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This study aimed to examine the validity of urinary N-terminal titin fragment/creatinine (urinary N-titin/Cr) reflecting muscle damage biomarker in patients with interstitial lung disease. This retrospective study enrolled patients with interstitial lung disease. We measured urinary N-titin/Cr. Furthermore, we measured the cross-sectional areas of the pectoralis muscles above the aortic arch (PM CSA ) and erector spinae muscles of the 12th thoracic vertebra muscles (ESM CSA ) to assess muscle mass until 1 year. We examined the correlation between urinary N-titin/Cr and the change in muscle mass. We plotted receiver operating characteristic curves to estimate the cut-off points for urinary N-titin/Cr for distinguishing the greater-than-median and smaller-than-median reduction of muscle mass after 1 year. We enrolled 68 patients with interstitial lung disease. The median urinary N-titin/Cr value was 7.0 pmol/mg/dL. We observed significant negative correlations between urinary N-titin/Cr and changes in the PM CSA after 1 year (p < 0.001) and changes in the ESM CSA after 6 months (p < 0.001) and 1 year (p < 0.001). The cut-off points for urinary N-titin/Cr were 5.2 pmol/mg/dL and 10.4 pmol/mg/dL in the PM CSA and ESM CSA , respectively. In summary, urinary N-titin/Cr may predict muscle loss in the long-term and act as a clinically useful biomarker reflecting muscle damage., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

There are various interventions of rehabilitation on the bed, but these are time-consuming and cannot be performed for all patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the patients who require early mobilization based on the level of sedation. We retrospectively evaluated the data of patients who underwent physical therapy, ICU admission of > 48 h, and were discharged alive. Sedation was defined as using sedative drugs and a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score of < - 2. Multiple regression analysis was performed using sedation period as the objective variable, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were performed. Of 462 patients admitted to the ICU, the data of 138 patients were analyzed. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and non-surgery and emergency surgery cases were extracted as significant factors. The ROC curve with a positive sedation period of more than 3 days revealed the SOFA cutoff score was 10. A significant positive correlation was found between sedation period and the initial day on early mobilization. High SOFA scores, non-surgery and emergency surgery cases may be indicators of early mobilization on the bed in the ICU., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) triggers cellular and molecular changes in the spinal cord. However, little is known about how the polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing phosphatidylcholines (PUFA-PCs) are regulated in the spinal cord after PNI and the association of PUFA-PCs with the non-neuronal cells within in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we found that arachidonic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine (AA-PC), [PC(16:0/20:4)+K](+), was significantly increased in the ipsilateral ventral and dorsal horns of the spinal cord after sciatic nerve transection, and the increased expression of [PC(16:0/20:4)+K](+) spatiotemporally resembled the increase of reactive microglia and the astrocytes. From the lipidomics point of view, we conclude that [PC(16:0/20:4)+K](+) could be the main phospholipid in the spinal cord influenced by PNI, and the regulation of specific phospholipid molecule in the CNS after PNI is associated with the reactive microglia and astrocytes.

Graft rejection has been a problem after bone marrow transplantation for patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Ten children with SAA were conditioned for bone marrow transplantation from HLA-identical siblings, using cyclophosphamide (CY, 50 mg/kg) plus antithymocyte globulin (ATG, 15 mg/kg) for 4 successive days. Marrow was infused 36 h after the last dose of CY. Cyclosporin A and methotrexate were administered as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. All patients achieved durable engraftment at follow-up of 7-41+ months (mean, 25) without significant GVHD. Since investigators have used different sources, doses, and time schedules of ATG, we compared our results with other published reports. We conclude that CY/ATG conditioning is well tolerated and effective in children with SAA.

A 10-year-old male with severe aplastic anemia following allogeneic BMT developed a hemolytic crisis on post-BMT day 67. The diagnosis of cold hemagglutinin disease was made based on the findings of anemia, reticulocytosis, positive direct Coombs test, and markedly elevated cold agglutinins. Anti-nuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody were also increased. Plasmapheresis was effective as an emergency measure. Corticosteroid after plasmapheresis had a transient effect. At the second episode of hemolysis 6 months after BMT, immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroid was successfully administered without negative effect on engraftment.

The bcl-2 gene becomes activated in many types of human cancers and contributes to neoplastic cell expansion, as well as to resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, by blocking programmed cell death or apoptosis. The expression of this proto-oncogene is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. DNA sequence comparisons of human, mouse, rat and chicken bcl-2 cDNAs revealed the presence of an open reading frame (ORF) [correction of (OFR)] located upstream of the normal coding region. Because upstream ORFs (uORFs) have been associated with translational repression, we analysed the functional significance of the 11 amino-acid uORF in the human BCL-2 gene (-119 to -84 bp). Deletion of this uORF from chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene constructs that contained the bcl-2 promoter and entire 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR), as well as introduction of an A-->T mutation at position -119 bp that destroyed the AUG-initiation codon, significantly increased CAT activity in HeLa, CEM, and other cell lines, without producing a corresponding elevation in CAT mRNA levels. Positioning this uORF, together with its accompanying Kozak sequences, between a heterologous promoter from SV40 and a CAT reporter gene resulted in marked inhibition of CAT protein production without a decrease in CAT mRNA. Mutation of the start codon (ATG-->TTG) of this uORF completely abolished its inhibitory activity, consistent with a translational mechanism. Taken together, these findings suggest that the uORF located within the 5'UTR of the bcl-2 gene is necessary and sufficient for translational regulation of bcl-2 gene expression.

