Outer Membrane Vesicles of Helicobacter pylori TK1402 are Involved in Biofilm Formation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Helicobacter pylori </it>forms biofilms on glass surfaces at the air-liquid interface in <it>in vitro </it>batch cultures; however, biofilms of <it>H. pylori </it>have not been well characterized. In the present study, we analyzed the ability of <it>H. pylori </it>strains to form biofilms and characterized the underlying mechanisms of <it>H. pylori </it>biofilm formation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Strain TK1402 showed strong biofilm forming ability relative to the other strains in Brucella broth supplemented with 7% FCS. The strong biofilm forming ability of TK1402 is reflected the relative thickness of the biofilms. In addition, outer membrane vesicles (OMV) were detected within the matrix of only the TK1402 biofilms. Biofilm formation was strongly correlated with the production of OMV in this strain. We further observed that strain TK1402 did not form thick biofilms in Brucella broth supplemented with 0.2% β-cyclodextrin. However, the addition of the OMV-fraction collected from TK1402 could enhance biofilm formation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggested that OMV produced from TK1402 play an important role in biofilm formation in strain TK1402.</p

Validation Study of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Histologic Grading System of Invasive Lung Adenocarcinoma

[Introduction] A histologic grading system for invasive lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) has been proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Pathology Committee in June 2020. This study evaluated the prognostic value of the IASLC histologic grading system (the IASLC system) in a large Japanese cohort. [Methods] We performed comprehensive histologic subtyping using the semiquantitative estimation of five major patterns and complex glandular patterns in patients with a completely resected lung ADC and determined the histologic grade using the IASLC system. Concordance index and receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the clinical utility of the IASLC system for recurrence and death; the comparison was performed with the architectural-pattern system (the Arch system) and the grading system on the basis of the two most predominant patterns (the Sica’s system). [Results] Of 1002 patients with invasive ADC, 235 had recurrent disease and 166 died of lung cancer. The concordance index and area under the curve of the IASLC system were 0.777 and 0.807 for recurrence and 0.767 and 0.776 for death, respectively. These were similar to those of the Arch system (0.763 and 0.796 for recurrence, 0.743 and 0.755 for death) and the Sica’s system (0.786 and 0.814 for recurrence, 0.762 and 0.773 for death). [Conclusions] We reported that the IASLC system for invasive lung ADC has prognostic significance by evaluating a large Japanese cohort. We believe that the IASLC grading system will provide physicians with better information for postsurgery treatment

Diagnostic Value of DCE-MRI for Differentiating Malignant Adnexal Masses Compared with Contrast-enhanced-T1WI

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of dynamic contrast-enhanced-MR (DCE-MR) and delayed contrast-enhanced (CE)-MRI added to unenhanced MRI, including diffusion weighted image (DWI) for differentiating malignant adnexal tumors, conducting a retrospective blinded image interpretation study. Methods: Data of 80 patients suspected of having adnexal tumors by ultrasonography between April 2008 and August 2018 were used for the study. All patients had undergone preoperative MRI and surgical resection at our institution. Four radiologists (two specialized in gynecological radiology and two non-specialized) were enrolled for blinded review of the MR images. A 3-point scale was used: 0 = benign, 1 = indeterminate, and 2 = malignant. Three imaging sets were reviewed: Set A, unenhanced MRI including DWI; Set B, Set A and delayed CE-T1WI; and Set C, Set A and DCE-MRI. Imaging criteria for benign and malignant tumors were given in earlier reports. The diagnostic performance of the three imaging sets of the four readers was calculated. Their areas under the curve (AUCs) were compared using the DeLong method. Results: Accuracies of Set B were 81%–88%. Those of Set C were 81%–85%. The AUCs of Set B were 0.83 and 0.89. Those of Set C were 0.81–0.86. For two readers, Set A showed lower accuracy and AUC than Set B/Set C (less than 0.80), although those were equivalent in other readers. No significant difference in AUCs was found among the three sequence sets. Intrareader agreement was moderate to almost perfect in Sets A and B, and substantial to almost perfect in Set C. Conclusion: DCE-MR showed no superiority for differentiating malignant adnexal tumors from benign tumors compared to delayed CE-T1WI with conventional MR and DWI

Establishment of an Endogenous Clostridium difficile Rat Infection Model and Evaluation of the Effects of Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 Probiotic Strain

Clostridium difficile is well known as an agent responsible for pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The hamster model utilizing an oral route for infection of C. difficile has been considered to be the standard model for analysis of C. difficile infection (CDI) but this model exhibits differences to human CDI, most notably as most hamsters die without exhibiting diarrhea. Therefore, we attempted to develop a new non-lethal and diarrheal rat CDI model caused by endogenous C. difficile using metronidazole (MNZ) and egg white. In addition, the effects of probiotic strain Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM) on CDI were examined using this model. Syrian Golden hamsters received clindamycin phosphate orally at 30 mg/kg on 5 days before challenge with either C. difficile VPI10463 (hypertoxigenic strain) or KY34 (low toxigenic clinical isolate). Mortality and the presence of diarrhea were observed twice a day for the duration of the experiment. Wistar rats received 10% egg white dissolved in drinking water for 1 week ad libitum following intramuscular administration of 200 mg/kg MNZ twice a day for 3 days. Diarrhea score was determined for each day and fecal water content, biotin concentration, and cytotoxin titer in feces were examined. More than 70% of hamsters orally infected with C. difficile died without exhibiting diarrhea regardless of toxigenicity of strain. The rats receiving egg white after MNZ administration developed diarrhea due to overgrowth of endogenous C. difficile. This CDI model is non-lethal and diarrheal, and some rats in this model were spontaneously cured. The incidence of diarrhea was significantly decreased in C. butyricum treated rats. These results indicate that the CDI model using egg white and MNZ has potentially better similarity to human CDI, and implies that treatment with C. butyricum may reduce the risk of CDI

