Effect of the surface morphology of alkaline-earth metal oxides on the oxidative coupling of methane.

Alkaline-earth metal oxides with the rocksalt structure, which are simple ionic solids, have attracted attention in attempts to gain fundamental insights into the properties of metal oxides. The surfaces of alkaline-earth metal oxides are considered promising catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM); however, the development of such catalysts remains a central research topic. In this paper, we performed first-principles calculations to investigate the ability of four alkaline-earth metal oxides (MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO) to catalyze the OCM.

Delayed Tension Hemothorax With Nondisplaced Rib Fractures After Blunt Thoracic Trauma.

Blunt thoracic trauma often causes rib fractures, hemothorax, and pneumothorax. Although there is no established definition regarding the duration and management of delayed hemothorax, it commonly occurs in a few days and exhibits at least one displaced rib fracture. Moreover, delayed hemothorax rarely develops tension hemothorax.

Conformational characteristics and conformation-dependent properties of poly(ε-caprolactone).

Structures and properties of isolated and crystalline poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) chains have been investigated. molecular orbital (MO) calculations were conducted for methyl 6-acetoxyhexanoate (MAH), a model compound of PCL, to yield Gibbs free energies of all its existent conformers. Bond conformations of its seven bonds corresponding to the repeating unit of PCL were calculated therefrom; two C-C bonds close to the ester group show preferences owing to intramolecular C-H⋯O attractions, and the other five prefer forms.

Risk factors for prolonged ventilation after the modified Fontan procedure.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors associated with prolonged ventilation after Fontan surgery.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary childrens hospital.

Pseudoaneurysm rupture presenting as bleeding from the cannulation site in a paediatric patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and congenital skin lesions requiring EXCOR Paediatric ventricular assist device: a case report.

Background: EXCOR Paediatric is used worldwide as a bridge-to-transplant treatment. It provides improved patient stability during the waiting period compared with previous ventricular assist device (VAD). However, investigations into complications which may occur among the paediatric population during long waiting periods are still sparse.

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Fused with Tandem Collagen-Binding Domains from Collagenase ColG Increases Bone Formation.

Basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (bFGF) accelerates bone formation during fracture healing. Because the efficacy of bFGF decreases rapidly following its diffusion from fracture sites, however, repeated dosing is required to ensure a sustained therapeutic effect. We previously developed a fusion protein comprising bFGF, a polycystic kidney disease domain (PKD; s2b), and collagen-binding domain (CBD; s3) sourced from the class II collagenase, ColH, and reported that the combination of this fusion protein with a collagen-like peptide, poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly), induced mesenchymal cell proliferation and callus formation at fracture sites.

Extubation Failure in Neonates After Cardiac Surgery: Prevalence, Etiology, and Risk Factors.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of extubation failure (EF) in post-cardiac surgery neonates.

Methods: Neonates (30 days old or younger) who underwent cardiac surgery and were admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit between September 2010 and February 2016 were included. The prevalence and etiology of EF, defined as reintubation within 48 hours, were reviewed.

RNase III mediated cleavage of the coding region of mraZ mRNA is required for efficient cell division in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

The Corynebacterium glutamicum R cgR_1959 gene encodes an endoribonuclease of the RNase III family. Deletion mutant of cgR_1959 (Δrnc mutant) showed an elongated cell shape, and presence of several lines on the cell surface, indicating a required of RNase III for maintaining normal cell morphology in C. glutamicum.

Association between RABV G Proteins Transported from the Perinuclear Space to the Cell Surface Membrane and N-Glycosylation of the Sequon Asn(204).

In this study, G proteins of the rabies virus (RABV) Kyoto strain were detected in the cytoplasm but not distributed at the cell membrane of mouse neuroblastoma (MNA) cells. G proteins of CVS-26 were detected in both the cell membrane and perinuclear space of MNA cells. We found that N-glycosylation of street RABV G protein by the insertion of the sequon Asn(204) induced the transfer of RABV G proteins to the cell surface membrane.

Effects of omeprazole on sleep disturbance: randomized multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: Gastroesophageal reflux is considered to cause sleep disturbance, whereas proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration is reported to improve insomnia associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The majority of patients with gastroesophageal reflux are asymptomatic and a significant number with erosive esophagitis are also reported to be asymptomatic. We examined whether PPI administration has a therapeutic effect for improving insomnia in patients without reflux symptoms in the same manner as patients with reflux symptoms.

Ion sources for ion implantation technology (invited).

Ion sources for ion implantation are introduced. The technique is applied not only to large scale integration (LSI) devices but also to flat panel display. For LSI fabrication, ion source scheduled maintenance cycle is most important.

Diarrhea caused by proton pump inhibitor administration: comparisons among lansoprazole, rabeprazole, and omeprazole.

Background: The number of patients who require treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is increasing in Japan. One of their adverse effects is diarrhea.

Objectives: We investigated the incidence of diarrhea caused by 3 different PPIs: lansoprazole, rabeprazole, and omeprazole.

Gene expression analysis of host innate immune responses in the central nervous system following lethal CVS-11 infection in mice.

The central nervous system (CNS) tissue of mice infected with the CVS-11 strain of rabies virus (RABV) was subjected to gene expression analysis using microarray and canonical pathway analyses. Genes associated with innate immunity as well as inflammatory responses were significantly up-regulated, corroborating with the previous findings obtained using attenuated viruses that did not induce a fatal outcome in infected mice. Histopathological examination showed that neurons in the cerebellum had undergone apoptosis.

