EVALUATION OF RUNNING MECHANICS USING MOTION SENSOR FOR DISTANCE RUNNERS

The purpose of this presentation is to show three cases of standard test to evaluate running motion on a 400m track, presenting the relationship of 02 consumption with the running motion at a treadmill test, and running motion during a distance race, and to discuss the effectiveness of motion sensor as a tool for tralning and coachlng in runnlng. These studies show that it might be useful to evaluate running motion by comparing running parameters of standard test to real race. Furthermore, the evaluation has a possibility to give criteria for training and a prediction of the race performance to a runner and a coach

Djelovanje karboksilnih kiselina na crveno obojenje cvjetova žutinice

Eight carboxylic acids were fed at 1-10000 pM to the flower pastes from fresh dyer’s saffron (Carthamus tinctorius L.) capitula and their effects on the red colouration investigated. Glyoxyllic acid, glycolic acid, oxaloacetic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid and gluconic acid were found to be positive stimulators for the reaction, while succinic acid, malic acid and citric acid inhibited the colour change.Svojim ranijim istraživanjima autori su pokazali da usitnjeni cvjetovi žutinice (Carthamus tinctorius L.) poprime crvenu boju ako na njih djeluju otopine aminokiselina. Učinkovitost pojedine aminokiseline ovisi o tipu: kisele amino- kiseline bile su najučinkovitije, neutralne nešto manje, one s aromatičnim skupinama ili skupinama sa sumporom još manje, dok su bazične aminokiseline bile najmanje učinkovite. Za objašnjenje ovih rezultata bilo je potrebno da se ustanove još drugi metaboliti koji biokatalitički utječu na promjenu boje cvjetova. U ovom prilogu autori objavljuju podatke o promjenama boje nakon primjene karboksilnih kiselina. U tu svrhu istražili su djelovanje osam karboksilnih kiselina u koncentracijama od 1 - 10000 pM na kašu od zdrobljenih cvjetova žutinice (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Postignuti rezultati su pokazali da glioksilna, glikolna, oksalooc- tena, 2-oksoglutarna i glukonska kiselina pospješuju reakciju stvaranja crvenog bojila, dok jantarna, jabučna i limunska kiselina tu reakciju inhibiraju. U radu se navode točni podaci o materijalu, metodama rada i rezultatima koji su prikazani u preglednoj tabeli. Rezultate autori kratko komentiraju uz razmišljanja da bi kemijske strukture karboksilnih kiselina mogle biti uže povezane s procesima promjene bojila, iako je sam mehanizam reakcije zasad još nepoznat

A case of primary small cell carcinoma of the liver that was treated with chemotherapy

Primary small cell carcinoma (SSC) of the liver is very rare in Japan and only ten cases have been reported worldwide. We report herein the case of a 77-year-old man with primary SCC of the liver. He had a tumor over 10 cm in diameter which was localized in the right lobe of the liver and had invaded the right diaphragm. In laboratory tests, high serum levels of lactate dehydrase and neuron-specific enolase were observed. A biopsy specimen showed that the tumor cells were similar in cytology to a pulmonary SCC. The patient was first treated with carboplatin and etoposide according to the therapy protocol for pulmonary SCC and then with a regimen using etoposid and cisplatinum, resulting in an unfavorable outcome. We discuss the clinical course and therapy of extra-pulmonary SCC and review the literature of the cases previously reported

Introduction of Japan Consortium for Arctic Evironmental Research’s Activity

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/特別セッション「これからの北極研究」11月28日（水） 国立極地研究所 2階大会議

LDL-C/HDL-C Ratio Predicts Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Progression Better Than HDL-C or LDL-C Alone

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are strong predictors of atherosclerosis. Statin-induced changes in the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C (LDL-C/HDL-C) predicted atherosclerosis progression better than LDL-C or HDL-C alone. However, the best predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis remains unknown. Our objective was to investigate this issue by measuring changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). A total of 1,920 subjects received health examinations in 1999, and were followed up in 2007. Changes in IMT (follow-up IMT/baseline IMT × 100) were measured by ultrasonography. Our results showed that changes in IMT after eight years were significantly related to HDL-C (inversely, P < 0.05) and to LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (P < 0.05). When the LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were divided into quartiles, analysis of covariance showed that increases in the ratio were related to IMT progression (P < 0.05). This prospective study demonstrated the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is a better predictor of IMT progression than HDL-C or LDL-C alone

Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Replication and Viral Helicase by Ethyl Acetate Extract of the Marine Feather Star Alloeocomatella polycladia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis, leading to the development of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We prepared extracts from 61 marine organisms and screened them by an in vitro fluorescence assay targeting the viral helicase (NS3), which plays an important role in HCV replication, to identify effective candidates for anti-HCV agents. An ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the feather star Alloeocomatella polycladia exhibited the strongest inhibition of NS3 helicase activity, with an IC50 of 11.7 µg/mL. The extract of A. polycladia inhibited interaction between NS3 and RNA but not ATPase of NS3. Furthermore, the replication of the replicons derived from three HCV strains of genotype 1b in cultured cells was suppressed by the extract with an EC50 value of 23 to 44 µg/mL, which is similar to the IC50 value of the NS3 helicase assay. The extract did not induce interferon or inhibit cell growth. These results suggest that the unknown compound(s) included in A. polycladia can inhibit HCV replication by suppressing the helicase activity of HCV NS3. This study may present a new approach toward the development of a novel therapy for chronic hepatitis C

A rare case of concomitant huge exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach and Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We report an extremely rare case of concomitant huge exophytic GIST of the stomach and Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP).</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>The patient was a 67-year-old man experiencing abdominal distension since September 2006. A physical examination revealed a 25 × 30 cm hard mass that was palpable in the middle and lower left abdomen minimal intrinsic mobility and massive ascites. Since the admitted patient was diagnosed with DIC, surgery could not be performed. The patient received a platelet transfusion and the DIC was treated. Due to this treatment, the platelet count recovered to 7.0 × 10⁴; tumor resection was performed at 16 days after admission. Laparotomy revealed a huge extraluminal tumor arising from the greater curvature of the stomach that measured 25 × 30 cm and had not ruptured into the peritoneal cavity or infiltrated other organs. Partial gastric resection was performed. The resected mass measured 25 × 25 × 20 cm. In cross section, the tumor appeared hard and homogenous with a small polycystic area. Histopathology of the resected specimen showed large spindle cell GIST with >5/50 HPF (high-power field) mitotic activity. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the coagulopathy improved rapidly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Since the characteristic of tumor in this case was hypervascularity with bleeding and necrotic lesions, coagulopathy was thought to be caused by the trapping of platelets within a large vasculized tumor mass.</p

Deregulated Cdc6 inhibits DNA replication and suppresses Cdc7-mediated phosphorylation of Mcm2–7 complex

Mcm2–7 is recruited to eukaryotic origins of DNA replication by origin recognition complex, Cdc6 and Cdt1 thereby licensing the origins. Cdc6 is essential for origin licensing during DNA replication and is readily destabilized from chromatin after Mcm2–7 loading. Here, we show that after origin licensing, deregulation of Cdc6 suppresses DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts without the involvement of ATM/ATR-dependent checkpoint pathways. DNA replication is arrested specifically after chromatin binding of Cdc7, but before Cdk2-dependent pathways and deregulating Cdc6 after this step does not impair activation of origin firing or elongation. Detailed analyses revealed that Cdc6 deregulation leads to strong suppression of Cdc7-mediated hyperphosphorylation of Mcm4 and subsequent chromatin loading of Cdc45, Sld5 and DNA polymerase α. Mcm2 phosphorylation is also repressed although to a lesser extent. Remarkably, Cdc6 itself does not directly inhibit Cdc7 kinase activity towards Mcm2–4–6–7 in purified systems, rather modulates Mcm2–7 phosphorylation on chromatin context. Taken together, we propose that Cdc6 on chromatin acts as a modulator of Cdc7-mediated phosphorylation of Mcm2–7, and thus destabilization of Cdc6 from chromatin after licensing is a key event ensuring proper transition to the initiation of DNA replication

Down Syndrome Reduces the Sedative Effect of Midazolam in Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgical Patients

Down syndrome (DS) is frequently comorbid with congenital heart disease and has recently been shown to reduce the sedative effect of benzodiazepine (BDZ)-class anesthesia but this effect in a clinical setting has not been studied. Therefore, this study compared midazolam sedation after heart surgery in DS and normal children. We retrospectively reviewed patient records in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of pediatric cardiovascular operations between March 2015 and March 2018. We selected five days of continuous post-operative data just after termination of muscle relaxants. Midazolam sedation was estimated by Bayesian inference for generalized linear mixed models. We enrolled 104 patients (average age 26 weeks) of which 16 (15%) had DS. DS patients had a high probability of receiving a higher midazolam dosage and dexmedetomidine dosage over the study period (probability = 0.99, probability = 0.97) while depth of sedation was not different in DS patients (probability = 0.35). Multi regression modeling included severity scores and demographic data showed DS decreases midazolam sedation compared with controls (posterior OR = 1.32, 95% CrI = 1.01–1.75). In conclusion, midazolam dosages should be carefully adjusted as DS significantly decreases midazolam sedative effect in pediatric heart surgery patients