Here, we report a case of a brain abscess caused by two species of anaerobic periodontal pathogens. In June 20XX, a 45-year-old man visited a nearby clinic for weakness and abnormal sensation in the left arm. He was diagnosed with brain infarction based on head computed tomographic (CT) findings and was prescribed antiplatelet agents. However, he was subsequently referred to our department because of paralysis on the left side and underwent keyhole surgery to release the pus of a brain abscess which was diagnosed based on head magnetic resonance imaging findings. The identify of causal bacteria remains unknown in 30% of patients with an abscess due to anaerobic infection. Therefore, we collected multiple samples to identify the two species of anaerobic periodontal pathogens as the causal pathogens in the present case. The findings of this study suggest that the brain abscess was caused by a bacterial complex with a corn-cob structure that was transported to the cerebral cortex because of periodontal bacteremia in the patient, who had severe periodontal disease. Despite the difficulties in selecting antibiotics and deciding the method of administration, the outcome of a 14-week duration of postoperative antibiotics given with oral care and well-planned dental treatment was satisfactory.

Background: Sulforaphane (SFN), a compound abundant in broccoli sprouts (BS), protects cells from oxidative injury by activating nrf2-mediated antioxidant enzymes. Sulforaphane also shows bactericidal activity against H. pylori in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine if daily intake of SFN-rich BS inhibits H. pylori colonization and mitigated gastritis in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa in mice and humans.
Methods: Study 1: Nrf2+/+ and nrf2−/− C57BL/6 female mice were infected with H.pylori Sydney Strain; SS1. Mice were maintained for 2 mo. on a high salt diet (7.5% NaCl), supplemented with or without BS containing approximately 2.5 mM SFN. Degree of gastritis was evaluated by updated Sydney system. Study 2: Fifty subjects infected with H. pylori were randomly assigned to either the BS group (n=25) or the Alfalfa Sprouts (AS) group (n=25). All subjects were asked to eat BS 70 g/day (containing approximately 180 mg SFN) or AS 70 g/day (no SFN) for 2 months. H.pylori colonization was evaluated by measurement of HpSA. The degree of gastritis was evaluated by measuring serum levels of pepsinogen (PG) I and II.
Results: Study 1: BS treatment decreased Hp colonization and mitigated gastritis in nrf2+/+ but not in nrf2−/− mice. Study 2: Two months intervention with BS decreased HpSA values and serum levels of PG I and II, while AS showed on effect.
Conclusion: Daily intake of SFN-rich BS suppresses H.pylori colonization and improves gastritis in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa via nrf2-dependent mechanisms.

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of 120 km walking, 40 km a day for 3 successive days on the condition that taking rest and foods freely, upon physical functions for healthy male and female subjects. All measurements were enforced at postabsorptive state early in the morning for the 10 successive days including the days of walking. Blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight were measured every morning. Blood samplings enforced, too. Urine collections were enforced from first day to 7 th day. The results obtained were as follows;
1) There were no changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and body weight, which were measured early in the morning, before and after 120 km walking.
2) Serum GOT and GPT activities had little changes, while serum LDH, α-HBDH, and CK activities increased gradually after walking.
3) Serum CK-MB activities, which indicate myocardial injury, increased after walking, on the contrary CK-MB/CK ratio decreased. It was suggested that effects of 120km walking to myocardium were rather than slight ones.
4) In spite of the same sorce in which serum CK-MB and LDH-1 were resulted, both did'nt exhibit same patterns in serum.
5) Serum lipids decreased gradually after walking.
6) Urinary excretion of creatinine and uric acid increased after 120km walking especially.
7) If it is allowed to take sufficient foods and rest, 120km walking, 40km a day for 3 successive days, would not result in such a physical stress over the following days.

