In vivo heat production dynamics during a contraction-relaxation cycle in rat single skeletal muscle fibers.

Skeletal muscle generates heat via contraction-dependent (shivering) and independent (nonshivering) mechanisms. While this thermogenic capacity of skeletal muscle undoubtedly contributes to the body temperature homeostasis of animals and impacts various cellular functions, the intracellular temperature and its dynamics in skeletal muscle in vivo remain elusive. We aimed to determine the intracellular temperature and its changes within skeletal muscle in vivo during contraction and following relaxation.

Successful endovascular recanalization of massive cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in a patient with tuberous sclerosis and protein S deficiency: a case report.

Here, we report the case of a 27-year-old woman with tuberous sclerosis complex who underwent successful endovascular intervention for cerebral venous thrombosis at the superior sagittal sinus. She had protein S deficiency and a long-term history of anemia caused by menorrhagia from uterine fibroids, possibly leading to a hypercoagulable state. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis accounts for ~0.

Detailed standardized protocol to prevent cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection.

Objective: While cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery plays an essential role in the treatment of hydrocephalus, postoperative infection due to the implantation of foreign materials is still one of the most common and potentially serious complications of this procedure. Because no previously reported protocol has been proven to prevent postoperative infection after CSF shunt surgeries in adults, the authors investigated the effectiveness of a protocol introduced in their institution.

Methods: A detailed standardized surgical protocol to prevent infection in patients undergoing CSF shunt surgeries was introduced in the authors' institution in December 2011.

An extracellular [NiFe] hydrogenase mediating iron corrosion is encoded in a genetically unstable genomic island in Methanococcus maripaludis.

Certain methanogens deteriorate steel surfaces through a process called microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). However, the mechanisms of MIC, whereby methanogens oxidize zerovalent iron (Fe), are largely unknown. In this study, Fe-corroding Methanococcus maripaludis strain OS7 and its derivative (strain OS7mut1) defective in Fe-corroding activity were isolated.

Genome sequence of Aspergillus luchuensis NBRC 4314.

Awamori is a traditional distilled beverage made from steamed Thai-Indica rice in Okinawa, Japan. For brewing the liquor, two microbes, local kuro (black) koji mold Aspergillus luchuensis and awamori yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are involved. In contrast, that yeasts are used for ethanol fermentation throughout the world, a characteristic of Japanese fermentation industries is the use of Aspergillus molds as a source of enzymes for the maceration and saccharification of raw materials.

Complete genome sequence of Ilumatobacter coccineum YM16-304(T.).

Ilumatobacter coccineum YM16-304(T) (=NBRC 103263(T)) is a novel marine actinobacterium isolated from a sand sample collected at a beach in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Strain YM16-304(T) is the type strain of the species. Phylogenetically, strain YM16-304(T) is close to Ilumatobacter nonamiense YM16-303(T) (=NBRC 109120(T)), Ilumatobacter fluminis YM22-133(T) and some uncultured bacteria including putative marine sponge symbionts.

Whole-genome sequencing of sake yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kyokai no. 7.

The term 'sake yeast' is generally used to indicate the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that possess characteristics distinct from others including the laboratory strain S288C and are well suited for sake brewery. Here, we report the draft whole-genome shotgun sequence of a commonly used diploid sake yeast strain, Kyokai no. 7 (K7).

Monitoring and characterization of oseltamivir-resistant pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus, Japan, 2009-2010.

To monitor and characterize oseltamivir-resistant (OR) pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus with the H275Y mutation, we analyzed 4,307 clinical specimens from Japan by neuraminidase (NA) sequencing or inhibition assay; 61 OR pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses were detected. NA inhibition assay and M2 sequencing indicated that OR pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus was resistant to M2 inhibitors, but sensitive to zanamivir. Full-genome sequencing showed OR and oseltamivir-sensitive (OS) viruses had high sequence similarity, indicating that domestic OR virus was derived from OS pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus.

Molecular evolutionary analysis of the influenza A(H1N1)pdm, May-September, 2009: temporal and spatial spreading profile of the viruses in Japan.

Background: In March 2009, pandemic influenza A(H1N1) (A(H1N1)pdm) emerged in Mexico and the United States. In Japan, since the first outbreak of A(H1N1)pdm in Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures occurred in the middle of May 2009, the virus had spread over 16 of 47 prefectures as of June 4, 2009.

Methods/principal Findings: We analyzed all-segment concatenated genome sequences of 75 isolates of A(H1N1)pdm viruses in Japan, and compared them with 163 full-genome sequences in the world.

Oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses A (H1N1) during 2007-2009 influenza seasons, Japan.

To monitor oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses A (H1N1) (ORVs) with H275Y in neuraminidase (NA) in Japan during 2 influenza seasons, we analyzed 3,216 clinical samples by NA sequencing and/or NA inhibition assay. The total frequency of ORVs was 2.6% (45/1,734) during the 2007-08 season and 99.

[Extradural en bloc removal and in situ replacement of the anterior clinoid process].

