Degradation of DDT by γ-hexachlorocyclohexane dehydrochlorinase LinA.

1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane (DDT) is the first synthetic insecticide and one of the most widely used pesticides. The use of DDT has been banned, but it remains one of the most notorious environmental pollutants around the world. In this study, we found that γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) dehydrochlorinase LinA from a γ-HCH-degrading bacterium, Sphingobium japonicum UT26, converts DDT to 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (DDE). Because of the weak DDT degradation activity of LinA, we could not detect such activity in UT26 cells expressing LinA constitutively. However, the linA-deletion mutant of UT26 harboring a plasmid for the expression of LinA, in which LinA was expressed at a higher level than UT26, showed the DDT degradation activity. This outcome highlights the potential for constructing DDT-degrading sphingomonad cells through elevated LinA expression.

Development of suitable hydroponics system for phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated water using an arsenic hyperaccumulator plant Pteris vittata.

In this study, we found that high-performance hydroponics of arsenic hyperaccumulator fern Pteris vittata is possible without any mechanical aeration system, if rhizomes of the ferns are kept over the water surface level. It was also found that very low-nutrition condition is better for root elongation of P. vittata that is an important factor of the arsenic removal from contaminated water. By the non-aeration and low-nutrition hydroponics for four months, roots of P. vittata were elongated more than 500 mm. The results of arsenate phytofiltration experiments showed that arsenic concentrations in water declined from the initial concentrations (50 µg/L, 500 µg/L, and 1000 µg/L) to lower than the detection limit (0.1 µg/L) and about 80% of arsenic removed was accumulated in the fern fronds. The improved hydroponics method for P. vittata developed in this study enables low-cost phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated water and high-affinity removal of arsenic from water.

Risk factors for joint symptoms in postmenopausal Japanese breast cancer patients treated with anastrozole: a prospective multicenter cohort study of patient-reported outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Endocrine treatment-related adverse events have a strong impact on patients' quality of life and sometimes result in treatment discontinuation. Since joint symptoms are the most frequently recognized side effect of aromatase inhibitors, evaluation of associated risk factors may yield significant findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 391 postmenopausal Japanese women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and treated with adjuvant anastrozole were enrolled from 28 centers for assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in this prospective cohort study (SAVS-JP, UMIN000002455). Patients completed the self-report questionnaire at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment for evaluation of frequency of treatment-related joint symptoms (arthralgia, decrease in range of joint motion, and joint stiffness). RESULTS: We obtained PROs from 362 patients (92.6 %) at baseline and at one or more subsequent points. New or worsening from baseline of joint symptoms were reported by 260 patients (71.8 %). More than 90 % of the symptoms were mild or moderate and nearly 80 % had occurred by 6 months. Multivariate analysis showed that a short time span after menopause [odds ratio (OR) 0.95, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.90-0.99; P = 0.02] and adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 2.29, 95 % CI 1.06-4.95; P = 0.03) were significant independent risk factors for joint symptoms. No significant relationships between body mass index (BMI) and joint symptoms were identified. Eighteen patients discontinued treatment during the 1st year and eight of them reported joint symptoms. CONCLUSION: Taking into consideration that PROs may yield higher prevalence rates than physician ratings for symptoms published in pivotal clinical trials, we found that a short time span after menopause and use of adjuvant chemotherapy, but not high BMI, were significantly associated with joint symptoms. These findings might prove useful for counseling before initiating treatment with adjuvant aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal Japanese women.

Mercury bioremoval by Yarrowia strains isolated from sediments of mercury-polluted estuarine water.

Difference in mercuric ion removal by resting and growing cells of two mercury-resistant yeast strains, identified as Yarrowia spp. (strains Idd1 and Idd2), were studied. Resting cells of strain Idd2 exhibited high maximum Hg(2+) removal capacity (59 mg mercury per g dry cell weight [gdw(-1)]) by adsorption than those of resting cells of strain Idd1 (32 mg gdw(-1)). The resting cells of strain Idd2 exhibited a higher Hg(2+) desorption capacity using CaCl2 (68 %) and EDTA (48 %) than strain Idd1, depicting weaker binding of Hg(2+) onto strain Idd2 unlike strain Idd1. The actively growing yeast cells showed opposite Hg removal characteristics to those of the resting cells. Strain Idd1 adsorbed less Hg(2+) from culture medium supplemented with Hg(2+) than strain Idd2. However, the growing strain Idd1 reduced and vaporized 27 % of supplemented Hg(2+) as metallic mercury (Hg(0)), while the growing strains Idd2 vaporized 15 % of the supplemented Hg(2+). These two yeast strains are potential biotechnological tools for the eventual bioremediation of polluted aquatic systems.

