Hymenobacter nivis sp nov., isolated from red snow in Antarctica

A novel aerobic bacterial strain, P3(T), was isolated from a red snow obtained from Antarctica. Cells of strain P3(T) were rod-shaped, non-motile, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive and Gramstain-negative. Growth was observed at temperatures ranging from 0 to 25 degrees C, with optimum growth at 15 degrees C. The pH range for growth was pH 5.3-7.8. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 55.0 mol%. The major components in the fatty acid profile were iso-C-15: 0, summed feature 4 (iso-C-17:1 I and/or anteiso-C-17:1 B), anteiso-C-15:0 and summed feature 3 (isoC(16:1)omega 7c and/or iso-C(16:1 omega)6c). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the novel isolate was a member of the genus Hymenobacter, and the strain showed highest sequence similarity (94 %) with Hymenpbacter glaciei VUG-A130(T), Hymenobacter soli PB17(T) and Hymenobacter antarcticus VUG-A42aa(T). On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic properties strain P3(T) represents a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter (for which the name Hymenobacter nivis sp. nov. is proposed. The types strain is P3(T) (= DSM 101755(T) = NBRC 111535(T))

Dopaminergic stimulation up-regulates the in vivo expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the striatum

AbstractWe investigated the effect of dopamine on the in vivo expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the striatum of mouse. BDNF mRNA expression in the striation, which was Quantified with the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, was up-repulated from 2 h after oral administration of levodopa, a precursor of dopamine. The increase was sustained for 16 h. Co-administrstion of haloperidol partially inhibited dopamine-induced BDNF enhancement. These data suggest that dopaminergic stimulation directly promotes the expression of BDNF in the striatum in vivo

Boundary Scattering in Ballistic Graphene

We report magnetotransport measurements in ballistic graphene/hexagonal boron nitride mesoscopic wires where the charge carrier mean free path is comparable to wire width $W$. Magnetoresistance curves show characteristic peak structures where the peak field scales with the ratio of cyclotron radius $R_\textrm{c}$ and wire width $W$ as $W/R_\textrm{c} = 0.9 \pm 0.1$, due to diffusive boundary scattering. The obtained proportionality constant between $R_\textrm{c}$ and $W$ differs from that of a classical semiconductor 2D electron system where $W/R_\textrm{c} = 0.55$.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

KEGG for taxonomy-based analysis of pathways and genomes

KEGG (https://www.kegg.jp) is a manually curated database resource integrating various biological objects categorized into systems, genomic, chemical and health information. Each object (database entry) is identified by the KEGG identifier (kid), which generally takes the form of a prefix followed by a five-digit number, and can be retrieved by appending /entry/kid in the URL. The KEGG pathway map viewer, the Brite hierarchy viewer and the newly released KEGG genome browser can be launched by appending /pathway/kid, /brite/kid and /genome/kid, respectively, in the URL. Together with an improved annotation procedure for KO (KEGG Orthology) assignment, an increasing number of eukaryotic genomes have been included in KEGG for better representation of organisms in the taxonomic tree. Multiple taxonomy files are generated for classification of KEGG organisms and viruses, and the Brite hierarchy viewer is used for taxonomy mapping, a variant of Brite mapping in the new KEGG Mapper suite. The taxonomy mapping enables analysis of, for example, how functional links of genes in the pathway and physical links of genes on the chromosome are conserved among organism groups

Ketone Bodies in the Fetus and Newborn During Gestational Diabetes and Normal Delivery

Background: Authors successfully treated gestational diabetes by a very low carbohydrate diet without insulin and other drugs. Increased ketone bodies seemed to play an essential role in energy metabolism, and the fetus and newborn also showed hyperketosis. It is necessary to clarify how much ketone bodies were present in the placenta and umbilical cord in the fetus and newborn and the pregnant mother with or without gestational diabetes. Subjects and Methods: All cases were patients of Muneta OB/GYN Clinic in Chiba, where about 700 deliveries were done every year, 90% normal and 10% gestational diabetic. Blood of 313 mothers and babies at health check-up postpartum, 192 samples of placenta and cord blood at the delivery, and 122 cases were obtained at the time of miscarriage. Abbott's kit measured βHB, and 101 samples obtained at the post partem health check-up were biochemically analyzed for both βHB and glucose. The IBM-SPSS did the statistical analysis. Results: βHB in Mothers' and newborns' blood at four days postpartum was 0.062 and 0.244 mmole/L (median), respectively, and glucose was 4.55±0.81 mmole/L. βHB was high throughout the pregnancy; In the placenta, βHB in the first-, second-and-third trimester was 1.95±0.9 mmole/L, 2.82±0.49 mmole/L, 1.87±0,65 mM/L, respectively. In the cord blood, it was 2.3±1.13 mmole/L, 1.36±0.76 mmole/L, and 0.69±0.6 mmole/L, respectively. Placental βHB at the delivery was 1.99±0.78 mmole/L, and that of the umbilical cord was 0.75±0.36 mmole/L. In the first trimester miscarriage, βHB in spontaneous abortion was 1.84±0.85 mmole/L, while it was 2.09±0.94 mmole/L in artificial abortion. Aborted cases in the second trimester showed 1.96±0.38 mmole/L βHB and 3.74±0.75 mmole/L glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid. Discussion: Our data showed βHB and glucose concentration in the human fetus and newborn under the normal physiological condition. βHB was present in the placenta and umbilical cord blood throughout fetal life and after birth. Different concentrations between the placenta and umbilical cord blood suggested the fetus's uptake for energy and intrauterine growth. High βHB in the cerebrospinal fluid suggested the effects on neuronal development

