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Deposition of atmospheric nutrients is known to alter oligotrophic ecosystems such as the open ocean, but the role of such nutrients in the further deterioration of eutrophic aquatic ecosystems is largely unknown. The Hii River watershed in Japan encompasses lagoons that have been eutrophic since 1980s. This study examined the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Hii River watershed and the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the Hii River over an 11-yr period. Total nitrogen (TN) concentrations of both precipitation and river water were significantly higher in cold months (November-March) than in warm months (April-October). Most of the TN was nitrate, which suggests that the TN source was atmospheric nitrogen from East Asia transported by seasonal winds. In contrast, total phosphorus (TP) concentrations of both precipitation and river water were significantly higher in warm months. Over time, the TN concentration in the river water showed a decreasing trend although the trend was not significant, while the TP concentration increased significantly. This was attributed to an increase in the atmospheric deposition of TP originating from East Asia since 2000. The increase in the deposition of atmospheric phosphorus might also have increased phosphorus leakage from the soils. In this work, the TN : TP ratios for both atmospheric deposition and river water indicate that changes in atmospheric nutrient deposition affect loading rates and N : P ratios. These changes, especially the latter, could have significant ecological effects in eutrophic systems by lowering the N : P ratios, which could induce cyanobacteria blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose The ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids exert antinociceptive effects in inflammatory and neuropathic pain; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Docosahexaenoic acid-induced antinociception may be mediated by the orphan GPR40, now identified as the free fatty acid receptor 1 ( FFA1 receptor). Here, we examined the involvement of supraspinal FFA1 receptor signalling in the regulation of inhibitory pain control systems consisting of serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons. Experimental Approach Formalin-induced pain behaviours were measured in mice. Antinociception induced by FFA1 receptor agonists was examined by intrathecal injections of a catecholaminergic toxin, 5-HT lowering drug or these antagonists. The expression of FFA1 receptor protein and c- Fos was estimated by immunohistochemistry, and the levels of noradrenaline and 5-HT in the spinal cord were measured by LC- MS/ MS. Key Results FFA1 receptors colocalized with Neu N (a neuron marker) in the medulla oblongata and with tryptophan hydroxylase ( TPH; a serotonergic neuron marker) and dopamine β-hydroxylase ( DBH; a noradrenergic neuron marker). A single i.c.v. injection of GW9508, a FFA1 receptor agonist, increased the number of c- Fos-positive cells and the number of neurons double-labelled for c- Fos and TPH and/or DBH. It decreased formalin-induced pain behaviour. This effect was inhibited by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine, DL-p-chlorophenylalanine, yohimbine or WAY100635. Furthermore, GW9508 facilitated the release of noradrenaline and 5-HT in the spinal cord. In addition, GW1100, a FFA1 receptor antagonist, significantly increased formalin-induced pain-related behaviour. Conclusion and Implications Activation of the FFA1 receptor signalling pathway may play an important role in the regulation of the descending pain control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids exert antinociceptive effects in inflammatory and neuropathic pain; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Docosahexaenoic acid-induced antinociception may be mediated by the orphan GPR40, now identified as the free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1 receptor). Here, we examined the involvement of supraspinal FFA1 receptor signalling in the regulation of inhibitory pain control systems consisting of serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons.Experimental Approach: Formalin-induced pain behaviours were measured in mice. Antinociception induced by FFA1 receptor agonists was examined by intrathecal injections of a catecholaminergic toxin, 5-HT lowering drug or these antagonists. The expression of FFA1 receptor protein and c-Fos was estimated by immunohistochemistry, and the levels of noradrenaline and 5-HT in the spinal cord were measured by LC-MS/MS.Key Results: FFA1 receptors colocalized with NeuN (a neuron marker) in the medulla oblongata and with tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH; a serotonergic neuron marker) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH; a noradrenergic neuron marker). A single i.c.v. injection of GW9508, a FFA1 receptor agonist, increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells and the number of neurons double-labelled for