Background/Objectives: In spite of the much evidence for the beneficial effects of probiotics, their anti-obesity effects have not been well examined. We evaluated the effects of the probiotic ...Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055) on abdominal adiposity, body weight and other body measures in adults with obese tendencies. Subjects/Methods: We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial. Subjects (n=87) with higher body mass index (BMI) (24.2–30.7 kg/m2) and abdominal visceral fat area (81.2–178.5 cm2) were randomly assigned to receive either fermented milk (FM) containing LG2055 (active FM; n=43) or FM without LG2055 (control FM; n=44), and were asked to consume 200 g/day of FM for 12 weeks. Abdominal fat area was determined by computed tomography. Results: In the active FM group, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat areas significantly (P<0.01) decreased from baseline by an average of 4.6% (mean (confidence interval): −5.8 (−10.0, −1.7) cm2) and 3.3% (−7.4 (−11.6, −3.1) cm2), respectively. Body weight and other measures also decreased significantly (P<0.001) as follows: body weight, 1.4% (−1.1 (−1.5, −0.7) kg); BMI, 1.5% (−0.4 (−0.5, −0.2) kg/m2); waist, 1.8% (−1.7 (−2.1, −1.4) cm); hip, 1.5% (−1.5 (−1.8, −1.1) cm). In the control group, by contrast, none of these parameters decreased significantly. High-molecular weight adiponectin in serum increased significantly (P<0.01) in the active and control groups by 12.7% (0.17 (0.07, 0.26) μg/ml) and 13.6% (0.23 (0.07, 0.38) μg/ml), respectively. Conclusion: The probiotic LG2055 showed lowering effects on abdominal adiposity, body weight and other measures, suggesting its beneficial influence on metabolic disorders.
The mineral hydroxyapatite HAP; Ca
10(PO
4)
6(OH)
2 is the chief component of animal bones and teeth. It also is known to function as a catalyst with both acid and base sites, depending on the manner ...in which it is synthesized. We closely studied the reaction of ethanol over HAP using catalysts of different Ca/P molar ratios. These were prepared by controlling the pH of the solution during precipitation synthesis. We found that the distribution of acid sites and basic sites on the catalyst surface varied with the Ca/P ratio of HAP. The yields of ethylene, 1-butanol, and 1,3-butadiene were correlated with the ratio of acid sites and basic sites. We further found that yields of higher alcohols, such as 1-butanol, that are known as Guerbet alcohols and are characteristic products of ethanol over HAP, are functions of the probability of ethanol activation (
α) on the catalyst surface.
Almost all aphids harbour an endosymbiotic bacterium, Buchnera aphidicola, in bacteriocytes. Buchnera synthesizes essential nutrients and supports growth and reproduction of the host. Over the long ...history of endosymbiosis, many essential genes have been lost from the Buchnera genome, resulting in drastic genome reduction and the inability to live outside the host cells. In turn, when deprived of Buchnera, the host aphid suffers retarded growth and sterility. Buchnera and the host aphid are often referred to as highly integrated almost inseparable mutualistic partners. However, we discovered that, even after complete elimination of Buchnera, infection with a facultative endosymbiotic γ-proteobacterium called pea aphid secondary symbiont (PASS) enabled survival and reproduction of the pea aphid. In the Buchnera-free aphid, PASS infected the cytoplasms of bacteriocytes that normally harbour Buchnera, establishing a novel endosymbiotic system. These results indicate that PASS can compensate for the essential role of Buchnera by physiologically and cytologically taking over the symbiotic niche. By contrast, PASS negatively affected the growth and reproduction of normal host aphids by suppressing the essential symbiont Buchnera. These findings illuminate complex symbiont-symbiont and host-symbiont interactions in an endosymbiotic system, and suggest a possible evolutionary route to novel obligate endosymbiosis by way of facultative endosymbiotic associations.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (UD-EGC) is technically feasible; however, the long-term clinical outcomes of the procedure have not yet been ...fully investigated. The aim of our study was to elucidate long-term outcomes of ESD for UD-EGC.