Effects of 5 km running upon taking a low-carbohydrate, high-fat and protein diet on the body, in fourteen healthy young males and three healthy young females, all being affected by taurine inducement, were investigated by double blind test method. The results obtained were as follows ;
1) As to the degree of in heart rate upon 5 km running, in males, there were no differences between taurine administration group (M-group) and placebo administration group (P-group) . But in females, recordings in P-group were much larger than those of M-group.
2) As to the degree of increase in systolic blood pressure upon 5 km running, in males, no differences between both groups were observed, but in females, recordings in P-group were larger than those of M-group.
3) Both serum creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) activities did not recover to pre-exercise levels during 3 days after 5 km running in both groups of both sexes.
4) In the rate of CK-MB against CK, not only P-group of females had extraordinary high levels immediately after 5 km running, but also P-group of both sexes had higher levels on 3rd and 5th day after 5 km runnning than M-group.
5) In both sexes P-group was larger than M-group in the degree of increase in blood lactate and serum triglyceride levels.
6) As to the changes in serum total protein levels, in males, no differences between both groups were observed, but in females, P-group had extraordinary low levels on 1st day after 5 km running and maintained low levels during 5 days recovery.
7) As to the changes in both serum total fatty acids levels and the rate of unsaturated fatty acids against total fatty acids, no differences were observed between both groups of both sexes.
8) As to the degree of increase in plasma noradrenalin and adrenalin levels, in males, no differences between both groups were observed, but in females, recordings in M-group were larger than those of P-group.

Apical ballooning cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo or ampulla cardiomyopathy) is a well-known transient and localized left ventricular (LV) dysfunction characterized by apical severe hypokinesis, typical electrocardiogram (ECG) changes of negative T, and a lack of organic lesions of the coronary arteries which could cause myocardial ischemia leading to segmental asynergy. Here we report on two cases of transient cardiomyopathy showing atypically localized asynergy, which is different from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Case 1 was diagnosed as atypical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and the current findings suggest case 2 was viral myocarditis. These cases suggest that there exist variant patterns of transient cardiomyopathy, and non-invasive and serial clinical evaluations are important for differential diagnosis in acute and atypical cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy ; Acute ; Cases ; Localized ; Atypical

Effects of 20km running uppn taking a low-carbohydrate, high-fat and protein diet on the changes in blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, skinf old thickness, blood components and urinary recordings in five healthy young men were investigated and the changes in these items which occured by taurine inducement were studied by double blind test method. The results were as follows:
1) As to the degree of decrease in body weight in 20km running, the case in taurine administration (T. A.) was more than in placebo administration (P. A.) .
2) As to the degree of increase in systolic pressure upon 20km running, T. A. was less than P. A. 3) The rate of creatine kinase isozyme (CK-MB) against creatine kinase (CK), which increased after 20km running in P. A., was possible to reduce by T. A.
4) T. A. was less than P.A. in the rate of increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on 20km running.
5) In P. A., triglyceride increased after 20km running, but in T. A., it decreased.
6) T. A, much influenced the rate of individual fatty acid composition on 20km running
7) T. A, was more than P. A. in the secretion of adrenaline on 20km running.
8) No changes were observed in other blood components and urinary kallikrein.

OBJECTIVESParticulate air pollution is a serious problem all over the world, and the development of a method to evaluate the health effects of ambient particles is necessary. In this study, cells cultured in vitro were exposed to particles sampled at the side of a main road, and their protein expression levels were examined.

METHODSAmbient particles were collected at the side of a main road using a high-volume air sampler. Some of the collected particles (crude particles) were treated with an organic solvent to remove chemical components, and the resulting residues were used as residual particles. Cells from the mouse alveolar epithelial cell line LA-4 were inoculated into tissue-culture dishes at 1.4×10(4)/cm(2), exposed to each type of particle or artificial carbon particles (Printex 90) that were dispersed using an ultrasonic homogenizer by mixing in the medium twice at 24 and 48 hours, and incubated for up to 72 hours after the start of inoculation. After exposure, the number of cells and intracellular dehydrogenase activity were measured. Proteins extracted from the cells were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with isoelectric focusing at pHs 4-7 using a 10% acrylamide gel, and their expression levels were analyzed after fluorescent staining.

