Coherence between oscillations in the cardiorespiratory system and tissue oxygen index in muscle recovering from intensive exercise in humans

It has been shown that the tissue oxygen index (TOI) measured by near-infrared spectroscopy oscillates at very low frequencies during recovery after exercise and that this oscillation is derived from interactions among biochemical substances involved in oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle. As a further step, we examined whether TOI in muscle interacts through oscillation with factors related to oxygen in the cardiorespiratory system. For this examination, coherence and phase difference between the TOI in the vastus lateralis and heart rate (HR) and between TOI and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were sequentially determined during recovery (2-60 min) after severe cycle exercise with a workload of 7.5% of body weight for 20 s. Significant coherence between TOI and HR was obtained in the very low-frequency band (approximate range: 0.002-0.03 Hz) and in the low-frequency band (approximate range: 0.06-0.12 Hz). The phase difference was negative in the low-frequency band and positive in the very low-frequency band. The coherence between TOI and SpO₂ was significant in the very low-frequency band. The phase difference was negative. There were no sequential changes in these coherences and phase differences. The results suggest that TOI in skeletal muscle interrelates with factors related to the heart and lungs.

Postcomparison of [(18) F]-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the brain after short-term bright light exposure and no intervention

OBJECTIVE

Bright light therapy is widely used as the treatment of choice for seasonal affective disorder. Nonetheless, our understanding of the mechanisms of bright light is limited and it is important to investigate the mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to examine the hypothesis that bright light exposure may increase [(18) F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in olfactory bulb and/or hippocampus which may be associated neurogenesis in the human brain.

METHOD

A randomized controlled trial comparing 5-day bright light exposure + environmental light (bright light exposure group) with environmental light alone (no intervention group) was performed for 55 participants in a university hospital. The uptake of [(18) F]FDG in olfactory bulb and hippocampus using FDG positron emission tomography was compared between two groups.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase of uptake in both right and left olfactory bulb for bright light exposure group vs. no intervention group. After adjustment of log-transformed illuminance, there remained a significant increase of uptake in the right olfactory bulb.

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest a possibility that 5-day bright light exposure may increase [(18) F]FDG in the right olfactory bulb of the human brain, suggesting a possibility of neurogenesis. Further studies are warranted to directly confirm this possibility.

A Predictive Model of Plasma Lamotrigine Levels

Introduction: Lamotrigine is one of several mood stabilizers and its effects for the treatment and prevention of depressive episodes, particularly in bipolar disorder, are generally accepted. Although the findings about a therapeutic window of lamotrigine are yet to be determined, it seems important to obtain information on individual pharmacokinetic peculiarities. This study was conducted to formulate the predictive model of plasma lamotrigine levels. Methods: Using the data of 47 patients whose lamotrigine levels, liver function, and renal function were measured, predictive models of lamotrigine levels were formulated by stepwise multiple regression analyses. The predictive power of the models was compared using another dataset of 25 patients. Results: Two models were created using stepwise multiple regression. The first model was: plasma lamotrigine level (μg/mL)=2.308+0.019×lamotrigine dose (mg/day). The second model was: plasma lamotrigine level (μg/mL)=0.08+0.024×lamotrigine dose (mg/day)+4.088×valproate combination (no=0, yes=1). The predictive power of the second model was better than that of the first model. Discussion: The present study proposes a prompt and relatively accurate equation to predict lamotrigine levels.

Phylogenetic study of the species within the family Streptomycetaceae

Species of the genus Streptomyces, which constitute the vast majority of taxa within the family Streptomycetaceae, are a predominant component of the microbial population in soils throughout the world and have been the subject of extensive isolation and screening efforts over the years because they are a major source of commercially and medically important secondary metabolites. Taxonomic characterization of Streptomyces strains has been a challenge due to the large number of described species, greater than any other microbial genus, resulting from academic and industrial activities. The methods used for characterization have evolved through several phases over the years from those based largely on morphological observations, to subsequent classifications based on numerical taxonomic analyses of standardized sets of phenotypic characters and, most recently, to the use of molecular phylogenetic analyses of gene sequences. The present phylogenetic study examines almost all described species (615 taxa) within the family Streptomycetaceae based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and illustrates the species diversity within this family, which is observed to contain 130 statistically supported clades, as well as many unsupported and single member clusters. Many of the observed clades are consistent with earlier morphological and numerical taxonomic studies, but it is apparent that insufficient variation is present in the 16S rRNA gene sequence within the species of this family to permit bootstrap-supported resolution of relationships between many of the individual clusters.

