Robustness of adult female survival maintains a high-density sika deer (Cervus nippon) population following the initial irruption

Context Irruption of large herbivore populations is characterised by three distinct phases: (1) an exponential increase in population to a peak abundance; (2) a population crash; and (3) a second increase to another population peak, typically lower than the first peak of abundance. However, there has been little study of age- and sex-specific factors that affect the post-initial irruption interactions with food sources. Aims We aimed to investigate annual survival rates of sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck, 1838) in the sequent irruption of a population on Nakanoshima Island, Lake Toya, Japan, with a chronically high density during the period 2002–12. Methods Survival monitoring data were obtained for 219 individuals (93 males and 126 females) using radio-collars. Annual survival was quantified, and related factors, i.e. deer abundance and winter severity, were determined by model selection using Akaike information criterion values. Key Results The results showed that annual survival rates across sexes and age classes (fawn, yearling, prime-aged, old) decreased with increasing population density, snow depth and winter precipitation. Winter severity had a greater effect on adult survival than density regulation. Nevertheless, female adult survival was maintained at a high level, with a mean of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.80–0.88). Key conclusions Robust survival rates for adult females might contribute to the maintenance of a high-density sika deer population in the post-initial irruption. Implications We suggest that in the absence of predation and hunting, sika deer population is not able to self-regulate to the density level that avoids an irreversible impact on plants.

Macrophage-stimulating activities of newly isolated complex polysaccharides from Parachlorella kessleri strain KNK-A001

Our previous studies demonstrated that the microalga Parachlorella kessleri (KNK-A001) has immunostimulatory activities, which were observed as an increase in natural killer (NK) cell activity in mice after intraperitoneal injection or as a protective effect on a virus-infected model shrimp after oral administration. In this study, we attempted to gain insight into the constituent substances of KNK-A001 that are responsible for the immunostimulatory activity. First, we obtained five polysaccharide fractions from KNK-A001 by DEAE anion exchange chromatography. Among the fractions, F5 showed the most potent induction of nitric oxide (NO) secretion in RAW264.7 cells, and both mRNA and protein expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) were increased in F5-treated RAW264.7 cells. A significant increase in the nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was observed in F5-treated RAW264.7 cells. F5 also induced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in RAW264.7 cells. Analysis using mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors suggested that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase were mainly involved in F5-induced NO and TNF-α productions. The compositional analysis of F5 identified the main constituents as galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, and mannose. Gel-filtration analysis suggested that molecular mass of F5 was approximately 400kDa.

Effects of alginate oligomer on the expression of cell cycle- and stress-related genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Enzymatically prepared alginate oligomer (AO) promoted the growth of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in a concentration-dependent manner. AO at 2.5 mg/mL induced increase in expression levels of cyclin A, cyclin B, and cyclin D in C. reinhardtii. CuSO₄ at 100 μM suppressed the growth of C. reinhardtiin, and AO at 2.5 mg/mL significantly alleviated the toxicity of CuSO₄. Increased intracellular reactive oxygen species level in C. reinhardtii induced by CuSO₄ was reduced by AO. After cultivation with CuSO₄ at 100 μM, expression levels of ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in C. reinhardtii were increased, and AO reduced the increased levels of these enzymes. These results suggest that AO exhibits beneficial effects on C. reinhardtii through influencing the expression of various genes not only at normal growth condition but also under CuSO₄ stress.

Photoexcitation dynamics of p-nitroaniline and N,N-dimethyl-p-nitroaniline in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-cation based ionic liquids with different alkyl-chain lengths

Back electron transfer and vibrational energy relaxation of p-nitroaniline and N,N-dimethyl-p-nitroaniline in ionic liquids were investigated using transient absorption spectroscopy.

Intracellular haemolytic agents of Heterocapsa circularisquama exhibit toxic effects on H. circularisquama cells themselves and suppress both cell-mediated haemolytic activity and toxicity to rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis)

