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Purpose: Dental floss clip (DFC) traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely performed owing to its simplicity. This study aimed to clarify the appropriate indications for the DFC traction method in early gastric cancer when ESD is performed by less-experienced endoscopists. Methods and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1,014 consecutive patients who had undergone gastric ESD performed by less-experienced endoscopists between January 2015 and December 2020. Gastric ESD was performed without DFC in all cases before December 2017 [DFC (−) group, 376 cases], and ESD was performed with DFC in all cases after January 2018 [DFC (+) group, 436 cases]. The procedure time and rates of en bloc resection, complete resection, and adverse events of the groups were compared. Results: The procedure time did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, when comparing lesions >20 mm, the procedure time in the DFC (+) group was significantly shorter than that in the DFC (−) group (95±46 vs. 75±31, P<0.01). The procedure time for lesions located in the greater curvature of the upper or middle stomach and lesions >20 mm located in the lesser curvature side of the stomach in the DFC (+) group was significantly shorter than that in the DFC (−) group. Conclusions: The indications for DFC during gastric ESD by less-experienced endoscopists include lesions located in the greater curvature of the upper or middle stomach, and lesions >20 mm located in the lesser curvature of the stomach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two veterinary personnel in Japan were infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) while handling a sick cat. Whole-genome sequences of SFTSV isolated from the personnel and the cat were 100% identical. These results identified a nosocomial outbreak of SFTSV infection in an animal hospital without a tick as a vector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between glycans and glycan binding proteins are essential for numerous processes in all kingdoms of life. Glycan microarrays are an excellent tool to examine protein-glycan interactions. Here, we present a microbe-focused glycan microarray platform based on oligosaccharides obtained by chemical synthesis. Glycans were generated by combining different carbohydrate synthesis approaches including automated glycan assembly, solutionphase synthesis, and chemoenzymatic methods. The current library of more than 300 glycans is as diverse as the mammalian glycan array from the Consortium for Functional Glycomics and, due to its microbial focus, highly complementary. This glycan platform is essential for the characterization of various classes of glycan binding proteins. Applications of this glycan array platform are highlighted by the characterization of innate immune receptors and bacterial virulence factors as well as the analysis of human humoral immunity to pathogenic glycans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA double-strand break (DSB)-mediated genome rearrangements are assumed to provide diverse raw genetic materials enabling accelerated adaptive evolution; however, it remains unclear about the consequences of massive simultaneous DSB formation in cells and their resulting phenotypic impact. Here, we establish an artificial genome-restructuring technology by conditionally introducing multiple genomic DSBs in vivo using a temperature-dependent endonuclease TaqI. Application in yeast and Arabidopsis thaliana generates strains with phenotypes, including improved ethanol production from xylose at higher temperature and increased plant biomass, that are stably inherited to offspring after multiple passages. Highthroughput genome resequencing revealed that these strains harbor diverse rearrangements, including copy number variations, translocations in retrotransposons, and direct end-joinings at TaqI-cleavage sites. Furthermore, large-scale rearrangements occur frequently in diploid yeasts (28.1%) and tetraploid plants (46.3%), whereas haploid yeasts and diploid plants undergo minimal rearrangement. This genome-restructuring system (TAQing system) will enable rapid genome breeding and aid genome-evolution studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Super-roots (SR), a unique in vitro cloning system of fast and continuously growing roots, has been isolated from self-incompatible Lotus corniculatus L. The objective of this research was to develop self-fertile SR plants by hybridizing SR forms of tetraploid L. corniculatus (2n = 4x = 24) with cholchicine-doubled forms of the diploid, self-fertile L. japonicus (Regel) K. Larsen (2n = 2x = 12) species. Tetraploid forms of L. japonicus 'Miyakojima' MG-20 (MG-20) were induced by treating seeds with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% (w/v) colchicine solutions for 12 or 24 h. The rate of tetraploidization as determined by flow cytometry was most efficient at the lowest colchicine concentration for both treatment durations. Induced tetraploids of MG-20 had thicker stems with larger flowers and leaves compared with diploid forms of MG-20. Seeds produced by tetraploid MG-20 were also larger than those of the diploids; however, pod lengths and grain