Development of a surface conductivity measurement system for ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscope

The surface conductivity measurement system using a micro-four-point probe (M4PP) had been developed for the ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscope (UHV-TEM). Since the current distribution in the sample crystals during the current voltage measurement by the M4PP is localized within the depth of several micrometers from the surface, the system is sensitive to the surface conductivity, which is related with the surface superstructure. It was installed in the main chamber of the TEM and the surface conductivity can be measured in situ. The surface structures were observed by reflection electron microscopy and diffraction (REM-RHEED). REM-RHEED enables us to observe the surface superstructures and their structure defects such as surface atomic steps and domain boundaries of the surface superstructure. Thus the effects of the defects on the surface conductivity can be investigated. In the present paper we present the surface conductivity measurement system and its application to the Si(111)-square root(3) x square root(3)-Ag surface prepared on the Si(111) vicinal surfaces. The result clearly showed that the surface conductivity was affected by step configuration.

Clinical significance of prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme

e13022

Backgrounds: We previously have reported that hypo-fractionated high-dose irradiation (HdI; 68Gy/8F) showed excellent local control but no effect on prevention of cerebrospinal fluid dissemination (CSFd), resulted in limited efficacy on patients’ survival in glioblastoma (GBM). The aim of present analysis is to evaluate the clinical significance of prophylactic intrathecal administration of thiotepa (iT) in the treatment of GBM patients. Methods: Histologically confirmed GBMs without CSFd at diagnosis were enrolled. Patients were classified into four groups owing to the post-surgical treatment strategy as follows: Group A patients (n = 65) were treated by conventional radiotherapy (cRT; 60Gy/30F) alone; Group B patients (n = 17) were by cRT concurrent witn iT; Group C patients (n = 28) were by HdI alone; Group D patients (n = 30) were by HdI concurrent with iT. In Group B and D, Ommaya reservoir was placed into the lateral ventricle and 10mg of thiotepa was administrated weekly after surgery for five times. The local progression-free survival (PFS), CSFd-free survival (CFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared in these four groups. Results: Group C and D patients showed significantly longer PFS than Group A and B (p < 0.0001), suggesting the clinical significance of HdI for local control of this tumor. On the other hand, CFS in Group B and D was significantly longer than that in Group A and C (p = 0.049), demonstrating the effect of iT for prevention of CSFd. However, significant improvement of OS on the conventional treatment (Group A, median OS: 12.3 months) was observed only in Group D (median OS: 30.2 months, p = 0.002) and not in Group B or C (24 months, p = 0.135, and 14.9 months, p = 0.481 respectively). Conclusions: These data indicated that both of local control and prevention of CSFd were required for better survival of patients with GBM, and iT concurrent with HdI may be one of the treatments that fill these requirements.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Reclassification of Streptomyces caeruleus as a synonym of Actinoalloteichus cyanogriseus and reclassification of Streptomyces spheroides and Streptomyces laceyi as later synonyms of Streptomyces niveus

Previous studies have proposed that Streptomyces caeruleus is an earlier heterotypic synonym for Streptomyces niveus and Streptomyces spheroides. In this study, phylogenetic analysis of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequences of the Streptomyces caeruleus type strains NBRC 13344(T), JCM 4014(T) and NRRL B-2194(T) revealed that S. caeruleus was closely related to Actinoalloteichus cyanogriseus and not to S. niveus, S. spheroides or any other species of the genus Streptomyces. Moreover, the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid was found to be meso-diaminopimelic acid in S. caeruleus and DNA-DNA hybridization studies revealed that S. caeruleus NBRC 13344(T) was a member of the same species as A. cyanogriseus NBRC 14455(T). Based on these chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, it is proposed that Streptomyces caeruleus (Baldacci 1944) Pridham et al. 1958 be reclassified as a heterotypic synonym of Actinalloteichus cyanogriseus Tamura et al. 2000. Furthermore, based on phylogenetic, morphological and MALDI-TOF MS analyses, it is proposed that the species Streptomyces laceyi Manfio et al. 2004 and Streptomyces spheroides Wallick et al. 1956 are reclassified as later heterotypic synonyms of Streptomyces niveus Smith et al. 1956.

