The Japanese Ministry of Health requires large-scale cooking facilities to use sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution (HYP) on food preparation tools, equipment, and facilities to prevent secondary contamination. This study aimed to compare the disinfecting effect of HYP and surfactant using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) swab testing on large-scale equipment and facilities that could not be disassembled and disinfected in hospital kitchen. From May 2018 to July 2018, ATP swab tests were performed on the following six locations in the Shizuoka Cancer Centre Dietary Department Kitchen: cooking counter, mobile cooking counter, refrigerator handle, conveyor belt, tap handle, and sink. Six relative light unit (RLU) measurements were taken from each location. The log10 values of the RLU measurements were evaluated by dividing the samples into two groups: the control group (surfactant followed by HYP swabbing) and the HYP group (HYP swabbing only). The results showed that the RLUs (log10 values) in both the groups improved after disinfection (p<0.05), except for the RLUs (log10 values) of the mobile cooking counter, tap handle, and sink in the control group after the HYP swab. The changes in the RLU (log10 value) did not differ between the two groups for all locations of the kitchen. Hence, HYP swabbing of large-scale equipment and facilities provides the same level of disinfection as surfactants and can be as beneficial.

In patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), pathogenic immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies are most commonly directed against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3). It has recently been reported, however, that IgG anti-desmocollin 3 (Dsc3) antibodies are detected in some cases of pemphigus with or without IgG anti-Dsg3 antibodies. We present a case of pemphigus with IgG antibodies against Dsg3 and Dsc3. Subsequent studies showed that the cell surface distribution pattern of Dsc3 but not Dsg3 was altered, suggesting that suprabasal acantholytic blisters were induced by IgG anti-Dsc3 antibodies rather than IgG anti-Dsg3 antibodies. Our case suggests that anti-Dsc3 antibodies may be pathogenic in cases positive for the dual cadherin autoantibodies.

Background: Lipid emulsions have been suggested to reduce immune responses, particularly in severely stressed patients. The authors investigated the influence of the slow intravenous infusion of a soybean oil–based lipid emulsion on some immune parameters in patients who had undergone an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Methods: Thirty‐two patients who had undergone an esophagectomy were randomly divided into a lipid emulsion (LPD)–treated group and a control group. All patients received parenteral feeding with a glucose‐based solution. Patients in the LPD group received 100 mL of a 20% soybean oil emulsion for 7 days after the esophagectomy in addition to the glucose‐based feeding. A slow infusion rate (0.09–0.12 g/kg/h) was adopted to take account of the intrinsic degradation of infused lipids. Immune responses were measured based on lymphocyte proliferation and serum concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein–1 (MCP‐1), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF‐α). The authors also measured levels of rapid turnover proteins (ie, transferrin, prealbumin, and retinol‐binding protein). Results: Phytohemagglutinin‐ and concanavalin A–stimulated lymphocyte proliferation significantly decreased after the esophagectomy, but no significant difference was seen between the LPD and control groups. No significant difference in changes in plasma concentrations of MCP‐1, IL‐6 and TNF‐α occurred between the 2 groups either. Plasma concentrations of rapid turnover proteins did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that the lipid emulsion did not affect the immune parameters measured in patients who had undergone an esophagectomy when administered at a slow rate.

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The long-term administration of L-carnitine was very effective in preventing cardiomegaly in juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mice, which was confirmed by heart weight as well as the lipid contents in heart tissue. After i.p. injection of L-carnitine, the concentration of free carnitine in heart remained constant, although serum free carnitine level increased up to 80-fold. On the other hand, a significant increase in short-chain acylcarnitine level in heart was observed. These results suggest that increased levels of short-chain acyl-carnitine, not free carnitine, might be a key compound in the protective effect of L-carnitine administration in JVS mice.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

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