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We present a case of a 62-year-old diabetic woman with acute pyelonephritis and spondylitis caused by Salmonella typhi. She was admitted to Tokyo Medical Dental University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, because of unconsciousness and was diagnosed with sepsis by retrograde pyelonephritis as a result of Salmonella typhi. Antibiotics treatment was immediately started; however, she subsequently developed lumbar spondylitis, and long-term conservative treatment with antibiotics and a fixing device were required. This is the first report of a diabetic patient who developed retrograde urinary tract infection with Salmonella typhi, followed by sepsis and spondylitis. The infection could be a result of diabetic neuropathy, presenting neurogenic bladder and hydronephrosis. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and became asymptomatic with normal inflammatory marker levels, and no clinical sign of recurrence was observed in the kidney and spine at 4 months.

Background: Abdominal visceral obesity has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular risks than body mass index, waist circumference, and abdominal subcutaneous fat. On the other hand, there is evidence that subcutaneous fat has a beneficial role against cardio-metabolic risks such as diabetes or dyslipidemia. However, little is known regarding the association between high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation and the risk for atherosclerosis., Methods: This study was designed to elucidate whether high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation enhances the risk for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is a cross-sectional study of 148 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65 ± 12 years; 44.5% female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm(2)) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm(2)) were assessed by abdominal computed tomography. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT, mm) measured by ultrasonography was used for the assessment of atherosclerosis. Patients were divided into four groups: SFA < 100 cm(2) and VFA < 100 cm(2) [S(-)V(-)], SFA ≥ 100 cm(2) and VFA < 100 cm(2) [S(+)V(-)], SFA < 100 cm(2) and VFA ≥ 100 cm(2) [S(-)V(+)], and SFA ≥ 100 cm(2) and VFA ≥ 100 cm(2) [S(+)V(+)]. Linear regression analysis with a stepwise procedure was used for the statistical analyses., Results: Among the patients examined, 16.3% were S(-)V(+). Mean (95 % confidence interval) of CIMT adjusting for age and gender were 0.80 (0.69-0.91), 0.86 (0.72-1.01), 1.28 (1.11-1.44) and 0.83 (0.77-0.88) in patients with S(-)V(-), S(+)V(-), S(-)V(+) and S(+)V(+), respectively (p < 0.001). The S(-)V(+) patients exhibited significantly older than S(-)V(-) patients and those with S(+)V(+) and had a highest VFA-SFA ratio (V/S ratio) among the four groups. S(-)V(+) patients were male predominant (100% male), and S(+)V(-) patients showed female predominance (82% female). In multivariate linear regression analysis (Adjusted R(2) = 0.549), S(-)V(+) was significantly associated with CIMT (Standardized β 0.423, p < 0.001). Notably, S(+)V(+) was inversely associated with CIMT in the multivariate model., Conclusions: This study provides evidence that high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation is an important determinant of carotid atherosclerosis and high subcutaneous fat could be protective against atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Normal-weight abdominal obesity has been reported to be associated with poor mortality. We aimed to investigate the impact of increased visceral adiposity with normal weight (OB(-)VA(+)) on the progression of arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 414 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 64±12 years; 40.3% female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm(2)) was measured by a dual bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV, cm/s). Patients were divided into four groups by VFA and body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) as the following: BMI<25 kg/m(2) and VFA<100 cm(2) (obesity (OB)(-)visceral adiposity (VA)(-)), BMI≥25 kg/m(2) and VFA<100 cm(2) (OB(+)VA(-)), BMI<25 kg/m(2) and VFA≥100 cm(2) (OB(-)VA(+)), and BMI≥25 kg/m(2) and VFA≥100 cm(2) (OB(+)VA(+)). Multivariate linear regression analysis was done to determine the impact of OB(-)VA(+) on arterial stiffness., Results: Among the patients, 7.2% were OB(-)VA(+) with higher baPWV levels (1956±444 cm/s) than those with OB(+)VA(-) (1671±416 cm/s, p=0.014), those with OB(+)VA(+) (1744±317 cm/s, p=0.048), and those with OB(-)VA(-) (1620±397 cm/s, p=0.024). In multivariate linear regression analysis, OB(-)VA(+) remained independently associated with baPWV (standardized β 0.184, p=0.001)., Conclusions: This study provides evidence for the burden of arterial stiffness in OB(-)VA(+) patients with type 2 diabetes; therefore, evaluation of visceral adiposity is of clinical relevance for the better management of non-obese individuals as well as obese populations.