A harmful dinoflagellate, Heterocapsa circularisquama, is highly toxic to shellfish and the zooplankton rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. A previous study found that H. circularisquama has both light-dependent and -independent haemolytic agents, which might be responsible for its toxicity. Detailed analysis of the haemolytic activity of H. circularisquama suggested that light-independent haemolytic activity was mediated mainly through intact cells, whereas light-dependent haemolytic activity was mediated by intracellular agents which can be discharged from ruptured cells. Because H. circularisquama showed similar toxicity to rotifers regardless of the light conditions, and because ultrasonic ruptured H. circularisquama cells showed no significant toxicity to rotifers, it was suggested that live cell-mediated light-independent haemolytic activity is a major factor responsible for the observed toxicity to rotifers. Interestingly, the ultrasonic-ruptured cells of H. circularisquama suppressed their own lethal effect on the rotifers. Analysis of samples of the cell contents (supernatant) and cell fragments (precipitate) prepared from the ruptured H. circularisquama cells indicated that the cell contents contain inhibitors for the light-independent cell-mediated haemolytic activity, toxins affecting H. circularisquama cells themselves, as well as light-dependent haemolytic agents. Ethanol extract prepared from H. circularisquama, which is supposed to contain a porphyrin derivative that displays photosensitising haemolytic activity, showed potent toxicity to Chattonella marina, Chattonella antiqua, and Karenia mikimotoi, as well as to H. circularisquama at the concentration range at which no significant toxicity to rotifers was observed. Analysis on a column of Sephadex LH-20 revealed that light-dependent haemolytic activity and inhibitory activity on cell-mediated light-independent haemolytic activity existed in two separate fractions (f-2 and f-3), suggesting that both activities might be derived from common compounds. Our results suggest that the photosensitising haemolytic toxin discharged from ruptured H. circularisquama cells has a relatively broad spectrum of phytoplankton toxicity, and that physical collapse of H. circularisquama cells can lead not only to the disappearance of its own toxicity, but also to mitigation of the effects of other HABs.

Randomized clinical trial of oral and intravenous versus intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis for laparoscopic colorectal resection

Background

The use of oral prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of surgical-site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is controversial. The aim of this RCT was to evaluate whether intravenous perioperative antibiotics are inferior to combined preoperative oral and perioperative intravenous antibiotics in this setting.

Methods

Patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal resection in a single cancer centre were assigned randomly to combined preoperative oral antibiotics (metronidazole and kanamycin) and perioperative intravenous antibiotics (cefmetazole) (oral/IV group) or to perioperative intravenous antibiotics (cefmetazole) alone (IV-only group). Patients were stratified for the analyses based on type of operation (colonic surgery, anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection), preoperative use of mechanical bowel preparation, preoperative chemoradiotherapy and the presence of diabetes mellitus. The primary endpoint was the overall rate of SSI. Secondary endpoints were the rates of incisional site infection, organ/space infection, anastomotic leakage, intra-abdominal abscess, adverse events and postoperative complications.

Results

Of 540 patients offered participation in the trial in 2013–2014, 515 agreed to take part and were randomized. Some 256 patients in the IV-only group and 255 in the oral/IV group completed the treatment per protocol. The overall rate of SSI was 7·8 per cent (20 of 256) in the IV-only group and 7·8 per cent (20 of 255) in the oral/IV group, confirming that perioperative administration of intravenous antibiotics alone was not inferior to the combined regimen (P = 0·017). There were no differences in rates of incisional site infection (5·5 versus 5·9 per cent respectively), organ/space infection (2·3 versus 2·0 per cent) or other secondary endpoints between the two groups.

Conclusion

Intravenous perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis alone is not inferior to combined preoperative oral and intravenous perioperative prophylaxis with regard to SSI in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing elective laparoscopic resection. Registration number: UMIN000019339 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/).

A randomized phase II study of S-1 plus oral leucovorin versus S-1 monotherapy in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced pancreatic cancer

This is the first phase II trial in which adding oral leucovorin (LV) to S-1 (SL) significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) when compared with S-1 monotherapy (S) in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced pancreatic cancer (PC). The significantly better PFS and disease control rate with SL than with S suggest that the antitumor activity of S-1 is enhanced by LV in advanced PC.

Background

We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of adding oral leucovorin (LV) to S-1 when compared with S-1 monotherapy in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer (PC).

Patients and methods

Gemcitabine-refractory PC patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive S-1 at 40, 50, or 60 mg according to body surface area plus LV 25 mg, both given orally twice daily for 1 week, repeated every 2 weeks (SL group), or S-1 monotherapy at the same dose as the SL group for 4 weeks, repeated every 6 weeks (S-1 group). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

Among 142 patients enrolled, 140 were eligible for efficacy assessment (SL: n = 69 and S-1: n = 71). PFS was significantly longer in the SL group than in the S-1 group [median PFS, 3.8 versus 2.7 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.37–0.85; P = 0.003]). The disease control rate was significantly higher in the SL group than in the S-1 group (91% versus 72%; P = 0.004). Overall survival (OS) was similar in both groups (median OS, 6.3 versus 6.1 months; HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.54–1.22; P = 0.463). After adjusting for patient background factors in a multivariate analysis, OS tended to be better in the SL group (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.47–1.07; P = 0.099). Both treatments were well tolerated, although gastrointestinal toxicities were slightly more severe in the SL group.

