Influence of adjuvant anastrozole on bone mineral density in Japanese postmenopausal breast cancer patients: is there a racial difference?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
Y Tanji
Publications and source records attributed to Y Tanji.
The survival response of Escherichia coli K12 in a natural environment.
To verify the hypothesis of cryptic growth and viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state, survival responses of Escherichia coli cells were examined under oligotrophic microcosm conditions for an extended period. In the case of filtered distilled water at 4 degrees C, E. coli cells definitely entered the VBNC state within 56 days. However, culturability and viability increased while the total number of cells declined after 110 days. This phenomenon can be explained by considering three possible states. The first is the existence of the VBNC state, the second is cryptic growth, and the third is the death of E. coli cells. In the case of artificial seawater at 4 degrees C, VBNC E. coli cells confirmed the existence of two log units of elongated VBNC cells. Moreover, elongated VBNC cells showed the most significant change among all the other transformed cells. Also, E. coli cells in microcosms at 28 degrees C indicated the entrance to the classical starvation survival state. In resuscitation tests, 1% diluted Luria-Bertani agar medium showed the highest level of resuscitation among amended agar media. To evaluate the survival ability of E. coli cells in the activated sludge samples, we used an E. colistrain XL-1 blue containing plasmids pQ2 including GFPcDNA (XL/GFP). In supernatant of activated sludge (SUP) at 28 degrees C, XL/GFP cells entered the VBNC state after 10 days, whereas existence of VBNC cells was not detectable in resuspended activated sludge (ACT) at 28 degrees C.
Bacteriological Techniques↗
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage endolysin can enhance permeability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane and induce cell lysis.
To determine the function of the C-terminal region of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage endolysin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa lysis, the permeabilization of the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa was analyzed. Glu-15 to His (E15H) and Thr-32 to Glu (T32E) substitutions were introduced into the Bacillus phage endolysin. Neither E15H nor T32E substitution induced enzymatic and antibacterial activities. These two, Glu-15 and Thr-32, were considered to be the active center of the enzyme. The addition of purified E15H and T32E proteins to P. aeruginosa cells induced the release of periplasmic beta-lactamase from the cells, indicating that both proteins enhance permeabilization of the outer membrane. However, the addition of E15H and T32E proteins to P. aeruginosa cells did not induce the release of cytoplasmic ATP from the cells. These results indicate that the antibacterial activity of the endolysin requires both the C-terminal enhancement of the permeabilization of the P. aeruginosa outer membrane and N-terminal enzymatic activity.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Toward rational control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by a phage cocktail.
Twenty six phages infected with Escherichia coli O157:H7 were screened from various sources. Among them, nine caused visible lysis of E. coli O157:H7 cells in LB liquid medium. However, prolonged incubation of E. coli cells and phage allowed the emergence of phage-resistant cells. The susceptibility of the phage-resistant cells to the nine phages was diverse. A rational procedure for selecting an effective cocktail of phage for controlling bacteria was investigated based on the mechanism of phage-resistant cell conversion. Deletion of OmpC from the E. coli cells facilitated the emergence of cells resistant to SP21 phage. After 8 h of incubation, SP21-resistant cells appeared. By contrast, alteration of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profile facilitated cell resistance to SP22 phage, which was observed following a 6-h incubation. When a cocktail of phages SP21 and SP22 was used to infect E. coli O157:H7 cells, 30 h was required for the emergence of cells (R-C) resistant to both phages. The R-C cells carried almost the same outer membrane and LPS components as the wild-type cells. However, the reduced binding ability of both phages to R-C cells suggested disturbance of phage adsorption to the R-C surface. Even though R-C cells resistant to both phages appeared, this work shows that rational selection of phages has the potential to at least delay the emergence of phage resistance.
Adsorption↗
Association of genetic polymorphisms in CYP19 and CYP1A1 with the oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer risk.
