Proximal ligation technique prevents thrombus formation in the pulmonary vein stump after lobectomy.

Purpose: To assess the risk factors for thrombosis in the pulmonary vein stump (PVT) and the efficacy of proximal ligation in preventing PVT after lobectomy.

Methods: In total, 649 surgical patients with lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed. To compare the clinical effectiveness of PV proximal ligation, the simple stapler group (290 patients) and the proximal ligation group (359 patients who underwent thread ligation at the pericardial reflection with/without a stapler) were analyzed.

Effect of pH on the Dehydrogenative Polymerization of Monolignols by Laccases from and .

Dehydrogenative polymerization of coniferyl alcohol (CA) and sinapyl alcohol (SA) was conducted using commercial laccases, fungal laccase from () and plant laccase from (), at pH 4-7 to investigate how the enzymatic polymerization of monolignols differs between these two laccase systems. The enzyme activity of was the highest at pH 4, whereas that of was the highest at pH 7. A dehydrogenation polymer (DHP) was obtained only from CA in both laccase systems, although the consumption rate of SA was higher than that of CA.

Identification of the organic anion transporting polypeptides responsible for the hepatic uptake of the major metabolite of epyrifenacil, S-3100-CA, in mice.

Epyrifenacil is a novel herbicide that acts as an inhibitor of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) and produces hepatotoxicity in rodents by inhibiting PPO. Our previous research revealed that the causal substance of hepatotoxicity is S-3100-CA, a major metabolite of epyrifenacil, and that human hepatocyte uptake of S-3100-CA was significantly lower than rodent one, suggesting less relevant to hepatotoxicity in humans. To clarify the species difference in the uptake of S-3100-CA, we focused on organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) and carried out an uptake assay using human, rat, and mouse OATP hepatic isoforms-expressing 293FT cells.

Construction and characterization of a functional chimeric laccase from metagenomes suitable as a biocatalyst.

Screening of gene-specific amplicons from metagenomes (S-GAM) is an efficient technique for the isolation of homologous genes from metagenomes. Using the S-GAM approach, we targeted multi-copper oxidase (MCO) genes including laccase and bilirubin oxidase (BOX) in soil and compost metagenomes, and successfully isolated novel MCO core regions. These core enzyme genes shared approximately 70% identity with that of the putative MCO from Micromonospora sp.

Co-cultivation of sake yeast and Kocuria isolates from the sake brewing process.

Kocuria isolates collected from the sake brewing process have inhabited the Narimasa Sake Brewery in Toyama, Japan. To investigate the effect of these actinobacterial isolates on the growth and metabolism of sake yeast, co-cultivation of sake yeast and Kocuria isolates was performed in a medium containing tryptone, glucose and yeast extract (TGY), and a solution containing koji (steamed rice covered with Aspergillus oryzae) and glucose. In the TGY medium, the ethanol concentration and the number of living cells of each microorganism were measured.

[A Case of Locally Advanced Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Stomach Could be Curably Resected after Chemotherapy with CPT-11/CDDP].

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of epigastralgia. Gastrointestinal endoscopyrevealed a submucosal tumor with ulceration in the upper bodyof the stomach. The tumor was histologicallydiagnosed as a neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Development of a Novel Shuttle Vector Using the Cryptic pKPAL3 Plasmid from IPUFS-1 and Its Utilization in Producing Enantiopure ()-Styrene Oxide.

The novel cryptic pKPAL3 plasmid was isolated from the Gram-positive microorganism IPUFS-1 and characterized in detail. pKPAL3 is a circular plasmid that is 4,443 bp in length. Open reading frame (ORF) and homology search analyses indicated that pKPAL3 possesses four ORFs; however, there were no replication protein coding genes predicted in the plasmid.

Identification and characterization of a novel (-)-vibo-quercitol 1-dehydrogenase from Burkholderia terrae suitable for production of (-)-vibo-quercitol from 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose.

(-)-vibo-Quercitol is a deoxyinositol (1L-1,2,4/3,5-cyclohexanepentol) that naturally occurs in oak species, honeydew honey, wines aged in oak barrels, and Gymnema sylvestre and is a potential intermediate for pharmaceuticals. We found that (-)-vibo-quercitol is stereoselectively synthesized from 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose by the reductive reaction of a novel (-)-vibo-quercitol 1-dehydrogenase found in the proteomes of Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, and Arthrobacter. Among them, Burkholderia terrae sp.

