Immune and allergenic effects of the microalga Coccomyxa sp. strain KJ in healthy humans: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

The Coccomyxa sp. strain KJ (Coccomyxa KJ), a microalga found in Japan, has a potential function in controlling viral infections. Recently, its dry powder has been marketed as a health food product.

OBJECTIVES

This pilot study investigated the effects of Coccomyxa KJ powder tablet intake on allergic reactions and immune functions in healthy participants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Nine healthy volunteers (4 males and 5 females) who expressed interest in foods containing Coccomyxa KJ, and were willing to undergo blood tests, were recruited. Each individual was asked to take 2 Coccomyxa KJ powder tablets (0.3 g) before breakfast once a day for 4 weeks. The salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) level and blood parameters (white blood cell (WBC) count, eosinophil and lymphocyte counts and percentages, natural killer (NK) cell activity, interleukin (IL)-6 level, and T helper (Th)1/Th2 cell ratio) were evaluated at baseline and weeks 2 and 4.

RESULTS

The 4-week intake of Coccomyxa KJ did not affect salivary IgA levels, WBC count, eosinophil and lymphocyte counts and percentages, or the Th1/Th2 ratio. There were significant differences in the NK cell activity after 4 weeks, with an average increase of 11.78 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 6.80-16.76). None of the patients experienced adverse reactions during or after the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term Coccomyxa KJ intake improved NK cell activity without causing adverse effects on the indicators of local immunity, systemic inflammation and immune response balance. This study suggests that Coccomyxa KJ powder tablets can induce beneficial immune modifications without causing any adverse effects.

Virucidal effect of monogalactosyl diacylglyceride from a green microalga, Coccomyxa sp. KJ, against clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 as assessed by a plaque assay

BACKGROUND

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is capable of human-to-human transmission and rapid global spread. Thus, the establishment of high-quality viral detection and quantification methods, and the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents are critical.

METHODS

Here, we present the rapid detection of infectious SARS-CoV-2 particles using a plaque assay with 0.5% agarose-ME (Medium Electroosmosis) as an overlay medium.

RESULTS

The plaques were capable of detecting the virus within 36-40 h post-infection. In addition, we showed that a monogalactosyl diacylglyceride isolated from a microalga (Coccomyxa sp. KJ) could inactivate the clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

These results would allow rapid quantification of the infectious virus titers and help develop more potent virucidal agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Nationwide external quality assessment of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests in Japan

Objectives

We conducted a nationwide external quality assessment (EQA) study of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid amplification testing in Japan.

Methods

A total of 563 public health and private sector laboratories participated. The EQA samples comprised 6 RNA and full-process controls.

Results

The overall agreements were 99.3% and 97.9% for the RNA and full-process controls, respectively. A total of 530/563 (94.1%) laboratories reported correct results; public health laboratories had the highest accuracy. Thirty-three laboratories reported at least one incorrect result (26 laboratories of medical facilities, 5 commercial laboratories, 1 public health laboratory, and 1 other). Sixteen laboratories of medical facilities that used a fully automated assay system failed to detect the presence of the full-process control, due to inherent insufficiency in the limit of detection (LOD). Other causes of incorrect results included failure to ensure the LOD (n = 13), error in result judging or reporting (n = 3), and error in sample handling (n = 1).

Conclusions

Performance was mostly dependent on the laboratory category and assay evaluation, particularly the LOD. Guidance should be developed based on these results, particularly in the phase of new entry into laboratory services for SARS-CoV-2.

Evaluation of the basic assay performance of the GeneSoc® rapid PCR testing system for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

In the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, PCR has been widely used for screening patients displaying relevant symptoms. The rapid detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enables prompt diagnosis and the implementation of proper precautionary and isolation measures for the patient. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the basic assay performance of an innovative PCR system, GeneSoC^® (Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). A total of 1,445 clinical samples were submitted to the clinical laboratory, including confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, from February 13 to August 31. Specimen types included nasopharyngeal swabs. The sampling was performed several times for each patient every 2–7 days. Using this system, sequences specific for SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be detected in a sample within 10–15 min using the microfluidic thermal cycling technology. Analytical sensitivity studies showed that GeneSoC^® could detect the target sequence of the viral envelope and RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) genes at 5 and 10 copies/μL, respectively. The precision of the GeneSoC^® measurements using clinical isolates of the virus at a concentration of 10³ copies/μL was favorable for both the genes; within-run repeatability and between-run reproducibility coefficient of variation values were less than 3% and 2%, respectively; and the reproducibility of inter-detection units was less than 5%. Method comparison by LightCycler^® 480 showed the positive and negative agreement to be 100% [(174/174) and (1271/1271), respectively]. GeneSoC^® proved to be a rapid and reliable detection system for the prompt diagnosis of symptomatic COVID-19 patients and could help reduce the spread of infections and facilitate more rapid treatment of infected patients.

Peritoneal tuberculosis with gastric cancer: a case report

This is a report of a case with both peritoneal tuberculosis and gastric cancer. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion of peritoneal tuberculosis if the patient is febrile with a past history of tuberculosis.

