Edible plant oil (EPO)-consumption activity of the isolate Fusarium keratoplasticum EN01 and other relative Fusarium species.

Edible oil is used in humans' daily lives, and the degradation of edible oil is a key process in sewage water treatment and in compost production from food wastes. In this study, a mixed microbial strain EN00, which showed high edible plant oil (EPO)-consumption activity, was obtained from soil via enrichment cultivation. A fungal strain EN01 was isolated from EN00 and relegated to Fusarium keratoplasticum, based on the nucleotide sequences of the TEF1-α gene. Strain EN01 eliminated more than 90% of hydrophobic compounds from the medium containing 1.0% (w/v) EPO within 10 days at 30 °C. The rate of consumption of EPO by EN01 was comparable with that of EN00, suggesting that EN01 was the main microorganism involved in the EPO-consumption ability of EN00. Strain EN01 efficiently utilized EPO as a sole carbon source. The EPO-consumption rate of EN01 was highest among six tested strains of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), while two FSSC strains of F. mori and F. cuneirostrum, whose phylogenetic relationships were relatively distant from EN01, had little EPO-eliminating activity. This data implies that the potent EPO-eliminating activity is not general in FSSC strains but is restricted to selected members of this complex. EN01 showed good growth at 25-30 °C, in media with an initial pH of 4-10, and in the presence of 0-3% (w/v) sodium chloride. Although the safety including pathogenicity must be strictly evaluated, some FSSC strains including EN01 have potentials for use in the degradation and elimination of edible oil.

A rice PHD-finger protein OsTITANIA, is a growth regulator that functions through elevating expression of transporter genes for multiple metals.

Essential metal absorption for plant growth is mediated predominantly by metal-specific transporters, with expression that responds to the environmental or cellular conditions of specific metals. Differing from metal-specific regulation, we describe a constitutively expressed transcription factor that regulates the transport of several metals in rice. We characterized the rice mutant LOW CADMIUM 5 (LC5), which exhibited reduced growth and accumulation of essential metals (e.g., copper [Cu], zinc [Zn] and manganese [Mn]) in shoots. LC5 was dwarf and developed less tillers than the wild type, but the structure of vasculature was apparently normal. Molecular genetic analysis revealed that the causal gene of LC5 is an ortholog of the transcriptional regulator Arabidopsis thaliana TITANIA (TTA), known as a transcriptional regulator. Expression analyses demonstrated that the OsTTA gene encodes a nucleus-localized protein containing a plant homeodomain-finger (PHD-finger) domain and is expressed ubiquitously in rice plants. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR analyses revealed that the mRNA accumulation of transporter genes for essential metals, including iron (Fe), Zn, or Mn, were substantially lower in LC5 roots than in the wild type. Unlike known transcription factors of metal transport regulation, OsTTA transcript accumulation was not affected by metal availability. In addition, the growth defect of LC5 was partially rescued by Fe, Zn, or Mn supplementation, respectively. Taken together, OsTTA is a constitutively expressed regulator of multiple metal transporter genes responsible for essential metals delivery to shoots for their normal growth.

The concentration of iodine in horse serum and its relationship with thyroxin concentration by geological difference.

In this study, iodine and thyroxin (T4) concentrations in the serum of 69 horses were investigated. Higher iodine concentrations were obtained from the horses housed in Chiba Prefecture. In contrast, T4 concentrations of horses at Shizuoka Prefecture were higher than those of horses at Chiba Prefecture. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.643, P < 0.001) between the iodine and T4 concentrations of horses at Saitama and Shizuoka prefectures. Although a significant correlation (r = 0.794, P < 0.001) was also observed in the investigation of all horses at Chiba Prefecture, the distribution area of the data was separated from the data of horses housed in Saitama and Shizuoka prefectures. A higher iodine concentration in the environment is expected in the sampling area at Chiba Prefecture. Thus, it was suggested that the concentrations of iodine in the serum of horses are influenced by geological differences. It was thought that equine serum is a useful sample for monitoring.

