Effects of Marine Microalgae (Schizochytrium sp.) in Prepared Feeds on Growth and Survival Rate of Juvenile Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japoncus

A 60 day feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and survival rate of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus fed on six experimental diets containing different inclusion level of Schizochytrium algae (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). After the feeding trial, survival was not significantly different among the dietary treatments. Results showed that diets affected the specific growth rate (SGR), ingestion rate (IR), faeces production rate (FPR) and food conversion efficiency (FCE) of sea cucumber. SGR of sea cucumber fed diet containing 6% Schizochytrium sp algae was significantly higher than that of sea cucumber fed the other diets (P < 0.05). The lowest IR and FPR was found when sea cucumber fed diets containing 10% Schizochytrium sp. Results of the experiment suggest that dietary inclusion with 6% Schizochytrium sp algae may improve growth of juvenile sea cucumber. Such detailed information could be helpful in further development of more appropriate diets for culture of sea cucumber

Community-Acquired versus Nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia: Clinical Features, Treatment Outcomes, and Clinical Implication of Antimicrobial Resistance

We conducted this study to compare clinical features, outcomes, and clinical implication of antimicrobial resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia acquired as community vs. nosocomial infection. A total of 377 patients with K. pneumoniae bacteremia (191 community-acquired and 186 nosocomial) were retrospectively analyzed. Neoplastic diseases (hematologic malignancy and solid tumor, 56%) were the most commonly associated conditions in patients with nosocomial bacteremia, whereas chronic liver disease (35%) and diabetes mellitus (20%) were the most commonly associated conditions in patients with community-acquired bacteremia. Bacteremic liver abscess occurred almost exclusively in patients with community-acquired infection. The overall 30-day mortality was 24% (91/377), and the mortality of nosocomial bacteremia was significantly higher than that of community-acquired bacteremia (32% vs. 16%, p<0.001). Of all community-acquired and nosocomial isolates, 4% and 33%, respectively, were extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant, and 4% and 21%, respectively, were ciprofloxacin (CIP)-resistant. In nosocomial infections, prior uses of ESC and CIP were found to be independent risk factors for ESC and CIP resistance, respectively. Significant differences were identified between community-acquired and nosocomial K. pneumoniae bacteremia, and the mortality of nosocomial infections was more than twice than that of community-acquired infections. Antimicrobial resistance was a widespread nosocomial problem and also identified in community-acquired infections

Decreased DBC1 Expression Is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Patients With Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Purpose The deleted in bladder cancer 1 (DBC1) gene is located within chromosome 9 (9q32-33), a chromosomal region that frequently shows loss of heterozygosity in bladder cancer (BC). It is suspected that it acts as a tumor suppressor gene, but its prognostic value remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of DBC1 as a prognostic marker in BC. Materials and Methods The expression of DBC1 was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis in 344 patients with BC (220 non-muscle-invasive BC [NMIBC] and 124 muscle-invasive BC [MIBC]) and in 34 patients with normal bladder mucosa. The results were compared with clinicopathologic parameters, and the prognostic value of DBC1 was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and a multivariate Cox regression model. Results: DBC1 expression was significantly decreased in patients with MIBC compared with those diagnosed with NMIBC (p=0.010). Patients with aggressive tumor characteristics had lower DBC1 expression levels in NMIBC (each, p<0.05). By multivariate Cox regression analysis, low DBC1 expression was a predictor of progression to MIBC (hazard ratio, 7.104; p=0.013). Kaplan-Meier estimates revealed a significant difference in tumor recurrence, progression to MIBC, and cancer-specific survival depending on the level of DBC1 expression in NMIBC (log-rank test, each, p<0.05). Conclusions: The expression of DBC1 was associated with tumor aggressiveness, progression to MIBC, and survival in NMIBC. Our results suggest that DBC1 expression can be a useful prognostic marker for patients with NMIBC

Granular Cell Tumor of the Urinary Bladder

A 67-year-old Korean man presented with gross, painless hematuria that had lasted for the previous 2 months. Cystoscopy showed a semispherical tumor approximately 1 cm in diameter that was covered with normal bladder mucosa and extended from the bladder neck to the posterior wall of the bladder. The patient underwent transurethral resection of the tumor. Histological examination and immunohistochemical staining showed a granular cell tumor (GCT). There were no features suggesting a malignant phenotype. On follow-up, the patient has remained free of bladder recurrence. We herein report this case of a GCT of the urinary bladder and review the literature

In vitro ability of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bacteraemic patients with and without metastatic complications to invade vascular endothelial cells

Invasion of vascular endothelial cells is thought to be a critical step in the development of metastatic infections in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. This study was designed to evaluate the association between the ability to invade endothelial cells and metastatic infection by S. aureus. Patients with metastatic infection were identified among those with community-acquired S. aureus bacteraemia in a tertiary referral hospital. Patients with simple bacteraemia caused by S. aureus over the same period served as the control group. The ability of each clinical isolate to invade endothelial cells was evaluated by counting the number of intracellular organisms 1 h after inoculation onto human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. The cytotoxic activity of intracellular S. aureus was determined 24 h after internalization, and expressed as the percentage of cells killed. The clinical isolates varied in invasiveness and cytotoxicity. The median invasiveness, relative to S. aureus reference strain ATCC 29213, was 145 % in the cases (n=10) [interquartile range (IQR) 103-160] and 153 % (IQR 111-173) in the controls (n=11; P=0.44). The median cytotoxicity was 59.4 % (IQR 47-68) in the cases and 65.2 % (IQR 50-74) in the controls (P=0.44). Differences in the ability of S. aureus to invade and destroy vascular endothelial cells in vitro were not associated with the development of metastatic complications in patients with S. aureus bacteraemia. This implies that the invasiveness and toxicity of S. aureus for endothelial cells may not be major determinants of metastatic infection.The work was supported by grant no. 02-05-026 from the research fund of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital