Moisture and mineral content of human feces--high fecal moisture is associated with increased sodium and decreased potassium content--.

Background: The origin of moisture in diarrhea feces is unknown but may represent the unabsorbed part of intestinal contents or alternatively, body fluid excreted into the digestive canal. If the latter mechanism contributes to moisture in the feces, active transport of water (H2O) associated with ion exchange channels may be involved.

Objective: To investigate this possibility we measured the content of moisture and minerals (sodium [Na], potassium [K], calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], phosphorus [P], zinc [Zn], iron [Fe], copper [Cu] and manganese [Mn]) in feces collected during a 12-d metabolic study on 11 young Japanese female students.

Surgical treatment for relief of severe pain with chronic pancreatitis that is resistant to conservative treatment.

Background/aims: To evaluate the surgical treatment, we investigated that performed for chronic pancreatitis patients suffering from severe pain resistant to conservative treatments.

Methodology: Nineteen chronic pancreatitis patients with severe pain resistant for a long time to previous conservative medical and/or interventional treatments underwent surgery retrospectively. We evaluated a difference of postoperative improvement of symptoms in patients with surgical treatment including nerve plexus resection.

Direct counting of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts using fluorescence in situ hybridization on a membrane filter.

This report describes the development of a direct and rapid detection method for the pathogenic protozoan, Cryptosporidium parvum, from environmental water samples using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on a membrane filter. The hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane filter with FISH-stained oocysts yielded the highest signal to noise (S/N) ratio of the different membrane filters tested. PTFE membranes retained 98.

Catechol siderophore excretion by magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1.

Siderophore activity was detected in the culture supernatant of the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. Here we report the first structural elucidation of a siderophore produced by a magnetotactic bacterium. The structure of the purified compound was 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electro-spray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS).

Oligonucleotide-arrayed TFT photosensor applicable for DNA chip technology.

A thin film transistor (TFT) photosensor fabricated by semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) technology was applied to DNA chip technology. The surface of the TFT photosensor was coated with TiO2 using a vapor deposition technique for the fabrication of optical filters. The immobilization of thiolated oligonucleotide probes onto a TiO2-coated TFT photosensor using gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and N-(gamma-maleimidobutyloxy) sulfosuccinimide ester (GMBS) was optimized.

Expectant management is safe for cholelithiasis after heart transplant.

Background: The optimal management of cholelithiasis after heart transplant remains unclear. We use expectant management based on symptoms, without screening studies or prophylactic treatment. We hypothesized that expectant management for cholelithiasis after heart transplant does not result in significant mortality or morbidity from gallstone-associated disease.

A new method for constructing an ileal J pouch without an enterotomy.

The conventional methods of making an ileal J pouch require an enterotomy to introduce a linear stapler. We devised a new surgical technique that removes any need for this enterotomy by using both circular and linear staplers. We applied this method to two patients who underwent a total colectomy for ulcerative colitis and succeeded in making a J pouch without difficulty.

Infrequent existence of simian virus 40 large T antigen DNA in malignant mesothelioma in Japan.

Malignant mesothelioma is the most common primary pleural neoplasm. Association of simian virus 40 (SV40) with malignant mesothelioma has been reported, suggesting that SV40 plays an important role in the origin of a subset of these tumors. However, significant geographic variation is present as to how often this association occurs.

Achievement of the POSITIVE (Participation-Oriented Safety Improvement by Trade Union InitiatiVE) activities in the Philippines.

The POSITIVE (Participation-oriented safety improvement by trade union initiative) programme was introduced into the Philippines in 1995. The monitoring of activities was carried out in 2004 among core trainers who had been trained before. The results of the questionnaire survey showed that the core trainers evaluated their activities satisfactory in general, and particularly the training activities were considered excellent.

A case study on evaluations of improvements implemented by WISE projects in the Philippines.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of work improvements in small enterprises (WISE) on workloads and productivity, and managers' satisfaction with those projects. Participating in this study from 1994 to 1996 were 9 small enterprises, 3 metal industries, 1 car parts manufacturing, 1 garment manufacturing, 1 food processing, and a few others. Upon visiting these worksites, we carried out interviews on the implemented WISE improvements and made objective evaluations of their effect on workloads and productivity.

Approaches to occupational health based on participatory methodology in small workplaces.

An intervention based on the methodology developed by the International Labour Office, the Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) was carried out to improve work condition of small-scale enterprises and the informal sector in the Philippines, Thailand and Japan. Through the evaluation of the efficacy of the approaches based on participatory methodology, it is concluded that the method is an efficient measure to improve work condition in small workplaces. It is also pointed out that the activities of supporting experts such as introduction of the methodology and evaluation of the activity are necessary.

Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of malignant features in mucinous cystic tumors of the pancreas.

Background/aims: To investigate the malignancy of mucinous cystic tumors (MCTs) of the pancreas, we examined clinicopathological features and immunohistochemical findings of MCT.

Methodology: We analyzed the expression of p53 protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, alpha6-integrin subunit, alpha5beta1-integrin, and interleukin-1 receptor type I in tumor specimens from eight patients with MCT.

