Bronchial structural changes analyzed with three-dimensional computed tomography correlate with severe acute graft-versus-host disease after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can occur during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), causing considerable morbidity and mortality. Although several biomarkers have been reported for predicting acute GVHD, they are often difficult to measure in routine clinical practice. Recently, three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) has been used to quantify the detailed bronchial structure, which might correlate with acute GVHD.

T-cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia with a STAT3 mutation successfully treated with Cord Blood Transplantation.

A 64-year-old woman presented with agranulocytosis, anemia, and bacteremia, leading to a diagnosis of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL). A molecular analysis identified a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) Y640F variant. Initial treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone did not improve her condition, but serious infections were observed.

The Post-Polyketide Synthase Modification Mechanism in Hitachimycin Biosynthesis.

Hitachimycin is a bicyclic macrolactam antibiotic with (S)-β-phenylalanine (β-Phe) at the starter position of the polyketide skeleton. While the enzymes that recognize β-amino acids, modify the aminoacyl groups, and transfer the resultant dipeptide groups to the acyl carrier protein domains of polyketide synthases (PKSs) have been studied extensively, the post-PKS modification mechanism responsible for constructing the unique bicyclic structure of hitachimycin remains elusive. In this study, we first inactivated six genes encoding putative post-PKS modification enzymes, namely hitM1 to hitM6, in Streptomyces scabrisporus to determine their involvement in hitachimycin biosynthesis.

Caffeine intoxication as a result of excessive consumption of bottled coffee products: a case report.

Most cases of caffeine intoxication result from the excessive intake of over-the-counter drugs and energy drinks. However, few cases of caffeine intoxication due to the excessive consumption of bottled coffee products have been reported. Herein, we present a case report of caffeine intoxication.

Biased reorientation in the chemotaxis of peritrichous bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Many kinds of peritrichous bacteria that repeat runs and tumbles by using multiple flagella exhibit chemotaxis by sensing a difference in the concentration of the attractant or repellent between two adjacent time points. If a cell senses that the concentration of an attractant has increased, their flagellar motors decrease the switching frequency from counterclockwise to clockwise direction of rotation, which causes a longer run in swimming up the concentration gradient than swimming down. We investigated the turn angle in tumbles of peritrichous bacteria swimming across the concentration gradient of a chemoattractant because the change in the switching frequency in the rotational direction may affect the way tumbles.

Anti-obesity activity of hen egg anti-lipase immunoglobulin yolk, a novel pancreatic lipase inhibitor.

Background: There is completely no report about both hen egg anti-lipase immunoglobulin yolk (IgY) and its anti-obesity action. Thus, we tried to isolate and characterize a novel anti-lipase immunoglobulin from hen egg yolk. Moreover, we investigated whether hen egg yolk anti-lipase IgY inhibits pancreatic lipase activity in vitro, and examined its ability to prevent obesity in a murine high fat diet-induced obesity model.

[Anesthetic management in two infants undergoing hemilaminectomy for giant mediastinal neuroblastoma].

We report the anesthetic management in two infants who were a three-month-old boy (case 1) and a two- month-old girl (case 2), undergoing hemilaminectomy for giant mediastinal neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma invades into the intrathecal space in a rare occasion, resulting in paraplegia, which requires emergent operation to save the spinal cord. Mediastinal neuroblastoma also possesses significant respiratory and cardiovascular risks due to the close anatomic relationship with vital organs.

[Pulmonary artery obstruction in a pediatric patient during removal of a right ventricular myxoma].

Cardiac myxoma, especially right ventricular myxoma is very rare. We report a 2-year-old girl who underwent the emergent surgical resection of a right ventricular myxoma. She was noticed to have systolic murmur and was referred to our hospital.