For 4 weeks I took part in a clinical clerkship program at Thomas Jefferson University in the United States. This opportunity gave me important experiences in medicine and medical education. The goal of studying medicine abroad while one is a medical student is to be “ motivating ”. Medical students in the United States are given the great responsibility of participate in patient care as part of a treatment team. This seems to be what motivates medical students.

　　With the aim of revamping hospital service as a pillar of our hospital reform movement, the Service Training Committee came into being in 2012.　　A questionnaire survey was conducted on the entire personnel and tenant suppliers (the entire personnel, tenants and contractors’ employees?). About 80% (705 people) of those queried replied. More than 90% of the respondents were of the view that an improvement in the manner of reception should enhance not only the prestige of the hospital, the evaluation its medical treatment and patients&rsauo; degree of satisfaction, but also hospital employees’ degree of satisfaction and their quality of life.　　On the other hand, some respondents said that there was much to be desired in the way hospital employees exchange greetings with their colleagues and in the manners or the language they use when they speak to patients.　　Most of the hospital staff seemed to understand the importance and meaning of service and hospitality very well. It was clear that the hospital employees were willing to join in our drive to improve the quality of service. They also understood the problems they should address to in earnest.　　We thought it was our task to make use of their positive attitude toward the quality improvement of service. What we have in view is to create a hospital culture that makes it seem natural to provide a high-quality service to visitors and patients. To this end, we will develop various activities and hold workshops.

AIMChromosome 13 is one of the most frequently altered chromosomes in prostate cancer. The present study was undertaken to examine the role of human chromosome 13 in the progression of prostate cancer.

METHODSHuman chromosome 13 was introduced into highly metastatic rat prostate cancer cells via microcell-mediated chromosome transfer.

RESULTSMicrocell hybrid clones containing human chromosome 13 showed suppression of metastasis to the lung without any suppression of tumorigenicity, except for one clone, which contained the smallest sized human chromosome 13 and did not show any suppression on lung metastasis. Expression of two known tumor suppressor genes, BRCA2 and RB1, which map to chromosome 13, was examined by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction analysis. BRCA2 was expressed only in the metastasis-suppressed microcell-hybrid clones, whereas RB1 was expressed in all clones.

CONCLUSIONHuman chromosome 13 contains metastasis suppressor gene(s) for prostate cancer derived from rat. Furthermore, the RB1 gene is unlikely to be involved in the suppression of metastasis evident in this system.

Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Cell Division ; genetics ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Disease Progression ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Kinetics ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; genetics

OBJECTIVESOur objectives were (1) to evaluate whether single spot urine is suitable media for longer-term phthalate esters exposure assessment, and (2) to estimate intake level of phthalate esters of Japanese pregnant women using urinary metabolites as an indicator of prenatal exposure level in their offspring.

METHODSWe analyzed nine metabolites (MMP, MEP, MnBP, MBzP, MEHP, MEOHP, MEHHP, MINP, MnOP) of seven phthalate esters in spot urine samples from 50 pregnant women by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Using four urine samples collected from each of 12 subjects from 50 pregnant women within 5-12 weeks, we compared intra- and interindividual variation in urinary metabolites by calculation of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We estimated daily intakes of 50 pregnant women from their urinary metabolite concentrations.

RESULTSICCs for seven phthalate metabolite concentrations in single spot urine samples were: MMP (0.57), MEP (0.47), MnBP (0.69), MBzP (0.28), MEHP (0.51), MEHHP (0.43), and MEOHP (0.41) in 12 pregnant women. Phthalate ester metabolites had high detection rates in 50 subjects. The mean daily intake ranged from 0.01 to 2 mug/kg per day. The daily intake levels in all subjects were lower than corresponding tolerable daily intake (TDI) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), though maximum value for DnBP of 6.91 mug/kg per day accounted for 70% of TDI value.

CONCLUSIONSHigher ICCs indicated that phthalate metabolite levels in single spot urine could reflect longer-term exposure to the corresponding diesters of subjects. Although the current exposure level was less than TDIs, further studies and exposure monitoring are needed to reveal the toxicity of phthalate esters to sensitive subpopulation.

In athletes, repeated intensive exercise is considered to depress the immune system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of yogurt fermented with Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris FC (L. cremoris FC) on salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in long-distance runners (high school students) during a 5 day intensive training program. Fourteen subjects were divided into 2 groups: a yogurt fermented with L. cremoris FC intake group and a milk intake group (control group). Each subject consumed yogurt or milk for 5 days during the intensive training. Salivary samples were obtained on days 1 and 5, and SIgA secretion and cortisol levels were measured. In addition, the mood of each subject was evaluated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. Our study suggested that L. cremoris FC intake increases SIgA secretion. In addition, there might be a significant suppression in the increase of salivary cortisol levels caused by exercise mainly, but there was no effect on mood. These results suggest that L. cremoris FC intake may have health benefits by enhancing oral immune function mediated by SIgA.