6 research outputs found

    Dipeptidyl peptidase IV is involved in the cellulose-responsive induction of cellulose biomass-degrading enzyme genes in <i>Aspergillus aculeatus</i>

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    <p>We screened for factors involved in the cellulose-responsive induction of cellulose biomass-degrading enzyme genes from approximately 12,000 <i>Aspergillus aculeatus</i> T-DNA insertion mutants harboring a transcriptional fusion between the FIII-avicelase gene (<i>cbhI</i>) promoter and the orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase gene. Analysis of 5-fluoroorodic acid (5-FOA) sensitivity, cellulose utilization, and <i>cbhI</i> expression of the mutants revealed that a mutant harboring T-DNA at the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (<i>dppIV</i>) locus had acquired 5-FOA resistance and was deficient in cellulose utilization and <i>cbhI</i> expression. The deletion of <i>dppIV</i> resulted in a significant reduction in the cellulose-responsive expression of both <i>cbhI</i> as well as genes controlled by XlnR-independent and XlnR-dependent signaling pathways at an early phase in <i>A. aculeatus</i>. In contrast, the <i>dppIV</i> deletion did not affect the xylose-responsive expression of genes under the control of XlnR. These results demonstrate that DppIV participates in cellulose-responsive induction in <i>A. aculeatus</i>.</p> <p>Dashed lines with arrows indicate putative signaling pathways.</p

    Assessment of Cancer-Related Fatigue, Pain, and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients at Palliative Care Team Referral: A Multicenter Observational Study (JORTC PAL-09)

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    <div><p>Introduction</p><p>Cancer-related fatigue greatly influences quality of life in cancer patients; however, no specific treatments have been established for cancer-related fatigue, and at present, no medication has been approved in Japan. Systematic research using patient-reported outcome to examine symptoms, particularly fatigue, has not been conducted in palliative care settings in Japan. The objective was to evaluate fatigue, pain, and quality of life in cancer patients at the point of intervention by palliative care teams.</p><p>Materials and Methods</p><p>Patients who were referred to palliative care teams at three institutions and met the inclusion criteria were invited to complete the Brief Fatigue Inventory, Brief Pain Inventory, and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 15-Palliative.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of 183 patients recruited, the majority (85.8%) were diagnosed with recurrence or metastasis. The largest group (42.6%) comprised lung cancer patients, of whom 67.2% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0–1. The mean value for global health status/quality of life was 41.4, and the highest mean European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 15-Palliative symptom item score was for pain (51.0). The mean global fatigue score was 4.1, and 9.8%, 30.6%, 38.7%, and 20.8% of patients’ fatigue severity was classified as none (score 0), mild (1–3), moderate (4–6), and severe (7–10), respectively.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>Cancer-related fatigue, considered to occur more frequently in cancer patients, was successfully assessed using patient-reported outcomes with the Brief Fatigue Inventory for the first time in Japan. Results suggested that fatigue is potentially as problematic as pain, which is the main reason for palliative care.</p></div
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