[Surgical Outcomes and Clinicopathological Analysis of Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy].

Subjects: We first reviewed surgical outcomes and pathological findings of 32 patients(laparoscopic group: LDP n=11, open group: ODP n=21)who underwent distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer from January 2018 to October 2022. Then we reviewed long-term outcomes, and recurrence type for 20 patients(LDP: n=5, ODP: n=15)from January 2018 to February 2021.

Results: LDP group had significantly longer operation time and less blood loss.

Evaluating patient acceptability and bowel preparation efficacy of sodium picosulfate-magnesium citrate for colonoscopy.

Objective: To evaluate patient acceptability and bowel preparation efficacy of sodium picosulfate-magnesium citrate (PICOPREP) for colonoscopy.

Methods: A questionnaire survey regarding the patient acceptability of bowel preparation agent PICOPREP was administered to 54 patients, and its efficacy was evaluated using the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale (OBPS).

Results: Eighteen (33.

Substrate specificity of two cytochrome P450 monooxygenases involved in lankamycin biosynthesis.

To elucidate the gross lankamycin biosynthetic pathway including two cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, LkmK and LkmF, we constructed two double mutants of P450 genes in combination with glycosyltransferase genes, lkmL and lkmI. An aglycon 8,15-dideoxylankanolide, a possible substrate for LkmK, was prepared from an lkmK-lkmL double mutant, while a monoglycoside 3-O-l-arcanosyl-8-deoxylankanolide, a substrate for LkmF, was from an lkmF-lkmI double mutant. Bioconversion of lankamycin derivatives was performed in the Escherichia coli recombinant for LkmK and the Streptomyces lividans recombinant for LkmF, respectively.

Draft Genome Sequence of NYR20, a Red Pigment-Secreting Mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A mutant strain, NYR20, produces a red pigment owing to adenine auxotrophy. Unlike other yeast adenine biosynthetic mutants, this strain not only produces but also secretes this pigment. Here, we report the NYR20 draft genome sequence, thereby advancing our understanding of pigment secretion mechanisms.

Evaluation of Muscle Cramp Associated with Liver Cirrhosis with a Focus on the Liver Function and Nutritional Status.

Objective We investigated the muscle cramp status of patients with liver cirrhosis by focusing on the degree of liver damage, skeletal muscle mass, and nutritional status. Methods All enrolled patients completed a questionnaire about muscle cramps. The degree of liver damage was examined using the Child-Pugh classification and the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade.

Draft Genome Sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain P-684, Isolated from Prunus verecunda.

strain P-684 is a yeast isolated from the flowers of 'Antiqua,' producing high quantities of malic and succinic acids in sake brewing. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of P-684, enlightening the mechanisms of biosynthesis of these organic acids by this strain.

Successful treatment of adult-onset type II citrullinemia with a low-carbohydrate diet and L-arginine after DNA analysis produced a definitive diagnosis.

A 60-year-old male, who exhibited finger tremors, obnubilation, and hyperammonemia (409 μg/dL), was admitted to our hospital. Initially, we suspected that a portosystemic shunt had caused his hyperammonemia. However, his symptoms did not improve after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration.

Earable RCC: Development of an Earphone-Type Reliable Chewing-Count Measurement Device.

Gastric cancer patients having undergone gastrectomy are at a high risk of becoming malnourished owing to decreased gastric function. To prevent malnutrition, patients need to thoroughly chew a mouthful of food at least 30 times. For these gastrectomy patients requiring dietary support, we developed a chewing-count measurement device named earable RCC using an earphone-type sensor.

Earable TEMPO: A Novel, Hands-Free Input Device that Uses the Movement of the Tongue Measured with a Wearable Ear Sensor.

In this study, an earphone-type interface named "earable TEMPO" was developed for hands-free operation, wherein the user can control the device by simply pushing the tongue against the roof of the mouth for about one second. This interface can be used to start and stop the music from a portable audio player. The earable TEMPO uses an earphone-type sensor equipped with a light emitting diode (LED) and a phototransistor to optically measure shape variations that occur in the external auditory meatus when the tongue is pressed against the roof of the mouth.