Between September 2003 and October 2009, a total of 153 patients were diagnosed endoscopically as having UD-EGC fulfilling the expanded criteria for ESD. After informed consent was obtained, 101 patients were selected to undergo ESD and 52 to undergo surgical operation. We assessed the clinical outcomes of ESD in 101 consecutive patients with 103 UD-EGC lesions who were undergoing ESD for the first time. The overall mortality and disease-free survival rates after ESD were evaluated as the long-term outcomes.
The rates of en bloc and curative resection were 99.0% (102/103) and 82.5% (85/103), respectively. We encountered one patient with nodal metastasis detected by computed tomography before diagnostic ESD, although curative resection of the primary lesion was achieved based on routine histological examination. Among the 78 patients without a past history of malignancy within the previous 5 years in whom curative resection of the primary lesion was achieved, no cases of local recurrence or distant metastasis were observed during follow-up; however, 1 synchronous and 2 metachronous lesions were detected in 2 patients (2.6%) after primary ESD. Thus, estimated over a median follow-up period of 40.0 months (range 19-92 months) and 36.0 months (range 9-92 months), the 3-and 5-year overall mortality rates were 1.9% and 3.9%, respectively, and the 3-and 5-year overall disease-free survival rates were both 96.7%.
Although our single-center retrospective study may be considered to be only preliminary, our data indicate that ESD for UD-EGC may yield good long-term outcomes.
The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic species complex of at least 24 genetically distinct species. Thus far, one obligate and seven facultative symbiotic bacteria have been reported from the ...B. tabaci species complex. Both genetic groups and infected symbionts are extremely important to estimate the pest status of B. tabaci. In this study, we collected 340 whiteflies from 39 agricultural sites, covering an entire region of the B. tabaci habitat in Japan, and examined the genotypes and symbiont community composition at subspecies level. Use of the cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence technique and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene sequencing detected five genetic groups: indigenous species JpL and Asia II 6, invasive species Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean Subclade Q1 (MED Q1), and a genetic group previously undetected in Asia, Mediterranean Subclade Q2 (MED Q2). The genetic groups exhibited characteristic infection statuses with regard to their facultative symbionts, as observed in other countries. The endosymbiotic microbiota of the Japanese MED Q1 was different from that in neighbouring countries, but similar to that in the French or Uruguayan MED Q1. These results may indicate that Japanese MED Q1 species have not invaded from neighbouring countries, but from distant countries by international transportation. All Japanese MED Q2 species were infected with Rickettsia, some of which are regarded as conferring a female‐biased sex ratio and fitness benefit on B. tabaci. The results suggest that MED Q2 may be prevalent in Japan and neighbouring countries.
Several bedside and laboratory neuromonitoring tools are currently used in neonatal encephalopathy (NE) to assess 1) brain function amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) and EEG, 2) ...cerebral oxygenation delivery and consumption near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and 3) blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. The aim of the review is to provide the role of neuromonitoring in understanding the development of brain injury in these newborns and better predict their long-term outcome. Simultaneous use of these monitoring modalities may improve our ability to provide meaningful prognostic information regarding ongoing treatments. Evidence will be summarized in this review for each of these modalities, by describing (1) the methods, (2) the clinical evidence in context of NE both before and with hypothermia, and (3) the research and future directions.
To investigate the presenting characteristics of new-onset afebrile seizures in infants (age 1-24 months) and the yield of neuroimaging.
Prospective data were obtained from a standardized evaluation ...and management plan mandated by a critical care pathway. A total of 317 infants presented with new-onset afebrile seizures between 2001 and 2007. EEG was performed on 90.3%, head CT was obtained on 94%, and MRI was obtained on 57.4%.
We found half of the infants had partial features to their seizures, yet evidence for primary generalized seizures was rare. The majority had more than 1 seizure upon presentation. Seizures in this age group tended to be brief, with 44% lasting less than 1 minute. EEG abnormalities were found in half. One-third of CTs were abnormal, with 9% of all CTs requiring acute medical management. Over half of MRIs were abnormal, with cerebral dysgenesis being the most common abnormality (p < 0.05). One-third of normal CTs had a subsequent abnormal MRI-only 1 resulted in altered medical management.
