Changes of a Few Constituents in Purple Laver (Red Alga Porphyra) after Some Peiods of Storage in Frozen State

Changes in the TTC reducing ability and in the contents of a few chemical constituents were studied periodically on the fronds of Porphyra sp. during a six months storage in frozen state (-25℃). The results obtained can be summarized as follows: 1) The TTC reducing ability declined in the frozen fronds either stored in the air or in nitrogen gas; it dropped to one tenth and one fifth of the initial level, respectively, after six months storage. In both cases, rapid decrease occurred during the first two months of freezing storage. 2) Chlorophyll a contents were almost constant in the fronds during the storage. 3) Little changes were observed in the total nitrogen contents of the fronds regardless to the storage period. 4) Extractive amino acids such as aspartic acid, glycine, alanine, isoleucine and threonine and/or serine showed tendencies to decrease during the storage. Among these amino acids, aspartic acid and isoleucine had the most conspicuous rates of diminution. 5) Extractive nitrogen contents in the frozen thalli decreased gradually to about 60% in the air and to about 70% in nitrogen gas within the six months

Expression of centromere protein F (CENP-F) associated with higher FDG uptake on PET/CT, detected by cDNA microarray, predicts high-risk patients with primary breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Higher standardized uptake value (SUV) detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) correlates with proliferation of primary breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to identify specific molecules upregulated in primary breast cancers with a high SUV and to examine their clinical significance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared mRNA expression profiles between 14 tumors with low SUVs and 24 tumors with high SUVs by cDNA microarray. We identified centromere protein F (CENP-F) and CDC6 were upregulated in tumors with high SUVs. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to validate these data. Clinical implication of CENP-F and CDC6 was examined for 253 archival breast cancers by the tissue microarray.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The relative ratios of CENP-F and CDC6 expression levels to β-actin were confirmed to be significantly higher in high SUV tumors than in low SUV tumors (<it>p </it>= 0.027 and 0.025, respectively) by RT-PCR. In immunohistochemical analysis of 47 node-negative tumors, the CENP-F expression was significantly higher in the high SUV tumors (74%) than the low SUV tumors (45%) (<it>p </it>= 0.04), but membranous and cytoplasmic CDC6 expressions did not significantly differ between both groups (<it>p </it>= 0.9 each). By the tissue microarray, CENP-F (HR = 2.94) as well as tumor size (HR = 4.49), nodal positivity (HR = 4.1), and Ki67 (HR = 2.05) showed independent impact on the patients' prognosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High CENP-F expression, correlated with high SUV, was the prognostic indicators of primary breast cancer. Tumoral SUV levels may serve as a pretherapeutic indicator of aggressiveness of breast cancer.</p

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Genome sequencing and annotation of Aeromonas veronii strain Ae52, a multidrug-resistant isolate from septicaemic gold fish (Carassius auratus) in Sri Lanka

Here we report the draft genome sequence and annotation of A. veronii strain Ae52 isolated from the kidney of a morbund, septicaemic gold fish (Carassius auratus) in Sri Lanka. This clinical isolate showed resistance to multiple antimicrobials; amoxicillin, neomycin, trimethoprim-sulphonamide, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, erythromycin and nitrofurantoin. The size of the draft genome is 4.56 Mbp with 58.66% of G + C content consisting 4328 coding sequences. It harbors a repertoire of putative antibiotic resistant determinants that explains the genetic basis of its resistance to various classes of antibiotics. The genome sequence has been deposited in DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession numbers BDGY01000001-BDGY01000080

Efficacy of modified team‐based learning in a flipped classroom for an acute‐care nursing course: A mixed‐methods study

Abstract Aim To test a modified team‐based learning approach on undergraduate learning outcomes in an acute‐care nursing course in Japan. Design Mixed‐methods. Methods Students worked on three simulated cases, engaged in pre‐class preparation, completed a quiz and engaged in group work. We collected data on team approach, critical‐thinking disposition and time spent in self‐learning at four time‐points: before the intervention and after each simulated case. Data were analysed using a linear mixed model, a Kruskal–Wallis test and a content analysis. Data sources We recruited nursing students attending a mandatory course in acute‐care nursing at University A. Data were collected at four time‐points between April and July 2018. Data from 73 of 93 respondents were analysed. Results Team approach, critical thinking and self‐learning all increased significantly across the time‐points. Four categories emerged from students' comments: ‘achievement of teamwork’, ‘sense of learning efficacy’, ‘satisfaction with course approach’ and ‘issues related to course approach’. The modified team‐based learning approach led to improvements in team approach and critical‐thinking disposition across the course. Conclusion Incorporating team‐based learning into the curriculum not only contributes to team building but is also effective as a teaching method to improve student learning. Implications for the profession and/or patient care The intervention led to improvements in team approach and critical‐thinking disposition across the course. The educational intervention also led to more time for self‐learning. Future studies should include participants from various universities and evaluate the outcomes over a longer period

Does antithrombotic therapy improve survival with colorectal cancer?

Abstract Background The study aimed to evaluate the prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery while receiving antithrombotic therapy (ATT) across all disease stages and for patients at disease stages 0–III. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 710 Japanese patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer between January 2009 and November 2015 at our institution. Approximately 35% of these patients received ATT. Of these, 199 (28.0%) received antiplatelet therapy, and 76 (10.7%) received anticoagulant therapy. We investigated the prognosis among patients with colorectal cancer receiving ATT, antiplatelet therapy, or anticoagulant therapy in all-stage and stage 0–III cancers. Results For all disease stages combined, no benefit was observed for ATT, antiplatelet therapy, and anticoagulant therapy groups in the overall survival rates (ATT: 87.8 vs. 78.4%, P = 0.23; antiplatelet therapy: 87.8 vs. 78.6%, P = 0.25; and anticoagulant therapy: 92.2 vs. 80.2%, P = 0.26). However, overall survival rates of patients with stage 0–III colorectal cancer undergoing ATT, antiplatelet therapy, and anticoagulant therapy significantly improved. (ATT: 98.5 vs. 92.7%, P = 0.01; antiplatelet therapy: 98.3 vs. 91.1%, P = 0.02; and anticoagulant therapy: 100 vs. 92.1%, P = 0.00). Conclusion Receiving ATT significantly improves overall survival rates in patients with stage 0–III colorectal cancer

Study of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with combined S-1 and low-dose cisplatin for patients with clinical stage II/III esophageal cancer

Background: Trimodality therapy with surgery and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) has been developed to improve survival outcomes in advanced esophageal cancer. We hypothesized that the effect of surgery plus nCRT with oral fluoropyrimidine (S-1) and low-dose cisplatin will be effective with low toxic effects in patients with esophageal cancer as well as gastric cancer. Methods: This cohort study included 28 Japanese patients who underwent nCRT plus esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in preoperative clinical Stage II/III. They received only one cycle of S-1 and low-dose cisplatin concurrently, followed by surgery 3–4 weeks after completion of nCRT (the doses of radiotherapy were 20 or 30 Gy). We examined the clinical efficacy and safety of nCRT plus esophagectomy. Results: All patients had squamous cell carcinoma and they all completed nCRT and underwent esophagectomy. No treatment-related deaths were observed. The response rate to nCRT was 92.9%. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates were 84.4%, 67.0%, and 67.0%, respectively for Stage II/III. Conclusion: Toxicity of nCRT was acceptable, and the efficacy and prognosis were favorable, particularly as we performed only one cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with low doses of radiotherapy