Grazing resistance developed in Escherichia coli K-12 during coexistence with a bacterivorous protist.

A development of grazing resistance in Escherichia coli K-12 was examined in the presence of a bacterivorous protist, Spumella sp. TGKK2. Two transformants were generated from E. coli K12 for grazing experiments. One was E. coli K-12-TGF, which possesses tetracycline resistance and green fluorescence. The other was E. coli K-12-KRF with kanamycin resistance and red fluorescence. These strains can be selectively colonized on antibiotic-containing agar media and further confirmed by their fluorescent colors. First, we added protist-untouched E. coli K-12-KRF to protist-touched residual E. coli K-12-TGF that had been attacked by Spumella sp. TGKK2 in a batch test. Then the survivability of the respective strains was investigated. Consequently, E. coli K-12-KRF was predated preferentially. On the other hand, E. coli K-12-TGF in the same tube was less predated, indicating some grazing resistance. Similar phenomena were observed when the conditions of these two strains of bacteria were reversed. Also, a continuous culture device supplied with a glucose-containing medium as a substrate was operated. The device connected two complete mixed reactors in series. E. coli K-12-TGF was cultivated in the first reactor, and then grown E. coli K-12-TGF was predated by Spumella sp. TGKK2 in the second reactor. The effluent in the second reactor containing residual E. coli K-12-TGF and Spumella sp. TGKK2 was supplemented with batch-cultured E. coli K-12-KRF. Consequently, it was confirmed that bach-cultured E. coli K-12-KRF never exposed to protist was predated preferentially. These findings reveal that E. coli K12 acquires some predation resistance through coexistence with the bacterivorous protist.

Specific gene responses of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 during growth in soil.

Transcriptome analysis of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 during growth in sterilized soil was performed. A total of 165 soil-specific genes were identified by subtracting genes upregulated in late growth phases and on solid medium from 264 genes commonly upregulated during growth on biphenyl or pyruvate in sterilized soil. Classification of the 165 genes into functional categories indicated that this soil-specific group is rich in genes for the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and nitrogen and relatively poor in those for cellular processes and signaling. The ro06365-ro06369 gene cluster, in which ro06365 to ro06368 were highly upregulated in transcriptome analysis, was characterized further. ro06365 and ro06366 show similarity to a nitrite/nitrate transporter and a nitrite reductase, respectively, suggesting their involvement in nitrogen metabolism. A strain with an ro06366 deletion, D6366, showed growth retardation when we used nitrate as the sole nitrogen source and no growth when we used nitrite. A strain with a deletion of ro06365 to ro06368, DNop, utilized neither nitrite nor nitrate and recovered growth using nitrite and nitrate by introduction of the deleted genes. Both of the mutants showed growth retardation in sterilized soil, and the growth retardation of DNop was more significant than that of D6366. When these mutants were cultivated in medium containing the same proportions of ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite ions as those in the sterilized soil, they showed growth retardation similar to that in the soil. These results suggest that the ro06365-ro06369 gene cluster has a significant role in nitrogen utilization in sterilized soil.

Survival of the aerobic denitrifier Pseudomonas stutzeri strain TR2 during co-culture with activated sludge under denitrifying conditions.

The aerobic denitrifier Pseudomonas stutzeri TR2 (strain TR2) has the potential to reduce nitrous oxide emissions during the wastewater treatment process. In this application, it is important to find the best competitive survival conditions for strain TR2 in complex ecosystems. To that end, we examined co-cultures of strain TR2 with activated sludge via five passage cultures in a medium derived from treated piggery wastewater that contained a high concentration of ammonium. The results are as follows: (i) The medium supported the proliferation of strain TR2 (P. stutzeri strains) under denitrifying conditions. (ii) Nitrite was a better denitrification substrate than nitrate for TR2 survival. (iii) Strain TR2 also demonstrated strong survival even under aerobic conditions. This suggests that strain TR2 is effectively augmented to the wastewater treatment process, aiding in ammonium-nitrogen removal and reducing nitrous oxide production with a partial nitrification technique in which nitrite accumulates.