Interobserver agreement in endoscopic evaluation of reflux esophagitis using a modified Los Angeles classification incorporating grades N and M: a validation study in a cohort of Japanese endoscopists.

The Los Angeles classification system is the most widely employed criteria associated with the greatest interobserver agreement among endoscopists. In Japan, the Los Angeles classification system has been modified (modified LA system) to include minimal changes as a distinct grade of reflux esophagitis, rather than as auxiliary findings. This adds a further grading M defined as minimal changes to the mucosa, such as erythema and/or whitish turbidity.

Morphological changes of pancreatic ducts in Otsuka Long-evans Tokushima Fatty rats.

Objective: To determine if pancreatic ductal changes characteristic of chronic pancreatitis occur in male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and to elucidate the 3-dimensional structure of the pancreatic ducts in those rats.

Methods: Male OLETF rats aged 10, 20, and 40 weeks were used. The pancreas was injected with a 120% barium sulfate suspension into the pancreatic ducts, after which radiograph images of the injected pancreas were taken using radiography of the soft parts.

Refractory ulcerative colitis accompanied with cytomegalovirus colitis and multiple liver abscesses: a case report.

Various hepato-biliary complications are an increased incidence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and portal bacteremia is well documented in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, few reports mention UC in association with liver abscesses. Recently, there are several reports describing cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in association with disease exacerbation and steroid refractoriness in patients with UC.

Comparative study of nizatidine and famotidine for maintenance therapy of erosive esophagitis.

Background: The therapeutic effect of combined administration of prokinetics and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) in gastroesophageal reflux disease is reported to be superior to that of monotherapy with H2RA alone. In addition to its acid-suppressing effect, the H2RA nizatidine also has a prokinetic action by suppressing acetylcholine esterase. The present multicenter, randomized controlled study was performed to investigate whether nizatidine is superior to famotidine, which does not suppress acetylcholine esterase activity, in maintenance therapy for erosive esophagitis.

Changes in serum lipid concentrations in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus positive hepatitis responsive or non-responsive to interferon therapy.

Background: Changes in serum lipid concentrations during the administration of interferon to patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have not been fully investigated. The present study was designed to compare changes in serum lipid concentrations before, during and after interferon therapy in responders and non-responders to treatment.

Methods: In total, 101 patients with chronic HCV positive hepatitis were enrolled in this study.

Analysis of pathological risk factors for lymph node metastasis of submucosal invasive colon cancer.

There are currently no universally accepted indications and criteria for additional surgical resection of the colorectum after endoscopic resection of the submucosal invasive cancer. The purpose of the present study is to establish accurate indications and criteria for additional surgical resection of the colorectum, based on the prediction of lymph node metastasis, after endoscopic resection of the submucosal invasive cancer. We investigated 140 submucosal invasive colorectal cancers and analyzed the pathologic factors of lymph node metastasis.

Detection of intestinal metaplasia in distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction by enhanced-magnification endoscopy.

Background: Standard videoendoscopy identifies columnar-lined esophagus but cannot distinguish intestinal metaplasia from other types of epithelium. Enhanced-magnification endoscopy identifies different mucosal pit patterns. A preliminary study suggested that a type 3 pattern is associated with the presence of intestinal metaplasia.

Symptom relief in patients with reflux esophagitis: comparative study of omeprazole, lansoprazole, and rabeprazole.

Background And Aim: Rabeprazole has a faster onset of antisecretory activity than omeprazole and lansoprazole. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether there is any difference in the speed of symptom relief in patients with reflux esophagitis following the administration of these three proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

Methods: Eighty-five patients with erosive reflux esophagitis were randomized to receive 8 weeks of 20 mg of omeprazole (n = 30), 30 mg of lansoprazole (n = 25), or 20 mg of rabeprazole (n = 30) once a morning.

A new water instillation method for colonoscopy without sedation as performed by endoscopists-in-training.

Background: Colonoscopy may be associated with discomfort when performed without sedation. A study was conducted to determine whether instillation of water into the colon at the beginning of the procedure reduces intubation time as well as patient discomfort and pain.

Methods: Colonoscopy was performed in 259 patients by 3 endoscopists-in-training with limited experience.

Morphological changes in the rat exocrine pancreas after pancreatic duct ligation.

In the present study, morphological changes of the exocrine pancreas in rats after pancreatic duct ligation were examined with light microscopy (hematoxylin-eosin, TUNEL, and PCNA staining) and scanning electron microscopy in order to elucidate the effects of increased pancreatic duct pressure. On the fifth day after pancreatic duct ligation, ductular proliferation, periductal fibrosis, and disappearance of acini were observed. TUNEL and PCNA staining demonstrated many apoptotic acinar cells and proliferating ductal cells immediately after ligation, which reached a maximal number on the 2nd or 3rd day.

Expression of the EP4 prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype with rat dextran sodium sulphate colitis: colitis suppression by a selective agonist, ONO-AE1-329.

Expression of the EP4 receptor, a prostaglandin (PG)E2 receptor subtype, as well as disease suppression by the administration of a selective EP4 agonist (ONO-AE1-329) was investigated in the colorectal mucosa of rats with dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis. Rats were given drinking water containing 3% DSS for 2 weeks. Expression of EP4 receptor mRNA was barely detectable under normal conditions according to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).