Effects of liquid konjac on parameters related to obesity in diet-induced obese mice

Konjac-mannan has been suggested to exert a protective effect against visceral obesity. However, there is little knowledge about the effects of liquid konjac (LK) that is partially alkali gelled. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of a LK powder on obesity in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with either 2.5 or 5% LK powder for 80 days. Growth parameters, abdominal fat content, serum biochemical markers, and hepatic lipid accumulations were measured. Dietary supplementation with LK resulted in decreased body weight gain and abdominal fat accumulation. Dose-dependent decreases were observed in accumulation of hepatic lipids and serum total cholesterol, leptin, insulin concentrations. The study findings indicated that LK had preventing effect against obesity, including the reduction of abdominal and hepatic lipid accumulation and serum parameters related to obesity.

Local massive venous invasion in colorectal cancer: CT-pathological correlation and its clinical implication

OBJECTIVE

To identify CT findings of massive venous invasion (MVI) in colorectal cancer, compare them to pathological findings and evaluate its clinical implications.

METHODS

Among 423 patients who received surgical resection of colorectal cancer, pre-operative CT of 26 patients (15 males, 11 females; mean age, 63.0 ± 12.1 years) with histopathologially proven MVI and 26 patients (14 males, 12 females; mean age, 71.1 ± 9.6 years) with histopathologically proven lymph node (LN) metastases were reviewed and compared with histopathological findings. We evaluated CT detectability of MVI and the morphologic differences between MVI and LN metastasis. All cases were followed up for at least 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Pre-operative CT correctly diagnosed only one case as tumour thrombus. 9 lesions were not detected on CT, and others were misdiagnosed pre-operatively as regional LN metastasis (14 cases) and juxtatumoural abscess (2 cases). After reviewing these cases, MVIs were identifiable in 20 of 26 cases. MVI was depicted on CT as nodules (oval, lobulated), abscess-like or intravenous tumour thrombus. MVI was significantly larger than LN metastasis (p < 0.05), while contrast enhancement was significantly lower (p < 0.05), and MVI often had an enhanced rim. Ten patients had synchronous metastases, and six patients had metachronous distant metastases within 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Many cases of MVI were distinguishable from LN metastases on pre-operative CT of colorectal cancer, but their appearances were varied, reflecting their histopathological behaviours. The distant metastatic rate was much higher in cases with MVI.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Radiologists should be aware of CT findings of MVI in colorectal cancer as a sentinel sign of distant metastasis.

Uptake and retention of radio-caesium in earthworms cultured in soil contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

To understand the effects of radionuclides on non-human biota and the environment, it is essential to study the intake and metabolism of radio-isotopes in earthworms which are among the most important soil organisms, and Eisenia fetida, which were used in this study, are known to be sufficiently sensitive to chemicals and representative of common earthworms. In this study, we assessed the concentration ratios, uptake and retention, absorbed dose rate, and distribution of radio-caesium in earthworms. The concentration ratios of (137)Cs (i.e., the concentrations of radio-caesium in earthworms relative to those in dry soil) were higher early in the culturing period and decreased gradually over the experimental period. (137)Cs taken up by E. fetida was cleared rapidly after the worms were cultured in radio-caesium-free soil, suggesting that the metabolism of radio-caesium in earthworms is very rapid. Autoradiography demonstrated that the concentration of radio-caesium within the digestive tract was as high as that in the soil, while radio-caesium in the body tissue was lower than radio-caesium in the soil and was almost uniformly distributed among earthworm tissues. The highest absorbed dose rate of total exposure to radio-caesium ((137)Cs + (134)Cs) was calculated to be 1.9 × 10(3) (μGy/day) in the earthworms.

