Molecular characterization of a moss isoprene synthase provides insight into its evolution.

This is the first report on the molecular characterization of isoprene synthase (ISPS) from the moss Calohypnum plumiforme. After isoprene emission from C. plumiforme was confirmed, the cDNA encoding C. plumiforme ISPS (CpISPS) was narrowed down using a genome database associated with protein structure prediction, and a CpISPS gene was identified. The recombinant CpISPS, produced in Escherichia coli, converted dimethylallyl diphosphate to isoprene. Phylogenetic analysis indicated similarity between the amino acid sequences of CpISPS and moss diterpene cyclases (DTCs) but not ISPSs of higher plants, implying that CpISPS is derived from moss DTCs and is evolutionarily unrelated to canonical ISPSs of higher plants. CpISPS is a novel class I cyclase of the terpene synthase-c subfamily harboring αß domains. This study will help further study of isoprene biosynthesis and the physiological functions of isoprene in mosses.

Organic solvent use in enterprises in Japan.

This study was initiated to elucidate possible changes in types of organic solvents (to be called solvents in short) used in enterprises in Japan through comparison of current solvent types with historical data since 1983. To investigate current situation in solvent use in enterprises, surveys were conducted during one year of 2009 to 2010. In total, workroom air samples in 1,497 unit workplaces with solvent use were analyzed in accordance with regulatory requirements. Typical use pattern of solvents was as mixtures, accounting for >70% of cases. Adhesives spreading (followed by adhesion) was relatively common in small-scale enterprises, whereas printing and painting work was more common in middle-scale ones, and solvent use for testing and research purpose was basically in large-scaled enterprises. Through-out printing, painting, surface coating and adhesive application, toluene was most common (being detected in 49 to 82% of workplaces depending on work types), whereas isopropyl alcohol was most common (49%) in degreasing, cleaning and wiping workplaces. Other commonly used solvents were methyl alcohol, ethyl acetate and acetone (33 to 37%). Comparison with historical data in Japan and literature-retrieved data outside of Japan all agreed with the observation that toluene is the most commonly used solvent. Application of trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane, once common in 1980s, has ceased to exist in recent years.

Evaluation of serum CEA and CA19-9 levels as prognostic factors in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This clinicopathological study evaluated the utility of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 as predictors of locoregional recurrence and long-term disease-free survival in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS: During the period January 1989 to December 1994, 485 patients with primary gastric cancer were evaluated. Gastrectomies were performed in 434 patients. Prognostic factors were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate analysis, using Cox regression.RESULTS: Elevated serum CEA and CA19-9 levels were observed in 92 of the 485 patients (19.0%), and in 95 of the 435 patients (21.8%), respectively, and both markers were elevated in 29 of these 435 patients (6.7%). Elevated serum CEA and CA19-9 levels correlated well with lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, vessel invasion, stage grouping, depth of invasion, and curability. Patients with elevated serum CEA levels were at significantly higher risk of having all recurrence factors than were those with normal serum CEA levels. Patients with elevated serum CA19-9 levels were at significantly higher risk of having peritoneal metastases and distant metastases than were those with normal serum CA19-9 levels. A significant difference in the cumulative survival curves of patients was demonstrated between those with elevated and those with normal serum CEA or CA19-9 levels, even for patients at the same disease stage (stage III). Patients with elevated levels of both markers had a significantly worse prognosis than patients in whom the levels of both markers were normal. In patients who underwent gastrectomy, elevated serum CEA levels either preoperatively or within 3 weeks after gastrectomy were associated with significantly worse prognosis than were normal levels. When the cutoff level of serum CEA was increased to 10 ng/ml, serum CEA, age, lymph node metastasis, and surgical stage grouping were selected as independent prognostic factors by multivariate analysis of 14 prognostic factors, using Cox regression.CONCLUSION: Serum CEA and CA19-9 levels provide additional prognostic information in patients with primary gastric cancer. In particular, an elevated serum CEA level provides additional prognostic information and is a useful indicator of curability in patients who undergo gastrectomy. Serum CEA level is an independent prognostic factor in patients with primary gastric cancer.