Tailoring Effective Phage Cocktails for Long-Term Lysis of Based on Physiological Properties of Constituent Phages.

Background: Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has regained attention as an alternative to antimicrobial agents for eliminating bacteria; however, the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria during the therapy is a major concern. One method to control this emergence is to create a cocktail composed of multiple phages.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we isolated 28 phages infecting and evaluated their bacteriolysis (lysis) activity, lytic spectrum, adsorption rate constant, burst size, and titer of a 1-day incubation, followed by clustering of the phages based on these physiological characteristics.

Increased Vancomycin Clearance in Patients with Solid Malignancies.

Vancomycin (VAN) is an anti-microbial agent used to treat a number of bacterial infections, which has a high incidence of nephrotoxicity. We examined the pharmacokinetics of VAN retrospectively based on trough concentrations at large scale and identified pharmacokinetic differences between Japanese patients having solid malignancy and non-malignancy patients. Data were analyzed from 162 solid malignancy patients and 261 non-malignancy patients, including the patient's background, VAN dose, and pharmacokinetics of VAN.

Augmented Renal Clearance of Vancomycin in Hematologic Malignancy Patients.

The pharmacokinetics of vancomycin (VAN) was retrospectively examined based on trough concentrations at large scale to identify pharmacokinetic differences between Japanese hematologic malignancy and non-malignancy patients. Data from 261 hematologic malignancy patients and 261 non-malignancy patients, including the patient's background, VAN dose, and pharmacokinetics of VAN estimated by an empirical Bayesian method, were collected and analyzed. Our results showed significantly higher values for VAN clearance and shorter elimination half-lives in patients with hematologic malignancies than non-malignancy patients.

Analysis of [(2)H7]methionine, [(2)H4]methionine, methionine, [(2)H4]homocysteine and homocysteine in plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to follow the fate of administered [(2)H7]methionine.

Homocysteine plays a key role in several pathophysiological conditions. To assess the methionine-homocysteine kinetics by stable isotope methodology, we developed a simultaneous quantification method of [(2)H(7)]methionine, [(2)H(4)]methionine, methionine, [(2)H(4)]homocysteine and homocysteine in rat plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). [(13)C]Methionine and [(13)C]homocysteine were used as analytical internal standards to account for losses associated with the extraction, derivatization and chromatography.

Usefulness of transcription factors Ad4BP/SF-1 and DAX-1 as immunohistologic markers for diagnosis of advanced adrenocortical carcinoma.

Background: We examined the expressions of Ad4BP/SF-1 and DAX-1 in primary and metastatic lesions of advanced adrenocortical carcinoma with normal hormonal findings by immunohistochemistry and discussed their usefulness as immunohistochemical markers for diagnosis.

Patients And Methods: Four patients (average age 54.3 +/- 3.

Efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guérin in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer: the impact of previous intravesical treatment.

Objective: To clinically evaluate the role of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in the management of superficial bladder cancer, focusing on dose, age, high grade/stage, and pretreatment episodes with other therapies in long-term follow-up patients.

Methods: A total of 213 patients with superficial (Ta-T1) transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder received 6-8 weekly instillations of 40, 60 or 80 mg of Tokyo strain BCG. Further 6-8 monthly applications were given in some cases.

Simulated conditions of microgravity increases progesterone production in I-10 cells of Leydig tumor cell line.

Background: The prospect of long-term residence in outer space is becoming a reality. Previously we found that testosterone secretion and spermatogenesis is reduced in model mice on which the shift of body fluids in space is simulated. The present study examines the effects of the microgravity (muG) environment on steroidogenesis of Leydig cells.

Azoospermia with Klippel-Feil anomaly.

We present a case of azoospermia with Klippel-Feil anomaly. Klippel-Feil anomaly is characterized by the fusion of two or more cervical vertebrae and a short neck, limitation of head movement, and low posterior hairline. The association of this anomaly with MURCS (Müllerian-duct aplasia, renal agenesis, and cervical somite dysplasia) is traditionally regarded as being limited to females, but it has been hypothesized that men displaying the combination of azoospermia, segmentation abnormalities of the cervicothoracic spine, and renal anomalies have a male analog of MURCS.

Effect of microsurgical repair of the varicocele on testicular function in adolescence and adulthood.

Objective: Many reports on varicoceles suggest improved spermatic findings and increased pregnancy rates after correction of these lesions. Early repair during adolescence has been advocated, since clinically apparent varicoceles may affect testicular volume and sperm production in the future. We examined the efficacy of microsurgical varicocelectomy, and aimed to establish predictive parameters useful for ascertaining whether varicocele repair provides any benefits in adolescents and adults.

Human sperm motility in a microgravity environment.

We carried out clinostat and parabolic flight experiments to examine the effects of a microgravity (µG) environment on human sperm motility. Semen samples were obtained manually from 18 healthy men (aged 27.4 ± 5.

Gene transfer to mouse testes by electroporation and its influence on spermatogenesis.

We transferred the adventitious gene pCAGGS-lacZ to mouse testes with the use of a square-wave electroporator and investigated the efficiency of gene transfer (GT) and the influence of the procedure on testicular damage and spermatogenesis. Mice were divided into 5 groups: (1-2) injection of gene/phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) into the interstitial space followed by electroporation (EP), (3) EP alone, (4-5) injection of gene/PBS without EP. The presence of the lacZ gene was determined by X-gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside) staining and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).