Association of Anoxybacillus sp. with acid off-flavor development in a spoiled, boiled, rice dish.

Off-flavor is one of the most common food complaints. In this study, we demonstrated that acetic acid produced by Anoxybacillus sp. contamination of takikomi-gohan (boiled rice with sweet potato mixed in advance) was considered the causative agent of acid off-flavor development. First, we conducted whole genome sequencing of the bacterial strain (S1674) isolated from the remains of the contaminated takikomi-gohan, and phylogenetic analysis of k-mer diversity demonstrated that S1674 belongs to the Anoxybacillus genus. Gene expression analysis of S1674 RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) indicated that the genes encoding enzymes responsible for acetic acid formation, namely ackA1, eutD, pflA, pflB, and pykA, were upregulated in high-temperature cultures in Thermus medium supplemented with soluble starch. Additionally, we succeeded in reproducing the acid off-flavor by adding S1674 to boiled rice stored at 37 °C, 45 °C, and 60 °C. The most strongly detected organic acid was acetic acid, at the odor threshold value or more in both the air and condensation samples. Our findings suggest that some Anoxybacillus sp. produce acetic acid as a byproduct of carbohydrate metabolism, potentially causing the complaint of acid off-flavor even under high-temperature conditions in which other bacteria cannot survive.

Improvement of health status evaluated by Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 (AIMS-2) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the improvement of health status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tocilizumab. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients were treated with 8 mg/kg tocilizumab every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Disease activity was assessed by Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI). Improvement of health status was assessed by Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 (AIMS-2) and Short Form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: Tocilizumab improved CDAI and SDAI significantly at week 4 compared with at baseline. In the components of AIMS-2, "physical score", "symptom" and "affect" improved significantly at week 4 compared with at baseline, while "social interaction" did not improve significantly during 24 weeks of tocilizumab therapy. Similarly in SF-36, "bodily pain", "general health", "vitality" and "mental health" improved significantly at week 4. The most correlative component of AIMS-2 with CDAI was "symptom", while "social interaction" did not correlate with CDAI during tocilizumab treatment. CONCLUSION: The time-course diversity in improvement of health status should be considered to provide proper healthcare when treated with tocilizumab.

A case report of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis complicated with Mycobacterium avium during tocilizumab treatment.

A female patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffered from Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) infection during tocilizumab treatment. Tocilizumab was discontinued and she was treated with a recommended chemotherapy, resulting in improvement of M. avium. Tocilizumab retreatment did not aggravate M. avium infection, and radiographic abnormalities improved over 1 year after cessation of the recommended therapy. Tocilizumab may be one candidate for intractable RA patients with M. avium if any biologic is required.

Adrenergic beta1 receptor polymorphism (Ser49Gly) is associated with obesity in type II diabetic patients.

In the process of lipolysis, adipocytes are stimulated by catecholamines through beta(1), beta(2), and beta(3) adrenergic receptors (ARs). So far, beta(2) and beta(3) AR polymorphisms have been reported related to obesity. However, the relation of beta(1)AR polymorphisms to obesity has not been evaluated. In the present study, we examined whether betaAR polymorphisms are associated with obesity-related phenotype in type II diabetic patients. Polymorphisms of beta(1)Ser49Gly, beta(1)Arg389Gly, beta(2)Arg16Gly, beta(2)Gln27Glu and beta(3)Trp64Arg were genotyped in 188 type II diabetic patients by PCR-RFLP. Among these polymorphisms, beta(1)Ser49Gly was found to be associated with obesity. Subjects with beta(1)Gly49 allele showed higher body mass index (BMI) than those with Ser49/Ser49 genotype (24.7+/-3.7 vs. 23.4+/-3.3 kg/m(2); p=0.031). Subjects with beta(1)Gly49 allele were more frequently overweight (BMI >or= 25 kg/m(2)) compared with beta(1)Ser49 homozygous group (42.1 vs. 24.4%, p=0.015). By multiple linear regression analysis, beta(1)Ser49Gly polymorphism was independently associated with higher BMI (p=0.019, beta=0.166). Our data indicate that the Gly49 allele in beta(1)AR is associated with higher BMI in type II diabetic patients. Genotyping for beta(1)Ser49Gly polymorphism in type II diabetic patients may have clinical benefit to predict obesity, thereby contributing to the prevention of insulin resistance.

[Endocrine profiles and gonadotropin response to Gn-RH of men with testicular cancer].

