Identifying genetic variations in 89 associated with severe invasive infections.

causes mild human infections as well as life-threatening invasive diseases. Since the mutations known to enhance virulence to date account for only half of the severe invasive infections, additional mechanisms/mutations need to be identified. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study of 89 strains to comprehensively identify pathology-related bacterial genetic factors (single-nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs], indels, genes, or k-mers).

A Case of Spongiotic Osteoma Arising in the Supratubal Recess.

Osteoma of the middle ear is a rare condition in which tumors composed of mature bone grow. In the present study, we experienced a case of an osteoma causing the obstruction of the supratubal recess of the Eustachian tube, resulting in a depression in the pars flaccida of the tympanic membrane and fixation of the ossicles. The patient, a 37-year-old woman, had been aware of hearing loss for two years.

A comprehensive analysis of antimicrobial resistance of clinical 89 in Japan.

Objectives: is involved in a wide range of diseases, including pharyngitis and life-threatening invasive infections. Increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been reported worldwide in various bacteria, limiting the use of antibiotics in infection cases. The present study investigated the AMR of most prevalent types, including 89 strains in Japan.

Trans men can achieve adequate muscular development through low-dose testosterone therapy: A long-term study on body composition changes.

Background: Transgender individuals undergo the gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) to achieve physical changes consistent with their gender identity. Few studies are available on the long-term safety and efficacy of GAHT.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term physical effects and the safety of the testosterone therapy for trans men and to assess the impact of differential hormone dose.

Alternative autophagy dampens UVB-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human keratinocytes.

Sunlight exposure results in an inflammatory reaction of the skin commonly known as sunburn, which increases skin cancer risk. In particular, the ultraviolet B (UVB) component of sunlight induces inflammasome activation in keratinocytes to instigate the cutaneous inflammatory responses. Here, we explore the intracellular machinery that maintains skin homeostasis by suppressing UVB-induced inflammasome activation in human keratinocytes.

Talk to us about your skin: The relationship between spoken language and haptic exploratory procedures.

Objective: To enhance satisfaction, the cosmetics industry needs to clearly understand consumers' descriptions of their key tactile preferences. It is difficult for researchers to understand verbal descriptions from people whose native language is different from their own. Previous research has implied that some sensory words with the same lexical meanings have been observed in different haptic exploratory procedures (HEPs).

A Qualitative Study on the Development of Professionalism Among Japanese Dental Students.

Background: Professionalism is believed to vary depending on factors such as era and culture. Therefore, clarifying the meaning of professionalism in each country, region, and workplace is essential. However, how professionalism is cultivated among dental students in Japanese schools has yet to be fully elucidated.

The effects of chest drainage on pressure-controlled ventilation.

Background: The use of pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) for anesthesia management is becoming more commonly used. Chest drainage is commonly performed after thoracic surgery, and the negative pressure it generates might affect the transpulmonary pressure (TPP). In the present study, we investigated how chest drainage could affect ventilating conditions during PCV.

Whole Genome Analysis Detects the Emergence of a Single Serovar Chester Clone in Japan's Kanto Region.

In Japan's Kanto region, the number of serovar Chester infections increased temporarily between 2014 and 2016. Concurrently with this temporal increase in the Kanto region, . Chester isolates belonging to one clonal group were causing repetitive outbreaks in Europe.

Subtype Screening of bla Genes Using Bipartite Primers for DNA Sequencing.

Genes conferring carbapenem resistance have spread worldwide among gram-negative bacteria. Subtyping of these genes has epidemiological value due to the global cross-border movement of people. Subtyping of bla genes that frequently detected in Japan appears to be important in public health settings; however, there are few useful tools for this purpose.

Development of a simple and cost-effective gel-based duplex PCR method to identify both encapsulated and unencapsulated Neisseria meningitidis applicable under resource-limited conditions.

Tens of thousands of cases of invasive meningococcal diseases (IMD) with thousands of deaths are reported annually worldwide; however, only approximately 40 cases occur each year in Japan. Therefore, the majority of medical technologists in Japan have never performed or prepared for analyses of the causative agent, Neisseria meningitidis. Since IMD outbreaks have been reported at mass gathering events, the risk of IMD will increase in Japan in 2021 because of the Olympics.

