On the Commemorative Ceremony and Symposium for the 20th Anniversary of Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan.

Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (FSCJ) was established in 2003 and marked its 20th anniversary in 2023. FSCJ held a commemorative ceremony and symposium to celebrate its 20th anniversary at Mita conference hall (Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo) on September 1st, 2023, which attracted a total of 164 on-site attendees including six media companies, as well as 460 online viewers. FSCJ Chairperson Dr. YAMAMOTO gave a summary of each session; Session 1 outlined the various future challenges against which risk assessment organizations must prepare. In Session 2, panelists shared information on the development of new evaluation methodologies and international collaborations in order to meet various global demands and issues. In Session 3, the FSCJ introduced its future initiatives and called for international collaboration in sharing information and expertise to address data gaps and emerging issues, to which all panelists expressed their support. The importance of personnel development to tackle these challenges was also raised. In concluding the seminar, Dr. YAMAMOTO expressed that the common understanding gained from this occasion was the most fruitful achievement, owing to the international colleagues who shared their thought-provoking presentations and insights.

On the Commemorative Ceremony and Symposium for the 20th Anniversary of Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan.

Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (FSCJ) was established in 2003 and marked its 20th anniversary in 2023. FSCJ held a commemorative ceremony and symposium to celebrate its 20th anniversary at Mita conference hall (Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo) on September 1st, 2023, which attracted a total of 164 on-site attendees including six media companies, as well as 460 online viewers. FSCJ Chairperson Dr. YAMAMOTO gave a summary of each session; Session 1 outlined the various future challenges against which risk assessment organizations must prepare. In Session 2, panelists shared information on the development of new evaluation methodologies and international collaborations in order to meet various global demands and issues. In Session 3, the FSCJ introduced its future initiatives and called for international collaboration in sharing information and expertise to address data gaps and emerging issues, to which all panelists expressed their support. The importance of personnel development to tackle these challenges was also raised. In concluding the seminar, Dr. YAMAMOTO expressed that the common understanding gained from this occasion was the most fruitful achievement, owing to the international colleagues who shared their thought-provoking presentations and insights.

Probing the solvation of the α-helix with extended amide III bands in Raman optical activity.

Experimental and theoretical Raman optical activity (ROA) study of α-helical peptides and proteins has suggested that the relative intensity of two extended amide III ROA bands at ∼1340 cm-1 (I band) and ∼1300 cm-1 (II band) can be used to monitor the permittivity of the surrounding medium of the α-helix. So far, the ROA intensity ratio, II/III, has been interpreted from two different viewpoints. The first one is in terms of a direct effect of permittivity around the α-helix. The second one is based on a structural equilibrium of two types of α-helical structures, "hydrated" and "unhydrated" ones. In the present study, temperature- and solvent-dependences of II/III are measured for highly-α-helical peptides and compared to the theoretical spectra while varying the permittivity or the type of α-helical structure. A fragment method with partial optimization in the normal modes is adopted in density functional theory calculations. The main features of the experimental spectra and a trend of the observed II/III are well reproduced by the simulations, which leads us to a conclusion that the II/III is dominantly governed by a direct influence of the permittivity of the environment and just accessorily by the equilibrium of the two types of α-helices. The simulations also opposed the conventional assignments of the I and II bands to "hydrated" and "unhydrated" α-helical structures, respectively. In the case of α-helical proteins, solvent exposure of the α-helix may be monitored by the ROA ratio.

Intense chiral signal from α-helical poly-L-alanine observed in low-frequency Raman optical activity.

