Characterization of the Bacteriocinogenic Lactic Acid Bacteria Lactobacillus curvatus Strain Y108 Isolated from Nozawana-Zuke Pickles

We characterized the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus curvatus strain Y108 isolated from the traditional Japanese pickle Nozawana-zuke, and partially identified the antibacterial agent produced by the strain. The Y108 strain exhibited antibacterial activity against L. curvatus JCM 1096, Listeria monocytogenes JCM7671, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus JCM20624, and Serratia marcescens JCM20012. The antibacterial activity was abolished upon treatment with several proteases and lipase but not catalase, and it was moderately stable against heat treatment for 2 h at 100 degrees C. The Y108 strain showed higher antibacterial activity when grown at 20 degrees C than at 30 degrees C, which is its optimal growth temperature. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified culture supernatant revealed the presence of two antibacterial peptide agents, F3-I and F3-II, with net molecular weights of 5.5 and 4.5 kDa, respectively. The IN-terminal amino acid sequences of F3-I and F3-II were homologous to those of lactocin 705 alpha and 705 beta, respectively. However, molecular masses and individual antibacterial activities of the two peptides were considerably different from those reported for lactocin 705.ArticleFOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH. 16(3):253-262 (2010)journal articl

Entre Japón, Brasil y México: circulaciones, conexiones y transferencias

This is a study on the mobility and circulation of artists between Brazil and Japan and between Mexico and Japan, not only of immigrants but also of those who remained provisionally in these countries. It is oriented by Global History, whose focus goes beyond national borders, centering on adherences, transfers, and connections established in networks. Objects and human beings are in constant movement, and with them thoughts are displaced; in the artistic case, techniques, themes, materials are included in new works within a new cultural reality. The research seeks to identify forms of displacement, circulation and the relationships this process has engendered in artistic works, in their different dynamics in Brazil, Mexico and Japan, through some Nipo-Brazilian and Nipo-Mexican artists.Este artículo trata de las movilidades y circulaciones de artistas que ocurrieron entre Brasil y Japón y México y Japón, no solamente de los inmigrantes, sino también de aquellos que permanecieron en estos países de modo provisorio. La investigación guiase por la visión de la historia global, cuyo interés trasciende las fronteras nacionales y apuesta en las adhesiones, transferencias y conexiones que se establecen en red. Los objetos y seres humanos se desplazan y, con ellos, los pensamientos; en el caso artístico, las técnicas, los temas y soportes que son insertados en nuevas obras de una nueva realidad cultural. Buscase identificar las formas de desplazamiento, circulaciones y relaciones que engendran en las obras, en sus distintas dinámicas, en Brasil, en México y en Japón a través de algunos artistas nipo-brasileños y nipo-mexicanos.Este artigo trata das mobilidades e circulações de artistas ocorridas entre Brasil e Japão e entre México e Japão, não apenas dos imigrantes, mas também daqueles que permaneceram nesses países provisoriamente. A pesquisa pauta-se na visão da história global, cujo foco transcende as fronteiras nacionais, e aposta nas aderências, transferências e conexões estabelecidas em rede. Deslocam-se objetos e seres humanos e, com eles, os pensamentos; no caso artístico, as técnicas, temáticas e os suportes que são inseridos em novos trabalhos de uma nova realidade cultural. Busca-se identificar as formas de deslocamento, das circulações e as relações engendradas nas obras artísticas, em suas diferentes dinâmicas, no Brasil, no México e no Japão, por meio de alguns artistas nipo-brasileiros e nipo-mexicanos.

