Subgenera of Enoploteuthis, Abralia and Abraliopsis of the squid family Enoploteuthidae (Cephalopoda, Oegopsida)

The subgenera in three genera of oegopsid squid family Enoploteuthidae (Enoploteuthis, Abralia and Abraliopsis) are revised. The genus Enoploteuthis contains two subgenera, Enoploteuthis s. str. and Paraenoploteuthis nov. The former subgeneric arrangement of the genus Abralia is changed. It is divisible into five subgenera, namely, Abralia s. str., Astrabralia, Asteroteuthis, Pygmabralia, and Heterabralia nov. The genus Abraliopsis consists of four subgenera. Abraliopsis s. str., Micrabralia, Boreabraliopsis nov. , and Pfefferiteuthis nov. Relationships among genera and subgenera of the family are discussed

Abraliopsis pacificus, a new species in the squid family Enoploteuthidae from the Northwest Pacific

Abraliopsis (Abraliopsis) pacificus n. sp. is described. This species is characterized by having diffused photophore arrangement on head, developcd carpal flap and aboral keel on tentacular club, unequal offset crests on hectocotylus and rectangular arm sucker ring teeth. It is distributed commonly in the midwater of Northwest Pacific Basin

Abralia similis, a New Enoploteuthid Squid from the Northwest Pacific (Cephalopoda, Oegopsida)

Abralia similis, a new species of Oegopsid squid belonging to the Family Enoploteuthidae is described. This species was collected with midwater trawl of the R/V Kaiyo-Maru from the Northwest Pacific Basin and Shikoku Basin. It is characterized by five subocular photophores with no interposed ones, two small tentacular hooks and dorsal flap, and three offset crests on the hectocotylus

Assessment of intraoral mucosal pain induced by the application of capsaicin

Objective To develop an objective method for assessing nociceptive behaviour in an animal model of capsaicin-induced intraoral pain. Changes in nociceptive responses were also examined after injury to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). Design Nociceptive responses evoked by the intraoral application of various doses of capsaicin were analyzed in lightly anaesthetized rats. The number of c-Fos protein-like immunoreactive (Fos-LI) neurons in the medullary dorsal horn (MDH) induced by the intraoral application of capsaicin was measured. Behavioural and c-Fos responses were also examined 14 days after injury to the IAN. Results Larger doses of intraoral capsaicin (1, 10 and 100 μg) induced vigorous licking behaviour and c-Fos response in the MDH in a reproducible manner. The magnitudes of both behavioural activity and the c-Fos response from the 10 and 100 μg doses of capsaicin were significantly greater than that by the 1 μg dose. Injury to the IAN exaggerated the behavioural and c-Fos responses evoked by intraoral capsaicin. Conclusions The intraoral application of capsaicin is a valid and reliable method for studying intraoral pain and hyperalgesia following nerve injury

The establishment of the food safety commission (FSC) and its role in relation to boiling spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Japan

After the detection of the first case of bovine spongiformencephalopathy (BSE) in Japan, severalmeasures were introduced to protect public and animal health. Those measures included BSE testing of all cattle slaughtered for human consumption with a rapid test, removal of specified risk materials (SRM), enhancement of surveillance, and feed ban. In addition, the Food Safety Basic Law was enforced and the Food Safety Commission (FSC) was established in July 2003 to strengthen the function of the government in food safety. In December 2004, the first case of BSE was detected in the United States, and the Japanese government suspended importation of beef from the US to Japan, causing a new trade issue between the two countries. This article outlines how the Japanese government addressed the domestic BSE issues and bilateral trade issues in consultation with the FSC.Après la détection du premier cas d'encéphalopathie spongiforme bovine (ESB) au Japon, plusieurs mesures ont été prises pour protéger la santé publique et animale. Elles comprennent le dépistage de l'ESB, par un test rapide, de tous les bovins abattus pour la consommation humaine, le retrait des matériels à risques spécifiés (MRS), le renforcement de la surveillance et l'interdiction des farines de viandes et d'os. En outre, la Loi fondamentale sur la sécurité alimentaire a été appliquée et la Commission de la sécurité sanitaire des aliments (CSSA) a été créée en juillet 2003 pour conseiller le gouvernement en matière de sécurité alimentaire. En décembre 2004, suite au premier cas d'ESB détecté aux Etats-Unis, le gouvernement japonais a suspendu l'importation de viande bovine qui en provenait, provoquant un nouveau problème commercial entre les deux pays. Cet article décrit la façon dont le gouvernement japonais, après consultation de la CSSA, a contrôlé, au plan national, la situation relative à l'ESB et les relations commerciales bilatérales

