Food is a basic necessity for human survival, but it is still the vehicle for the transmission of food borne disease. Various studies have examined the roles of spices, herbs, nuts, and semi-dried ...fruits, making the need for safe and convenient methods of decontamination a necessity. The current study determined the bacterial and fungal loads of 26 spices and herbs, 5 nuts, 10 semi-dried fruits and 5 other foods. Spices, herbs and semi-dried foods demonstrated the highest bacterial and fungal loads with the majority showing over 104 CFU/mL. Nuts and other foods showed growths ranging from 102 to 106 CFU/mL. The current study also attempted to determine the effects of heat and plasma treatment. The log reduction of bacterial growth after heat treatment (maximum: 120 min for 60℃) was between 0.08 to 4.47, and the log reduction after plasma treatment (maximum: 40 min) ranged from 2.37 to 5.75. Spices showed the lowest rates of reduction, whereas the semi-dried and other foods showed moderate to high levels of decrease after heat treatment. The log reduction of fungal growth after heat treatment ranged from 0.27 to 4.40, and log reduction after plasma treatment ranged from 2.15 to 5.91．Furthermore, we validated the sterilization effect of plasma treatment against Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. by using scanning electron microscopy. Both treatment methods could prove to be advantageous in the agriculture related fields, enhancing the quality of the foods.
Numerous chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) biomarkers have been identified in limited, single-institution studies without validation. We hypothesized that plasma-derived biomarkers could ...diagnose, classify, and evaluate response in children with cGVHD. We performed a concomitant analysis of a number of known and predicted peripheral blood cGVHD biomarkers from a Children's Oncology Group (COG) phase 3 cGVHD therapeutic trial. A total of 52 newly diagnosed patients with extensive cGVHD were compared for time of onset after blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) (early, 3-8 months; late, ≥ 9 months) with 28 time-matched controls with no cGVHD (early, 6 months after BMT; late, 12 months after BMT). Soluble B-cell activation factor (sBAFF), anti-dsDNA antibody, soluble IL-2 receptor alpha (sIL-2Rα), and soluble CD13 (sCD13) were elevated in patients with early-onset cGVHD compared with controls. sBAFF and anti-dsDNA were elevated in patients with late-onset cGVHD. Some of the biomarkers correlated with specific organ involvement and with therapeutic response. These 4 biomarkers had high specificity with higher sensitivity in combination. Changes in biomarker concentrations with immune reconstitution after transplantation significantly affected interpretation of results. The identified biomarkers have the potential for improved classification, early response evaluation, and direction of cGVHD treatment, but require validation in larger studies. This study is registered at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials as no. COG-ASCT0031.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the specific development process of comprehensive care management that responds to the multilayered needs of "multi-problem families" in the community based ...on the results of a survey of care meetings in the fields of elderly and disability and care managers involved in those meetings. Participant observations were conducted at 11 care meetings in the process of supporting cases of multiproblem families. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with seven care managers involved in the case. The data were qualitatively analyzed using M-GTA. The theme of the analysis was "Support Plan Formulation Process in the Support Network for Multi-Problem Families," and the focus of the analysis was "Care Managers Involved in Support for Multi-Problem Families." As a result of the analysis, 21 concepts and 8 categories were extracted. In addition, as a core category, "the need for a central role in the family support team" was extracted. Then, the category is indicated by【】, the subcategory is , and the concept is indicated by « ». Care managers feel the need for a "central presence in the family support team" in supporting multi-problem families. In addition, it became clear that they felt the "dilemma" of "not being able to see concrete measures" for support for the whole family. The results show that the care management process is developed with ambiguity in the formulation of support plans and the institutions that play a central role. These results suggest that the care management process that responds to the multi-layered needs of multi-problem families is not comprehensive and continuous, and does not function organically.
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex neurodevelopmental genetic disorder. No definitive clinical signs of antenatal PWS have been identified.
A healthy, nulliparous, 29-year-old woman ...demonstrated polyhydramnios at 27 weeks of gestation. Cardiotocography (CTG) showed an absence of foetal heart rate (FHR) acceleration and moderate FHR variability. Daily CTG demonstrated an absence of FHR acceleration. A male newborn was delivered by caesarean section, weighing 2492 g, which is appropriate for gestational age; the Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min were 6 and 6, respectively, and the umbilical artery pH was 7.295. The newborn exhibited marked hypotonia, lack of sucking, and cryptorchidism. FISH analysis performed due to severe hypotonia showed 46, XY. Ish del (15) (q11. 2q 11.2), which led to the diagnosis of PWS.