PURPOSE: To investigate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in testicular germ cell tumors, we evaluated gonadotropin responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH), semen quality, and serum levels of sex steroid hormones in patients with testicular cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Basal serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and human chorionic gonadotropin-beta (hCG-beta) were measured before and after high orchiectomy in 20 patients with germ cell tumors of the testicle (9 with seminoma and 11 with nonseminomatous tumor). Semen quality and basal serum levels of testosterone, free testosterone, and estradiol were measured before orchiectomy. The Gn-RH test was performed before orchiectomy in all patients and after orchiectomy in patients without detectable gonadotropin levels in pre-operative serum samples. Gonadotropin levels were measured at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after intravenous injection of 100 micrograms of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). RESULTS: Serum gonadotropin concentrations were not detectable in 6 of 8 (75%) men with hCG positive tumors or in 4 of 12 (33.3%) men with hCG negative tumors before orchiectomy. Before surgery, 10 men without detectable gonadotropin levels showed complete suppression of the LH and FSH responses to LH-RH and 10 men with detectable gonadotropin levels showed significant increases in the LH and FSH responses (p < 0.01) at 30 minutes. After surgery, the Gn-RH test was performed in 9 men without detectable gonadotropin levels prior to surgery. Seven of these 9 men exhibited significant increases in the LH and FSH responses (p < 0.01) at 30 minutes while no response to LH-RH before or after surgery was seen in 2 men with detectable serum hCG-beta. We observed a significantly lower sperm density (median 7.5 x 10(6)/ml, range 0.4 to 17.8) in men with hCG positive tumors than in men with hCG negative tumors (median 33 x 10(6)/ml, range 0 to 103) (p < 0.002). Although testosterone levels did not differ significantly in men with hCG positive tumors and men with hCG negative tumors, free testosterone levels were significantly higher in men with hCG positive tumors (median 28.4 ng/ml, range 8.5 to 39.8) compared with men with hCG negative tumors (median 18.7 ng/ml, range 4.9 to 24.1) (p < 0.002). Estradiol levels were significantly increased in men with hCG positive tumors (median 44 pg/ml, range 26 to 110) compared with men with hCG negative tumors (median 33.5 pg/ml, range 10 to 87) (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that serum hCG producing testicular cancers are associated with a complete suppression of the gonadotropin response to Gn-RH at the pituitary level, resulting in an inhibition of LH and FSH secretion, and also that serum hCG secreted by testicular cancers may suppresses spermatogenesis and may stimulate androgen and estradiol production by the testes. Since suppressed serum gonadotoropin levels are found in men with hCG non-producing testicular cancers, other factors derived from the tumor may cause downregulation of the gonadotropin response to Gn-RH.

Association of plasma PAF acetylhydrolase gene polymorphism with IMT of carotid arteries in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate association of a missense mutation in plasma PAF acetylhydrolase (G994T) with intima media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries. One hundred and forty Japanese type 2 diabetic patients aged from 40 to 79 years without severe nephropathy were enrolled in this study. The genotype of the patients was determined by allele specific PCR. IMT of the carotid arteries of the subjects was recorded by B-mode ultrasound imaging. The patients were divided into two groups by genotyping, one carrying two wild alleles (wild group), and another carrying one or two mutant alleles (mutant group). Each group was further divided into two subgroups according to age; one subgroup consisted of 40s or 50s, and another consisted of 60s or 70s. The prevalence of the G994T mutation in the subjects was 28.6% (24.3% heterozygote, and 4.3% homozygote). IMT of the elderly patients of the mutant group was significantly greater (0.98 +/- 0.22 mm, n = 26) than of the elderly patients of the wild group (0.87 +/- 0.20 mm, n = 50, P = 0.0292). There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics between the two subgroups. The results of this study indicate that the missense mutation in plasma PAF acetylhydrolase is associated with development of atherosclerosis in the elderly.

[NSIP group III treated with the first cadaveric single lung transplantation in Japan].

A 43-year-old woman developed dyspnea on effort in January 1996. She was treated with various antibiotics but developed dyspnea and pretibial edema. She was referred to our hospital and admitted on February 20, 1996. On the basis of the clinical course and radiological findings, she was diagnosed as having idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with right-side heart failure. After high-dose steroid therapy (methylprednisolone, 1,000 mg/day for 3 days) and the administration of a diuretic, oral prednisolone therapy was initiated. Her condition gradually recovered. To obtain a definite diagnosis, an open lung biopsy was recommended but the patient refused the procedure. She was discharged from the hospital and placed on home oxygen therapy. After her informed consent was obtained, she became a candidate recipient for the nationwide Central Lung Transplant Evaluation Committee on August 7, 1998. Her name was then listed in the Japan Organ Transplant Network. The patient was admitted to our hospital in October 1998 because of respiratory failure. She underwent left lung transplantation at Osaka University Hospital on March 29, 2000. After the lung transplantation, she was discharged and is presently doing well without the need for supplementary oxygen. A differential diagnosis of the removed lung as nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) group III or UIP was required. We finally diagnosed NSIP group III because of the temporal uniformity and diffuse distribution of the fibrosis. In this report, we also describe the background of the clinical diagnosis, the indications for lung transplantation and the clinical course before and after transplantation.