Axitinib-induced reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

A 61-year-old woman with metastatic renal carcinoma was treated with axitinib as a second-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Thirteen days after the treatment, the patient developed reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). Her symptoms and imaging findings resolved after withdrawal of axitinib, blood pressure control, and administration of glycerin and levetiracetam.

A surgical treatment for adult muscular torticollis.

Adult presentation of neglected congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is rare. Therefore, efficacy of surgical treatment for adult CMT is unclear. We experienced a case of neglected CMT in a 28-year-old male patient and report the surgical result here.

Delayed surgical treatment for a traumatic bilateral cervical facet joint dislocation using a posterior-anterior approach: a case report.

Introduction: There have been few reports of patients with bilateral cervical facet dislocations that remain untreated for eight weeks or more. We report the case of a 76-year-old man with an old bilateral cervical facet joint dislocation fracture that was treated by posterior-anterior reduction and fixation.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old Asian man was involved in a road traffic accident.

Sensitive detection of ochratoxin A in wine and cereals using fluorescence-based immunosensing.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin found in a wide range of food and feedstuffs. Intake of OTA-contaminated food causes health concern due to the harmful effects reported on humans and animals. Much effort is currently devoted to set up and optimise highly sensitive and accurate methods of OTA analysis.

High-sensitive flow-based kinetic exclusion assay for okadaic acid assessment in shellfish samples.

Episodes of shellfish contamination with okadaic acid (OA) are a human health threat that is causing increasing concern. As a way to overcome the shortcomings involved in the reference methods of analysis set by legislations, alternative procedures are envisaged. This paper describes the development of different immunosensors for the analysis of OA, focusing on the comparison of their sensitivity, precision, ease of use and sample matrix effects.

Case study of electrochemical metal removal from actual sediment, sludge, sewage and scallop organs and subsequent pH adjustment of sediment for agricultural use.

In this paper we propose a method for chemical-free removal of metal from lake sediment, and its subsequent pH adjustment, based on electrochemical migration and precipitation. Such a method would enable the utilization of sediment as composting material. Sediment was placed in the anode side of a dual-bath electrochemical reactor separated by a thimble-shape cellulose filter from the cathode side, which was filled with pure water.

Least detectable concentration and dynamic range of three immunoassay systems using the same antibody.

The least detectable concentration (LDC) and dynamic range (DR) of three immunoassay systems are compared using four distinct antibodies (all specific for estradiol but with different affinities) on each system. The systems evaluated include the industry standard, ELISA, and two biosensors, surface plasmon resonance and kinetic exclusion. In all cases, the measurements of inhibition curves (response vs estradiol concentration) were contracted to outside experts (the biosensor manufacturers themselves in the case of the biosensors), each of whom was supplied with the same blind samples.

Simple and sensitive bacterial quantification by a flow-based kinetic exclusion fluorescence immunoassay.

A flow-based immunoassay system utilizing secondary-antibody coated microbeads and Cy5-secondary antibody for signal production was successfully developed to quantitate target bacteria with a kinetic exclusion assay (KinExA 3000 Instrument). It directly measured the concentration of unliganded antibody separated from the equilibrated mixture of antibody and bacteria through a 0.2 microm polyethersulfone membrane, enabling it to quantify the concentration of bacteria.

Acidianus manzaensis sp. nov., a novel thermoacidophilic archaeon growing autotrophically by the oxidation of H2 with the reduction of Fe3+.

A novel thermoacidophilic iron-reducing Archaeon, strain NA-1, was isolated from a hot fumarole in Manza, Japan. Strain NA-1 could grow autotrophically using H2 or S0 as an electron donor and Fe3+ as an electron acceptor, and also could grow heterotrophically using some organic compounds. Fe3+ and O2 served as electron acceptors for growth.

Improving an immunoassay response to related polychlorinated biphenyl analytes by mixing antibodies.

Immunoassays for detection of a class of closely related antigens, e.g., PCBs, have often been too specific (responding strongly to some members of the class and missing others) and no general method for adjusting the response has been described.

Symbiotic association in Chlorella culture.

Chlorella sorokiniana IAM C-212 has long been maintained in slant culture as a mixed strain, representing an associated natural microbial consortium. In this study, the consortium was separated and five nonalgal constituents, a fungal strain (CSSF-1), and four bacterial strains (CSSB-1, CSSB-2, CSSB-3, and CSSB-4) were isolated and identified. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that strains CSSB-1, CSSB-2, CSSB-3, and CSSB-4 were close to Ralstonia pickettii (99.

Analysis of gene expression in yeast protoplasts using DNA microarrays and their application for efficient production of invertase and alpha-glucosidase.

The global gene expression of cultured Saccharomyces cerevisiae protoplasts was compared with that of cells using DNA microarray. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that after 6 h of cultivation, 416 gene transcript levels (about 7.1% in all) in the cultured protoplasts were different from those in the cells.

Isolation and identification of a novel strain of the genus Ochrobactrum with phenol-degrading activity.