Rectal expander-assisted transanal endoscopic microsurgery in rectal tumors

Rectal expander-assisted transanal endoscopic microsurgery (RE-TEM) was performed for two cases of early rectal cancer and a case of villous tumor under saddle block anesthesia. RE-TEM is the new technique for local excision of rectal tumors with a rectal expander that we developed. The rectal expander expands the rectum after insertion through the anus and provides adequate vision for microsurgery with standard video monitors. Tumors were located 8, 8, and 5 cm from the anal verge, and all of them were excised completely with no difficulty. Minor bleeding was noted in all cases and was controlled by electric coagulation and/or sutures. Average operative time for the three cases was 105 min. We conclude that RE-TEM is useful for rectal tumors and/or early rectal cancer that cannot be removed by endoscopy.

Chemolipiodolization and prostaglandin E1 administration with use of hepatic arterial infusion port for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis

Frequent chemolipiodolization and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) administered through a hepatic arterial infusion port were used for treatment in 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with liver cirrhosis. Chemolipiodolization was performed every 4 weeks with 6 ml lipiodol, 3 ml Optilay and 30 mg Epirubicin or 10 mg Mytomycin C. PGE1 (10 ug) was administrated to the hepatic artery once every week after the first 7 days administration. The treatment resulted in a decrease of the AFP level, an arrest of HCC growth and a reduction in ascites with an improvement of clinical and biochemical parameters in both cases. These encouraging preliminary results show that frequent lipiodolization is effective for unresectable HCC and frequent PGE1 administration via the hepatic artery is a safe and efficient treatment for liver cirrhosis.

Endoscopic findings and clinical manifestation of gastric anisakiasis

OBJECTIVES

To identify the endoscopic findings and clinical manifestations of anisakiasis, we studied 87 cases of gastric anisakiasis.

METHODS

Patient information was analyzed by means of patient records. The interval between the day of intake of Anisakis and endoscopic examination was determined in 86 cases. Then the endoscopic findings of each interval were elucidated.

RESULTS

Moderate to severe gastric mucosal edema tends to occur within 1 or 2 days after Anisakis infection, accompanied by leukocytosis. As to the sites of penetration of Anisakis, 55% of cases were found in the greater curvature with severe mucosal edema. Among 87 cases, four patients experienced anisakiasis twice during the interval examined, and six patients had past histories of anisakiasis before the investigated interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric anisakiasis may be caused by an allergic reaction to the Anisakis antigen. There is a classic relationship between clinical and endoscopic findings and the interval after Anisakis administration. Anisakis usually is found in the greater curvature.

Percutaneous transhepatic portacaval shunt for high-risk esophageal varices

Percutaneous transhepatic portacaval shunt (PTPS) was performed in a patient with high-risk esophageal varices prior to sclerotherapy. PTPS was accomplished with the aid of two catheters. The first catheter was placed in the right hepatic vein under ultrasonographic guidance, and the second was placed in the portal vein. The two catheters were then connected together. The color of the esophageal varices changed from blue to white, and serum protein levels were increased 8 weeks after PTPS. Sclerotherapy was then performed without any difficulty. PTPS is the easy and quick method of performing a portacaval shunt and may have importance for the management of patients with high-risk esophageal varices prior to the treatment of sclerotherapy or liver transplantation.

A small pedunculated adenomatous polyp of the colon found to contain the focus of invasive carcinoma extending to the serosa: report of a case

A small pedunculated polyp was detected among other polyps in the transverse colon of a 64-year-old man, the resected specimen of which showed an adenomatous polyp 1 cm in diameter, containing the foci of adenocarcinoma invading the submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. This case report stresses the importance of performing careful pathologic examination of resected specimens obtained from endoscopic polypectomy, even for small pedunculated colon polyps.

[The development of enzyme immunoassay for prostaglandin F2 alpha]

It has recently been demonstrated that prostaglandins (PGs) play an important role in the ovulation, the onset of menstruation and labor pain and other reproductive phenomena. The purpose of this study is to develop the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for PGF2 alpha to estimate the PGF2 alpha level in body fluids. beta-Galactosidase-PGF2 alpha conjugate and bovine serum albumin-PGF2 alpha conjugate were prepared by a mixed anhydride method. PGF2 alpha was extracted with ethylacetate from an acidified sample. EIA was carried out using a double antibody method. As for the conjugation ratio of PGF2 alpha and beta-Galactosidase, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 were examined. Recovered enzyme activity and sensitivity of the method were better in the enzyme of conjugation ratio 10 than in the other conjugation ratios, 5, 20, 40, 80. Values measured by RIA and EIA were well correlated. The correlation rate was 0.84. The recovery rate was 102.3%. The sensitivity of the standard curve was 5-100 pg/tube. PGF2 alpha in the menstrual blood of the 18 women was determined with the EIA method. The mean value for PGF2 alpha in menstrual blood is 20.9 ng/ml (S.D. = 11.4).