Normal chemotactic activity of granulocytes obtained by filtration leucapheresis

The chemotactic activity of granulocytes obtained by the Terumo Filtration Leucapheresis System (F.L.) was examined by the method of Boyden's chamber. The number of cells migrating through the Millipore filter was expressed as the chemotactic activity. The mean values were 117 for the F.L. and 122 in a control, in which cells were collected from the same donor blood using dextran sedimentation. The results suggested that the in vitro chemotactic function of granulocytes obtained by F.L. was within normal limits.</p

For Vol. 72, No.1 pp17-22 Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients with Residual Poliomyelitis at a Mean Eight Years of Follow-up

In the article by Sonekatsu M et al. entitled “Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients with Residual Poliomyelitis at a Mean Eight Years of Follow-up”, which appeared in the February 2018 issue, Vol.72, No.1, pp17-22, following corrections should be listed. Editorial Office sincerely apologizes for making mistakes in the previous galley proof, therefore republish a corrected version

Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients with Residual Poliomyelitis at a Mean Eight Years of Follow-up

In patients with poliomyelitis, degenerative arthritis of the hip may be encountered in the paralytic or normal contralateral limb because of leg length discrepancy, pelvic obliquity, or severe deformities of the affected hip. Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most common orthopedic procedures, there are few reports of THA in adult patients with residual poliomyelitis. From March 2001 to January 2011, 5 patients with residual poliomyelitis (6 hips) underwent THA using uncemented implants at our hospital. We retrospectively evaluated the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) hip rating score, complications, and radiographs. All five patients’ follow-up information was available: 4.5 years minimum, 8.4 years average, range 4.5-15 years. Surgery was done at the same side of the paralytic limb in 2 hips and contralateral to the paralytic limb in four hips. All patients had pain relief and improvement in function; JOA hip rating score improved significantly from the mean of 45 preoperatively to 78 at the last follow-up (p=0.0313). There was no loosening or osteolysis in this series, and no cases of dislocation, infection or nerve palsy. These findings can contribute to decisions regarding treatment for arthritic hips in adults with residual poliomyelitis

Quantification and Genetic Analysis of Salivirus/Klassevirus in Wastewater in Arizona, USA

Salivirus/klassevirus sequences were identified in 7 (15 %) wastewater samples collected in Arizona monthly for a year, with the highest concentration of 2.28 × 105 and 2.46 × 104 copies/L in influent and effluent, respectively. This is the first report of quantification and genetic analysis of salivirus/klassevirus in water samples in the United States.International Fulbright Science & Technology AwardJapan Society for the Promotion of Science (Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad (FY 2011 no. 517)))National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Water and Environmental Technology (WET) Center, University of Arizona

Microbial abundance and community composition in biofilms on in-pipe sensors in a drinking water distribution system

Collecting biofilm samples from drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) is challenging due to limited access to the pipes during regular operations. We report here the analysis of microbial communities in biofilm and water samples collected from sensors installed in a DWDS where monochloramine is used as a residual disinfectant. A total of 52 biofilm samples and 14 bulk water samples were collected from 17 pipe sections representing different water ages. Prokaryotic genome copies (bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes, Mycobacterium spp., ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and cyanobacteria) were quantified with droplet digital PCR, which revealed the abundance of these genes in both biofilm and water samples. Prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis was carried out for a subset of the samples (12 samples from four sites). Mycobacterium and AOB species were dominant in the DWDS sections with low water age and sufficient residual monochloramine, whereas Nitrospira species (nitrite-oxidizing bacteria) dominated in the sections with higher water age and depleted monochloramine level, suggesting the occurrence of nitrification in the studied DWDS. The present study provides novel information on the abundance and identity of prokaryotes in biofilms and water in a full-scale operational DWDS.Collecting biofilm samples from drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) is challenging due to limited access to the pipes during regular operations. We report here the analysis of microbial communities in biofilm and water samples collected from sensors installed in a DWDS where monochloramine is used as a residual disinfectant. A total of 52 biofilm samples and 14 bulk water samples were collected from 17 pipe sections representing different water ages. Prokaryotic genome copies (bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes, Mycobacterium spp., ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and cyanobacteria) were quantified with droplet digital PCR, which revealed the abundance of these genes in both biofilm and water samples. Prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis was carried out for a subset of the samples (12 samples from four sites). Mycobacterium and AOB species were dominant in the DWDS sections with low water age and sufficient residual monochloramine, whereas Nitrospira species (nitrite-oxidizing bacteria) dominated in the sections with higher water age and depleted monochloramine level, suggesting the occurrence of nitrification in the studied DWDS. The present study provides novel information on the abundance and identity of prokaryotes in biofilms and water in a full-scale operational DWDSFil: Kitajima, Masaaki. Hokkaido University; Japón. Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology; SingapurFil: Cruz, Mercedes Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; Argentina. Nanyang Technological University; SingapurFil: Williams, Rohan Benjamin Hugh. National University of Singapore; SingapurFil: Wuertz, Stefan. National University of Singapore; Singapur. Nanyang Technological University; SingapurFil: Whittle, Andrew J.. Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology; Singapur. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Estados Unido