Raman optical activity (ROA) spectral features reliably indicate the structure of peptides and proteins, but the signal is often weak. However, we observed significantly enhanced low-frequency bands for α-helical poly-L-alanine (PLA) in solution. The biggest ROA signal at ∼100 cm-1 is about 10 times stronger than higher-frequency bands described previously, which facilitates the detection. The low-frequency bands of PLA were compared to those of α-helical proteins. For PLA, density functional simulations well reproduced the experimental spectra and revealed that about 12 alanine residues within two turns of the α-helix generate the strong ROA band. Averaging based on molecular dynamics (MD) provided an even more realistic spectrum compared to the static model. The low-frequency bands could be largely related to a collective motion of the α-helical backbone, partially modulated by the solvent. Helical and intermolecular vibrational coordinates have been introduced and the helical unwinding modes were assigned to the strongest ROA signal at 101-128 cm-1. Further analysis indicated that the helically arranged amide and methyl groups are important for the strong chiral signal of PLA, while the local chiral centers CαH contribute in a minor way only. The strong low-frequency ROA can thus provide precious information about the motions of the peptide backbone and facilitate future protein studies.

Antimicrobial Drug-resistance Profile of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus isolated from Japanese Horse Mackerel (Trachurus Japonicus).

This study aimed at investigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus). The bacteria were isolated from wild-caught and farmed Japanese horse mackerel (Trachurus japonicus), and examined for the antimicrobial drug resistance. Furthermore, the serotype, and the genes of thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and cholera toxin transcriptional activator (toxR) of the isolates were investigated by using a serotype testing kit and PCR method. Eighty-eight and 126 V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from wild-caught and farmed Japanese horse mackerel, respectively. Ten and 18 distinct serotypes were detected from wild-caught and farmed Japanese horse mackerel. All strains were negative for tdh genes but positive for toxR genes. Resistances to ampicillin (ABP) and to both ABP and fosfomycin (FOM) were observed in 54 and 23 strains from the wild-caught fish, while those resistant strains from farm fish were 112 and 7 strains. Multidrug-resistance to three or four drugs including ABP was observed in one or two strains from the wild-caught fish. These results strongly suggest that the environmental exposure of antimicrobial drugs results in the spread of resistant genes in Japanese horse mackerel. This study highlights the need for monitoring the spread of resistance genes to the human intestinal flora as well as to other bacteria in the environment.

Advances, challenges and perspectives of quantum chemical approaches in molecular spectroscopy of the condensed phase.

The purpose of this review is to demonstrate advances, challenges and perspectives of quantum chemical approaches in molecular spectroscopy of the condensed phase. Molecular spectroscopy, particularly vibrational spectroscopy and electronic spectroscopy, has been used extensively for a wide range of areas of chemical sciences and materials science as well as nano- and biosciences because it provides valuable information about structure, functions, and reactions of molecules. In the meantime, quantum chemical approaches play crucial roles in the spectral analysis. They also yield important knowledge about molecular and electronic structures as well as electronic transitions. The combination of spectroscopic approaches and quantum chemical calculations is a powerful tool for science, in general. Thus, our article, which treats various spectroscopy and quantum chemical approaches, should have strong implications in the wider scientific community. This review covers a wide area of molecular spectroscopy from far-ultraviolet (FUV, 120-200 nm) to far-infrared (FIR, 400-10 cm-1)/terahertz and Raman spectroscopy. As quantum chemical approaches, we introduce several anharmonic approaches such as vibrational self-consistent field (VSCF) and the combination of periodic harmonic calculations with anharmonic corrections based on finite models, grid-based techniques like the Numerov approach, the Cartesian coordinate tensor transfer (CCT) method, Symmetry-Adapted Cluster Configuration-Interaction (SAC-CI), and the ZINDO (Semi-empirical calculations at Zerner's Intermediate Neglect of Differential Overlap). One can use anharmonic approaches and grid-based approaches for both infrared (IR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, while CCT methods are employed for Raman, Raman optical activity (ROA), FIR/terahertz and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. Therefore, this review overviews cross relations between molecular spectroscopy and quantum chemical approaches, and provides various kinds of close-reality advanced spectral simulation for condensed phases.

A Case of Mandibular Prognathism with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis and Crowding.

