Light up heart-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP3) with a novel fluorine-18 labelled selective FABP3 ligand.

Background: Heart-type fatty acid binding proteins (FABP3) constitute a family of lipid chaperone proteins. They are found in the cytosol and enhance cellular fatty acid solubilisation, transport, and metabolism. FABP3 is highly expressed in the myocardium and is released from myocytes during myocardial damage.

24R005A and 24R005B: Novel radical scavengers of DPPH obtained from Streptomyces sp. cultured in a fish powder medium.

We have successfully isolated two novel compounds, 24R005A (1, CHO) and 24R005B (2, CHClO), from Streptomyces sp. 24R005, using fish (anchovy) powder as a medium. In this study, we evaluated the use of fish (anchovy) powder as a fermentation material for producing bioactive compounds.

Sarcopenia is associated with lower step count in patients with peripheral artery disease following endovascular treatment.

Introduction: Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) often complain of reduced physical activity (PA) despite improvements in intermittent claudication after successful endovascular treatment (EVT). Sarcopenia resulting from chronic ischemia can affect post-EVT PA levels.

Objective: This study aims to assess the association between sarcopenia and post-EVT PA levels.

Foot Problems and Their Associations with Toe Grip Strength and Walking Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals Using Day Services: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Foot disorders in older individuals compromise balance and contribute to postural and gait instabilities, causing a decrease in the activities of daily living and quality of life. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the foot-related data of 160 frail older participants who attended day service centers in A prefecture in Japan to determine the prevalence of foot problems and their associations with toe grip strength and walking speed in frail older people. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify foot-related variables that correlated with toe grip strength and walking speed.

17T223A, a new spiroximicin family compound from Streptomyces sp.

In this study, we successfully isolated two compounds, 17T223A (1, C H O ) and 17T223B (2, C H O ), from a culture of Streptomyces sp. 17T223. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that these two compounds belong to the spiroximicin family.

Effects of Nurse and Care Worker-led Foot-Care Program on Older People's Foot Conditions: Before and After Intervention Study.

Introduction: An increasing number of older people with frailty in Japan use geriatric day care centers. Older people who have been certified as requiring long-term care attend centers during the day and receive nursing care help with bathing, excretion, meals, and functional training services. Many older people have foot problems with need foot care by nurses and care workers (NCWs) at geriatric day care centers.

Foot care knowledge and practices among Japanese nurses and care workers in home care and adult service center: a cross- sectional study.

Background: Foot care knowledge and practices among nurses and care workers in the community greatly impact foot health maintenance and prevention of foot-related problems among older people. This study aimed to explore and examine the current foot care knowledge, practices, and perceptions among nurses and care workers at home care and adult day service center, along with their demographic characteristics and daily care for clients.

Methods: This study analyzed 232 randomly selected front-line nurses and care workers working at home care or adult day service center in one of the selected cities, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Draft genome sequence and nomenclature adjustment of CS98, a cesium-accumulating strain isolated in Japan.

Strains within the genus have the ability to endure a range of recalcitrant compounds and metabolise a variety of pollutants. As a result there is increasing interest in these robust prokaryotes for their applications in bioremediation of contaminated environments and bioconversion of industrial wastes. In this announcement we present the draft genome sequence of CS98, a soil isolate from Japan with the demonstrated ability to accumulate both stable and radioactive caesium.

A Facile Assay of Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Based on Cooperativity Quantification of Cellular Autonomous Motions.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a qualitative change in cell migration behavior during cancer invasion and metastasis, is becoming a new target for anticancer drugs. Therefore, it is crucial to develop in vitro assays for the evaluation of the abilities of drug candidates to control EMT progression. We herein report on a method for the quantification of the EMT based on particle image velocimetry and correlation functions.

Absorption and Metabolism of Luteolin in Rats and Humans in Relation to in Vitro Anti-inflammatory Effects.

Luteolin is a flavonoid present in plants in the form of aglycone or glucosides. In this study, luteolin glucosides (i.e.

12T061A and 12T061C, two new julichrome family compounds, as radical scavengers from Streptomyces sp.

We identified two new radical scavengers, 12T061A (1, C19H20O7) and 12T061C (2, C20H22O7), from a culture of the Streptomyces sp. Spectroscopic analysis indicated that these compounds are new julichrome family compounds. Compounds 1 and 2 showed radical-scavenging activity with an ED50 of 370 μM and 18 μM, respectively.

How do case presentation teaching methods affect learning outcomes?--SNAPPS and the One-Minute preceptor.

Background: Various techniques have been developed to enable preceptors to teach residents effectively in outpatient settings to promote active learning, including SNAPPS and the One-Minute Preceptor (OMP). This study aimed to ascertain the differences between SNAPPS and the OMP in case presentation content and learner evaluation when used to teach residents about case presentation.

Methods: From 2011 to 2013, participants were 71 junior clinical residents employed in two hospitals for clinical training.

[Increase in Alkaline Phosphatase Activity after High-Fat Meal Ingestion is Correlated to the Amount of ABH Substances in Saliva].

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) appears in the circulation more frequently in blood group B or O secretors than in blood group A or AB secretors and non-secretors, and serum IAP activity rises following the ingestion of a high-fat meal. In a previous study, the occurrence of two IAP isoforms, with high (HIAP) and normal molecular mass (NIAP), in healthy sera was demonstrated by 6.0% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 1% Triton X-100.

