Construction of killer wine yeast strain

A double-stranded RNA plasmid which confers the superkiller phenotype was transferred into a wine yeast (Montrachet strain 522) and its leucine-requiring derivative (strain 694) by cytoduction, using the protoplast fusion technique. The killer wine yeast constructed completely suppressed the growth of killer-sensitive strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in yeast extract-peptone-glucose medium at pH 4.5, whereas the killer effect was somewhat decreased at pH 3.5. The wine yeast harboring the killer factor also inhibited the growth of killer-sensitive cells satisfactorily when it was grown in grape juice.

Construction of lactose-assimilating and high-ethanol-producing yeasts by protoplast fusion

The availability of a yeast strain which is capable of fermenting lactose and at the same time is tolerant to high concentrations of ethanol would be useful for the production of ethanol from lactose. Kluyveromyces fragilis is capable of fermenting lactose, but it is not as tolerant as Saccharomyces cerevisiae to high concentrations of ethanol. In this study, we have used the protoplast fusion technique to construct hybrids between auxotrophic strains of S. cerevisiae having high ethanol tolerance and an auxotrophic strain of lactose-fermenting K. fragilis isolated by ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis. The fusants obtained were prototrophic and capable of assimilating lactose and producing ethanol in excess of 13% (vol/vol). The complementation frequency of fusion was about 0.7%. Formation of fusants was confirmed by the increased amount of chromosomal DNA per cell. Fusants contained 8 x 10 to 16 x 10 mug of DNA per cell as compared with about 4 x 10 mug of DNA per cell for the parental strains, suggesting that multiple fusions had taken place.

Effect of light irradiation on anthocyanin production by suspended culture of Perilla frutescens

After a series of experiments on photoperiodicity and light intensity under daylight supplied by an ordinary fluorescent lamp in cultivations using a flask and a roux bottle, it was found that irradiation at 27.2 W/m(2) for the whole period was effective for anthocyanin production by a suspended culture of Perilla frutescens (shiso). A high amount of anthocyanin pigments, 3.0 g/L, was obtained in a bubble column bioreactor after 10 days of cultivation at an aeration rate of 0.1 vvm with light irradiation at 27.2 W/m(2), while 2 g/L was obtained at 13.6 W/m(2) and very little at 54.4 W/m(2). A high amount of anthocyanin pigments, 2.9 g/L, was also produced using an aerated and agitated bioreactor at an agitation speed of 130 rpm, an aeration rate of 0.1 vvm and light irradiation intensity of 27.2 W/m(2). The amount of anthocyanin produced was more than twice that without light irradiation, Keeping the other cultivation conditions the same. The results obtained also showed that the amount of anthocyanin pigment accumulated in a shake flask could be rather well reproduced in bioreactors for both aerated culture, and aerated and agitated culture, by improving the conditions of light irradiation, which conspicuously affects metabolite formation.

Diagnosis of a previously unidentified primary site in patients with spinal metastasis: diagnostic usefulness of laboratory analysis, CT scanning and CT-guided biopsy

When the primary site is unknown in patients with spinal metastases, there can be problems in locating the site of tumor origin. Most previous reports on metastases of unknown origin have not been limited to the spine. The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of laboratory analysis, chest, abdominal and pelvic CT and CT-guided biopsy in patients with spinal metastases of unknown origin (SMUO). A retrospective review of the clinical histories of 27 patients with SMUO was done. A total of 43 patients with SMUO were seen at our institution between 2002 and 2007. Of the 43 patients, 27 who underwent all 3 tests (laboratory analysis including M protein and tumor markers, chest, abdominal and pelvic CT and CT-guided biopsy) were included in this study. We retrospectively assessed the diagnostic usefulness of those 3 tests in the 27 patients. In 27 patients, the final diagnosis was obtained in 26 patients. Myeloma was the most common malignancy followed by lung carcinoma. M protein was positive in all 7 patients with myeloma and negative in patients with other malignancies. The level of tumor markers was elevated in 16 of 17 patients with a solid tumor and in all 3 with lymphoma. CA15-3 was elevated in 4 of 27 patients, CA19-9 in 5 of 27 patients, CA125 in 2 of 27 patients, CEA in 6 of 27 patients, SCC in 2 of 27 patients, NSE in 7 of 27 patients, AFP in 1 of 27 patients, PIVKA-II in 1 of 27 patients, TPA in 6 of 27 patients, IAP in 3 of 12 patients, thyroglobulin in 2 of 27 patients, sIL-2R in 3 of 24 patients, and PSA in 5 of 17 male patients. Myeloma, lymphoma and prostate carcinoma had a marker with high sensitivity and specificity (M protein, sIL-2R and PSA). Eleven primary tumor sites (40.7%) were detected (6 lung, 1 prostate, 1 kidney, 1 thyroid, 1 liver, and 1 pancreas) by chest, abdominal and CT scanning. Biopsy led to determination of the final diagnosis in 12 (44.4%) of 27 patients (5 myelomas, 3 lymphomas, 2 prostate carcinomas, 1 renal-cell carcinoma, 1 thyroid carcinoma). In the remaining 15 patients, biopsy did not lead to determination of the final diagnosis, because the histological diagnosis was either an adenocarcinoma or an undifferentiated carcinoma, the tissue sample was not diagnostic. A laboratory analysis limited to specific tumor markers such as PSA and protein electrophoresis is considered to be useful in making a final diagnosis. Chest, abdominal and pelvic CT is considered to be useful for making a final diagnosis in solid tumors, but not for hematologic tumors. A CT-guided biopsy had a low determination rate in the final diagnosis in comparison to a laboratory analysis and CT scanning for solid tumors and it is not considered to be essential for the diagnosis of hematologic tumors.