numbers were reduced. Two putative F1-interspecific hybrid plants were recovered, using embryo rescue, from hand-pollinated crosses between tetraploid forms of MG-20 and SR. The F1-interspecific hybrids displayed morphological features that were intermediate between the parental species. The rootgrowth rate of hybrid-derived root cultures was slightly reduced compared with the original SR. The hybrid plants are self-compatible and able to produce seeds. The interspecific hybrids obtained in this study demonstrate the potential to combine self-fertility and SR traits in Lotus forage breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene drives have the potential to rapidly replace a harmful wildtype allele with a gene drive allele engineered to have desired functionalities. However, an accidental or premature release of a gene drive construct to the natural environment could damage an ecosystem irreversibly. Thus, it is important to understand the spatiotemporal consequences of the super-Mendelian population genetics before potential applications. Here, we use a reaction-diffusion model for sexually reproducing diploid organisms to study how a locally introduced gene drive allele spreads to replace the wild-type allele, although it possesses a selective disadvantage s>0. Using methods developed by Barton and collaborators, we show that socially responsible gene drives require 0:5

A new direct method for β-selective glycosylation with an N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) donor was developed. This substrate, which can be readily prepared from commercially available GlcNAc in two steps, contains a 4-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) protecting group as a key component. We found that this functionality could have a favorable effect on the reactivity of the GlcNAc donor. Glycosylation with the armed donor using primary alcohols in the presence of a catalytic amount of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) in 1,2-dichloroethane smoothly gave the desired coupling products in good yields with complete β-selectivity, while sterically hindered acceptors were less efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoysia Willd. include one of the best-known turfgrasses worldwide owing to its adaptability in a wide range of environments and its tolerance to abiotic stresses including soil salinity, soil acidity, cold, drought, and heat. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr. obtained by a combination of 454 pyrosequencing and Sanger sequencing platforms. The entire chloroplast genome of Zoysia maps as a circular molecule of 135,810 bp built with a quadripartite organization: two inverted repeats (IRs) of 20,960 bp separated by a large single copy (LSC) sequence of 81,306 bp and a small single copy (SSC) sequence of 12,584 bp. The genome contains 131 unique genes, of which 20 are duplicated in the IRs. We identified a total of 42 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with ≥10 repeated nucleotides. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between Zoysia and Neyraudia. This study identified genes, insertion-deletion (InDel), and SSR markers that may be useful in inferring evolutionary relationships at both the intraand interspecific levels. Moreover, the Zoysia chloroplast genome sequence will be helpful in understanding phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships with other species in the Poaceae family and the Chloridoideae subfamily and will be valuable for biogenetic engineering, plant breeding, and ecological conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoysia is a warm-season turfgrass, which comprises 11 allotetraploid species (2n = 4x = 40), each possessing different morphological and physiological traits. To characterize the genetic systems of Zoysia plants and to analyse their structural and functional differences in individual species and accessions, we sequenced the genomes of Zoysia species using HiSeq and MiSeq platforms. As a reference sequence of Zoysia species, we generated a high-quality draft sequence of the genome of Z. japonica accession 'Nagirizaki' (334 Mb) in which 59,271 protein-coding genes were predicted. In parallel, draft genome sequences of Z. matrella 'Wakaba' and Z. pacifica 'Zanpa' were also generated for comparative analyses. To investigate the genetic diversity among the Zoysia species, genome sequence reads of three additional accessions, Z. japonica 'Kyoto', Z. japonica 'Miyagi' and Z. matrella 'Chiba Fair Green', were accumulated, and aligned against the reference genome of 'Nagirizaki' along with those from 'Wakaba' and 'Zanpa'. As a result, we detected 7,424,163 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 852,488 short indels among these species. The information obtained in this study will be valuable for basic studies on zoysiagrass evolution and genetics as well as for the breeding of zoysiagrasses, and is made available in the 'Zoysia Genome Database' at http://zoysia. kazusa.or.jp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoysia japonica Steudel, Z. matrella (L.) Merrill, and Z. pacifica (Goudswaard) M. Hotta and Kuroki [syn. Z. matrella (L.) Merr. var. pacifica Goudswaard] are native turfgrass species in Japan and are the