Validity of direct ophthalmoscopy skill evaluation with ocular fundus examination simulators.

Objective: We examined how direct ophthalmoscopy (DO) skills can be evaluated in a clinical setting using a simulator, and determined the appropriate assessment criteria for the DO skills in practical tests such as the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: Medical students, residents, and attending physicians (73 total participants).

Effect of heat processing on antibody reactivity to allergen variants and fragments of black tiger prawn: A comprehensive allergenomic approach.

Scope: Prawn allergy is one of the leading causes of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to food. Alterations of IgE-antibody reactivity to prawn allergens due to thermal processing are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of heating on prawn allergens using a comprehensive allergenomic approach.

Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 improves high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats.

Background/aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a common liver disease, as its prevalence has increased markedly in recent decades. The aim of the present study was to examine the improving effect of Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM588), a probiotic in clinical use for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced fatty liver in rats.

Methods: After feeding HFD or HFD coated with CBM588 (HFD-CBM) for 12 weeks, we evaluated the hepatic mRNA levels related to lipid metabolism, and then assessed the hepatic protein levels of several transcription factors regulating these lipogenic gene expressions.

Child-Pugh score predicts survival after radical pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis.

Background: Constrictive pericarditis causes hepatic congestion, which results in congestive hepatopathy and finally leads to cardiac cirrhosis. However, in previous studies, risk stratification from the viewpoint of liver dysfunction was not performed in patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis.

Methods: Sixty-four patients with constrictive pericarditis who were operated on with de novo radical pericardiectomy through a left anterolateral thoracotomy in our institute were entered into the study.

Impact of heat processing on the detection of the major shellfish allergen tropomyosin in crustaceans and molluscs using specific monoclonal antibodies.

The major heat-stable shellfish allergen, tropomyosin, demonstrates immunological cross-reactivity, making specific differentiation of crustaceans and molluscs for food labelling very difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies in differential detection of shellfish-derived tropomyosin in 11 crustacean and 7 mollusc species, and to study the impact of heating on its detection. Cross-reactive tropomyosin was detected in all crustacean species, with partial detection in molluscs: mussels, scallops and snails but none in oyster, octopus and squid.

[Alkaline phosphatase activity in blood group B or O secretors is fluctuated by the dinner intake of previous night].

We previously reported that two intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) isoforms, high molecular mass IAP (HIAP) and normal molecular mass IAP (NIAP), appear in healthy serum with our Triton-PAGE method for determination of ALP isozymes. In addition, HIAP is chiefly present in blood group B or O secretors, and a large amount of NIAP is secreted into the circulation after high-fat meal in blood group B or O secretors. In the present paper, we investigated the relationship between alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in early morning with the patient in a fasted state and the dinner intake of previous night.

Gender role stereotype and poor working condition pose obstacles for female doctors to stay in full-time employment: alumnae survey from two private medical schools in Japan.

The shortage of physicians has become a serious problem in Japan. It has been pointed out that an increase in the number of female doctors may contribute to the aggravation of this shortage because it is known that women work fewer hours than male doctors. Here, we investigated how many female doctors had ever resigned from a full-time position, and elucidated the reasons why female doctors find it difficult to stay in full-time employment.

A highly sensitive and specific chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for placental alkaline phosphatase in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with intracranial germinomas.

Background: Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been proposed as a tumor marker for intracranial germinomas. The purpose of the present study was to develop a sensitive assay for measuring CSF PLAP and to evaluate the clinical significance of PLAP in patients with germinomas.

Methods: A chemiluminescent enzyme assay for PLAP was developed using an anti-human-PLAP monoclonal antibody.

Reverse graft placement in the Florida sleeve procedure for aortic root aneurysm.

Since August 2009, 22 patients with aortic root aneurysm have been successfully operated on with our new aortic remodeling technique as follows: after placement of the Gelweave (Vascutek, Ltd., Inchinnan, UK) Valsalva vascular graft in the reverse manner to the Florida sleeve procedure, the aortic annulus was fixed with the collar of this prosthesis at the level of the basal ring and the aortic root was wrapped with the prosthesis. Furthermore, the aortic valve commissures were resuspended.

Lower body surface area is highly related to mortality due to stroke or systemic bleeding in patients receiving an axial flow blood pump as a left ventricular assist device.

Objectives: Even though left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) may fit into the bodies of small adult patients, their prognosis is worse than that of larger patients. We investigated the relationship between lethal complications and the body surface area (BSA) in patients who received an LVAD.

Methods: Our study included 167 patients who received a BerlinHeart INCOR LVAD in our centre.

How to do the double orifice valve technique to treat tricuspid valve incompetence.

A straightforward tricuspid valve repair technique is illustrated here, which may be employed either for functional (normal valve with dilated annulus) or for primary or organic (Ebstein's anomaly, leaflet retraction/tethering and chordal malposition/tethering, with annular dilatation) tricuspid valve incompetence and for moderate and severe degrees of incompetence, without any residual regurgitation or reoperation. The basic principle is to reduce the distance between the coapting leaflets in a manner in which the most mobile leaflet, which is usually the anterior, could coapt to the opposite leaflet, by creating two orifices, ensuring valve competence. Additionally, it reduces annular dilatation and lessens tricuspid valve leaflet tethering, thereby stabilizing the annulus and increasing leaflet coaptation.