Foot drop due to lumbar degenerative conditions: mechanism and prognostic factors in herniated nucleus pulposus and lumbar spinal stenosis

OBJECT

The aim of this study was to analyze the mechanism and prognostic factors of foot drop caused by lumbar degenerative conditions.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of 28 patients with foot drop due to a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) or lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), scoring between 0 and 3 on manual muscle testing for the tibialis anterior muscles. They analyzed the mechanism of foot drop and whether the duration before the operation, preoperative tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus strength, age, gender, and diabetes mellitus were all found to be prognostic factors for postoperative tibialis anterior recovery. They also investigated whether the diagnosis had any influence on the prognosis.

RESULTS

The compression of double roots and a sequestrated fragment were observed, respectively, in 9 and 13 of 16 patients with HNP. Multiple levels including the L4-5 segment were decompressed in 8 of 12 patients with LSS. Analysis did not demonstrate any prognostic factor in surgically treated HNP, but significant associations with prognosis were observed with respect to preoperative tibialis anterior (p = 0.033) and extensor hallucis longus (p = 0.020) strength in patients with LSS. In addition, the postoperative muscle recovery in patients with HNP was significantly superior to that in patients with LSS (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Double root compression was the most common condition associated with foot drop due to HNP. The diagnosis and preoperative tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus strength in LSS were factors that influenced recovery following an operation.

Relationship between mucin expression of gastric intramucosal signet ring cell carcinoma and its background mucosa

The intramucosal lesion of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SIG) is known to form a layered structure (LS) that simulates mucin expression in ordinary gastric mucosa. In this study, we suspected the influence of background mucosa on the formation of LS and performed histopathological analysis. We examined 35 cases of intramucosal SIG with a maximum diameter of 30 mm or less. The LS patterns were classified into those with a layer of MUC6-positive cells (complete pattern, CP) and those lacking this layer (incomplete pattern, ICP). The relationship between LS patterns and the characteristics of the background mucosa, the expression of MUC2 (intestinal-type mucin antigen), MUC5AC (foveolar-type mucin antigen), and Ki-67 (the marker of cell proliferation activity) was examined by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Intestinal metaplasia in the background mucosa and MUC2 expression were frequently observed in cases with ICP. Ki-67-positive cells were much more and they were distributed more widely in the lesion of cases with ICP alone than in the other cases. Mucin expression and LS formation of gastric SIG are strongly influenced by its background mucosa. The cases completely lacking MUC6 expression may have higher malignant potential.

Screening of toxicological properties of 4-methylbenzoic acid by oral administration to rats

Oral toxicity of 4-methylbenzoic acid in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats was profiled through a twenty-eight-day repeated dose toxicity study (the 28-day study) and a screening test for reproductive/developmental toxicities (the reproduction/developmental study) conducted under Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines. Daily administration of 4-methylbenzoic acid, at a dose level of 0, 100, 300 or 1,000 mg/kg, did not show any adverse effect on reproductive organs of animals in the 28-day study. In the reproductive/developmental study, however, 1,000 mg/kg/day of the compound reduced epididymal weights and increased incidence of cauda epididymal oligo/azoospermia. While the compound did not affect estrous cycle or mating performances, 1,000 mg/kg of the compound reduced fertility. Furthermore, 300 mg/kg or more of the compound increased pre-implantation loss, which resulted in a decrease in the number of offspring, and reduced body weight gain of the dams during the latter period of gestation. From these results, the no-observed-effect-level (NOEL) for reproductive/developmental toxicities is considered to be 100 mg/kg, whereas 1,000 mg/kg did not show any effect on neonates. In the 28-day study, NOEL is considered to be 300 mg/kg for male and female rats, since 1,000 mg/kg of the compound caused, in both sexes, a few minor changes, such as temporal salivation, a slight increase in food consumption and a moderate increase in blood aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. Thus, 4-methylbenzoic acid has the potential for reproductive toxicity, with diverse adverse effects on the epididymis, after repeated administration, observed in the two studies.

