We explored the possibilities of whole-genome duplication (WGD) in prokaryotic species,where we performed statistical analyses of the configurations of the central angles between homologous tandem repeats (TRs) on the circular chromosomes.At first,we detected TRs on their chromosomes and identified equivalent tandem repeat pairs (ETRPs); here,an ETRP is defined as a pair of tandem repeats sequentially similar to each other.Then we carried out statistical analyses of the central angle distributions of the detected ETRPs on each circular chromosome by way of comparisons between the detected distributions and those generated by null models.In the analyses,we estimated a P value by a simulation using the Kullback-Leibler divergence as a distance measure between two distributions.As a result,the central angle distributions for 8 out of the 203 prokaryotic species showed statistically significant deviations (P<0.05).In particular,we found out the characteristic feature of one round of WGD in Photorhabdus luminescens genome and that of two rounds of WGD in Escherichia coli K12.

The aim of this study is to collect the suggestions and recommendations of health care professionals involved in the regional palliative care program (OPTIM-study). A total of 101 multidisciplinary health care professionals who participated in the intervention program were interviewed, and 107 meaningful units were obtained from 89 valid interviews. The responses were categorized into “suggestions regardless of profession” (n=59), including “Participate in a multi-disciplinary conference to expand the network of people”, “Try to understand the situation of others”, “Seek support from others when you cannot solve the problem by yourself”, “Pursue all possibilities before giving up”, and “Do not try too hard”. As suggestions to those engaged in each profession, “Suggestions to community pharmacies” and “Suggestions to care managers” are frequently described. An examination of suggestions by the participants in the regional palliative care program could provide some insights to improve community palliative care.

The purpose of this study was to identify the greatest impact of the regional palliative care program on community health care professionals. Interviews were conducted involving 101 people who became involved in the intervention program implemented in 4 areas across Japan, and 96 valid responses were collected. The following were cited as the greatest impact: [I developed a network of people, and realized the importance of collaboration] (n＝61; “I was able to develop an interpersonal relationship” and “Now I understand the significance of collaboration”), [My knowledge and skills regarding palliative care were improved] (n＝18; “Knowledge and support helped me respond to patients with confidence” and “I have come to think that there is more to palliative care than terminal care”), [I rediscovered my role through a wide variety of experiences] (n＝10), [Both collaboration and palliative knowledge/skills meant a lot to me] (n＝4), [What I experienced in this program will help me play my role] (n＝2), and [Patients and their families became satisfied] (n＝1). The community palliative care program was most effective in facilitating collaboration, and helped participants develop knowledge and skills concerning palliative care.

A 53-year-old man was suspected of having an esophageal neoplasm. An endoscopic examination including Lugol chromoendoscopy suggested an esophageal squamous cell neoplasm limited to the lamina propria. A targeted biopsy showed atypical squamous cells, and an endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed 22 days after the previous endoscopy. Although a single 40 mm unstained area was observed by preoperative Lugol chromoendoscopy, intraoperative endoscopy revealed a 25 mm iodine-unstained area, with small unstained areas scattered on the oral side. We included the small unstained areas in the extent of the resection through assessment by preoperative endoscopy. Histopathologically, the tumor extent appeared to coincide with the preoperative assessment. Tumor cells were found in the basal-parabasal layers of the mucosa, in which small unstained areas were scattered, although the superficial layers exhibited well-differentiated cells containing glycogen in the cytoplasm. Although Lugol chromoendoscopy, which can induce chemical esophagitis, is widely used, re-epithelialization after mucosal damage by preoperative iodine staining may complicate the intraoperative demarcation of tumors.
Biopsy ; Cytoplasm ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagitis ; Glycogen ; Iodine ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Re-Epithelialization

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. PURPOSE: To determine whether kissing spine is a risk factor for recurrence of sciatica after lumbar posterior decompression using a spinous process floating approach. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Kissing spine is defined by apposition and sclerotic change of the facing spinous processes as shown in X-ray images, and is often accompanied by marked disc degeneration and decrement of disc height. If kissing spine significantly contributes to weight bearing and the stability of the lumbar spine, trauma to the spinous process might induce a breakdown of lumbar spine stability after posterior decompression surgery in cases of kissing spine. METHODS: The present study included 161 patients who had undergone posterior decompression surgery for lumbar canal stenosis using a spinous process floating approaches. We defined recurrence of sciatica as that resolved after initial surgery and then recurred. Kissing spine was defined as sclerotic change and the apposition of the spinous process in a plain radiogram. Preoperative foraminal stenosis was determined by the decrease of perineural fat intensity detected by parasagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Preoperative percentage slip, segmental range of motion, and segmental scoliosis were analyzed in preoperative radiographs. Univariate analysis followed by stepwise logistic regression analysis determined factors independently associated with recurrence of sciatica. RESULTS: Stepwise logistic regression revealed kissing spine (p=0.024; odds ratio, 3.80) and foraminal stenosis (p<0.01; odds ratio, 17.89) as independent risk factors for the recurrence of sciatica after posterior lumbar spinal decompression with spinous process floating procedures for lumbar spinal canal stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: When a patient shows kissing spine and concomitant subclinical foraminal stenosis at the affected level, we should sufficiently discuss the selection of an appropriate surgical procedure.
Case-Control Studies ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sciatica* ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Canal ; Spine ; Weight-Bearing

It has been reported that physical fitness of breast cancer patients is relatively lower due to the cancer treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, or endocrine therapy. Previous studies have revealed that not only cardiorespiratory fitness but also muscle strength is lower among breast cancer patients than no disease women and these symptoms may aggravate the health-related quality of life. However, there is no study which has focused the physical fitness level in Japanese breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical fitness level and the relationship between exercise habituation and physical fitness level in Japanese breast cancer survivors. Fifty breast cancer survivors participated in this study. Participants were assigned to either exercise habituation group (n=25) or non-exercise group (n=25). We evaluated exercise habituation using an original questionnaire and examined various physical fitness level. Body weight, body mass index, and percent body fat were significantly lower in the exercise habituation group than non-exercise group. T-score of cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly higher in the exercise habituation group than average Japanese women. These results suggested that exercise habituation is relative to body weight and cardiorespiratory fitness level in Japanese breast cancer survivors.