Electroanatomically estimated length of slow pathway in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

The length of the slow pathway (SP-L) in atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia (NRT) has never been measured clinically. We studied the relationship among (a) SP-L, i.e., the distance between the most proximal His bundle (H) recording and the most posterior site of radiofrequency (RF) delivery associated with a junctional rhythm, (b) the length of Koch's triangle (Koch-L), (c) the conduction time over the slow pathway (SP-T), measured by the AH interval during AVNRT at baseline, and (d) the distance between H and the site of successful ablation (SucABL-L) in 26 women and 20 men (mean age 64.6 ± 11.6 years), using a stepwise approach and an electroanatomic mapping system (EAMS). SP-L (15.0 ± 5.8 mm) was correlated with Koch-L (18.6 ± 5.6 mm; R 2 = 0.1665, P < 0.005), SP-T (415 ± 100 ms; R 2 = 0.3425, P = 0.036), and SucABL-L (11.6 ± 4.7 mm; R 2 = 0.5243, P < 0.0001). The site of successful ablation was located within 10 mm of the posterior end of the SP in 38 patients (82.6 %). EAMS-guided RF ablation, using a stepwise approach, revealed individual variations in SP-L related to the size of Koch's triangle and AH interval during AVNRT. Since the site of successful ablation was also correlated with SP-L and was usually located near the posterior end of the SP, ablating anteriorly, away from the posterior end, is not a prerequisite for the success of ablation procedures.

Pseudo-postpacing interval of diastolic potential after entrainment pacing of remote bystander pathway in reentrant ventricular tachycardia.

After entrainment pacing, the postpacing interval of a diastolic potential may be misinterpreted if the distal tip of the ablation catheter captures a remote bystander pathway adjacent to the critical isthmus of a complex reentrant circuit in a structurally diseased heart. We discuss this possible pitfall of entrainment mapping of reentrant ventricular tachycardia, observed after a healed myocardial infarction.

Roles of pollen-specific boron efflux transporter, OsBOR4, in the rice fertilization process.

Arabidopsis thaliana BOR1 was the first boron (B) transporter identified in living systems. There are four AtBOR1-like genes, OsBOR1, 2, 3 and 4, present in the rice genome. We characterized the activity, expression and physiological function of OsBOR4. OsBOR4 is an active efflux transporter of B. Quantitative PCR analysis and OsBOR4 promoter-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion revealed that OsBOR4 was both highly and specifically expressed in pollen. We obtained five Tos17 insertion mutants of osbor4. The pollen grains were viable and development of floral organs was normal in the homozygous osbor4 mutants. We observed that in all Tos17 insertion lines tested, the frequency of osbor4 homozygous plants was lower than expected in the progeny of self-fertilized heterozygous plants. These results establish that OsBOR4 is essential for normal reproductive processes. Pollen from osbor4 homozygous plants elongated fewer tubes on wild-type stigmas, and tube elongation of mutant pollen was less efficient compared with the wild-type pollen, suggesting reduced competence of osbor4 mutant pollen. The reduced competence of mutant pollen was further supported by the crosses of independent Tos17-inserted alleles of OsBOR4. Our results suggest that OsBOR4, a boron efflux transporter, is required for normal pollen germination and/or tube elongation.

Typical atrial flutter with atypical flutter wave morphology due to abnormal interatrial conduction.

We report a case of typical counterclockwise atrial flutter (AFL) with conduction block from right to left atrium along the coronary sinus (CS) musculature, confirmed by discontinuous CS activation sequence during pacing near the ostium and differential right atrial pacing. AFL was associated with an atypical flutter wave morphology, due to the detour of the activation wavefront from right to left atrium via alternate interatrial electrical connections, such as Bachmann's bundle, the interatrial septum, or both.

Molecular and enzymatic characterization of a subfamily I.4 lipase from an edible oil-degrader Bacillus sp. HH-01.

An edible-oil degrading bacterial strain HH-01 was isolated from oil plant gummy matter and was classified as a member of the genus Bacillus on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene. A putative lipase gene and its flanking regions were cloned from the strain based on its similarity to lipase genes from other Bacillus spp. The deduced product was composed of 214 amino acids and the putative mature protein, consisting of 182 amino acids, exhibited 82% amino acid sequence identity with the subfamily I.4 lipase LipA of Bacillus subtilis 168. The recombinant product was successfully overproduced as a soluble form in Escherichia coli and showed lipase activity. The gene was, therefore, designated as lipA of HH-01. HH-01 LipA was stable at pH 4-11 and up to 30°C, and its optimum pH and temperature were 8-9 and 30°C, respectively. The enzyme showed preferential hydrolysis of the 1(3)-position ester bond in trilinolein. The activity was, interestingly, enhanced by supplementing with 1 mM CoCl(2), in contrast to other Bacillus lipases. The lipA gene seemed to be constitutively transcribed during the exponential growth phase, regardless of the presence of edible oil.