most economically important species of this genus. Interspecific crossing within Zoysia is possible because of the similarity in chromosome number (2n = 4x = 40), and ecotypes with intermediate traits are found along species borders. The objectives of this study were to characterize morphological traits and determine genetic variation and population structure among 248 Zoysia accessions that we have collected throughout Japan since 1996. The accessions were classified into three species, Z. japonica, Z. matrella, and Z. pacifica. By using microsatellite markers and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), we detected high genetic diversity among the accessions. Moreover, both PCoA and Bayesian-based Structure analysis revealed two distinct populations represented by Z. japonica and Z. pacifica, while both ancestries were found in Z. matrella. On the basis of these results, we suggest that Z. matrella might represent an interspecific hybrid between Z. japonica and Z. pacifica; however, further research is required to confirm this hypothesis. Differentiation among subpopulations (RST) showed a mean value of 0.067 and a mean fixation index of individuals relative to the subpopulations (RIS) of -0.060. This indicated moderate genetic differentiation and an excess of heterozygotes among the accessions, and probably reflected recent adaptive radiation of the species following polyploidization and hybridization in the presence of ongoing gene flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the function of SYNC1, an Arabidopsis asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase gene, the FOX-hunting system using super-growing roots (SR) from the legume species Lotus corniculatus was employed. One transformed line, FSL#121, was compared to parental SR and to an SR line harboring the empty vector (Control), all of which were grown in vivo using vermiculite pots. The level of several free amino acids was higher in FSL#121 than SR. Concomitantly, FSL#121 had a distinct phenotype of greater shoot length, stem diameter and shoot fresh weight compared with SR. Also, the root length, root diameter and fresh root weight were greater in FSL#121 than SR. Furthermore, the greater number of nodules in FSL#121 increased the nitrogen fixation activity per whole plant. Therefore, SYNC1 overexpression caused distinct changes in plant growth, increased the number of root nodules, and may be involved in increasing the amount of free amino acids, especially asparagine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amrubicin hydrochloride (AMR) is a key agent for lung cancer. NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) metabolizes the quinone structures contained in both amrubicin (AMR) and amrubicinol (AMR-OH). We hypothesized that NQO1 C609T polymor­phism may affect AMR-related pharmacokinetics and clinical outcomes. Methods: Patients received AMR doses of 30 or 40 mg/m2/day on days 1-3. Plasma sampling was performed 24 hours after the first and third AMR injections. Concentrations of AMR and AMR-OH were determined by HPLC and the NQO1 C609T polymorphism was assayed by RT-PCR. Results: A total of 35 patients were enrolled. At a dose of 40 mg/m2, the T/T genotype exhibited a tendency toward a relationship with decrease concentrations of AMR-OH on days 2 and 4. The genotype also showed a significant decrease of hematological toxicities (P < 0.05). Conclusions: NQO1 C609T polymorphism had a tendency of correlation with the plasma concentrations of AMR-OH, and thereby had significant correlations with hematologic toxicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amrubicin hydrochloride (AMR) is a key agent for lung cancer. NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) metabolizes the quinone structures contained in both amrubicin (AMR) and amrubicinol (AMR-OH). We hypothesized that NQO1 C609T polymorphism may affect AMR-related pharmacokinetics and clinical outcomes. Methods: Patients received AMR doses of 30 or 40 mg/m2/day on days 1-3. Plasma sampling was performed 24 hours after the first and third AMR injections. Concentrations of AMR and AMR-OH were determined by HPLC and the NQO1 C609T polymorphism was assayed by RT-PCR. Results: A total of 35 patients were enrolled. At a dose of 40 mg/m2, the T/T genotype exhibited a tendency toward a relationship with decrease concentrations of AMR-OH on days 2 and 4. The genotype also showed a significant decrease of hematological toxicities (P < 0.05). Conclusions: NQO1 C609T polymorphism had a tendency of correlation with the plasma concentrations of AMR-OH, and thereby had significant correlations with hematologic toxicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  As the first systematic study dealing with the adsorption of estrogens by granular activated carbon (GAC), the removal behavior of 17β-estradiol (E2) and its biotransformation product of estrone (E1) in fixed GAC columns was examined using four biological activated carbon (BAC) columns (BAC-1∼BAC-4) generated by coating four GAC columns with detached microorganisms from the riverbed sediment of a representative drinking river water source containing lower content of natural organic matter (NOM). For comparison, parallel adsorption experiments were also performed