c-Fos and TPH and/or DBH. It decreased formalin-induced pain behaviour. This effect was inhibited by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine, DL-p-chlorophenylalanine, yohimbine or WAY100635. Furthermore, GW9508 facilitated the release of noradrenaline and 5-HT in the spinal cord. In addition, GW1100, a FFA1 receptor antagonist, significantly increased formalin-induced pain-related behaviour.Conclusion and Implications: Activation of the FFA1 receptor signalling pathway may play an important role in the regulation of the descending pain control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning Movement Load ( BML) training is a unique form of light-load training that comprises a lengthening-shortening sequence of muscle actions about multiple degrees of freedom. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of BML training at improving the performance of old adults on four functional tasks and to identify some of the neuromuscular adaptations that contributed to these gains. Healthy old adults (67.5 ± 5.23 years) were randomly assigned to either a BML training group ( n = 17) or a control group ( n = 7). The training group exercised with a 30% of the one repetition-maximum (1-RM) load and performed five to seven sets of 15 repetitions, three times per week for 8 weeks. BML training increased maximal voluntary contraction ( MVC) force significantly for the knee extensors (31.6%), but not the elbow flexors (9.8%), and improved the steadiness of isometric contractions (10%, 30%, and 65% MVC forces). Training-associated changes in times for ascending and descending stairs and one-legged balance, but not the chair rise, were predicted by changes in selected combinations of MVC force and steadiness. The attributes of BML training that enabled it to elicit functionally meaningful adaptations in the neuromuscular system of older adults should be explored with more mechanistic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary We compared the effects of the Airway Scope® on haemodynamic responses during tracheal intubation with those of direct laryngoscopy in normotensive and hypertensive patients. The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressures and heart rate were recorded: (a) before anaesthesia; (b) immediately before intubation; (c) at intubation; and (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min after intubation. In normotensive patients, the increase in blood pressure and heart rate over time were significantly lower with the Airway Scope than with the Macintosh laryngoscope (p < 0.003). In hypertensive patients, however, there was no difference in the changes over time in any of these haemodynamic measures between the two devices (p > 0.05). We conclude that the Airway Scope attenuates haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation in comparison with the laryngoscope in normotensive but not in hypertensive patients. You can respond to this article at [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR), we assessed dynamic changes in mitral annular geometry and motion during the cardiac cycle, and examined their association with the severity of IMR, using our computerized three-dimensional (3D) echo method. Methods: Real-time 3D echo was performed in 12 normal controls and 25 patients with IMR. The saddle-shaped annulus was reconstructed in every 3D volume/frame during a cardiac cycle. For each 3D volume/frame, we assessed the mitral annular area (MAA) and the annular contraction that was expressed as the percentage of the largest MAA accounted for by the change in MAA from largest to smallest calculated value. Results: In IMR patients, the minimum MAA occurred in late-systole, while it occurred in early-systole in the controls. IMR patients had a larger minimum MAA (6.7 ± 1.3 vs. 3.6 ± 0.8 cm, P < 0.001) and reduced annular contraction (23.0 ± 6.5 vs. 42.6 ± 7.0%, P < 0.001) when compared to controls. Both minimum MAA and annular contraction had significant correlations with IMR severity (r = 0.67 and r = 0.78, P < 0.001 for both). Conclusion: The contraction of the dilated mitral annulus occurred in late-systole in patients with IMR. The alterations of annular geometry and motion may be associated with the development of IMR. (Echocardiography 2010;27:1069-1077) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: The Airway Scope (AWS) is a new video laryngoscope. The purpose of this study was to compare the AWS and Macintosh laryngoscopes with regard to their usefulness for beginners in tracheal intubation. Methods: Thirty-one nurses with no previous experience of tracheal intubation used each device 10 times to intubate the trachea of a manikin (Laerdal Airway Managemant Trainer, Laerdal, Stavanger, Norway). Intubation correctly completed within 30 s was regarded as successful. The intubation time, success rate, number of esophageal intubations and dental clicks, and subjective evaluation of difficulty of intubation [rated from 1 (extremely easy) to 5 (extremely difficult)] were recorded. Results: The average