Characterization of two cryptic plasmids from Kocuria palustris IPUFS-1 and construction of novel Escherichia coli-Kocuria shuttle vector for biocatalysis.

Two cryptic plasmids, designated pKPAL1 and pKPAL2, were identified from the gram-positive bacterium Kocuria palustris IPUFS-1, which was isolated from a fish source. The 2251-bp and 2488-bp circular genomes of pKPAL1 and pKPAL2, respectively, were sequenced. Subsequent open reading frame (ORF) and homology search analyses suggested that pKPAL1 and pKPAL2 possess two and three ORFs, respectively, and encode the putative replication proteins, RepA and RepB, like the genomes of several plasmids in gram-positive bacteria.

Synthesis of PET probe O-[(3-[C]methyl)benzyl]guanine by Pd-mediated rapid C-[C]methylation toward imaging DNA repair protein O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in glioblastoma.

O-Benzylguanine (O-BG) is a substrate of O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), which is involved in drug resistance of chemotherapy in the majority of glioblastoma multiform. For clinical diagnosis, it is hoped that the MGMT expression level could be determined by a noninvasive method to understand the detailed biological properties of MGMT-specific tumors. We synthesized C-labeled O-[(3-methyl)benzyl]guanine ([C]mMeBG) as a positron emission tomography probe.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a flavonoid-O-methyltransferase with broad substrate specificity and regioselectivity from Citrus depressa.

Background: Flavonoids are secondary metabolites that play significant roles in plant cells. In particular, polymethoxy flavonoids (PMFs), including nobiletin, have been reported to exhibit various health-supporting properties such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-pathogenic properties. However, it is difficult to utilize PMFs for medicinal and dietary use because plant cells contain small amounts of these compounds.

Monitoring of blood pressure during total hip arthroplasty using the interface bioactive bone cement (IBBC) technique.

Background: Cement implantation syndrome, which is characterized by hypotension, hypoxemia, and cardiac arrhythmia or arrest, has been reported in the literature. The purpose of the present study was to monitor the blood pressure changes that occur after cementing during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: The present study examined 178 cases in which 204 joints were treated with primary THA.

Microbial production of aliphatic (S)-epoxyalkanes by using Rhodococcus sp. strain ST-10 styrene monooxygenase expressed in organic-solvent-tolerant Kocuria rhizophila DC2201.

We describe the development of biocatalysis for producing optically pure straight-chain (S)-epoxyalkanes using styrene monooxygenase of Rhodococcus sp. strain ST-10 (RhSMO). RhSMO was expressed in the organic solvent-tolerant microorganism Kocuria rhizophila DC2201, and the bioconversion reaction was performed in an organic solvent-water biphasic reaction system.

Identification of 2,3-disubstituted pyridines as potent, non-emetic PDE4 inhibitors.

A series of 2,3-disubstituted pyridines were synthesized as potential non-emetic PDE4 inhibitors. To decrease brain exposure and minimize emesis, we modified the lipophilic moiety of a series of emetic PDE4 inhibitors and found that introduction of a hydroxy group into the pyridine moiety of the side chain led to non-emetic compounds with preserved PDE4 inhibitory activity. Following optimization at the phenoxy group, we identified compound 1 as a potent non-emetic PDE4 inhibitor.

Regulation of myometrial circulation and uterine vascular tone by constitutive nitric oxide.

Pregnancy is a physiological state that involves an increase in uterine blood flow, which is mediated in part by nitric oxide (NO) liberated from the endothelium and nitrergic neurons. The main focus of this review article is to provide information about how endogenous NO regulates uterine and placental blood flow and vascular tone in experimental animals and humans in vivo or in vitro in non-pregnant and pregnant states as well as pregnancy with pre-eclampsia. Uterine arteries from non-pregnant women respond to NO liberated from the endothelium and nitrergic nerves with relaxations, and the release of endothelial NO is influenced by the phase of the estrous cycle, with its enhanced release at the follicular phase when the estrogen level is high.

Overexpression of genes encoding glycolytic enzymes in Corynebacterium glutamicum enhances glucose metabolism and alanine production under oxygen deprivation conditions.

