Craving for Gambling Predicts Income-Generating Offenses: A Pathways Model of a Japanese Prison Population.

The links between gambling and criminal offenses have been frequently reported, but the pathways from gambling to a particular offense have not. Our study applied a pathways model to predict participants' income-generating, drug-related, and violent offenses stemming from their craving for gambling. The participants were 332 male inmates in a Japanese local prison. They answered questionnaires on gambling behavior, alcohol addiction, Internet addiction, impulsivity, and psychopathy. Their official records with information on their current offense, sentence length, number of imprisonments, and length of education were also analyzed. The results show that 38.55% (n = 128) of the participants had a probable gambling disorder, a rate of problem gambling at least four times higher than that among the general Japanese population. Furthermore, their craving for gambling predicted their income-generating offenses, but not their drug-related and violent offenses. Their craving for gambling can thus be linked to their financial issues, rather than their emotional and impulsive issues. The pathways model explained the path not only from addiction/psychopathy to gambling, but also from gambling to committing an income-generating offense.

Petit-High Pressure Carbon Dioxide stress increases synthesis of S-Adenosylmethionine and phosphatidylcholine in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Petit-High Pressure Carbon Dioxide (p-HPCD) is a promising nonthermal technology for foods pasteurization. Cluster analysis of gene expression profiles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to various stresses exhibited that gene expression profile for p-HPCD stress (0.5MPa, 25°C) was grouped into a cluster including profiles for Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Roundup herbicide. Both are detergents that can disorder membrane structurally and functionally, which suggests that cell membrane may be a target of p-HPCD stress to cause cell growth inhibition. Through metabolomic analysis, amount of S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) that is used as methyl donor to participate in phosphatidylcholine synthesis via phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) methylation pathway, was increased after p-HPCD treatment for 2h. The key gene OPI3 encoding phospholipid methyltransferase that catalyzes the last two steps in PE methylation pathway was confirmed significantly induced by RT-PCR. Transcriptional expression of genes (MET13, MET16, MET10, MET17, MET6 and SAM2) related to AdoMet biosynthesis was also significantly induced. Choline as the PC precursor and ethanolamine as PE precursor in Kennedy pathway were also found increased under p-HPCD condition. We also found that amounts of most of amino acids involving protein synthesis were found decreased after p-HPCD treatment for 2h. Moreover, morphological changes on cell surface were observed by scanning electron microscope. In conclusion, the effects of p-HPCD stress on cell membrane appear to be a very likely cause of yeast growth inhibition and the enhancement of PC synthesis could contribute to maintain optimum structure and functions of cell membrane and improve cell resistance to inactivation.

Time-programmed release of fluoroscein isocyanate dextran from micro-pattern-designed polymer scrolls.

In this article we present a relevant strategy for a non-trivial time-programmed release of water-soluble macromolecules from biocompatible µ-containers. The system is based on self-scrolled chitosan acetate (CA) fibers, encapsulated in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) matrix. Mass transfer between a fiber and the external environment takes place via the only opened extremity of the fiber. Fluoroscein isocyanate dextran (FID) is initially deposited at the inner surface of the CA fiber according to a programmed pattern. The FID molecules became mobile after the arriving of the swelling front, which propagates along the fiber's axis upon the immersion of the system in aqueous solution. Diffusion of the macromolecules into the environment is enabled by the open-tube geometry of the swollen part of the fiber, while a programmed kinetics of the drug release is due to patterning of the polymer film prior to rolling. The release of the macromolecules can be retarded by a few hours according to the placement of the FID spot with respect to the fibers orifice. A pulsatile release kinetics is demonstrated for a discrete pattern. A few millimeter spacing of the FID spots results in a few hours time interval between the release impulses. Random walk model is plugged in the effective diffusion coefficient for Fick's law and the release kinetics are simulated.

Effects of Personalized Feedback Interventions on Drug-Related Reoffending: a Pilot Study.

Addiction is serious problem that requires effective treatment. Previous studies support personalized feedback interventions (PFIs) as an effective treatment for drinking; however, the potential beneficial effects of this treatment on illegal drug use have not been explored. The present study examined the effects of PFIs in a sample of repetitive drug-related offenders. Participants were 50 repetitive drug-related offenders incarcerated in a Japanese prison. They were randomly assigned to the PFIs (n = 20) or control (n = 30) group. The PFIs group received six letters for 3 months, whereas the control group did not undergo any interventions. We defined relapse and recidivism as drug-related reoffending and reentering prison after release, respectively. In the 3.6-year follow-up analysis (range, 0.1-5.8 years), participants' criminal records were examined, and results indicated a decreased risk of relapse and recidivism for the PFIs group relative to the control group, even when controlling for age, educational level, number of prison terms, and sentence length. Thus, our findings suggest that PFIs reduce the likelihood of relapse and recidivism in drug-related offenders.