using another four GAC columns (GAC-1∼ GAC-4) packed by strictly following the configurations of four BAC columns. Adsorption experimental results obtained by intermittently spiking E2 over a total running period about 350 days into the river water mixed with or without a peaty water containing higher content of NOM showed that E2 was readily removed by adsorption and the combined adsorption/biodegradation. The vertical profiles of E2 and E1, which have great significance for better understanding and optimization of the adsorption process for removal of human estrogens, were also obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The purpose of this research was to find which method better prevented MRSA isolation from postoperative infection sites: the administration of postoperative infection control agents within 72 h of surgery, including the day of surgery, or the administration of these agents within 24 h of surgery. More than 3000 patients who underwent elective surgery of the digestive system were studied. Cefazolin or cefotiam was used as the prophylactic antibiotic. The number of patients, sex, age, clinical stage, incidence of surgical site infection (SSI), isolated bacteria, distal pancreatectomy with or without gastrectomy, the rate of laparoscopic surgery, and the rate of abdominoperineal resection (APR) were examined in a prospective controlled study over three time periods. There were no significant differences in the demographics of patients in the three periods. The duration of antibiotic administration was 96.1 ± 11.2 h in period A, 18.2 ± 2.7 h in period B, and 66.9 ± 11.1 hours in period C (P Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated from the infectious site in 0.47% of patients in period A, and from 2.1% and 0.34% of patients in periods B and C, respectively, and the incidence of MRSA was significantly higher in period B as compared with periods A and C (P S. aureus (MSSA) were both significantly higher in period B patients (P [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract   Fixed bed adsorption experiments were performed using four granular activated carbon (GAC) columns designed by packing two size ranges of pulverized and sieved Filtrasorb 400 (d=0.5-0.59 and 1.0-1.19 mm) to two bed depths (L=10 and 20 cm), respectively. Continuous supplying of river water containing a lower content of natural organic matter (NOM) allowed investigation of the breakthrough of aqueous natural organic matrices assessed with lumped quality indices of total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ultraviolet absorbance at 260 nm (UV260). The capability of GAC columns in dealing with sudden rise in the load of influent NOM was also displayed by intermittently adding to the influent river water a peaty field groundwater that contained a higher content of NOM. Besides, assisted by the size-exclusion HPLC (SEHPLC), changes in the apparent molecular weight distribution of NOM along the bed depth of GAC columns were evaluated, and an important finding revealing relatively even adsorption for adsorbable NOM constituents within the entire molecular weight range of 1000-5200 g mol−1 as PSS (polystyrene sulfonates) detected for the river and groundwater NOM was obtained. Furthermore, using a previously proposed hypothetical multi-component approach incorporating the ideal adsorbed solution theory and a plug flow homogeneous surface diffusion model, the observed concentration profiles of the river water NOM were predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  A 70-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to anemia and elevated serum tumor marker levels. He had advanced colon cancer, and hepatic lesions were found incidentally. On ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT), the hepatic lesions had a maximum diameter of 20 mm and were located in Couinaud's segments V, VI, VII, and VIII, which suggested liver metastasis. On early- and late-phase CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA), all of the lesions had rim enhancement. On early-phase CT during arterioportography (CTAP), all of the lesions were seen as nodules with an irregular perfusion defect, and on late-phase CTAP, all the lesions gradually became iso-dense, and their shape and size changed. Based on the CTAP findings, these lesions were thought to be fibrotic tumors. Partial resection of the liver (including the lesions in Couinaud's segments V and VIII) was done. Histological examination revealed that the lesions were necrotic nodules. Thus, CT angiography (CTHA and CTAP) was useful for identifying necrotic nodules, because their appearance on this modality is different from that of liver metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Bacterial culture is not often performed for mild surgical site infections, so only isolates from patients with severe surgical site infections have been identified. Consequently, broad-spectrum antibacterials, such as carbapenems, whose resistance has been highly modified, have been selected for use from the initial stage of these infections, and this is one reason for the increase in drug-resistant bacteria. We carried out this study to show antibiotics that are appropriate for each period of such infections. Bacteria