[Study on Fipronil and Other Pesticide Residues in Chicken Eggs Produced and Sold in Japan].

In some of the EU member countries, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, chicken eggs contaminated by fipronil used without authorization were identified and widely reported. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan stated no contaminated imports had been found in the country while promising to strengthen monitoring chicken eggs coming from those areas. Meanwhile, there are no reports published to show whether or not chicken eggs produced in Japan contain such pesticide. This paper, therefore, examined 50 commercial brands of chicken eggs produced and sold in Japan to identify 116 kinds of agricultural chemicals including fipronil.None of these brands contained fipronil. Among the 50 brands studied, 45 brands did not include any of the 116 kinds of agricultural chemicals. Spinosad was detected in the four brands with the concentration levels ranging from a trace to 0.019 ppm. Diflubenzuron was found at 0.005 ppm in one of the chicken brands. No brands exceeded the maximum residue limits.

Application of precise neutron focusing mirrors for neutron reflectometry: latest results and future prospects.

Neutron reflectometry (NR) is a powerful tool for providing insight into the evolution of interfacial structures, for example via operando measurements for electrode-electrolyte interfaces, with a spatial resolution of nanometres. The time resolution of NR, which ranges from seconds to minutes depending on the reflection intensity, unfortunately remains low, particularly for small samples made of state-of-the-art materials even with the latest neutron reflectometers. To overcome this problem, a large-area focusing supermirror manufactured with ultra-precision machining has been employed to enhance the neutron flux at the sample, and a gain of approximately 100% in the neutron flux was achieved. Using this mirror, a reflectivity measurement was performed on a thin cathode film on an SrTiO3 substrate in contact with an electrolyte with a small area of 15 × 15 mm. The reflectivity data obtained with the focusing mirror were consistent with those without the mirror, but the acquisition time was shortened to half that of the original, which is an important milestone for rapid measurements with a limited reciprocal space. Furthermore, a method for further upgrades that will reveal the structural evolution with a wide reciprocal space is proposed, by applying this mirror for multi-incident-angle neutron reflectometry.

Gallbladder hernia into the foramen of Winslow: CT findings.

We present a case of gallbladder hernia into the foramen of Winslow. During the diagnosis of hernia, ultrasonography, computed tomography and intravenous computed tomography, cholangiography of the abdomen were performed. Ultrasonography detected gallstone, but did not provide sufficient information to diagnose gallbladder hernia. Computed tomography yielded the correct diagnosis. At laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the diagnosis was confirmed.

REG Ialpha is a reliable marker of chemoradiosensitivity in squamous cell esophageal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: A reliable marker of chemoradiosensitivity that would enable appropriate and individualized treatment of thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer has long been sought. We investigated whether regenerating gene (REG) Ialpha is such a marker. METHODS: We assessed expression of REG Ialpha in untreated endoscopic biopsy specimens and examined the correlation between REG Ialpha expression and the clinical responses to definitive chemoradiotherapy and prognosis. We also examined the relationship between REG Ialpha expression in the resected tumor and the prognosis of patients who received esophagectomy for thoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer. RESULTS: Among the 42 patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy, 8 of the 23 REG I-positive patients (35%) showed complete responses to chemoradiotherapy, while only one of the 19 REG I-negative patients did so. The survival rate among the REG I-positive patients was significantly better than among the REG I-negative patients. For the 76 patients treated surgically, there was no significant difference in the survival rates among the REG I-positive and REG I-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: REG Ialpha expression in squamous cell esophageal carcinoma may be a reliable marker of chemoradiosensitivity. We anticipate that it will enable us to provide more appropriate and individualized treatment to patients of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Characterization of ESR active species on lithium chloride-modified mesoporous silica.

The surface of mesoporous silica with regular nanometer-sized pores and high surface area has been modified by metal ions or functional groups to introduce specific interactions. We found that ESR active species were formed on lithium chloride (LiCl)-modified mesoporous silica after heat treatment. The structure and the surface properties of LiCl-modified mesoporous silica were characterized by XRD, ESR, nitrogen adsorption, UV-vis-NIR, and TPD. The results suggest that the ESR active species were generated on the surface in response to heat treatment above 673 K. Moreover, it was found for the first time that LiCl-modified mesoporous silica after the heat treatment has reversible adsorption properties for hydrogen under room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Thallium-201 SPECT in the evaluation of early effects on brain tumors treated with stereotactic irradiation.

PURPOSE: To determine whether thallium-201 SPECT can predict response to stereotactic irradiation (STI) earlier than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the change in tumor size measured by MRI was compared with the change in tumor activity measured by Tl-201 SPECT before and after STI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one tumors in 16 patients with intracranial tumors were treated by STI. Tl-201 SPECT was performed within 1 week before the beginning of STI and within 1 week after the end of STI in all patients. All patients underwent MRI within 1 week before the beginning of STI, and 14 patients (19 tumors) underwent MRI within 1 week after the end of STI. Follow-up MRI was performed 1 to 2 months after the end of STI in 14 patients (16 tumors). The activity of Tl-201 in the tumor divided by that of the uninvolved symmetric area was defined as the Tl-index. The change in tumor size immediately and 1 to 2 months after STI was compared with the change in Tl-index immediately after STI. RESULTS: No significant relationship between the ratio of tumor size immediately after STI and the ratio of Tl-index immediately after STI was found. A significant correlation (r = 0.69, P <0.05) between the ratio of tumor size 1 to 2 months after STI and the ratio of Tl-index immediately after STI was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that Tl-201 SPECT immediately after STI can predict treatment response 1 to 2 months after STI, and that Tl-201 SPECT can be an early indicator of treatment response.

