Temperature and time after urine collection affect the detection of phenethylamine, a substance prohibited in sports.

2-Phenylethylamine (phenethylamine) and its derivatives are stimulant drugs, which are prohibited in sports because of their potential performance-enhancing properties. If phenethylamine is detected in an athlete's urine, the athlete may be subjected to serious sanctions, such as disqualification for both domestic and international competitions. Given the serious consequences athletes face for phenethylamine detection, great care should be taken to avoid false positive tests.

A case of hypereosinophilia with digital ischaemia successfully treated with intravenous prostaglandin E.

In the therapeutic management of eosinophilic disorder, it is important to prevent hypereosinophilia (HE)-related organ damage even in the process of diagnosis. We describe here a unique clinical and histopathological findings of the patient with HE accompanied with digital ischaemia. Treatment with intravenous prostaglandin E was essential for digital ischaemia in our case while benralizumab, humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-5 receptorα, did not affect.

Draft Genome Sequence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NMZ-1139, Isolated from Whisky Mash.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NMZ-1139 was isolated from whisky mash and applied to sour beer production. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of L. plantarum NMZ-1139, which contains 3,117 protein-coding sequences, including genes associated with hop resistance, such as and .

Abnormal thyroid hormone response to TRH in a case of macro-TSH and the cut-off value for screening cases of inappropriate TSH elevation.

A 74-year-old asymptomatic Japanese man with suspected thyroid dysfunction was referred to our hospital. He had an elevated TSH (53.8 mIU/L; reference interval: 0.

A Fatal Case of Poisoning with Fentanyl Transdermal Patches in Japan.

Fentanyl transdermal patches have been used to treat cancer- and noncancer-related chronic pain. However, its inappropriate or illegal application may cause fatal poisoning. We herein present the case of a Japanese woman in her 40s who was found dead with seven 25-μg/h fentanyl transdermal patches on her body.

[Comparison of the performance of the ECLusys anti-HCV reagent with the Lumipulse f and HISCL 2000-i HCVAb assays].

We compared the ECLusys Anti-HCV (ECL) reagent to the Lumipulse f (LPf) and HISCL (HIS) HCV assays. In a correlation test using 210 routine clinical specimens measured using the Lumipulse method (96 positive and 114 negative), most of the results were consistent for all specimens. In a dilution sensitivity test using three different routine positive specimens, the ECL assay enabled detection at higher levels of sensitivity than either the LPf or the HIS assay.

[Comparison of the clinical performance of the ECLusys HIV combi assay with the Lumipulse f and HISCL 2000-i HIV-1/2 ab screening assays].

We compared the ECLusys HIV combi assay (ECL HIV Ag/Ab) to the Lumipulse Forte (LPf HIV 1/2 Ab) and HISCL (HIS HIV 1/2 Ab) assays. In a dilution sensitivity test using dilution panels of WHO HIV antibody international reference panel (HIV-1 Subtype A, B, C, E, HIV-1 Group O, HIV-2) and HIV-1/2 Ab CE marked material(HIV-1, HIV-2) parent specimens, the ECL assay enabled detection at a higher level of sensitivity than either the LPf assay or the HIS assay for all dilution panels. In an early detection test in the early phase of infection in which a BBI HIV seroconversion panel was used, the ECL assay enabled detection 7 days after initial blood sample collection, whereas the LPf and HIS assays enabled detection after 27 days.

Falsely elevated thyroid hormone levels caused by anti-ruthenium interference in the Elecsys assay resembling the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of thyrotropin.

The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of thyrotropin (SITSH) is defined as the inappropriate non-suppression of serum TSH in the presence of elevated free thyroid hormone; TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas and the syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone are the main etiologies of SITSH. In addition, erroneous thyroid function testing may result in the diagnosis of this syndrome. A 63-year-old woman was referred because of suspected SITSH.

[Comparison of the clinical performance of the ECLusys HBsAg II assay with the Lumipulse f and HISCL 2000-i HBsAg screening assays].

We compared the ECLusys HBsAgII (ECL HBsAg) assay to the Lumipulse Forte (LPf HBsAg) and HISCL (HIS HBsAg) assays. Measurement of dilution panels for which the WHO HBsAg international reference panel was the parent specimen revealed that the ECL and HIS assays enabled detection to a theoretical level of 0.04 IU/mL, whereas the LPf assay enabled detection to a level of 0.

New device for collecting intra-oral findings of unknown body.

In dental identification, the collection of intra-oral images is extremely important. We propose the Dental Watch(®) as a new device for collecting intra-oral findings in situations where sufficient jaw-opening or adequate lighting cannot be obtained in such cases of dead bodies within a day after death or burned bodies encountered in mass disaster. This device is an improved home video camera for taking intra-oral images.

