The Micacocidin Production-Related Deletion Alters the Quorum Sensing-Dependent Gene Regulation of Strain OE1-1.

The soil-borne phytopathogenic gram-negative bacterium species complex (RSSC) produces staphyloferrin B and micacocidin as siderophores that scavenge for trivalent iron (Fe) in the environment, depending on the intracellular divalent iron (Fe) concentration. The staphyloferrin B-deficient mutant reportedly retains its virulence, but the relationship between micacocidin and virulence remains unconfirmed. To elucidate the effect of micacocidin on RSSC virulence, we generated the micacocidin productivity-deficient mutant (Δ) that lacks , which encodes a putative polyketide synthase/non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, using the RSSC phylotype I strain OE1-1.

Transmission of light signals from the light-oxygen-voltage core via the hydrophobic region of the β-sheet surface in aureochrome-1.

Light-Oxygen-Voltage (LOV) domains are responsible for detecting blue light (BL) and regulating the activities of effector domains in various organisms. Photozipper (PZ), an N-terminally truncated aureochrome-1 protein, contains a LOV domain and a basic leucin zipper (bZIP) domain and plays a role as a light-activatable transcription factor. PZ is monomeric in the dark state and undergoes non-covalent dimerization upon illumination with BL, subsequently increasing its affinity for the target DNA.

A novel application of bubble-eye strain of Carassius auratus for ex vivo fish immunological studies.

In this study, we investigated a new application of bubble-eye goldfish (commercially available strain with large bubble-shaped eye sacs) for immunological studies in fishes utilizing the technical advantage of examining immune cells in the eye sac fluid ex vivo without sacrificing animals. As known in many aquatic species, the common goldfish strain showed an increased infection sensitivity at elevated temperature, which we demonstrate may be due to an immune impairment using the bubble-eye goldfish model. Injection of heat-killed bacterial cells into the eye sac resulted in an inflammatory symptom (surface reddening) and increased gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines observed in vivo, and elevated rearing temperature suppressed the induction of pro-inflammatory gene expressions.

A digital scheme of human trials for the evaluation of functional foods.

In this study, we designed a method for conducting a human study by the following process. (1) The host computer stores the subject information. (2) The sample preparer prepares a food sample.

Molecular Mechanism of Light-Induced Conformational Switching of the LOV Domain in Aureochrome-1.

Light oxygen voltage-sensing (LOV) domains are widely found in photoreceptor proteins of plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria. Structural studies of LOV domains suggest that Phe and Gln residues located in the proximity of the chromophore undergo conformational changes upon illumination; however, the molecular mechanism associated with activation of the effector domain remains to be elucidated. Photozipper (PZ) protein is an N-terminally truncated aureochrome-1 comprising a LOV domain and a basic leucine zipper domain.

Establishment of a gnotobiotic silkworm model.

Gnotobiotic animals are useful for investigation of the effects of specific lactic acid bacteria on individual animals. Here we report that lactic acid bacteria colonize and proliferate in the intestinal tract of germ-free silkworms. When silkworms hatching from formalin-treated eggs were reared to fifth-instar larvae with an artificial diet containing antibiotics, bacteria and fungi were not observed in their intestines.

JNK regulates the photic response of the mammalian circadian clock.

The posttranslational regulation of mammalian clock proteins has been assigned a time-keeping function, but seems to have more essential roles. Here we show that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), identified by inhibitor screening of BMAL1 phosphorylation at Ser 520/Thr 527/Ser 592, confers dynamic regulation on the clock. Knockdown of JNK1 and JNK2 abrogates BMAL1 phosphorylation and lengthens circadian period in fibroblasts.

Diagnosis of colorectal hepatic metastases: comparison of contrast-enhanced CT, contrast-enhanced US, superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MRI, and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT), contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CE-US), superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (SPIO-MRI), and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI) in the evaluation of colorectal hepatic metastases.

