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Objectives Complete endoscopic healing, defined as Mayo endoscopic score (MES)=0, is an optimal target in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, some patients with MES=0 show clinical relapse within 12 months. Histologic goblet mucin depletion has emerged as a predictor of clinical relapse in patients with MES=0. We observed goblet depletion in vivo using an endocytoscope, and analyzed the association between goblet appearance and future prognosis in UC patients. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, all enrolled UC patients had MES=0 and confirmed clinical remission between October 2016 and March 2020. We classified the patients into two groups according to the goblet appearance status: preserved-goblet and depleted-goblet groups. We followed the patients until March 2021 and evaluated the difference in cumulative clinical relapse rates between the two groups. Results We identified 125 patients with MES=0 as the study subjects. Five patients were subsequently excluded. Thus, we analyzed the data for 120 patients, of whom 39 were classified as the preserved-goblet group and 81 as the depleted-goblet group. The patients were followed-up for a median of 549 days. During follow-up, the depleted-goblet group had a significantly higher cumulative clinical relapse rate than the preserved-goblet group (19% [15/81] vs. 5% [2/39], respectively; P=0.02). Conclusions Observing goblet appearance in vivo allowed us to better predict the future prognosis of UC patients with MES=0. This approach may assist clinicians with onsite decision-making regarding treatment interventions without a biopsy.

Quantum dots (QDs) have a great potential for realizing information processing because of their signal-modulation capability based on energy transfer. We present a method for generating diverse temporal and spectral signals based on the energy transfer between multiple QDs. The method uses randomly distributed QDs, so it is not necessary to precisely arrange a QD network. With multiple energy transfers between QDs, a variety of signals within the QD network can be generated by optical inputs. Experimental results revealed that fluorescence decays of dense QDs were faster when the density of QDs or the irradiation intensity decreased. Furthermore, depending on the positions, stacked QDs showed different spectral responses. The randomly distributed QDs can generate diverse signals, which is essential for signal processing to handle temporal information.

With the prevalence of endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic full thickness resection, which enable complete resection of T1 colorectal cancer with a negative margin, the treatment strategy following endoscopic resection has become more important. The necessity of secondary surgical resection is determined on the basis of the risk of lymph node metastasis according to the histopathological findings of resected specimens because ~10% of T1 colorectal cancer cases have lymph node metastasis. The current Japanese treatment guidelines state four risk factors for lymph node metastasis: lymphovascular invasion, histological differentiation, depth of submucosal invasion, and tumor budding. These guidelines have succeeded in stratifying the low-risk group for lymph node metastasis, in which endoscopic resection alone is acceptable for cure. On the other hand, there are some problems: there is variation in diagnosis methods and low interobserver agreement for each pathological factor and 90% of surgical resections are unnecessary, with lymph node metastasis negativity. To ensure patients with T1 colorectal cancer receive more appropriate treatment, these problems should be addressed. In this systematic review, we gave some suggestions to these practical issues of four pathological factors as predictors.

The echo state property, which is related to the dynamics of a neural network excited by input driving signals, is one of the well-known fundamental properties of recurrent neural networks. During the echo state, the neural network reveals an internal memory function that enables it to remember past inputs. Due to the echo state property, the neural network will asymptotically update its condition from the initial condition and is expected to exhibit temporally nonlinear input/output. As a physical neural network, we fabricated a quantum-dot network that is driven by sequential optical-pulse inputs and reveals corresponding outputs, by random dispersion of quantum-dots as its components. In the network, the localized optical energy of excited quantum-dots is allowed to transfer to neighboring quantum-dots, and its stagnation time due to multi-step transfers corresponds to the hold time of the echo state of the network. From the experimental results of photon counting of the fluorescence outputs, we observed nonlinear optical input/output of the quantum-dot network due to its echo state property. Its nonlinearity was quantitatively verified by a correlation analysis. As a result, the relation between the nonlinear input/outputs and the individual compositions of the quantum-dot network was clarified.

