Hyperlipidaemia is positively correlated with lymph node metastasis in men with early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Although increased dietary fat or cholesterol has been reported to be a risk factor for the development of certain cancers, the effect of serum lipid levels on tumour metastasis is not clearly understood.

METHODS

The association between lymph node metastasis and preoperative serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) as well as various pathological findings for tumours was examined in 353 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy with classical lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

The rate of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in patients with early gastric cancer who had hypercholesterolaemia (TC 220 mg/dl or greater) or hypertriglyceridaemia (TG 150 mg/dl or greater). The tendency was more prominent in men, and multivariate analysis showed that hypertriglyceridaemia was an independent risk factor for nodal metastasis in men, in addition to pathological invasion to the submucosal layer or to lymphatic vessels. In contrast, neither hypercholesterolaemia nor hypertriglyceridaemia showed a significant association with nodal status in women with early gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION

Raised serum lipid levels might favour the development of lymph node metastasis in men with early-stage gastric cancer. In patients with early gastric cancer serum lipid levels should be checked before operation, and the use of minimal local treatments must be considered carefully in male patients with hyperlipidaemia.

Taxonomic re-evaluation of whorl-forming Streptomyces (formerly Streptoverticillium) species by using phenotypes, DNA-DNA hybridization and sequences of gyrB, and proposal of Streptomyces luteireticuli (ex Katoh and Arai 1957) corrig., sp. nov., nom. rev

The taxonomic status of 64 strains of whorl-forming Streptomyces (formerly Streptoverticillium) species was re-evaluated and strains were reclassified on the basis of their phenotypes, DNA-DNA hybridization data and partial sequences of gyrB, the structural gene of the B subunit of DNA gyrase. These strains, which consisted of 46 species and eight subspecies with validly published names and 13 species whose names have not been validly published [including 10 strains examined by the International Streptomyces Project (ISP)], were divided into two groups, namely typical and atypical whorl-forming Streptomyces species, based on their phenotypes and gyrB gene sequences. The typical whorl-forming species (59 strains) were divided into six major clusters of three or more species, seven minor clusters of two species and five single-member clusters, based on the threshold value of 97 % gyrB sequence similarity. Major clusters were typified by Streptomyces abikoensis, Streptomyces cinnamoneus, Streptomyces distallicus, Streptomyces griseocarneus, Streptomyces hiroshimensis and Streptomyces netropsis. Phenotypically, members of each cluster resembled each other closely except for the S. distallicus cluster, which was divided phenotypically into the S. distallicus and Streptomyces stramineus subclusters, and the S. netropsis cluster, which was divided into the S. netropsis and Streptomyces eurocidicus subclusters. Strains in each minor cluster closely resembled each other phenotypically. DNA-DNA relatedness between the representative species and others in each major cluster and/or subcluster, and between strains in the minor clusters, was >70 %, indicating that the major clusters and/or subclusters and the minor clusters each comprise a single species. It was concluded that 59 strains of typical whorl-forming Streptomyces species consisted of the following 18 species, including subjective synonym(s): S. abikoensis, Streptomyces ardus, Streptomyces blastmyceticus, S. cinnamoneus, S. eurocidicus, S. griseocarneus, S. hiroshimensis, Streptomyces lilacinus, 'Streptomyces luteoreticuli', Streptomyces luteosporeus, Streptomyces mashuensis, Streptomyces mobaraensis, Streptomyces morookaense, S. netropsis, Streptomyces orinoci, S. stramineus, Streptomyces thioluteus and Streptomyces viridiflavus.

[Strategy for preventing recurrence after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax; efficacy of talc pleurodesis and absorbable mesh covering]

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been widely used in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. The unexpectedly high increase of the recurrence rate is the most important problem. We examined the interaction between recurrence, clinical features and patient's backgrounds. The main causes of recurrence were oversight of bullae and the emphysematous changes at the periphery of the site where an autosuture device was used. 90% of the recurrence occurred in the patients with type III small diffuse bullae. Introduction of the regional talc pleurodesis and covering stapled line with absorbable mesh were extremely useful to lower the recurrence rate after VATS for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Phylogenetic structure of the genera Flexibacter, Flexithrix, and Microscilla deduced from 16S rRNA sequence analysis