Materials And Methods: In all, 111 patients with colorectal cancers were enrolled in this study. Of the 112 metastases identified in 46 patients, 31 in 18 patients were confirmed histologically and the remaining 81 in 28 patients were confirmed by follow-up imaging.

Transgenic overexpression of USP15 in the heart induces cardiac remodeling in mice.

We found a novel protein-protein interaction between ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (USP15) and skeletal muscle LIM protein 1 (SLIM1): USP15 and SLIM1 directly bound under cell-free conditions and co-immunoprecipitated from the lysates of the cells, where they were co-expressed; and USP15 deubiquitinated SLIM1, resulting in the increase of protein levels of SLIM1. Because SLIM1 is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of myopathies and cardiomyopathies, we generated transgenic (TG) mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of human USP15. Heart weight to body weight ratios and mRNA levels of fetal gene markers in the heart were significantly higher in USP15-TG mice than in wild-type (WT) mice.

Diagnosis of colorectal hepatic metastases: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography versus contrast-enhanced computed tomography versus superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CE-US), contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT), and superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MRI (SPIO-MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the evaluation of colorectal hepatic metastases.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six patients with colorectal cancers were prospectively enrolled and retrospectively evaluated. Of the 86 metastases identified, 16 were confirmed histologically and the remaining 70 were confirmed by follow-up imaging.

Can balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration be performed for gastric varices without gastrorenal shunts?

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility for balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) for gastric varices without gastrorenal shunts.

Materials And Methods: Of 76 patients with gastric varices who were referred for treatment by BRTO, 11 did not have gastrorenal shunts. Contrast medium-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed in all patients; seven patients also underwent CT during splenic arteriography.

Cholangiolocellular carcinoma of the liver: imaging findings.

Objective: Cholangiolocellular carcinoma (CLC) is a rare subtype of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma as categorized according to the World Health Organization criteria. Recent study also revealed that CLC would originate from hepatic progenitor cells, which are liver-specific stem cells. We reviewed the imaging findings of CLCs, including those of intrahepatic metastases.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of surgically resected hepatocellular carcinoma: imaging characteristics and relationship among signal intensity, apparent diffusion coefficient, and histopathologic grade.

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the relationship between the signal intensity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) assessed with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T2-weighted imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with the histopathologic grade of each nodule.

Materials And Methods: MR examinations including DWI and T2-weighted imaging of 125 surgically resected hypervascular HCCs in 99 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Pathologic examinations revealed 25 well-, 61 moderately, and 39 poorly differentiated HCCs.

Imaging of small hepatic metastases of colorectal carcinoma: how to use superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the multidetector-row computed tomography age?

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced multidetector-row computed tomography (CT) and superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of small hepatic metastases of colorectal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Of 94 patients with colorectal carcinoma analyzed, 76 hepatic metastases (<2 cm) were diagnosed in 17 patients. Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-magnetic resonance (precontrast and postcontrast MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced multidetector-row CT (dynamic CT [precontrast, arterial, portal-venous, and delayed phase]) were evaluated.

Detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma with multidetector-row CT: single arterial-phase imaging with computer-assisted automatic bolus-tracking technique compared with double arterial-phase imaging.

Purpose: To compare single arterial-phase (SAP) computed tomography (CT) imaging with bolus tracking (BT) with double arterial-phase (DAP) CT imaging for detecting hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: The DAP images were obtained at 25 (DAP-early) and 40 seconds (DAP-late) after the start of contrast material injection. All patients underwent SAP-BT imaging where images were obtained 10 seconds after the CT attenuation value of the aorta reached the threshold value of 120 Hounsfield unit (HU) in 29 (group 120-HU), 160 HU in 30 (group 160-HU), and 200 HU in 32 patients (group 200-HU).

A novel small-molecule inhibitor of NF-kappaB signaling.

The inducible transcription factor NF-kappaB regulates divergent signaling pathways including inflammatory response and cancer development. Selective inhibitors for NF-kappaB signaling are potentially useful for treatment of inflammation and cancer. NF-kappaB is canonically activated by preferential disposal of its inhibitory protein; IkappaB, which suppresses the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB.

