Preliminary Analysis of Yeast Communities Associated with the Spontaneous Fermentation of Musalais, a Traditional Alcoholic Beverage of Southern Xinjiang, China

Musalais is a traditional alcoholic beverage made by the Uighur people in southern Xinjiang, China. Theinitial fermentation juice is obtained by prolonged boiling of local grape juice and grape residues. In thecurrent study, 242 yeast isolates were obtained from 18 samples (grapes, derived starting products, andprogressive stages of fermentation), and 20 phenotypes were distinguished, based on colony characteristicson WL nutrient agar. Fifty representative isolates were selected and found to belong to eight genera (basedon rRNA gene sequence analysis). Among the non-Saccharomyces species present on the grapes and relatedderived substrates, Hanseniaspora spp. was the dominant species. However, nearly all of these specieswere absent in early fermentation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was not found until the onset of spontaneousfermentation and quickly became the dominant species. The identified yeast community could be used tofurther develop indigenous yeast strains to serve the traditional technology of Musalais. The productionof Musalais, from a starting substrate that has been boiled for 15 hours to kill all, or nearly all, yeast cells,provides fresh insights into the production of ethanol by the fermentation of grape juice

Efficacy and tolerability of lenalidomide (LEN) in patients (pts) 75 and older versus those younger than 75 with RBC transfusion-dependent low/int-1-risk MDS and del 5q

6522 Background: LEN is the approved treatment for pts with RBC transfusion-dependent Low/Int-1-risk MDS and del 5q. In 2 multicenter trials (MDS-003/-004) LEN lead to RBC transfusion independence (TI) for ≥ 26 wks in 35–58% of pts and cytogenetic response (CyR) in 25–73%. Most common grade (G) 3–4 adverse events (AE) were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, a safety concern in elderly pts. We evaluated efficacy and tolerability of LEN in pts ≥ 75 y vs < 75 y in MDS-003/-004 trials. Methods: Pts received LEN 5 mg × 28 d, 10 mg × 21 d, or 10 mg × 28 d (all 28 d cycles). Dose reductions were required for G4 neutropenia (both trials) and platelet counts < 30 x 10 9 /L (MDS-003) or < 25 x 10 9 /L (MDS-004). Results: 32% of the 286 pts were ≥ 75 y. Baseline (BL) characteristics, LEN treatment, and optional G-CSF use are shown in Table. In pts ≥ 75 y vs 1 x 10 9 /L was 0.7 vs 0.7 mo (P = NS) and to platelet counts > 100 x 10 9 /L was 3.3 vs 1.7 mo (P = NS). 59% pts ≥ 75 y and 49% pts < 75 y discontinued LEN due to AE (33 vs 26%; P = NS), lack of effect (32 vs 49%; P = NS), or death (15 vs 6%; P = NS). Dose reduction and discontinuation rates are shown in Table. Conclusions: Pts ≥ 75 y and < 75 y had comparable response and AML progression rates. In pts ≥ 75 y, LEN appears to be well tolerated but the higher infection rate justifies close follow-up. [Table: see text