Extradural removal of the anterior clinoid process (ACP) is useful and essential for approaching aneurysmal and tumor lesions in and around the cavernous sinus. A safe, rapid and less invasive technique is beneficial for this basic skull base surgery. We developed a new technique by sharply cutting the ACP together with the part of the sphenoid ridge bone followed by complete replacement.

Genomic structure of an economically important cyanobacterium, Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis NIES-39.

A filamentous non-N(2)-fixing cyanobacterium, Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, is an important organism for industrial applications and as a food supply. Almost the complete genome of A. platensis NIES-39 was determined in this study.

Bacterial lifestyle in a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney revealed by the genome sequence of the thermophilic bacterium Deferribacter desulfuricans SSM1.

The complete genome sequence of the thermophilic sulphur-reducing bacterium, Deferribacter desulfuricans SMM1, isolated from a hydrothermal vent chimney has been determined. The genome comprises a single circular chromosome of 2,234,389 bp and a megaplasmid of 308,544 bp. Many genes encoded in the genome are most similar to the genes of sulphur- or sulphate-reducing bacterial species within Deltaproteobacteria.

The development of a knowledge base for basic active structures: an example case of dopamine agonists.

Background: Chemical compounds affecting a bioactivity can usually be classified into several groups, each of which shares a characteristic substructure. We call these substructures "basic active structures" or BASs. The extraction of BASs is challenging when the database of compounds contains a variety of skeletons.

Whole-genome analyses reveal genetic instability of Acetobacter pasteurianus.

Acetobacter species have been used for brewing traditional vinegar and are known to have genetic instability. To clarify the mutability, Acetobacter pasteurianus NBRC 3283, which forms a multi-phenotype cell complex, was subjected to genome DNA sequencing. The genome analysis revealed that there are more than 280 transposons and five genes with hyper-mutable tandem repeats as common features in the genome consisting of a 2.

[Transposition technique of microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm without using a brain retractor].

A unique transposition technique in microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm (HFS) was employed in patients with compression by either the peripheral artery or the main trunk of the vertebral artery. Complete transposition that secured free space between the offending artery and the root exit zone (REZ) was accomplished by introducing GORE-TEX tape around the artery and suturing it to the petrous dura. An adequate working space, as if operating in a shallow basin, was essential.

Industry views of biosimilar development in Japan.

Objective: To understand the issues around biosimilar development by pharmaceutical companies in Japan, which has emerged as an urgent issue in guaranteeing the availability of affordable biopharmaceuticals and a reduction in drug costs.

Methods: Various regulatory guidelines related to biosimilar development are carefully reviewed. We then interviewed representatives of 11 Japanese companies to explore issues related to the manufacturing, immunogenicity, development costs and regulation of biosimilars.

Comparative genome analysis of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus fermentum reveal a genomic island for reuterin and cobalamin production.

Lactobacillus reuteri is a heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium that naturally inhabits the gut of humans and other animals. The probiotic effects of L. reuteri have been proposed to be largely associated with the production of the broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound reuterin during anaerobic metabolism of glycerol.

Genome sequencing and analysis of Aspergillus oryzae.

The genome of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus important for the production of traditional fermented foods and beverages in Japan, has been sequenced. The ability to secrete large amounts of proteins and the development of a transformation system have facilitated the use of A. oryzae in modern biotechnology.

Long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 area and dentate gyrus plays different roles in spatial learning.

NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal synapses has been considered a crucial component of the cellular basis for learning and memory. This form of LTP occurs in excitatory synapses in both the CA1 area and the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. However, differential roles of LTP in these areas have not yet been identified.

Interaction of synaptophysin with the AP-1 adaptor protein gamma-adaptin.

Synaptophysin is one of the most abundant proteins of the synaptic vesicle membrane. Here, we selected the cytoplasmic carboxyterminal region of synaptophysin to search for interacting proteins by using the yeast two-hybrid system. This identified gamma-adaptin, a component of the AP-1 adaptor complex, as a synaptophysin binding protein.

An unusual case of noncavitary hemorrhage revealed by intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Peripheral arterial injuries after blunt trauma commonly follow injuries to adjacent soft tissue, organ, and bone. We present here a case of blunt injury to the lumbar artery and the deep iliac circumflex artery in which there was no adjacent bone fracture, but in which hemorrhagic shock and persistent anemia ensued. Intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the site of active bleeding, leading us to perform an angiographic embolization for hemostasis.

A New Synthesis of 1beta-Alkylcarbapenems Utilizing Eschenmoser Sulfide Contraction of the Novel Thiazinone Intermediates.

Novel syntheses of the 1beta-alkylcarbapenems were achieved on the basis of Eschenmoser sulfide contraction via the new bicyclic 1,3-thiazinone intermediates. 1,3-Thiazinones 7, 16, and 25 were effectively prepared from thioesters 5 and 22 using a C4-S bond formation process. The sulfide contraction reactions were performed by treatment of 7, 16, and 25 with base (NaH or KO-t-Bu) in the presence of triphenylphosphine to generate the corresponding carbapenem enolate 12, 17, and 26, which were trapped by (PhO)(2)POCl followed by the reaction with mercaptans to afford carbapenems 10a, 10b, 19, and 28, respectively.