The rise of smaller cities and its meaning in international tourism to Japan

The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has steadily increased in the recent decades. The country has much variety between districts in spite of its small area, and there is a close relation between the variety of tourist resources and preferences of foreign visitors according to their nationalities. For example, prefectures located in the Hokuriku and Hida district, which do not have large cities, have shown a rapid increase in foreign visitors in the recent years and become one of the major international tourist areas in Japan. The district is mainly supported by visitors from Taiwan and Europe seeking tradition of Japan in smaller cities and the beauty of nature. It is true that 75% of foreign tourists visiting Japan come from Asia and many of them prefer shopping in large cities. But it is also important to enhance historic and cultural value of tourist resources to heighten the attraction of Japan: variety between districts

Analysis of Surgical Outcomes of Diverticular Disease of the Colon

We analyzed retrospectively the surgical outcomes of diverticular diseases of the colon at the surgical division of Fukuyama Medical Center. Data were collected from 39 patients who underwent surgery for diverticular disease at Fukuyama Medical Center. Thirty-nine patients were admitted between 2005 and 2010. The mean age of the 39 patients was 63.6 years. The collected data included patient demographics, patient history, type of surgery and complications. Patients were divided into 2 groups, Elective vs. Emergent group, right vs. left colon group and laparotomy vs. laparoscopic approach. Multivariate analysis of the logistic model of morbidity revealed a significantly higher rate in the left colon and the Cox proportional hazards model clearly showed fewer postoperative hospital days with the laparoscopic approach. Surgical procedures should be decided in reference to the particular clinical and pathological features of diverticular disease to gain an acceptable morbidity and mortality rates

Bioactive polyamine production by a novel hybrid system comprising multiple indigenous gut bacterial strategies

個々の腸内細菌の生き残り戦略が組み合わさることで、 機能性物質ポリアミンが産生されていることを発見しました. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2018-07-06.Metabolites of the intestinal microbiota are thought to be generated through metabolic pathways spanning multiple taxa of intestinal bacteria. We have previously shown that the level of putrescine, a polyamine found abundantly in the human intestinal lumen, is increased in the colonic lumen following administration of arginine and the probiotic Bifidobacterium sp.; however, the underlying mechanism remained poorly understood. We report a novel pathway for putrescine production from arginine through agmatine involving the collaboration of two bacterial groups, and triggered by environmental acidification (drop in pH to below 6.5 from neutral). This pathway comprises the acid tolerance system of Escherichia coli, representing bacteria that have an arginine-dependent acid resistance system; the energy production system of Enterococcus faecalis, representing bacteria that have an agmatine deiminase system; and the acid production system of the acid-producing bacteria, represented by Bifidobacterium spp. This pathway is unique in that it represents a relationship between the independent survival strategies of multiple bacteria

Protective Effects of GLP-1 on Glomerular Endothelium and Its Inhibition by PKCβ Activation in Diabetes

To characterize glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 signaling and its effect on renal endothelial dysfunction and glomerulopathy. We studied the expression and signaling of GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) on glomerular endothelial cells and the novel finding of protein kinase A–dependent phosphorylation of c-Raf at Ser259 and its inhibition of angiotensin II (Ang II) phospho–c-Raf(Ser338) and Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Mice overexpressing protein kinase C (PKC)β2 in endothelial cells (EC-PKCβ2Tg) were established. Ang II and GLP-1 actions in glomerular endothelial cells were analyzed with small interfering RNA of GLP-1R. PKCβ isoform activation induced by diabetes decreased GLP-1R expression and protective action on the renal endothelium by increasing its degradation via ubiquitination and enhancing phospho–c-Raf(Ser338) and Ang II activation of phospho-Erk1/2. EC-PKCβ2Tg mice exhibited decreased GLP-1R expression and increased phospho–c-Raf(Ser338), leading to enhanced effects of Ang II. Diabetic EC-PKCβ2Tg mice exhibited greater loss of endothelial GLP-1R expression and exendin-4–protective actions and exhibited more albuminuria and mesangial expansion than diabetic controls. These results showed that the renal protective effects of GLP-1 were mediated via the inhibition of Ang II actions on cRaf(Ser259) and diminished by diabetes because of PKCβ activation and the increased degradation of GLP-1R in the glomerular endothelial cells