Conclusion

The addition of LV to S-1 significantly improved PFS in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced PC, and a phase III trial has been initiated in a similar setting.

Clinical trials number

Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center: JapicCTI-111554.

Comparative studies on the fish-killing activities of Chattonella marina isolated in 1985 and Chattonella antiqua isolated in 2010, and their possible toxic factors

Chattonella antiqua isolated in 2010 showed extremely more potent fish-killing activities against red sea bream, Japanese horse mackerel, and blue damselfish than those of Chattonella marina isolated in 1985. Chemiluminescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses suggested greater reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing activity of C. antiqua than that of C. marina. Sodium benzoate, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, significantly suppressed the fish-killing activity of C. antiqua on blue damselfish. The chlorophyll level in the gill tissue of blue damselfish exposed to flagellate cells increased along with the exposure time, and the cell count of gill-associated C. antiqua estimated with chlorophyll level was higher than that of C. marina. These results suggest that the ROS-producing activity and affinity of Chattonella cells to the gill surface may be important factors influencing the fish-killing activity of Chattonella species.

Laparoscopic salvage lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for locally recurrent rectal cancer

AIM

The lateral pelvic lymph nodes are one of the major sites and sources of local recurrence (LR) after surgery for rectal cancer. Salvage lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLD) is potentially curative, but the value of laparoscopic surgery in such cases is unknown. Our aim was to report the technical details of laparoscopic salvage LPLD for LR at these nodes after rectal cancer surgery.

METHOD

The study was based on nine patients who underwent laparoscopic salvage LPLD for LR at the lateral pelvic lymph nodes after surgery for rectal cancer. The safety and feasibility of this procedure were determined.

RESULTS

The median operation time was 381 min and the median estimated blood loss was 130 ml. There were no conversions. Adjacent structures removed en bloc were the pelvic plexus in four patients, the internal iliac artery in seven patients and the seminal vesicle in one patient. The median number of metastatic lymph nodes was 1 (range 1-11).

CONCLUSION

Our novel technique of laparoscopic salvage LPLD for LR at the lateral pelvic lymph nodes is safe and feasible.

Germline polymorphisms in genes involved in the Hippo pathway as recurrence biomarkers in stages II/III colon cancer

The Hippo pathway regulates tissue growth and cell fate. In colon cancer, Hippo pathway deregulation promotes cellular quiescence and resistance to 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu). In this study, 14 polymorphisms in 8 genes involved in the Hippo pathway (MST1, MST2, LATS1, LATS2, YAP, TAZ, FAT4 and RASSF1A) were evaluated as recurrence predictors in 194 patients with stages II/III colon cancer treated with 5-Fu-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with a RASSF1A rs2236947 AA genotype had higher 3-year recurrence rate than patients with CA/CC genotypes (56 vs 33%, hazard ratio (HR): 1.87; P=0.017). Patients with TAZ rs3811715 CT or TT genotypes had lower 3-year recurrence rate than patients with a CC genotype (28 vs 40%; HR: 0.66; P=0.07). In left-sided tumors, this association was stronger (HR: 0.29; P=0.011) and a similar trend was found in an independent Japanese cohort. These promising results reveal polymorphisms in the Hippo pathway as biomarkers for stages II and III colon cancer.The Pharmacogenomics Journal advance online publication, 15 September 2015; doi:10.1038/tpj.2015.64.

Association of oral health literacy with oral health behaviour and oral health status in Belarus

OBJECTIVES

To explore the level of oral health literacy among adults in Belarus, a former part of the Soviet Union, and to analyse the associations between oral health literacy, socio-demographics, health behaviour and oral health status.

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

A cross-sectional study. Participants: 281 adult (18-60 years old) dental patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire collecting information about socio-demographics and health behaviours, and oral health literacy test (the R-OHLI). Clinical oral examination followed the questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

Among participants, 68.7% had adequate, 18.9% had marginal and 12.4% inadequate oral health literacy levels. Females and those with higher education were more likely to have adequate oral health literacy (p<0.05 and p<0.001). Participants with adequate oral health literacy had fewer missing and more filled teeth than those with inadequate literacy (p<0.001). This association remained significant after adjusting for socio-demographics, behavioural characteristics and oral hygiene status (p<0.05 and p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Adequate oral health literacy was strongly related with better oral health status. Improvement of oral health literacy should be addressed when developing community oral health promotions.