Since tamoxifen has been shown to reduce the risk of oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancers in a chemoprevention trial (P-1), it is important to develop assays to assess risk factors for ER-positive breast cancer in order to appropriately select candidates for chemoprevention with tamoxifen. Thus, the significance of genetic polymorphisms of genes involved in oestrogen biosynthesis (CYP19) and metabolism (CYP1A1) as a risk factor for ER-positive breast cancers was evaluated. A case-control study was conducted with 257 breast cancer patients and 191 healthy female controls. Two polymorphisms, CYP19 (TTTA repeats) in intron 4 and CYP1A1 6235C/T in the 3' non-coding region, and their association with the breast cancer risk after adjustment for the other epidemiological risk factors were examined. CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) allele carriers showed a significantly (P<0.05) increased risk of ER-positive breast cancers (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.72, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.10-2.69), but not ER-negative breast cancers. CYP1A1 6235C allele carriers showed a non-significant (P=0.06) trend towards a decreased risk of ER-positive breast cancers (OR=0.65, 95% CI 0.42-1.02), but not ER-negative breast cancers. The combination of these two polymorphisms was found to be more useful in the assessment of the ER-positive breast cancer risk (OR=3.00, 95% CI=1.56-5.74) than the CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) polymorphism alone. The combination of CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) and CYP1A1 6235C/T polymorphisms is associated with an ER-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancer risk, and, thus, would be useful in the selection of candidates for chemoprevention with tamoxifen.
Adult↗
Successful treatment of refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by unmanipulated stem cell transplantation from an HLA 3-loci mismatched (haploidentical) sibling.
We describe a patient with refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who successfully underwent unmanipulated stem cell transplantation from an HLA 3-loci mismatched (haploidentical) sibling. In order to avoid severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), we used intensified GVHD prophylaxis consisting of tacrolimus, a short course of methotrexate, methylprednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Hematopoietic reconstitution was rapid, with neutrophil count >5 x 10(8)/l on day +16, and platelet count >2 x 10(10)/l on day +25. There was no evidence of clinical acute GVHD. Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections were well controlled with antibiotics. The patient is still in complete remission past day +400. We suggest that unmanipulated HLA-mismatched transplantation with intensified GVHD prophylaxis is an alternative option for patients who do not have an HLA-identical donor.
Adult↗
Effect of dispersing oil phase on the biodegradability of a solid alkane dissolved in non-biodegradable oil.
Acinetobacter sp. CR was grown on a model oil, which consisted of an inert oil matrix of pristane with n-heneicosane dissolved in it as the sole carbon source, in a stirred-tank bioreactor. This bacterium takes up substrates from the oil phase by direct contact with the oil phase. A previously established mathematical model was applied to reveal the effect of agitation conditions on the growth and n-alkane degradation kinetics of the bacterium. Higher impeller speed resulted in both lower microbial growth and lower n-alkane degradation rate of the bacterium, although it increased the specific surface area of the oil, which was measured by a previously developed device. This result was due to the decreased number of cells adhering to the oil surface, i.e., intense agitation inhibited the adhesion of cells to the oil surface. The addition of a surfactant below a critical micelle concentration (CMC) inhibited the degradation of n-heneicosane dissolved in pristane, although the biodegradability of the substrate recovered gradually with the increase in the dose of surfactant over CMC. The results suggest that efforts to increase the specific surface area of the oil phase have the undesirable result of inhibiting oil degradation when the dominant microbial degraders take up substrates in oil by direct contact with the oil.
Acinetobacter↗
Construction of self-disruptive Bacillus megaterium in response to substrate exhaustion for polyhydroxybutyrate production.
In order to establish a novel recovery system for polyhydroxyalkanoates, a self-disruptive strain of Bacillus megaterium that responds to substrate exhaustion was constructed. A gene cassette carrying the lysis system of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage - holin and endolysin - was inserted into the Escherichia coli- Bacillus subtilis shuttle vector pX under the control of a xylose-inducible expression system, xylR-xylA '. In this system, the expression of a target gene is induced by xylose but inhibited by glucose, which acts as an anti-inducer. B. megaterium was transformed with pX conveying the phage lysis system, which was integrated into the amyE locus of chromosomal DNA of B. megaterium by homologous recombination. The lysis system caused self-disruption of the transformant cells effectively even when expression of the lysis genes was induced during stationary phase. For the production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the transformant was grown in a medium containing glucose as a substrate in the presence of xylose. When the glucose concentration approached zero, self-disruption was spontaneously induced, releasing intracellularly accumulated PHB into the culture broth. This system realizes timely cell disruption immediately after the PHB content in the cell reaches a maximum level.
Bacillus megaterium↗
Fungal contribution to in situ biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) film in soil.