Polyhydramnios and abnormal FHR patterns may be associated with feeding difficulty and hypotonia. These signs may be an indication for antenatal molecular genetic testing to diagnose PWS.
•Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex neurodevelopmental genetic disorder.•Polyhydramnios and abnormal foetal heart rate patterns may be associated with feeding difficulty and hypotonia.•These signs may be an indication for antenatal molecular genetic testing to diagnose Prader-Willi syndrome.
Neurocutaneous melanosis（NCM）is a rare congenital disease caused by proliferation of melanocytes in the skin and central nervous system. The prognosis is poor if neurological symptoms develop. In ...this paper, we report a four-day-old boy who had a giant pigmented nevus at birth. High-intensity lesions on magnetic resonance imaging（MRI）T1-weighted images of brain tissue including the amygdala suggested melanocytic proliferation in the central nervous system and we diagnosed this case as NCM from a remarkably elevated level of serum 5-S-cycteinyldopa（5-S-CD）. Although pathological findings in the central nervus system or neurological symptoms are necessary for the definitive diagnosis of NCM, recent reports indicated that NCM is often diagnosed by the combination of giant pigmented nevi and brain MRI findings. In addition to the giant pigmented nevi and MRI finding including T1-high intensity lesions or leptomeningeal gadolinium-enhancement, melanocytes in cerebrospinal fluid or remarkably high levels of 5-S-CD in cerebrospinal fluid or serum suggestive of melanocyte proliferation in the central nervus system would improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Early diagnosis of NCM during the neonatal period makes it possible to support the family psychologically and provide early intervention for central nervous system disorders.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
strain P-684 is a yeast isolated from the flowers of
Prunus verecunda
‘Antiqua,’ producing high quantities of malic and succinic acids in sake brewing. Here, we report the ...draft genome sequence of P-684, enlightening the mechanisms of biosynthesis of these organic acids by this strain.
ABSTRACT
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
strain P-684 is a yeast isolated from the flowers of
Prunus verecunda
‘Antiqua,’ producing high quantities of malic and succinic acids in sake brewing. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of P-684, enlightening the mechanisms of biosynthesis of these organic acids by this strain.
In 2019, the market for ready-made meals in Japan has increased by 27% in the past ten years and was valued at around 10 trillion yen. Minced meat is one of the most convenient ingredients for ...ready-made meals because it can be used in a wide variety of dishes, either by itself, or in combination with other ingredients. Processes that are necessary to obtain minced meat increase the area in contact with air. Consequently, these processes can compromise the quality of minced meat products, which tend to be more damaged compared to chopped meat or steak. Therefore, it is necessary to select an appropriate processing method to prevent lipid oxidation in meat. Lipid oxidation is a major cause of meat deterioration. Several factors, such as the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids, exposure to light and heat, and the presence of molecular oxygen as well as pro-oxidant and antioxidant components, affect lipid oxidation. Suppressing lipid oxidation is important for inhibiting the damage to meat products. Radical scavengers donate hydrogen to lipid radicals, stop the chain reaction, and suppress the progression of lipid oxidation. Chelating agents trap metal ions, thereby inhibiting the progress of lipid oxidation. Furthermore, a combination of the two methods to suppress lipid oxidation has also been reported. In light of this, combining chelating agents with other chemicals is expected to inhibit lipid oxidation.
This study examined the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and anger expression in public situations. Specific studies have indicated that people with low SES tend to be aggressive. ...However, Park et al.(2013) demonstrated that in Japan, where there are strong norms favoring the control of emotional expression, people with high SES tend to express their anger. In this study, we assumed that psychological entitlement would engage their anger expression. We then hypothesized that psychological entitlement mediates relationships between SES and anger expression in public situations because highly entitled people might justify their anger and its expression. The results of Study 1 (n＝599) supported this hypothesis. Furthermore, the results of Study 2 (n＝598) indicated that people with high SES tended to evaluate their anger expression as justifiable due to high psychological entitlement, even though their opponents were blamless. We discussed the possibility that anger expression is promoted not only by a lack of self-control but also by justification for the anger.
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