obtained from postoperative infection sites in 114 patients with surgical site infections after gastrointestinal surgery were classified as first, second, third, and fourth isolates: the first isolates were taken when the administration of prophylactic antibiotics was finished, and the second, third, and fourth isolates were taken when the administrations of the first, second, and third therapeutic antibiotics, respectively, were finished. The incidence of drug-resistant strains was rare in strains isolated in the early phase of infections. The numbers of strains resistant to cephems and carbapenems increased as the clinical course of the infection progressed. New broad-spectrum antibiotics such as carbapenems should not be selected for the treatment of early-phase surgical site infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  This prospective controlled study included 5859 cases of digestive surgery from September 1987 to August 2002. The study was divided into six 2.5-year periods, A–F. During and after period B, cefazolin was used for surgery of the esophagus, stomach, and gall bladder, and cefotiam for colon resection, hepatectomy, and pancreatectomy. During period A, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was administered for 6 (4.6) days before surgery, on average. During and after period B, TPN was confined to patients who were incapable of oral intake. During thoracic esophageal cancer surgery, frozen plasma was administered at 10 ml/h, colloid osmotic pressure was maintained, and water was prevented from accumulating in the third space. Mechanical respiratory support was not needed during or after period B. The incidence rate of respiratory infection decreased to 1.7% during period A, and to 0.7%–1.1% during and after period B. During and after period B, in particular, early respiratory infection cases after surgery decreased significantly to 0.1%–0.3%. In period A, among the respiratory infectious bacteria isolated, MRSA was the most frequent, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After period B, P. aeruginosa was the most frequent bacterium isolated. Over all periods, there was no significant difference in resistant ratios in P. aeruginosa. Because of consistent infusion management during the perioperative period, artificial breathing became unnecessary and, as a result, the prevalence of early respiratory infection decreased significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We distributed a questionnaire to institutions accredited by the Japan Surgical Society asking about the use of antibiotics in digestive tract surgery in Japan in 2003, and compared the results with those of a similar questionnaire distributed in 1993. The period of antibiotic administration for esophageal resection was at least 6 days in 64.9% of the 1993 questionnaire responses, but less than 4 days in 60.4% of the present questionnaire responses. For distal gastrectomy, antibiotics were given for 5 days postoperatively at 53.0% of the responding institutions in the 1993 survey, but for only 3 days, at 72.4%, in the present survey. An oral antibiotic was given as part of antibacterial colon preparation before colon resection at 70% or more of the institutions in the 1993 survey, while no antibiotic colon preparation was given at 80% of the institutions in the present survey. The period of antibiotic administration for laparoscopic cholecystectomy was at least 4 days in 72% of the institutions in the 1993 survey, but this decreased remarkably to fewer than 2 days at 80.8% of the institutions in the current survey. There were no differences in the selection of antibiotics between the two surveys. The period of antibiotic administration has decreased remarkably in the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of operative antibiotic therapy we changed the antibiotics and examined the susceptibility of the postoperative infection. Methods We studied 4?593 patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery during the last 12.5 years, and examined the changes in intraoperative antibiotics, the return of bacteria isolated from infectious sites, the trends in frequency of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolation, and changes in the antibiotic susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacterioides fragilis. We changed the antibiotics to Cefazolin (CEZ) for upper gastrointestinal tract surgery and cholecystectomy, and to Cefotiam (CTM) for colonic, liver, and pancreatic surgery. We also reduced the period of drug administration. Results The rate of MRSA infections decreased, the rate of P. aeruginosa infections was always under 20% and the rate of B. fragilis infections increased. After the guidelines of drug susceptibility were prepared, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Cefsulodin (CFS) and Piperacillin (PIPC) for P. aeruginosa and of Latamoxef (LMOX) and PIPC for B. fragilis, decreased. Conclusion The use of antibiotics considered comparatively old for the prophylaxis of postoperative infection prevented the emergence of MRSA-like resistant strains, influenced changes in Gram-negative bacteria drug susceptibility, and led to an overall reduction in multiple drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]