We previously reported that Corynebacterium glutamicum strain ΔldhAΔppc+alaD+gapA, overexpressing glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-encoding gapA, shows significantly improved glucose consumption and alanine formation under oxygen deprivation conditions (T. Jojima, M. Fujii, E.

Correlation between quantified promoter methylation and enzymatic activity of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in glioblastomas.

The DNA repair protein O (6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT, AGT) is a determinant of the resistance of tumor cells to alkylating anticancer agents that target the O(6) position of guanine. MGMT promoter methylation in tumors is regarded as the most common predictor of the responsiveness of glioblastoma to alkylating agents. However, MGMT promoter methylation status has been investigated mainly by methylation-specific PCR, which is a qualitative and subjective assay.

Expression and characterization of styrene monooxygenases of Rhodococcus sp. ST-5 and ST-10 for synthesizing enantiopure (S)-epoxides.

Styrene monooxygenase (StyA, SMOA)- and flavin oxidoreductase (StyB, SMOB)-coding genes of styrene-assimilating bacteria Rhodococcus sp. ST-5 and ST-10 were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. Determined amino acid sequences of StyAs and StyBs of ST-5 and ST-10 showed more similarity with those of Pseudomonas than with self-sufficient styrene monooxygenase (StyA2B) of Rhodococcus.

Isolation and characterization of styrene metabolism genes from styrene-assimilating soil bacteria Rhodococcus sp. ST-5 and ST-10.

Styrene metabolism genes were isolated from styrene-assimilating bacteria Rhodococcus sp. ST-5 and ST-10. Strain ST-5 had a gene cluster containing four open reading frames which encoded styrene degradation enzymes.

A novel immunohistochemical staining method allows ultrarapid detection of lymph node micrometastases while conserving antibody.

We developed a novel ultrarapid immunohistochemical staining method in which an AC electric field is used to facilitate detection of tumor cells. Frozen sections of non-small cell lung cancer in lymph nodes were fixed in acetone for 2 min, after which they were incubated for 2 min with an anti-pancytokeratin antibody cocktail and then with EnVision(TM) complex under an alternating current (AC) electric field. The sections were then incubated with a chromogen (3,3'diaminobenzidine) for 3 min and counterstained with hematoxylin.

Coronary hemodynamic regulation by nitric oxide in experimental animals: recent advances.

Nitric oxide (NO) formed via endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays crucial roles in the regulation of coronary blood flow through vasodilatation and decreased vascular resistance and in the inhibition of platelet aggregation and adhesion, leading to the prevention of coronary circulatory failure, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. NO restrains myocardial oxygen consumption, when coronary perfusion is restricted. Endothelial function is impaired by pathogenic factors including smoking, excess salt intake, obesity, aging, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension.

Expression of the transient receptor potential channel c3 correlates with a favorable prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Background: The cation channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily are implicated in cancer formation; in particular, TRPC3 has been shown to contribute to the progression of human ovarian cancer. However, the relationship between TRP expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer and patient prognosis is not well understood. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between TRP expression and the prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Isolation and characterization of a gene encoding a S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent halide/thiol methyltransferase (HTMT) from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Biogenic mechanism of CH(3)I emissions in oceans.

Several marine algae including diatoms exhibit S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) halide/thiol methyltransferase (HTMT) activity, which is involved in the emission of methyl halides. In this study, the in vivo biogenic emission of methyl iodide from the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was found to be clearly correlated with iodide concentration in the incubation media. The gene encoding HTMT (Pthtmt) was isolated from P.

Expression of the chemokine receptor CCR6 correlates with a favorable prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

The relation between CCR6 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer and patient prognosis is not well understood and remains controversial. We, therefore, investigated the relationship between CCR6 expression and prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung. We used semiquantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to assess the expression of CCR6 mRNA in tumor samples from 84 patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Nitric oxide-mediated blood flow regulation as affected by smoking and nicotine.

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, cerebral and coronary vascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Chronic smoking impairs endothelial function by decreasing the formation of nitric oxide and increasing the degradation of nitric oxide via generation of oxygen free radicals. Nitric oxide liberated from efferent nitrergic nerves is also involved in vasodilatation, increased regional blood flow, and hypotension that are impaired through nitric oxide sequestering by smoking-induced factors.