Effects of gas pressurization with ethylene on the ultrastructure of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We investigated ultrastructural changes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae when exposed to compressed ethylene gas. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that intracellular organelles in yeast cells treated with compressed ethylene at up to 0.640 MPa (6.4 atm), especially the nuclear and plasma membranes, were seriously damaged.

Effects of compressed hydrocarbon gases on the growth activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The inhibitory action of compressed hydrocarbon gases on the growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated quantitatively by microcalorimetry. Both the 50% inhibitory pressure (IP(50)) and the minimum inhibitory pressure (MIP), which are regarded as indices of the toxicity of hydrocarbon gases, were determined from growth thermograms. Based on these values, the inhibitory potency of the hydrocarbon gases increased in the order methane << ethane < propane < i-butane < n-butane. The toxicity of these hydrocarbon gases correlated to their hydrophobicity, suggesting that hydrocarbon gases interact with some hydrophobic regions of the cell membrane. In support of this, we found that UV absorbing materials at 260 nm were released from yeast cells exposed to compressed hydrocarbon gases. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy indicated that morphological changes occurred in these cells.

Design of a standalone-type beryllium vessel for high-pressure protein crystallography.

A standalone-type beryllium (Be) high-pressure crystallography vessel has been developed. Using a coupler-joint unit and a pressure valve, we could keep the pressure in the vessel constant at 100+/-1 MPa for more than 24 h without connecting to a pressure-generating apparatus. Diffraction spots of a glucose isomerase (GI) crystal under 100 MPa were collected using the vessel and a rotating copper-anode in-house x-ray generator (0.8 kW). We successfully collected a 2.0 A resolution data set of a 0.5 mm size GI crystal in an aqueous solution at 100 MPa.

Effects of compressed unsaturated hydrocarbon gases on yeast growth.

The effect of compressed unsaturated hydrocarbon gases on the growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated by microcalorimetry. The growth thermograms showed that unsaturated hydrocarbon gases inhibited yeast growth. As an approach to determining the comparative toxicity of unsaturated hydrocarbon gases, we determined the 50% inhibitory pressure (IP(50)) and the minimum inhibitory pressure (MIP). On the basis of the IP(50) and MIP values, the inhibitory potency of the gases increased in the order ethylene < propylene < 1-butene. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy showed that cells treated with unsaturated hydrocarbon gases were damaged, including invagination of the cell surface.

Effect of high-pressure gas on yeast growth.

Microcalorimetry is a useful tool for monitoring the growth behavior of microorganisms. In this study, microcalorimetry was used to investigate the effects of nitrogen, air, oxygen, nitrous oxide, argon, and krypton at high pressure on the growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Growth thermograms (metabolic heat vs. incubation time) were generated to estimate metabolic activity under compressed gases and to determine the 50% inhibitory pressure (IP(50)) and minimum inhibitory pressure (MIP), which are regarded as indices of the toxicity of compressed gases. Based on MIP values, the most toxic to the least toxic gases were found to be: O(2) > N(2)O > air > Kr > N(2) > Ar.

High-pressure acceleration of the growth kinetics of glucose isomerase crystals.

The growth and dissolution rates of glucose isomerase crystals ({1 0 1} face) were measured in situ at 0.1 and 100 MPa. From these data, we determined that the solubilities at 25 degrees C were C(e) = 3.1 +/- 0.9 and 2.6 +/- 0.5 mg mL(-1) at 0.1 and 100 MPa, respectively. At the same supersaturation of sigma = 2.5 (sigma identical with ln(C/C(e)), C = the concentration of glucose isomerase, C(e) = the solubility) and temperature (T = 25 degrees C), the growth rate under 100 MPa was 7.6 times larger than that under 0.1 MPa. This result shows, for the first time, a kinetic acceleration of the growth rates of protein crystals with increasing pressure. The growth rates vs sigma data fitted well with a two-dimensional nucleation growth model of a polynucleation type. The fitting results indicate that the acceleration is mainly due to the decrease in the molecular surface energy of the glucose isomerase crystal with pressure.

