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A 67-year-old woman presented with periumbilical pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings indicated intussusception of the ascending colon without ischemia or necrosis, and we performed successful colonoscopy to treat the condition. Furthermore, an edematous area caused by anisakis was detected in the ascending colon and the anisakis was removed. The patient noted that she had eaten raw fish one day before the symptoms developed. Although colonic intussusception caused by anisakiasis is extremely rare, colonoscopy should be performed in colonic intussusception patients suspected of having anisakiasis in order to avoid invasive resection.

A 25-year-old Japanese woman with a large abdominal tumor (10 cm in diameter) and high level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP, 1,222.4 ng/mL) was introduced and admitted to our hospital in January 2011. Pre-operative imaging modalities could not identify the tumor origin. There was no chronic hepatic viral disease, however, the elevated level of fucosylated AFP (87.8%) and connection with the left hepatic lobe led us to diagnose the tumor as a hepatocellular carcinoma. Surgical resection was performed in February. Histological findings revealed a pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC). Herein, we provide details of this difficulty to diagnose a case of ACC.

Hypoglycemia caused by insulin-like growth factor II is difficult to control. A 77-year-old woman was diagnosed with gastric cancer and multiple liver metastases in September 2006 and underwent chemotherapy; however, at that time there were no symptoms of hypoglycemia. From January 2007 onwards, hypoglycemic comas and symptoms of hypoglycemia began to appear frequently. Her serum level of insulin was normal; thus, we suspected the presence of big insulin-like growth factor II was causing the hypoglycemia. This was proven by Western immunoblotting and we diagnosed non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia associated with gastric cancer. Overnight nutrition provided via a central venous catheter port to prevent hypoglycemia allowed the patient to become ambulant and to remain free of hypoglycemic coma at follow-up until her death 7 months later.

A hepatic tumor was found in a 57-year-old man with glycogen storage disease type 1a (GSD1a) with a mutation in exon 5 of the glucose-6-phosphatase gene (G727T). Partial hepatectomy was performed, and the tumor was histologically diagnosed as moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). On contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, the tumor had a late phase defect. Abdominal imaging with other modalities was also performed. More studies are needed to clarify the differences in imaging findings between GSD1a-associated HCC and other tumors such as adenomas.

A 37-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis due to Wilson's disease in 2001 and treated with D-penicillamine. Thereafter, he was admitted to our hospital for further examination of a space occupying lesion in the liver. The patient was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (7th segment, 2.5 cm in diameter) in May 2010 and treated with radiofrequency ablation therapy. Biopsy findings from a non-cancerous area revealed a fatty liver, though cirrhotic nodules were not found. Long-term treatment for Wilson's disease may improve hepatic fibrosis, and careful screening for HCC by abdominal imaging is needed in such cases.

AIM The aim of this study is to clarify the amino acid imbalance in patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) as well as those with liver cirrhosis (LC). METHODS We assayed total branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), tyrosine (Tyr) levels and their ratio (BTR) in sera of 101 patients with CH (37 in fibrosis stage F1, 23 in F2, 21 in F3) and 20 with LC (F4) who were diagnosed by liver biopsy. Their levels in relation to the staging of liver fibrosis were analyzed. RESULTS The percentage of patients whose BTR was less than the normal range was 32.1% in CH and 75.0% in LC. The levels of BTR and BCAA were significantly lower (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, respectively) and that of Tyr was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with LC than those in CH. The levels of BTR decreased according to the staging. The levels of Tyr increased according the staging, whereas the levels of BCAA deceased prominently in F4 (487 +/- 103 in F1, 483 +/- 122 in F2, 487 +/- 111 in F3 and 423 +/- 94 in F4). CONCLUSION A considerable number of patients not only with LC but also with CH showed lower levels of BTR. It has been clarified that amino acid imbalance of Tyr was found in the early stage of liver disease, whereas decrease of BCAA was found mainly in F4 stage.

黒毛和種ロース芯内における脂肪交雑の量，形状および分布均一性の月齢変化と，それに対する種雄牛の影響を調査するために，北海道内の枝肉市場に25～33ヵ月齢で出荷された黒毛和種4,130頭（去勢3,087頭，雌1,043頭）を用いた．第6-7胸椎切開面のロース芯画像を4領域に分割した．ロース芯全体と各領域について，脂肪面積割合，あらさ指数および細かさ指数を算出し，出荷月齢による推移を調査した．去勢において，脂肪面積割合の見かけ上のピークは一つの領域を除いて30ヵ月齢にあったが，31ヵ月齢以降において脂肪交雑の細かさが増大した．雌はすべての領域において脂肪面積割合の見かけ上のピークが30または32ヵ月齢にあり，脂肪交雑の細かさは去勢牛と異なり上昇しなかった．領域によって脂肪面積割合の月齢推移は異なり，去勢では25ヵ月齢で最も脂肪面積割合の低い領域が大きな増加を見せた．また，脂肪面積割合とBMSが見かけ上ピークになる出荷時期は，種雄牛によって異なっていた．

