New phenylspirodrimane metabolites MBJ-0030, MBJ-0031, and MBJ-0032 isolated from the soil fungal strain Stachybotrys sp. f23793.

Chemical screening of culture medium from the soil fungus Stachybotrys sp. resulted in the isolation of the three new phenylspirodrimanes MBJ-0030 (1), MBJ-0031 (2) and MBJ-0032 (3). Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of 1-3 were determined by modified Mosher's and Marfey's methods. In addition, cytotoxic and antimicrobial evaluations of the compounds were conducted.

Speech Outcomes of 10-year-old Children after Early Palatoplasty Using Presurgical Orthodontics at 6 Months of Age.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess whether patients who underwent early palatoplasty have normal speech. METHODS: 19 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate were enrolled in this study. At 6 months of age, we performed simultaneous lip, maxilla, and palate repair using presurgical orthodontics. Speech development was assessed by evaluating velopharyngeal function (VPF) and development of articulation for 10 years. RESULTS: No articulation disorders were observed after 4 years of age. Although palatalized articulation was evidently temporary in 3 cases before 4 years of age, all patients recovered without any speech training. Normal VPF rates were as follows: at 4 and 7 years of age 78.9% (n = 15), 10 years of age 73.7% (n = 4). 10 patients temporarily presented with mild VPI after 5 years of age although they had a normal VPF until 4 years of age. CONCLUSION: Early palatoplasty after narrowing the cleft palate using presurgical orthodontics is beneficial for development of articulation. The rate of normal VPF did not decrease over the years.

[A Case of Unresectable Gastric Cancer with Multiple Metastases Responding to Chemotherapy].

A 73-year-old man presented to a clinic complaining of upper abdominal pain with nausea and diarrhea. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with progressive gastric cancer: cT4a(SE), N3M1(H1P1), Stage IV . For first-line therapy, SP: S-1(120 mg, 3 weeks)and CDDP(90 mg, 8 days iv) were selected. Though the patient had Grade 3 thrombocytopenia and renal dysfunction, 13 courses were performed over 1 year 6 months. The primary lesion in the stomach showed complete response, while the metastatic foci in the liver reduced in size. Because of renal dysfunction and thrombocytopenia, 19 courses of SOX: S-1(80 mg, 2 weeks)and oxaliplatin(100 mg, 3 weeks)were administered for 1 year. Thereafter, S-1(80 mg, 4 weeks) was continued for 6 months. Appropriate administration of chemotherapy led to complete radiographic resolution of the gastric tumor, with survival currently approaching 3 years 6 months.

[Remission of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Concurrent Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis via Chemotherapy - A Case Report].

The following is a case report of moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma of the stomach with widespread thrombosis of the portal vein, for which chemotherapy proved effective. A 75-year-old man presented to the clinic with a new onset ofmalaise. The patient had anemia, elevation ofliver and biliary enzymes, and significantly elevated CA19-9 levels at 43,581 U/mL and CEA levels at 2,560 ng/mL. An upper endoscopy revealed a mass lesion extending from the fundus to the pylorus as well as to the duodenum along the smaller curvature of the stomach. A biopsy revealed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Abdominal CT showed a mass lesion extending from the body of the stomach and penetrating through the gastric wall, and extensive lymphadenopathy in the surrounding areas. In addition, multiple thromboses were identified in the portal vein and its tributaries, including the inferior mesenteric vein, splenic vein, and intrahepatic capillaries. The patient subsequently received a single round ofS -1 and CDDP. The tumor demonstrated a marked response; the tumor size and lymphadenopathy showed a significant improvement and the CA19-9 level decreased. Because the patient's condition deteriorated, this chemotherapy regimen was discontinued. The patient was switched to S-1 monotherapy and is still alive today, 2 years 10 months after the initial diagnosis.

Isolation of a Cyclic Depsipetide, Aspergillicin F, and Synthesis of Aspergillicins with Innate Immune-Modulating Activity.

Innate immunity is the front line of self-defense against microbial infection. After searching for natural compounds that regulate innate immunity using an ex vivo Drosophila culture system, we identified a new cyclic depsipeptide, aspergillicin F, from the fungus Aspergillus sp., as an innate immune suppressor. The total synthesis and biological evaluation of the aspergillicin family, including aspergillicin F, were performed, revealing that slight structural differences in the side chains of amino acid residues alter innate immunity-regulating activity.

[A Successful Case of Treatment of Colonic Metastasis and Peritoneal Recurrence of Type 4 Gastric Cancer by Using Colectomy and Chemotherapy].