intubation time was significantly shorter for AWS than for the Macintosh laryngoscope (16.7 ± 11.0 s vs. 23.2 ± 24.9 s; mean ± standard deviation; P = 0.0297), and the success rate with AWS was significantly greater (91.3% vs. 79.4%; P < 0.001). In the total of 310 intubation attempts for each device, the number of esophageal intubations (0/310 with AWS vs. 20/310 with the Macintosh laryngoscope) and dental clicks (0/310 with AWS vs. 40/310 with the Macintosh laryngoscope) differed significantly ( P < 0.001). AWS was rated as easier to use than the Macintosh laryngoscope ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: AWS is more useful for beginners as it provides quicker and easier tracheal intubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the Airway Scope® with a gum elastic bougie and fibreoptic bronchoscope in a manikin with a simulated Cormack and Lehane Grade 3 laryngoscopic view. Twenty-seven anaesthetists intubated the trachea of the manikin with these devices and the time required for intubation was measured. They were then asked to rate the subjective difficulty of intubation (1 = very easy; 5 = very difficult). Mean (SD) intubation times were 16.6 (11.2) s with the Airway Scope, 29.4 (10.9) s with the gum elastic bougie (p < 0.0001), and 30.6 (20.0) s with the fibreoptic bronchoscope (p < 0.0001). The median (range) difficulty was 2 (1–4) with the Airway Scope, 3 (2–4) with the gum elastic bougie (p < 0.001), and 2 (1–5) with the fibreoptic bronchoscope (p = 0.014). In Cormack and Lehane grade 3 laryngoscopic views, the Airway Scope may enable faster and easier tracheal intubation than does a Macintosh laryngoscope with a gum elastic bougie or a fibreoptic bronchoscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in chickens orally administered sugar cane extracts (SCE) or polyphenol-rich fraction (PRF) of SCE (500 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days increased significantly, when compared with that of saline-administered control chickens. Chickens orally administered SCE or PRF (500 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days showed significantly higher antibody responses against sheep red blood cells and Brucella abortus than control chickens. In addition, oral administration of SCE or PRF also resulted in a significant increase in the number of IgM- and IgG-plaque forming cell responses of PBL, intestinal leukocytes and splenocytes, when compared with those of control chickens. Furthermore, delayed type hypersensitivity responses to human gamma globulin significantly increased in chickens orally administered SCE or PRF, compared with those of control chickens when evaluated on the basis of net increased wattle thickness at 24, 48 and 72 h after challenge. These results suggest that PRF of SCE has an immunostimulating effect in chickens. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary A third-stage larva of Dryomyza formosa (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Dryomyzidae) was found in the fresh stool of a 27-year-old Japanese woman resident of Shiobara, 150 km north of Tokyo, on 16 November 1998. This is the first record of myiasis due to Dryomyza. Detection of this maggot (2 cm long) by the patient herself was associated with her longstanding delusion of abdominal parasitosis as a symptom of chronic schizophrenia. Circumstantial evidence agreed with this being a genuine case of intestinal myiasis, apparently due to accidental ingestion of the insect, with no signs that the patient had contrived the report, nor that the maggot had invaded the stool post-defaecation. This case draws attention to the likelihood that some personality states are predisposed to noticing and reporting myiasis, when it occurs. We review other conditions (mental and physical) that are more prone to myiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of 34-year-old woman with right hydrothorax, massive ascites and a large right ovarian tumour. The patient laboratory tests showed an increase in the serum oestradiol and underwent a total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omental biopsy and pelvic lymph node sampling. The patient was diagnosed with ovarian sex cord tumour with annular tubules. The was patients was administered with fine needle aspiration for tumour cells.

The article presents a case study of a 76-year-old woman presented with an episode of macrohaematuria who was hospitalized for 1 week. She was diagnosed with having a huge mass, involving urinary bladder, uterus and adjacent retroperitoneum. She was pronounced dead on the 15th hospital day due to tumour lysis syndrome. A discussion related to the immunohistochemical studies of the tumour cells with the use of histological and a urine specimen is presented.

A response by Y. Koyama and colleagues to a letter to the editor about their article "Comparison of haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation using the Airway Scope® and Macintosh laryngoscope in normotensive and hypertensive patients" in the 2011 issue is presented.