Aggressive periodontitis during adolescence has a poor prognosis due to rapid alveolar bone resorption. Few studies have investigated long-term follow-up after surgical orthodontic treatment performed in conjunction with that for invasive periodontitis. Here, we report a case of mandibular prognathism accompanied by generalized aggressive periodontitis and crowding. A 31-year-old woman was referred to our department for treatment of masticatory dysfunction due to reverse overjet. The patient exhibited a class III molar relationship, protrusion of the ANB of －6.0°, and severe maxillary crowding. Initial periodontal examination revealed deep periodontal pockets and extensive inflammation. Mandibular prognathism accompanied by generalized aggressive periodontitis and crowding was diagnosed. Therefore, it was necessary to adopt an interdisciplinary approach involving surgical, orthodontic, and periodontal treatment. Prior to commencement of orthodontic treatment, plaque control, scaling, and root planing of all teeth were performed by a periodontist to suppress inflammation and reduce probing depth. During pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, the maxillary first premolars were extracted to reduce crowding of the maxillary incisors. To correct the mandibular prognathism, the mandible was repositioned by sagittal split ramus osteotomy. Proper occlusion of the incisors and maximum intercuspation were achieved by post-surgical orthodontic treatment. After completion of active orthodontic treatment, acceleration of inflammation was observed together with aggravated resorption of the alveolar bone surrounding the molars. However, reduction of probing depth and inflammation were observed after scaling and root planing. The surgical-orthodontic treatment time was 1 year and 11 months, which was followed by a 2-year retention period. There was no tooth loss due to periodontitis, and an overall satisfactory outcome was achieved.

Low-Frequency Vibrational Modes of Nylon 6 Studied by Using Infrared and Raman Spectroscopies and Density Functional Theory Calculations.

Far-infrared (FIR) and low-frequency Raman bands in the 90?400 cm?1 region of crystalline nylon 6 in ? form were assigned based on comparisons of experimental spectra and quantum mechanical calculations. A fragment methodology was applied in the calculations for explicit consideration of interchain interactions and crystal symmetry. The main features in both Raman and FIR spectra were reproduced well, which enabled the band assignments based on density functional theory and the significant improvement of the conventional assignments for which there had been a big dispute. Temperature dependence of the experimental FIR spectra has revealed that both bands at 222 and 111 cm?1 are characteristic of the ?-form structure. Their intensities linearly decreased with increasing temperature with marked two transition points, which correspond to glass and Brill transitions. Both bands can be indicators of the lattice length of ?-form nylon 6. On the basis of the calculations, the FIR and Raman bands at ?100 cm?1 were successfully assigned to methylene torsion and transverse motion of amide groups in which NH and O atoms move out of the amide plane. Decomposition of the calculated spectra revealed that the intensities at ?100 cm?1 in both spectra mainly originate from the amide groups and only secondarily from the methylene groups. Moreover, the FIR intensities at ?100 cm?1 were nearly perfectly governed by the amide groups, which could be a reason why this FIR band is particularly sensitive to hydrogen bonds among the low-frequency bands. The FIR band at 222 cm?1 was assigned to methylene torsion and transverse motion of NH groups. Both FIR bands at 222 and 111 cm?1 contain perpendicular motions of methylene and amide groups. This will be a reason for their sensitivity to interchain interactions in ?-form nylon 6. Contrarily, the FIR band at 294 cm?1 is in parallel polarization to the chain direction and assigned to a deformation of C?CH2?CH2 and bending motion of C?O in the amide plane. This is the reason why this band is not sensitive to the structural transitions of nylon 6. Our previous works revealed that in regions of 125 and 70 cm?1, there are specific vibrational peaks of crystalline polyesters primarily arising from out-of-plane motion of ester groups. We can find a similarity in 125 and 70 cm?1 regions between crystalline polyesters and nylon 6 that both polymers show specific out-of-plane vibrational peaks around 100 cm?1, which are sensitive to the lattice length among polymer chains.

Complete Resection without Any Ostomies by Laparoscopic Extended Surgery for Locally Advanced T4 Sigmoid Colon Cancer Invading the Urinary Bladder and Ureter.

The feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for locally advanced colorectal cancer remain controversial due to the high rate of incomplete resection and conversion to open surgery. Especially for T4 colorectal cancer, laparoscopic techniques are still demanding mainly because of the difficulty in distinguishing between inflammation and tumor involvement, which often lead surgeons to do overtreatment in surgery. We believe laparoscopic magnified and multidirectional approach might be useful for pathologically complete resection and minimizing an unnecessary extended surgery for these cases. A 49-year-old man was diagnosed with locally advanced T4 sigmoid colon cancer invading the urinary bladder and ureter. We performed laparoscopic anterior resection with en bloc resection of the urinary bladder and the left ureter. Total operative time was 462 min, and the estimated blood loss was 50 ml. This patient was discharged on the 28th day after surgery without any ostomies and urinary functional disorders. The magnified view by laparoscopic techniques from multiple directions would enable surgeons to set surgical landmarks for another approach, which is the key for safe and feasible laparoscopic surgery in patients with locally advanced T4 colorectal cancer.

Recurrent infectious subcapsular renal hematoma accompanied by microaneurysm.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital complaining of loss of appetite. 10 days earlier, her oral intake gradually decreased with no other specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, or low back pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a left subcapsular renal hematoma. We suspected infective subcapsular renal hematoma, so percutaneous needle aspiration and drainage were performed. Intravenous sulbactam-ampicillin was started immediately. On day 9 after admission, repeat CT scan revealed the subcapsular hematoma had reduced in size. The drain was removed, and intravenous antibiotics were discontinued. Follow-up CT scan on day 21 revealed increased subcapsular renal hematoma size. The patient also had high fever. Suspecting recurrence of infective subcapsular renal hematoma, we repeated the drainage of the hematoma and restarted intravenous antibiotics. Renal arteriography showed a renal artery microaneurysm and her condition improved with renal artery embolization. Renal arteriography was useful for detecting renal artery microaneurysm in infective subcapsular renal hematoma that did not resolve after antibiotic treatment and drainage.

[POSTOPERATIVE CHRONIC PAIN FOLLOWING MESH AND NON-MESH REPAIR OF PELPIC ORGAN PROLAPSE].

(Objective) A FDA alert in 2011 warned about postoperative chronic pain following transvaginal mesh (TVM) for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We studied cases with chronic pain after TVM, natural tissue repair (NTR) and laparoscopic salcocopopexy (LSC). (Methods) We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of patients who underwent POP operations in our hospital or were referred to us after POP operations in other hospitals between 2006 and 2016. Postoperative chronic pain was defined as persistent pain for more than three months following the first three months from the time of POP operations.Patients' characteristics and treatments were analyzed. (Results) In patients who underwent POP operations in our hospital, the rates of chronic postoperative pain after TVM, NTR and LSC were 12/2,457 (0.49%), 1/402 (0.26%) and 0/29 (0%), respectively. Another 8 patients were referred to us after POP operations in other hospitals. Thus, a total of 21 patients (15: TVM, 6: NTR) had either medications, surgical treatment or were referred to other doctors due to postoperative chronic pain. All of them were parous women aged 53 to 81 years old. Preoperative chronic pelvic pain was found in seven patients (33%), and another four patients (19%) had orthopedic diseases with chronic pain. The main locations of pain were; vagina 11, vulva 2, urinary bladder 2, urethra 1, coccyx 1, buttocks 1, anus 1, perineum 1 and groin 1. Nineteen patients had pharmacological treatment using tricyclic antidepressants, Ca2+ channel α2δ ligand and/or serotonin-noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI); 9 (47%) of the patients showed a notable improvement. Three patients following TVM had surgical treatment; one with bladder mesh exposure was resolved with TURis, one with vaginal mesh exposure was resolved with mesh trimming, but one with tenderness on the mesh arm did not improve after a partial mesh removal. Four patients were referred to pain clinics. (Conclusions) Postoperative chronic pain can occur following both TVM and NTR therefore, attentive listening and proper medication are important as initial therapies. It is mandatory to examine the presence of mesh exposure in patients after using mesh. We should be careful about preoperative chronic pain, pelvic or elsewhere, as a risk factor for postoperative chronic pain.