Prediction of myocutaneous adverse side effect due to intra-arterial chemotherapy by intra-arterial 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin administration in patients with bone and soft-tissue tumors

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科In malignant bone and soft-tissue tumors, intra-arterial chemotherapy and limb-saving surgery have become popular. Myocutaneous inflammatory change and necrosis are the major local side effects of intra-arterial chemotherapy. 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) imaging with intra-arterial tracer administration was performed to evaluate drug distribution, and the ability of 99mTc-MAA imaging to predict local side effects was assessed. Methods: In 24 patients, 42 99mTc-MAA images were obtained with tracer injection through an intra-arterial catheter that was inserted into the proximal portion of the tumor-feeding artery. Abnormal uptake other than by tumor was assessed visually and quantitatively. Results: In visual analysis, abnormal 99mTc-MAA accumulation was observed in 21 of 42 images. In the first consecutive 13 of these 21 images, intra-arterial chemotherapy with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and caffeine was administered, and myocutaneous inflammation or necrosis in the area corresponding to the abnormal 99mTc-MAA uptake was observed in 11. In contrast, none of the 21 images without abnormal 99mTc-MAA uptake demonstrated any local adverse effect from intra-arterial chemotherapy. In the last consecutive 8 images with abnormal 99mTc-MAA uptake, intra-arterial chemotherapy was initiated with only cisplatin, and doxorubicin and caffeine administration was changed to the intravenous route. In all 8 of these images, no local adverse effects from chemotherapy were observed. Overall, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 99mTc-MAA imaging for the detection of myocutaneous damage were 100% (11/11), 91% (21/23), and 94% (32/34), respectively, and positive and negative predictive values were 85% (11/13) and 100% (21/21), respectively. In quantitative analysis, when the diagnostic threshold of the uptake ratio was set at 2.5, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the detection of myocutaneous complications were 91% (10/11), 96% (22/ 23), and 94% (32/34), respectively, and positive and negative predictive values were 91% (10/11) and 96% (22/23), respectively. Conclusion: 99mTc-MAA imaging with intra-arterial infusion before intra-arterial chemotherapy for bone and soft-tissue tumors can facilitate prediction of local myocutaneous adverse effects due to chemotherapy

Transverse incision advantages for total knee arthroplasty

Background If a transverse incision can be safely used for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), decreases in scar formation, reduced injury of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve and improved kneeling motion will be observed. Methods We evaluated 95 patients (101 knees) on whom primary TKA was performed with follow-up of more than 2 years. A longitudinal incision was used for the first 40 knees and a transverse incision for the remaining 61 knees. Operation time, blood loss, complications and Knee Society Score were evaluated. Wound lengths, widths and the Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) were measured 1 year after the surgery. Further examination evaluated sensory disturbances and whether kneeling was possible. Results The complication rate in both groups was almost the same. The wound lengths measured at a 90° kneeflexed position were about 15 cm with no significant difference between the groups. The average width measured at a maximum area was significantly smaller in the transverse group than in the longitudinal group. MSS of the transverse group was also significantly lower than that of the longitudinal group. Sensory disturbance was found to be significantly smaller in the transverse group than in the longitudinal group both in subjective and objective evaluation at 1 year after surgery. When a transverse incision was used, the direction of the incision corresponded to the running direction of the saphenous nerve, and thus, we were able to reduce sensory disturbances on the distal lateral side of the knee joint. The transverse group (70.4%) performed significantly better than the longitudinal group (40.6%) at kneeling motion. Conclusions We showed that making a transverse incision is a safe method, resulting in a reduction of scar formation and less dysfunction of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, and improvement of kneeling motion. © The Japanese Orthopaedic Association 2011