Molecular microbiological profiling of bottled unsweetened tea beverages: A screening experiment.

To explore the potential storage and safety of drinking leftover bottled tea beverages from various manufacturers after direct drinking from bottles, we conducted a screening experiment on the growth of salivary bacteria in plastic bottles of tea. The diluted saliva samples from 10 participants were inoculated into the test bottled beverages, which resulted in bacteria, particularly former members of the genus Lactobacillus, growing in some green tea beverages with a neutral pH. In contrast, tea beverages with less bacterial growth contained Streptococcus spp.

Profiling of the microbiota of breast milk before and after feeding with an artificial nipple.

Objectives: Breast milk is a valuable and useful source of nutrition; however, surplus milk is routinely discarded for hygiene reasons despite an unclear scientific basis. Here, we profiled the microbiota of expressed breast milk before and after feeding with an artificial nipple and examined the bacterial survival in breast milk stored at 4 °C.

Methods: Eleven mother-baby pairs were included in the study.

Profiling of the microbiota in the remaining sports drink and orange juice in plastic bottles after direct drinking.

Objectives: The survival of bacteria in the sports drink and orange juice remaining in and at the mouth of bottles after direct drinking was examined after immediately drinking and incubation at 37 °C for 24 h.

Methods: Nine healthy participants were asked to drink approximately 100 mL of a plastic bottled sports drink or orange juice. The samples were cultured anaerobically at 37 °C for 7 days.

Microbiota profiles on the surface of non-woven fabric masks after wearing.

This study aimed to characterize commensal microbiota on the skin before and after wearing masks, and to characterize the microbiota on the surface of used masks after 1 week of drying. From the 13 human subjects (age range, 19-26 years), mean bacterial concentrations of (6.1 ± 11.

In situ strategy for biomedical target localization via nanogold nucleation and secondary growth.

Immunocytochemistry visualizes the exact spatial location of target molecules. The most common strategy for ultrastructural immunocytochemistry is the conjugation of nanogold particles to antibodies as probes. However, conventional nanogold labelling requires time-consuming nanogold probe preparation and ultrathin sectioning of cell/tissue samples.

Profiling system of oral microbiota utilizing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Objectives: Profiling of oral microbiota has traditionally been performed using conventional methods. These methods are relatively time-consuming and labor-intensive. Metagenomic analysis of oral microbiota using high-speed next-generation sequencing is a highly promising technology.

Profiling of Microbiota at the Mouth of Bottles and in Remaining Tea after Drinking Directly from Plastic Bottles of Tea.

It has been speculated that oral bacteria can be transferred to tea in plastic bottles when it is drunk directly from the bottles, and that the bacteria can then multiply in the bottles. The transfer of oral bacteria to the mouth of bottles and bacterial survival in the remaining tea after drinking directly from bottles were examined immediately after drinking and after storage at 37 °C for 24 h. Twelve healthy subjects (19 to 23 years of age) were asked to drink approximately 50 mL of unsweetened tea from a plastic bottle.

Ecotypic differentiation of a circumpolar Arctic-alpine species at mid-latitudes: variations in the ploidy level and reproductive system of .

Although plant species originated from Arctic regions commonly grow in alpine habitats at mid-latitudes, some populations of these species exist also in some specific habitats below the treeline. Local populations at lower elevations may have different origins, ploidy levels, mating systems and/or morphological traits from alpine populations, but comparative studies between alpine and low-elevation populations are scarce. We aimed to reveal the ecological and genetic differentiations between higher and lower populations of in Hokkaido, northern Japan by comparing 22 populations growing in diverse environments.

Bacterial concentration and composition in liquid baby formula and a baby drink consumed with an artificial nipple.

Objectives: To clarify the characteristics and growth of bacteria that may infiltrate liquid baby formula during feeding and after storage for more than 3 h, the transfer of oral bacteria through artificial nipples, and bacterial survival in liquid baby formula and a baby drink were examined immediately after drinking and after storage at 4 °C for 12 h and 24 h.

Methods: Thirteen human subjects (aged 19-24 years) were asked to drink approximately 50 mL of liquid baby formula and a baby drink, via the artificial nipple of a baby bottle. Samples of the remaining liquid after storage at 4 °C for 12 h and 24 h were inoculated onto blood agar plates and incubated anaerobically at 37 °C for 7 days.

Nanoparticle size and 3D shape measurement by electron tomography: An Inter-Laboratory Comparison.

Electron tomography (ET) has been used for quantitative measurement of shape and size of objects in three dimensions (3D) for many years. However, systematic investigation of repeatability and reproducibility of ET has not been evaluated in detail. To assess the reproducibility and repeatability of a protocol for measuring size and three-dimensional (3D) shape parameters for nanoparticles (NPs) by ET, an inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) has been performed.

Profiling of microbiota in liquid baby formula consumed with an artificial nipple.