A case of -positive gastric MALT lymphoma with concomitant diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

translocation-positive gastric marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is thought to transform to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) rarely. A 69-year-old man presented with epigastralgia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed multiple ulcerations in the stomach.

Spintronic Transport in Armchair Graphene Nanoribbon with Ferromagnetic Electrodes: Half-Metallic Properties.

Utilizing first-principles theory, we demonstrate that half-metallicity can be realized in a junction composed of non-magnetic armchair graphene nanoribbon (AGNR) and ferromagnetic Ni electrodes. The half-metallic property originates from the AGNR energy gap of the up spin located at the Fermi energy, while large electronic states are generated for the down spin. By altering the interlayer distance and the contact area, namely, the strength of AGNR-Ni interaction, the efficiency of the spin filter becomes lower, since the energy gap moves away from the Fermi energy with the variation of charge transfer intensity.

Colon adenocarcinoma with dome-like phenotype: characteristic endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) findings.

An 80-year-old man underwent colonoscopy for proctorrhagia. Conventional white-light imaging showed a superficially flat and elevated lesion that appeared to be a submucosal tumor of the sigmoid colon. Chromoendoscopy with Indigo Carmine showed that the margin of the tumor was covered with normal epithelium but that there was a slight depression on its surface.

Effect of contact area on electron transport through graphene-metal interface.

We perform first-principles investigations of electron transport in armchair graphene nanoribbons adsorbed on Cu(111) and Ni(111) surfaces with various contact areas. We find that the contact area between metals and graphene has different influences on the conductance. The Cu-graphene system shows an increase in differential conductance for more contact area at a low bias voltage, primarily originating from the shift of transmission peaks relative to the Fermi energy.

Effects of Transdermal Tulobuterol in Pediatric Asthma Patients on Long-Term Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Therapy: Results of a Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Clinical Trial in Japanese Children Aged 4-12 Years.

Background: Few studies have examined the efficacy or safety of a transdermal β2 agonist as add-on medicationto long-term leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) therapy in pediatric asthma patients.

Methods: In this randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial, children aged 4-12 years on long-term LTRA therapy were treated with tulobuterol patches (1-2 mg daily) or oral sustained-release theophylline (usual dose, 4-5 mg_kg daily) for 4 weeks. LTRAs were continued throughout the trial.

Effects of transdermal tulobuterol in pediatric asthma patients on long-term leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy: results of a randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial in Japanese children aged 4-12 years.

Background: Few studies have examined the efficacy or safety of a transdermal β(2) agonist as add-on medication to long-term leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) therapy in pediatric asthma patients.

Methods: In this randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial, children aged 4-12 years on long-term LTRA therapy were treated with tulobuterol patches (1-2mg daily) or oral sustained-release theophylline (usual dose, 4-5mg/kg daily) for 4 weeks. LTRAs were continued throughout the trial.

Transport properties of a biphenyl-based molecular junction system-the electrode metal dependence.

We investigate the transport properties of a biphenyl-dithiol molecule sandwiched between electrodes made of metal Y (Y = Cu, Ag and Au) using the non-equilibrium Green's function method based on a density functional theory. The electrode metal Y has an influence on the coupling between the molecule and electrodes, and thus on the transmission peak height. For the transmission T(Y) at the Fermi energy, we obtain T(Cu)∼T(Ag) View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dependence of the conduction of a single biphenyl dithiol molecule on the dihedral angle between the phenyl rings and its application to a nanorectifier.

The transport properties of a biphenyl dithiol (BPD) molecule sandwiched between two gold electrodes are studied using the nonequilibrium Green's function method based on the density functional theory. In particular, their dependence on the dihedral angle (phi=90 degrees -180 degrees ) between two phenyl rings is investigated. While the dihedral-angle dependence of the density of states projected on the BPD molecular orbitals is small, the transport properties change dramatically with phi.

Electron transport in a pi-stacking molecular chain.

We have investigated the electronic structure and transport properties of a pi-stacking molecular chain which is covalently bonded to a H/Si(100) surface, using the first-principles density functional theory approach combined with Green's function method. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) dispersion is remarkably reduced, but remains noticeable ( approximately 0.1 eV), when a short pi-stacking styrene wire is cut from an infinitely long wire and sandwiched between metal electrodes.