症例は68歳女性．1997年8月に肝細胞癌（HCC）と診断され，エピルビシンを併用した肝動脈塞栓術（TACE），肝左葉切除術を行った．2004年9月，S7のHCC再発に対してTACEを施行．2007年8月にS7のHCC局所再発を認め，TACEを試みたが肝後区域の肝動脈―静脈シャントのため断念し，ラジオ波焼灼療法（RFA）を施行した．2008年2月に心窩部痛・嘔吐にて救急受診，黄疸と貧血がみられた．内視鏡検査で十二指腸乳頭部から出血がみられ，単純CT所見と合わせてRFA後局所再発部位からの胆道出血と診断した．経鼻胆道ドレナージチューブを留置したが出血は持続した．肝内シャントのため肝動脈塞栓術（TAE）による止血は困難と考え，ソナゾイド造影超音波補助下に再発部位を同定しRFAを施行し止血が得られた．TAE困難な胆道出血に対してRFAにて止血し得た症例を経験したので報告する．

The percentage of MUFA to total fatty acids of beef differs among intermuscular, intramuscular, and subcutaneous fat even within an individual cow. Our objective was to investigate the variation of the percentage of MUFA by geometric and sectional change of marbling flecks in rib eye. Longissimus muscles of 8 Japanese Black steers from a common sire and a common maternal grand sire were used. Three slices (1 from rib roast and 2 from sirloin) from each animal were selected for analysis. Five marbling flecks from each slice were randomly taken to obtain the percentage of MUFA using gas chromatography. High-quality digital images of all slices were taken with a mirror-type camera. The area and location of each marbling fleck were calculated by image analysis. The marbling flecks were categorized by area [small 2.0 cm(2)], by location (dorsal and ventral), and by slice section through the LM (front, middle, and back). The effects of classification according to the area, location, and slice section were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for the percentage of MUFA. Least squares means of the percentage of MUFA for marbling flecks of sizes small, medium, and large were 56.8, 58.4, and 60.2%, respectively, indicating that larger marbling flecks had greater MUFA (P < 0.05). Those of dorsal, ventral, front, middle, and back were 59.1, 57.8, 55.4, 59.9, and 60.1%, respectively. The percentages of MUFA of the marbling flecks located in the dorsal part were greater than those in the ventral part (P < 0.05). The percentages of MUFA from middle and back were greater than those from front (P < 0.01). We suggest that the area, location, and slice section of marbling would be the determining factors for the percentage of MUFA of marbling.

黒毛和種骨格筋の複数の部位を用いてモノ不飽和脂肪酸（MUFA）割合の推移ならびに第6-7胸椎間ロース芯と他の骨格筋のMUFA割合の関連性について調査した．由来個体2頭の体細胞クローン牛5頭から6部位（半膜様筋，大腿四頭筋および大腿筋膜張筋，棘上筋，大腰筋，中臀筋および大腿二頭筋近位部，最長筋）を取り出し，頭側から2 cm間隔でスライスした．それらのスライス肉の筋断面の表面から脂肪サンプルを採取し，ガスクロマトグラフィーによって脂肪酸組成を分析した．MUFA割合の推移は骨格筋によって異なり，また由来個体によって影響されることが示された．由来個体および骨格筋にはMUFA割合に対して交互作用があり，由来個体によってMUFA割合が高くなりやすい部位が存在することが示唆された．第6-7胸椎間ロース芯と各骨格筋間の相関は非常に強く（r ＝ 0.92～0.99），また骨格筋同士の関連性も強かったことから，第6-7胸椎間ロース芯におけるMUFA割合は枝肉を代表することができると推察された．

第6-7肋骨間切開面ロース芯を中心とした現在の牛枝肉格付方法が，牛枝肉全体の特徴をどれだけ反映しているか調査した．供試牛5頭から7部位（半膜様筋，大腿四頭筋および大腿筋膜張筋，棘上筋，中臀筋および大腿二頭筋近位部，大腰筋，肩ロースおよびロイン）を取り出し，頭側から2 cm間隔でスライスした．それらのスライス肉について画像解析を行い，画像解析形質4形質（筋面積，脂肪面積割合，全体のあらさ，細かさ指数）について各部位の特徴を調査した．また，それらの4形質について各部位の全スライス平均値と第6-7切開面ロース芯の値との相関係数を算出することで，第6-7切開面ロース芯からの他の骨格筋の評価の妥当性を考察した．筋面積は各骨格筋ともに頭側から尾側に向かって増加した後に減少した．しかし，脂肪面積割合では骨格筋によって推移の傾向が異なり，“大腰筋”および“ロイン”では尾側に向かい増加を続け，一方“肩ロース”および“棘上筋”では減少した．第6-7切開面ロース芯との相関係数について，筋面積および脂肪面積割合では6つの部位で0.7以上の高い値であったが，“半膜様筋”の脂肪面積割合に関しては負の相関となった（−0.74）．全体のあらさ，細かさ指数では強い相関がある部位は少なかった．これらの結果から，第6-7切開面ロース芯からその他の部位の筋面積や脂肪交雑の程度を推定することは可能であっても，脂肪交雑のあらさや細かさに関する評価は難しいことが示唆された．