Whole-Genome Sequence of an Arsenite-Oxidizing Bacterium, Pandoraea sp. Strain NE5, Isolated from the Rhizosphere of the Arsenic Hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata.

Pandoraea sp. strain NE5, an arsenite-oxidizing bacterium, was isolated from the rhizosphere of an arsenic hyperaccumulator fern (Pteris vittate). Here, the genome sequence of Pandoraea sp. strain NE5 is announced.

Arsenic uptake by Pteris vittata in a subarctic arsenic-contaminated agricultural field in Japan: An 8-year study.

In this study, the phytoremediation potential of tropical and subtropical arsenic (As) hyperaccumulating fern Pteris vittata in an As contaminated farmland field near an abandoned goldmine was investigated. The tested field is located in a subarctic area of northeast Japan. This study was aimed at decreasing the risk of As in the soil (water-soluble As) with nurturing the soil and respecting the plant life cycle for the sustainable phytoremediation for 8 years. The field was tilled and planted with new seedlings of the fern every spring and the grown fern was harvested every autumn. The biomass and As concentration in fronds, rhizomes and roots of the fern were analyzed separately after harvesting each year. The biomass of the fronds of P. vittata was significantly affected by the yearly change of the weather condition, but As concentration in fronds was kept at 100-150 mg/kg dry weight. The accumulated As in P. vittata was higher than that of As-hyperaccumulator fern Pteris cretica, the native fern in the field trial area. Harvested biomass of P. vittata per plant was also higher than that of P. cretica. More than 43.5 g As/154 m2 (convertible to 2.82 kg of As per hectare) was removed from the farmland field by P. vittata phytoremediation at the end of the 8-year experiment. Because of the short-term plant growth period and soil tilling process, total As in soil did not show significant depletion. However, the water-soluble As in the surface and deeper soil, which is phytoavailable and easily taken in cultivated plants, decreased to 10 µg/L (Japan Environmental Quality Standard for water-soluble As in soil) by the 8-year phytoremediation using P. vittata. These research data elucidate that the tropical and subtropical As hyperaccumulating fern, P. vittata, is applicable for As phytoremediation in the subarctic climate area.

Expression in Escherichia coli of biphenyl 2,3-dioxygenase genes from a Gram-positive polychlorinated biphenyl degrader, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1.

Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 is a polychlorinated biphenyl degrader. Multi-component biphenyl 2,3-dioxygenase (BphA) genes of RHA1 encode large and small subunits of oxygenase component and ferredoxin and reductase components. They did not express enzyme activity in Escherichia coli. To obtain BphA activity in E. coli, hybrid BphA gene derivatives were constructed by replacing ferredoxin and/or reductase component genes of RHA1 with those of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707. The results obtained indicate a lack of catalytic activity of the RHA1 ferredoxin component gene, bphAc in E. coli. To determine the cause of inability of RHA1 bphAc to express in E. coli, the bphAc gene was introduced into Rosetta (DE3) pLacI, which has extra tRNA genes for rare codons in E. coli. The resulting strain abundantly produced the bphAc product, and showed activity. These results suggest that codon usage bias is involved in inability of RHA1 bphAc to express its catalytic activity in E. coli.

New evidence of arsenic translocation and accumulation in Pteris vittata from real-time imaging using positron-emitting 74As tracer.

Pteris vittata is an arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator plant that accumulates a large amount of As into fronds and rhizomes (around 16,000 mg/kg in both after 16 weeks hydroponic cultivation with 30 mg/L arsenate). However, the sequence of long-distance transport of As in this hyperaccumulator plant is unclear. In this study, we used a positron-emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS) for the first time to obtain noninvasive serial images of As behavior in living plants with positron-emitting 74As-labeled tracer. We found that As kept accumulating in rhizomes as in fronds of P. vittata, whereas As was retained in roots of a non-accumulator plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Autoradiograph results of As distribution in P. vittata showed that with low As exposure, As was predominantly accumulated in young fronds and the midrib and rachis of mature fronds. Under high As exposure, As accumulation shifted from young fronds to mature fronds, especially in the margin of pinna, which resulted in necrotic symptoms, turning the marginal color to gray and then brown. Our results indicated that the function of rhizomes in P. vittata was As accumulation and the regulation of As translocation to the mature fronds to protect the young fronds under high As exposure.