In networks of spatially distributed fluorescent molecules, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) can simultaneously occur over multiple locations and times. Such “FRET networks” have great potential for information-processing and computing applications. To design these applications, the spatiotemporal behavior of FRET networks should be understood. However, studies on their spatiotemporal behavior are scarce. Here, we develop a spatiotemporal model for FRET networks and uncover its temporal characteristic behavior. We theoretically show that our model can generate a distinctive temporal behavior, i.e., the network-induced multicomponent exponential decay of the fluorescence intensity, even for FRET networks of fluorophores with an identical single exponential decay. This theoretical result is supported experimentally using quantum dots.

AIM Protein and energy malnutrition is a severe problem for patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and fasting often induces starvation which is a vitally important outcome. Dietary restriction is essential for endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) in patients with risky esophageal varices, thereby creating the possible exacerbation of nutritional state and inducing liver dysfunction. Whether EIS induces nutritional deficiency in LC patients and the effects of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-enriched nutrient are prospectively investigated. METHODS A total of 61 LC patients were randomly divided into an EIS monotherapy group (non-BCAA group, n = 31) and an EIS combined with BCAA therapy group (n = 30). Platelet count, blood chemistry and somatometry values were prospectively measured at five time points. RESULTS The platelet counts before treatment were at the same level in both groups (P = 0.72). Three months after treatment, the counts decreased in the non-BCAA group; however, they increased in the BCAA group (P = 0.019). Body mass index, triceps skin fold thickness and arm muscle circumference significantly decreased in both groups. The BCAA and tyrosine ratio value increased only in the BCAA group (P

A new method to improve the thickness uniformity of a silicon-on-insulator layer in a defined area by photoetching with N -fluoropyridinium salts using a projector was proposed. The method involved initial calculation of the red–green–blue tone distribution from the top silicon layer thickness distribution to be etched using the relationship between the etching depth and red–green–blue tone in a projector. Photoetching was then conducted by projection of an image with the required tone distribution onto a silicon layer surface coated with N -fluoropyridinium salts. The uniformity of silicon layers with a thickness of less than 10 nm was improved in an area of approximately 20 × 20 mm by photoetching after prior thinning by thermal oxidation and wet etching. The developed method enables the thickness uniformity in a defined area to be improved while avoiding exfoliation of the silicon layer or the formation of silicon islands in subsequent thermal treatment. In addition, this method has the potential to be cost-effective because it uses a projector.

Aim The combination therapy of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (PEG IFN/RBV) is one of the effective treatments for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Natural killer (NK)-cell activity was reported to be impaired in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to examine whether PEG IFN/RBV therapy could restore NK activity in CHC patients. Methods In 19 CHC patients, PEG IFN/RBV therapy was performed. Just before (0M), at 3 months of the therapy (3M) and at 6 months after completion of the therapy (6M), NK activity and the frequency of NK cells, CD56dimNK cells and CD56brightNK cells in peripheral blood was estimated by creatinine release assay and flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed by anova and Mann–Whitney U-test. Results anova showed that NK activity significantly improved at 6M (vs 0M, P

Human eyes not only serve the function of enabling us “to see” something, but also perform the vital role of allowing us “to show” our gaze for non-verbal communication, such as through establishing eye contact and joint attention. The eyes of service robots should therefore also perform both of these functions. Moreover, they should be friendly in appearance so that humans may feel comfortable with the robots. Therefore we maintain that it is important to consider gaze communication capability and friendliness in designing the appearance of robot eyes. In this paper, we propose a new robot face with rear-projected eyes for changing their appearance while simultaneously realizing the showing of gaze by incorporating stereo cameras. Additionally, we examine which shape of robot eyes is most suitable for gaze reading and gives the friendliest impression, through experiments where we altered the shape and iris size of robot eyes., © John Benjamins Publishing Company

Background and Aim Liver cirrhosis (LC) is accompanied by hepatic arterializations, intrahepatic shunts, and hyperdynamic circulations. These changes shorten the arrival time (AT) of ultrasound contrast agents to the hepatic vein (HV). Whether treatment of gastric fundal varices (GVs) by balloon-occluded transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) improves the AT in LC patients was prospectively investigated. Methods A total of 32 LC patients with GVs and 10 normal controls (NCs) were enrolled. This study was approved by the clinical research ethics committee. Images of hepatic artery (HA), portal vein (PV), and HV were monitored after an injection of a contrast agent using quantification software. The AT before and after B-RTO in LC patients and that in NCs were compared. Results All GVs were treated effectively, and indocyanine green retention rate was improved (P