Dual therapeutic action of antibiotic-loaded nanosheets for the treatment of gastrointestinal tissue defects.

An ultra-thin polymer film (nanosheet) composed of polysaccharides (i.e., polysaccharide nanosheet) provides sufficient adhesiveness, flexibility and robustness to act as an effective wound dressing. We have recently demonstrated the sealing effect of a nanosheet on a murine cecal puncture. Nevertheless, a small percentage of bacteria penetrated the nanosheet because of its ultra-thin structure. Here, we have developed an antibiotic-loaded nanosheet to inhibit bacterial penetration and investigated its therapeutic efficacy using a model of a murine cecal puncture. Tetracycline (TC) was sandwiched between a poly(vinylacetate) (PVAc) layer and the polysaccharide nanosheet (named PVAc-TC-nanosheet). Under physiological conditions, TC was released from the nanosheet for 6 h. Microscopic observation between the interface of the PVAc-TC-nanosheet and bacteria demonstrated how its potent anti-microbial effect was achieved. In vivo studies show that overlapping therapy with the PVAc-TC-nanosheet (thickness: 177 nm) significantly increases mouse survival rate after cecal puncture as well as suppressing an increase in the intraperitoneal bacterial count and leukocyte count.

Discrimination between His-bundle and the right bundle branch during electrophysiologic studies.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the His-bundle (HB) versus right bundle branch (RBB) during electrophysiologic studies, using the V3 phenomenon, and to compare the timing of HB versus RBB potentials of sinus cycles (His-ventricular [H-V] interval). METHODS: The study enrolled 16 patients without structural heart disease, who underwent electrophysiologic studies during which the H-V interval was within normal limits and the V3 phenomenon was induced during recordings of the HB and the RBB potentials by a multi-electrode catheter. The recording site of the earliest HB potential just before the V3 phenomenon was defined as the branching portion of His bundle (HBBP), the site immediately proximal to the HBBP as the HB, and the site immediately distal to the HBBP as the RBB. RESULTS: The HBBP was identified in all patients. In all cases but one patient, the H-V interval measured at the HB adjacent to the HBBP was > or =35 ms. However, in 12 patients, the H-V interval measured at the RBB adjacent to the HBBP was also > or =35 ms. CONCLUSIONS: The electrophysiologic identification of HB versus RBB by simultaneous recordings of HB and RBB potentials during induction of the V3 phenomenon was feasible. When the discrimination between HB and RBB was based on the measurement of the H-V interval, the proximal portion of the RBB was frequently misidentified as the HB.

Coronary sinus recordings of double potentials associated with retrograde conduction through left atrioventricular accessory pathways.

INTRODUCTION: In some patients with left AV accessory pathway (AP), double potentials are recorded along the coronary sinus (CS) during retrograde AP conduction only. This electrophysiologic study was performed to clarify the origin and clinical significance of double potentials in 11 patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The direction of activation of the first, relatively blunt component (DP1) was lateral to septal in 5 patients with anterior or anterolateral AP, centrifugal in 2 patients with posterior or posterolateral AP, and septal to lateral in 4 patients with posteroseptal AP, suggesting the earliest activation of DP1 was near the AP. The direction of activation of the second, sharper potentials (DP2) were septal to lateral in all patients. The double potentials were fused in the paraseptal CS region. Pacing from the lateral CS musculature or lateral left atrium reproduced the double potentials. The effective refractory period of the double potentials was reached by ventricular extrastimulation, and the left atrial deflection preceded the double potentials, excluding a ventricular or AP origin. CONCLUSION: In patients with connections between the paraseptal CS musculature and left atrium but no connections more laterally, retrograde left AP conduction is associated with double potentials in the CS recordings. The double potentials represent activation of the left atrial insertion of the AP (DP1) and later activation of the CS musculature (DP2) via connections between the paraseptal CS musculature and left atrium, respectively. The activation pattern of DP1 depends on AP location, thus providing important information for AP localization during CS mapping.