A case of fulminant amebic colitis that could be saved

An 80-year-old man was admitted to a neighboring hospital with severe diarrhea and bloody stools. He did not have a remarkable medical history, was not homosexual, and had not traveled outside the country for several years. Colonoscopy was performed on the day of admission and revealed multiple ulcerations with edematous mucosa throughout the colorectum. Histopathological findings of biopsy specimen could not identify the reason for the inflamed colon. On postadmission day 6, the patient developed severe abdominal pain and underwent an emergent surgery for pan-peritonitis due to bowel perforation. The laparotomy revealed glossy fecal pan-peritonitis with perforation of the sigmoid colon; necrosis was observed through the entire length of the colon. The colonic tissue was extremely fragile and exhibited a blotting paper-like appearance. Total colectomy, sigmoid mucous fistula, ileostomy, and intraperitoneal drainage were performed. On postadmission day 12, histopathological findings of resected specimen raised the suspicion of amebic dysentery, and we accordingly treated him with metronidazole (2,250 mg/day) administered orally. Abdominal CT images taken on days 12 and 20 postadmission showed multiple liver abscesses, which improved following metronidazole administration. Metronidazole was discontinued 14 days after initiation as the patient’s general condition improved. His condition remained stable thereafter, and he was transferred two months after admission

STRAD Project for Systematic Treatments of Radioactive Liquid Wastes Generated in Nuclear Facilities

A new collaborative research project for systematic treatments of radioactive liquid wastes containing various reagents generating in nuclear facilities was started from 2018 initiated by Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The project was named as STRAD (Systematic Treatments of RAdioactive liquid wastes for Decommissioning) project. Tentative targets to be studied under the project are aqueous and organic liquid wastes which have been generated by experiments and analyses in a reprocessing experimental laboratory of JAEA. Currently fundamental studies for treatments of the liquid wastes with complicated compositions are underway. In the STRAD project, process flow for treatment of ammonium ion involved in aqueous waste was designed though the inactive experiments, and decomposition of ammonium ion using catalysis will be carried out soon. Adsorbents for recovery of U and Pu from spent solvent were also developed. Demonstration experiments on genuine spent solvent is under planning

Halichonadins K and L, New Dimeric Sesquiterpenoids from a Sponge <i>Halichondria</i> sp.

Two new structurally unique dimeric sesquiterpenoids, halichonadins K (<b>1</b>) and L (<b>2</b>), were isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge <i>Halichondria</i> sp. The structures of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and chemical conversion. Halichonadins K (<b>1</b>) and L (<b>2</b>) are homodimers of the eudesmane sesquiterpene linked with a piperidine ring through amide bonds. Halichonadin K (<b>1</b>) showed moderate cytotoxicity against KB cells