Background: Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is very useful as a consolidation treatment for reducing the recurrence of esophageal varices (EVs). However, repeated sedation in endoscopic treatment has the risk of prolonging hepatic encephalopathy and affects the respiratory state of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, in whom pulmonary arteriovenous shunts are observed. We evaluated prospectively whether transnasal endoscopic APC without sedation is more effective than peroral endoscopic APC with sedation. Patients and Methods: LC patients (n = 101), treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy to eradicate EVs, were randomly divided into a transnasal APC group (n = 50) and a peroral APC group (n = 51). The primary efficacy endpoint was the cumulative recurrence rate of EVs. The secondary endpoints were blood pressure (BP), heart rate, oxygen saturation during APC and complications. Results: There was no significant difference in the cumulative recurrence rate of EVs at 36 months between the transnasal APC and peroral APC groups (35.0 vs. 40.8%, p = 0.39, log-rank test), indicating that transnasal APC is not inferior to peroral APC. The transnasal APC group showed more stable intraoperative BP and oxygen saturation values, and a lower incidence of epigastralgia (56.0 vs. 74.5%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: The efficacy of reducing the recurrence of EVs in the transnasal APC group was not significantly different from that in the peroral APC group. Transnasal APC caused less distress and required no sedation. Therefore, this method was more advantageous for LC patients at risk of suffering from prolongation of hepatic encephalopathy.

Objective To clarify the usefulness of transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscope (N-EGD) with all flexible imaging color enhancement (FICE) patterns (0–9) for the diagnosis of esophageal varices (EV). Methods A total of 50 patients with EV were examined during the same period by N-EGD without sedation and by peroral endoscopy (O-EGD) with sedation. The visibility of treatment scars, microvessels, recurrent EV and red color sign (RCS) were measured. Visibility was evaluated by five blinded observers (poor–good: 0–10), and the effect of both endoscopic examinations on the cardiorespiratory function of the patients was measured. Results The image scores for O-EGD and N-EGD with ordinary mode and N-EGD with FICE were 7.3 ± 1.2, 6.1 ± 1.0 and 6.9 ± 1.0 for treatment scars; 7.2 ± 1.4, 6.2 ± 1.2 and 7.3 ± 1.0 for microvessels; 7.2 ± 1.2, 6.1 ± 1.0 and 7.1 ± 1.0 for recurrent EV and 7.2 ± 1.3, 6.1 ± 1.3, and 7.2 ± 1.2 for RCS, respectively (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.6). When FICE patterns 2, 6 and 9 were used, visibility was much improved. Ten minutes after insertion, the double product values in the N-EGD with the FICE group were significantly better (P

症例は，66歳男性．肝外転移を有する進行肝癌治療目的でsorafenib 800 mg/day投与開始し，治療開始17日目に代謝性脳症で死亡した．治療前および治療後1週に，ソナゾイド造影超音波とMRI拡散強調画像をそれぞれ撮像した．造影超音波では，治療前と比べ治療後1週において，腫瘍部と健常腎実質部に著明な血流低下を認めた．一方，拡散強調画像では，腫瘍部のADCの著明な低下を認めた．sorafenib治療において，腫瘍部に血流低下などの，急激な画像所見の変化が生じる場合，治療効果良好の徴候とも考えられるが，重篤な有害事象の発現の可能性も念頭に置き，厳重な経過観察が必要であると考える．

RNA editing in land plant organelles is a process primarily involving the conversion of cytidine to uridine in pre-mRNAs. The process is required for gene expression in plant organelles, because this conversion alters the encoded amino acid residues and improves the sequence identity to homologous proteins. A recent study uncovered that proteins encoded in the nuclear genome are essential for editing site recognition in chloroplasts; the mechanisms by which this recognition occurs remain unclear. To understand these mechanisms, we determined the genomic and cDNA sequences of moss Takakia lepidozioides chloroplast genes, then computationally analyzed the sequences within -30 to +10 nucleotides of RNA editing sites (neighbor sequences) likely to be recognized by trans-factors. As the T. lepidozioides chloroplast has many RNA editing sites, the analysis of these sequences provides a unique opportunity to perform statistical analyses of chloroplast RNA editing sites. We divided the 302 obtained neighbor sequences into eight groups based on sequence similarity to identify group-specific patterns. The patterns were then applied to predict novel RNA editing sites in T. lepidozioides transcripts; approximately 60% of these predicted sites are true editing sites. The success of this prediction algorithm suggests that the obtained patterns are indicative of key sites recognized by trans-factors around editing sites of T. lepidozioides chloroplast genes.

