Soy sauce-like seasoning enhances the growth of and the production of butyrate, propionate, and lactate.

The short-chain fatty acids responsible for gut homeostasis are volatile fatty acids produced by commensal bacteria in the gut as fermentation products from undigested food components. Among the short-chain fatty acids, butyrate is important for maintaining intestinal tract anaerobic conditions, promoting epithelial barrier functions, and inducing regulatory T cells that suppress inflammatory bowel disease and allergic diarrhea. However, the type of food-derived molecular components and mechanisms by which they regulate the growth and butyrate production of butyrate-producing bacteria are not clearly understood.

Unveiling the synthesis of aromatic compounds in sauce-flavor Daqu from the functional microorganisms to enzymes.

Aromatic compounds serve as the primary source of floral and fruity aromas in sauce-flavor (Maotai flavor) baijiu, constituting the skeleton components of its flavor profile. Nevertheless, the formation mechanism of these compounds and key aroma-producing enzymes in sauce-flavor Daqu (fermentation agent, SFD) remain elusive. Here, we combined metagenomics, metaproteomics, metabolomics, and key enzyme activity to verify the biosynthesis pathway of aromatic compounds and to identify key enzymes, genes, and characteristic microorganisms in SFD.

Glucose-induced endocytic degradation of the maltose transporter MalP is mediated through ubiquitination by the HECT-ubiquitin ligase HulA and its adaptor CreD in Aspergillus oryzae.

In the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae, large amounts of amylolytic enzymes are inducibly produced by isomaltose, which is converted from maltose incorporated via the maltose transporter MalP. In contrast, the preferred sugar glucose strongly represses the expression of both amylolytic and malP genes through carbon catabolite repression. Simultaneously, the addition of glucose triggers the endocytic degradation of MalP on the plasma membrane.

Determining factors for dexmedetomidine sedation in endoscopic submucosal dissection for early-stage gastric cancer.

Background And Aim: Although no specific sedation recommendations exist in early-stage gastric cancer (ESGC) for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), dexmedetomidine (DEX) is useful along with benzodiazepines and analgesics. Furthermore, DEX is used for endoscopic treatment requiring lengthy sedation. However, it is unclear which patients should be administered DEX.

Ykt6 functionally overlaps with vacuolar and exocytic R-SNAREs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex forms a 4-helix coiled-coil bundle consisting of 16 layers of interacting side chains upon membrane fusion. The central layer (layer 0) is highly conserved and comprises three glutamines (Q) and one arginine (R), and thus SNAREs are classified into Qa-, Qb-, Qc-, and R-SNAREs. Homotypic vacuolar fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the SNAREs Vam3 (Qa), Vti1 (Qb), Vam7 (Qc), and Nyv1 (R).

Maxillary bone healing and CT value after Le Fort I osteotomy using absorbable plate system: A retrospective study.

This study aimed to evaluate maxillary bone healing and computed tomography (CT) values after Le Fort I osteotomy with sagittal split ramus osteotomy in patients with class II and III malocclusion. Four absorbable plates and screws were used to fix the maxillary segments in all patients. For 112 sides (58 patients), the bone defect areas at the anterior and posterior sites between the maxillary segments were measured using 3-dimensional CT views reconstructed over a constant CT value at 1 week and 1 year postoperatively.

Correlation Between Acquisition of Dental Implant Stability and Hounsfield Units at Dental Implant Placement.

Alveolar bone quality at the implantation site affects the initial stability of dental implant treatment. However, the relationship between bone quality and osseointegration has yet to be evaluated. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effect of bone quality on dental implant stability in osseointegration formation changes.

Construction of self-cloning Aspergillus oryzae strains with high production of multiple biomass-degrading enzymes on solid-state culture.

Filamentous fungi produce numerous industrially important enzymes. Among them, Aspergillus oryzae-derived enzymes are widely used in various fermentation applications. In this study, we constructed self-cloning strains that overproduce multiple biomass-degrading enzymes under the control of a strong promoter of α-amylase-coding gene (amyB) using the industrial strain A.

Safety and Clinical Evaluation of a Sonic Tongue Brush.

Background: Tongue coating consists of oral bacteria, desquamated epithelium, blood cells, and food residues and is involved in periodontal disease, halitosis, and aspiration pneumonia. Recently, a tongue brush with sonic vibration was developed to clean the tongue. This comparative study examined the extent of tongue coating, its effects on the tongue, bacterial count particularly on the posterior dorsum of the tongue, and the degree of pain using a manual tongue brush and the newly developed sonic tongue brush.

Oral angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril protects the heart from Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction in mice.

Although angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are considered useful for the treatment of human heart failure, some experimental failing-heart models have shown little beneficial effect of ACE inhibitors in animals with poor oral health, particularly periodontitis. In this study, we examined the effects of the ACE inhibitor captopril (Cap; 0.1 mg/mL in drinking water) on cardiac dysfunction in mice treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (PG-LPS) at a dose (0.

