Development of Mass Production Technology of Highly Permeable Nano-Porous Supports for Silica-Based Separation Membranes.

Silica-based membranes show both robust properties and high-permeability, offering us great potential for applying them to harsh conditions where conventional organic membranes cannot work. Despite the increasing number of paper and patents of silica-based membranes, their industrial applications have yet to be fully realized, possibly due to their lack of technologies on scaling-up and mass production. In particular, quality of membrane supports decisively impacts final quality of silica-based separation membranes.

In Situ Polymorphic Alteration of Filler Structures for Biomimetic Mechanically Adaptive Elastomer Nanocomposites.

A mechanically adaptable elastomer composite is prepared with reversible soft-stiff properties that can be easily controlled. By the exploitation of different morphological structures of calcium sulfate, which acts as the active filler in a soft elastomer matrix, the magnitude of filler reinforcement can be reversibly altered, which will be reflected in changes of the final stiffness of the material. The higher stiffness, in other words, the higher modulus of the composites, is realized by the in situ development of fine nanostructured calcium sulfate dihydrate crystals, which are formed during exposure to water and, further, these highly reinforcing crystals can be transformed to a nonreinforcing hemihydrate mesocrystalline structure by simply heating the system in a controlled way.

[Awareness survey of Healthcare Number System pros and cons according to medical doctors in Japan].

Objectives: After bills to launch the Social Security and Tax Number System were enacted in 2013, health and political officials have considered the Healthcare Number System (the System). However, little is known about doctors' awareness and concerns about the System. This study aimed to measure how many doctors disagree with the System, examine the doctors' characteristics, and analyze the benefits and harms of the System that they identified.

[A case of small intestinal cancer in the upper intestine after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy].

We report a case of small intestinal cancer that arose in the upper intestine 16 years after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy( PPPD). An 84-year-old man, who had undergone PPPD for benign biliary tract disease 16 years previously, was found to have a primary small intestinal tumor in the upper intestine by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and primary intestinal cancer in the upper intestine was finally diagnosed. We performed partial resection of the upper small intestine and stomach and partial colectomy of the transverse colon to account for direct invasion.

Internet use for health-related information via personal computers and cell phones in Japan: a cross-sectional population-based survey.

Background: The Internet is known to be used for health purposes by the general public all over the world. However, little is known about the use of, attitudes toward, and activities regarding eHealth among the Japanese population.

Objectives: This study aimed to measure the prevalence of Internet use for health-related information compared with other sources, and to examine the effects on user knowledge, attitudes, and activities with regard to Internet use for health-related information in Japan.

Glomus tumor of the kidney.

A 41-year-old man was diagnosed with a glomus tumor of the kidney, which was incidentally found by ultrasonography. Partial nephrectomy revealed a 10-mm encapsulated mass. We diagnosed it as a glomus tumor using morphological and immunohistochemical stains.

A decision analysis of the effectiveness of the pediatric telephone triage program in Japan.

Pediatric telephone triage programs have been initiated to reduce overcrowding of pediatric medical facilities, yet it is unclear what impact these programs have on reducing after hours room visits. This study used a decision analysis model and data from reference literature to investigate the effectiveness of this program and determine the factors that influence the results. The decision analysis model focused on a hypothetical group of children who were not undergoing ongoing treatment but developed symptoms or sustained injuries thought to require a nighttime visit to a medical facility.

Nonlinear optical properties of gold nanoparticles selectively introduced into the periodic microdomains of block copolymers.

Nonlinear-optical nanocomposite materials with a photonic crystal structure were fabricated using block copolymers and gold nanoparticles. By dispersing the gold nanoparticles into the selective microdomains of the block copolymers, we could achieve the enhancement of nonlinear optical properties as revealed by the Z-scan technique. The optical nonlinearities were enhanced by the local field effect and the effect of the periodic distribution of the microdomains filled with gold nanoparticles.

Barriers to vaccination among Japanese medical students: focus group interviews.

Background: To date, medical schools and clinical training hospitals in Japan that require students to show immunity for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and hepatitis B prior to the commencement of residency are limited.

Methods: This qualitative study used focus group interviews to elucidate why medical students do not undergo vaccination. A total of three groups were identified and interviewed: group A (two men, three women), group B (two men, two women), group C (three men, two women).

Adenocarcinoma arising below an ileoanal anastomosis after restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis: report of a case.

We report a case of adenocarcinoma developing in remnant rectal mucosa below a hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) after restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC). To our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported from Japan. A 60-year-old man with a 13-year history of UC underwent proctocolectomy with a hand-sewn IPAA and mucosectomy for anal stenosis and serious tenesmic symptoms.

An ESR spin-label study on molecular mobility in the interface between microphases of a diblock copolymer: effects of admixture of homopolymers that are miscible with one of the blocks.

