Time-Course Evaluation of Body Mass Index in Japanese Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome After Adenotonsillectomy: A Three-Years Follow-Up Study.

Delayed physical growth is a common complication of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is the first-line treatment for pediatric OSAS. Only a few studies have performed time-course BMI evaluation in pediatric OSAS patients post-operatively. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the time-course changes in pediatric OSAS patients after AT. Thirty-three children with OSAS who underwent AT were included and divided into two groups on the basis of their BMI z-scores (delayed physical growth group, n = 15; non-delayed physical growth group, n = 18). Clinical records of height and weight were collected before AT and at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after AT. Changes in the mean BMI z-scores of the two groups were assessed up to 36 months. The mean BMI z-score was significantly increased in the delayed physical growth group at 6 months after AT. In contrast, the increase in mean BMI z-score was not observed in the non-delayed physical growth group. Growth improvement was noted in pediatric OSAS patients with delayed physical growth after AT. Our results suggest that AT is a promising therapy for improving the physical growth of pediatric OSAS patients with such problems.

Multi-season analyses of causative pathogens in children hospitalized with asthma exacerbation.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory viral and mycoplasma infections are associated with childhood asthma exacerbations. Here, we explored epidemiologic profile of causative pathogens and possible factors for exacerbation in a single center over a three-year period. METHODS: Hospitalized asthmatic children with attack aged 6 months-17 years were recruited between 2012 and 2015 (n = 216). Nasopharyngeal mucosa cell samples were collected from the participants and examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to detect rhinovirus (RV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), enterovirus (EV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and others. Clinical features, laboratory data, asthma exacerbation intensity, and asthma severity were compared among participants. Epidemiologic profile of causative pathogens and possible factors for exacerbation were explored. RESULTS: Viruses and/or Mycoplasma pneumoniae were detected in 75% of the participants. Rhinovirus (48%) was the most commonly detected virus in the participants with single infection, followed by RSV (6%). The median age at admission in the RV group was significantly higher than that in the RSV group. Insufficient asthma control and allergen sensitization were significantly related to RV-associated asthma exacerbation. There was no seasonality of pathogen types associated with asthma exacerbation although a sporadic prevalence of EV-D68 was observehinovirud. Rhinovirus were repeatedly detected in multiple admission cases. CONCLUSION: Our three-year analysis revealed that patients with RV infection were significantly prone to repeated RV infection in the subsequent exacerbation and good asthma control could prevent RV-associated asthma development and exacerbation. Multiple-year monitoring allowed us to comprehend the profile of virus- and/or mycoplasma-induced asthma exacerbation.

Author Correction: Reconstruction of cysteine biosynthesis using engineered cysteine-free enzymes.

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Reconstruction of cysteine biosynthesis using engineered cysteine-free enzymes.

Amino acid biosynthesis pathways observed in nature typically require enzymes that are made with the amino acids they produce. For example, Escherichia coli produces cysteine from serine via two enzymes that contain cysteine: serine acetyltransferase (CysE) and O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (CysK/CysM). To solve this chicken-and-egg problem, we substituted alternate amino acids in CysE, CysK and CysM for cysteine and methionine, which are the only two sulfur-containing proteinogenic amino acids. Using a cysteine-dependent auxotrophic E. coli strain, CysE function was rescued by cysteine-free and methionine-deficient enzymes, and CysM function was rescued by cysteine-free enzymes. CysK function, however, was not rescued in either case. Enzymatic assays showed that the enzymes responsible for rescuing the function in CysE and CysM also retained their activities in vitro. Additionally, substitution of the two highly conserved methionines in CysM decreased but did not eliminate overall activity. Engineering amino acid biosynthetic enzymes to lack the so-produced amino acids can provide insights into, and perhaps eventually fully recapitulate via a synthetic approach, the biogenesis of biotic amino acids.

Comprehensive identification of translation start sites by tetracycline-inhibited ribosome profiling.

Tetracycline-inhibited ribosome profiling (TetRP) provides a powerful new experimental tool for comprehensive genome-wide identification of translation initiation sites in bacteria. We validated TetRP by confirming the translation start sites of protein-coding genes in accordance with the 2006 version of Escherichia coli K-12 annotation record (GenBank U000962) and found ∼150 new start sites within 60 nucleotides of the annotated site. This analysis revealed 72 per cent of the genes whose initiation site annotations were changed from the 2006 GenBank record to the newer 2014 annotation record (GenBank U000963), indicating a high sensitivity. Also, results from reporter fusion and proteomics of N-terminally enriched peptides showed high specificity of the TetRP results. In addition, we discovered over 300 translation start sites within non-coding, intergenic regions of the genome, using a threshold that retains ∼2,000 known coding genes. While some appear to correspond to pseudogenes, others may encode small peptides or have previously unforeseen roles. In summary, we showed that ribosome profiling upon translation inhibition by tetracycline offers a simple, reliable and comprehensive experimental tool for precise annotation of translation start sites of expressed genes in bacteria.