The 16S rDNA sequences of 40 strains of 17 species in the genus Flexibacter, 5 strains of 4 species in the genus Microscilla, and 1 strain of Flexithrix dorotheae, including all type strains of approved and validated species in these genera, were determined to reveal their phylogenetic relationships. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis demonstrated the extreme heterogeneity of the genera Flexibacter and Microscilla. The strains examined diverged into 24 distinct lines of descent (1 group included both flexibacteria and flexithrix, and 1 group included both flexibacteria and microscilla) that were remote from each other at the genus level or higher. Flexibacter strains were scattered across the cytophaga-flavobacteria-bacteroides phylum and divided into 20 phylogenetic groups, and the genus Microscilla was separated into 5 groups. Flexibacter flexilis, the type species of the genus Flexibacter, and Microscilla marina, the type species of the genus Microscilla, were isolated from other organisms in their respective genera. This means that each genus should be restricted to only the type species. Flexithrix dorotheae, the type species of the genus Flexithrix, clustered with Flexibacter aggregans. The heterogeneity was found not only within genera but also within species. Flexibacter aggregans, Flexibacter aurantiacus, Flexibacter flexilis, Flexibacter roseolus, Flexibacter tractuosus, and "Microscilla sericea" each contained phylogenetically distant strains. The taxonomic concept of the genera Flexibacter, Flexithrix, and Microscilla should be reorganized in accordance with the natural relationships revealed in this study.

Rhodococcus jostii sp. nov., isolated from a medieval grave

The taxonomic position of a bacterial strain isolated from the femur of the remains of Jost Lucemburský, margrave in Moravia, Brno (Czech Republic), was investigated by phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular taxonomic methods. The chemotaxonomic characteristics, including the cell-wall amino acid and sugar compositions, the quinone system and the fatty acid profile, were in good agreement with those of the genus Rhodococcus. The G+C content of the DNA was 67.4 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the unknown strain represents a distinct line of descent within the genus Rhodococcus. The nearest relatives of the bacterium were Rhodococcus opacus and Rhodococcus percolatus. The unknown bacterium was readily distinguished from these species by using phenotypic methods. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as Rhodococcus jostii sp. nov. The type strain is strain IFO 16295T (= CCM 4760T).

T cell responses to major membrane protein II (MMP II) of Mycobacterium leprae are restricted by HLA-DR molecules in patients with leprosy

Major membrane protein II (MMP II) of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is a 22kDa protein inducing humoral immune response in leprosy patients. MMP II-specific bulk T cell lines were established from leprosy patients to determine major T cell epitopes in MMP II and to evaluate lymphokine production induced by MMP II. These bulk T cell lines reacted to one or more peptides in the locus of amino acid residues from 23 to 109 of MMP II. The proliferative responses of all T cell lines were mainly inhibited by the addition of anti-DRB1 mAb. Many bulk T cell lines induced IFN-gamma, IL-5, but not IL-4. However, it was not possible to distinguish the LL or TT types of leprosy based on the pattern of T cell epitopes and the lymphokine productivity in the responses against MMP II. Thus, it appears that T cell response to MMP II is restricted by the HLA-DRB1 molecule, but not by DQ and DP molecules, which results in the induction of IFN-gamma production.

Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Actinoplanes and transfer of Actinoplanes minutisporangius Ruan et al. 1986 and 'Actinoplanes aurantiacus' to Cryptosporangium minutisporangium comb. nov. and Cryptosporangium aurantiacum sp. nov

The phylogenetic structure of the genus Actinoplanes was determined by comparative 16S rDNA sequence analysis of the type strains of all validly described Actinoplanes species and other strains of Actinoplanes. Actinoplanes minutisporangius IFO 15962T and 'Actinoplanes aurantiacus' IFO 13967 were placed outside the family Micromonosporaceae and appeared to be closely related to the genus Cryptosporangium. On the basis of their morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, these strains were reclassified into the genus Cryptosporangium. DNA-DNA hybridization revealed that these strains differed from the species previously described in this genus. Therefore, the transfer is proposed of Actinoplanes minutisporangius Ruan et al. 1986 and 'Actinoplanes aurantiacus' IFO 13967 to the genus Cryptosporangium as Cryptosporangium minutisporangium comb. nov. and Cryptosporangium aurantiacum sp. nov.