Dual two-component regulatory systems are involved in aromatic compound degradation in a polychlorinated-biphenyl degrader, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1.

A Gram-positive polychlorinated-biphenyl (PCB) degrader, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, degrades PCBs by cometabolism with biphenyl. A two-component BphS1T1 system encoded by bphS1 and bphT1 (formerly bphS and bphT) is responsible for the transcription induction of the five gene clusters, bphAaAbAcAdC1B1, etbAa1Ab1CbphD1, etbAa2Ab2AcD2, etbAdbphB2, and etbD1, which constitute multiple enzyme systems for biphenyl/PCB degradation. The bphS2 and bphT2 genes, which encode BphS2 and BphT2, virtually identical to BphS1 (92%) and BphT1 (97%), respectively, were characterized. BphS2T2 induced the activation of the bphAa promoter in a host, Rhodococcus erythropolis IAM1399, in the presence of a variety of aromatics, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, isopropylbenzene, and chlorinated benzenes, as effectively as BphS1T1. The substrate spectrum of BphS2T2 was the same as that of BphS1T1, except for biphenyl, which is a substrate only for BphS1T1. BphS2T2 activated transcription from the five promoters of biphenyl/PCB degradation enzyme gene clusters as effectively as BphS1T1. The targeted disruptions of the bphS1, bphS2, bphT1, and bphT2 genes indicated that all these genes are involved in the growth of RHA1 on aromatic compounds. The hybrid system with bphS1 and bphT2 and that with bphS2 and bphT1 were constructed, and both systems conducted induced activation of the bphAa promoter, indicating cross-communication. These results indicated that RHA1 employs not only multiple enzyme systems, but also dual regulatory systems for biphenyl/PCB degradation. Comparison of the sequences, including bphS2T2, with the bphS1T1-containing sequences and the corresponding sequences in other rhodococcal degraders suggests that bphS2T2 might have originated from bphS1T1.

Potential of aerobic denitrification by Pseudomonas stutzeri TR2 to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment plants.

In contrast to most denitrifiers studied so far, Pseudomonas stutzeri TR2 produces low levels of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) even under aerobic conditions. We compared the denitrification activity of strain TR2 with those of various denitrifiers in an artificial medium that was derived from piggery wastewater. Strain TR2 exhibited strong denitrification activity and produced little N(2)O under all conditions tested. Its growth rate under denitrifying conditions was near comparable to that under aerobic conditions, showing a sharp contrast to the lower growth rates of other denitrifiers under denitrifying conditions. Strain TR2 was tolerant to toxic nitrite, even utilizing it as a good denitrification substrate. When both nitrite and N(2)O were present, strain TR2 reduced N(2)O in preference to nitrite as the denitrification substrate. This bacterial strain was readily able to adapt to denitrifying conditions by expressing the denitrification genes for cytochrome cd(1) nitrite reductase (NiR) (nirS) and nitrous oxide reductase (NoS) (nosZ). Interestingly, nosZ was constitutively expressed even under nondenitrifying, aerobic conditions, consistent with our finding that strain TR2 preferred N(2)O to nitrite. These properties of strain TR2 concerning denitrification are in sharp contrast to those of well-characterized denitrifiers. These results demonstrate that some bacterial species, such as strain TR2, have adopted a strategy for survival by preferring denitrification to oxygen respiration. The bacterium was also shown to contain the potential to reduce N(2)O emissions when applied to sewage disposal fields.

Characterization of a transcriptional regulatory gene involved in dibenzofuran degradation by Nocardioides sp. strain DF412.

Nocardioides sp. DF412 degrades dibenzofuran (DF) to salicylate through the sequential actions of DF dioxygenase (dfdA), extradiol dioxygenase (dfdB), and hydrolase (dfdC). The involvement of a TetR-type regulator gene dfdS in the dfdB and dfdS gene expression was investigated. A reporter assay using a luciferase gene indicated repression of dfdB and dfdS promoter activities in the presence of the dfdS gene product, DfdS. Gel shift analysis indicated specific binding of DfdS to the dfdB promoter region. Both the presence of a DF-degradation intermediate, 2,2',3-trihydroxybiphenyl (2,2',3-THBP) or its analog, 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (2,3-DHBP), and mutation in the inverted repeat (IR) in the dfdB promoter, canceled repression by DfdS in vivo and the binding of DfdS to the dfdB promoter fragment in vitro. These results suggest derepression of DfdS in the presence of 2,2',3-THBP and 2,3-DHBP and the involvement of the IR in the repression by DfdS.