Infantile seizures are usually brief, but commonly recurrent, and strong consideration should be made for inpatient observation. Acute imaging with CT can alter management in a small but important number of infants. Due to the superior yield, strong consideration for MRI should be given for all infants, as primary generalized seizures are rare, and there is a high rate of cerebral dysgenesis.
The correlation between compression conditions at temperatures in the range of 573–773
K with the strain rate range of 0.002–2
s
−1 and grain size after solution heat treatment of 7075 alloy was ...investigated, as contrasted with 6061 alloy. The grain coarsening occurred under specific Zener-Hollomon (
Z) parameters of 5
×
10
10–10
12
s
−1 for 7075 alloy, 10
8–2
×
10
12
s
−1 for 6061 alloy, respectively. These phenomena could be explained by crystalline orientation analysis and stored deformation strain evaluation. The site of subgrains with less than 15° misorientation and stored strain after compression increased, but the site of recrystallized grains after solution heat treatment increased with
Z parameter. Small
Z parameter condition could get low stored strain with fine grain which is stable during SHT. Effect of Cr and Zr on the grain structure of 7075 alloy was also investigated. Cr or Zr addition could inhibit the grain coarsening. The role of Zr addition was confirmed to pinning effect of Al
3Zr dispersoids to subgrain boundaries.
Vascular calcification, which significantly increases cardiovascular and other causes of mortality, is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the ...association between serum magnesium levels and vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients.
390 nondiabetic patients on maintenance hemodialysis (226 males and 164 females, 59 +/- 13 years) were examined. Hand roentgenography was performed in each patient, and visible vascular calcification of the hand arteries was evaluated. Blood was drawn to measure serum calcium, phosphate, magnesium and intact parathyroid hormone levels.
There were 52 patients (38 males and 14 females) with vascular calcification, and 338 (188 males and 150 females) without. Serum phosphate was significantly higher in the former compared with the latter group (p < 0.005); serum intact parathyroid hormone was significantly higher (p < 0.05), whereas serum calcium was not statistically different between the two groups. Serum magnesium was significantly lower in patients with vascular calcification than in those without (2.69 +/- 0.28 vs. 2.78 +/- 0.33 mg/dl, p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum magnesium concentration was a significant independent factor associated with the presence of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients (odds ratio 0.28, 95% CI 0.09 - 0.92/1 mg/dl increase in serum magnesium, p = 0.036) after adjustment for age, gender, duration of hemodialysis, calcium, phosphate and intact parathyroid hormone concentrations.
Hypomagnesemia is significantly associated with the presence of vascular calcification of the hand arteries, independent of serum calcium and phosphate levels. These results suggest that higher serum magnesium concentrations may play an important protective role in the development of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, and that magnesium concentration of dialysis fluid may be reconsidered in view of preventing vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients.
We evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of teicoplanin according to the pharmacokinetics (PK) therapeutic level achieved in patients with renal dysfunction. Target trough concentration (C
min
) ...was ≥15–30 μg/ml which has been recommended in patients with normal renal function. Adult patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m
2
) who were treated by teicoplanin were included in the study. We adopted two types of regimen for the initial 3 days: the conventional regimen, and the enhanced loading regimen (10 mg/kg twice daily on the 1st day, followed by 6.7–10 mg/kg once daily for the 2nd and 3rd days. Two hundred and eighty-eight patients were evaluated for safety, and 106 patients with methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) infections were evaluated for clinical efficacy. A significantly higher success rate was obtained in patients who achieved the target initial C
min
compared with those that did not (75.0 % vs 50.0 %,
p
= 0.008). In a multivariate analysis, initial C
min
≥15 μg/ml was an independent factor for clinical success (adjusted odds ratio: 4.20, 95 % confidence interval: 1.34–13.15). In patients with 15–30 μg/ml of maximal C
min
during therapy, nephrotoxicity occurred in 13.1 %, and hepatotoxicity in 2.6 %, and these incidences were not significantly higher compared with those patients with <15 μg/ml. In conclusion, achievement of C
min
of 15–30 μg/ml without delay was necessary to improve clinical outcomes for the treatment by teicoplanin in patients with renal dysfunction. Further investigation is required regarding the optimal loading regimen to achieve the therapeutic levels in those patients.
PDF