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of [11C]methyl-Ro 64-6198 as an ORL1 receptor imaging agent

(1S,3aS)-8-(2,3,3a,4,5,6-Hexahydro-1H-phenalen-1-yl)-3-N-[11C]methyl-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triaza-spiro[4.5]decan-4-one ([11C]methyl-Ro 64-6198), a N-methylated analog of Ro 64-6198, was synthesized and evaluated as a potential radiopharmaceutical for investigating brain nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors (ORL1 receptors) by positron emission tomography. A racemate of methyl-Ro 64-6198, Ro 66-7931, showed a high affinity and selectivity for the ORL1 receptor in vitro. An in vivo distribution study in mice demonstrated moderate brain uptake, however, only slight difference was observed among brain regions. Furthermore, pretreating with nociceptin or Ro 66-7931 did not affect the accumulation. Therefore, despite its high affinity, [11C]methyl-Ro 64-6198 does not appear to be a suitable tracer for in vivo ORL1 receptor imaging studies.

Neural substrates for recognition of familiar voices: a PET study

Identification of familiar people is essential in our social life. We can identify familiar people by hearing their voices as well as by viewing their faces. By measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by positron emission tomography (PET), we identified neural substrates for the recognition of familiar voices. The brain activity during discrimination of voices of the subjects' associates and friends from those of unfamiliar people was compared with that during an analogous discrimination of their own voice from unfamiliar voices as well as during vowel discrimination. The left frontal pole, right temporal pole, right entorhinal cortex, and left precuneus were activated to a greater extent during discrimination of familiar voice than during control discriminations, suggesting that these brain regions are involved in the recognition of familiar voices. Furthermore, the adjusted values of rCBF in the left frontal pole and right temporal pole correlated with the number of subjects' correct identification of familiar voices. The present results suggest that these two regions are coactively associated with matching the currently heard voice to familiar voices in one's memory.

Age-related changes of dopamine D1-like and D2-like receptor binding in the F344/N rat striatum revealed by positron emission tomography and in vitro receptor autoradiography

To clarify age-related changes in dopamine D1-like and D2-like receptor binding in the striatum, positron emission tomography (PET) and in vitro receptor autoradiography (in vitro ARG) were performed using F344/N rats of various ages (6, 12, 18, and 24 months). In the PET study, [11C]SCH23390 and [11C]raclopride were used to image dopamine D1-like receptors and dopamine D2-like receptors, respectively, while [3H]SCH23390 and [3H]raclopride were used for the in vitro ARG study. With PET, we calculated the binding potential (= k3/k4, Bmax/Kd) of [11C]SCH23390 and [11C]raclopride in the striatum according to the curve fitting (CF) and the Logan plot (LP) methods. The binding potential of [11C]SCH23390 in the striatum demonstrated significant decrease as a function of age (max. decrease -26%) by the LP method, while this was not observed in the data analyzed by the CF method. In contrast, the binding potential of [11C]raclopride in the striatum decreased significantly with age by both the CF (max. decrease -28%) and the LP (max. decrease -36%) methods. However, no significant difference by either method was observed in rats between 6 and 12 months old using either ligand. In the in vitro ARG study, the specific binding (fmol/mg tissue) of [3H]SCH23390 and [3H]raclopride in the striatum were determined. Both [3H]SCH23390 and [3H]raclopride binding declined considerably with age as noted by comparing 12, 18, and 24-month-old rats against those 6 months old (max. decrease -29% and -31%, respectively). The substantial difference in binding shown in 12-month-olds in comparison with 6-month-olds using either ligand with in vitro ARG was in contrast with the PET results. These distinctions between the PET and the in vitro ARG studies may be attributed to the receptor microenvironment created under these experimental conditions. The results indicate that PET with LP analysis is useful in obtaining age-related changes of D1-like and D2-like receptor binding in the striatum of living rats.

Clustered cancer cells show a distinct adhesion behavior from single cell form under physiological shear conditions