Multi‐modal combination therapy rescued a frequent ischemic stroke patient due to giant cell arteritis

Ischemic stroke (IS) due to giant cell arteritis (GCA) is rare, but highly mortal. Here, we report a 72-year-old man who showed frequent IS with GCA. Initial therapy with prednisolone increased the frequency of IS, which disappeared after continuous multi-modal combination therapy with corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, antiplatelets, and statin. The present case was discharged with independent walk, suggesting that a multi-modal combination therapy rescued the GCA patient from frequent IS

Very rare solitary primary peripheral nerve onset cytotoxic molecule-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL)

Here we present the first report of solitary primary peripheral nerve onset cytotoxic molecule (CM)-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) diagnosed after nerve biopsy. An 84-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complained of asymmetric severe tenderness in her upper limbs. The biopsy pathology revealed a direct invasion of CM-positive PTCL. When RA patients complain of numbness, tenderness, or weakness, lymphomatic peripheral nerve invasion should be considered

Cytology Reporting System for Lung Cancer from the Japan Lung Cancer Society and the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology: An Extensive Study Containing More Benign Lesions

Introduction: The Japan Lung Cancer Society (JLCS) and the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology (JSCC) have proposed a new four-tiered cytology reporting system for lung carcinoma (JLCS-JSCC system). Prior to the proposal, the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology (PSC) had proposed a revised reporting system (PSC system), which comprises the “neoplastic, benign neoplasm, and low-grade carcinoma” category (N-B-LG category), in addition to the 4 categories of the JLCS-JSCC system. This study aimed to evaluate the interobserver agreement of the JLCS-JSCC system with an additional dataset with more benign lesions in comparison with the PSC system. Methods: We analyzed 167 cytological samples, which included 17 benign lesions, obtained from the respiratory system. Seven observers classified these cases into each category by reviewing one Papanicolaou-stained slide per case according to the JLCS-JSCC system and PSC system. Results: The interobserver agreement was moderate in the JLCS-JSCC (k = 0.499) and PSC (k = 0.485) systems. Of the 167 samples, 17 samples were benign lesions: 7 pulmonary hamartomas, 5 sclerosing pneumocytomas, 2 squamous papillomas, one solitary fibrous tumor, one meningioma, and one lymphocytic proliferation. There were diverse sample types as follows: 11 touch smears, 3 brushing smears, 2 aspirations, and one sputum sample. Fourteen samples (82.3%) were categorized into “negative” or “atypical” by more than half of the observers in the JLCS-JSCC system. Conversely, 3 samples were categorized as “suspicious” or “malignant” by more than half of the observers in the JLCS-JSCC system. On the other hand, 11 samples (64.7%) were categorized into the N-B-LG category by more than half of the observers in the PSC system. Conclusions: The concordance rate in the JLCS-JSCC system was slightly higher than that in the PSC system; however, the interobserver agreement was moderate in both the JLCS-JSCC and PSC systems. These results indicate that both the JLCS-JSCC and PSC systems are clinically useful. Therefore, both systems are expected to have clinical applications. It may be important to integrate the 2 systems and construct a universal system that can be used more widely in clinical practice

Thymidine catabolism promotes NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling in KB and yumoto cells

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the thymidine catabolic pathway. TP is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and contributes to tumour angiogenesis. TP induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhances the expression of oxidative stress-responsive genes, such as interleukin (IL)-8. However, the mechanism underlying ROS induction by TP remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that TP promotes NADPH oxidase-derived ROS signalling in cancer cells. NADPH oxidase inhibition using apocynin or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) abrogated the induction of IL-8 and ROS in TP-expressing cancer cells. Meanwhile, thymidine catabolism induced by TP increased the levels of NADPH and intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Both siRNA knockdown of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a rate-limiting enzyme in PPP, and a G6PD inhibitor, dihydroepiandrosterone, reduced TP-induced ROS production. siRNA downregulation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate (DR5P) aldolase, which is needed for DR5P to enter glycolysis, also suppressed the induction of NADPH and IL-8 in TP-expressing cells. These results suggested that TP-mediated thymidine catabolism increases the intracellular NADPH level via the PPP, which enhances the production of ROS by NADPH oxidase and activates its downstream signalling

BAG-6 is essential for selective elimination of defective proteasomal substrates

The ubiquitin-like protein BAG-6 protects cells from newly synthesized misfolded proteins by tethering them to the proteasome