The use of fertilizer results in tall rice plants that are susceptible to lodging and results in reduced plant yields. In this study, using chromosome segment substitution lines, we identified an effective quantitative trait loci (QTL) for culm strength, which was designated STRONG CULM2 (SCM2). Positional cloning of the gene revealed that SCM2 was identical to ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION1 (APO1), a gene previously reported to control panicle structure. A near-isogenic line carrying SCM2 showed enhanced culm strength and increased spikelet number because of the pleiotropic effects of the gene. Although SCM2 is a gain-of-function mutant of APO1, it does not have the negative effects reported for APO1 overexpression mutants, such as decreased panicle number and abnormal spikelet morphology. The identification of lodging-resistance genes by QTL analysis combined with positional cloning is a useful approach for improving lodging resistance and overall productivity in rice.

Using IR spectroscopy, three different surface states of HY zeolite were probed by successive adsorption of CO at 143 K followed by evacuation and pyridine adsorption at 523 K: HY zeolite [1] without strong Lewis acid sites (LAS); [2] after high temperature (873 K) evacuation to convert Brønsted acid sites (BAS) to strong LAS; and [3] after water re-adsorption on HY zeolite [2] to recover BAS from LAS. The original surface of HY zeolite [1] seemed to be recovered on HY zeolite [3] after high temperature evacuation and water treatment by CO adsorption, while a part of generated LAS on HY zeolite [2] seemed irreversible on HY zeolite [3] to HY zeolite [1] by pyridine adsorption. To clarify this discrepancy, re-examination of the IR spectra of adsorbed CO and pyridine on γ-alumina and silica-alumina after similar treatments to those on HY zeolite was conducted. Based on the results of CO adsorption on γ-alumina and silica-alumina, the presence of extra-framework aluminium sites on HY zeolite [1] was confirmed. High temperature evacuation of HY zeolite [1] formed very strong LAS, a part of which was irreversible to BAS by water re-adsorption at room temperature. The irreversible sites on HY zeolite [3] were assigned to non-acidic OH groups attributed to silica-alumina. The non-acidic OH groups on HY zeolite [3], which were BAS on HY zeolite [1], hydrogen-bonded to pyridine to show IR spectra similar to those adsorbed on LAS. Thus, LAS on HY zeolite [3] seemed irreversible by pyridine adsorption after water re-adsorption. On the other hand, CO adsorbed on non-acidic OH groups showed a band at only slightly lower frequency (2160 cm(-1)) than that of BAS (2178 cm(-1)), resulting in overlapps and ignoring their presence. Thus, CO adsorption seemed to show that complete recovery of LAS to BAS occurred.

Molecular fluorescence from H(2)TBP porphyrin (H(2)TBPP) films on Ag substrate is excited by a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) at ambient conditions. The molecular films are prepared by spin-casting method. The thickness of films can be controlled by the times of dropping H(2)TBPP solution. Molecular fluorescence of as-above prepared H(2)TBPP films with 4-14nm thickness at both polarities of applied bias voltage are well defined in good matching with its photoluminescence spectrum, which suggests the same decay channel associated with the HOMO-LUMO radiative transitions similar to H(2)TBPP/Au. The thickness dependence of light emission intensity of molecular fluorescence has been studied. The results show that for thicker film, molecular fluoresceence tends to be much stronger due to the effective decoupling of the emitter from the metal substrate.

Background: This study analyzes the complication of small bowel obstruction following stapled division of the adnexa during laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH)., Methods: We reviewed the records of three patients with small bowel obstruction following stapled LAVH. We then tested the proposed mechanisms of obstruction by firing endoscopic staplers across silicon tubing to simulate division of the adnexal structures. Staple shape, spillage, and closure were analyzed., Results: Small bowel obstruction can result when a partially formed endoscopic staple hooks the small bowel. The problem can be traced to either spilled intraperitoneal staples or partially formed staples that adhere to part of the adnexal staple line. The mechanisms staple closure, spillage, and ability to hook small bowel were confirmed with a laboratory model., Conclusions: Techniques for reducing the incidence of small bowel obstruction following stapled LAVH include minimizing staple spillage and careful inspection of the adnexal staple line for partially formed staples.