Update on the Keio collection of Escherichia coli single-gene deletion mutants

The Keio collection (Baba et al, 2006) has been established as a set of single‐gene deletion mutants of Escherichia coli K‐12. These mutants have a precisely designed deletion from the second codon from the seventh to the last codon of each predicted ORF. Further information is available at http://sal.cs.purdue.edu:8097/GB7/index.jsp or http://ecoli.naist.jp/. The distribution is now being handled by the National Institute of Genetics of Japan (http://www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/ecoli/pec/index.jsp). To date more than 4 million samples have been distributed worldwide. As we described earlier (Baba et al, 2006), gene amplification during construction is likely to have led to a small number of mutants with genetic duplications

Gestational choriocarcinoma complicated by infective endocarditis during chemotherapy

• Little is known about the history of cancer patients complicated with IE. • It is very important to do the chemotherapy without delay for choriocarcinoma. • We report a case of choriocarcinoma complicated by IE during EMA-CO. • An accurate diagnosis/prompt treatment decisions are important for cancer with IE

Fetal ovarian cyst with prenatal torsion of the pedicle diagnosed in the third trimester: A case report

Ovarian cysts develop rarely in fetuses during pregnancy and usually disappear after birth. However, during pregnancy, torsion and rupture of the cyst can occur and it is necessary to manage such cases. At present, there is no standardized prenatal or neonatal treatment. However, the preservation of ovarian function is an important consideration. Here, we present a case involving a 35-year-old woman who gave birth to an infant with a complicated ovarian cyst, which was resolved through laparoscopic surgery on the third day after birth. The prenatal diagnosis of the fetal ovarian cyst was performed prenatally using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, torsion of the ovarian pedicle was suspected because of dorsal thickening of the cyst wall and fluid formation indicated by high intensity on T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Surgery was complicated due to involvement in the torqued pedicle of the left fallopian tubal fimbria, which was released. The cyst was drained and partially resected, and then the pedicle torsion was released. By four years and five months of follow-up, there had been no ovarian cyst findings on ultrasound or MRI. Larger cysts are more likely to involve torsion of the ovarian pedicle and potential bleeding. Considering that, in this case, the cyst was large and proved to be ischemic–hemorrhagic, the decision to operate seemed justified

Sigmoid Volvulus in Pregnancy Assessed by Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography Scanning

Sigmoid volvulus requires urgent treatment, and it is particularly rare among pregnant women without a history of laparotomy. A delay in diagnosis may lead to serious consequences for the mother and fetus, and a rapid diagnosis and treatment in this setting is essential. The patient was a 19-year-old primiparous woman. She complained of repeated exacerbations and remissions of abrupt lower abdominal pain for the past 2 days and was transported to our hospital at 33 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography revealed no placental thickening, and maternal bowel dilation was difficult to identify. Plain abdominal X-ray showed a dilated colon on the left side of the abdomen. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen revealed a volvulus on the dorsal side of the uterus. The proximal end of the transverse to sigmoid colon was markedly dilated, and the distal end was collapsed. The elevated lactate level on blood gas analysis suggested intestinal ischemia. She was suspected of having a sigmoid volvulus at 33 weeks and 3 days of gestation. We decided to perform a cesarean section to secure the operative field for an intestinal resection following delivery. A male weighing 1840 g with Apgar scores 8/8 was delivered. The sigmoid colon was approximately 80 cm in length. A 360-degree clockwise rotation of was observed with a very distended but viable sigmoid loop. Following reduction of the volvulus, the sigmoid colon was fixed to the left side of the peritoneum. The mother had an uneventful postoperative course, and the infant was discharged without any sequelae. This case demonstrates two important lessons. First, sigmoid volvulus can occur in pregnant women even if they never had a laparotomy. Second, abdominal contrast-enhanced CT is useful for rapid diagnostic and treatment decisions relative to this pathology

A Case of Intrathoracic Gastric Duplication Cyst Detected on Prenatal Ultrasound Examination

A 37-year-old (G4P3) woman was referred to our hospital at 32 weeks of gestation for the evaluation of a fetus with an intrathoracic cystic lesion. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that a fetal cystic lesion without a mucosal layer was located in the posterior mediastinum. These findings were consistent with a bronchogenic cyst. At 38 3/7 weeks of gestation, an elective cesarean section was performed because of her previous cesarean section. A female neonate without any external anomalies, weighing 2,442 g, with Apgar scores of 8 and 9, and requiring no resuscitation was born. Four weeks after delivery, the neonate was admitted because of respiratory distress due to mass effect. At right lateral thoracotomy, a 105 × 65 mm of solitary smooth-walled cyst containing serosanguineous fluid was found in the posterior mediastinum, which was excised completely. Histologic examination revealed the diagnosis of the mediastinal gastric duplication cyst. The neonate made an uneventful recovery. Accurate diagnosis is not necessary, but detection and continuous observation are logical. Although gastric duplication, particularly intrathoracic, is a rare pathology, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any intrathoracic cyst

Concurrent weekly cisplatin versus triweekly cisplatin with radiotherapy for locally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix : a retrospective analysis from a single institution

Objective:To compare patients with cervical cancer who were primarily treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) using 20 mg m^ CDDP for 5 days every 3 weeks with weekly regimens of 40 mg m^. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 185 patients with Stage IB-IVA squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix who were treated with CCRT between 2005 and 2013 at our hospital. The CCRT regimen consisted of cisplatin (CDDP) at 20 mg m^ for 5 days every 3 weeks or 40 mg m^ weekly, administered concomitantly with RT. Results:The median age was 50 years (range: 22-70 years) in the triweekly group and was 50.5 years (range: 28-70 years) in the weekly group. The 5-year overall survival rate in the triweekly and weekly groups were 82.0% and 83.3%, respectively (p = 0.851); their disease-free survival rate was 79.6% and 78.1%, respectively (p = 0.672). In the triweekly group, 56 patients (50.9%) had grade 3/4 leukopenia, which was significantly higher than that of 11 patients (15%) in the weekly group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion:The weekly CDDP regimen for CCRT seems better in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stages IB-IVA squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix. Advances in knowledge: The weekly CDDP regimen for CCRT seems better in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stages IB-IVA squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix