In vitro ectomycorrhization of Tricholoma matsutake strains is differentially affected by soil type.

ArticleMycoscience. 59(1): 89-97. (2018)journal articl

Physiological variation among Tricholoma matsutake isolates generated from basidiospores obtained from one basidioma

ArticleMycoscience. 60(2): 102-109. (2019)journal articl

Sibling spore isolates of Tricholoma matsutake vary significantly in their ectomycorrhizal colonization abilities on pine hosts in vitro and form multiple intimate associations in single ectomycorrhizal roots

ArticleFungal Ecology. 43: 100874. (2020)journal articl

Comprehensive Dipeptide Analysis Revealed Cancer-Specific Profile in the Liver of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatitis

As the physical properties and functionality of dipeptides differ from those of amino acids, they have attracted attention in metabolomics; however, their functions in vivo have not been clarified in detail. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, and its major cause is chronic hepatitis. This study was conducted to explore tumor-specific dipeptide characteristics by performing comprehensive dipeptide analysis in the tumor and surrounding nontumor tissue of patients with HCC. Dipeptides were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis tandem mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis using 236 detected dipeptides showed differences in the dipeptide profiles between nontumor and tumor tissues; however, no clear difference was observed in etiological comparison. In addition, the N- and C-terminal amino acid compositions of the detected dipeptides significantly differed, suggesting the substrate specificity of enzyme proteins, such as peptidase. Furthermore, hepatitis-derived HCC may show a characteristic dipeptide profile even before tumor formation. These results provide insight into HCC pathogenesis and may help identify novel biomarkers for diagnosis

New findings on the fungal species Tricholoma matsutake from Ukraine, and revision of its taxonomy and biogeography based on multilocus phylogenetic analyses

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.Matsutake mushrooms are among the best-known edible wild mushroom taxa worldwide. The representative Tricholoma matsutake is from East Asia and the northern and central regions of Europe. Here, we report the existence of T. matsutake under fir trees in Eastern Europe (i.e., Ukraine), as confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of nine loci on the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. All specimens from Japan, Bhutan, China, North Korea, South Korea, Sweden, Finland, and Ukraine formed a T. matsutake clade according to the phylogeny of the internal transcribed spacer region. The European population of T. matsutake was clustered based on the β2 tubulin gene, with a moderate bootstrap value. In contrast, based on analyses of three loci, i.e., rpb2, tef1, and the β2 tubulin gene, T. matsutake specimens sampled from Bhutan and China belonged to a clade independent of the other specimens of this species, implying a genetically isolated population. As biologically available type specimens of T. matsutake have not been designated since its description as a new species from Japan in 1925, we established an epitype of this fungus, sampled in a Pinus densiflora forest in Nagano, Japan.Peer reviewe

The expression of hepatoma upregulated protein in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Aims:Human endometrium resists embryo implantation except during the window period. Currently, uterine HURP expression is known to be involved in endometrial stromal proliferation during embryo implantation of mice. Thus, we demonstrated hepatoma up-regulated protein (HURP) expression in the human endometrium during the menstrual cycle, as well as HURP regulation in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).Materials and methods:We collected human endometrial samples from different menstrual cycle phases (early/late proliferative, and early/mid/late secretory), and then analyzed these samples by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting. We also assessed the effects of two sex-steroid hormones, 17β-estradiol (E2) and 4-pregnene-3,20-dione (P4) on the cultured stromal cells.Results:HURP protein was localized to the nucleus of the endometrial both epithelial and stromal cells in all stages. Also, HURP mRNA and protein in human endometrial tissue was significantly up-regulated during late-proliferative and secretory phase, compared with early-proliferative phase. In ESCs, HURP expression was regulated by E2, but not P4.Conclusions:We indicated that cyclic changes in HURP expression in human normal ESC strongly suggested up-regulation by estrogen. Taken together, since estrogen responses are fundamental in endometrial biology, uterine expression of HURP may be involved in female reproductive function during the menstrual cycle

ハッコウニュウ ガ マウス フンベンチュウ ノ ハツガン カンレン コウソ カッセイ ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