In Japan, the degree of marbling in ribeye (M. longissimus thoracis) is evaluated in the beef meat grading process. However, other muscles (e.g., M. trapezius) are also important in determining the meat quality and carcass market prices. The purpose of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for M. longissimus thoracis (M-LONG) and M. trapezius (M-TRAP) of carcass cross section of Japanese Black steers by computer image analysis. The number of records of Japanese Black steers and the number of pedigree records were 2,925 and 10,889, respectively. Digital images of the carcass cross section were taken between the sixth and seventh ribs by photographing equipment. Muscle area (MA), fat area ratio (FAR), overall coarseness of marbling particles (OCM), and coarseness of maximum marbling particle (MMC) in M-LONG and M-TRAP were calculated by image analysis. Genetic parameters for these traits were estimated using the AIREMLF90 program with an animal model. Fixed effects that were included in the model were dates of arrival at the carcass market and slaughter age (mo), and random effects of fattening farms, additive genetic effects and residuals were included in the model. For M-LONG, heritability estimates (+/-SE) were 0.46 +/- 0.06, 0.59 +/- 0.06, 0.47 +/- 0.06, and 0.20 +/- 0.05 for MA, FAR, OCM, and MMC, respectively. Heritability estimates (+/-SE) in M-TRAP were 0.47 +/- 0.06, 0.57 +/- 0.07, 0.49 +/- 0.07, and 0.13 +/- 0.04 for the same traits. Genetic correlations between subcutaneous fat thickness and FAR for M-LONG and M-TRAP were negative (-0.21 and -0.19, respectively). Those correlations between M-LONG and M-TRAP were moderate to high for MA, FAR, OCM, and MMC (0.38, 0.52, 0.39, and 0.60, respectively). These results indicate that other muscles including M-LONG should be evaluated for more efficient genetic improvement.

北海道内の子牛市場ならびに枝肉市場で取引された，黒毛和種去勢牛の子牛市場出荷時体重と格付ならびに画像解析形質間の遺伝的関連性を調べることを目的とした．北海道内の子牛市場で取引され格付記録と枝肉横断面画像を持つ黒毛和種去勢牛805頭を分析に用いた．子牛市場時成績として子牛市場出荷時体重，格付形質として枝肉重量，ロース芯面積，ばらの厚さ，皮下脂肪厚，歩留基準値およびBMSナンバー，画像解析形質としてロース芯の脂肪面積割合，全体的な粒子のあらさおよび最大粒子のあらさについて分析を行った．また，過肥の影響をみるために格付形質ならびに画像解析形質の分析には子牛市場出荷時体重を子牛市場出荷時日齢で除した日齢体重 （kg/日） を6つのサブラクス（0.8，0.9，1.0，1.1，1.2および1.3 kg/日）に分類し，母数効果として含め分析を行った．子牛市場出荷時体重の直接および母性遺伝率は，0.15 ± 0.07および0.12 ± 0.07であった．子牛市場出荷時体重と格付形質間の直接遺伝相関は，ロース芯面積，皮下脂肪厚，歩留推定値およびBMSナンバーで負の値が推定された（－0.76～－0.08）．画像解析形質との直接遺伝相関も，すべて負の値が推定された（－0.70～－0.34）．さらに，脂肪交雑において1.0 kg/日付近の日齢体重が最も望ましい値であることが示唆された．子牛市場出荷時体重の改良を行う場合，これら形質との遺伝的関連性について注意が必要である．

黒毛和種572頭のロース芯から得た脂肪交雑の脂肪酸組成をガスクロマトグラフィーにより分析した．ロース芯を画像解析した値と，各脂肪酸との関連性を調査した．モノ不飽和脂肪酸（MUFA）割合の平均値は57.0％（去勢 : 56.4％，メス : 58.3％），ロース芯脂肪割合の平均値は44.4％（去勢 : 45.6％，メス : 41.6％）であった．MUFA％は出荷月齢およびBFSナンバーと正の相関を示した（それぞれ0.27，0.25 : P ＜ 0.01）．BMSナンバーと有意な相関を示した脂肪酸はステアリン酸（－0.11 : P ＜ 0.01）のみであった．MUFA％はあらさ指数（0.16）および最大あらさ指数（0.11）と正の，細かさ指数（－0.17）と負の相関係数を示した（P ＜ 0.01）が，ロース脂肪割合（0.04）とはほぼ無関係であった．脂肪交雑の平均階調値はMUFA％と負（－0.38）の，パルミチン酸と正（0.43）の相関係数を示した（P ＜ 0.01）．

画像解析によりロース芯内脂肪交雑の断面部位による変化について調査するために，黒毛和種去勢牛12頭のロース芯をスライスし，画像解析を行った．第6～7胸椎から第10～11胸椎までを2 cm間隔でスライスし，12枚のスライス肉を得た（リブロース）．また，第10～11胸椎から23～28枚のスライス肉を得た（サーロイン）．ミラー型枝肉撮影装置を用いて各スライスの高精細デジタル画像を得た．画像解析ソフト（Beef Analyzer II）により，各スライスにおけるロース芯面積，脂肪面積割合，小ザシ数，小ザシ指数，全体あらさ指数，最大あらさ指数，慣性主軸短径長径比，ロース芯複雑度の8形質を求めた．また，第6～7切開面，サーロインの第1面，ロース芯終端面それぞれの画像解析形質と，全スライス平均との相関係数を求め，どの面がロース芯をより代表するか調査した．ロース芯の形状はリブロースからサーロインに進むにつれて細長くなった．脂肪面積割合は尾側に向かうにつれリブロースでは減少し，サーロインでは増加した．脂肪交雑のあらさは尾側に向かうにつれあらくなった．最大あらさ指数が高くなる特定の部位は存在せず，大きな粒子は突発的に発生することが示唆された．第6～7切開面と全スライス平均との相関係数は脂肪面積割合を除く形質でr＝0.15～0.61の範囲にあった．それに対しサーロインの第1面と全スライス平均とのそれは，最大あらさ指数を除く形質でr＝0.68～0.92の範囲にあった．個体によって第6～7切開面のロース芯における脂肪交雑の状態と，サーロインにおけるそれに差が存在する場合が確認されたため，詳細に肉質を調査する場合，第10～11胸椎の切開面の脂肪交雑の状態を追加情報とする必要性が示唆された．