N-Ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) is known to induce a wide spectrum of tumors in various organs in adult experimental animals. The renal and neuroectdermal tumors are known as representative lesions by transplacental exposure to ENU in the offspring animals. However, little information is available about tumorigenicity in other organs and tissues in offspring when their mother animals are treated with ENU during gestation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of transplacentally treated-ENU on the various organ tumorigenicity in offspring rats. ENU was injected intraperitoneally to female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with a single dose at 50 mg/kg on the 18th day of gestation. After spontaneous delivery, 44 male and 64 female offspring, including moribund and dead after birth, were subjected to the evaluation of carcinogenicity. At the 54th to 55th week of birth, all surviving offspring were euthanized under ether anesthesia for histopathology. ENU showed a wide spectrum of transplacental tumorgenesis in the kidney, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, thyroid gland, and teeth. The tumors of the thyroid and teeth were characteristic in particular in this study. The thyroid tumors included various histopathological types (follicular cell adenoma and adenocarcinoma, C-cell adenoma and carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibroma). As a characteristic tumor of the teeth, ameloblastic odontoma was detected in 3 (one male and 2 females) of 108 offspring. In conclusion, the results indicate that the transplacental exposure of a single ENU dose induces various types of thyroid gland tumors and odontogenic tumors as well as the renal or neuroectodermal tumors in rat offspring.

Background: Human obstructive airway diseases are histopathologically characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and mucus hypersecretion in airways. We prepared a rat model of airway injury by exposure of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and then evaluated the effects of S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC), a mucoregulant. Methods: Rats were exposed to SO2 gas for 44 days and orally given S-CMC at 250 mg/kg, twice daily, from 21 to 44 days of exposure for histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation. Results: SO2 exposure induced inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus cell increase in rat airways. S-CMC treatment significantly decreased this inflammatory cell infiltration in proximal and peripheral airways. Morphometrically, SO2 exposure significantly increased the number of Alcian blue (pH 2.5)- and periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS)-positive cells in rat airways (11.8 × 10–2 cell/nuclear profiles per micrometer basement membrane) compared to normal rat airways (1.6 × 10–2 cell/nuclear profiles per micrometer basement membrane). S-CMC treatment significantly decreased the number of AB/PAS-positive cells (4.4 × 10–2 cell/nuclear profiles per micrometer basement membrane, p < 0.01 vs. SO2-exposed rats). Immunohistochemically, SO2 exposure increased the expression of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) protein in the airway epithelium of rats, but S-CMC treatment inhibited the increase. Conclusions: The increased mucus cells and MUC5AC protein expression seem associated with SO2-induced airway inflammation in rats. The fact that S-CMC suppresses airway inflammation and the increase in mucus cells and MUC5AC protein expression suggests that this mucoregulant may be advantageous in the treatment of inflammatory airway diseases with goblet cell hyperplasia.

The dinuclear diruthenium complexes ligated by the (µ-aryloxo)bis(µ-carboxylato) system M[Ru2L(µ-O2CR)2] (M = Na, R = Me 1; M = Na, R = Ph 2; M = K, R = Me 3; M = K, R = Ph 4; H5L = 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-m-phenylenedimethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid) were prepared by the reaction of [RuCl2(Me2SO)4] with L5– and carboxylic acid. The structure of the benzoate-bridged complex 4·0.5MeOH·0.5EtOH·4H2O was elucidated by X-ray crystallography. The Ru· · ·Ru distance was 3.416 A (average for two crystallographically independent molecules), comparable to those of (µ-alkoxo)bis(µ-carboxylato)diruthenium complexes. The magnetic properties were analysed by a general isotropic exchange Hamiltonian H = –2JS1·S2 (S1 = S2 = ½), yielding meaningfully large antiferromagnetic spin coupling constants (–J = 728 and 649 cm–1 for 1 and 2, respectively). The cyclic voltammogram of 4 in dmf demonstrated two reduction and one oxidation wave corresponding to the four redox states RuII2, RuIIRuIII, RuIII2, RuIIIRuIV. The intervalence coupling constant KC estimated from the potential gap between RuII2/RuIIRuIII and RuIIRuIII/RuIII2 indicated that the introduction of the µ-aryloxo bridge stabilizes the RuIIRuIII mixed-valence species.