Molecular cloning of cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage and changes in its mRNA expression during gonadal development of brown hagfish, Paramyxine atami.

Since hagfishes are considered the most primitive vertebrate known, extant or extinct, studies on their reproduction are indispensable for understanding phylogenetic aspects of vertebrate reproduction. However, little information is available on the endocrine regulation of the gonadal function in the hagfish. Based on EST analysis of the testis of the brown hagfish (Paramyxine atami), P450 side chain cleavage (CYP11A), which is the first and essential enzyme for steroidogenesis in jawed vertebrates, was cloned. The deduced amino acid sequence of hagfish CYP11A shows high identity to other animal forms especially in two functional domains, adrenodoxin binding domain and heme-binding domain. In the phylogenetic analysis, hagfish CYP11A forms a clade with the vertebrate CYP11A. Following the real-time PCR analysis, CYP11A mRNA expression levels were clearly correlated to the developmental stages of gonads in both sexes of the brown hagfish. By in situ hybridization, CYP11A mRNA signals were found in the theca cells of the ovarian follicles and Leydig cells and the tubule-boundary cells of the testis. These molecular and histological evidences are suggesting that CYP11A plays functional roles as a steroidogenic enzyme in gonadal development. Moreover, native GTH purified from hagfish pituitary stimulated the transcriptional levels of CYP11A in the organ-cultured testis in vitro, clearly suggesting that the steroidogenic activity of the hagfish is under the control of the pituitary GTH. It is suggested that vertebrates, during their early evolution, have established the pituitary-gonadal reproductive system.

Usefulness in NOTES of an intra-abdominal antifogging wireless charge-coupled device (CCD) camera with pantograph-type needle unit for placement to the intra-abdominal wall.

BACKGROUND: In natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), the endoscope has the disadvantages of an unstable visual field and wide blind space. We developed a compact charge-coupled device (CCD) camera unit that can be transgastrointestinally placed in the abdominal cavity. METHODS: The requisites for a wireless CCD camera unit for use in NOTES have been cited as: monitoring performance, fixation to the abdominal wall, attitude control, and antifogging functionality. Models to meet these requisites were prepared to assess their performance. The monitor had a CCD with dimensions of 7 x 7 x 7 mm and resolution of 410,000 pixels. The unit had a structure that allowed its attachment to the endoscope apex when placed to the abdominal wall. The abdominal wall fixation unit was equipped with a pantograph-type needle structure that was easily activated and retained by changing the polarity of an electromagnetic force. The pantograph-type needle head was designed to rotate by 360 degrees as an attitude-control mechanism, and both the pantograph and attitude-control mechanisms enabled attitude control in horizontal and vertical directions by a magnetic force applied from outside the body. Fogging was prevented by a vibration mechanism that physically cleaned the CCD lens surface and by titanium dioxide coating of the lens surface. RESULTS: The CCD camera unit was confirmed to have sufficient performance as an auxiliary monitor for endoscopy in terms of visual field and resolution. The pantograph-type needle structure successfully completed fixation of the CCD camera unit to the abdominal wall. Unit attitude was easily controlled, and fogging could be addressed by water supply before insertion of the CCD camera unit into the peritoneal cavity. CONCLUSIONS: The wireless CCD camera unit was verified to function as an effective second eye in NOTES by using the described mechanisms and antifogging coating.

Transintestinal hepatectomy performed by hybrid NOTES using a customized X-TRACT Tissue Morcellator with an electrifiable round cutter.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We tried to determine whether the customization of an X-TRACT Tissue Morcellator could avoid the laceration-induced distension of surgical incisions/openings when transintestinally removing resected liver tissue from the body, when the greatest dimension of the tissue exceeded the dimension of the opening. METHODS: Pigs were used to examine changes in the caliber and shape of surgical incisions made with a conventional hook knife and insulation-tipped diathermic (IT) knife for electrodissection in endoscopy, and to examine changes in circular incision made with a customized X-TRACT Tissue Morcellator. The ENDO CATCH II device was used to remove tissue. RESULTS: Laceration occurred in the "roundness-lost portion" of the surgical incisions made with the hook knife, thus confirming the greatest dimension of the distended incisions and the occurrence of an irregular laceration. In the circular incision that were made with the customized X-TRACT Tissue Morcellator, by contrast, the removal of resected liver tissue whose greatest dimension was fivefold greater than that of the surgical openings did not increase the caliber of the openings. The shape of the openings remained round, and no laceration was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the customized X-TRACT Tissue Morcellator with an electrifiable round cutter allowed the performance of transintestinal hepatectomy and the removal of a solid organ through surgical openings that had been made in the gastrointestinal wall.