A bacterial strain AS1 belonging to the genus Ochrobactrum, was isolated from an enriched phenol-activated sludge in Egypt. This strain grew aerobically on phenol as the sole carbon source using the meta-cleavage pathway at high phenol-degrading rates compared with those in a previous report.

Kinetic rate constant for electron transfer between ferrous ions and novel Rusticyanin isoform in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Here we report the kinetic rate constant for electron transfer from ferrous ions to a novel rusticyanin isoform in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The second order rate constant for this isoform is shown to be approximately one half that of the previously known type, 0.09 M(-1)s(-1) vs.

Evaluation of a compact bench top immunoassay analyzer for automatic and near continuous monitoring of a sample for environmental contaminants.

A compact bench top immunoassay analyzer is evaluated and shown to possess sufficient automation to allow continuous unattended sampling and measuring while still achieving the theoretical (antibody affinity based) detection limit for analyte. The system is comprised of antigen coated particles in a disposable flow cell held at the focus of a filter fluorometer. Capture of fluorescently labeled antibody from the flow stream is inhibited by analyte in the sample, allowing analyte concentrations to be determined from the fluorescent intensity.

A combination of labeled and unlabeled antibody enables self-calibration and reduction of sample matrix effects in immunoassay.

Sample matrices interfering with analyte determinations, termed matrix effects, are one of the factors limiting the more widespread use of environmental immunoassays. Previous attempts to reduce matrix effects have focused on particular assays in specific matrices rather than on general methods. Here we describe a novel method to eliminate one class of matrix effects in immunoassay, independent of the particular matrix or analyte.

Use of excess solid-phase capacity in immunoassays: advantages for semicontinuous, near-real-time measurements and for analysis of matrix effects.

A flow-based immunoassay system using solid-phase particles with high binding capacity was used for semicontinuous, near-real-time, measurement of 17beta-estradiol (E2). The high binding capacity of the solid phase was exploited to enable (i) a quantitative determination of E2 concentration, based on rate of accumulation of fluorescently labeled anti-E2 antibody on the solid phase, and (ii) the use of a single solid phase for more than a dozen competitive binding measurements. The high binding capacity of the solid phase also permitted the immobilization of a second capture antigen.

Isolation and characterization of phenol-catabolizing bacteria from a coking plant.

New phenol degrading bacteria with high biodegradation activity and high tolerance were isolated as Burkholderia cepacia PW3 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa AT2. Both isolates could grow aerobically on phenol as a sole carbon source even at 3 g/l. The whole-cell kinetic properties for phenol degradation by strains PW3 and AT2 showed a Vmax of 0.

Respiratory isozyme, two types of rusticyanin of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Among the members of the copper protein superfamily, the type I enzyme rusticyanin, which is found as an electron carrier in the oxidative respiratory chain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, is the only one to have both a high redox potential and acid stability. Here we report that two forms of the rusticyanin gene (rus) are present in the genomes of some strains of A. ferrooxidans.

Effect of power-frequency magnetic fields on genome-scale gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

To estimate the effect of 50 Hz magnetic-field exposure on genome-wide gene expression, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model for eukaryotes. 2D PAGE (about 1,000 spots) for protein and cDNA microarray (about 5,900 genes) analysis for mRNA were performed. The cells were exposed to 50 Hz vertical magnetic fields at 10, 150 or 300 mT r.

Combinational use of antibody affinities in an immunoassay for extension of dynamic range and detection of multiple analytes.

Here, we describe the coordinated use of two antibodies with different affinities in a single immunoassay to extend the dynamic range and to enable detection of multiple analytes. The combination of dual antibodies was permitted with a flow-based assay at the antibody concentration below the dissociation constant, enabling affinity to govern the antibody-antigen binding. Both high and low affinity antibodies to estriol were used in combination to extend the range.

Anaerobic respiration using Fe(3+), S(0), and H(2) in the chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

The chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans has been known as an aerobe that respires on iron and sulfur. Here we show that the bacterium could chemolithoautotrophically grow not only on H(2)/O(2) under aerobic conditions but also on H(2)/Fe(3+), H(2)/S(0), or S(0)/Fe(3+) under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic respiration using Fe(3+) or S(0) as an electron acceptor and H(2) or S(0) as an electron donor serves as a primary energy source of the bacterium.

Numerical simulation for electrochemical cultivation of iron oxidizing bacteria.

A numerical simulation model was constructed for electrochemical cultivation of iron oxidizing bacterium, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, based on Monod's dual limitation equation. In this model, two limiting factors were examined, low supply of Fe(II) ion and dissolved oxygen, from empirical viewpoints. The simulation model was constructed taking into consideration the energy balance based on the amount of the electronic flow from the electrode to bacteria via an iron ion, and then to oxygen.

Electrochemical regeneration of Fe(III) to support growth on anaerobic iron respiration.

Here we describe artificial help for the respiratory electron flow supporting anaerobic growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans through exogenous electrolysis. Flux between H(2) and a anode through cells was accomplished with electrochemical regeneration of iron. The electrochemical help resulted in a 12-fold increase in yield compared with the yield observed in its absence.