BMSナンバーの格付は，第6-7肋骨間横断面における胸最長筋を中心に行われている．しかし脂肪交雑がこの他の横断面でも同様な様相を呈しているとは限らない．本研究では，ホルスタイン種を対象として，画像解析により，BMSナンバー判定式を求めることを第1の目的とし，さらに，第2の目的として，第6-7肋骨間横断面と，この他の横断面における脂肪面積比および推定BMSナンバーについて比較を行った．分析には，BMSナンバー判定式の算出用にホルスタイン種61頭の第6-7肋骨間の胸最長筋横断面画像，また，異なる横断面における脂肪交雑の程度の比較用に，別に用意したホルスタイン種18頭の胸最長筋4横断面画像（格付面を含み，腰椎方向に2.5cm間隔で切断）を用いた．画像解析の手法により，脂肪交雑粒子のあらさおよび胸最長筋の形状などのBMSナンバー評価に影響を与えると考えられる要因について評価を行った．得られた画像解析形質を用いてBMSナンバー判定式を求めた結果，BMSナンバーを推定する重回帰式には，脂肪面積比，最大粒子の面積，単独粒子のあらさ指数，胸最長筋面積が選択され（R2＝0.71），BMSナンバーに最も寄与した形質は脂肪面積比であった（偏R2＝0.54）．同式を当てはめ，4横断面における脂肪面積比および推定BMSナンバーについて調査した結果，近接する横断面間であっても，脂肪面積比が大きく変動するサンプルが存在した（15.9％～26.2％）が，それらのサンプルにおける推定BMSナンバーには，ほとんど差が生じなかった（1.67～2.17）．

枝肉横断面の主要な筋肉の面積ならびに筋肉内の脂肪交雑割合，皮下脂肪および筋間脂肪の面積を画像解析により測定し，従来の枝肉格付形質と画像解析形質との遺伝的関連性について調査した．黒毛和種間接検定材料牛404頭の枝肉横断面画像，格付記録および血統記録を用いた．一定範囲の枝肉横断面画像から，胸最長筋，僧帽筋および広背筋の面積ならびに各筋肉内の脂肪面積比，胸最長筋－背半棘筋－頭半棘筋に囲まれた筋間脂肪，胸最長筋－頭半棘筋－背多裂筋－腸肋筋に囲まれた筋間脂肪，僧帽筋および広背筋外側の皮下脂肪，それら筋肉内側の筋間脂肪の面積を測定した．また，枝肉横断面の実面積に対する各形質の実面積の占める割合（以下，面積％）を測定した．各皮下脂肪および各筋間脂肪の面積％に関する遺伝率は，それぞれ0.58～0.72および0.37～0.71と中程度から高い範囲にあった．皮下脂肪と筋間脂肪の面積％間の遺伝相関（0.15）は低い値であった．BMSナンバーと強い関連性を持つ胸最長筋内脂肪面積比と皮下脂肪の面積％間の遺伝相関は，－0.28～－0.08と負の値を示し，筋間脂肪においては逆に0.17～0.22と正の値を示した．

受精卵クローン技術は一卵性多子を生産する技術であり，種々の比較試験や能力検定に利用することができる．本研究では，同一受精卵由来の5つ子について，その枝肉を画像解析により詳細に調査し，筋肉形状，脂肪の割合ならびに肉色について類似性を検討することである．黒毛和種供卵牛から受精卵を回収し，ホルスタイン等の卵巣から得た未受精卵子（除核済み）を電気刺激により細胞融合し，核移植を行い，7頭のクローン雄子牛を生産した．そのうち5頭を和牛産肉能力検定間接法にしたがって21ヵ月齢まで肥育した．画像解析により胸最長筋，僧帽筋，菱形筋，頭半棘筋，背半棘筋，前背鋸筋および腸肋筋に関して，その面積，各筋肉内に占める脂肪の面積割合（以下，脂肪面積比）などを算出した．また，脂肪交雑粒子のあらさならびにBCSナンバーを画像解析により数値化した．5頭の供試牛の枝肉重量ならびに胸最長筋の面積の範囲は，それぞれ344kg～400kg，38.5cm2～50.4cm2の範囲にあり，類似性はそれほど高くなかった．胸最長筋内の脂肪面積比は，27.2％から28.4％の範囲にあり，類似性はきわめて高く，他の筋肉においても同様の傾向が認められた．脂肪交雑粒子のあらさについては，低い類似性を示すことが確認された．画像解析により推定したBCSナンバーは，2.92から3.26の範囲であり，比較的類似性は高かった．肥育期間中のコンディションの差異が，肉量に関わる形質に大きな影響を及ぼすものの，脂肪の割合および肉色については，類似性が高いことが確認された．

A 39-year-old man was diagnosed with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis, and because of hepatic exacerbations with icterus and ascites, he had been repeatedly hospitalized. He was treated with lamivudine. Several months later, his ascites disappeared and his liver function was improved from class C to A according to the Child-Pugh classification. Two years later, one small hepatocellular carcinoma was detected, and he underwent a successful hepatectomy. From this case, we consider lamivudine to be useful for improving hepatic function in decompensated liver cirrhosis type B and lamivudine might enable surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