Inflammasome Sensor NLRP1 Confers Acquired Drug Resistance to Temozolomide in Human Melanoma.

Cancer cells gain drug resistance through a complex mechanism, in which nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are critical contributors. Because NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein (NLRP) inflammasomes mediate IL-1β maturation and NF-κB activation, we investigated the role of inflammasome sensor NLRP1 in acquired drug resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) in melanoma. The sensitivity of melanoma cells to TMZ was negatively correlated with the expression levels of -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), the enzyme to repair TMZ-induced DNA lesions.

Single-Tube Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection of Genes Encoding Enterobacteriaceae Carbapenemase.

A multiplex PCR assay in a single tube was developed for the detection of the carbapenemase genes of Enterobacteriaceae. Primers were designed to amplify the following six carbapenemase genes: bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, and bla. Of 70 bla variants, 67 subtypes were simulated to be PCR-positive based on in silico simulation and the primer-design strategy.

Background Factors Determining the Introduction and Dosage of Insulin in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a risk for perinatal complication, and appropriate diagnosis of and intervention in this condition are important. This study aimed to identify patient factors associated with introduction and dosage of insulin, which is the main drug for treatment of GDM.

Methods: In total, 114 patients who had been diagnosed with GDM at our hospital were included in this study.

Bicarbonate and unsaturated fatty acids enhance capsular polysaccharide synthesis gene expression in oral streptococci, Streptococcus anginosus.

We recently reported on the capsular polysaccharide (CP) synthesis (cps) genes of the oral streptococci, Streptococcus anginosus. In this study, we investigate the effects of carbon dioxide (CO), bicarbonate (HCO) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) on CP synthesis of S. anginosus.

Risk Factors of Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy and Prolonged Hypoglycemia in Patients With Severe Hypoglycemia.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors of hypoglycemic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with severe hypoglycemia.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with severe hypoglycemia who were transported to the emergency department in an ambulance. We defined severe hypoglycemia as plasma glucose level < 60 mg/dL (or capillary levels < 50 mg/dL).

A Simplified Gas Chromatographic Fatty-Acid Analysis by the Direct Saponification/Methylation Procedure and Its Application on Wild Tuna Larvae.

A method for the direct preparation of fatty-acid methyl esters (FAME) was simplified for fatty-acid analysis of a single fish larva using gas chromatography (GC). The method included the isolation of a larval trunk and drying in a glass vial, followed by saponification of all the contents without prior lipid extraction. Thereafter, the fatty acids released were methylated by trimethylsilyldiazomethane.

Outbreak of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection Associated with Minced Meat Cutlets Consumption in Kanagawa, Japan.

An outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 infection occurred in October 2016 in Kanagawa, Japan. A total of 61 patients and 17 asymptomatic cases of EHEC O157:H7 infection were confirmed by laboratory testing. Among them, 24 patients were hospitalized and 4 developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

Effect of Liraglutide on Type B Insulin Resistance Syndrome and Insulin Allergy in Type 2 Diabetes: A Case Report.

Introduction: The appearance of anti-insulin antibodies or an allergy to insulin occasionally causes clinical problems with glycemic control in insulin users.

Methods: In the present report, we describe a therapeutic approach that was employed for a man with type 2 diabetes who had insulin allergy, anti-insulin antibodies, and anti-insulin receptor antibodies that developed during his insulin treatment.

Results: We started the patient on liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, and attained glycemic control without incurring any side effects.

Antiedema effects of Siberian ginseng in humans and its molecular mechanism of lymphatic vascular function in vitro.

The lymphatic system in the skin plays a major role in tissue fluid homeostasis, in the afferent phase of the immune response, and in tumor metastasis. Although lymphangiogenic factors involved in embryonic development and the metastatic spread of tumor cells have been well studied, little is known about small-molecule compounds that activate lymphatic function, especially under physiological conditions. We hypothesized that the identification of a lymphatic-activating compound could provide a method for improving edema.

Factors Predicting Adhesion between Renal Capsule and Perinephric Adipose Tissue in Partial Nephrectomy.

In minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN), it is important to preoperatively predict the degree of difficulty of tumor resection. When severe adhesions occur between the renal capsule and perinephric adipose tissue, detachment can be difficult. Preoperative prediction of adhesion is thought to be useful in the selection of surgical procedure.