow‐up period. Conclusion: Intensive resection has a potential of downstaging duodenal lesions associated with FAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]