Bioassay of various pesticides by microcalorimetry measuring the metabolic heat of yeast.

Using a microcalorimeter, the heat evolved during incubation of yeast cultures at 30 degrees C was detected in the form of a growth thermogram (metabolic heat-incubation time curve). The correlation between the growth thermograms and the growth curves obtained by colony counting or from the turbidity measurements of the cultures was very good. In this study, the effects of 12 pesticides that are used widely on golf courses on the growth thermograms of yeast were investigated and the inhibitory action of the pesticides on the growth of yeast was quantitatively evaluated using a microcalorimeter (Biothermo Analyzer). The growth thermograms were applied to estimate the microbial activity of yeast in the presence of pesticide and to determine the 50% inhibitory concentration (K) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), which can be regarded as good indexes of the toxic potency of pesticides. It was found that the addition of TPN, captan, thiuram and copper oxide to the yeast cultures clearly induced inhibitory action on the growth of yeast cells. On the other hand, the other 8 pesticides, iprodione, isoprothiorane, chloroneb, pencycuron, metalaxyl, toleclofos-methyl, flutolanil, and mepronil did not affect the growth over the concentration range up to 30 mg/l.

Protein crystallization under high pressure.

Pressure is expected to be an important parameter to control protein crystallization, since hydrostatic pressure affects the whole system uniformly and can be changed very rapidly. So far, a lot of studies on protein crystallization have been done. Solubility of protein depends on pressure. For instance, the solubility of tetragonal lysozyme crystal increased with increasing pressure, while that of orthorhombic crystal decreased. The solubility of subtilisin increased with increasing pressure. Crystal growth rates of protein also depend on pressure. The growth rate of glucose isomerase was significantly enhanced with increasing pressure. The growth rate of tetragonal lysozyme crystal and subtilisin decreased with increasing pressure. To study the effects of pressure on the crystallization more precisely and systematically, hen egg white lysozyme is the most suitable protein at this stage, since a lot of data can be used. We focused on growth kinetics under high pressure, since extensive studies on growth kinetics have already been done at atmospheric pressure, and almost all of them have explained the growth mechanisms well. The growth rates of tetragonal lysozyme decreased with pressure under the same supersaturation. This means that the surface growth kinetics significantly depends on pressure. By analyzing the dependence of supersaturation on growth rate, it was found that the increase in average ledge surface energy of the two-dimensional nuclei with pressure explained the decrease in growth rate. At this stage, it is not clear whether the increase in surface energy with increasing pressure is the main reason or not. Fundamental studies on protein crystallization under high pressure will be useful for high pressure crystallography and high pressure protein science.

Oral UFT (uracil plus futrafur) for neoadjuvant chemotherapy of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has become one of the topics of interest in chemotherapy of gastric cancer; the present study assessed the clinical benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with oral uracil and futrafur (UFT) for gastric cancer.METHODS: Between 1991 and 1997, 82 patients with gastric cancer (36 with early and 46 with advanced cancers) received UFT at 300-600 mg/day orally for 1-6 weeks before surgery. Objective responses, histological effects, and postsurgical survival rates were assessed.RESULTS: In 69 of the 82 patients, the objective responses of the primary lesions were assessed by endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal series examination, and 2 complete responses (CR)s, 25 partial responses (PRs), and 42 no changes (NCs) were seen (39.1% response). Histological effects were evaluated in 82 patients, and 2 grade 3, 11 grade 2, 11 grade 1b, 27 grade 1a, and 31 grade 0 effects were seen. A longer period of UFT administration was associated with a CR or PR. However, the objective responses did not correlate with the histological effects. All the patients underwent gastrectomy, and during the median follow-up period of 41 months, 3-year survival rates were 97.1% for pTNM stage 1, 75% for stage 2, 86.7% for stage 3, and 41.6% for stage 4. The survival rates of stage 3 and stage 4 patients were higher than those of the historical controls in our department. However, CR or PR did not correlate with the improvement in survival. Side effects before surgery were not serious; they included slight myelotoxicity, liver dysfunction, and anorexia; however, 3 patients (3.7%) had suture insufficiency, 3 patients (3.7%) had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) enteritis, and 7 patients (8.5%) had liver dysfunction.CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative chemotherapy for gastric cancer with oral UFT was safe and resulted in a good local response (macro- and microscopically) which may indicate the possibility of improved survival with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with UFT. Furthermore, preoperative chemotherapy with oral UFT is easy and patients can receive this treatment on an outpatient basis.