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is accompanied by hepatic arterializations, intrahepatic shunts, and hyperdynamic circulations. These changes shorten the arrival time (AT) of ultrasound contrast agents to the hepatic vein (HV). Whether treatment of gastric fundal varices (GVs) by balloon-occluded transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) improves the AT in LC patients was prospectively investigated.A total of 32 LC patients with GVs and 10 normal controls (NCs) were enrolled. This study was approved by the clinical research ethics committee. Images of hepatic artery (HA), portal vein (PV), and HV were monitored after an injection of a contrast agent using quantification software. The AT before and after B-RTO in LC patients and that in NCs were compared.All GVs were treated effectively, and indocyanine green retention rate was improved (P 0.0001). The mean values of the HA, PV, and HV ATs in the NCs were 21.9 ± 3.3, 28.2 ± 2.0, and 40.5 ± 2.1 s, respectively. Those in LC patients were 17.4 ± 4.4, 21.9 ± 5.6, and 26.3 ± 6.7, respectively, which were shorter than those in NCs (P 0.01, P 0.002, P 0.0001, respectively). However, these ATs were significantly prolonged 1 week after B-RTO, with mean values of 18.7 ± 4.8, 23.8 ± 6.0, and 30.0 ± 7.2 s (P = 0.043, P 0.01, P 0.001).Obliteration of GVs shifted the AT in LC patients to the normalization, raising the possibility of improvement of arterialization and intrahepatic shunt.

To clarify the usefulness of transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscope (N-EGD) with all flexible imaging color enhancement (FICE) patterns (0-9) for the diagnosis of esophageal varices (EV).A total of 50 patients with EV were examined during the same period by N-EGD without sedation and by peroral endoscopy (O-EGD) with sedation. The visibility of treatment scars, microvessels, recurrent EV and red color sign (RCS) were measured. Visibility was evaluated by five blinded observers (poor-good: 0-10), and the effect of both endoscopic examinations on the cardiorespiratory function of the patients was measured.The image scores for O-EGD and N-EGD with ordinary mode and N-EGD with FICE were 7.3 ± 1.2, 6.1 ± 1.0 and 6.9 ± 1.0 for treatment scars; 7.2 ± 1.4, 6.2 ± 1.2 and 7.3 ± 1.0 for microvessels; 7.2 ± 1.2, 6.1 ± 1.0 and 7.1 ± 1.0 for recurrent EV and 7.2 ± 1.3, 6.1 ± 1.3, and 7.2 ± 1.2 for RCS, respectively (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.6). When FICE patterns 2, 6 and 9 were used, visibility was much improved. Ten minutes after insertion, the double product values in the N-EGD with the FICE group were significantly better (P 0.05).N-EGD with FICE is very useful for the diagnosis of EV and can improve the visibility of N-EGD on each lesion to the same level as that of O-EGD. N-EGD with FICE does not require sedation and may reduce the risk of hepatic encephalopathy.

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography is an ultrasound technique that is capable of measuring tissue stiffness noninvasively. It is difficult to differentiate idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) from liver cirrhosis (LC) or chronic hepatitis (CH), and liver biopsy is essential. We investigated whether it would be possible to noninvasively diagnose IPH by measuring the stiffness of the liver and spleen by ARFI.The subjects were 17 IPH patients, 25 LC patients, 20 CH patients, and 20 normal controls (NC). We measured liver stiffness, spleen stiffness, and the spleen/liver stiffness ratio, and plotted ROC curves.The median value of liver stiffness in the IPH group was lower than that in the LC group (p = 0.00077) and about the same as in the CH group (p = 0.79). The median value of spleen stiffness was highest in the IPH group (IPH vs. LC group, p = 0.003; IPH vs. CH group, p0.00001). The spleen/liver stiffness ratio was lower in the LC group and in the CH group, and higher in the IPH group (p0.001, respectively). When an ROC curve of spleen/liver stiffness ratios was plotted to differentiate between the IPH group and the combined group of patients with other liver diseases (LC + CH group), when a cutoff value of 1.71 was used, the AUROC was 0.933 sensitivity 0.941, specificity 0.800, and accuracy 0.839.Measuring the spleen/liver stiffness ratio by ARFI made it possible to noninvasively, specifically, and accurately diagnose IPH.

