Hydrogen (H)/Toluene (TOL) Separation via One and Two Stages of the Bis(triethoxysily)ethane (BTESE) Membranes.

The separation ability of bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTESE) membranes for hydrogen (H) purification from hydrogen (H)/toluene (TOL) gas mixtures after a methylcyclohexane (MCH) dehydrogenation process was investigated via one-stage and two-stage membrane processes. This study revealed that BTESE membranes of varied pore sizes (0.4, 0.

Bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTESE)-Organosilica Membranes for HO/DMF Separation in Reverse Osmosis (RO): Evaluation and Correlation of Subnanopores via Nanopermporometry (NPP), Modified Gas Translation (mGT) and RO Performance.

A 40 cm length Bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTESE) membrane having different pore sizes was successfully prepared by changing the number of coating times for gas permeation (GP) and organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO) separation study. It was found that BTESE-6 membranes prepared through six-time coating consisted of small-sized pores in the range 0.56 to 0.

X-ray structure of a novel endolysin encoded by episomal phage phiSM101 of Clostridium perfringens.

Gram-positive bacteria possess a thick cell wall composed of a mesh polymer of peptidoglycans, which provides physical protection. Endolysins encoded by phages infecting bacteria can hydrolyse peptidoglycans in the bacterial cell wall, killing the host bacteria immediately. The endolysin (Psm) encoded by episomal phage phiSM101 of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A strain SM101 exhibits potent lytic activity towards most strains of Clostridium perfringens.

Methotrexate and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumor of serosal surfaces with a poor prognosis. Methotrexate and gemcitabine have exhibited single-agent activity in MPM. We evaluated the feasibility of sequential administration of these agents in the treatment of MPM.

Full mini nutritional assessment and prognosis in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: Malnutrition is observed frequently in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Full Mini Nutritional Assessment (full MNA) is a useful method of measuring nutrition status for elderly person. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between full MNA and the mortality of elderly patients with pulmonary TB.

The prognostic significance of nutritional status using malnutrition universal screening tool in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Malnutrition is frequently observed in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The present study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional status using Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the mortality of patients with pulmonary TB.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients with pulmonary TB were analyzed.

A single injection of the anabolic bone agent, parathyroid hormone-collagen binding domain (PTH-CBD), results in sustained increases in bone mineral density for up to 12 months in normal female mice.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the most effective osteoporosis treatment, but it is only effective if administered by daily injections. We fused PTH(1-33) to a collagen binding domain (PTH-CBD) to extend its activity, and have shown an anabolic bone effect with monthly dosing. We tested the duration of action of this compound with different routes of administration.

Treatment for chemotherapy-induced alopecia in mice using parathyroid hormone agonists and antagonists linked to a collagen binding domain.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) agonists and antagonists have been shown to improve hair growth after chemotherapy; however, rapid clearance and systemic side-effects complicate their usage. To facilitate delivery and retention to skin, we fused PTH agonists and antagonists to the collagen binding domain (CBD) of Clostridium histolyticum collagenase. in-vitro studies showed that the agonist fusion protein, PTH-CBD, bound collagen and activated the PTH/parathyroid hormone-related peptide receptor in SaOS-2 cells.

Usefulness of the Malnutrition Screening Tool in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: To examine the relation between the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) and the mortality of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: Fifty-two patients with pulmonary TB were analyzed. Nutritional assessment was carried out using the MST.

Development and characterization of a xylose-inducible gene expression system for Clostridium perfringens.

A xylose-inducible gene expression vector for Clostridium perfringens was developed. Plasmid pXCH contains a chromosomal region from Clostridium difficile (xylR-P(xy)(lB)): xylR, encoding the xylose repressor, xylO, the xyl operator sequence, and P(xylB), the divergent promoter upstream of xylBA encoding xylulo kinase and xylose isomerase. pXCH allows tightly regulated expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter and the α-toxin genes in response to the inducer concentration.

Identification and characterization of a putative endolysin encoded by episomal phage phiSM101 of Clostridium perfringens.

Clostridium perfringens produces potent toxins and histolytic enzymes, causing various diseases including life-threatening fulminant diseases in humans and other animals. Aiming at utilizing a phage endolysin as a therapeutic alternative to antibiotics, we surveyed the genome and bacteriophage sequences of C. perfringens.

Subjective global assessment in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Malnutrition is observed frequently in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Subjective global assessment (SGA) is a subjective method of measuring nutrition status. Few studies have investigated the prognostic role of SGA in patients with pulmonary TB.

High-level production and purification of clostripain expressed in a virulence-attenuated strain of Clostridium perfringens.

Clostripain (CLO) produced by Clostridium histolyticum is an arginine-specific endopeptidase with the potential for applicability to diverse medical and industrial uses. In this study, we developed an expression system allowing high-level production and efficient purification of recombinant CLO (rCLO). Our expression system comprises pCLO, an rCLO expressing vector, and Clostridium perfringens 13Δ6, an in-frame deletion strain as to six genes encoding major virulence factors and secretory proteins.

