Hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis with disposable chemical pocket warmers

A case of chromomycosis in which hyperthermia proved effective is reported. The patient was a 56-year-old male bean curd maker who, without any previous history of minor trauma, developed on the extensor side of the left upper arm an eczematous lesion that underwent gradual radial expansion. The lesion showed a well-defined, 7×10 cm infiltrated erythematous plaque with the central area healed and, at the upper and lower borders, adherent scales and crusts on the surface. Histological examination revealed granulomatous changes in the dermis, as well as sclerotic cells within giant cells and microabscesses. On culturing,Fonsecaea pedrosoi was isolated. The patient was treated with disposable chemical pocket warmers, which were secured over the lesion with a rather tight elastic bandage, so that they kept the affected area warm for 24 hours a day. After a month of such hyperthermic treatment, the erythema and infiltration had decreased considerably, and microscopic examination and culture of the crusts both yielded negative results. Examination of biopsy specimens of the lesion after the third month showed that it had cicatrized. The treatment was stopped after 4 months, and no relapse occurred. We also summarize the published results of local hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis in Japan.     

Identification of potentially critical genes in the development of heart failure after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)

Heart failure (HF) remains a common complication after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Here, we aim to identify critical genes related to the developed HF in patients with STEMI using bioinformatics analysis. The microarray data of GSE59867, including peripheral blood samples from nine patients with post-infarct HF and eight patients without post-infarct HF, were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HF and non-HF groups were screened by LIMMA package. Functional enrichment analyses of DEGs were conducted, followed by construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The dynamic messenger RNA (mRNA) level of the hub genes during the follow-up was analyzed to further elucidate their role in HF development. A total of 58 upregulated and 75 downregulated DEGs were screen out. They were mainly enriched in biological processes about inflammatory response, extracellular matrix organization, response to cAMP, immune response, and positive regulation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration. Pathway analysis revealed that the DEGs were also involved in hematopoietic cell lineage, pathways in cancer, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. In the PPI network consisting of 58 nodes and 72 interactions, CXCL8 (degree = 15), THBS1 (degree = 8), FOS (degree = 7), and ITGA2B (degree = 6) were identified as the hub genes. In the comparison of patients with and without post-infarct HF, the mRNA level of these hub genes were all higher within 30 days but reached similar at 6 months after STEMI. In conclusion, CXCL8, THBS1, FOS, and ITGA2B may play important roles in the development of HF after acute STEMI.     

In Vitro Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis> Strains with Inhibitory Activity on Enteropathogens for Use as Potential Animal Probiotics

The present study evaluates the probiotic properties of three Lactobacillus plantarum strains MJM60319, MJM60298, and MJM60399 possessing antimicrobial activity against animal enteric pathogens. The three strains did not show bioamine production, mucinolytic and hemolytic activity and were susceptible to common antibiotics. The L. plantarum strains survived well in the simulated orogastrointestinal transit condition and showed adherence to Caco-2 cells in vitro. The L. plantarum strains showed strong antimicrobial activity against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, Choleraesuis and Gallinarum compared to the commercial probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. The mechanism of antimicrobial activity of the L. plantarum strains appeared to be by the production of lactic acid. Furthermore, the L. plantarum strains tolerated freeze-drying and maintained higher viability in the presence of cryoprotectants than without cryoprotectants. Finally, the three L. plantarum strains tolerated NaCl up to 8% and maintained >60% growth. These characteristics of the three L. plantarum strains indicate that they could be applied as animal probiotic after appropriate in vivo studies.     

Identification of important bases for the self-cleavage activity at two single-stranded regions of genomic HDV ribozyme.

In order to determine important bases at two single-stranded regions [SSrA (726-731 nt) and SSrB (762-766)] derived mainly from secondary structure models in genomic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme possessing self-cleavage activity, we have constructed several point mutants at these two regions on the HDV88 molecule (683-770). Among the bases at SSrA and SSrB regions C763 was found to play an essential role during self-cleavage process since substitutions to any other bases viz. A or G or U completely abolished the activity.     

Optimized fed-batch fermentation of L-β-hydroxy isobutyric acid by Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica KCCM50506, which transforms isobutyric acid to L-#-hydroxy isobutyric acid (L-#-HIBA), was screened. Chemostat cultures were carried out in jar fermentors at dilution rates of 0.02 h^у to 0.12 h^у. L-#-HIBA fermentation-regulating factors were determined to be specific growth rate, and concentrations of glucose and isobutyric acid in fermentor from analysis of steady-state data. The specific productivity of L-#-HIBA increased as the specific growth rate increased, apparently as a growth-associated type of product formation. A fed-batch culture was carried out under optimum conditions where the concentrations of glucose and isobutyric acid in the fermentor were maintained at 23 g l^у and 9 g l^у, respectively. The concentrations of cells and L-#-HIBA obtained at the end of fermentation were 20 g l^у and 49 g l^у, respectively, corresponding to 2.0 and 2.7 times more than concentrations in batch culture.     

Measuring ecological impact of water consumption by bioethanol using life cycle impact assessment

Purpose  

Though the development of biofuel has attracted numerous studies for quantifying potential water demand applying life cycle thinking, the impacts of biofuel water consumption still remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to quantify ecological impact associated with corn-based bioethanol water consumption in Minnesota in responding to different refinery expansion scenarios by applying a life cycle impact assessment method.     

Taxonomic revision of the genus Jassidophaga Aczél (Diptera: Pipunculidae) in Korea

In this paper, three Korean species of the big‐head fly, genus Jassidophaga Aczél were treated: J. chiiensis (Ouchi), J. pala (Morakote) and J. villosa (Roser). Of these, J. pala is reported in Korea for the first time. A key to Korean species and photographs on external features are given.