Results: The tumors were classified as mucinous cyst adenoma (n=6) or mucinous cyst adenocarcinoma (n=2).

Marine microalgae.

Marine microalgae, the largest primary biomass, have been attracting attention as resources for new metabolites and biotechnologically useful genes. The diversified marine environment harbors a large variety of microalgae. In this paper, the biotechnological aspects and fundamental characteristics of marine microalgae are reviewed.

Capture and release of DNA using aminosilane-modified bacterial magnetic particles for automated detection system of single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Bacterial magnetic particles (BMPs) were modified with 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethylamino]-propyltrimethoxysilane (AEEA) to produce a dense amine surface. Modification of BMPs in a toluene solution resulted in an increased amine yield, and approximately 11.3 x 10(4) surface amines were detected on a single particle.

Global gene expression analysis of iron-inducible genes in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1.

Iron uptake systems were identified by global expression profiling of Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. feo, tpd, and ftr, which encode ferrous iron transporters, were up-regulated under iron-rich conditions. The concomitant rapid iron uptake and magnetite formation suggest that these uptake systems serve as iron supply lines for magnetosome synthesis.

Interleukin-1alpha enhances the aggressive behavior of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating the alpha6beta1-integrin and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression.

Background: In human pancreatic cancer progression, the alpha6beta1-integrin is expressed on cancer cell surface during invasion and metastasis formation. In this study, we investigated whether interleukin (IL)-1alpha induces the alterations of integrin subunits and urokinase plasminogen activator/urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPA/uPAR) expression in pancreatic cancer cells. We hypothesize that the alterations of integrin subunits and uPA/uPAR expression make an important role in signaling pathways responsible for biological behavior of pancreatic cancer cells.

Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas has abnormal imaging characteristics: report of a case.

Thanks to the development of image diagnosis and the spread of screening by ultrasonography, an increasing number of cystic lesions of the pancreas are being recognized. Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas is relatively rare among the cystic tumors of the pancreas in Japan. Herein, we report a case of serous cystadenoma that was difficult to diagnose.

Breast-conserving surgery after chemotherapy: value of MDCT for determining tumor distribution and shrinkage pattern.

Objective: For this study, we investigated the usefulness of MDCT in assessing the extent of residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. To ensure the success of breast-conserving surgery, we evaluated the usefulness of determining the tumor distribution before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the shrinkage pattern after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Subjects And Methods: MDCT before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was performed in 46 consecutive patients with 47 locally advanced breast cancers.

Dynamic analysis of a genomic island in Magnetospirillum sp. strain AMB-1 reveals how magnetosome synthesis developed.

The entire structure of a 98 kb genomic region that abounds in genes related to magnetosome synthesis was first described in the Magnetospirillum sp. strain AMB-1. The deletion of this 98 kb genomic region and the circular form after excision from the chromosome was detected by PCR amplification.

Integrin-linked kinase activity is associated with interleukin-1 alpha-induced progressive behavior of pancreatic cancer and poor patient survival.

Cancer cell adhesion and invasion into extracellular matrix are regulated by integrin-linked kinase (ILK) activity in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)-dependent manner. In this study, we demonstrated that ILK and beta(1)-integrin play important roles in interleukin (IL)-1alpha-induced enhancement of adhesion and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation. Alteration of ILK kinase activity controlled IL-1alpha-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and its downstream AP-1 activation with subsequent regulation of pancreatic cancer cell adhesion and invasion.

Complete genome sequence of the facultative anaerobic magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum sp. strain AMB-1.

Magnetospirillum sp. strain AMB-1 is a Gram-negative alpha-proteobacterium that synthesizes nano-sized magnetites, referred to as magnetosomes, aligned intracellularly in a chain. The potential of this nano-sized material is growing and will be applicable to broad research areas.

Positive correlation between dietary intake of sodium and balances of calcium and magnesium in young Japanese adults--low sodium intake is a risk factor for loss of calcium and magnesium--.

The content of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in sweat during exercise is considerably higher during a relatively low intake of sodium (Na) of 100 mmol/d than with an intake of 170 mmol/d. For this reason and also because Ca and Mg have a negative balance with a Na intake of 100 mmol/d, we analyzed the relationship between Na intake and balances of Ca and Mg in data from 11 balance studies. From 1986 to 2000, 109 volunteers (23 males, 86 females) with an age range of 18 to 28 y took part in mineral balance studies.

Anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas with squamous features: report of a case and immunohistochemical study.

Background: Anaplastic carcinomas of the pancreas are rare aggressive tumors with survival measurable in weeks. Many terms have been applied used to describe these tumors, and anaplastic foci are identified in ductal adenocarcinomas and in ectopic pancreata, but are not the dominant pattern of growth. We herein present our experience with a case of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas with squamous features in order that allowed us to delineate the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of this rare entity.

Fully automated DNA extraction from blood using magnetic particles modified with a hyperbranched polyamidoamine dendrimer.

Bacterial and artificial magnetic particles were modified using a polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer and outer shell amines determined. Bacterial magnetic particles were the most consistently modified. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis showed that the artificial magnetic particles were structurally damaged by the modification process including sonication.