Affinity chromatography of a binder of 1-methyladenine, the maturation-inducing hormone for starfish oocytes.

Starfish oocytes are arrested at the prophase stage of the first meiotic division in the ovary. They resume meiosis by the stimulus of 1-methyladenine (1-MeAde), the maturation-inducing hormone for starfish oocytes. Putative 1-MeAde receptors have been suggested to be present on the oocyte surface, but not yet been characterized biochemically.

Polyfunctional low-capacity cation-exchange packing material for the separation of underivatized amino acids.

A polyfunctional low-capacity cation-exchange column-packing material was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of underivatized 20 amino acids including 16 proteinogenic ones using a binary gradient HPLC. The new packing material was prepared by sulfoacylating a highly crosslinked macroreticular poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) copolymer of 3 μm in diameter commercially available for size-exclusion chromatography. The polyfunctionality could derive from unintentional carboxy groups innately present in the base polymers probably came from polymerization initiators in addition to the intentionally introduced sulfopropionyl groups, which was certified and evaluated by measuring dynamic capacity curves of the cation exchanger.

[Analyzing the attributes of surgeons and working environment required for a successful career path and work-life balance: results of a survey administered to doctors working at Kyoto University Hospital].

We conducted a survey in March 2010 of all physicians at Kyoto University Hospital on working environments, levels of satisfaction, and level of exhaustion. A comparison of surgeons with other physicians showed tendencies among surgeons toward longer working hours and lower income. The findings indicated that surgeons experienced satisfaction from teamwork with fellow physicians, opportunities to manage interesting cases, and patient gratitude.

Influence of clinical and genetic factors on warfarin dose requirements among Japanese patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of clinical and genetic factors on warfarin dose requirements in the Japanese population.

Methods: We enrolled 125 patients on stable warfarin anticoagulant therapy with an international normalized ratio maintained between 1.5 and 3.