Ulcerative colitis complicating pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax.

A 17-year-old man with ulcerative colitis (UC) presented to our hospital with neck pain and fever after vomiting. On examination, a snowflake sensation was noted in the neck. A chest radiograph showed extensive subcutaneous emphysema in the chest.

Detection of typical indigenous gut bacteria related to kanpyo var. powder in murine caecum and human faecal cultures.

Kanpyo (KP) is an edible dried product produced by peeling the fruit of the gourd var; it is used in the traditional Japanese cuisine. The health functionality of KP due to its rich dietary fibre is expected to include a possible combined effect of KP-responsive indigenous gut bacteria (KP-RIB). However, its effect on the gut microbiota is unclear.

Effects of Sichuan pepper (huājiāo) powder on disease activity and caecal microbiota of dextran sodium sulphate-induced inflammatory bowel disease mouse model.

Background: Sichuan pepper [Zanthoxylum bungeanum; huājiāo (HJ)] is a widely used spice in China and has better antioxidative, anti-glycation, and bile acid-lowering properties than cumin and coriander seeds. HJ affects inflammation-related cytokines and caecal microbiota in mice fed a low-fibre and high-sucrose diet.

Methods And Results: To determine the ameliorative effect of HJ on inflammatory bowel disease, C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups and fed distilled water (control) or 3% (w/v) dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in drinking water with normal chow containing 0% or 5% (w/w) HJ powder for seven days.

The effect of Sichuan pepper on gut microbiota in mice fed a high-sucrose and low-dietary fibre diet.

Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum, HJ), a spice widely used in China, has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-obesity properties. In this study, to confirm the value of HJ as a functional food, the in vitro antioxidant and bile acid-lowering capacities, as well as the effects on caecal microbiota, were compared with those of cumin (Cuminum cyminum, CM) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum, CR) seeds in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice fed a high-sucrose and low-dietary fibre diet. The total phenolic content, superoxide anion radical-scavenging capacity, and Fe-reducing power of the HJ aqueous solution were higher than those of CM and CR (p < 0.

Transition of microbial contamination on the surface of carcass during the cattle slaughter process.

In this study, we aimed to investigate how microbial contamination progresses on the carcass surface during the slaughter process. Cattle carcasses were tracked during a series of slaughter processes (five steps), and carcass surfaces (four parts) and equipment (nine types) were swabbed to investigate the bacterial contamination. Results showed that the outer surface (near the rear region of the flank [Top round] and [Top sirloin butt]) had significantly higher total viable counts (TVCs) than inner surface (p < 0.

Detection of typical indigenous gut bacteria related to turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder in mouse caecum and human faecal cultures.

Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa; TM) is widely used as a spice and possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. The relationship between TM functions and gut microbiota is still unclear.

Methods And Results: To investigate the effect of TM on gut microbiota and to identify indigenous gut bacteria that are responsive to TM, we fed Institute of Cancer Research mice a diet containing either no fibre (NF, n = 6) or 5% (w/w) TM (n = 6) for 14 days.

Detection of indigenous gut bacteria related to red chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) in murine caecum and human faecal cultures.

Background: Red chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum; RP) is a popular spice containing the active compound capsaicin. Indigenous gut bacteria and metabolism can affect host health. The functions of capsaicin, including the regulation of metabolic health and anti-oxidant properties, may be correlated with the gut microbiota.

Dynamics of microbiota in the imported beef primal cuts during storage at different chilled temperatures.

Primal cuts of Australian beef transported by sea were stored under different chilled temperatures (0, 2, and 4 °C) for 6 weeks in different packaging conditions (aerobic or anaerobic packaging). The number of microorganisms and the transition of the microbiota were investigated using culture methods and amplicon sequencing. After 6 weeks of storage, the beef tended to show a high total viable count under aerobic packaging conditions and a high lactic acid bacteria count under anaerobic packaging conditions.

Growth Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in Fresh White Cheese by Mustard Oil Microemulsion.

Abstract: Although essential oils exhibit antimicrobial properties, their application is limited, owing to their strong volatility and poor water solubility. Emulsification is a valid strategy for improving chemical stability. In this study, we prepared a mustard oil (MO) emulsion with egg yolk lecithin and evaluated its antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and in cheese curd.

antioxidant, anti-glycation, and bile acid-lowering capacity of peanut milk fermented with Kinko-SU4.

Plant-based milk-like products from soybeans and other legumes and nuts have been explored worldwide, owing to their nutritional and functional characteristics. This study was conducted to develop new functional food materials from peanut () milk (PM) with desirable health functions to mitigate lifestyle and age-related diseases. The antioxidant, anti-glycation and bile acid-lowering properties of PM fermented with lactic acid bacteria Kinko-SU4 (FPM) were determined .

Comparison between the Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Their Components in the Vapor Phase against Food-related Bacteria.

In this study, the antibacterial properties of the volatile components of four essential oils (cinnamon, clove, origanum, and peppermint oil) and five of their components (allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), carvacrol, citral, eugenol, and (+)-limonene) against five food-related bacteria (Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Enterococcus faecalis) were evaluated. The results of disc volatilization method revealed that AITC exhibited antibacterial activity against the five tested strains at the lowest concentration, as did cinnamon oil and carvacrol. Moreover, the total aerobic bacterial count in coleslaw salad was suppressed in all test groups treated with AITC compared to that in control.