Aur-A Stabilization in Cancer

Background. The serine/threonine kinase Aurora-A (Aur-A) is a proto-oncoprotein overexpressed in a wide range of human cancers. Overexpression of Aur-A is thought to be caused by gene amplification or mRNA overexpression. However, recent evidence revealed that the discrepancies between amplification of Aur-A and overexpression rates of Aur-A mRNA were observed in breast cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and ovarian cancer. We found that aggressive head and neck cancers exhibited overexpression and stabilization of Aur-A protein without gene amplification or mRNA overexpression. Here we tested the hypothesis that aberration of the protein destruction system induces accumulation and consequently overexpression of Aur-A in cancer. Principal Findings. Aur-A protein was ubiquitinylated by APCCdh1 and consequently degraded when cells exited mitosis, and phosphorylation of Aur-A on Ser51 was observed during mitosis. Phosphorylation of Aur-A on Ser51 inhibited its APCCdh1-mediated ubiquitylation and consequent degradation. Interestingly, constitutive phosphorylation on Ser51 was observed in head and neck cancer cells with protein overexpression and stabilization. Indeed, phosphorylation on Ser51 was observed in head and neck cancer tissues with Aur-A protein overexpression. Moreover, an Aur-A Ser51 phospho-mimetic mutant displayed stabilization of protein during cell cycle progression and enhanced ability to cell transformation. Conclusions/Significance. Broadly, this study identifies a new mode of Aur-A overexpression in cancer through phosphorylation-dependent inhibition of its proteolysis in addition to gene amplification and mRNA overexpression. We suggest that the inhibition of Aur-A phosphorylation can represent a novel way to decrease Aur-A levels in cancer therapy

Reduction of Arcobacter at Two Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plants in Southern Arizona, USA

This study aimed to identify the bacterial community in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and to determine the occurrence and reduction of Arcobacter, along with virulence genes (ciaB and pldA). A total of 48 samples (24 influent and 24 effluent) were collected at two WWTPs in southern Arizona in the United States, monthly from August 2011 to July 2012. Bacterial DNA extract was utilized for 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing. Quantification of Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene was conducted using a recently developed SYBR Green-based quantitative PCR assay. Among 847 genera identified, 113 (13%) were identified as potentially pathogenic bacteria. Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene was detected in all influent samples and ten (83%) and nine (75%) effluent samples at each plant, respectively. Log reduction ratios of Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene in Plant A and Plant B were 1.7 ± 0.9 (n = 10) and 2.3 ± 1.5 (n = 9), respectively. The ciaB gene was detected by quantitative PCR in eleven (92%) and twelve (100%) of 12 influent samples from Plant A and Plant B, respectively, while the pldA gene was detected in eight (67%) and six (50%) influent samples from Plant A and Plant B, respectively. The prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in WWTP effluent indicated the need for disinfection before discharge into the environment.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Occurrence and genetic diversity of human cosavirus in influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants in Arizona, United States

Human cosavirus (HCoSV) is a novel member of the family Picornaviridae. We investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of HCoSV in influent and effluent wastewater in Arizona over a 12-month period, from August 2011 to July 2012. HCoSV sequences were identified in six (25 %) influent samples and one (4 %) effluent sample, with the highest concentration of 3.24 x 10[superscript 5] and 1.54 x 10³ copies/liter in influent and effluent, respectively. The strains were characterized based on their 5’ untranslated region and classified into species A and D, demonstrating that genetically heterogeneous HCoSV were circulating with a clear temporal shift of predominant strains in the study area.National Science Foundation (U.S.) Water and Environmental Technology (WET) CenterJapan Society for the Promotion of Science. Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad (FY 2011 no. 517

Reduction of Postoperative Pain by Addition of Intravenous Acetaminophen after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study

We evaluated the analgesic effects of multimodal pain control in which intravenous acetaminophen (IV APAP) was added to the standard protocol for Japanese patients who had undergone a total hip arthroplasty (THA). We performed a retrospective cohort study of 180 patients aged 66.4±10.5 years (30% male) who had undergone a THA (Oct. 2014 to Feb. 2015) at our hospital. The control patients were administered the standard analgesic protocol: flurbiprofen axetil as a continuous intravenous infusion and oral celecoxib (NAPAP; n=109). The patients in the new analgesic protocol group received IV APAP in addition to the standard analgesic protocol (APAP; n=71). The primary outcome was the maximum value of postoperative pain the patients reported on a numerical rating scale (NRS) during the first 24 h post-surgery. A univariate analysis and multivariate analyses adjusted for age, sex, the stage of hip osteoarthritis, preoperative pain, and surgical time showed that the maximum postoperative pain NRS scores during the first 24 h after surgery was significantly lower when the APAP protocol was used. The addition of IV APAP to the current standard multimodal analgesia protocol for Japanese patients who have undergone a THA may decrease the patients’ postoperative pain