Vegetation development on the glacier moraines in Oobloyah Valley, Ellesmere Island high arctic Canada

The process of the vegetation development on glacier moraines was surveyed in the lower stream area of Oobloyah Valley (80°50\u27N, 82°45\u27W), Ellesmere Island, high arctic Canada. Four glacier moraines, and an outwash plane with different establishment periods in the proglacial field of Arklio Glacier, were surveyed .The oldest moraine was estimated to have been established during the Full Glacial, ca. 25000-35000 years ago, and the youngest one during the Little Ice Age, ca. 250 years ago. The vegetation properties such as number of species per study plot, cover of vegetation, lichens and bryophytes showed constant increase the moraine age, suggesting directional vegetation development. Changes in the species composition were such that new species successively appeared during the establishment of the moraines without obvious replacement of the species. It was concluded that the manner of the vegetation development was directional-nonreplacement succession even under extreme high arctic environment, differing from the generally accepted view that under an extreme high arctic environment nondirectional-nonreplacement succession prevails. Vegetation physiognomy approached Cassiope tetragona-dominated dwarf shrub heath, which generally prevails in more southern regions than Ellesmere Island. The period required for the vegetation development in the study area was assumed to be quite long, probably at least ca. 20000 years

Proteomic alteration in gastic adenocarcinomas from Japanese patients

BACKGROUND: Gastric adenocarcinomas comprise one of the common types of cancers in Asian countries including Japan. Comprehensive protein profiling of paired surgical specimens of primary gastric adenocarcinomas and nontumor mucosae derived from Japanese patients was carried out by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-EP) and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionic tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) to establish gastric cancer-specific proteins as putative clinical biomarkers and molecular targets for chemotherapy. RESULTS: Relatively common alterations in protein expression were revealed in the tumor tissues. Increases in manganese dismutase and nonhistone chromosomal protein HMG-1 (HMG-1) were observed, while decreases in carbonic anhydrases I and II, glutatione-S-transferase and foveolin precursor (gastrokine-1) (FOV), an 18-kDa stomach-specific protein with putative tumor suppressor activity, were detected. RT-PCR analysis also revealed significant down-regulation of FOV mRNA expression in tumor tissues. CONCLUSION: A possible pathological role for down-regulation of FOV in gastric carcinogenesis was demonstrated. Evaluation of the specific decreases in gene and protein expression of FOV in patients may be utilized as clinical biomarkers for effective diagnosis and assessment of gastric cancer

Novel Nonstructural Protein 4 Genetic Group in Rotavirus of Porcine Origin

Novel Genetic Group in Rotaviru

Proceeding of The International Seminar on Chemistry

Abstract Currently, most of the biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils and methanol in the presence of base catalysts using mechanical stirring method at temperature 50-65 o C. This method consumes much energy because oils and methanol must be heated up to desired temperature, and also requires rather long reaction time. Ultrasound-assisted reaction can reduce the reaction time much shorter than mechanical stirring and the reaction can be carried out at room temperature, so energy can be saved. In the pilot scale the trans-esterification was performed by circulation process under low frequency ultrasound (20 kHz) with the input capacity of 1 kW. Effect of various process parameters such as the amount of KOH, molar ratio of oil to methanol and also reaction time were investigated. The optimal conditions for the process were: oil/methanol molar ratio 1:5, the amount of KOH to oil 0.7 % w/w. Under these conditions, conversion of triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) was 96.3% within the reaction time 60 minutes . Glycerin, catalyst and excess methanol were separated easily from FAMEs phase. Crude biodiesel was purified by washing with tap water and drying at 65 o C under reduced pressure at 520torr

フククウキョウカ チョクチョウダツ コンチ ジュツゴ ニ ハッセイ シタ ポートコウ ヘルニア ノ イチレイ

The patient was an 80-year-old hunchbacked woman. Her main complaints were anal pain and hemorrhage. She was diagnosed with Tuttle’s type II rectal prolapse and underwent radical laparoscopic surgery for the rectal prolapse. A Penrose drain was put in place through a 12-mm port in the right hypogastrium. As there was no problem with drainage, the drain was withdrawn on the 3rd postoperative day. However, the small intestine was found to be prolapsed 20 cm in length from the site and to be necrotized. We resected the small intestine immediately. It seems necessary to take some measures, for example, using a port of 10 mm or less, when placing a drain during laparoscopic surgery, with occurrence of port-site hernia in mind

The effect of nutritional support on the immune function in the acute postoperative period after esophageal cancer surgery : total parenteral nutrition versus enteral nutrition

Background : Enteral nutrition (EN) is now used more frequently than total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for nutritional support after resection for esophageal cancer. But consensus regarding which type of nutrition should be used does not exist. We studied the effect of TPN and EN on patients’ nutritional status and immune function in the immediate postoperative period after esophageal cancer resection. Methods : We enrolled 30 patients (27 men and 3 women) who underwent subtotal esophagectomy. The patients were randomly assigned to TPN or EN group. Either TPN or EN was begun on postoperative day 1. On postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, three endpoints were measured : albumin, C-reactive protein, and Th1/Th2 balance. Results : All patients completed the study. Anastomotic leaks occurred in 6 patients in the TPN group and 7 patients in the EN group. Albumin, Th1/Th2 balance, and C-reactive protein did not differ between the groups. Th1/Th2 balance was not different regardless of the preoperative treatment or complications. Conclusions. No differences in immune function, nutritional state, or inflammatory response were seen between patients supported with TPN and those supported with EN. The results of our study suggest that perioperative nutritional support can be safely performed either with TPN or EN

イ ジョウコウ ケッチョウ チョクチョウ ノ 3 チョウフクガン ニ タイシテ イッキテキ ニ フククウキョウカ シュジュツ オ シコウ シタ 1レイ

A ５１-years-old man was admitted with anemia. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed ０-IIa＋IIc lesion in the middle body of the stomach. The colonoscopy revealed type ３ lesion by Borrmann classification with advanced stenosis. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed the tumor in the ascending colon. We diagnosed a synchronous gastric, ascending colon, and rectal cancer. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, we performed the laparoscopic operation for the synchronous cancer. There were no remarkable complications due to the collaboration. Laparoscopic approach for synchronous triple cancer is feasible as safety and minimally invasive surgery