Serum sFas, leptin, and VEGF in patients with ovarian cancer and benign tumors.

The initial levels of soluble Fas antigen (sFas), leptin, and vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) were measured in the sera of 100 patients with ovarian cancer and benign tumors and in 60 healthy women aged 28-65 years. Serum levels of sFas and VEGF were elevated in the total group of patients with ovarian tumors, while leptin levels were the same as in healthy women. The studied parameters did not depend on the age of patients and healthy women.

Cancer and soluble FAS.

A test system developed by the authors was used to measure serum concentrations of soluble Fas in patients with malignant and benign tumors of different location and morphology. Relationships between soluble Fas levels and the main clinical and morphological characteristics of cancer were evaluated. It is proven that the concentrations and incidence of detection of soluble Fas in the sera of patients with tumors are significantly higher than in normal subjects.

Salegentibacter holothuriorum sp. nov., isolated from the edible holothurian Apostichopus japonicus.

Strain KMM 3524T was isolated from the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus living in the Sea of Japan. The bacterial strain was pigmented, non-motile, Gram-negative, strictly aerobic and oxidase-, catalase- and beta-galactosidase-positive. From the results of 16S rDNA sequence analysis, strain KMM 3524T was found to be related closely to Salegentibacter salegens (98.

Cellulophaga pacifica sp. nov.

Three marine, heterotrophic, aerobic, agarolytic, pigmented and gliding bacteria were isolated in June 2000 from a sea water sample that was collected in the Gulf of Peter the Great, Sea of Japan, and analysed in a polyphasic taxonomic study. 16S rDNA sequence analysis indicated that strains KMM 3664(T), KMM 3669 and KMM 3915 were members of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, the isolates were classified in the genus Cellulophaga as members of a novel species, Cellulophaga pacifica sp.

Arenibacter troitsensis sp. nov., isolated from marine bottom sediment.

A novel marine, heterotrophic, aerobic, pigmented, non-motile bacterium was isolated from a bottom sediment sample collected from Troitsa Bay in the Gulf of Peter the Great, Sea of Japan, during June 2000. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that this bacterium was a member of the family FLAVOBACTERIACEAE: On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, the bacterium was shown to belong to a novel species of the genus Arenibacter, for which the name Arenibacter troitsensis sp. nov.