胸最長筋の皮下脂肪側において，筋間脂肪が胸最長筋内に大きく入り込んでくぼみのあるもの（いわゆる‘ハート芯’）は，枝肉の価値を低下させる一因であるとされる．本研究では，画像解析による新たなハート芯評価方法について提案すること，ならびに黒毛和種のハート芯形成に対する種雄牛の影響を検討することを目的とした．枝肉横断面撮影装置によって撮影された第6～7肋骨間の胸最長筋画像を2値化した．2値画像について胸最長筋の境界線を検出し，膨張処理ならびに細線化処理を行い，なめらかな胸最長筋の輪郭線を得た．胸最長筋の長径より上部（皮下脂肪側）について，凸部を結んだ凸多角形を描き，凸多角形と胸最長筋の輪郭線が作る領域について，その面積，パターン幅等を測定した．得られた画像解析形質のうちから3変数を用い，肉眼で判定したハート芯の程度を分類変数とする線形判別分析を行ったところ，その判別率は，97.0%と極めて高く，画像解析によりハート芯の程度を数値化することを可能とした．237頭（種雄牛32頭）の黒毛和種産肉能力検定間接法の材料牛について，ハート芯の程度を肉眼で調査したところ，38頭においてハート芯が確認された．画像解析により評価したハート芯の程度に対する種雄牛の効果は高度に有意（P＜0.01）であり，特定の種雄牛からの後代にハート芯の出現頻度が多い傾向が認められ，ある1頭の種雄牛については，後代6頭すべてがハート芯の形状を呈した．

The experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the administration of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2, also named KP102), both orally by gavage and in feed, on the release of growth hormone (GH) in swine and to investigate whether attenuation of the GH response occurs after short-term treatment with the peptide in feed. In the first experiment, saline or GHRP-2 at doses of 1, 4.5 and 9 mg/kg body weight (BW) was dissolved in 15 ml saline and administered orally as a bolus by gavage to cross-bred castrated male swine (n = 6). Orally administered GHRP-2 stimulated dose-related increases in peak concentrations of GH, with a return to basal by 120 min. After administering GHRP-2 orally, peak concentrations of GH and areas under the GH response curves (GH AUCs) for 180 min were higher (P < 0.05) than those in saline controls. In Experiment 2, GHRP-2 at doses of 0 (served as control), 1, 4.5 and 9 mg/kg BW was mixed in 150 g of feed and offered to cross-bred castrated male swine (n = 6) at 0900 hr and 1700 hr daily for a 3-d period. Administration of 1 mg/kg BW GHRP-2 to swine in feed failed to stimulate the release of GH, but GHRP-2 at doses of 4.5 and 9 mg/kg BW significantly (P < 0.05) increased plasma concentrations of GH after initial and final treatments at 0900 hr on Days 1 and 3 of treatment, respectively. Peak concentrations of GH and GH AUCs for 180 min after the initial and final treatments in the 4.5 and 9 mg/kg BW GHRP-2-treated swine were higher (P < 0.05) than those in controls. After 3 d of treatment with GHRP-2 in feed at doses of 4.5 and 9 mg/kg BW, GH responses to the peptide were maintained. The results of the present study indicate that the administration of GHRP-2 orally by gavage and in feed stimulates the release of GH in swine, and that the GH-releasing effect of the peptide does not become desensitized after short-term administration in feed.

The aim of the present study was to examine the growth hormone (GH) response to the combined and repeated administrations of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) plus growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) in swine. Six cross-bred castrated male swine, 130-135 days of age were used in this study. Animals were given a single intravenous (i.v.) injection of either GHRP-2 (30μg/kg BW), GHRH (1μg/kg BW) and GHRP-2 (30μg/kg BW) plus GHRH (1μg/kg BW) or 5ml saline (served as control) in random order with two days apart. GHRP-2 or GHRH alone and in combination with together stimulated the release of GH in swine. The peak concentrations of GH and areas under the GH response curve (GH AUC) for 120min after these treatments were significantly higher (P

Summary The relationship between the diameter of adipocytes distributed in the same piece of subcutaneous adipose tissue and main fatty acid composition from fattening Holstein steers was investigated. A preliminary experiment was carried out to investigate whether the isolation process of adipocytes caused any change in the main fatty acid composition. It was shown that there was little difference in the main fatty acid composition of adipose tissue (X) and that of adipocytes (Y) isolated by this method. The regression equation was: Y = 0.97X + 0.47, R2 = 0.99 (p < 0.01). Adipocytes were isolated from Holstein steers at the early and late fattening stages and then separated into two fractions by using a mesh with a pore size of 50 µm. In adipocytes from Holstein steers at the late fattening stage, the large adipocytes with a mean diameter of 117.5 µm contained more (p < 0.01) myristoleic acid (14:1), palmitoleic acid (16:1) and oleic acid (18:1), and less (p < 0.01) palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0) than the small adipocytes with a mean diameter of 28.7 µm. Similar results have been shown in adipocytes from Holstein steers at the early fattening stages. The isolated adipocytes from finishing Holstein steers were separated into four fractions by using meshes with pore size of 25, 50, 75 and 100 µm. The mean diameter of adipocytes in fractions 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 35.2, 80.5, 113.7 and 141.7 µm, respectively. With increasing adipocyte size, the rates of myristoleic acid (14:1) and palmitoleic acid (16:1) increased (the correlation coefficients were 0.93, p < 0.01 and 0.86, p < 0.01, respectively), whereas that of palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0) decreased (the correlation coefficients were -0.44 and -0.80, p < 0.01, respectively). It is suggested that the size of adipocyte is one of the important determinants of fatty acid composition in subcutaneous adipocytes of Holstein steers.