Establishing the link between fibril formation and Raman optical activity spectra of insulin.

Folding of proteins into insoluble amyloidal fibrils is implicated in a number of biological processes. Optical spectroscopy represents a convenient tool to monitor such structural variations. Recently, characteristic changes in Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra of insulin during a pre-fibrillar stage were reported but not supported by a theoretical model. In the present study, molecular dynamics and the density functional theory are used to simulate the spectra and understand the connection between the structure, and ROA and Raman spectral intensities. Theoretical results are consistent with the observations and only confirm exceptional ROA sensitivity to the protein tertiary structure. Surprisingly, this sensitivity reflects local conformational changes in the peptide main and side chains, rather than a direct through-space interaction of the protein components. Side chains providing strong ROA signals, such as tyrosine, can additionally report on local conformational features. Theoretical modeling helps in explaining the observed spectral changes and is likely to enable future applications of ROA spectroscopy in protein structural studies.

Low-Frequency Vibrational Modes of Poly(glycolic acid) and Thermal Expansion of Crystal Lattice Assigned On the Basis of DFT-Spectral Simulation Aided with a Fragment Method.

Low-frequency vibrational modes of lamellar crystalline poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) were measured on Raman and far-infrared (FIR) spectra. Among the observed bands, an FIR band at ∼70 cm-1 and a Raman band at 125 cm-1 showed a gradual lower-frequency shift with increasing temperature from 20 °C to the melting point at ∼230 °C. Their polarization direction was perpendicular to the chain axis of PGA. Both spectra were quantum-mechanically simulated with the aid of a fragment method, the Cartesian-coordinate tensor transfer, which enabled an explicit consideration of molecular interactions between two adjacent polymer chains. Good agreement was achieved between the experiment and theory in both spectra. The temperature-sensitive bands at ∼70 cm-1 in FIR and at 125 cm-1 in Raman comprise the out-of-plane C═O bending motion. The temperature-dependent shifts of the low-frequency bands were successfully simulated by the DFT-spectral calculation, exploring that the main origin of the shifts is the thermal expansion of the crystal lattice. This result indicates that the thermally shifted bands may be used as an indicator of the lattice expansion of PGA. Possible changes in intermolecular interactions of PGA under temperature rising were ascribed on the basis of natural bond orbital theory. The steric repulsion between the carbonyl O atom in one chain and the H-C bond in the adjacent chain will be a dominant interaction in the lattice-expanding process, which would cause the observed thermal shifts of the bending modes. Comparisons of the spectral assignment for PGA obtained in this study and that for poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) reported by us suggest that crystalline polyesters give vibrational modes composed of out-of-plane bending motion of C═O groups between ∼70 and ∼125 cm-1, the modes of which are sensitive to the thermal expansion of crystal lattice and its concomitant changes in their intermolecular interactions.

[A CASE OF SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT BY LH-RH AGONIST FOR VESICOUTERINE FISTULA AFTER CESAREAN SECTION].

(Case) A 31-year-old woman noticed lower abdominal pain and urinary incontinence after voiding one month after third cesarean section. Cystoscopy and cystourethrography demonstrated a vesicouterine fistula at the posterior wall of the bladder. She complained of paroxysmal lower abdominal pain and slight incontinence without urge after voiding several times a month, which presented before and after menorrhea. Breast-feeding was ended 1 year after the labor, and then she underwent LH-RH agonist to keep amenorrhea. Urinary incontinence resolved completely within five months of hormonal therapy. During 8 years' follow-up, she remains asymptomatic and cystourethrography did not demonstrate the leakage. (Discussion) Most cases of vesicouterine fistula have been managed by surgical repair. As the pathophysiology of this disease resembles endometriosis, less-invasive hormonal therapy using LH-RH agonist can be a good treatment option before surgery.

Adjunct Antimicrobial Therapy and Periodontal Surgery to Treat Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: A Case Report.