Collection of intraoral findings in corpse with small-scale color dental scanner system.

Together with X-ray radiography and the description in the dental chart (odontogram), the collection of intraoral images is extremely important in dental identification. Recently, thanks to advances in digital devices for taking images in the oral cavity, problems with developing images and images being lost due to scanning errors have been minimized. However, in corpses where postmortem rigidity has firmly set in and burned bodies where the jaw has to be forced open, it is difficult to open the jaw enough to allow images to be taken.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of 800 anaerobic isolates from patients with dentoalveolar infection to 13 oral antibiotics.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the current antimicrobial susceptibility of the principle anaerobic pathogens involved in dentoalveolar infection, to 13 oral antibiotics, and to assess the value of each antibiotic in the management of the infection.

Methods: A total of 800 isolates from patients with dentoalveolar infection (Prevotella species, Fusobacterium species, Porphyromonas species and Peptostreptococcus micros) were tested for their susceptibility to amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefcapene, cefdinir, erythromycin, azithromycin, telithromycin, minocycline, levofloxacin, clindamycin, and metronidazole using an agar dilution method.

Results: Although the majority of Fusobacterium strains were resistant to erythromycin, azithromycin, and telithromycin, the remaining antibiotics demonstrated a high level of antimicrobial activity.

Detection of cfxA and cfxA2, the beta-lactamase genes of Prevotella spp., in clinical samples from dentoalveolar infection by real-time PCR.

While most bacteria involved in dentoalveolar infection are highly susceptible to penicillin, some Prevotella strains exhibit resistance to this agent through the production of beta-lactamase. The production of beta-lactamase by Prevotella spp. is in turn associated with the expression of the genes cfxA and cfxA2.

Purification and comparison of triosephosphate isomerases from ammonia-oxidizing bacteria isolated from terrestrial and marine environments.

Triosephosphate isomerases [TIMs, EC 5.3.1.

Multiple cutaneous rhabdomyomas in a child.

We recently encountered a 4 year-old male patient with congenital, multiple, corporeal, cutaneous rhabdomyomas. Pathological examination of the excised tumors showed lobular structures in the dermis. The tumor cells contained spherical and polygonal eosinophilic cytoplasm with peripherally dislocated nuclei, and were positive for myogloblin staining.

Tryptophan glycoconjugate as a novel marker of renal function.

Purpose: Neither serum creatinine concentration nor creatinine clearance assess renal function accurately. Serum creatinine concentration is affected by muscle mass, and the creatinine clearance overestimates the glomerular filtration rate because of tubular secretion of creatinine. The present study was designed to determine whether serum concentrations of 2-(alpha-mannopyranosyl)-L-tryptophan (MPT), a tryptophan glycoconjugate, can be used as a marker of renal function.

Polymerization of guaiacol by lignin-degrading manganese peroxidase from Bjerkandera adusta in aqueous organic solvents.

Lignin-degrading manganese (II) peroxidase (MnP) purified from the culture of a wood-rotting basidiomycete, Bjerkandera adusta, was used in the polymerization of guaiacol. MnP was found to catalyze polymerization of guaiacol in 50% aqueous acetone, dimethyl formamide, methanol, ethanol, dioxane, acetonitrile, ethylene glycol and methylcellosolve. Maximum yield of polyguaiacol was achieved in 50% aqueous acetone.

Tufted hair folliculitis: response to topical therapy with nadifloxacin.

Tufted hair folliculitis (THF) is a relatively rare disorder. We report two typical cases of THF, which are the first cases from Japan reported in the international literature and we discuss a new effective treatment for this condition.

Electromyographic investigation of chin cup therapy in Class III malocclusion.

Electromyographic activity was evaluated in 20 patients (10 girls and 10 boys, mean age 10 years) with Class III malocclusion who were treated with a chin cup appliance. The posttreatment data were obtained at the end of phase 1 chin cup treatment when the anterior crossbite had been corrected. EMG activity of the masseter and temporal muscles for each subject were studied during unilateral chewing using the following parameters: mean cumulative voltage (MCV), mean maximum peak voltage (MMPV), and rotational direction of the differential lissajous EMG (DL-EMG).

Congenital localized multiple fibromatosis: a case report.

Clinical, histopathologic and electronmicroscopic findings in a case of congenital localized multiple fibromatosis of interscapular region are presented. This 10 year-old Japanese girl developed this lesion since she was 3 weeks old, metastases have never been observed. The histological and electron-microscopic features point to the hamartomous origin of this tumor with partial differentiation of its cells towards myofibroblasts and atypical fibroblasts.