RESULTSThe intracellular dehydrogenase activity of the cells significantly decreased as a result of exposure to the residual (0.70-fold) and crude (0.84-fold) particles compared with that of the control, but it showed no change as a result of exposure to Printex 90. The protein expression levels in the cells exposed to the particles increased or decreased similarly, but different expression levels were also observed. There were differences in the effects observed between the cells exposed to the artificial carbon particles and those exposed to particles collected from ambient air.

CONCLUSIONThis study indicates that protein expression levels in cells change in response to exposure to particles collected from ambient air. To evaluate the effects of particles on health, it is considered necessary to use particles collected from ambient air.

Since the Infection Control Team (ICT) was organized in 1999, our hospital has been engaged in evidence-based operations against nosocomial infections. The ICT's major activities included guidance in preventive measures against infections, surveillance involving continuous environmental monitoring, proposition as regards prescription of antibacterial medicines, and consultation with clinicians about prophylaxis. The team comprising physicians, nurses, pharmacists and clinical laboratory technicians has made expert propositions to clinicians. To be concrete, the team members, with the liaison clerk playing a central role, met with physicians in charge or with other staff members of the hospital, studied the infection cases in question, and presented the study findings to the clinicians. Fundamentally, therefore, it is not that the ICT intervenes in the affairs of the clinical department by way of directions but that it presents clinicians with the ideas gained through discussion between ICT members and physicians and other hospital staffers. While cementing a relationship of mutual trust between hospital employees, the ICT is expected to engage in nosocomial infection prevention activities by joining forces transdeoartmentally.
Clinical ; Hospitals ; Infection Control ; seconds ; Prophylactic

Purpose: To clarify the family-perceived usefulness of a pamphlet for families of imminently dying patients. Methods: Physicians and/or nurses provided medical and practical information about the dying process using a pamphlet for families of imminently dying patients. We surveyed family members 6 months after the death of the patient about the perceived usefulness. Results: We sent out a questionnaire to 325 bereaved, and obtained an answer from 260 (response rate: 85%). Overall, 81% reported the pamphlet to be “very useful” or “useful”. The experience reported by the bereaved included: “Helped me to understand the dying process” (84%); “Helped me to understand how symptoms and changes occur” (76%), “Useful in preparation for patient's death“ (75%), “Helped me to understand the physical conditions of the patient” (75%), “Helped me to know what I can do for the patient” (74%). Conclusion: “A pamphlet for families of imminently dying patients” may be useful for members of an imminently dying patient's family.

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of long distance walking upon physical functions for healthy male subjects. The first experiment was carried out in 1977, the second, in 1978, and the third, in 1979 in each autum season. At the first experiment, subjects began walking upon having breakfast, then ate and drank noting during first 30km, and took some foods during another 26km. Twelve hours and fifty minutes of time was spent for 56km walking including 15, 60, and 30 minutes rest periods in between. In the second experiment, subjects ate nothing after dinner of the previous evening and 35km walking took 6 hours during which some rest periods were taken for blood sampling. The third was 80km walking for two days. Subjects walked 40km in 8 hours in the first day and on the following day they walked 40km in ten hours and twenty minutes. They took foods and rest freely.
From the view points of the changes in blood and urinary recordings obtained from those three experiments, the influences of long distance walking on the body indicate as follows ;
1) In case of long distance walking while nothing to eat and drink, the rate of serum saturated fatty acids composition decreased and unsaturated fatty acids increased.
2) In a fasting state, blood glucose gradually decreased, LDH activity increased and blood lactate, GOT and GPT activity presented no significant changes on long distance walking.
3) It was shown that the longer distance to walk, the lesser tendency in blood triglyceride even though subjects take a carbohydrate rich diet while walking.
4) In fasting state, less than 35km walking without foods, the stress to the body seemed not to be critical.
5) More than 40km walking in a day, even though taking meals, would result a significantly severe stress for body.
6) As long as usual meals are taken, 80km walking for two days continuously, 40km in each day, would not result in such a physical stress over the following days.