Purpose: Clinical investigation into the correlation between AIWA's score and premature labor. Patients: Eight hundred and twenty-nine (829) mothers delivered single baby at AIWA Maternity Hospital in 2000. The number of primipara (P) was 394, while that of multipara (M) was 435. We eventually analyzed 587 deliveries in 829, because the resting 238 deliveries were not fully followed up before delivery and the resting four were undertaken therapeutic premature termination. These 587 mothers had at least one time of AIWA's scoring in both 14–24 weeks of gestation and 25–32 weeks of gestation. Methods: We have been using the AIWA's score to detect and prevent premature labor for 4 years, which consists of findings of transvaginal ultrasonography (cervical length and funneling of internal os of the uterus), and internal examination (looseness of external os of the uterus and consistency of the cervix). The full score is 12, which means extremely high risk of premature labor. On the other hand, the score zero means no risk of premature labor. The patients, whose score over 8, should go into hospital to have cervical cerclage. and if multipara has histories of premature deliveries and/or threatened premature labor, P-score (1–3) is added to AIWA's score according to the degree of the risk. Five hundred and eighty-seven (587) deliveries were divided in four groups, including (1) over 1 week hospitalization (2) having cervical cerclage (3) premature deliveries (4) normal range deliveries (including OPD therapy and <1 week hospitalization). The distribution of AIWA's score was analyzed separately between nullipara and multipara in 14–19, 20–24, 25–28, and 29–32 weeks of gestation, respectively. In hospitalized patients, the most previous scores before hospitalization was analyzed. And, indications for prophylactic cervical cerclage before 27 weeks of gestation were: (1) nullipara and #8807; 8 (AIWA's score alone),... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To elucidate the availability of ‘AIWA’s scoring' in prevention of preterm labor. Patients: We retrospectively studied the 6434 deliveries after 22 weeks of gestation, managed at AIWA-Maternity Hospital from 1986 to 1990, and from 1995 to 2000. • C-stage: deliveries from 1986 to 1990: 1786 (control stage without AIWA's scoring); • P-stage: deliveries from 1995 to 1997: 2190 (prototype stage without AIWA's scoring); • A-stage: deliveries from 1998 to 2000: 2458 (applied stage with AIWA's scoring). Nine twins and seven cases of pregnant mother transportation (MT) in (C) 1786, 25 twins and 3 MT in (P) 2190, and 17 twins, 2 triplets, 6 MT in (A) 2458, were involved, respectively. Methods: The ‘AIWA’s score' of risk assessment for premature delivery consists of cervical consistency, insertion resistance to external os of uterus by internal examination, and cervical length and funneling of internal os of uterus measured by transvaginal ultrasonography. The full AIWA's score is 12 point, which means extremely high risk of premature labor. On the other hand, 0 point means no risk of it. Then, P-score (0–3) consists of the history of early delivery, abortion after 18 weeks of gestation, present multiplicity and so forth. AIWA's score + P-score = AP-score. (A) From 1998 to 2000, in case with AP-score >8, before 26 weeks of gestation, patients had cervical cerclage if they wanted after severely informed consent. We compared some parameters between C- and A-stage. Results: The rate of premature delivery declined (from 4.5 to 3.2% <37 weeks [P < 0.05]; from 2.5 to 1.3%, <36 weeks [P < 0.01]) in A-stage using the risk assessment system. In all premature deliveries, those before 32 weeks of gestation declined from 15.2 to 2.6% (P < 0.01) in A-stage. The rate of preterm PROM <34 weeks in all deliveries declined from 0.56 to 0.12% (P < 0.05), while the rate of preterm PROM in premature labor decreased from 12.7 to... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ringed seals collected from the Kara Sea in the Russian Arctic during 1995 were analyzed for persistent organochlorines (OCs) such as DDTs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and hexachlorohenzene to understand the present status of contamination. Noticeably higher levels of DDTs and PCBs were detected in ringed seals from the Russian Arctic when the values compared with same species from the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Arctic. This suggests the presence of significant local sourcesof DDTs and PCBs in Russia or nearby areas. Concentrations of CHLs and HCHs in ringed seals were comparable with those in this species elsewhere in circumpolar regions, probably as a consequence of uniform distribution of CHLs and HCHs due to the atmospheric transport of these compounds to the Arctic region. Larga