To investigate the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using contrast ultrasonography in the NASH rat model.The liver in methionine choline-deficient diet (MCDD) rats, a NASH model constructed by feeding an MCDD, was examined by contrast ultrasonography at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16, with late phase images of contrast ultrasonography (Kupffer imaging) in which contrast enhancement was achieved by incorporation of a contrast agent by Kupffer cells (KCs), and images were compared to those in rats taking a regular chow.Decrease in contrast enhancement was observed first in MCDD rats at week 2. KCs were counted based on immunohistochemistry, but their numbers were not reduced and it was assumed that attenuation of contrast enhancement was attributable to reduced phagocytic activity of the KCs.It is suggested that clinical application of contrast ultrasonography may be valuable for non-invasive diagnosis of NASH.

Busulfan, an antineoplastic agent that targets small follicles (primordial and primary follicles), was given orally to female Sprague-Dawley rats (0, 0.1, 0.5, or 1.5 mg/kg/day; n = 10 in each group) for 2 or 4 weeks to assess the optimal administration period for detection of the toxic effects on ovarian morphology. Isolated ovaries were used for histopathological analysis and follicle counts. In addition, a female fertility study was conducted by giving the same dose levels of busulfan from 2 weeks before mating to day 7 of pregnancy to determine the non-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for female reproduction. In the 2-week study, all rats treated with busulfan showed normal estrous cyclicity and no toxicological changes in weight or histopathology of the ovaries. In the 4-week study, a decrease in small follicles was found histopathologically in 1 rat, even at 0.5 mg/kg, and in 4 rats at 1.5 mg/kg. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry of the follicles confirmed the above decrease in number of small follicles at 1.5 mg/kg. In the female fertility study, increases in dead embryos and post-implantation loss were found in rats at 1.5 mg/kg. Taken together, the NOAELs were 1.5 mg/kg for reproductive performance and 0.5 mg/kg for early embryonic development. In conclusion, the present study indicates that a 4-week administration period and appropriate assessment, including careful histopathological analysis of stage-based follicles are needed to detect small follicle depletion in a general toxicity study used as a first-titer screen.

Si1-xGex alloys show the high power generating efficiency as a thermoelectric- conversion material. We evaluate the thermoelectric power of the n-type SiGe system on the basis of the first principles calculations. The electronic-band-structure calculation is performed using all-electron full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) method within the local density approximation (LDA). The Seebeck coefficient is analyzed by the Bloch-Boltzmann equation. We find that the ordered rhombohedral SiGe has high Seebeck coefficient in comparison with zincblende SiGe. The efficiency of the thermoelectric power in Si1-xGex is gained by the local atomic configuration rather than the Ge concentration.

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process that changes individual nucleotides in transcripts, and usually occurs in the plastids of land plants. The number of RNA editing sites in a plastid is significantly divergent in bryophytes, ranging from zero in liverworts to almost 1,000 sites in hornworts. In this study, we identified 132 RNA editing sites in the transcripts of six genes from the psbB operon and the rpoA of the moss Takakia lepidozioides. This is the highest number of RNA editing sites known in this region among land plant species. All were cytidine-to-uridine conversions. More than 91% of RNA editing occurred at the first or second codon positions, and it altered amino acid identity. Six editing sites created new translation initiation codons or stop codons. Thirty-two sites were commonly observed in the hornwort Anthoceros angustus. This finding suggests that the enigmatic bryophyte Takakia is closely related to hornworts with respect to RNA editing events.

