Gut microbiota associated with the mitigation effect of synbiotics on adverse events of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer: A retrospective exploratory study.

Our synbiotics ( strain Shirota, strain Yakult, and galacto-oligosaccharides: LBG) helps mitigate serious adverse events such as febrile neutropenia (FN) and diarrhoea in oesophageal cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Unfortunately, LBG therapy does not benefit all patients. Identification of the gut microbiota species involved in adverse events during chemotherapy could help predict the onset of adverse events.

Development of a rapid and sensitive analytical system for based on reverse transcription quantitative PCR targeting of rRNA molecules.

For (PA), infection control and appropriate antimicrobial treatment have become important issues. Diagnosis is critical in managing PA infection, but conventional methods are not highly accurate or rapid. We developed a new PA quantification system based on 23S rRNA-targeted reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

Impacts of Habitual Diets Intake on Gut Microbial Counts in Healthy Japanese Adults.

Although diet is an important factor influencing gut microbiota, there are very few studies regarding that relationship in Japanese people. Here, we analyzed the relationship between habitual dietary intake surveyed by food frequency questionnaire and the quantitative features of gut bacteria by quantitative PCR and next generation sequencer in 354 healthy Japanese adults. The α-diversity of gut microbiota was positively correlated with the intake of mushrooms and beans and negatively correlated with the intake of grains.

Impact of preoperative fecal short chain fatty acids on postoperative infectious complications in esophageal cancer patients.

Background: The intestinal epithelial barrier allows absorption of dietary nutrients and prevents passage of pathogens and toxins into the body. Severe insults have a negative impact on the intestinal environment, which may decrease intestinal barrier function and cause bacterial translocation. Bacterial translocation, which can cause infectious complications, is defined as the passage of microbes from the gastrointestinal tract across the mucosal barrier to extraintestinal sites.

Diversity of Intestinal Clostridium coccoides Group in the Japanese Population, as Demonstrated by Reverse Transcription-Quantitative PCR.

We used sensitive rRNA-targeted reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to quantify the Clostridium coccoides group, which is a major anaerobic population in the human intestine. For this purpose, the C. coccoides group was classified into 3 subgroups and 19 species for expediency in accordance with the existing database, and specific primers were newly developed to evaluate them.

Establishment of a sensitive system for analysis of human vaginal microbiota on the basis of rRNA-targeted reverse transcription-quantitative PCR.

Ten specific primer sets, for Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus crispatus, Atopobium vaginae, Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncus curtisii, Chlamydia trachomatis/muridarum, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Bifidobacterium angulatum, were developed for quantitative analysis of vaginal microbiota.

Sensitive quantitative detection of commensal bacteria by rRNA-targeted reverse transcription-PCR.

A sensitive rRNA-targeted reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method was developed for exact and sensitive enumeration of subdominant bacterial populations. Using group- or species-specific primers for 16S or 23S rRNA, analytical curves were constructed for Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the threshold cycle value was found to be linear up to an RNA amount of 10(-3) cell per RT-PCR. The number of bacteria in culture was determined by RT-qPCR, and the results correlated well with the CFU count over the range from 10(0) to 10(5) CFU.

A multielement masking method using magnesium hydroxide coprecipitation for the selective determination of lead in water samples by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry.

We present a new multielement masking method using magnesium hydroxide coprecipitation for the selective determination of Pb by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The recovery of Pb in the masking method was over 95%, while interfering ions (Cd(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Mn(2+), and Ni(2+)) could be removed at 100% from the analytical sample. A linear regression was obtained in the Pb concentration from 10 to 1000 microg kg(-1) in the existence of 100 microg kg(-1) of the interfering ions.

Left and right ventricular function in fetal tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve.

Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve (TOF/APV) is a rare form of congenital heart disease with a high risk of perinatal mortality, particularly when diagnosed before birth. We aimed to assess whether global left and right ventricular function in fetal TOF/APV, using the Tei index, correlate with outcome. We reviewed the fetal echocardiogram and clinical outcome of eight fetuses diagnosed with TOF/APV.

Quantitative PCR with 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers for analysis of human intestinal bifidobacteria.

A highly sensitive quantitative PCR detection method has been developed and applied to the distribution analysis of human intestinal bifidobacteria by combining real-time PCR with Bifidobacterium genus- and species-specific primers. Real-time PCR detection of serially diluted DNA extracted from cultured bifidobacteria was linear for cell counts ranging from 10(6) to 10 cells per PCR assay. It was also found that the method was applicable to the detection of Bifidobacterium in feces when it was present at concentrations of >10(6) cells per g of feces.

Lactobacillus equi sp. nov., a predominant intestinal Lactobacillus species of the horse isolated from faeces of healthy horses.

Lactobacillus equi sp. nov. is described on the basis of 18 strains isolated as one of the predominant intestinal lactobacilli from horse faecal specimens.