Retroperitoneal lymphatic malformation causing scrotal swelling– a useful diagnostic work-up with two-phase MRI to differentiate from scrotal lymphatic malformation or abdomino-scrotal hydrocele

Background: Lymphatic malformation (LM) is an abnormal collection of lymphatic fluid within cysts or channels. LM can occur in any part of the body, but LM leading to scrotal swelling is very rare, and this unusual location often leads to diagnostic errors because the most common cause of a scrotal cystic lesion is a hydrocele. In the case presented here, a previously healthy 3-year-old boy recently developed a left scrotal swelling clinically mimicking a communicating hydrocele. However, a diagnostic laparoscopy showed a cystic lesion at the left internal inguinal ring with a closed internal inguinal ring, which is not an expected finding of communicating hydrocele. Differential diagnoses at surgery were scrotal LM, retroperitoneal LM, or abdomino-scrotal hydrocele (ASH). Two phase MRI performed both at the time of scrotal swelling and scrotal non-swelling showed a retroperitoneal LM bulging into the scrotum via the inguinal canal. Therefore, the retroperitoneal LM was completely resected using the inguinal approach. Conclusion: LM causing scrotal cystic lesion is rare, and it requires a high index of suspicion to make the correct diagnosis. Laparoscopy was needed to rule out the communicating hydrocele, and two-phase MRI was very useful to differentiate retroperitoneal LM causing scrotal swelling from scrotal LM or ASH. Both examinations helped with diagnosis and treatment planning.Chizue Ichijo, Shohei Takami, Kan Suzuki, Jun Fujishiro, Miho Watanabe, Retroperitoneal lymphatic malformation causing scrotal swelling– a useful diagnostic work-up with two-phase MRI to differentiate from scrotal lymphatic malformation or abdomino-scrotal hydrocele, Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports, Volume 64, 2021, 101701, ISSN 2213-5766, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2020.101701

Successful Treatment of Fetal Intraperitoneal Administration of Immunoglobulin in a Case of Fetal Hemolytic Anemia with 131,072-Fold Anti-E Alloimmunization

Object. We present here the case of severe fetal anemia caused by anti-E antibody positive, which showed a favorable course only with fetal intraperitoneal administration of immunoglobulin. Case. The mother was 31 years old, blood type B Rh : CCDee, gravida 1, with no history of transfusion. Anti-E antibody was detected in the maternal cross-match test at the 18th gestational week. In percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, the umbilical blood hemoglobin level was 9.1 g/dL and the result of the direct Coombs' test was positive at the 26th gestational week. Immunoglobulin injection into fetal abdominal cavity (IFAC) was administered a total 7 times. During the pregnancy, the indirect Coombs' test showed a 131,072-fold increase. Conclusion. In this case, IFAC to block the reticuloendothelial system Fc receptor was successful. This procedure is promising as one of the treatment options for blood group incompatible pregnancy

Breast cancer patients’ perceptions of appeasement and care needs

The purpose of this study was to clarify breast cancer patients’ perceptions of appearance and support. An anonymous self-administered survey was performed on 100 female breast cancer outpatients at five facilities in Tottori Prefecture. The survey included: 1） painfulness from the change in appearance, 2） impact on continuing treatment, work, and personal relationships, 3） need for coping and care, 4） readiness for coping and care, and 5） desire for information about coping and care. The results showed that most of the subjects recognized that the change in appearance was unavoidable. On the other hand, they also recognized that the way other people looked at them was the most painful thing and affected their relationships; they needed coping skills and care. Therefore, they wanted to be informed and prepared from the time the treatment plan was decided. Friends and acquaintances were not the target of their expectations as informants, and they expected nurses to play that role. Nurses are expected to play a role as supporters to help breast cancer patients rebuild their sense of self-worth and lead a peaceful life