In vitro expansion of CD34+CD38- cells under stimulation with hematopoietic growth factors on AGM-S3 cells in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

advance online publication, August 8, 2014 [Epub ahead of print]ArticleLEUKEMIA. 29(3):606-614 (2015)journal articl

Changes after forefoot surgery in RA

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in foot function, disease activity, and disability in patients with RA after resection arthroplasty of the forefoot (arthroplasty). Arthroplasty was performed on 11 patients with RA. All study patients underwent clinical assessment to measure disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints-C-reactive protein, DAS28-CRP), disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire- Disability Index, HAQ-DI) and foot function (Foot Function Index, FFI) at the following stages : preoperatively and 1, 3, and 12 months after surgery. Following arthroplasty, foot function improved significantly, as assessed by FFI total and subscales (pain, disability, and limitation of activity) (P<0.001, P <0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.002, respectively). Disease activity was significantly improved in relation to DAS28-CRP and its subscales of number of swollen joints and patient global assessment (PtGA) (P=0.033, P=0.008, and P=0.038, respectively). There was no significant difference in disability, as assessed by the HAQ-DI and its subscale, HAQ-walking (P=0.150 and P=0.597, respectively). Foot function improved significantly after arthroplasty, and was maintained at 12 months postoperatively. Additionally, our study showed that disease activity and its subscale PtGA improved after arthroplasty

The effects of heat stress on morphological properties and intracellular signaling of denervated and intact soleus muscles in rats

The effects of heat stress on the morphological properties and intracellular signaling of innervated and denervated soleus muscles were investigated. Heat stress was applied to rats by immersing their hindlimbs in a warm water bath (42°C, 30 min/day, every other day following unilateral denervation) under anesthesia. During 14 days of experimental period, heat stress for a total of seven times promoted growth‐related hypertrophy in sham‐operated muscles and attenuated atrophy in denervated muscles. In denervated muscles, the transcription of ubiquitin ligase, atrogin‐1/muscle atrophy F‐box (Atrogin‐1), and muscle RING‐finger protein‐1 (MuRF‐1), genes was upregulated and ubiquitination of proteins was also increased. Intermittent heat stress inhibited the upregulation of Atrogin‐1, but not MuRF‐1 transcription. And the denervation‐caused reduction in phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt), 70‐kDa heat‐shock protein (HSP70), and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), which are negative regulators of Atrogin‐1 and MuRF‐1 transcription, was mitigated. In sham‐operated muscles, repeated application of heat stress did not affect Atrogin‐1 and MuRF‐1 transcription, but increased the level of phosphorylated Akt and HSP70, but not PGC‐1α. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of Akt and ribosomal protein S6, which is known to stimulate protein synthesis, was increased immediately after a single heat stress particularly in the sham‐operated muscles. The effect of a heat stress was suppressed in denervated muscles. These results indicated that the beneficial effects of heat stress on the morphological properties of muscles were brought regardless of innervation. However, the responses of intracellular signaling to heat stress were distinct between the innervated and denervated muscles

Meta-analysis of the efficacies of amiodarone and nifekalant in shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia

Amiodarone (AMD) and nifekalant (NIF) are used in the treatment of ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia; however, only few studies have been conducted on their efficacies. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted. Relevant sources were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi. The outcomes were short-term and long-term survival in patients with shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation /pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Thirty-three studies were analysed. The results showed that, compared to the control treatment, AMD did not improve short-term survival (odds ratio (OR): 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91–1.71) or long-term survival (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.63–1.57). However, compared to the control treatment, NIF significantly improved short-term survival (OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 2.21–4.72) and long-term survival (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.36–2.59). No significant difference was observed in short-term survival (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.63–1.15) or long-term survival (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.67–2.31) between AMD- and NIF-treated patients. The results suggest that NIF is beneficial for short-term and long-term survival in shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia; however, the efficacy of AMD in either outcome is not clear

Meta-analysis of the efficacies of amiodarone and nifekalant in shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia

Amiodarone (AMD) and nifekalant (NIF) are used in the treatment of ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia; however, only few studies have been conducted on their efficacies. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted. Relevant sources were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi. The outcomes were short-term and long-term survival in patients with shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation /pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Thirty-three studies were analysed. The results showed that, compared to the control treatment, AMD did not improve short-term survival (odds ratio (OR): 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91–1.71) or long-term survival (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.63–1.57). However, compared to the control treatment, NIF significantly improved short-term survival (OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 2.21–4.72) and long-term survival (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.36–2.59). No significant difference was observed in short-term survival (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.63–1.15) or long-term survival (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.67–2.31) between AMD- and NIF-treated patients. The results suggest that NIF is beneficial for short-term and long-term survival in shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia; however, the efficacy of AMD in either outcome is not clear