The effects of GHRP-2 (also named KP102), a new growth hormone-releasing peptide, on the release of growth hormone (GH) and growth performance were examined in swine. The single intravenous (i. v.) injection of GHRP-2 at doses of 2, 10, 30 and 100 microg/kg body weight (BW) to cross-bred castrated male swine stimulated GH release in a dose-dependent manner, with a return to the baseline by 120 min. The peak GH concentrations and GH areas under the response curves (GH AUCs) for 180 min after the injections of GHRP-2 were higher (P < 0.05) than those after the injection of saline. The GH responses to repeated i.v. injections of GHRP-2 (30 microg/kg BW) at 2-h intervals for 6 h were decreased after each injection. The chronic subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of GHRP-2 (30 microg/kg BW) once daily for 30 days consistently stimulated GH release. The GH AUCs for 300 min after the injections on d 1, 10 and 30 of treatment in GHRP-2-treated swine were higher than those in saline-treated swine. However, chronic administration of GHRP-2 caused a partial attenuation of GH response between d 1 and 10 of treatment. The chronic s.c. administration of GHRP-2 also increased average daily gain for the entire treatment period by 22.35% (P < 0.05) and feed efficiency (feed/gain) by 20.64% (P < 0.01) over the saline control values, but did not significantly affect daily feed intake. These results indicate that GHRP-2 stimulates GH release and enhancing growth performance in swine.

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The effect of cholinergic blockade on suppressed growth hormone (GH) secretion caused by feeding or the intraruminal infusion of an acetate, propionate, and butyrate mixture (107 and 214 μmol ⋅ kg−1⋅ min−1over 6 h) was examined in ovariectomized ewes. Intraruminal infusion at the rate of 107 μmol ⋅ kg−1⋅ min−1increased peripheral plasma short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations to approximately the physiological levels noted after feeding. Plasma GH was markedly suppressed by feeding and at both the 107 and 214 μmol ⋅ kg−1⋅ min−1SCFA infusion rates; however, cholinergic blocking agents completely blocked the suppressed GH secretion after feeding and only at the 107 μmol ⋅ kg−1⋅ min−1infusion rate. Plasma glucose increased at both infusion rates, and the plasma free fatty acids decreased after feeding and at both infusion rates. However, both metabolites were unchanged relative to the saline control after the injection of the cholinergic antagonists. It is suggested that the decrease in plasma GH observed after feeding and a near-physiological ruminal SCFA increment is mediated via the parasympathetic nerve and not by pharmacological ruminal SCFA increments attributed to other pathways.

This study was performed to investigate whether the blockade of cholinergic muscarinic and adrenergic pathways was involved in the GH-releasing effect of GH-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in ovariectomized ewes. Cholinergic muscarinic antagonist, atropine (0.2 mg/kg, i.v., 15 min before GHRP-2 administration) blunted the GH secretion caused by GHRP-2 (12.5 microg/kgBW). alpha-Adrenergic antagonist phentolamine (15 microg/kgBW x min, infusion from -15 to 30 min) did not affect the GH response to GHRP-2, and beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol (0.25 mg/kgBW, i.v., 15 min before GHRP-2 administration) did not suppress the GHRP-2-induced GH release. These results showed that cholinergic muscarinic antagonist agent, atropine, exerts an inhibitory effect on GHRP-2-induced GH secretion in ovariectomized ewes.

The fatty acid composition and the diameter of subcutaneous adipocytes from 13 Holstein steers at different fattening stages were investigated. The mean diameter of adipocytes from individual steers was positively (P

We investigated the degradation of betaine in the rumen by a continuous supply of betaine to dairy cows. After 24 h of betaine incubation using rumen fluid from dairy cows, more than 80% of the betaine remained undegraded. Furthermore, the continuous supply of betaine for about 70 d did not influence the in vitro degradation of betaine.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of acute and chronic administration of GH-releasing peptide-2 (D-Ala-D-beta Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2, GHRP-2 or KP102) on GH responsiveness in male Holstein calves. In the dose response study of acute administration, six calves were injected iv with saline or 6.25, 12.5 and 25.0 micrograms/kg body weight (BW) of KP102. The GH AUC (area under curve, ng/ml.min, mean +/- SEM) for 60 min was significantly increased with 6.25 (676.3 +/- 125.6), 12.5 (1574.8 +/- 318.0) and 25.0 (1578.7 +/- 214.6) micrograms/kgBW of KP102 than with saline (78.6 +/- 36.1) (P < 0.01). GH responses were decreased by multiple injections of 12.5 micrograms/kgBW KP102 at every 2 h for 8 h. The GH AUC for 60 min was decreased from the first injection (1162.9 +/- 313.3) to the second injection (604.7 +/- 131.9), but the response was significantly higher for the first and second injections than the third (304.4 +/- 173.1) and fourth injections (320.7 +/- 144.2) (P < 0.05). In the chronic administration, 8 calves were implanted subcutaneously with osmotic pumps (Alzet pump). Each of the 4 calves was given with 12.5 micrograms/kgBW per hour KP102 and the other 4 calves served as the control. During the 14 day period, average daily gain was significantly increased (36.4%) over the control (P < 0.05). Food efficiency was not significant, but numerically higher (29.4%) than the control. The plasma GH concentration was not increased by chronic administration of KP102, but IGF-I appeared to increase in KP102-treated calves more than the control. These results suggest that the synthetic KP102 can be used for enhancing the growth performance in domestic animals.

