エタノール資化性酵母の検索とその培養条件(エタノール資化性酵母に関する研究(第1報),自然科学編)

同定株112株,未同定分離株105株合計217株の酵母を供試菌とし,エタノールを炭素源とする合成培地を用いてエタノール資化性酵母の検索を行なった。エタノール資化性の高い菌株として,Pichia membranaefaciens No.304, Pichia sake form. αNo.101, Pocjoa farinosa No.115, Pichia farinosa No.121, Candida rugosa LKB6111, Yeast No.62-72の6菌株を選択した。これら6菌株の酵母増殖におよぼす窒素源,天然栄養源などの影響を検討した。天然栄養源としては、一般にCorn steep liquorがよく,Candida rugosa, Yeast No.62-72では肉エキスの添加効果もすぐれていた。Corn steep liquorの添加適量は菌株によって異なり0.1%～0.2%であった。エタノール濃度は2～6%でよく増殖したが,8%では生育が阻害され,10%ではほとんど生育は認められなかった。尿素・硫酸アンモニウム混合窒素源を用いてエタノール培地で培養を行なった結果,P. sake form.αは硫酸アンモニウム5%混用で,また,P.membranaefaciens, Candida rugosaおよびYeast No.62-72は硫酸アンモニウム10%混用でpHの上昇が抑制され,雑菌の汚染防止に役立つと考えられた。しかし,Yeast No.67-72以外の酵母菌株では硫酸アンモニウムの混用により,酵母の増殖を低下させる傾向があった。エタノールに対する酵母菌体収率は,エタノール1%培地ではPichia membrancefaciensが73.8%で最も高く,エタノール2%および4%培地ではYeast No.62-72がそれぞれ69.5%, 63.3%,またエタノール6%培地ではPichia farinosa No.115が56.4%で,いずれも良好な結果をえた。Six yeast strains, Pichia membranaefaciens No.304, Pichia sake form. α No.101, Pichia farinosa No.115, Pichia farinosa No.121, Candida rugosa LKB 6111 and yeast No.62-72, utilizing ethanol as a carbon source were selected from 217 strains of yeast (identified 112 strains, unidentified 105 strains). These selected strains showed a good growth on the medium containing 2～6 per cent ethanol, 0.1～0.2 per cent urea and 0.1 per cent corn steep liquor. The growth, however, decreased at a concentration of 8 per cent, and was inhibited at a concentration of 10 per cent of added ethanol. The growth characteristics of the selected six ethanol-assimilating yeast strains were investigated in shaking culture on the ethanol medium containing urea and ammonium sulphate at various proportions. By the addition of 5～20 per cent ammonium sulphate to urea as nitrogen, the growth of these yeasts, except yeast No.62-72 strain, decreased with the increase of ammonium sulphate concentration. However, the rise of pH was decreased during cultivation and it is shown that the depression of pH protects the culture from bacterial contamination. Optimal concentration of corn steep liquor as a natural nutrient for yeast growth was between 0.1～0.2 per cent, differing among the strain. Cell yield from ethanol supplied to the medium reached 73.8 per cent on 1 per cent ethanol medium for Pichia membranaefaciens No.304

Effects of Multilevel Facetectomy and Screw Density on Postoperative Changes in Spinal Rod Contour in Thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery

Flattening of the preimplantation rod contour in the sagittal plane influences thoracic kyphosis (TK) restoration in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery. The effects of multilevel facetectomy and screw density on postoperative changes in spinal rod contour have not been documented. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of multilevel facetectomy and screw density on changes in spinal rod contour from before implantation to after surgical correction of thoracic curves in patients with AIS prospectively. The concave and convex rod shapes from patients with thoracic AIS (n = 49) were traced prior to insertion. Postoperative sagittal rod shape was determined by computed tomography. The angle of intersection of the tangents to the rod end points was measured. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to identify variables independently predictive of change in rod contour (Δθ). Average Δθ at the concave and convex side were 13.6° ± 7.5° and 4.3° ± 4.8°, respectively. The Δθ at the concave side was significantly greater than that of the convex side (P < 0.0001) and significantly correlated with Risser sign (P = 0.032), the preoperative main thoracic Cobb angle (P = 0.031), the preoperative TK angle (P = 0.012), and the number of facetectomy levels (P = 0.007). Furthermore, a Δθ at the concave side ≥14° significantly correlated with the postoperative TK angle (P = 0.003), the number of facetectomy levels (P = 0.021), and screw density at the concave side (P = 0.008). Rod deformation at the concave side suggests that corrective forces acting on that side are greater than on the convex side. Multilevel facetectomy and/or screw density at the concave side have positive effects on reducing the rod deformation that can lead to a loss of TK angle postoperatively

Classification of Adult Spinal Deformity: Review of Current Concepts and Future Directions

Although adult spinal deformity (ASD) has become a global health problem, the classification system and optimal surgical treatment for ASD is yet to be standardized worldwide. A significant part of the population, as high as 10%, in industrialized societies will be aged above 65 years within the next 10 years. Herein, a systematic review of the scientific literature related to the classification and treatment of ASD was conducted wherein historical to the most recent classifications of ASD were reviewed. By discussing the benefits and limitations of the previous classification systems and considering the factors affecting the clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of ASD, this article would like to propose future directions for the development of a new classification system for ASD

Correlation analysis between rod deformation and variable in patients with rod deformation ≥14 ° at the concave side.

<p>Correlation analysis between rod deformation and variable in patients with rod deformation ≥14 ° at the concave side.</p

Rod angle before and after implantation.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Prior to implantation, the surgeon traced the rod shapes on paper. The angle between the proximal and distal tangential line was measured (θ1). (<b>B</b>) Postoperative implant rod geometry (θ2) was obtained after the surgical operation using computed tomography.</p

Associations between various factors and rod deformation at the concave side (°) using multiple stepwise linear regression analysis.

<p>Associations between various factors and rod deformation at the concave side (°) using multiple stepwise linear regression analysis.</p

Implant rod angle of curvature at the concave and convex sides of the deformity.

<p>(<b>A</b>) θ1 and θ2 at the concave side of each patients. (<b>B</b>) θ1 and θ2 at the convex side of each patients. (<b>C</b>) Comparison between θ1 and θ2 at the concave side. (<b>D</b>) Comparison between θ1 and θ2 at the convex side. (<b>E</b>) Comparison between Δθ at the concave side and Δθ at the convex side.</p

Pharmacotherapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Performance Status 2 without Druggable Gene Alterations: Could Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Be a Game Changer?

Most pivotal clinical trials in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have excluded patients with poor performance status (PS), and data on the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy have not been fully accumulated. For NSCLC patients with PS 2 and without druggable genetic alterations, monotherapy with cytotoxic agents or carboplatin-based combination therapy is usually administered based on the results of several randomized trials. However, the evidence of cytotoxic chemotherapy for patients with PS 2 is insufficient, with limited efficacy and toxicity concerns. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a promising treatment for patients with PS 2 because of lower incidence of severe toxicity compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Meanwhile, several reports suggest that anti-PD-1 antibodies monotherapy is less effective for patients with PS 2, especially for those with PS 2 caused by disease burden. Although the combination therapy of nivolumab and ipilimumab is a promising treatment option, there is a divergence in efficacy data between clinical trials. The standard of care for advanced NSCLC with PS 2 has not been established, and future therapeutic strategies should take into account the heterogeneity of the PS 2 population