Leisure-time, occupational, and commuting physical activity and risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese workers: a cohort study

Table S1. Association between moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity exercise during leisure and risk of type 2 diabetes. Table S2. Risk of type 2 diabetes associated with specific type of leisure-time exercise. (DOCX 47 kb

3-D eddy current analysis in moving conductors of permanent magnet type retarders using moving coordinate system

A 3-D DC steady state eddy current analysis of a permanent magnet type retarder which rotates at high speed is carried out using a moving coordinate system. The method of DC steady state analysis using a moving coordinate system is described. The calculated results, braking torque etc., are compared with measured ones</p

Optimization of permanent magnet type of retarder using 3-D finite element method and direct search method

3-D optimization method using the combined experimental design method and direct search method is developed to apply to the optimal design of a permanent magnet type of retarder. It is shown that the braking torque is increased by using the optimization method. The CPU time can be considerably reduced by utilizing the initial values obtained by the experimental design method </p

3-D eddy current analysis in moving conductor of permanent magnet type of retarder using moving coordinate system

A 3-D DC steady state eddy current analysis of a permanent magnet type of retarder which rotates at high speed is carried out using a moving coordinate system. The method of DC steady-state analysis using a moving coordinate system is described. The calculated braking torque is compared with measured data</p

High-resolution melting curve analysis for rapid detection of mutations in a Medaka TILLING library

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During the last two decades, DNA sequencing has led to the identification of numerous genes in key species; however, in most cases, their functions are still unknown. In this situation, reverse genetics is the most suitable method to assign function to a gene. TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) is a reverse-genetic strategy that combines random chemical mutagenesis with high-throughput discovery of the induced mutations in target genes. The method has been applied to a variety of plant and animal species. Screening of the induced mutations is the most important step in TILLING. Currently, direct sequencing or nuclease-mediated screening of heteroduplexes is widely used for detection of mutations in TILLING. Both methods are useful, but the costs are substantial and turnaround times are relatively long. Thus, there is a need for an alternative method that is of higher throughput and more cost effective.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we developed a high resolution melting (HRM) assay and evaluated its effectiveness for screening ENU-induced mutations in a medaka TILLING library. We had previously screened mutations in the <it>p53 </it>gene by direct sequencing. Therefore, we first tested the efficiency of the HRM assay by screening mutations in <it>p53</it>, which indicated that the HRM assay is as useful as direct sequencing. Next, we screened mutations in the <it>atr </it>and <it>atm </it>genes with the HRM assay. Nonsense mutations were identified in each gene, and the phenotypes of these nonsense mutants confirmed their loss-of-function nature.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results demonstrate that the HRM assay is useful for screening mutations in TILLING. Furthermore, the phenotype of the obtained mutants indicates that medaka is an excellent animal model for investigating genome stability and gene function, especially when combined with TILLING.</p

Effect of Kampo medicine “Dai-kenchu-to” on microbiome in the intestine of the rats with fast stress

[Purpose] Diversity of gut microbiome has been recently reported to be lost in inflammatory bowel disease. We have previously reported that the Dai-kenchu-to (DKT) prevented the bacterial translocation through suppression of cytokine and apoptosis in rat’s fast stress model. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DKT on maintenance of microbial diversity in rat’s intestine with inflammation. [Method] Wister rats were received the fast stress for 5 days. In DKT group, rats were administered with DKT (300 mg/kg/day) during the fast stress (DKT-group). The gut microbiomes were analyzed at before- and after- fast stress, and the effect of DKT for on microbial diversities of the gut were evaluated by the PCR-clone library method targeting the 16 S ribosomal RNA gene. [Result] In Control-group, Erysipelotrichaceae increased to 86% in after fast stress, OTU of before-fast stress was 111 and after fast stress was only 9 (changing rate : 58%). The diversity of microbiome was severely decreased. On the other hand, in DKT-group, diversity of microbiome was kept after fast stress (Lachnospiraceae : Ruminococcaceae : Coriobacteriales 54%, 22%, 5%), Operational taxonomic units of before fast stress was 52 and after fast stress was 55 (changing rate : 6%). Family Lachnospiraceae which includes butyrate-producing Clostridia (Clostridium IV and XIVa). [Conclusion] DKT prevented the reduction of diversity of microbiome in rat’s fast stress model. Our data suggested the new anti-inflammatory mechanism of DKT through gut microbiome

Optimal waist circumference cut-off points and ability of different metabolic syndrome criteria for predicting diabetes in Japanese men and women: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study

Abstract Background We sought to establish the optimal waist circumference (WC) cut-off point for predicting diabetes mellitus (DM) and to compare the predictive ability of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria of the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) and the Japanese Committee of the Criteria for MetS (JCCMS) for DM in Japanese. Methods Participants of the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study, who were aged 20–69 years and free of DM at baseline (n = 54,980), were followed-up for a maximum of 6 years. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off points of WC for predicting DM. Time-dependent sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the prediction of DM were compared between the JIS and JCCMS MetS criteria. Results During 234,926 person-years of follow-up, 3180 individuals developed DM. Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that the most suitable cut-off point of WC for predicting incident DM was 85 cm for men and 80 cm for women. MetS was associated with 3–4 times increased hazard for developing DM in men and 7–9 times in women. Of the MetS criteria tested, the JIS criteria using our proposed WC cut-off points (85 cm for men and 80 cm for women) had the highest sensitivity (54.5 % for men and 43.5 % for women) for predicting DM. The sensitivity and specificity of the JCCMS MetS criteria were ~37.7 and 98.9 %, respectively. Conclusion Data from the present large cohort of workers suggest that WC cut-offs of 85 cm for men and 80 cm for women may be appropriate for predicting DM for Japanese. The JIS criteria can detect more people who later develop DM than does the JCCMS criteria

Spontaneous Rupture of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Of 105 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated during 1970-1988, twelve patients had spontaneous rupture of carcinomatous nodules. 1) Of previous 6 cases, five were treated by conventional surgical procedures such as packing and suture, and all died. One case underwent right lobectomy following guaze pack and lived for 15 months. 2) The recent 6 cases underwent emergency transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE ) and two died of hepatic failure due to severe cirrhosis. The other 4 cases had successful control , of bleeding which allowed further treatment of HCC ; hepatectomy in 3 and repeated TAE in one. 3) All cases had precirrhosis or cirrhosis. Pathologically, ruptured tumors expansively growing with capsule invasion of cancer cells, and portal tumor thrombus were recognized in resected or autopsy specimens. DNA aneuploid HCC on flow cytometric DNA analysis were found in 4 out of 5 cases. In conclusion, hepatic resection following embolization, when possible, would seem to be rational treatment for spontaneous rupture of HCC, although the prognosis is still extremely poor despite successful control of bleeding

Tumor-containing CEA in Colon Cancers

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum and fresh cancer tissue taken at surgery was measured and analyzed in terms of the disease stage. The CEA level in serum (s-CEA ) has become higher with advance in the disease stage. However, in stage V it was lowered as well as CEA level in cancer mass (ca-CEA). It is suggested that S-CEA is influenced by cancer invasion into the vessel wall, tumor necrosis and/or degeneration which ca-CEA may well be migrated from the tumor cells