Detection of low-mineral- and high-salt responsible caecal indigenous bacteria in ICR mice.

Both deficiency and overdose of minerals and salts negatively affect health. Changes in the dietary composition have immediate effects on the gut microbiota. This study was performed to clarify the presence of indigenous gut bacteria responsible for minerals and/or salts (MS-RIB).

Molecular subtyping for source tracking of Escherichia coli using core genome multilocus sequence typing at a food manufacturing plant.

When harmful bacteria are detected in the final product at a food manufacturing plant, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the source of contamination so that it does not occur again. In the current study, the source of contamination was tracked using core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) analysis in cases where Escherichia coli was detected in the final product at a food manufacturing plant. cgMLST analysis was performed on 40 strains of E.

Phase I/II study of biweekly nab-paclitaxel in patients with platinum-pretreated non-small cell lung cancer: NJLCG1402.

Background: NJLCG1402 was a phase I/II trial investigating biweekly nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: The study included patients aged ≥20 years with previously treated NSCLC. Nab-PTX (100-150 mg/m ) was administered biweekly in a 28-day cycle.

Dynamics of microbiota in Japanese Black beef stored for a long time under chilled conditions.

In this study, changes in the microbiota of Japanese Black beef carcasses, which are expected to be transported for a long time in chilled temperatures, were investigated. Three Japanese Black beef samples (carcasses A, B, and C) immediately after slaughter were stored at 0 °C for 15 weeks under aerobic and vacuum conditions. The initial bacterial counts were 50 CFU/g for carcass A and less than the reliable quantitative detection limit for carcasses B and C.

Effects of tyndallization temperature on the sterility and quality of kamaboko.

In this study, kamaboko gels were tyndallized at various temperatures and sterilization efficiency and impact on quality parameters were assessed. The microbiological, physical, and chemical properties of kamaboko gels were determined throughout the tyndallization process. Superior sterilization efficiency was achieved by tyndallization at a higher temperature; and the combination of heat-induced germination and thermal inactivation of spores was proposed as the main reason.

Prospective Multicenter Study of Chemotherapy-Induced ( Infection in Patients With Lung Cancer: North Japan Lung Cancer Study Group Trial 1204.

Background: Diarrhea post-antibiotic use is primarily attributed to mucosal lesions induced by ( () infection (CDI). Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy might have a higher risk of CDI even when prior antibiotics are not used. Thus far, the relationship between lung cancer chemotherapy and the incidence of diarrhea remains unclear.

Rapid growing mediastinal ectopic pancreas within ruptured thymic cyst treated using video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Ectopic pancreas (EP) is typically found within other gastrointestinal organs. Its discovery in other parts of the body, especially in the mediastinum, is exceedingly rare. This paper presents a case of a 17-year-old female patient with EP in a large, rapidly growing thymic cyst.

Typical gut indigenous bacteria in ICR mice fed a soy protein-based normal or low-protein diet.

For patients with inflammatory bowel disease, cow's milk allergy, and lactose intolerance, soymilk is a potential alternative to cow's milk. In this study, we aimed to identify the effects of a soy protein-based low-protein diet on the body and organ weights and the gut microbiome of six-week-old mice fed a diet containing 20% (SP) or 5% (LP) soy protein for 14 days via 16S rRNA (V4) amplicon sequencing. Body weight gain (growth) and liver, spleen, and fat tissue weight were significantly suppressed by the LP diet.

Evaluation of peptones from chicken waste as a nitrogen source for micro-organisms.

In this study, chicken peptone was produced by hydrolysing inedible parts derived from chickens using endo-protease and exo-protease. The usefulness of chicken peptone as a nutrient source for bacteria was evaluated in comparison with other commercially produced peptones (animal, soy and casein-derived peptone). Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were used as test strains to determine the effect of peptones from different sources on their growth ability.

Randomized phase II trial of carboplatin + nab-paclitaxel versus cisplatin + gemcitabine for chemotherapy-naïve squamous cell carcinoma: North Japan lung cancer study group 1302.

Background: A subset analysis of the CA031 trial showed significant improvement in the overall response rate after administration of carboplatin plus weekly albumin-bound paclitaxel compared to carboplatin plus paclitaxel for squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (SQ). We conducted this phase II study to compare carboplatin plus weekly albumin-bound paclitaxel (CnP) to cisplatin plus gemcitabine (CG), a standard regimen for SQ.

Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients with SQ were randomly assigned to receive cisplatin (80 mg/m) on day 1 plus gemcitabine (1000 mg/m) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks or carboplatin (area under the curve: 6 mg/mL/min) on day 1 plus nab-paclitaxel (75 mg/m) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 3 weeks.

Impact of pH and protein hydrophobicity on norovirus inactivation by heat-denatured lysozyme.

Norovirus, the leading cause of non-bacterial food poisoning, is responsible for several outbreaks associated with bivalves and ready-to-eat food products worldwide. As norovirus is resistant to alcohol, which is commonly used in food manufacturing processes, sodium hypochlorite is used for its inactivation. However, sodium hypochlorite has two disadvantages: it cannot be added to foods, and its effect is significantly reduced in the presence of organic compounds.