Metabolonote: a wiki-based database for managing hierarchical metadata of metabolome analyses.

Metabolomics - technology for comprehensive detection of small molecules in an organism - lags behind the other "omics" in terms of publication and dissemination of experimental data. Among the reasons for this are difficulty precisely recording information about complicated analytical experiments (metadata), existence of various databases with their own metadata descriptions, and low reusability of the published data, resulting in submitters (the researchers who generate the data) being insufficiently motivated. To tackle these issues, we developed Metabolonote, a Semantic MediaWiki-based database designed specifically for managing metabolomic metadata.

Mass++: A Visualization and Analysis Tool for Mass Spectrometry.

We have developed Mass++, a plug-in style visualization and analysis tool for mass spectrometry. Its plug-in style enables users to customize it and to develop original functions. Mass++ has several kinds of plug-ins, including rich viewers and analysis methods for proteomics and metabolomics.

Experimental evaluation of portal venous pulsatile flow synchronized with heartbeat intervals: effects of vascular clamping on portal hemodynamics.

Purpose: We previously showed that blood flow in the portal vein was pulsatile and influenced by both the inferior vena cava and the arterial system in a complex manner (Nihei et al., 38:141-149, 2011). The objective of the present study is to identify determinants of blood flow and to clarify the source of pulsatile flow in the portal vein.

Experimental evaluation of portal venous pulsatile flow synchronized with heartbeat intervals.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze pulsatile flow in the portal vein, to clarify the origin of pulsatile flow, and to acquire new knowledge about the hepatic circulation.

Methods: Mini-pigs underwent general anesthesia. Pressure and flow in the portal vein, inferior vena cava, hepatic artery, and mesenteric artery were measured simultaneously.

MassBank: a public repository for sharing mass spectral data for life sciences.

MassBank is the first public repository of mass spectra of small chemical compounds for life sciences (<3000 Da). The database contains 605 electron-ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS), 137 fast atom bombardment MS and 9276 electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS(n) data of 2337 authentic compounds of metabolites, 11 545 EI-MS and 834 other-MS data of 10,286 volatile natural and synthetic compounds, and 3045 ESI-MS(2) data of 679 synthetic drugs contributed by 16 research groups (January 2010). ESI-MS(2) data were analyzed under nonstandardized, independent experimental conditions.

[A case of acinar cell carcinoma of pancreas with liver metastases treated effectively by S-1].

A 65-year-old man underwent a total gastrectomy and distal pancreatectomy for acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Multiple metastatic liver lesions were found one year postoperatively. He was treated with S-1 chemotherapy over 34 months, and the tumors significantly reduced in size without severe side effects.

New method of sentinel node detection using a combination of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and dye guidance: an animal study.

Purpose: To determine whether a combination of contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided methods and dye-guided methods can identify sentinel lymph nodes in animals.

Methods: Seven pigs were put under general anesthesia and injected subcutaneously in the neck: three with 2 ml saline and four with 2 ml fluid comprising 0.4 ml 5% patent blue violet solution and 1.

[Angina attack caused by 5-fluorouracil infusion--report of a case and review of the literature].

Cardiac toxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been rarely reported. We encountered a case of angina attack caused by 5-FU. A 58-year-old Japanese woman underwent sigmoidectomy for a sigmoid colon carcinoma with multiple liver metastases.