Production of 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid from olive oil by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3.

Microbial modification of naturally occurring materials is one of the efficient ways to add new values to them. Hydroxylation of free unsaturated fatty acids by microorganism is a good example of those modifications. Among microbial strains studied for that purpose, a new bacterial isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 has been well studied to produce several hydroxy fatty acids from different unsaturated fatty acids. Of those hydroxy fatty acids, 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) was efficiently produced from oleic acid by strain PR3. However, it was highly plausible to use vegetable oil containing oleic acid rather than free oleic acid as a substrate for DOD production by strain PR3. In this study, we firstly tried to use olive oil containing high content of oleic acid as a substrate for DOD production. DOD production from olive oil was confirmed by structural determination with GC, TLC, and GC/MS analysis. DOD production yield from olive oil was 53.5%. Several important environmental factors were also tested. Galactose and glutamine were optimal carbon and nitrogen sources, and magnesium ion was critically required for DOD production from olive oil. Results from this study demonstrated that natural vegetable oils containing oleic acid could be used as efficient substrate for the production of DOD by strain PR3.

Mesostructured material based on [Re6Te8(CN)6]4- cluster and Mn(2+): a rational synthesis of hexagonal nonoxidic mesoscale material.

A new nonoxidic mesostructured material with highly ordered hexagonal symmetry, [C(16)H(33)N(CH(3))(3)](3)Mn(0.5)[Re(6)Te(8)(CN)(6)], has been obtained through supramolecular assembly of [Re(6)Te(8)(CN)(6)](4-) clusters in the presence of a transition metal cation, Mn(2+), with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a liquid crystal template under hydrothermal conditions.

Neoadjuvant paclitaxel and cisplatin in uterine cervical cancer: long-term results.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin on long-term (5-year) survival of patients with stage IB2 to IIB cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three consecutive patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB2 to IIB uterine cervical cancer were treated with intravenous paclitaxel (60 mg/m), followed by intravenous cisplatin (60 mg/m) every 10 days. Two weeks after the third cycle of chemotherapy, the patients underwent surgery or radiation therapy, depending on overall condition. They were followed up, and 5-year survival rates and factors affecting prognosis were evaluated. RESULTS: All of 43 patients underwent surgery. Of the 43 patients, 17 (39.5%) showed a complete response, 22 (51.2%) had a partial response to cisplatin-paclitaxel, making the overall response rate 90.7%; the remaining 4 patients (9.3%) had a stable disease. A down-staging response was seen in 72.1% (31/43) of patients showing a response. After surgery, patients received adjuvant therapy according to their pathological findings. Among the 43 patients, 37 were followed up. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 94.5% and 89.2%, respectively. Initial stage, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, differentiation, depth of invasion after chemotherapy, and metastasis were significantly correlated with survival. Differences in TA4, tumor size, and stage before and after chemotherapy were also significantly correlated with survival. In contrast, initial tumor size, carcinoembryonic antigen concentration, cell type, and lymphovascular invasion did not correlate significantly with survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin may improve long-term survival of patients with uterine cervical cancer.

New finding and optimal production of a novel extracellular alkaline lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica NRRL Y-2178.

Lipases are industrially useful versatile enzymes that catalyze numerous different reactions including hydrolysis of triglycerides, transesterification, and chiral synthesis of esters under natural conditions. Although lipases from various sources have been widely used in industrial applications, such as in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and detergent industries, there are still substantial current interests in developing new microbial lipases, specifically those functioning in abnormal conditions. We screened 17 lipase-producing yeast strains, which were prescreened for substrate specificity of lipase from more than 500 yeast strains from the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (Peoria, IL, U.S.A.), and selected Yarrowia lipolytica NRRL Y-2178 as a best lipase producer. This report presents new finding and optimal production of a novel extracellular alkaline lipase from Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178. Optimal c ulture conditions f orlipase production by Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178 were 72 h incubation time, 27.5 degrees C, pH 9.0. Glycerol and glucose were efficiently used as the most efficient carbon sources, and a combination of yeast extract and peptone was a good nitrogen source for lipase production by Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178. These results suggested that Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178 showsgood industrial potential as a new alkaline lipase producer.

Identification of characteristic molecular signature of Müllerian inhibiting substance in human HPV-related cervical cancer cells.

Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), also known as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), is a member of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) superfamily that plays an important role in the mesenchymal-epithelial interaction, cell growth and proliferation, extracellular matrix production and tissue remodeling. Previously, we demonstrated that MIS suppressed ovarian cancer cell growth and suggested large-scale genetic elements that could be responsible for anti-neoplastic effects of MIS on ovarian cancer cells. In this study, we demonstrated the expression of MIS type II receptor (MISRII) in the human papillomavirus (HPV)-16-related cervical cancer cell lines CaSki and SiHa, and a non-HPV-related cervical cancer cell line, C33A. We also showed that MIS inhibited growth of cervical cancer cells, and induced cellular apoptosis of C33A. In addition, we identified a characteristic molecular signature of MIS in CaSki cells by using whole genome expression analysis. Of the 1,690 genes that showed significant expression changes by MIS, 21 genes were related to cell cycle; 13 genes to apoptosis; and 52 genes to the cancer pathway. On performing a search for cell cycle pathways in the KEGG pathway database, several gene expressions at the G1/S checkpoint were found. In particular, the expression of p16 and p107 increased and that of E2F2 and E2F3 decreased at an early stage, whereas the expression of E2F4 and E2F5 decreased at a later stage after MIS treatment. These data suggest that MIS produces activity against HPV16-related cervical cancers in vitro, and MIS may also be an effective targeted therapy for HPV16-related cervical cancer. Genetic data obtained here could be useful in determining the treatment strategy of MISR-expressing cervical tumors in the future.

Optimal production of 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-hexadecenoic acid from palmitoleic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3.

The hydroxylation of unsaturated fatty acids by bacterial strains is one type of value-adding bioconversion processes. This process generates new hydroxy fatty acids (HFA) carrying special properties such as higher viscosity and reactivity compared with normal fatty acids. Among microbial strains tested for HFA production, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 is well known to utilize various unsaturated fatty acids to produce mono-, di- and tri-hydroxy fatty acids. Previously we reported that strain PR3 could produce a novel value-added hydroxy fatty acid 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-hexadecenoic acid (DHD) from palmitoleic acid (Bae et al. (2007) Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 75, 435-440). In this study, we focused on the development of the optimal nutritional and environmental conditions for DHD production from palmitoleic acid by PR3. Optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for DHD production were fructose and yeast extract, respectively. Optimal initial medium pH and incubation temperature were pH 8.0 and 30 degrees C and magnesium ion was essentially required for DHD production. Substrate concentration and time of substrate addition were also optimized. Under optimized conditions, maximal DHD production was 1600mg/l representing 26.7% conversion yield.

Leiomyosarcoma of the vagina: a case report and review from the literature.

Leiomyosarcomas comprise fewer than 2% of all malignant vaginal neoplasms. Due to their rarity, treatment for vaginal leiomyosarcomas have not been determined. We describe a 66 year old woman with vaginal leiomyosarcoma, which presented as a large palpable mass with vaginal spotting. Complete surgical excision was accomplished and after surgery, she underwent radiation therapy. Tumor recurrence was not detected for the last 5 years and now her general condition is very good. This is a rare case of leiomyosarcoma arising in vagina and we report the results of successful treatment.

Environmental optimization for bioconversion of triolein into 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3.

Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs), originally found in small amount mainly from plant systems, are well known to have special properties such as higher viscosity and reactivity compared with other normal fatty acids. Recently, various microbial strains were tested to produce HFAs from different unsaturated fatty acids. Among those microbial strains tested, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 are well known to utilize various unsaturated fatty acids to produce mono-, di-, and tri-HFAs. Previously, we reported that strain PR3 could utilize triolein as a substrate for the production of 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) via the induction of lipase activity (Chang et al., Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 74:301-306, 2007). In this study, we focused on the development of the optimal environmental conditions for DOD production from triolein by PR3. Optimal initial medium pH and incubation temperature were pH 8.0 and 25 degrees C, respectively. Magnesium ion was essentially required for DOD production. Optimal inoculum size, time for substrate addition, and substrate concentration were 1%, 12 to 24 h, and 300 mg, respectively.

Production and identification of a novel compound, 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-hexadecenoic acid from palmitoleic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3.

Hydroxy fatty acids are considered as important value-added product for industrial application because of their special properties such as higher viscosity and reactivity. Microbial production of the hydroxy fatty acids from various fatty acid substrates have been actively studied using several microorganisms. The new bacterial isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PR3) had been reported to produce mono-, di-, and tri-hydroxy fatty acids from different unsaturated fatty acids. Of those, 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) and 7,10,12-trihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (TOD) were produced from oleic acid and ricinoleic acid, respectively. Based on the postulated common metabolic pathway involved in DOD and TOD formation by PR3, it was assumed that palmitoleic acid containing a singular 9-cis double bond, common structural property sharing with oleic acid and ricinoleic acid, could be utilized by PR3 to produce hydroxy fatty acid. In this study, we tried to use palmitoleic acid as substrate for production of hydroxy fatty acid by PR3 and firstly confirmed that PR3 could produce 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-hexadecenoic acid (DHD) with 23% yield from palmitoleic acid. DHD production was peaked at 72 h after the substrate was added to the 24-h-culture.