seals collected from the Seaof Okhotsk were also analyzed for OCs to compare residue levels and accumulation patterns with those in ringed seals. In larga seals, theprominent residues were DDTs and PCBs, with levels comparable are slightly lower than those in ringed seals. Lactational transfer of PCBs, DDTs, and CHLs was evident in ringed seals based on increasing concentrations with age in males but not in females. The transfer rates were estimated to be 38% for DDTs, 25% for PCBs, and 30% for CHLs of the whole body burden in the mature female. Comparison of the PCB congener pattern accumulated in seals suggested that ringed seals have angreater capacity to degrade toxic non-ortho (IUPAC 126) and mono-ortho (IUPAC 105 and 118) coplanar congeners, than did Baikal seals, buta lower capacity than found in larga seals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Map-like redness is a newly identified endoscopic risk factor for gastric cancer in patients who received Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. However, the incidence rate of map-like redness in patients who received eradication, and the risk factors for the development of map-like redness remain unclear. We hence aimed to investigate the incidence rate of map-like redness at 1-year post H. pylori eradication, and evaluated its associations with map-like redness and gastric cancer in relation with gastric condition., Materials and Methods: Endoscopic severity of gastritis and map-like redness were retrospectively evaluated according to the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis in patients who had undergone endoscopy before and after H. pylori eradication therapy., Results: The incidence rate of map-like redness for all 328 patients at a mean of 1.2 ± 0.6 years after eradication was 25.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.7%-30.4%). Patients who developed map-like redness were older, had more severe atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, a higher total score of the Kyoto Classification of Gastritis both before and after eradication, and a higher rate of gastric cancer history than patients who did not have map-like redness. On multivariate analysis, risk of map-like redness was increased in patients with intestinal metaplasia (odds ratio [OR]: 2.794, 95% CI: 1.155-6.757) and taking acid inhibitors (OR: 1.948, 95% CI: 1.070-3.547). Characteristics of H. pylori-positive patients with gastric cancer history were patients who were older (OR: 1.033, 95% CI: 1.001-1.066), taking acid inhibitors (OR: 4.456, 95% CI: 2.340-8.484), and with occurrence of map-like redness after eradication therapy (OR: 2.432, 95% CI: 1.264-4.679)., Conclusions: Map-like redness is observed in one fourth of patients at 1-year post eradication. Patients who developed map-like redness were found to have severe intestinal metaplasia and taking acid inhibitors, and hence such patients require increased attention at surveillance endoscopy., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Many patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia experience hyperglycemia. It is often difficult to control blood glucose (BG) levels in such patients using standard intravenous insulin infusion therapy. Therefore, we used an artificial pancreas. This study aimed to compare the BG status of the artificial pancreas with that of standard therapy., Methods: Fifteen patients were included in the study. BG values and the infusion speed of insulin and glucose by the artificial pancreas were collected. Arterial BG and administration rates of insulin, parenteral sugar, and enteral sugar were recorded during the artificial pancreas and standard therapy. The target BG level was 200 mg/dl., Results: Arterial BG was highly correlated with BG data from the artificial pancreas. A higher BG slightly increased the difference between the BG data from the artificial pancreas and arterial BS. No significant difference in arterial BG was observed between the artificial pancreas and standard therapy. However, the standard deviation with the artificial pancreas was smaller than that under standard therapy (p < 0.0001). More points within the target BG range were achieved with the artificial pancreas (180-220 mg/dl) than under standard therapy. The hyperglycemic index of the artificial pancreas (8.7 ± 15.6 mg/dl) was lower than that of standard therapy (16.0 ± 21.5 mg/dl) (p = 0.0387). No incidence of hypoglycemia occurred under the artificial pancreas., Conclusions: The rate of achieving target BG was higher using artificial pancreas than with standard therapy. An artificial pancreas helps to control BG in critically ill patients., (© 2022 International Center for Artificial Organ and Transplantation (ICAOT) and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)