It is suspected that oral bacteria are transferred to the liquid baby formula through the artificial nipple and multiply in the bottle after feeding. In the present study, in order to understand the influence of bacteria on liquid baby formula after feeding, the transfer of oral bacteria through artificial nipples and their survival in liquid baby formula were examined immediately after drinking as well as after storage at 4°C for 3 h. Four healthy human subjects (20-23 years old) were asked to drink liquid baby formula (Aptamil, ca.

Cellulolytic protist numbers rise and fall dramatically in termite queens and kings during colony foundation.

Among the best-known examples of mutualistic symbioses is that between lower termites and the cellulolytic flagellate protists in their hindguts. Although the symbiosis in worker termites has attracted much attention, there have been only a few studies of protists in other castes. We have performed the first examination of protist population dynamics in queens and kings during termite colony foundation.

[A late phase II study of raltitrexed (ZD 1694) in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced colorectal cancer].

A multicenter co-operative late phase II study of raltitrexed (ZD1694), a specific thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor, was conducted in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Raltitrexed was infused intravenously over 15 minutes once every three weeks. Between April 1996 and September 1998, 61 patients were enrolled and 58 were eligible.

Phase II study of raltitrexed (Tomudex) in chemotherapy-pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Tomudex Cooperative Study Group.

Raltitrexed (Tomudex), a novel folate-based inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, has demonstrated anti-tumour efficacy comparable with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). This phase II study was conducted to evaluate the anti-timor efficacy and tolerability of raltitrexed in patients with advanced CRC who had received one previous chemotherapy regimen. Raltitrexed was administered at a dose of 3.

[Phase I study of raltitrexed (ZD-1694)].

A multicenter cooperative phase I study of ZD-1694 (raltitrexed), a novel, folate-based thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor, was conducted with single and repeated doses in 30 patients with various malignant tumors. ZD-1694 was intravenously infused over 15 minutes. In the single-dose study, the initial dose was fixed at 1.

[TUT-7 early phase II clinical study for various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies].

An early Phase II study with TUT-7 (menogaril), a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, was conducted in patients with various malignant tumors at 81 departments of 65 institutions nationwide. One course of TUT-7 treatment consisted of seven (7) or fourteen (14) consecutive days of administration at 75 or 100 mg/body/day with two-week drug withdrawal; at least two courses of treatment were given in principle. Among the 165 patients registered, 145 patients were eligible and 128 patients were evaluable for antitumor efficacy.

[TUT-7 phase I clinical study. TUT-7 Study Group].

A phase I study with TUT-7, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, was conducted in 35 malignant tumor patients at 11 institutions nationwide. The study was initiated with a single dose at 100 mg/body which was equivalent to 2n, then the dose as escalated up to 700 mg/body in accordance with the modified Fibonacci's scheme. The dose limiting factor (DLF) was considered to be leukopenia, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 700 mg/ body.

[Serum selenium contents in cancer patients].

The conclusions were confirmed by determining the serum Selenium levels in 2099 cancerous of non-cancerous patients as follows: 1) The mean serum Selenium levels of males is significantly higher than in females. 2) Serum Selenium levels tend to decrease with age. 3) The serum Selenium levels of cancerous patients is significantly lower than in non-cancerous patients.

Features of DNA oligonucleosomal fragmentation in human tumor cell lines and its detection by flow cytometry: utility and limitations.

Cultured HL-60, HeLa S3 and WiDr cells were treated with various doses of ethanol, then subjected to flow cytometry and gel electrophoresis of cellular DNA. On electrophoresis of DNA from HL-60 cells treated with 0.5 or 1.

[Phase I study on DMDC].

Phase I study on antimetabolic carcinostatic DMDC was conducted at 16 medical institutions nationwide for patients with various types of malignant tumors. DMDC was administered by intravenous infusion as per the following three schedules: single administration, single repeated administration, and 5-consecutive-day administration. The safety of the compound was examined single administration in 16 patients, by the single repeated administration in 5 patients, and by the 5 consecutive-day administration in 7 patients, for a total of 28 patients.

[LY188011 phase I study. Research Group of Gemcitabine (LY188011)].

LY188011 (Gemcitabine hydrochloride) is a new derivative of deoxycytidine. Phase I study was carried out by a cooperative study group. LY188011 was administered weekly for 3 consecutive weeks starting with an initial dose of 60 mg/m2 (1n) and then increasing the dosage to 1,000 mg/m2 (16.

[Chemotherapy of scirrhous gastric cancer].

Cancer chemotherapy plays a central role in the treatment of recurrent or unresectable scirrhous gastric cancers classified mainly as Borrmann type 4. Though we have no specifically effective drugs for scirrhous gastric cancer, 5-FU and its derivative, MMC, anthracyclines, CDDP, CQ and ACNU are known to be relatively effective single agents against this tumor. In an attempt to enhance the effect of single agents, several combined chemotherapy regimens have been devised and tested.