Adsorption and decomposition of water-dissolved ozone on high silica zeolites.

The adsorption properties of water-dissolved ozone on high silica zeolites were investigated. Adsorbed ozone was desorbed almost reversibly. The adsorption equilibrium relations were described by a linear expression written as q=betaC, where q is the amount adsorbed, C is the equilibrium concentration and beta is the equilibrium constant. Also, the beta values were strongly dependent on the SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) ratio (mol/mol) and on the pore structure of the high silica zeolites. The larger the SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) ratio, the larger the value of beta. ZSM-5 (SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) ratio: 3000), which gave the highest adsorption capacity of water-dissolved ozone, was able to highly concentrate water-dissolved ozone on the adsorbent. The decomposition behavior of adsorbed ozone was also investigated. Ozone adsorbed on high silica zeolite was observed to be a little more stable than ozone existing in bulk water. The decomposition rate was independent of SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) ratios in the range of 30-3000 or a solution pH in the range of 4-6.

Decomposition of trichloroethene on ozone-adsorbed high silica zeolites.

We developed a novel ozonation process for water treatment using high silica zeolites as an adsorptive concentrator of water-dissolved ozone and organic pollutants, resulting in a significant increase in reaction rate. In experiments involving trichloroethene (TCE) decomposition using a tubular flow reactor, TCE decomposition was much greater in the presence of ZSM-5 (SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) ratio=3000) than in its absence, possibly due to the high concentrations of ozone and TCE inside the adsorbent. The TCE conversion obtained in our experiments was found to reach its theoretically maximum limit.

Multi-shot echo-planar Flair imaging of brain tumors: comparison of spin-echo T1-weighted, fast spin-echo T2-weighted, and fast spin-echo Flair imaging.

Multi-shot echo-planar fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (EPI-Flair) was compared with spin-echo T1-weighted (SE-T1W), fast SE T2-weighted (FSE-T2W), and fast Flair (F-Flair) in imaging brain tumors. In 32 patients with various different brain tumors, three reviewers independently evaluated image quality. Two reviewers evaluated the image quality of precontrast EPI-Flair to be significantly better than that of precontrast SE-T1W. Two reviewers evaluated the image quality of postcontrast EPI-Flair as superior to that of postcontrast SE-T1W. Artifacts on postcontrast EPI-Flair were significantly more prominent than those on postcontrast F-Flair. Multi-shot EPI-Flair appeared to be superior to SE-T1W, and almost equivalent to FSE-T2W in terms of image quality.

Computed tomography findings of spontaneous perforation of pyometra.

We report herein a case of spontaneous perforation of pyometra leading to diffuse peritonitis. This pathological condition is rare, and preoperative diagnosis is difficult. We were able to make the correct diagnosis preoperatively using contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic computed tomography. Both intrauterine and extrauterine fluid collections and defects of the uterine fundus were key findings, and reconstructed sagittal and coronal images were useful. In elderly female patients presenting with acute abdomen, ruptured pyometra should be considered as a possibility.

Tumor-liver contrast and subjective tumor conspicuity of respiratory-triggered T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence compared with T2*-weighted gradient recalled-echo sequence for ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of hepatic malignant tumors.

PURPOSE: To compare respiratory-triggered T2-weighted fast spin-echo (RTT2W-FSE) and gradient T2*-weighted recalled-echo (T2*W-GRE) images for visualization of malignant hepatic tumors using ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ferucarbotran-enhanced RTT2W-FSE and breath-hold long-TE 2D-fast spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (FSPGR) images as T2*W-GRE were used to evaluate 128 malignant hepatic tumors (77 metastases, 37 hepatocellular carcinomas, 14 other) in 62 patients. Tumor-to-liver contrast (TLC) was quantitatively compared using the paired Student's t-test, and the score of lesion conspicuity was qualitatively compared using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. RESULTS: The mean TLC of RTT2W-FSE was significantly higher than that of FSPGR (1.10 +/- 0.82 vs. 2.54 +/- 1.42) in all malignant tumors. The score of lesion conspicuity of RTT2W-FSE was significantly higher than that of FSPGR (4.84 +/- 0.52 vs. 4.52 +/- 0.99) in all malignant tumors. CONCLUSION: For ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging, compared to FSPGR images, RTT2W-FSE images provide greater TLC and subjective conspicuity for malignant tumors.

Diffusion changes in a tumor and peritumoral tissue after stereotactic irradiation for brain tumors: possible prediction of treatment response.

OBJECTIVE: Changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in a tumor and peritumoral tissue after stereotactic irradiation (STI) were evaluated, and then the therapeutic efficacy of ADC measurement was assessed. METHODS: In 20 tumors, diffusion-weighted imaging within 1 week before and 2-4 weeks after STI was performed. The normalized ADC (nADC) was measured. The nADCs in the tumor and peritumoral region before STI were compared with those after STI and the change in tumor nADC compared with the change in tumor size. RESULTS: The nADC of the tumors was significantly higher 2-4 weeks after STI compared with that before STI. The nADC of the peritumoral regions 2-4 weeks after STI did not differ significantly from that before STI. A significant difference in the nADC at 2-4 weeks after STI was observed between the responder and nonresponder groups. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in nADC as measured by diffusion-weighted imaging can predict response to STI.