Association of eating behaviours with diurnal preference and rotating shift work in Japanese female nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Our study examines differences in eating behaviour between day workers and rotating shift workers, and considers whether diurnal preference could explain the differences.

Methods: Japanese female nurses were studied (39 day workers and 123 rotating shift workers, aged 21-63 years) using self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires assessed eating behaviours, diurnal preference and demographic characteristics.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to differentiate malignant from benign gallbladder disorders.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and lesion to spinal cord ratio (LSR) in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (DWI) as compared with morphological assessment alone, for differentiating malignant from benign gallbladder disorders.

Methods: This study was approved by the ethics committee, and written informed consent was waived. Ninety-one patients (13 malignancy and 78 benignancy) were reviewed.

Usefulness of procalcitonin for severity assessment in patients with acute cholangitis.

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine the usability of procalcitonin (PCT) for severity assessment in patients with acute cholangitis (AC).

Methods: Serum PCT concentrations were measured on admission in patients with AC. Patients were classified with mild, moderate, or severe AC based on severity assessment guidelines.

Induction of clinical remission with adalimumab-methotrexate combination therapy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant hepatitis C virus infection.

The patient described here is a 49-year-old woman who had hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Her RA had been successfully managed with methotrexate for about 10 years. After a sustained virological response was achieved with interferon therapy, treatment with adalimumab was instituted.

Effect of life-long dietary n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio on life span, serum lipids and serum glucose in Wistar rats.

Types of dietary lipid affect the life span of rats. In this study, we investigated the influence of the life-long dietary n-6/n-3 ratio on life span and serum lipid and glucose levels. A semi-purified diet adjusted to a constant saturated : monounsaturated : polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio and an n-6/n-3 ratio of 1 (R1), 4 (R4) or 16 (R16) was fed to rats (n=33) from 4 wk of age until death.

Enrichment with air-sandwiched method of on-line collection/concentration using chelating resin and simultaneous determination of trace elements by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

The application of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) to the forensic sample was studied. On-line collection/concentration method of the sample with chelating resin column (TE-05) and air-sandwiched method to isolate the analyte zone at the highest concentration of an eluent was coupled with ICP-AES. The limits of detection (LODs) were much improved to 35 fold (Co): from Sc, 0.

Minimization of sample volume with air-segmented sample injection and the simultaneous determination of trace elements by ICP-MS.

The application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to forensic chemistry was studied. The developed method, air-segmented sample injection (ASSI) coupled with ICP-MS, allowed the determination of about 25 elements at the sub-ppb level with only 0.2 ml of a sample solution.

Cine magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of peristalsis of small bowel with longitudinal ulcer in Crohn disease: preliminary results.

Objective: To evaluate peristalsis of the small bowel with a longitudinal ulcer in Crohn disease using cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Fifteen patients with suspected or diagnosed Crohn disease were examined by cine MRI using a multislice and multiphase method. Inclusion criteria were pathological evidence of Crohn disease and confirmation of longitudinal ulceration in the small bowel by ileocolonoscopy, single- or double-contrast radiography of the small bowel, or surgery.

Functionalization of chitosan with 3-nitro-4-amino benzoic acid moiety and its application to the collection/concentration of molybdenum in environmental water samples.

A chitosan resin functionalized with 3-nitro-4-amino benzoic acid moiety (CCTS-NABA resin) was newly synthesized for the collection/concentration of trace molybdenum by using cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) as base material. The carboxyl group of the moiety was chemically attached to amino group of cross-linked chitosan through amide bond formation. The adsorption behavior of molybdenum as well as other 60 elements on the resin was examined by passing the sample solutions through a mini-column packed with the resin.

Synthesis of cross-linked chitosan modified with the glycine moiety for the collection/concentration of bismuth in aquatic samples for ICP-MS determination.

A chelating resin, cross-linked chitosan modified with the glycine moiety (glycine-type chitosan resin), was developed for the collection and concentration of bismuth in aquatic samples for ICP-MS measurements. The adsorption behavior of bismuth and 55 elements on glycine-type chitosan resin was systematically examined by passing a sample solution containing 56 elements through a mini-column packed with the resin (wet volume; 1 ml). After eluting the elements adsorbed on the resin with nitric acid, the eluates were measured by ICP-MS.

Lower weight gain and higher expression and blood levels of adiponectin in rats fed medium-chain TAG compared with long-chain TAG.

Previous studies demonstrated that, compared with long-chain TAG (LCT), dietary medium-chain TAG (MCT) could improve glucose tolerance in rats and humans. It has been well established that adiponectin acts to increase insulin sensitivity. The effects of dietary MCT on adiponectin serum concentration and mRNA levels in adipose tissue were studied in rats.

Safety evaluation of a medium- and long-chain triacylglycerol oil produced from medium-chain triacylglycerols and edible vegetable oil.

To reduce the incorporation of dietary lipids into adipose tissue, modified fats and oils have been developed, such as medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT). Typical dietary lipids from vegetable oils, termed long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT), are degraded by salivary, intestinal and pancreatic lipases into two fatty acids and a monoacyl glycerol; whereas, MCT are degraded by the same enzymes into three fatty acids and the simple glycerol backbone. Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are readily absorbed from the small intestine directly into the bloodstream and transported to the liver for hepatic metabolism, while long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) are incorporated into chylomicrons and enter the lymphatic system.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer acquired long-term response two years or more by treatment with oral anticancer drug TS-1].