It remains a question whether hematogeneous metastasis arises from a single cancer cell attached to the local endothelium or from a cluster of cancer cells trapped in the vascular bed in the target organ. Adhesive interaction of the single cell form and the clustered form of cancer cells was examined under flow conditions, using two subclones of mouse colon adenocarcinoma Colon 26. A subclone NL17, but not NL14, formed many clusters composed of tumor cells and platelets just after the addition of platelet rich plasma (PRP). Under the shear of 1.0 dyn/cm3, the clustered form of NL17 tethered on laminin or mouse endothelial cell line in hepatic sinusoids (HSE) more frequently than the single cell form of NL17 and NL14. However, all of the clusters showed only transient attachment and never underwent stable arrest on coated laminin, while the single cell form of NL14 and NL17 underwent immediate arrest under shear conditions. On HSE stimulated with TNF-alpha, a small number of NL17 clusters made stable adhesion, although all the clusters detached if the shear stress was increased above 4.0 dyn/cm2. In contrast, the single form of arrested NL17 as well as NL14 remained adherent even at shear of 8.0 dyn/cm2. Compared with single cell, binding of cancer cell clusters to laminin and HSE showed lower resistance to shear stress, although they had adhesive interactions more frequently in flow condition. Since NL17 cells form significantly more metastases by intravenous injection in vivo, our data suggest that "stable adhesion" observed in our flow assay system is not always a prerequisite for clustered cancer cells to develop into metastatic lesions.

Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide core of a rough, cystic fibrosis isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) expressed by isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis patients lacks the O-polysaccharide chain but the degree to which the rest of the molecule changes has not been determined. We analyzed, for the first time, the core structure of an LPS from a rough, cystic fibrosis isolate of P. aeruginosa. The products of mild acid hydrolysis and strong alkaline degradation of the LPS were studied by ESI MS, MALDI MS, and NMR spectroscopy. The following structure was determined for the highest-phosphorylated core-lipid A backbone oligosaccharide isolated after alkaline deacylation of the LPS: [structure: see text] where Kdo and Hep are 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid and L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, respectively; all sugars are in the pyranose form and have the D configuration unless stated otherwise. The outer core region occurs as two isomeric glycoforms differing in the position of rhamnose (Rha). The inner core region carries four phosphorylation sites at two Hep residues, HepI being predominantly bisphosphorylated and HepII monophosphorylated. In the intact LPS, both Hep residues carry monophosphate and diphosphate groups in nonstoichiometric quantities, GalN is N-acylated by an L-alanyl group, HepII is 7-O-carbamoylated, and the outer core region is nonstoichiometrically O-acetylated at four sites. Therefore, the switch to the LPS-rough phenotype in cystic fibrosis isolates of P. aeruginosa is not accompanied by losses of core monosaccharide, phosphate or acyl components. The exact positions of the O-acetyl groups and the role of the previously undescribed O-acetylation in the LPS core of P. aeruginosa remain to be determined.

A new genus of the order Actinomycetales, Virgosporangium gen. nov., with descriptions of Virgosporangium ochraceum sp. nov. and Virgosporangium aurantiacum sp. nov

Four motile spored strains were isolated from soil samples collected in Japan. The cultures formed long, narrow sporangia on short sporangiophores directly on the substrate mycelium. The sporangia develop singly or in clusters above the surface of the substrate. Each sporangium contains a single row of six or more motile spores. Glutamic acid, glucosamine, glycine, alanine and 3-OH-diaminopimelic acid are present in the cell wall; the whole-cell sugars are 3-O-methylmannose, rhamnose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose and glucose; and the predominant menaquinones are 10(H4), 10(H6) and 10(H8). The diagnostic phospholipid is phosphatidylethanolamine. The acyl type of the muramic acid is glycolyl. The G+C content is 71 mol%. Mycolic acids are absent. The chemotaxonomic data indicate that these strains belong to the family Micromonosporaceae. Analysis of 165 rDNA sequences suggested that these organisms fall into a distinct clade within the family Micromonosporaceae for which a new genus, Virgosporangium gen. nov., is proposed containing the species Virgosporangium ochraceum sp. nov. (strains YU655-43T, YU793-41 and YU794-41) and Virgosporangium aurantiacum sp. nov. (strain YU438-5T).

Lung interleukin-4 gene expression in a murine model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is known to activate mononuclear cells as well as fibroblasts, all of which are important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. To investigate the potential role of this cytokine, lung IL-4 expression was examined in a murine model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Lung fibrosis was induced in CBA/J mice by endotracheal injection of bleomycin on day 0. On selected days after treatment, lungs were harvested for reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Northern, in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses. RT-PCR and Northern analyses revealed significant increases in lung IL-4 mRNA content between days 3 and 14 after induction of lung injury, which decreased toward control level after day 21. Both in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed low or undetectable IL-4 expression in control lungs and in injured lungs before day 3 after bleomycin injection. There was however elevated expression in mononuclear cells and macrophages between days 3 and 14, localized to areas of active fibrosis. These results demonstrate that IL-4 is upregulated significantly in this model. They suggest a potential role for this cytokine in pulmonary fibrosis, perhaps via its ability to stimulate and amplify the inflammatory response, stimulate collagen synthesis in fibroblasts, and thus promote the progression to fibrosis and end stage lung disease.

