Two Manganese Peroxidases and a Laccase of Trametes polyzona KU-RNW027 with Novel Properties for Dye and Pharmaceutical Product Degradation in Redox Mediator-Free System

Two manganese peroxidases (MnPs), MnP1 and MnP2, and a laccase, Lac1, were purified from Trametes polyzona KU-RNW027. Both MnPs showed high stability in organic solvents which triggered their activities. Metal ions activated both MnPs at certain concentrations. The two MnPs and Lac1, played important roles in dye degradation and pharmaceutical products deactivation in a redox mediator-free system. They completely degraded Remazol brilliant blue (25 mg/L) in 10–30 min and showed high degradation activities to Remazol navy blue and Remazol brilliant yellow, while Lac1 could remove 75% of Remazol red. These three purified enzymes effectively deactivated tetracycline, doxycycline, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin. Optimal reaction conditions were 50 °C and pH 4.5. The two MnPs were activated by organic solvents and metal ions, indicating the efficacy of using T. polyzona KU-RNW027 for bioremediation of aromatic compounds in environments polluted with organic solvents and metal ions with no need for redox mediator supplements.

Compression Myelopathy due to Proliferative Changes around C2 Pars Defects without Instability

We report a case with compression myelopathy due to proliferative changes around the C2 pars defects without instability. A 69-year-old man presented with progressive clumsy hands and spastic gait. Plain radiographs showed bilateral spondylolysis (pars defects) at C2 and fusion between C2 and C3 spinous processes. Dynamic views revealed mobility through the pars defects, but there was no apparent instability. Computed tomography showed proliferative changes at the pars defects, which protruded into spinal canal. On magnetic resonance imaging, the spinal cord was compressed and intramedullary high signal change was found. A diagnosis of compression myelopathy due to proliferative changes around the C2 pars defects was made. We performed posterior decompression. Postoperatively, symptoms have been alleviated and images revealed sufficient decompression and no apparent instability. In patients with the cervical spondylolysis, myelopathy caused by instability or slippage have been periodically reported. The present case involving C2 spondylolysis is extremely rare.

Long-term Results of Surgery for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in the Over-80 Age Group / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Long-term results of surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms in the over-80 age group were studied. Among nine survivors we found four of them to have had a late death. Their survivals ranged from 17 to 96 months. The ratio of life expectancy was poor (29-51%) in men but good (159%) in women. Long-term survival was not significantly influenced by any preoperative complication but by unexpected disease, such as pancreatic cancer and pneumonia. In postoperative general care, it is important to pay attention not only to preoperative complication but also to the unexpected disease in other organs for octogenarians to achieve a goal of normal Japanese postoperatial survival.

The evaluation of the effect of low energy laser irradiation stimulation on shoulder stiffness / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

In the previous paper, we reported a clinical study on laser irradiation stimulation for pain diseases. In the present study, we examined the effect of laser irradiation stimulation on peripheral blood circulation and its clinical effectiveness in the treatment of shoulder stiffness.<br>[METHOP] Five healthy adults were irradiated with low energy semiconductor laser (Ga-Al-As, 70mw, 830nm) at the Jianjing (VF21) for ten minutes. Skin blood flow near the stimulated point was measured using Laser-Doppler method before and after (for 20min.) irradiation.<br>Clinical effectiveness was examined for 50 patients with clonic shoulder stiffness who visited Anesthesiological Department of Osaka Medical College Hospital. The patients were randomly devided into two groups: laser irradiation group (L group) and Non-irradiation group (C group). To the C group, the apparatus was set but no laser was irradiated. Stimulation points were Tianzhu (VU10), Jianjing (VF21), Jianwaishu (IT14) and other points commonly used for shoulder stiffness. According to the numerical scale of subjective symptom reported by the patients immediately after the stimulation, therapeutic effictiveness was rated into four grades: “marked improvement” “improvement” “slightJimprovement” and “no change”. “Marked improvement” and “improvement” were regarded as effective cases.<br>[RESULTS] After laser stimulation, blood flow increased several times heigher than the original level but it tended to decrease back to the original level within the measuring period. The incedence of effective cases was 58% for L group and 40% for C group.<br>[CONCLUSION] Laser irradiation stimulation has been reported to have same effect as acupuncture, and gathering attention as stimulation method with less adverse effects. Our study demonstrated that laser stimulation induced transient improvement of local blood circulation.

The analgesic effect of laser-puncture on painful diseases / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

A statistical study on effects of laser-puncture was carried out. In addition, an attempt was made to compare between the effect of acupuncture and this method. The treatments were under-taken for various chronic and acute cases with pain. In the laser-puncture treatment, two types of laser (<i>i, e.</i> low energy 10mW laser and 70mW sharp laser) were used. Laser-beam was given to 20-30 points which were located in painful areas, innervating nerve areas and remote areas for 40 sec for each.<br>In the open study, 10mW laser-puncture was effective (including ‘rather effective’) in 64% of the cases, and 70mW laser-puncture 73%. In the blind test, ‘the day’ evaluation showed that the laser-punctures were more effective than placebo treatment: 10mW laser-puncture was effective in 80% of the cases, and placebo in 67%. 70mW laser-puncture was effective in 87% of them, and placebo in 80%. <i>In situ</i> acupuncture was effective in 97%, and no effect was seen in 7%.<br>Only ‘the day’ evaluation in the open study showed that 70mW laser-puncture was more effective than 10mW one. In the blind best, 10mW and 70mW laser-puncture were more effective than placebo, and in situ acupuncture was more effective than the laser-punctures, but there were no significant differences among the three treatmets.