Two cases of lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas

A 35-year-old man was found to have a cystic mass in the pancreatic body on a routine health examination ; high serum CA19-9 was also detected. The enucleated cyst was diagnosed as a lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC). A 74-year-old man found to have a cystic mass in the pancreatic head by computer tomography as well as high serum CA19-9 was suspected of a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN), and pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) was performed. Pathologically, the cyst was found to be LEC. It is often difficult to diagnose pancreatic cyst as LEC preoperatively. Care should be taken not to do over-surgery for benign disease LEC

New distribution record of deep-sea mussel, Bathymodiolus aduloides (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from a hydrothermal vent, Myojinsho

From the deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps ecosystems, more than 600 species containing many endemic species have been discovered. The deep-sea mussels of the genus Bathymodiolus are dominant species at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps throughout the world. They are known to rely on the nutrients produced by the chemosynthetic symbiont in their gills. In 2009, we found a colony of bathymodiolin mussels at a hydrothermal vent of Myojinsho (Myojin Reef), which is a hardly investigated area. Myojinsho lies in the northern segment of the Izu-Ogasawara (Bonin) Arc and had been volcanically active until recently. We collected specimens from the colony using a remotely operated vehicle. We identified them as Bathymodiolus aduloides by morphological observation and phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial DNA sequencing. We could not find any other species of mussels during the dive. This result is interesting because this species has not been discovered from hydrothermal vents in this region; the dominant species in this region, including the neighbouring Myojin Knoll Caldera, is B. septemdierum

Retinal Not Systemic Oxidative and Inflammatory Stress Correlated with VEGF Expression in Rodent Models of Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

To correlate changes between VEGF expression with systemic and retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in rodent models of obesity induced insulin resistance and diabetes

口腔乾燥の改善に関する研究 : Capparis属植物配合タブレットの味覚特性と口腔内の潤い感について

本研究では、口腔乾燥を自覚したひとへのCapparis masaikai(マビンロウ)を配合したタブレット(MT)の応用にあたって、MTの嗜好性及び口腔内の潤い感を把握するため、成人を対象に官能評価を行った。その結果、1.MTは、甘味・渋味・苦味・粉っぽさがあり、爽やかさが少ないと評価された。2.MTの若年女性の嗜好性に対する評価が低かった。このことから、MTは味の嗜好性の評価や総合評価を向上させる必要性があると考えられた。3.MTは口腔内での潤い感が60分持続し、その効果が特に高齢者群で高かった。このことから、今後口腔乾燥症を有する成人・高齢者に口腔内の潤い感を付与する有効な手立ての一つとなると考えられた。As the taste characteristic of the tablet which mixed Capparis masaikai, a sensory evaluation was carried out among young panelists (23 men, average age 25.5 and 31 women, average age 22.2) and elderly panelists (15 men, average age 72.1 and 17 women, average age 74.3) in order to grasp the preference of taste and moisture sensation in the oral cavity. The sample of the sensory evaluation was made to be two kinds of the tablets of MT (the tablet including the 15% Capparis masaikai extract) and N-MT (the tablet of the identical composition without the Capparis masaikai extract). The sensory evaluation items were made to be the time until the tablets melted in the oral cavity, and strength and weakness and preference, total evaluation of the taste of the tablet in licking and after the licking. The following results were obtained: 1. MT was evaluated that sweetness, astringent taste and bitterness and powder were stronger than N-MT, but it was evaluated that refreshingness was weaker than N-MT. 2. An evaluation for the preference of the young women of MT was low. From this result, there seemed to be a necessity of improving evaluation and total evaluation of the preference of taste of MT. 3. Moisture sensation in the oral cavity kept 60 minutes on MT, and the effect was especially high in the elderly panelists. From this result, MT seemed to be one of the effective ways that gave moisture sensation in the oral cavity to adult and elderly people who would be conscious of the dry mouth in future