Quality food for human consumption will always be the aim for animal producers. Quantity and composition of fat deposits (fatty acid profile) strongly influences meat quality in ruminants, especially via increasing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration, which is known to have beneficial anticarcinogenic, antiatherogenic, antidiabetic and cholesterol reduction properties for human health. Awassi lambs are one of the main and most consumed meat sources in the Middle East area; however, studies addressing the fat content of CLA and methods to enhance its concentrations in this breed are still rare. For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding two different oil sources (soybean oil (SBO) and sunflower oil (SFO) at two levels (1.8 and 3%)) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid profile of fat in Awassi lambs. Oil supplementation had no effect on growth performance or carcass characteristics, while fatty acid composition changed according to the site of extraction. CLA concentrations were increased in the tail fat deposit, with 1.8% SBO and in intermuscular fat deposit with 3% SFO. Intermuscular fat is the one most naturally consumed by humans, serving to improve food quality.

In 2008, a 28-year-old woman consulted our hospital due to general fatigue. Her ALT level was within normal range but she was positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Her ALT level was nearly within normal range thereafter and she was consistently positive for HBeAg. Later, it was proven that she was negative for HBsAg in 1999. She had been a sex worker in 2007-2008. Complete genome sequencing revealed that her HBV was genotype C. The present case may indicate that it is possible for acute infection with HBV genotype C to progress to chronic infection in adults.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The mean age of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients has increased (=65 years old). We want to identify the recent trend of the clinical features of HCC patients due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) (HCV-HCC). METHODOLOGY From 2000 to 2009, 855 naive HCC patients were admitted. HCV-HCC patients were divided into two groups, first period group (2000-04, n=270) and second period group (2005-09, n=343) and the clinical features of HCV-HCC were investigated. RESULTS There was no difference in gender, TNM stage and percentages of HCV-HCC between the periods. On the other hand, the ratio of HCV-HCC patients with worse liver function (Child-Pugh B or C), elderly (=75 years old) and the population of patients treated with low invasive radiofrequency ablation were increased (30.0% to 42.0%, 17.2% to 35.8% and 25.1% to 36.2%, respectively; p

Porcine kobuvirus is a new candidate species of the genus Kobuvirus in the family Picornaviridae, and information is still limited. The identification of porcine kobuvirus has been performed by the sequence analyses of the 3D region of the viruses. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the molecular properties of VP1 nucleotide sequences of the porcine kobuviruses isolated from porcine stool samples in Japan during 2009 and Thailand between 2006 and 2008. In addition, previous identification of a unique porcine kobuvirus; Japanese H023/2009/JP, which is a bovine kobuvirus-like strain based on sequence analysis of the 3D region, was also included in this study. All of the strains were amplified by the VP1-specific primer pair: the amplicons were subjected to direct sequencing and compared with the VP1 nucleotide sequences of reference strains. The VP1 sequences of strains from the GenBank database revealed high nucleotide sequence identity at 84.3–100%. On the other hand, the nucleotide identities among the 15 porcine kobuvirus strains analyzed in this study ranged from 78.8 to 99.8%. The results revealed that diversity of the strains in this study were higher than those of the strains in previous studies. Furthermore, it was found that the VP1 region of the bovine kobuvirus-like strain, H023/2009/JP, clustered with nine porcine kobuvirus strains that were isolated in Thailand and Japan. Since this strain was previously found to be closely related to bovine kobuviruses in the 3D gene region, it may be a natural recombinant.

We attempted combinations of resection and ablative therapies (ethanol injection (EI) or radiofrequency therapy (RFA)) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.Thirty-one patients with naive HCC treated from January 2000 to June 2010 were enrolled. All were tumor node metastasis stage III and the number of tumors was countable (or = 5). Twelve were treated with resection assisted with an ablative therapy (combination group) and 19 with resection only (resection group). Clinical backgrounds and prognosis were investigated.The total scores for up-to-seven criteria were larger in the combination group than in the resection group (p=0.01), while other clinical background findings were not significantly different between the groups. In the combination group, 10 cases underwent resection combined with RFA and 2 with EI. The 1- and 3-year survival rates were not significantly different between the groups (combination group, 88.2% and 88.2%, respectively; resection group, 90.9% and 80.8%, respectively). There were no severe complications.Our results indicate that combination therapy is a therapeutic option for cases with countable HCCs who are difficult to treat by resection only.

This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with perflubutane (Sonazoid) for hepatic metastasis and compared it with that of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT).From January 2007 to July 2009, 109 Japanese patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer were enrolled, of whom 4 had esophageal cancer, 28 gastric cancer, 1 duodenal cancer, and 76 colorectal cancer. After a bolus injection with Sonazoid (0.5 ml/body), the liver was scanned in both arterial and Kupffer phases. The results of PET/CT and other abdominal imaging examinations were not shown to the CEUS operators. We compared diagnostic efficacy between CEUS and PET/CT.Average values for age, body mass index, and maximum diameter of the hepatic metastasis were 68.7 +/- 11.0 years, 21.2 +/- 4.2, and 29.2 +/- 20.5mm, respectively. Hepatic metastasis were suspected in 31 patients based on PET/CT findings and 32 by CEUS. Finally, hepatic metastasis was diagnosed in 30 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates for CEUS and PET/CT were similar (100% vs. 100%, 97.5% vs. 98.7%, and 95.5% vs. 93.6%, respectively).CEUS had a diagnostic value similar to that of PET/CT for hepatic metastasis.