Dynamic CT for detecting small hepatocellular carcinoma: usefulness of delayed phase imaging.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the usefulness of delayed phase imaging for detecting small (< or = 2 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: Triphasic (arterial, portal venous, and delayed phases) dynamic CT was performed in 33 patients with 48 HCCs proven histopathologically and in 65 control subjects. Arterial, portal venous, and delayed phase images were obtained 30 seconds, 68-70 seconds, and 5 minutes after the start of contrast material injection, respectively.

MDCT of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: optimal imaging phases and multiplanar reformatted imaging.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the individual contributions of arterial, pancreatic parenchymal, and portal venous phase (PVP) images and the utility of coronal and sagittal multiplanar reformatted (MPR) images in the assessment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma using triple-phase MDCT.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one patients with and 35 patients without pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent triple-phase MDCT. Three radiologists independently attempted to detect pancreatic adenocarcinoma and assess local extension using the MDCT images in five sessions.

Measurement of the apparent diffusion coefficient in the liver: is it a reliable index for hepatic disease diagnosis?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the validity of the hepatic apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement. The influence of differences in measured location and administration of Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide) for ADC were assessed.

Materials And Methods: SENSE-DWI (b = 0, 500) was obtained before and after Buscopan administration to 30 patients suspected of having a liver tumor.

Effect of injection rate of contrast material on CT of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of two injection rates of contrast material (3 mL/sec and 5 mL/sec) in hepatic arterial dominant phase MDCT for the detection of small (< 2 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas.

Materials And Methods: The injection rates 3 mL/sec and 5 mL/sec were used prospectively in imaging examinations of patients with the suspected diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Each group consisted of 30 patients by chance.

Differential cytotoxicity of anticancer agents in pre- and post-immortal lymphoblastoid cell lines.

We studied the cytotoxic effect of various anticancer agents on lymphoblastoid cell lines transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. Post-immortal N0005 (post-N0005) is an immortalized cell line derived from pre-immortal N0005 (pre-N0005) accompanied by increased telomerase activity, short-telomere, abnormal karyotypes, mutation of p53 gene, down regulation of p16/Rb and the ability to grow in soft agar medium. Compared with pre-N0005 cells, post-N0005 cells were significantly (p<0.

[Follow-up dynamic CT study for hypovascular nodules in patients with cirrhotic liver].

It is important to clarify the process by which hypovascular nodules progress to hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we used dynamic computed tomography(CT) to retrospectively investigate serial changes in 24 hypovascular nodules of 24 patients until they progressed to hypervascular HCC. The mean time to hypervascular transformation(THT) was 726 days, with a minimum of 208 days and maximum of 2,728 days.

Ferumoxides-enhanced double-echo T2-weighted MR imaging in differentiating metastases from nonsolid benign lesions of the liver.

Purpose: To investigate whether ferumoxides-enhanced double-echo T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging alone can allow differentiation of metastases from benign lesions in the noncirrhotic liver.

Materials And Methods: At retrospective review of files and images, 60 lesions (22 metastases, 20 hemangiomas, and 18 cysts) were identified in 42 patients. All fast spin-echo T2-weighted MR images obtained before and after administration of ferumoxides with short (80-90 msec) and long (180-250 msec) echo times (TEs) were acquired with a 1.

Hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma: can double arterial phase imaging with multidetector CT improve tumor depiction in the cirrhotic liver?

Objective: We assessed the efficacy of double arterial phase CT with multidetector CT for the detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma in the cirrhotic liver.

Materials And Methods: Double arterial phase images with multidetector CT were evaluated using quantitative, qualitative, and receiver operating characteristic analyses for 59 patients with 78 hepatocellular carcinomas. Early and late arterial phase (double arterial phase) CT scans were obtained at a fixed time of 25 and 40 sec, respectively, after administration of contrast material.