腸管内の有害微生物によって生成される糞便中のアゾレダクターゼ及びニトロレダクターゼは,発癌前駆物質を発癌物質に変換する作用がある.発酵乳の投与がマウス糞便中のこれらの酵素活性に及ぼす影響について調査した.発酵乳は,Lactobacillus gasseri JCM 1130とLactobacillus amylovorus JCM 5811をスターター菌株として1%低脂肪乳に加えて製造した.これら2つの酵素活性はマウスに高蛋白・高脂肪食を与えることにより高くなったが,発酵乳を投与することで非投与群と比較し,有意に低下した.さらに,マウス糞便中の乳酸菌数は,発酵乳の経口投与により増加し,経口投与終了後でも数日間維持された.これら糞便中に供試乳酸菌株が含まれることをRandom amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting(RAPD)法によって確認した.The fecal enzymes originating from the injurious bacteria in the intestinal tract, azoreductase and nitroreductase, convert pro-carcinogens to proximal carcinogens. The effect of fermented milk on the activity of fecal enzymes in mice was studied. The fermented milk was prepared using 1% low-fat milk with the starter of Lactobacillus gasseri JCM 1130 and Lactobacillus amylovorus JCM 5811. Mice were fed with diets containing high contents of protein and fat. When administered fermented milk as Lactobacillus strains supplement, the mice exhibited significantly lower levels of azoreductase and nitroreductase activities in the feces as compared with the levels of their activities in the feces of nontreated mice. The number of viable lactic acid bacteria increased in the mice feces for 5 days after the administration of fermented milk, and the same species of lactic acid bacteria from fermented milk was detected in their feces by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method

Pregnancy outcomes after hysteroscopic surgery in women with cesarean scar syndrome.

Cesarean scar defect often causes postmenstrual abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility, which are collectively known as cesarean scar syndrome (CSS). Several studies have reported that hysteroscopic surgery can restore fertility in women with CSS. The study aimed to identify factors that influence subsequent pregnancy following hysteroscopic surgery. Therefore, we studied 38 women with secondary infertility due to CSS who underwent hysteroscopic surgery at Shiga University of Medical Hospital between July 2014 and July 2019. Our hysteroscopic procedure included inferior edge resection and superficial cauterization of the cesarean scar defect under laparoscopic guidance. Patients were followed up for 3 to 40 months after surgery. Surgery was successful in all cases and no complications were observed. Twenty-seven patients (71%) became pregnant (pregnant group), while 11 (29%) did not (non-pregnant group). Baseline characteristics of age, body mass index, gravidity, parity, previous cesarean section, presence of endometriosis, retroflex uterus, and preoperative residual myometrial thickness were not significantly different between the groups. However, the median residual myometrium thickness was significantly higher after surgery than before surgery in the pregnant group (1.9 [1.1-3.6] vs 4.9 [3.4-6.6] mm, P<0.0001), whereas this difference was not significant in the non-pregnant group. Of those who became pregnant, 85% conceived within 2 years of surgery. Although three pregnancies resulted in abortion and one is ongoing at the time of writing, 23 pregnancies resulted in healthy babies at 35-38 gestational weeks by scheduled cesarean sections with no obstetrical complications due to hysteroscopic surgery. The average birth weight was 3,076 g. Our findings support that hysteroscopic surgery is a safe and effective treatment for secondary infertility due to CSS. The thickness of the residual myometrium may be a key factor that influences subsequent pregnancy in women with CSS

CTが診断契機となったディスジャーミノーマIA期の再発症例

　ディスジャーミノーマの術後経過観察において、腫瘍マーカーや内診による身体診察が推奨される一方、CT検査での全身検索については一定の見解が得られていない。今回、ディスジャーミノーマIA期術後に、CTが診断契機となったディスジャーミノーマIA期の傍大動脈リンパ節への単独再発症例を経験したので報告する。　症例は17歳、未妊。下腹部痛を主訴に来院した。MRIで臍高に達する右卵巣の充実性腫瘍を認めた。血液検査にてLDH、ALP、CA125、β-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-hCG)は高値を示したが、α-fetoprotein(AFP)は正常値であった。ディスジャーミノーマを疑い、右付属器切除および大網切除を施行した。術前のCTおよび腹腔内検索でリンパ節腫大や播種性病変を認めなかったため、リンパ節生検は省略した。術後病理でディスジャーミノーマIA期と診断され、術後化学療法は行わず、1ヵ月間隔で経過観察した。術後いずれの腫瘍マーカーも陰性化し、身体診察でも異常を認めず経過したが、術後6ヵ月で虫垂炎を発症。その際に撮影されたCTで、偶発的に傍大動脈リンパ節腫大を認めた。腹腔鏡下傍大動脈リンパ節摘出および虫垂切除術を施行し、ディスジャーミノーマの傍大動脈リンパ節への遠隔再発と診断された。術後BEP療法を3コース行い、現在再発なく経過している。　リンパ節郭清および術後補助化学療法が省略されたディスジャーミノーマIA期は再発のリスクが高いことを認識し、CT検査を含む厳重な経過観察が必要であることが示唆された。(著者抄録