Molecular mobility in the interfacial region of a microphase-separated structure was studied in binary mixtures of AB-type diblock copolymers and homopolymers (miscible with only A) by the spin-label technique. In this study, we prepared (a) binary blends of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl acrylate) (PS-block-PMA) and homopolymer poly(cyclohexyl acrylate)'s having the number-averaged molecular weight (Mn) of 1000 (PCHA-S) and (b) having the Mn of 17300 (PCHA-L), and (c) binary mixtures of the PS-block-PMA and homopolymer PS with the Mn of 900 (PS-1). Emphasis was placed on effects of the molecular weight and the miscibility of added homopolymers on the mobility in the interfacial region of the microphase separation.

Evaluation of cuff-wrapping methods for the determination of ankle blood pressure.

Objective: The ankle-brachial index, which is calculated by dividing ankle systolic blood pressure by brachial systolic blood pressure, is useful in diagnosing peripheral arterial disease. Consensus has not been reached, however, on a standard method for measuring ankle systolic blood pressure. This study evaluated two cuff-wrapping methods for measuring ankle systolic blood pressure, compared with intra-arterial pressure as a gold standard.

Effects of thorough mastication on postprandial plasma glucose concentrations in nonobese Japanese subjects.

Thorough mastication has the potential to affect postprandial plasma glucose concentrations by improving digestibility and absorption of nutrients. To evaluate the effects of mastication on postprandial plasma glucose concentration, we compared usual and thorough mastication in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT group, n = 16) and subjects predisposed to type 2 diabetes (first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients, subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetic patients) (predisposed group, n = 10) in a crossover trial of 52 test meals. Plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations were measured for 3 hours postprandially, and the insulinogenic index (the ratio of incremental serum insulin to plasma glucose concentration during the first 30 minutes after meal) was calculated.

[Primary leiomyoma of the liver: a case report].

A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to a liver tumor discovered at a medical checkup. A hypervascular tumor located in liver segment I, measuring 45 mm in diameter, was visualized on ultrasonography. The tumor showed strong uniform enhancement from an early phase on computed tomography and angiography.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery for a large gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach.

We report two cases of large gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach that were successfully treated by hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). Two patients, a 56-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man, were admitted to our department for the treatment of a large submucosal tumor of the stomach. After gastrointestinal endoscopy, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, we suspected that the masses, measuring 7.

Measles vaccine coverage and factors related to uncompleted vaccination among 18-month-old and 36-month-old children in Kyoto, Japan.

Background: Due to low vaccine coverage, Japan has not only experienced outbreaks of measles but has also been exporting it overseas. This study aims to survey measles vaccine coverage and the factors uncompleted vaccination among community-living children.

Methods: Subjects were the parents whose children had undergone either an 18-month or a 36-month checkup publicly provided by Kyoto City during November 2001 to January 2002.

Small-angle X-ray scattering from a dual-component organogel to exhibit a charge transfer interaction.

The structure of a dual-component organogel consisting of methyl 4,6-O-(p-aminobenzylidene)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and methyl 4,6-O-(p-nitrobenzylidene)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside in diphenyl ether was investigated with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The individual components gelatinized the solvent to yield a colorless gel and the gel fiber consisted of the crystal, providing the crystalline peaks at the same diffraction angles as those of the solid samples. When the components were mixed in equimolar ratio and dissolved in diphenyl ether, a yellow gel was formed and the crystalline peaks disappeared.

MR appearances of radiofrequency thermal ablation region: histopathologic correlation with dog liver models and an autopsy case.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for indicating the extent of true tissue necrosis of the liver after radiofrequency (RF) ablation in comparison with histopathologic findings in dog models and an autopsy case.

Materials And Methods: RF ablation of the liver parenchyma was performed on three dogs under general anesthesia. MR appearances of the RF-ablated regions on T1-weighted fast-low angle shot (FLASH; repetition time/echo time [TR/TE]/flip angle: 120/3.

New decalin derivatives, eujavanoic acids A and B, from Eupenicillium javanicum.

Two new decalin derivatives, eujavanoic acids A (1) and B (2), were isolated from Eupenicillium javanicum, along with several compactin derivatives. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic methods and modified Mosher's method. The side chain (2-methylbutanoyloxy) and acid functionalities of compactin derivatives were necessary to show the antifungal activity.

Japan's contribution to clinical pediatrics research in the last decade.

Objective: To determine Japan's contribution to research in clinical pediatrics over the last decade.

Methods: Articles published in highly reputable pediatrics journals from 1991-2000 were accessed through the MEDLINE database. The number of articles which had an affiliation with a Japanese institution were counted for each of the journals and also summed in total.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy for splenic vascular tumors: report of two cases.

We report 2 cases of splenic vascular tumors that were successfully treated by hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy. Two patients, a 41-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, were admitted to our department for investigation of a splenic tumor. After ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, we suspected that the masses were hemangioma or inflammatory pseudotumor in the spleen.

[A case of multiple liver metastases from breast cancer in which we confirmed disappearance of cancer cells after hepatic resection following hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy].

A 46-year-old woman underwent right mastectomy for stage IIA breast cancer in 1993. Six years and 8 months after this operation, she was diagnosed as having multiple liver metastasis form the breast cancer. An intra-arterial catheter was inserted percutaneously into the hepatic artery and she was given hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and general chemoendocrine therapy.