Reclassification of Streptomyces flavidofuscus as a synonym of Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei

During the course of quality control studies of the collection of the NITE Biological Resource Center (NBRC), phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of actinomycetes revealed that Streptomyces flavidofuscus NBRC 15404(T) formed a cluster with Nocardiopsis dassonvillei and Nocardiopsis synnemataformans. Strain NBRC 15404(T) contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as a cell-wall diamino acid and DNA-DNA hybridization studies also showed that S. flavidofuscus NBRC 15404(T) was a close relative of N. dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei NBRC 14626(T). Based on chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and genetic analysis of the type strain, Streptomyces flavidofuscus should be reclassified as a later heterotypic synonym of Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei.

Classification of 'Streptomyces tenebrarius' Higgins and Kastner as Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius nom. rev., comb. nov., and emended description of the genus Streptoalloteichus

Phylogenetic analysis of 'Streptomyces tenebrarius' NBRC 16177 on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that this organism was related to Streptoalloteichus hindustanus. It possessed glutamic acid, alanine and meso-diaminopimelic acid as cell-wall amino acids, galactose, mannose and glucose as whole-cell sugars and the menaquinones MK-10(H(6)), MK-10(H(4)), MK-9(H(6)) and MK-9(H(4)). The chemotaxonomic characteristics of this strain were consistent with those of the genus Streptoalloteichus. DNA-DNA hybridization, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data revealed that 'Streptomyces tenebrarius' can be easily differentiated from the other member of the genus Streptoalloteichus and that it merits separate species status. The phenotypic and genetic evidence reveals that 'Streptomyces tenebrarius' represents a novel species of the genus Streptoalloteichus; the name Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius (ex Higgins and Kastner) nom. rev., comb. nov. is proposed for this species. The type strain is NBRC 16177(T) (=ATCC 17920(T) =DSM 40477(T) =JCM 4838(T) =NRRL B-12390(T) =ISP 5477(T)).

Classification of 'Sarraceniospora aurea' Furihata et al. 1989 as Actinocorallia aurea sp. nov

Phylogenetic analysis of 'Sarraceniospora aurea' NBRC 14752 and strain NBRC 15120, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that these organisms are related to members of the genus Actinocorallia. These organisms contained glutamic acid, alanine and meso-diaminopimelic acid as cell-wall amino acids and the menaquinones MK-9(H(4)), MK-9(H(6)) and MK-9(H(8)). The chemotaxonomic characteristics of the strains were consistent with those of the genus Actinocorallia. However, DNA-DNA hybridization and phenotypic characteristics revealed that the strains differed from the recognized species of the genus Actinocorallia. Therefore, we propose that 'Sarraceniospora aurea' NBRC 14752 and strain NBRC 15120 be reclassified in the genus Actinocorallia as a novel species, Actinocorallia aurea sp. nov. (type strain NBRC 14752(T)=DSM 44434(T)).

A new genus of the family Micromonosporaceae, Polymorphospora gen. nov., with description of Polymorphospora rubra sp. nov

Two actinomycete strains were isolated from soil surrounding mangrove roots. The isolates formed short spore chains with spores showing diverse shapes. The isolates contained glutamic acid, glycine, alanine and meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, 3-O-methylmannose, mannose, galactose and glucose as the whole-cell sugars and MK-10(H6), MK-10(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H4) as the predominant isoprenoid quinones. The isolates formed a distinct taxon in the phylogenetic tree of the Micromonosporaceae based on analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and showed chemical and phenotypic properties that were different from members of all of the other genera of this family. Based on these observations, it is proposed that the novel isolates belong to a new genus, Polymorphospora gen. nov. The type species of the genus is proposed as Polymorphospora rubra sp. nov., with strain TT 97-42T (=NBRC 101157T=DSM 44947T) as the type strain.