We developed a computed tomography (CT) virtual ultrasound system (CVUS) as an imaging system to support treatment under percutaneous ultrasound (US) guidance. This prototype clinical system, produced in collaboration with Tokyo Medical University, uses display software developed by Toshiba Medical Systems. We examined the utility of this system by scheduling treatment plans preoperatively and simulating puncture and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver cancer. The study enrolled 51 liver cancer patients with 66 nodules 0.8–8 cm in diameter in which RFA was performed between June 2004 and December 2004. Virtual US and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images were constructed on the basis of DICOM CT data and puncture and ablation of liver cancer were simulated. The following were evaluated: (1) how to avoid complications and determine an appropriate puncture route by simulating puncture with C-mode MPR images; (2) determination of the three-dimensional location of the tumor for ablation, as well as the adjacent organs and vessels, by MPR rotation 360° around the center of the tumor (center lock); and (3) how to determine the center and volume of ablation and avoid injuries to nearby organs and vessels by simulating ablation procedures. C -mode MPR images were effective for (1) determining and modifying the puncture route in 35 of 51 cases (69.6%) and (2) determining the spatial location of vessels and nearby organs in 50 of 51 cases (98.0%) by the center lock; and (3) simulating the ablation helped determine the center and volume of ablation by avoiding injuries to vessels and nearby organs in 45 or 51 cases (88.2%). Taken together, the CVUS allowed easy simulation of local treatment of liver cancer under US guidance using CT data alone and the preoperative simulation predicted an improvement in the safety of local therapy of liver cancer.

Flash-replenishment (FR) utilizes destruction of microbubbles in the scan volume by high-power ultrasound and enables to observe reperfusion at a low acoustic power. In this paper, we introduced theoretic equation between probability density function (PDF) of the transit time in the scan volume and time intensity curve (TIC) measured by FR method. From the equations, it was explained that the mean transit time (MTT) through the scan volume was calculated from the plateau level and tangent of the initial slope. Animal experiments were also performed to measure TIC in the parenchymal region of the liver using FR method. From the result of the TIC, the variant of the PDF for the transit time was found to be small and the average MTT was 11.1 s. Hepatic blood flow by an ultrasonic transit time flowmeter was also measured in the same experiment, and adequate correlation was obtained from between the two methods. The results suggested that the FR method, which is a noninvasive measurement, can predict the blood flow of the liver.

Background and aims Non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the representative liver diseases in the developed countries. Diagnosis of NASH is dependent on histological findings from liver biopsy. Usefulness of contrast ultrasound with Levovist for diagnosis of NASH is described. Methods and materials Clinical study : Ultrasound contrast agent, Levovist of 2.5 g was injected intravenously. The liver was scanned at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min after Levovist injection in different planes using a contrast specific ultrasound mode. Changes in microbubble accumulation in the liver were evaluated. The signal intensity from regions of interest (ROI) on the contrast images was measured and accumulation and decrescence of microbubbles were estimated using the time intensity curves (TICs). The image data and TICs were evaluated by blind reviewers. Fifteen patients with NASH, 8 with alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), 45 with non alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), 10 with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and 10 healthy volunteers were studied. Animal study : Methionine–choline-deficient diet (MCDD) fed rats were used for NASH model. Correlation between microbubble accumulation and morphological and functional changes of sinusoidal endothelium and macrophage was evaluated. Results The maximum intensity of contrast ultrasound was decreased and time course decrescence was more rapid in NASH than the other groups. These changes were correlated to the degree of centrilobular and pericellular fibrosis but not to steatosis in histological study. Disturbance of microbubble accumulation was correlated with sinusoidal function rather than morphological changes such as fibrosis and parenchymatitis in the animal studies. Conclusions The Levovist contrast study enables differential diagnosis between NASH and other diseases that provoke steatosis and fibrosis.

Summary The C to U editing event that converts an ACG codon to an AUG translation initiation codon in the chloroplast rps14 transcript is unique to the moss Physcomitrella patens and has not been found in other species. The efficiency of RNA editing was 80 percnt; in the young protonemata and decreased to approximately 20 percnt; in old protonemata and fully developed leafy shoots. This indicates that RNA editing of this site is regulated in a tissue- and stage-specific manner. In this study, a novel C to U RNA editing site has been identified at the -1 position relative to the AUG. Because the editing site is localized in the mRNA 5′ untranslated region, it may affect the efficiency of rps14 mRNA translation.

