Identification of Ornithine-lactam Converted from Arginine in Streptomyces incarnatus NRRL8089

Sinefungin is a nucleoside antibiotic, in which a molecule of L-ornithine is linked to the 5' end of adenosine through a C-C bond. The antibiotic was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces incarnatus. For the purpose of detecting intermediate of sinefungin biosynthesis, resting cell suspensions were incubated with supplemental L-arginine, and L-ornithine. 50mM Arginine was converted to a compound X that has low polarity. 50mM ornithine was not converted and remained in reaction solution. Compound X was purified using HPLC, and analyzed using (1)H-NMR and FAB-MS. These analyses showed that a compound X is "ornithine-lactam" (Mw＝114), which has a structure of circularized ornithine. These results indicated that S. incarnatus has an enzyme that converts arginine to ornithine-lactam. Such an enzyme has never been reported, and suggested that it may be relevant to sinefungin biosynthesis.シネフンギンは抗真菌，抗マラリア活性を有する核酸系抗生物質であり，放線菌 S. incarnatus により生合成される．シネフンギンはアデノシンとオルニチンがＣﾝＣ結合した構造であり，無細胞抽出液での取り込み実験からＬﾝアルギニンと ATP から生合成されると推測される．Ｌﾝアルギニン，Ｌﾝオルニチンを S. incarnatus の休止菌体反応系への投与を行いシネフンギン中間体の探索を行った．その結果50ﾋアルギニンは24時間以内に低極性化合物へと変換された．一方50ﾋオルニチンは変換されず反応液中に残存した．HPLC で化合物を精製し，1HﾝNMR，FABﾝMS での分析の結果オルニチン環状モノペプチド，「オルニチンラクタム」（分子量114）であることを明らかにした．この結果は S. incarnatus がアルギニンからオルニチンラクタムへの変換酵素を有する事を示唆する．このような酵素の報告例はこれまでになく，ニ次代謝酵素であることが示唆され，シネフンギン生合成との関連性に興味が持たれる

Energy Production from Fish Waste in Large-scale Anaerobic Digestion

Poster Presentatio

Acute osteomyelitis of the acetabulum induced by Staphylococcus capitis in a young athlete

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHOM) of the acetabulum is a rare condition in children and usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus. We present an 11-year-old soccer athlete who suffered from acute osteomyelitis involving the acetabulum caused by S. capitis, a normal flora of the human skin but never reported in this condition. The disease was associated with repetitive skin injuries of the knee and potential osseous microtrauma of the hip joint by frequent rigorous exercise. This unusual case suggests that osseous microtrauma of the acetabulum, in addition to repetitive skin injuries, allowed normal skin flora to colonize to the ipsilateral acetabulum, which served as a favorable niche and subsequently led to AHOM

Solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst in the tibia treated with simple curettage without bone graft: a case report

The solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst (solid ABC) is rarely encountered in long bones and appropriate treatment for this disease remains unclear. We experienced a 13-year-old boy suffering from pain in his left knee caused by solid ABC. Simple curettage of the bone lesion without any adjuvant therapy and a bone graft gave immediate pain relief. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed typical features of solid ABC, and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was confirmed in giant cells with a background of spindle cells by immunohistochemistry. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that soft tissue edema surrounding the lesion was improved two months after surgery and there was no indication of recurrence two years after surgery

BRAKING FORCES DURING BICYCLE PEDALING: AN EXAMINATION OF THE FULL CRANK ROTATION

Pedalling skills are evaluated using angular impluse of negative crank torque (INCT) that occurs in pulling phase (180-360° of crank rotation that 0° is top dead center. INCT has the effect of inhibit crank rotation (“braking force“). The aim of study was to obtain findings to reduce INCT for improving cyclists\u27 pedalling skills. We examined the relationship between INCT and kinetic pedalling data through the full crank rotation. Fifteen male cyclists performed constant pedalling at 80%Vo2max and 90rpm. Kinetic and kinematic pedalling data were measured by the pedal-shaped force platform (KISTLER) and by a 3D motion capture system (VICON). A negative correlation was indicated 80-250° of crank rotation between horizontal pedal force (Fh) and INCT (pNCT occurring in pulling phase was affected by amount of Fh in pushing phase

Quantum receiver beyond the standard quantum limit of coherent optical communication

The most efficient modern optical communication is known as coherent communication and its standard quantum limit (SQL) is almost reachable with current technology. Though it has been predicted for a long time that this SQL could be overcome via quantum mechanically optimized receivers, such a performance has not been experimentally realized so far. Here we demonstrate the first unconditional evidence surpassing the SQL of coherent optical communication. We implement a quantum receiver with a simple linear optics configuration and achieve more than 90% of the total detection efficiency of the system. Such an efficient quantum receiver will provide a new way of extending the distance of amplification-free channels, as well as of realizing quantum information protocols based on coherent states and the loophole-free test of quantum mechanics.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

One-year follow-up for the therapeutic efficacy of pregabalin in patients with leg symptoms caused by lumbar spinal stenosis

AbstractBackground Pregabalin is a well-accepted treatment option for patients with neuropathic pain. However, the therapeutic efficacy of pregabalin for reducing the incidence of spinal surgery to treat leg symptoms in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to analyze the therapeutic efficacy of pregabalin for reducing the incidence of spinal surgery for leg symptoms in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis during the first year of treatment.Methods Consecutive patients diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis at our hospital from January to June 2009 were treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug monotherapy and formed the control group (n = 47; 22 males, 25 females). Patients diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis at our hospital between August 2010 and October 2011 were treated with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and pregabalin combination therapy and formed the pregabalin group (n = 49; 27 males, 22 females). The proportions of patients who underwent spinal surgery during the first year of treatment were assessed and compared between the two groups using the Mann-Whitney U test. In addition, the periods in which patients decided to undergo spinal surgery were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results Six patients (12.2 %) in the pregabalin group and 22 patients (46.8 %) in the control group underwent spinal surgery during the first year of treatment (P = 0.0035). The period in which patients decided to undergo spinal surgery was significantly delayed in the pregabalin group compared with the control group in those for whom spinal surgery was necessary (P = 0.0128).Conclusions Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and pregabalin combination therapy may result in a lower incidence of spinal surgery during the first year of treatment or a delayed period before undergoing spinal surgery if necessary compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug monotherapy in patients with leg symptoms caused by lumbar spinal stenosis