Bio-oxidation of elemental mercury during growth of mercury resistant yeasts in simulated hydrosphere.

Transformation of metallic mercury (Hg°) to mercuric ion (Hg2+) in hydrosphere is the entrance of mercury cycle in water environments and leads to toxicological impact of serious global concern. Two yeast strains of Yarrowia (Idd1 and Idd2) isolated from Hg-contaminated sediments were studied for their mediating role in Hg° dissolution and oxidation. Growth of the Yarrowia cells in Hg-free liquid medium, incubated for 5 d in closed air-tight systems containing Hg°, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Approximately 230 (±5.7) ng and 120 (±6.8) ng of the dissolved Hg° were oxidized to Hg2+ by the cultures of Idd1 and Idd2, respectively, 5 day post-inoculation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectrophotometry (XEDS) analysis of the EPS and cell mass revealed the presence of extracellular Hg nanoparticles, presumably HgS, as an indication of EPS-Hg complexation that is useful for Hg° dissolution and its eventual oxidation to Hg2+ by the cells. Fourier transmission infra-red (FTIR) analyses of the EPS and cell-mass during Hg-oxidation revealed that amine and carbonyl groups were used by EPS for Hg complexation. Our findings provided information about mediatory role played by Yarrowia (Idd1 and Idd2) in hydrosphere in biogeochemical cycling of Hg.

Identification of A Novel Arsenic Resistance Transposon Nested in A Mercury Resistance Transposon of Bacillus sp. MB24.

A novel TnMERI1-like transposon designated as TnMARS1 was identified from mercury resistant Bacilli isolated from Minamata Bay sediment. Two adjacent ars operon-like gene clusters, ars1 and ars2, flanked by a pair of 78-bp inverted repeat sequences, which resulted in a 13.8-kbp transposon-like fragment, were found to be sandwiched between two transposable genes of the TnMERI1-like transposon of a mercury resistant bacterium, Bacillus sp. MB24. The presence of a single transcription start site in each cluster determined by 5'-RACE suggested that both are operons. Quantitative real time RT-PCR showed that the transcription of the arsR genes contained in each operon was induced by arsenite, while arsR2 responded to arsenite more sensitively and strikingly than arsR1 did. Further, arsenic resistance complementary experiments showed that the ars2 operon conferred arsenate and arsenite resistance to an arsB-knocked out Bacillus host, while the ars1 operon only raised arsenite resistance slightly. This transposon nested in TnMARS1 was designated as TnARS1. Multi-gene cluster blast against bacteria and Bacilli whole genome sequence databases suggested that TnMARS1 is the first case of a TnMERI1-like transposon combined with an arsenic resistance transposon. The findings of this study suggested that TnMERI1-like transposons could recruit other mobile elements into its genetic structure, and subsequently cause horizontal dissemination of both mercury and arsenic resistances among Bacilli in Minamata Bay.

Comparative geochemical evaluation of toxic metals pollution and bacterial communities of industrial effluent tributary and a receiving estuary in Nigeria.

Toxic metals/metalloid contaminations of estuarine sediments due to compromised tributaries arouse significant interest in studying bacterial community that triggers natural attenuation processes. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and Hakanson potential ecological risk index (RI) as a sum of risk factors (Er) were used to quantify toxic metal/metalloid-pollution status of Lagos Lagoon (2W) and 'Iya-Alaro' tributary (4W) sediments in comparison with pristine 'Lekki Conservation Centre' sediment (L1-B). Bacteriology of the ecosystems was based on culture-independent analyses using pyrosequencing. 2W and 4W were extremely contaminated with mercury (Igeo > 7), whereas, cadmium contamination was only observed in 4W. The two ecosystems were polluted with toxic metal based on PLI, where mercury (Er = 2900 and 1900 for 4W and 2W, respectively) posed very high ecological risks. Molecular fingerprinting revealed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria predominately contributed the 20 most abundant genera in the two ecosystems. The 240 and 310 species present in 2W and 4W, respectively, but absent in L1-B, thrive under the metal concentrations in the polluted hydrosphere. Whereas, the 58,000 species missing in 2W and 4W but found in L1-B would serve as indicators for systems impacted with metal eco-toxicity. Despite toxic metal pollution of the ecosystems understudied, bacterial communities play vital roles in self-recovery processes occurring in the hydrosphere.