Synergistic effect of FGF-2 and TGF-β1 on the mineralization of human umbilical cord perivascular cells.

Objective: Human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) are derived from the human umbilical cord perivascular tissue and are expected to replace mesenchymal stromal cells in the future. We investigated the synergistic effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) on HUCPVC mineralization.

Design: We prepared HUCPVCs with (FGF(+)HUCPVCs) or without FGF-2 (FGF(-)HUCPVCs) in the presence of activated vitamin D, a bone morphogenic protein inhibitor, and TGF-β1.

Physiological ER stress caused by amylase production induces regulated Ire1-dependent mRNA decay in Aspergillus oryzae.

Regulated Ire1-dependent decay (RIDD) is a feedback mechanism in which the endoribonuclease Ire1 cleaves endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized mRNAs encoding secretory and membrane proteins in eukaryotic cells under ER stress. RIDD is artificially induced by chemicals that generate ER stress; however, its importance under physiological conditions remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate the occurrence of RIDD in filamentous fungus using Aspergillus oryzae as a model, which secretes copious amounts of amylases.

Long-term outcomes of delayed clozapine initiation in treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Clozapine is the only antipsychotic medication with proven efficacy against treatment-resistant schizophrenia. This multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of a delay in clozapine initiation on long-term outcomes.

Methods: Patients who initiated clozapine treatment between July 2009 and December 2018 were included in this study.

Evaluation of tongue pressure and lip closing force in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery: A retrospective study.

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively compare changes in tongue pressure and lip closing force among skeletal Class II and Class III patients, who had undergone orthognathic surgery, and a control group. Maximum tongue pressure and lip closing forces were measured preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Time-course changes were analyzed and compared among the groups.

Bone healing and stability after advancement genioplasty using a pre-bent absorbable plate and screws.

This study aimed to compare the bone healing and stability of the chin with a pre-bent absorbable plate and a manually bent absorbable plate after advancement genioplasty. Patients with class II malocclusion who underwent genioplasty with bimaxillary surgery were included. After genioplasty, two absorbable bicortical screws were fixed on both sides.

Vidarabine, an anti-herpes agent, improves Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-induced cardiac dysfunction in mice.

In this work, we examined the involvement of type 5 adenylyl cyclase (AC5) in cardiac dysfunction induced in mice given Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (PG-LPS) at a dose equivalent to the circulating levels in periodontitis (PD) patients. Cardiac function was significantly decreased in mice given PG-LPS compared to the control, but treatment for 1 week with the AC5 inhibitor vidarabine ameliorated the dysfunction. Cardiac fibrosis and myocyte apoptosis were significantly increased in the PG-LPS group, but vidarabine blocked these changes.

Successful resuscitation from acute coronary syndrome during mediastinoscope-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy: a case report.

Background: Although unexpected cardiac arrest is a very rare intraoperative complication, strategies regarding preoperative screening and procedures to be taken in the event of an emergency need to be well established.

Case Presentation: A man in his late 70 s diagnosed with thoracic esophageal cancer, cT3N1M0, and cStage III was admitted. His metabolic equivalents were 4 or more.

Contrasting the microbial community and non-volatile metabolites involved in ester synthesis between Qing-flavor Daqu and Nong-flavor Daqu.

Daqu, a fermentation starter, was important source of key flavors of Chinese Baijiu. The quality of Chinese Baijiu could be significantly affected by the ester-synthesis microorganisms. In order to clarify the microbial community that promoted the ester formation in Daqu, the dynamic changes of microbial community and non-volatile profiles of Qing-flavor Daqu and Nong-flavor Daqu samples through the whole making process were investigated by Illumina MiSeq platform and liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Efficacy of Nostril Supportive Splint Treatment for Nasal Septum Deformities after Le Fort I Osteotomy.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of support splint treatment for deformities and deviations of the nasal septum after Le Fort I osteotomy (LFI). Patients were divided into two groups: the retainer group wore a nasal support splint immediately after LFI for 7 days, and the no retainer group did not wear a nasal support splint. Evaluation was performed by measuring the ratio of the difference between the left and right sides of the nasal cavity area (ratio of nasal cavity) and the angle of the nasal septum using three computed tomography frontal images (anterior, middle, and posterior) before and one year postoperatively.

The mast cell exosome-fibroblast connection: A novel pro-fibrotic pathway.

Introduction: In addition to the traditional activation of resident receptors by release of local mediators, new evidence favors the existence of exosomes in cell-to-cell communication that mediates delivery of specific cargo to modulate recipient cell function. We report that mast cell exosomes are an additional source of pro-fibrotic substances and constitute a unique pathway for the generation of excess collagen.

Methods: We use primary human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) to demonstrate the uptake of labeled exosomes isolated from the human mast cell line HMC-1 (MC-EXOs), previously shown to contain protein cargo in common with human mast cell exosomes.