2 copies of the NV genome were detected in 11 of 17 oysters. The results suggested that about 10% of Japanese oysters intended for raw consumption harbored NVs, and more than 50% of those oysters in which NVs were detected had a large amount.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) controls the expression of liver-specific protein-coding genes. However, some microRNAs are also modulated by HNF4α, and it is not known whether they are direct targets of HNF4α and whether they influence hepatic function. In this study, we found that HNF4α regulates microRNAs, indicated by marked down-regulation of miR-194 and miR-192 (miR-194/192) in liver-specific -null () mice. Transactivation of the shared miR-194/192 promoter was dependent on HNF4α expression, indicating that miR-194/192 is a target gene of HNF4α. Screening of potential mRNAs targeted by miR-194/192 revealed that expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism (glycogenin 1 ()), cell adhesion and migration (activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule ()), tumorigenesis and tumor progression ( and epiregulin ()), protein SUMOylation (), epigenetic regulation ( and Cullin 4B ()), and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (moesin ()) was up-regulated in mice. Moreover, we also found that miR-194/192 binds the 3'-UTR of these mRNAs. siRNA knockdown of HNF4α suppressed miR-194/192 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and resulted in up-regulation of their mRNA targets. Inhibition and overexpression experiments with miR-194/192 revealed that, ,, , and are miR-194 targets, whereas ,, and are miR-192 targets. These findings reveal a novel HNF4α network controlled by miR-194/192 that may play a critical role in maintaining the hepatocyte-differentiated state by inhibiting expression of genes involved in dedifferentiation and tumorigenesis. These insights may contribute to the development of diagnostic markers for early HCC detection, and targeting of the miR-194/192 pathway could be useful for managing HCC.

The biological dose of nuclear workers engaged in emergency response tasks at Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station was estimated in the present study. As the national core center for radiation emergency medical preparedness in Japan, the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) received all individuals who were suspected of being overexposed to acute radiation. In the course of health examinations at NIRS, biological dosimetry was performed by the dicentric chromosome assay (DCA). Twelve individuals were examined from 21 March-1 July 2011. The results indicated that the estimated exposure doses for all individuals were lower than 300 mGy, with the mean value of about 101 mGy. These results by DCA were in accordance with those obtained by physical dosimetry based on personal dosimeter recording assessment. The results corroborate the fact that no acute radiation syndrome was observed among the workers examined.

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Reoperation for apical prolapse is more common with TVMR than with sacrocolpopexies and NTR. Incontinence procedures are more likely to fail when performed along with prolapse repair than when performed alone. When mesh is used for repair, mesh revision is highest with TVMR and lowest with ASCP.