We present a successful case of treatment of colonic metastasis and peritoneal recurrence of type 4 gastric cancer by using colectomy and chemotherapy. A 70-year-old woman with a diagnosis of type 4 advanced gastric cancer underwent distal gastrectomy. The final pathological diagnosis was LM, circ, type 4, sig, pT4a (SE), ly1, v1, pN1, M0, P0, CY0, pStage Ⅲa. Adjuvant chemotherapy was conducted with oral administration of S-1, though regrettably the chemotherapy was interrupted because of diarrhea, an adverse effect of S-1. Metastatic recurrence occurred on the transverse colon, for which she underwent transverse colectomy 2.9 years after the initial surgery. Another colonic metastasis in the ascending colon along with peritoneal recurrence was diagnosed 3.11 years after the initial surgery, and the patient underwent a palliative colostomy and received chemotherapy with S-1 plus docetaxel. She was successfully treated up to a clinical CR with chemotherapy, and she died 5.10 years after the initial surgery. In this case, a good prognosis was obtained through the combination of resection of the recurrence sites, palliative surgery for avoiding obstruction, and chemotherapy using S-1 plus docetaxel for metachronous multiple metastases.

Branchiibius hedensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a Japanese codling (Physiculus japonicus).

A novel, Gram-stain-positive bacterial strain, Mer 29717(T), was isolated from the branchia (gills) of a Japanese codling, Physiculus japonicus, collected from bottom waters of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that this strain represents a distinct lineage within the family Dermacoccaceae and was related most closely to members of the genera Demetria and Yimella. It shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (95.1 %) with Yimella lutea YIM 45900(T). Strain Mer 29717(T) contained MK-8(H(2)) and MK-8(H(4)) as menaquinones, and iso-C(16 : 0), C(16 : 0), C(17 : 1) cis-9, C(17 : 0), C(18 : 1) cis-9 and C(19 : 1) cis-10 were the major cellular fatty acids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain Mer 29717(T) was composed of l-Lys, d-Ser, l-Ser, Gly, d-Glu and d-Ala. Polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified phospholipid. Mycolic acids were not detected. The G+C content of the DNA of strain Mer 29717(T) was 68 mol%. On the basis of differential chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical data, strain Mer 29717(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Branchiibius hedensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Branchiibius hedensis is Mer 29717(T) ( = NBRC 106121(T)  = DSM 22951(T)).

A new device for fixing the premaxilla with osteotomy in a child with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate in the mixed dentition period--a preliminary case report.

In the treatment of a protruded premaxilla associated with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate, some patients require surgical setback of the premaxilla with osteotomy as functional and aesthetic treatment. No satisfactory surgical approaches have been established for the setback because it is usually difficult to fix the premaxilla after osteotomy in the mixed dentition period. This paper reports the new method for fixing the premaxilla with osteotomy in a child with a severely protruded premaxilla in the mixed dentition period. To fix the segment, we fabricated a device consisting of a palatal bite plate and an anterior tray before surgery. The space between the tray and the premaxilla was filled with soft resin during surgery so that the reposition of the premaxilla could be adjusted. This approach produced a favorable result. Our device has several advantages. It allows the adjustment of repositioning of the premaxilla during surgery. It can change the range of the adjustment according to the intended position of the premaxilla. It allows secure fixation of the segment. It is removable for tooth brushing and observation of bone union. Our device can be applied to many children similar to our patient reported in this paper.

Production profile of the soluble lytic transglycosylase homologue in Staphylococcus aureus during bacterial proliferation.

The immunodominant antigen A, IsaA, of Staphylococcus aureus is considered to be a sequence homologue of gram-negative soluble lytic transglycosylase. Recently, it was reported that IsaA production is probably regulated by the essential two-component regulatory system consisting of YycG and YycF. Therefore, we investigated the isaA expression profile by quantifying its gene products at different stages of bacterial growth. In the culture supernatant, IsaA was detectable in the early exponential growth phase and its concentration constantly increased until the early stationary phase. Cell surface IsaA was mainly found on growing bacteria, and disappeared proportionately with a decline in cell proliferation. On the other hand, the isaA transcript rapidly increased at the beginning of the culture, and then stayed at a constant level until the late exponential growth phase. These findings indicated that isaA gene expression was stimulated during the exponential growth phase and repressed in the stationary phase. Thus, IsaA production was associated with active bacterial growth. Our results support the previous report that isaA expression is regulated by YycF, and also suggest that IsaA is probably involved in bacterial proliferation by residing on the cell wall. We also discuss the possibility that isaA transcription may be controlled by SarA.

Subcellular location of the soluble lytic transglycosylase homologue in Staphylococcus aureus.

The immunodominant antigen A, IsaA, of Staphylococcus aureus was found to include a putative soluble lytic transglycosylase domain in its C-terminal region. Since the presence of this distinctive domain suggested that the protein might participate in peptidoglycan turnover, as indicated in Gram-negative bacteria, its cellular location was investigated. The protein was found not only in the culture supernatant but also in the cell wall fraction. To estimate its physiological role for the bacterium, its cell surface distribution was studied by immunoelectron microscopy. Protein A-gold particles binding to the immune complex were mainly located on the septal region of the bacterial cell surface. These data suggested that IsaA might be involved in bacterial cell separation through a preferential interaction with peptidoglycan chain.