A 66-year-old male with massive ascites was diagnosed as advanced gastric scirrhous cancer at Musashino Red Cross Hospital. We detected the adenomatous cancer cells from his ascites, and an X-ray photograph of his stomach showed less capability of expansion in the upper gastrointestinal series. We attempted treatment with oral anticancer drug TS-1 with the patient's consent and achieved a long-term response of two years or more.

Core promoter/pre-core mutations are associated with lamivudine-induced HBeAg loss in chronic hepatitis B with genotype C.

Background/aims: To clarify the factors associated with the efficacy of lamivudine.

Methods: Variables including basic core promoter (BCP) and pre-core (PreC) mutations were evaluated in 60 chronic hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with genotype C. Thirty patients were treated with lamivudine and the remaining 30 patients were age- and sex-matched controls.

Assessment of Kupffer cells by ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging is beneficial for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of pathological diagnosis and perfusion patterns assessed by CT hepatic arteriography and CT arterioportography.

To investigate the clinical significance of the radiographic assessment of Kupffer cells and hemodynamics in the diagnosis of hepatocellular nodules, both magnetic resonance (MR) imaging enhanced by ferumoxides and CT hepatic arteriography (CTHA)/CT arterioportography (CTAP) were undertaken for 118 patients with 158 primary nodular hepatocellular lesions. The radiographic findings were analyzed in the context of the pathological diagnosis. Among nodules presumed to be pre- or early HCC by CTHA/CTAP, all 13 hyperintense nodules identified by MR imaging (MRI) were found pathologically to be hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Interferon-stimulated gene expression and hepatitis C viral dynamics during different interferon regimens.

Background/aims: To address the molecular mechanism for enhanced antiviral efficacy associated with a frequent dosing of interferon (IFN)-beta.

Methods: Serum hepatitis C viral (HCV) dynamics, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) mRNA and MxA mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed serially in 140 patients who were randomly assigned to a twice daily (3 MU bid) or once daily (6 MU qd) administration group.

Results: In twice daily group, the rate of HCV decline during the second phase was 2-fold greater than in the once daily group (P=0.

Larger diet-induced thermogenesis and less body fat accumulation in rats fed medium-chain triacylglycerols than in those fed long-chain triacylglycerols.

It has been previously shown that a diet containing medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) leads to less body fat accumulation as compared to a diet containing long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT). We investigated the involvement of diet-induced thermogenesis in the accumulation of body fat in rats fed a diet containing MCT. Twelve male Wistar rats were administered 1 g of MCT or LCT by gavage, and their oxygen consumption was measured for 6 h (experiment 1).

A case of primary leiomyoma of the liver in a patient without evidence of immunosuppression.

A 31-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital for investigation of an asymptomatic nodular lesion of the liver detected by abdominal ultrasonography (US) during a routine medical examination. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a single, hypovascular mass 35 mm in diameter, within the left lobe of the liver. The tumor demonstrated hypointensity on T1-weighted, and hyperintensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

A potent antiviral effect on hepatitis C viral dynamics in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells during combination therapy with high-dose daily interferon alfa plus ribavirin and intravenous twice-daily treatment with interferon beta.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to infect and replicate within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), thereby enabling the direct evaluation of antiviral mechanisms by analyzing HCV dynamics in PBMC. To address potential molecular differences associated with distinct antiviral regimens, we studied HCV dynamics in both serum and PBMC in 44 patients with HCV genotype 1b and high viral load who were randomly assigned to the following 4 different treatment groups: 1) combination therapy with 6 MU daily of interferon alfa 2b (IFN-alpha2b) plus 800 mg of ribavirin; 2) monotherapy with 6 MU daily of IFN-alpha2b; 3) monotherapy with twice-daily intravenous administration with 3MU of IFN-beta; and 4) monotherapy with daily intravenous administration with 6 MU of IFN-beta. HCV-RNA levels were measured serially using highly sensitive real-time detection polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Risk factors for distant recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the liver after complete coagulation by microwave or radiofrequency ablation.

Background: In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), recurrences in the distant liver often are observed after curative treatment. Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have been developed as less invasive alternatives than surgical resection for small HCCs. In the current study, risk factors for distant recurrence of HCC were analyzed in patients in whom complete coagulation was achieved.

[Cranial fasciitis of a neonatal case with massive intra- and extracranial extension].

We report a neonatal male case of cranial fasciitis in childhood. He was born with a large skull tumor in his left fronto-parietal region. The day after his birth, he was admitted to our hospital.

Determination of amphetamine and methamphetamine in human hair by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection.

A simple and rapid method for the determination of amphetamine (AP) and methamphetamine (MA) in human hair was developed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GC-NPD). The hair (1 mg) was dissolved in 0.2 ml of a 5 M sodium hydroxide solution in a tightly sealed vial by shaking at 75 degrees C for about 5 min.