Successions of bacterial community in composting cow dung wastes with or without hyperthermophilic pre-treatment.

Comparative analyses of bacterial community successions in the composting materials were done for a conventional windrow post-treatment (WPOT) process with the hyperthermophilic pre-treatment (HTPRT) and simple windrow composting (SWC; without the HTPRT). Multidimensional scaling profiles based on data of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the bacterial population in the samples of every 7 days composting material and analyses of the 16S rRNA gene-based clone library of the 7 and 21 days composting materials suggested that bacterial communities of the composting materials differed much between these two processes until the 35 days of composting, whereas that they were closely related to each other at the final composting stage (42 days of composting). Detailed phylogenetic analysis clarified that all WPOT clone libraries contained many clones of the lineages of aerobic bacteria (for example, bacilli). However, the most abundant clones retrieved from all SWC materials were affiliated with a clone cluster closely related to identified and classified members of the phylum Firmicutes that have strictly anaerobic metabolism pathways. From these results, we conclude that the HTPRT process contributed to easily establish an aerobic ecosystem from the early stage to the final stage of WPOT composting with plowing the materials only once a week.

Serum lipid and bone metabolism effects of Toremifene vs. Letrozole as adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal early breast cancer patients: results of a multicenter open randomized study.

A prospective randomized phase II trial was conducted to evaluate the time course effects of toremifene (TOR) and letrozole (LET), as adjuvant hormone therapy, on serum lipid profiles and bone metabolism in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, postmenopausal breast cancer patients.Fifty-four postmenopausal breast cancer patients [ER positive, HER2 negative, T1-2, node metastases (n = 0-3), M0] who had undergone curative resection were enrolled. They were randomized to receive either TOR 40 mg/day or LET 2.5 mg/day as adjuvant hormone therapy. Serum lipids and bone markers were measured prior to, and again at 6, 12, and 24 months after initiation of treatment. Changes in serum lipids and bone markers were compared. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were decreased compared with the baseline values at 6 months in 6.5 and 14.0% of patients, respectively, receiving TOR. Lipid levels did not change in patients administered LET. Significant differences were observed in TC and LDL-C between the two groups at 12 and 24 months. In the TOR group, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) was decreased by 25.0% at 12 months, and serum cross-linked N-telopeptide of type-I collagen (NTx) was decreased by 13.6% at 6 months, and these reductions were maintained for at least 24 months. In contrast, in the LET group, serum BAP did not change and NTx was increased by 16.0% at 6 months and by 18.6% at 24 months, as compared with the baseline.TOR and LET exert different effects on serum lipid profiles and bone metabolism markers. The effects of TOR, as adjuvant hormone therapy, on both lipids and bone metabolism in postmenopausal breast cancer patients are superior to those of LET.

Composting cattle dung wastes by using a hyperthermophilic pre-treatment process: characterization by physicochemical and molecular biological analysis.

To solve malodorous odor problems by ammonia emission in composting of cattle dung wastes, we developed an alternative composting method consisting of a hyperthrmophilic pre-treatment reactor (HTPRT) (first step) combined with a general windrow post-treatment system (WPOT) (second step). In this study, physicochemical and microbiological differences in compost materials during the HTPRT-WPOT process and a simple windrow composing process (SWC) were investigated. The HTPRT-WPOT process removed excess ammonia in the compost materials by physical ammonia stripping, and controlled the malodorous ammonia emission. The organic matter evolution index showed that the HTPRT-WPOT process also contributed to accelerate formation of humic acids in composting. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses using Bacterial-, Archaeal- and fungal-protozoan-specific primer sets showed that small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene copy numbers differed much between composting materials of these two processes. Particularly, the SSU rRNA gene copy of eukaryotic microbes (fungi-protozoa) in the HTPRT-WPOT process was much higher than in the SWC process. From these results, we conclude that the HTPRT-WPOT process has great advantages for the control of malodorous odor problems caused by ammonia emission, and for high rate of composting evaluated by the humification rate and microbial characterization of the composting materials.