TAYLOR & FRANCIS Acta Medica Okayama 0169-1864 2019 Development of a separable search-and-rescue robot composed of a mobile robot and a snake robot EN Tetsushi Kamegawa Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Taichi Akiyama Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Satoshi Sakai Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kento Fujii Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kazushi Une Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Eitou Ou Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Yuto Matsumura Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Toru Kishutani Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Eiji Nose Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Yusuke Yoshizaki Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Akio Gofuku Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, In this study, we propose a new robot system consisting of a mobile robot and a snake robot. The system works not only as a mobile manipulator but also as a multi-agent system by using the snake robot's ability to separate from the mobile robot. Initially, the snake robot is mounted on the mobile robot in the carrying mode. When an operator uses the snake robot as a manipulator, the robot changes to the manipulator mode. The operator can detach the snake robot from the mobile robot and command the snake robot to conduct lateral rolling motions. In this paper, we present the details of our robot and its performance in the World Robot Summit. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

TAYLOR & FRANCIS Acta Medica Okayama 05704928 54 2 2018 Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices with instrument-free detection and miniaturized portable detectors 117 141 EN Takashi Kaneta Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Waleed Alahmad Approaches for Food Applications Research Group, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University Pakorn Varanusupakul Approaches for Food Applications Research Group, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University icrofluidic paper-based analytical devices (mu PADs) have attracted much attention over the past decade because they offer clinicians the ability to deliver point-of-care testing and onsite analysis. Many of the advantages of mu PADs, however, are limited to work in a laboratory setting due to the difficulties of processing data when using electronic devices in the field. This review focuses on the use of mu PADs that have the potential to work without batteries or with only small and portable devices such as smartphones, timers, or miniaturized detectors. The mu PADs that can be operated without batteries are, in general, those that allow the visual judgment of analyte concentrations via readouts that are measured in time, distance, count, or text. Conversely, a smartphone works as a camera to permit the capture and processing of an image that digitizes the color intensity produced by the reaction of an analyte with a colorimetric reagent. Miniaturized detectors for electrochemical, fluorometric, chemiluminescence, and electrochemiluminescence methods are also discussed, although some of them require the use of a laptop computer for operation and data processing. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

TAYLOR & FRANCIS Acta Medica Okayama 0916-8451 83 7 2019 Plant complex type free N-glycans occur in tomato xylem sap 1310 1314 EN Yuta Tsujimori Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University Mikako Ogura Faculty of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Science , Okayama University Md. Ziaur Rahman Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University Megumi Maeda Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University Yoshinobu Kimura Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University Free N-glycans (FNGs) are ubiquitous in growing plants. Further, acidic peptide:N-glycanase is believed to be involved in the production of plant complex-type FNGs (PCT-FNGs) during the degradation of dysfunctional glycoproteins. However, the distribution of PCT-FNGs in growing plants has not been analyzed. Here, we report the occurrence of PCT-FNGs in the xylem sap of the stem of the tomato plant. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

TAYLOR & FRANCIS Acta Medica Okayama 0916-8451 83 5 2019 Mulberry juice freeze-dried powder attenuates the disease severity by the maintaining of colon mucosa in mice with DSS-induced acute colitis 914 922 EN Yang Wang Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University Toshimitsu Hatabu Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University This study aimed to evaluate the microbial compositions and gene expression related to inflammation in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis and the effect of mulberry supplementation. Male BALB/c mice received a diet supplemented with mulberry juice freeze-dried powder (MFP) or not for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, the mice received water containing 5% (w/v) DSS or not for 1 week. The disease activity index score in mice fed MFP was significantly decreased. A significant decrease in Bifidobacterium spp. and the Clostridium perfringens subgroup was observed in mice not fed MFP. The number of goblet cell and NLRP6 expression were observed in mice fed a diet supplemented with MFP compared with mice not fed MFP. These results may indicate that mulberry mitigates DSS-induced acute colitis by a changing the gut microbial flora and by improving mucosal conditions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

TAYLOR & FRANCIS Acta Medica Okayama 00498254 49 8 2018 Minor contribution of CYP3A5 to the metabolism of hepatitis C protease inhibitor paritaprevir in vitro 935 944 EN Su Nwe San Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare Jun Matsumoto Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama University Yumi Saito Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , International University of Health and Welfare Masako Koike Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , International University of Health and Welfare Hiroaki Sakaue Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy , Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences Yoshinori Kato Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , International University of Health and Welfare Masachika Fujiyoshi Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama University Noritaka Ariyoshi Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama University Harumi Yamada Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , International University of Health and Welfare Paritaprevir (PTV) is a non-structural protein 3/4A protease inhibitor developed for the treatment of hepatitis C disease as a fixed dose combination of ombitasvir (OBV) and ritonavir (RTV) with or without dasabuvir. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 on in vitro PTV metabolism using human recombinant CYP3A4, CYP3A5 (rCYP3A4, rCYP3A5) and human liver microsomes (HLMs) genotyped as either CYP3A5*1/*1, CYP3A5*1/*3 or CYP3A5*3/*3. The intrinsic clearance (CLint, Vmax/Km) for the production of a metabolite from PTV in rCYP3A4 was 1.5 times higher than that in rCYP3A5. The PTV metabolism in CYP3A5*1/*1 and CYP3A5*1/*3 HLMs expressing CYP3A5 was comparable to that in CYP3A5*3/*3 HLMs, which lack CYP3A5. CYP3A4 expression level was significantly correlated with PTV disappearance rate and metabolite formation. In contrast, there was no such correlation found for CYP3A5 expression level. This study represents that the major CYP isoform involved in PTV metabolism is CYP3A4, with CYP3A5 having a minor role in PTV metabolism. The findings of the present study may provide foundational information on PTV metabolism, and may further support dosing practices in HCV-infected patients prescribed PTV-based therapy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

TAYLOR & FRANCIS Acta Medica Okayama 2162402X 8 12 2019 Intraperitoneal cancer-immune microenvironment promotes peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer e1671760 EN Shuichi Sakamoto Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shunsuke Kagawa Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuya Kuwada Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Atene Ito Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiroki Kajioka Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshihiko Kakiuchi Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Megumi Watanabe Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tetsuya Kagawa Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ryuichi Yoshida Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Satoru Kikuchi Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shinji Kuroda Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiroshi Tazawa Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshiyoshi Fujiwara Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences A solid tumor consists of cancer and stromal cells, which comprise the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are usually abundant in the TME, contributing to tumor progression. In cases of peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer (GC), the contribution of intraperitoneal TAMs remains unclear. Macrophages from peritoneal washings of GC patients were analyzed, and the link between intraperitoneal TAMs and GC cells was investigated to clarify the interaction between them in peritoneal dissemination. Macrophages were predominant among leukocytes constituting the microenvironment of the peritoneal cavity. The proportion of CD163-positive TAMs was significantly higher in stage IV than in stage I GC. Co-culture with TAMs potentiated migration and invasion of GC. IL-6 was the most increased in the medium of in vitro co-culture of macrophages and GC, and IL-6 elevation was also observed in the peritoneal washes with peritoneal dissemination. An elevated concentration of intraperitoneal IL-6 was correlated with a poor prognosis in clinical cases. In conclusion, intraperitoneal TAMs are involved in promoting peritoneal dissemination of GC via secreted IL-6. TAM-derived IL-6 could be a potential therapeutic target for peritoneal dissemination of GC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.