Purification and characterization of a clostripain-like protease from a recombinant Clostridium perfringens culture.

Clostridium perfringens produces a homologue of clostripain (Clo), the arginine-specific endopeptidase of Clostridium histolyticum. To determine the biochemical and biological properties of the C. perfringens homologue (Clp), it was purified from the culture supernatant of a recombinant C.

High-level expression of his-tagged clostridial collagenase in Clostridium perfringens.

Clostridium histolyticum collagenase is used to isolate cells from various organs and tissues for tissue engineering, and also to treat destructive fibrosis; thus, the demand for high-grade enzyme preparations is increasing. In this study, we constructed a plasmid encoding C. histolyticum type II collagenase (ColH) with a C-terminal hexahistidine tag (ColH-his) to facilitate the purification of the enzyme through immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC).

[Expression of mesothelin as a potential diagnostic marker in mesothelioma].

Histological discrimination of mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma is often difficult, therefore, many investigators have tried immunohistochemical, ultrastructual, and molecular methods. Economically, immunohistological studies are more excellent, compared with ultrastractual and molecular biological methods. Immunohistologically, many well known markers are divided into two category; adenocarcinoma-related markers, which expressed by adenocarcinoma, and mesothelioma-related makers, which are positive for mesothelioma.

Construction and characterization of a clostripain-like protease-deficient mutant of Clostridium perfringens as a strain for clostridial gene expression.

The inherent difficulty of expressing clostridial AT-rich genes in a heterologous host has limited their biotechnological application. We previously reported a plasmid for high-level expression of clostridial genes in Clostridium perfringens (Takamizawa et al., Protein Expr Purif 36:70-75, 2004).

[A case of primary lung cancer with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis].

A 66-year-old woman was admitted due to right cervical lymphadenopathy and an abnormal chest radiograph. Acid-fast bacilli smear of fine needle aspiration from a right cervical lymph node was positive. Histopathological examination of the specimen obtained by percutaneous right cervical lymph node biopsy showed necrotizing epithelioid granulomas and no malignant cells.

[Optimum preparation of levocarnitine chloride solution in the hospital pharmacy].

Levocarnitine chloride is used for the therapeutic purpose of levocarnitine deficiency. For infants, however, levocarnitine chloride tablets must be crushed to avoid difficulties associated with swallowing, and also to administer an appropriately low dosage. Since the tablet is extremely hygroscopic and sour, it is dissolved in water containing simple syrup after crushing.

Changes in ganglioside content affect the binding of Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin to detergent-resistant membranes of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Epsilon-toxin (ET) of Clostridium perfringens, which causes fatal enterotoxemia in ungulates, was previously shown to bind to and form a heptameric pore within the detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) of MDCK cells. Depletion of cholesterol has also been shown to decrease the cytotoxicity of ET and its heptamerization. In this study, we investigated the effects of changes in sphingolipids, other DRM components of MDCK cells, on the cells' susceptibility to ET.

High-level expression of clostridial sialidase using a ferredoxin gene promoter-based plasmid.

A "large" sialidase isozyme (NanI) from Clostridium perfringens is a representative microbial sialidase with broad substrate specificity, being used for the analysis of sialoglycoconjugates. It is also a possible virulence factor. However, purification of the native enzyme in a large quantity is not practical due to its low productivity.

[A case of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis presenting with multiple nodular shadows in both lungs without known predisposing factors].

A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with fever, cough, and sputum production. Her chest radiograph and chest computed tomography showed multiple nodules. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis and an increased C-reactive protein concentration.

CD4+ T cells migrate from airway to bone marrow after antigen inhalation in rats.

Background: IL-5-producing T lymphocytes increase in rat bone marrow after inhalational challenge with allergen.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that T cells migrate from the airways to the marrow, we examined the trafficking of T cells in Brown Norway rats after sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin.

Methods: Purified CD4+ T cells, harvested from cervical lymph nodes of naive and ovalbumin-sensitized donors, were labeled with carboxy fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester; 20 x 10(6) cells were placed in the trachea of naive or sensitized recipients under anesthesia, and 18 hours later, animals were challenged with inhaled ovalbumin.

A novel type of DNA curvature present in a Clostridium perfringens ferredoxin gene: characterization and role in gene expression.

This study has revealed that a Clostridium perfringens ferredoxin gene (per-fdx) possesses a novel type of DNA curvature, which is formed by five phased A-tracts extending from upstream to downstream of the -35 region. The three A-tracts upstream of the promoter and the two within the promoter are located at the positions corresponding to A-tracts present in a C. perfringens phospholipase C gene (plc) and a Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin gene (pas-fdx), respectively.