Delayed Exacerbation of Acute Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Arrhythmia by Tracheal Instillation of Diesel Exhaust Particles

For understanding the relationship between the increased incidence of sudden cardiac death and air pollution, we examined the effects of intratracheal instillation of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmia in rats. The animals received 1 mg DEP 24-48 h before the ischemia/reperfusion (DEP-pretreated group, DEP-PRE), and were subjected to 3 successive brief ischemia/reperfusion (3 min ischemia followed by 5 min reperfusion) procedures. These were to make the animals tolerant to ischemia/reperfusion-related myocardial deterioration. Thereafter the animals were subjected to a 10-min ischemia followed by a 30-min reperfusion. In the experiments, an increased mortality was observed in the DEP-PRE group compared to the vehicle (0.05% Tween 80-PBS)-treated group. Forty-six percent of the animals in DEP-PRE died during the first 3-min reperfusion period. The animals of other groups were intratracheally instilled with DEP at the beginning of ischemia/reperfusion experiment, or were pretreated with polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase (1000 IU kg(-1), iv). In these animals, incidences of both arrhythmia and mortality were similar to those in the animals treated with the vehicle. In experiments to investigate the effects of DEP on the biochemical and hematological parameters, neutrophil count was elevated by a higher dose (5 mg) of DEP at 24 h after the intratracheal instillation, and oxygen radical production, which was induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, was enhanced at 72 h. These results indicate that intratracheal DEP instillation exacerbates short-period ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmia. Delivery and activation of peripheral neutrophils and oxygen radicals produced in neutrophils might participate in this exacerbation. This is the first article that demonstrates the arrhythmogenicity of DEP using intratracheal instillation in rats.

Acute Functional Enhancement of Circulatory Neutrophils After Intratracheal Instillation with Diesel Exhaust Particles in Rats

We have previously demonstrated that intratracheal instillation (IT) with diesel exhaust particles (DEP) exacerbates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmia in rats. Since activated neutrophils play a pivotal role in ischemia/reperfusion arrhythmia, in the present study we investigated the effects of DEP on peripheral neutrophil count and on the oxyradical production (ORP) of neutrophils in rats. We also determined the production of cytokines for better understanding of the relationship between pulmonary inflammation and neutrophil function. Instillation with 5 mg DEP elevated circulatory neutrophil counts (CNC) at 12 and 24 h post-instillation to levels approximately 2.1- and 2.3-fold those in the vehicle-treated animals, respectively. On the other hand, 1-mg DEP caused an approximately 0.4-fold increase in CNC at 6 h. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced ORP in the isolated neutrophil was enhanced at 12 and 24 h after instillation with 5 mg DEP. Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) levels were increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected from animals that received 5 mg DEP. In serum, a marked elevation of CINC-1 and a slight elevation of MIP-2 were also observed, while TNFalpha was not detected. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was detected in neither BALF nor serum for 24 h after the instillation. These results suggest that IT instillation of DEP enhances systemic oxidative stress by increasing neutrophil count and ORP in the acute period.

The observation of nonlinear ion cyclotron wave excitation during high-harmonic fast wave heating in the large helical device

A wave detector, a newly designed magnetic probe, is installed in the large helical device (LHD). This wave detector is a 100-turn loop coil with electrostatic shield. Comparing a one-loop coil to this detector, this detector has roughly constant power coupling in the lower frequency range of 40 MHz, and it can easily detect magnetic wave in the frequency of a few megahertz. During high-harmonic fast wave heating, lower frequency waves (<10 MHz) were observed in the LHD for the first time, and for the power density threshold of lower frequency wave excitation (7.5 MHz) the power density of excited pumped wave (38.47 MHz) was approximately -46 dBmHz. These lower frequencies are kept constant for electron density and high energy particle distribution, and these lower frequency waves seem to be ion cyclotron waves caused by nonlinear wave-particle interaction, for example, parametric decay instability.