Possible evidence for free precession of a strongly magnetized neutron star in the magnetar 4U 0142+61

Magnetars are a special type of neutron stars, considered to have extreme dipole magnetic fields reaching ∼ 10(11) T. The magnetar 4 U 0142+61, one of the prototypes of this class, was studied in broadband x rays (0.5-70 keV) with the Suzaku observatory. In hard x rays (15-40 keV), its 8.69 sec pulsations suffered slow phase modulations by ± 0.7 sec, with a period of ∼ 15 h. When this effect is interpreted as free precession of the neutron star, the object is inferred to deviate from spherical symmetry by ∼ 1.6 × 10(-4) in its moments of inertia. This deformation, when ascribed to magnetic pressure, suggests a strong toroidal magnetic field, ∼ 10(12) T, residing inside the object. This provides one of the first observational approaches towards toroidal magnetic fields of magnetars.

Risk factors for infantile atopic dermatitis and recurrent wheezing

BACKGROUND

The pathogenic mechanisms of atopic dermatitis (AD) and recurrent wheezing (RW) during infancy are not fully understood.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated immunological markers associated with AD and RW during infancy.

METHODS

We followed a cohort (n = 314) from birth to 14 months of age. Some of the participants underwent a physical examination and blood test at 6 and 14 months of age. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to find which immunological markers could be risk factors for AD and RW.

RESULTS

Of 16 immunological markers found in cord blood, only immunoglobulin (Ig) E was associated with AD at 6 months of age (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.607). None of the markers was associated with AD or RW at 14 months of age. Of 23 immunological markers at 6 months of age, total IgE (aOR, 1.018) and sensitization to egg white (aOR, 23.246) were associated with AD at 14 months of age. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced production of interleukin (IL) 4 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (aOR, 1.043) was associated with RW at 14 months of age.

CONCLUSION

Cord blood IgE was a risk factor for AD at 6 months of age. Total IgE and sensitization to egg white at 6 months of age were risk factors for AD at 14 months of age. PHA-induced IL-4 production in PBMCs at 6 months of age was a risk factor for RW at 14 months of age.

Lineage admixture during postglacial range expansion is responsible for the increased gene diversity of Kalopanax septemlobus in a recently colonised territory

We aimed to reveal the effects of range expansion and subsequent lineage admixture from separated glacial refugia on genetic diversity of Kalopanax septemlobus in Japan, by combining nuclear microsatellite data and ecological niche modelling. Allelic richness and gene diversity were compared at the population and regional level. We also statistically examined these indices as a function of population accessibility to the last glacial maximum (LGM) palaeodistribution reconstructed by ecological niche modelling to test a simple range expansion scenario from glacial refugia. Genetic diversity was highest in the populations of southern Japan and gradually decreased towards the north. However, an additional centre of genetic diversity, when measured as gene diversity, was found in northern Honshu Island, where distinct lineages were shown to be in contact. Positive effects of population accessibility to the LGM range were detected in both diversity indices at different spatial scales. The combined data support independent postglacial range expansions towards the north from the edge populations on the exposed coastal shelf of Pacific and Sea of Japan in northern Honshu during the LGM, which subsequently resulted in markedly low genetic diversity in the northernmost extant range, Hokkaido. The regional increase in gene diversity in northern Honshu is likely to be the result of postglacial lineage admixture. Relative difference in the spatial scales best relating population genetic diversity with the LGM distribution can be explained by a higher rate of allelic richness diversity loss during range expansions and stronger effects of lineage admixture on gene diversity.

Examination of In-Service Coating Degradation in Gas Turbine Blades Using a Small Punch Testing Method

This paper describes examination of in-service coating degradation in land based gasturbine blades by means of a small punch testing (SP) method and scanning Auger microprobe(SAM). SP tests on coated specimens with unpolished surfaces indicated large variations ofthe mechanical properties because of the surface roughness and curvature in gas turbine blades, SP tests on polished specimens better characterized the mechanical degradation of bladecoatings. The coated specimens greatly softened and the room temperature ductility of thecoatings and substrates tended to decrease with increasing operation time. The ductile-brittletransition temperature of the coatings shifted to higher temperatures during the bladeoperation. From SAM analyses on fracture surfaces of unused and used blades, it has beenshown that oxidation and sulfidation near the coating surface, which control the fractureproperties, result from high temperature environmental attack.