Agromyces luteolus sp. nov., Agromyces rhizospherae sp. nov. and Agromyces bracchium sp. nov., from the mangrove rhizosphere

The taxonomic positions of four strains isolated from the mangrove rhizosphere were studied by a polyphasic approach using phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic methods. The four isolates contain 2,4-diaminobutyric acid in their peptidoglycan, and rhamnose as the major cell wall sugar. The predominant menaquinones are MK-12 and MK-11. The predominant cellular fatty acids are iso-C16:0, anteiso-C15:0 and/or anteiso-C17:0. The G+C content of the DNA ranges from 70.0 to 73.3 mol%. The four strains formed a coherent cluster with Agromyces species in a phylogenetic inference based on 16S rDNA sequences. Interestingly, the four isolates grew well in the presence of 5% NaCl. The differences in some phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, 16S rDNA sequence similarity data and DNA-DNA relatedness data indicate that the four isolates represent three new species in the genus Agromyces, for which are proposed the names Agromyces luteolus for strain 8T (IFO 16235T = VKM Ac-2085T), Agromyces bracchium for strain 65T (IFO 16238T = VKM Ac-2088T) and Agromyces rhizospherae for strains 14T (IFO 16236T = VKM Ac-2086T) and 58(5) (IFO 16237 = VKM Ac-2087).

Prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in tumor tissue of patients with colorectal cancer

To establish the prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration in tumor tissue (T-CEA), normal colonic mucosa (N-CEA) and pre-operative serum (S-CEA), we studied 79 patients who underwent resections for colorectal cancer. The patients were separated into groups reflecting laboratory values lower or higher than a diagnostic value (S-CEA) or the median value of the entire population (T-CEA, N-CEA). A high S-CEA predicted for more advanced stage (p = 0.028), whereas no association was noted between stage and CEA concentration for T-CEA and N-CEA groups. The high S-CEA and T-CEA groups had a worse clinical outcome (p=0.0036 and p=0.024, respectively), while survival of high versus low N-CEA groups did not differ. By Cox's regression analysis, high T-CEA concentration was an independent variable for poor outcome (Hazard ratio, 3.15), while S-CEA and N-CEA were not. In conclusion, a high T-CEA concentration was the only independent predictor of poor outcome after resection for colorectal cancer.

Revival of the genus Lentzea and proposal for Lechevalieria gen. nov

The genus Saccharothrix is phylogenetically heterogeneous on the basis of analysis of almost complete 16S rDNA sequences. An evaluation of chemotaxonomic, morphological and physiological properties in the light of the molecular phylogeny data revealed that several species are misclassified. Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes NRRL B-3298T and Saccharothrix flava NRRL B-16131T constitute a lineage distinct from Saccharothrix and separate from Lentzea. The genus Lechevalieria gen. nov. is proposed for these species. Lechevalieria aerocolonigenes comb. nov. is the type species and S. flava is transferred as Lechevalieria flava comb. nov. Although Lentzea albidocapillata, the type species of the genus Lentzea, was transferred recently to the genus Saccharothrix, the revival of Lentzea is clearly supported by molecular phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data. The description of the revived genus is emended to include galactose, mannose and traces of ribose as diagnostic whole-cell sugars and MK-9(H4) as the principal menaquinone and elimination of tuberculostearic acid as a diagnostic component in the fatty acid profile. Saccharothrix waywayandensis NRRL B-16159T, S. aerocolonigenes NRRL B-16137 and 'Asiosporangium albidum' IFO 16102 are members of the amended genus Lentzea on the basis of phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic properties. S. waywayandensis is transferred to Lentzea as Lentzea waywayandensis comb. nov., while the new species Lentzea californiensis sp. nov. and Lentzea albida sp. nov. are described for S. aerocolonigenes NRRL B-16137 and 'A. albidum' IFO 16102, respectively. Nucleotide signatures in the 16S rDNA sequences are defined that are diagnostic for the genera Lechevalieria, Lentzea and Saccharothrix.