Here we report a case of generalized aggressive periodontitis treated with periodontal therapy including adjunct antimicrobial therapy and periodontal surgery. The patient was a 22-year-old woman who presented with the chief complaint of gingival recession. Baseline examination revealed generalized plaque deposition and gingival inflammation. Thirty-nine percent of the sites had a probing depth (PD) of 4-6 mm and 2% a PD of ≥7 mm; 63% exhibited bleeding on probing (BOP). Radiographic examination revealed vertical bone loss in the molars and horizontal bone loss in other teeth. Microbiological examination of subgingival plaque revealed the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Tannerella forsythia. Oral health-related quality of life was assessed as a measure of patient-reported outcome. Based on a clinical diagnosis of generalized aggressive periodontitis, initial periodontal therapy and adjunct antimicrobial therapy were implemented. After reducing inflammation and subgingival bacteria, open flap debridement was performed for teeth with a PD of ≥4 mm. Reevaluation showed no sites with a PD of ≥5 mm, a minimal level of BOP, and a marked reduction in the level of the targeted periodontal pathogens. The patient's oral health-related quality of life was slightly worsened during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). Implementation of adjunct antimicrobial therapy targeting periodontal pathogens and subsequent periodontal surgery resulted in improvement in periodontal and microbiological parameters. This improvement has been adequately maintained over a 2-year period. However, additional care is necessary to further improve the patient's oral health-related quality of life during SPT.

Ex vivo proteomics of Campylobacter jejuni 81-176 reveal that FabG affects fatty acid composition to alter bacterial growth fitness in the chicken gut.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the leading causes of foodborne gastrointestinal illness worldwide. Here we performed ex vivo proteomic analysis of C. jejuni 81-176 in chicken, a main reservoir for human infection. At 0, 1 and 4 weeks post-infection (p.i.) with the GFP-expressing 81-176 strain, inocula were recovered from chicken ceca by cell sorting using flow cytometry. iTRAQ-coupled 2D-LC-MS/MS analyses that detected 55 C. jejuni proteins, among which either 3 (FabG, HydB, CJJ81176_0876) or 7 (MscS, CetB, FlhF, PurH, PglJ, LpxC, Icd) proteins exhibited >1.4-fold-increased expression at 1 or 4 week(s) p.i. compared with those at 0 weeks p.i., respectively. Deletion of the fabG gene clearly decreased the proportion of bacterial unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and chicken colonization. The UFA proportion of the parental strain was not altered when grown at 42 °C. These findings suggest that FabG might play a pivotal role in UFA production, linked to bacterial adaptation in the poultry host. To our knowledge, this is the first example of ex vivo C. jejuni proteomics, in which fatty acid metabolism might affect bacterial adaptation to the chicken host.

[INITIAL EXPERIENCE OF TRANSVAGINAL EXTRACTION OF THE KIDNEY FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC NEPHRECTOMY IN OUR DEPARTMENT].

PURPOSE: We report the detailed technique and results of transvaginal extraction of the kidney following laparoscopic nephrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From August 2013 onward, we planned to perform transvaginal extraction of the kidney following laparoscopic nephrectomy in a total of 6 female patients. Of the 6 patients, 5 underwent the procedure. After completion of the primary laparoscopic nephrectomy and entrapping the removed kidney, the patients were placed in the supine lithotomy position. A transverse posterior colpotomy was created transvaginally at the apex of the posterior fornix. An opening was made in the peritoneum bluntly with the fingers under laparoscopic view. After the drawstring of the entrapped specimen was delivered into the vagina, the specimen was extracted intact via the vagina. When the vaginal wall was too tight for a large specimen, the incision was extended on the affected side. After removal of the specimen, the peritoneum was sutured laparoscopically, and the posterior colpotomy incision was repaired transvaginally. RESULTS: Transvaginal extraction was successful in 5 patients. The mean operative time for the vaginal extraction procedure was 59 minutes. Blood loss was minimal. The mean specimen weight was 447 g (range 271 to 655 g). No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperatively, one case needed intermittent catheterization for a few days because of temporal dysfunction of the bladder. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal extraction is an efficacious and minimally morbid technique for removing the intact kidney after laparoscopic nephrectomy.