The contribution of fungi to the microbial degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) films in soil was studied. Various traces, cavities, and grooves observed on the dented surface of PHBV films demonstrated that the degradation was a concerted effect of a microbial consortium colonizing the film surface, including fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes. The succession of microbial consortia in the soil around the PHBV films during the degradation showed a distinctive increase in the fungal population, resulting in its dominance. Comparison of the degradation ability of microbial strains isolated from soil where PHBV films were degraded, revealed that fungi showed the highest contribution to PHBV degradation, growing very rapidly along the film surface with their high degradation ability and then expanding their hyphae in a three-dimensional manner.
Bacteria↗
Fate of coliphage in waste water treatment process and detection of phages carrying the Shiga toxin type 2 gene.
Abundances of phages specific to Escherichia coli in the wastewater treatment process were analyzed. Relatively abundant coliphages were detected in sewage influent. Phages in the influent were found both suspended in liquid phase and attached on the solid particles. Phage concentration was not reduced in the settling tank without chemical agglutination. Anaerobic followed by aerobic treatment of the sewage reduced concentration of suspended phages. Almost no phage was detected as a suspended form in the aerobic tank. Most of the phages were detected as attaching form and were excluded by aggregation with sludge. Using an experimental approach based on the detection of Shiga toxin 2 (Stx 2) gene by a phage enrichment culture followed by nested PCR, bacteriophages carrying Stx 2 gene were detected in the influent, settling tank, and anaerobic tank. It was revealed that the presence of phages carrying Stx 2 gene is common in sewage and these phages are effectively eliminated through sewage treatment process.
Coliphages↗
Functional analysis of antibacterial activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage endolysin against Gram-negative bacteria.
To analyze the antibacterial activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage endolysin, nine deletion derivatives of the endolysin were constructed. Each deletion mutant was overexpressed, purified and characterized. The catalytic domain was located on the N-terminal region and the C-terminus had an affinity with the bacterial envelope. The enzymatic activity remained in spite of the deletion of the C-terminal 116-amino acid region; however, the antibacterial activity was lost. These results indicate that antibacterial action requires both the C-terminal cell-binding and the N-terminal enzymatic activities.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Antibacterial activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage endolysin without holin conjugation.
To characterize the enzymatic activity and antibacterial activity of endolysin encoded by a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage, the open reading frame encoding endolysin was amplified by PCR and cloned into the expression plasmid pET21d(+). The resultant plasmid was used to transform Escherichia coli JM109(DE3). Production of endolysin in the cytosol facilitated cell lysis without coproduction of holin, which is considered to degrade or alter the cytoplasmic membrane. The phage endolysin was overexpressed and purified. Although the specific activity of the purified phage endolysin towards lyophilized Micrococcus luteus cells was 1/11 of the activity of chicken egg white lysozymes, the endolysin showed stronger antibacterial activity towards E. coli W3110, E. coli JM109(DE3) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 than chicken egg white lysozymes. The antibacterial activity of the endolysin towards these three bacterial strains was marked when EDTA was added to the endolysin solution.
Journal Article↗
Pancreatic mass due to chronic pancreatitis: correlation of CT and MR imaging features with pathologic findings.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify helical CT and MR imaging features of pancreatic masses (focal enlargement) due to chronic pancreatitis and their correlation with pathologic findings. CONCLUSION: When histologic fibrosis is uniformly present through the pancreas in patients with chronic pancreatitis, there is no demarcation of masses due to chronic pancreatitis. When there is a greater degree of histologic fibrosis in the masslike part of the pancreas, the mass is often demarcated from the remaining pancreas, and the enhancement pattern on two-phase helical CT and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging mimics that of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: lateral transabdominal approach vs posterior retroperitoneal approach.
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been used to remove a wide variety of adrenal neoplasms. Although several laparoscopic approaches to the adrenal gland have been described, the lateral transabdominal approach has several advantages when compared with other approaches for laparoscopic adrenalectomy. From October 1995 to July 1999, we performed laparoscopic adrenalectomies on 16 patients, including eight posterior retroperitoneal approaches and eight lateral transabdominal approaches. Sixteen patients, ranging in age from 23 to 69 years, were treated for the following conditions: non-functioning adenoma, four patients; aldosteronoma, seven patients; pheochromocytoma, three patients; Cushing's adenoma, two patients. The average tumor size was 2.5 +/- 0.5 cm (1.8-3.0 cm, median 2.4 cm) in the lateral transabdominal approach, 1.2 +/- 0.8 cm (0.8-3.2 cm, median 1.75 cm) in the posterior retroperitoneal approach. Average operative time of lateral transabdominal approach was significantly shorter than that of the posterior retroperitoneal approaches (mean 129 min vs 269 min, P = 0.0005). Conversion to laparotomy was required in one patient in the posterior approach. Postoperative complication occurred in one pneumothorax in the lateral transabdominal approach and two subcutaneous emphysemas in the posterior retroperitoneal approach. There was no statistical difference in blood loss during the operation in the two groups. There was no mortality in either group. The lateral transabdominal approach is a safe and efficient technique for the removal of the adrenal neoplasms. Compared with other approaches, this technique has a wider working space and also good exposure for removing the adrenal gland.
