The Effect of Preoperative Subcutaneous Fat Thickness on Surgical Site Infection Risk in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery: Results of a Multisite, Prospective Cohort Study.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most frequent postoperative complications among patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. A multisite, prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate whether the thickness of subcutaneous fat (TSF) influences the occurrence of SSI in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Participants included patients scheduled to receive colorectal laparotomy for colorectal cancer and who were under the care of a wound ostomy continence nurse at 17 participating general hospitals in Japan.

Highly sensitive lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive α-fetoprotein is useful for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease.

The fucosylated fraction of α-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) is a specific marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, conventional AFP-L3% (c-AFP-L3%) has not always been reliable in cases with low serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of a newly developed assay, highly sensitive AFP-L3% (hs-AFP-L3%).

Bioreductive deposition of platinum nanoparticles on the bacterium Shewanella algae.

An environmentally friendly method using the metal ion-reducing bacterium Shewanella algae was proposed to deposit platinum nanoparticles. Resting cells of S. algae were able to reduce aqueous PtCl(6)(2-) ions into elemental platinum at room temperature and neutral pH within 60min when lactate was provided as the electron donor.

[Investigation of the nutritional status of the elderly for the development of guidelines for nutritional management in the ultra-aged society].

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient intake and the nutritional state of elderly people who live independently in a region with an aging rate (percentage of the elderly 65 or above to the entire population) of 50% and to develop guidelines for nutritional improvement to extend the healthy lifespan in the upcoming ultra-aged society in which, by definition, aging rate exceeds 21%.

Methods: The study investigated the diet, physical constitution and blood biochemistry of 38 elderly people living in a region with an aging rate of 50% and compared the results with 23 elderly people living in a region with an aging rate of 18%.

Results: In the ultra-aged region the elderly people had a tendency for serum, triglyceride to be high and calcium to be low.