To evaluate the protective activity of fruits against liver injury, 22 different fruits were fed to rats with liver damage caused by D-galactosamine, a powerful liver toxin. As measured by changes in the levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), avocado showed extraordinarily potent liver injury suppressing activity. Five active compounds were isolated and their structures determined. These were all fatty acid derivatives, of which three, namely, (2E,5E,12Z,15Z)-1-hydroxyheneicosa-2,5,12,15-tetraen-4-one, (2E,12Z,15Z)-1-hydroxyheneicosa-2,12,15-trien-4-one, and (5E,12Z)-2-hydroxy-4-oxoheneicosa-5,12-dien-1-yl acetate, were novel.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the colon is a rare disease with few reports. Although the tumor progresses rapidly and is highly aggressive and malignant, no effective treatment has been established. In this study, we report four cases of NEC between 2010 and 2020：one male and three females aged 61 to 87 years old. The tumor location was one in the cecum, one in the ascending colon, one in the descending colon, and one in the rectum. Two cases that could not be clearly diagnosed underwent surgery. All cases had lymph node metastases. Three cases died of NEC within 3 to 6 months. Patients with colorectal NEC are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Multidisciplinary strategies, including systemic chemotherapy, are common in the treatment of colorectal NEC. However, no effective treatment has been established. Further cases need to be accumulated to clarify the best treatment options for colorectal NEC.

Background Criminals in Japan with mental disorders face penal servitude in prison or treatment under the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act, depending on their ability to take responsibility for their criminal acts. Forensic psychiatric nurses caring for this group may face various ethical issues. Objective This study aimed to identify ethical issues forensic psychiatric nurses in Japan encountered. Method We used the Ethical Issues Scale to conduct a survey among forensic healthcare ward nurses and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics. We also conducted semistructured interviews with individual nurses who provided signed consent and responded to the initial survey on ethical issues they encountered. These data were analyzed using Berelson's content analysis. Results Of 175 nurses, 131 answered our survey. The most frequently encountered ethical issue was “protecting patients' rights and human dignity,” and the most disturbing ethical issue was “providing nursing care with possible health risks.” Seventy-seven percent of the nurses chose to discuss with peers when resolving the ethical issues. Seventeen nurses who were interviewed described these forensic psychiatric nursing-related ethical distresses and conflicts: difficulty in discharge management, prevention of violence and self-harm, compulsory treatment, patient care, and negative emotions toward patient. Conclusion Forensic psychiatric nurses in Japan face difficulties regarding respecting patients' rights. They strive to respect patients' rights by using their expertise as nurses while sharing their difficulties with colleagues. It is important to develop a support system for social reintegration to solve ethical issues.