The rps14 transcript is edited in the moss Physcomitrella patens chloroplast by a C-to-U transition, to create a translation initiation codon, AUG. The efficiency of RNA editing was low, with ∼20% of rps14 transcripts edited. This suggests that the translation of rps14 mRNA is strictly regulated by RNA editing. This is the first report of RNA editing in P. patens and the creation of a translation initiation codon in rps14 mRNA in chloroplasts.

To assess the validity and limitations of 2-week repeated daily dosing to detect toxic effects on male reproductive organs in rodents, a comparative 2- and 4-week oral repeated dosing study of boric acid, a known testicular toxicant, was given to 6- or 8-week-old Crj:Wistar rats at daily levels of 0, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg. The ages of the rats were selected so that they were all sacrificed at 10 weeks of age. The testes and epididymides were weighed at necropsy; histopathological specimens were prepared in a routine manner and stained with H&E or PAS-H. In addition, the sperm number and motility rates were evaluated. There were no boric acid-induced effects on reproductive organ weights and on gross behavior/appearance in any groups in either the 2- or 4-week studies. The sperm number and motility rate were not decreased in any group after 2 weeks, while both decreased in the 250 and 500 mg/kg groups after 4 weeks. Histopathologically, as evidence of toxicity at the early stage of boric acid exposure, retention of step 19 spermatids of stages IX-XI was observed in the testes of almost all rats treated with 500 mg/kg after both 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Degenerative/necrotic germ cells and multinucleated giant cell formation were observed in 2 weeks, though to a lesser extent than in 4 weeks. On stage analysis of germinal cells in 2 weeks, spermatogonia and spermatids of stage VII were found to be decreased, and pachytene spermatocytes of stage X were increased. In conclusion, the results indicate that if the selection of doses is appropriate, testicular toxicity of boric acid can be detected even after only 2 weeks of repeated daily oral treatment.

[Introduction] Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTTQ) is an ultrasound technique to quantify tissue stiffness based on measurement of the propagation velocity of elastic shearwaves (Vs) generated by acoustic radiation force impulses that cause tissue displacements. [Objective] To explore the usefulness of liver and spleen stiffness measurements by VTTQ for diagnostic differentiation between idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) and portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis (LC). [Subjects] Thirteen patients with histologically diagnosed IPH and 18 patients with histologically diagnosed LC were recruited for this study. Eight normal subjects (NC) and 7 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) were also included. [Methods] With the region of interest (ROI) set at a 3-cm depth from the body surface, the mean of 5 successful Vs measurements of the liver and spleen in each patient was determined. The percentage of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ T cells (Tregs) in the LC cases and IPH cases was analyzed by FACS, and the size of the spleen (SI) was also measured. [Results] The measured stiffness of the liver (NC: CH: LC: IPH = 1.14: 1.40: 2.50: 1.56 m/s) was greater in the LC patients (p < 0.001), and that of the spleen (2.03: 2.30: 3.12: 3.90) was greater in the patients with IPH (p < 0.001). Making each ROC curve, we set the cut-off values of liver stiffness by VTTQ as follows (CH: LC: IPH = 1.14: 1.54: 1.23 m/s). The sensitivities were (89.5: 94.7: 89.5%) and the specificities were (62.5: 100.0: 75.0%). Meanwhile, setting the cut-off values of spleen stiffness as follows (CH: LC: IPH = 2.44: 2.61: 2.88 m/s), the sensitivities were (66.7: 90.5: 90.5%) and the specificities were (87.5: 100.0: 100.0%). The stiffness measurements of both liver and spleen were proved to be useful in diagnosis. Furthermore, a lower peripheral blood Tregs frequency [(LC: IPH) = (19.0: 11.6%)] (p < 0.001) and a larger SI (22.5: 44.5) (p < 0.001) were recorded in the IPH patients. [Discussion] The IPH patient group showed a lower liver stiffness relative to the LC group and comparable liver stiffness to that in the CH group. Stiffness of the spleen, nevertheless, was markedly higher in the IPH group; thus, stiffness measurements of both the liver and spleen allowed ready diagnostic differentiation between portal hypertension associated with LC and IPH. The increased splenic stiffness with splenomegaly in IPH was considered to be attributable to a state of enhanced immune functions when viewed with reference to the reduced percentage of peripheral blood Tregs.

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