Abdomen↗
Aggregate formation of rCHO cells and its maintenance in repeated batch culture in the absence of cell adhesion materials.
Aggregate formation of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells capable of producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), using medium lacking cell adhesion materials in a repeated batch culture, was examined together with cell growth, cell viability and G-CSF production. The rCHO culture was conducted in a rotary shaker and the medium was changed every five days. The formation of stable cell aggregates with high reproducibility was observed after the first medium change. The size of the cell aggregates (consisting of several 10s to 40,000 cells) formed during the repeated batch culture ranged from 30 to 600 microm. The cell density of the aggregates reached as high as 2 x 10(6) cells/ml and the viability was maintained at more than 80% for 19 d. Changing the medium to avoid glucose exhaustion effectively maintained the cell density, cell viability and G-CSF productivity at high levels.
Journal Article↗
Characterization of oxygen-dependent lysis of Escherichia coli cells infected by bacteriophage T4.
Infection of Escherichia coli cells by T4 phage at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01 caused inhibition of cell lysis for up to 4 h. Such cells grown under aerobic condition were lysed by external stimuli such as cold shock, osmotic shock or addition of toxic substances, e.g., carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). However, the effects of these external stimuli were reduced by transferring the cells to static incubation, by which dissolved oxygen was consumed by the cells within 10 min. The cells became insensitive to such external stimuli when the culture was deoxygenated with nitrogen gas. Following infection with a lysozyme amber mutant, eL1a, the cell membrane permeability was found to be increased either by cold shock or osmotic shock treatment of cells grown under aerobic conditions, but not in cells transferred to the static incubation. Oxygen limitation was suggested to enhance membrane stability in relation to cell lysis following the cold or osmotic shock treatment.
Journal Article↗
Stimulating accumulation of nitrifying bacteria in porous carrier by addition of inorganic carbon in a continuous-flow fluidized bed wastewater treatment reactor.
Porous polyurethane carrier particles have been successfully applied for microbial immobilization to simultaneously remove carbonaceous and nitrogenous substances from wastewater by a fill-and-draw operation. This reactor system was extended to a continuous-flow operation mode, by which inorganic carbon (IC) was supplemented in order to stimulate the growth of autotrophic nitrifying bacteria. By addition of sodium bicarbonate, the ammonia oxidation reaction proceeded remarkably in the porous particle fluidized bed reactor, while a small increase in the nitrification was observed in a reactor with suspended microbes. Dissolved oxygen profile was obtained using an oxygen microelectrode to measure the microbial consumption of oxygen in the porous carrier. The size of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial populations in the carrier was proportional to the volume of the aerobic region of the carrier. The aerobic region decreased with the increase in sodium bicarbonate concentration, which improved the ammonia-oxidizing activity of retained nitrifiers in the carrier. The maximum ammonia oxidation rate was up to 55.6 gN/m3/h within the aerobic region of the carrier under the following feed conditions: 100 mg/l of total organic compound, 55 mg/l of ammonium concentration and 48 mg/l of inorganic carbon.
Journal Article↗
Sjögren's syndrome complicated with autoimmune hepatitis and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
A 56-year-old Japanese female simultaneously developed thrombocytopenia, sicca symptoms, and an elevation of transaminase. Antiphospholipid antibodies were detected in her serum. The presence of anti-SS-A antibodies in the serum and sialectasis, disclosed by sialography, suggested the presence of primary Sjogren's syndrome (SjS). The laboratory data and the biopsy of the liver showed compatible findings with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Thrombocytopenia and liver dysfunction satisfactorily responded to corticosteroid. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SjS with AIH and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APAS). Analysis of serum cytokine levels showed a predominance of Th0-Th1 response, which is not compatible with AIH, in this complicated autoimmune state.
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid↗