This study aimed to elucidate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with perfluorobutane (Sonazoid(®)) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), particularly small HCCs, by comparing the results with dynamic computed tomography (Dy-CT). Seventy-nine nodules in 69 patients with chronic liver disease, suspected as HCCs were studied. The nodules were selected based on the results of B-mode ultrasonography and/or Dy-CT conducted between January and August 2007. The nodules were divided into two groups: the S-group with tumors ≤2 cm (49 nodules), and the L-group with tumors >2 cm (30 nodules). Typical HCCs were defined, and the nodules were enhanced and shown as defects in the arterial and late phase of Dy-CT, respectively. Target lesions were scanned using CEUS, and the results were compared with those of Dy-CT. The L-group nodules diagnosed as HCCs using Dy-CT were also diagnosed as HCCs using CEUS. In the S-group, the diagnostic sensitivity of CEUS was 94.7% and the specificity was 81.8%. We diagnosed two liver tumors that were detected by CEUS but not by Dy-CT; biopsies revealed one tumor to be a well-differentiated HCC and the other to be an atypical adenomatous hyperplasia. The sensitivity and specificity of CEUS against HCC were high even in the small-size HCCs. Thus, Sonazoid is useful in the screening for small HCCs.

Multiple liver metastatic lesions were shown by computed tomography and scintigraphy with 123I- metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in a 76-year-old woman 2 years after resection of a pheochromocytoma of the right adrenal gland. Transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) was performed for the liver metastasis, with blood pressure strictly controlled by administration of doxazosin and phentolamine for the prevention of hypertensive crisis after TACE. There were no severe adverse events associated with the treatment, and the number and size of the lesions were decreased. TACE with strict blood pressure control was an effective and safe therapy for multiple liver metastatic lesions related to malignant pheochromocytoma.

This study reports the detection and genetic characterization of porcine kobuvirus, a new member of the genus Kobuvirus in the family Picornaviridae. Among 293 fecal specimens collected from healthy pigs in 2009, in Japan, 133 (45.4%) were positive for kobuvirus using RT-PCR screening method. Of the positive specimens, 124 were obtained from pigs ≤6 months old, while 9 samples were from pigs >6 months old. Fifty-two representative strains of kobuviruses detected in this study were randomly selected and analyzed for their phylogenetic relationships with those other kobuvirus reference strains. The phylogenetic tree confirmed that 51 strains belonged to porcine kobuvirus and formed the exclusive branch with other porcine kobuvirus reference strains. In addition, the nucleotide sequence of H023/2009/JP shared very low levels of sequence identity with those of other porcine kobuvirus strains, but showed the highest level of sequence identity with bovine kobuvirus U-1 prototype strain. Our study demonstrated clearly that, porcine kobuvirus infection was common in healthy pigs and high prevalence of this virus was found in younger age of

In radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), microbubbles appearing during the procedure make it difficult to determine effectiveness with ultrasonography (US) imaging. We developed a modified US-volume system and evaluated its efficacy for demonstrating response to therapeutic RFA. Our US-volume system displays multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images providing a synchronized view with a US image along with past US-volume data in real-time side-by-side on a personal computer. Seventy-eight patients (94 nodules) were enrolled, of whom 35 (47 nodules) were evaluated using this system (US-volume group) and compared to the other 43 (47 nodules) examined before development of our system (control group). All nodules were clearly depicted by US. If the shortage of margin was predicted with US-volume system, we performed additional needle insertion. Tumor necrosis following RFA was graded by dynamic computed tomography as follows: Grade A, necrotic area surrounded in all directions with an adequate margin (>or=5 mm); Grade B, necrotic area surrounded in all directions, though some margin areas

Background and Aim: With the aging of society, the number of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been increasing in Japan. The Government of Japan defines elderly as being over 65 and has divided the elderly into two stages: the first elderly stage (

Some hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules are detectable with dynamic computed tomography, but not by conventional B-mode ultrasonography (US). Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) with Sonazoid, a new injectable contrast agent, has been used in Japan since January 2007. The primary advantage of this agent is the ability to maintain observations continuously in the Kupffer phase. We assessed the clinical role of CEUS with Sonazoid for radiofrequency ablation (RFA). From January 2005 to December 2008, 1142 patients were treated with surgical resection, RFA, percutaneous ethanol injection or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, following the exclusion of those patients treated with chemotherapy or supportive care. The patients included in the study were divided into the pre-CEUS (n=451, 2005 and 2006) and post-CEUS (n=691, 2007 and 2008) groups. Clinical background (e.g., etiology, Child-Pugh classification, tumor node metastasis stage, percentage of patients matched with Milan criteria and selected therapies) was compared between the two groups. In addition, naive cases were compared between the groups. There were 130 naive HCC cases in the pre-CEUS group and 171 in the post-CEUS group. Although there were no significant differences for clinical background, the percentage of RFA cases increased from 21 (n=95) to 32% (n=219) and from 32 (n=41) to 52% (n=89) for total and naive subjects, respectively, after CEUS was introduced (P