Mcl-1 is a recently described homologue of Bcl-2 whose function and biochemical characteristics remain poorly defined. Gene transfer experiments in lnterleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent myeloid progenitor 32D.3 cells and pro-B-lymphoid FL5.12 cells demonstrated that enforced production of high levels of Mcl-1 protein failed to prolong the survival of cells when cultured in the absence of IL-3, whereas Bcl-2 did delay cell death. Mcl-1 also did not prolong the survival in vitro of 32D.3 cells that had been induced to differentiate into mature neutrophils using Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), whereas Bcl-2 did. 32D.3 and FL5.12 cells co-transfected with Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 displayed survival kinetics essentially identical to cells transfected with Bcl-2 alone, when cultured in the absence of IL-3, indicating that Mcl-1 neither enhances nor impairs Bcl-2 function. In contrast to the lack of effects of Mcl-1 in 32D.3 and FL5.12 cells, Mcl-1 (like Bcl-2) was able to neutralise Bax-induced cytotoxicity in yeast (S. cerevisiae). Moreover, the recombinant GST-Mcl-1 protein bound specifically to in vitro translated Bax protein, as well as to Bax protein present in detergent lysates prepared from 32D.3 and FL5.12 cells, based on in vitro binding assays. However, Mcl-1 and Bax proteins could not be co-immunoprecipitated from control and transfected 32D.3 and FL5.12 cells, whereas Bcl-2 and Bax were easily co-immunoprecipitated under the same conditions. The findings suggest that while Mcl-1 has the capacity to bind to and neutralise the cell death promoting activity of Bax, other factors such as perhaps additional proteins or undefined post-translational modifications may influence its ability to bind to Bax in vivo and thus affect its function as a cell death blocker.

The Escherichia coli cytoplasmic membrane protein, p12, stimulates the protein translocation activity reconstituted with SecY, SecE and SecA. The gene encoding p12, which is located at 69 min on the E. coli chromosome, was deleted to examine the role of p12 in protein translocation in vivo. The deletion strain exhibited cold-sensitive growth. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that precursors of outer membrane protein A, maltose binding protein and beta-lactamase accumulated at 20 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C. The deletion strain harboring a plasmid which carries the gene encoding p12 under the control of the araBAD promoter was able to grow in the cold when p12 was expressed with the addition of arabinose. Furthermore, the accumulated precursors were rapidly processed to the mature forms upon the expression of p12. Immunoblot analysis revealed the steady-state accumulation of precursor proteins at 20 degrees C, whereas the accumulation was only marginal at 37 degrees C, indicating that the function of p12 is more critical at 20 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. Finally, proteoliposomes were reconstituted with or without p12 to demonstrate that the stimulation of the activity by p12 increases with a decrease in temperature. From these results, we concluded that p12 is directly involved in protein translocation in E. coli and plays a critical role in the cold. We propose the more systematic name, SecG, for p12.

Lagunamycin, a novel 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. AA0310. This compound showed potent rat 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity (IC50 6.08 microM) without lipid peroxidation.

New 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, designated epocarbazolins A and B, were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces anulatus T688-8. These compounds showed potent rat 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity with weak antibacterial activity. Structural studies revealed that epocarbazolins are new carbazole antibiotics having a novel substitution pattern and an epoxide in the side chain.

An actinomycete strain No. Q996-17 produced a novel compound, epoxomicin, which exhibited in vivo antitumor activity against B16 melanoma. Structural studies indicated that it is a new member of the epoxy-beta-aminoketone group, and is closely related to eponemycin.

Streptomyces cucumerosporus strain L703-4 (ATCC 53784) produces a new 4-methyl-3-hydroxyanthraniloylpentapeptide lactone for which we have proposed the name protactin, in addition to several actinomycin components. Protactin is rather resistant to air oxidation but it can be converted to a new actinomycin, actinomycin Zp by ferricyanide oxidation. Actinomycin Zp possesses in vitro antibacterial activity and in vivo antitumor activity against P-388 leukemia in mice.

A new antitumor antibiotic hydramycin was isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces violaceus P950-4 (ATCC 53807). It showed potent antibacterial and cytotoxic activity and increased the survival time of mice inoculated with P388 leukemia. A new structure related to the pluramycin group antibiotics was assigned by its spectroscopic experiments.

Maduropeptin, a complex of new macromolecular antitumor antibiotics, is a metabolite of Actinomadura madurae H710-49. The active components maduropeptins A1, A2 and B are acidic chromopeptides with MW of around 22,500 and composed of 14 types of amino acids and an unstable chromophore. The antibiotics are active in vitro against Gram-positive bacteria and highly cytotoxic to tumor cells. They produced significant prolongation of survival time of mice implanted with P388 leukemia and B16 melanoma.

We describe the isolation of inhibitors of mammalian DNA topoisomerase I, named topostins, from a culture broth of Flexibacter topostinus sp. nov. and some properties of the inhibitors. Topostins A1, A2 and B were isolated by differential solubility in solvents, adsorption chromatography on silica gel and gel filtration on a Sephadex LH-20 column. Topostins A1, A2 and B had specific activities of 4,700, 16,000 and 22,000 U/mg, respectively. The most active metabolite topostin B comprised two components with MW of 567 and 553 in an equimolar ratio.

We found a new inhibitor of mammalian DNA topoisomerase I, named topostin, from a bacterial culture. The bacteria was identified as Flexibacter topostinus sp. nov., B-572. Morphological and physiological characteristics, and utilization of sugars were examined. Comparison of the strain with known species of the genus Flexibacter was made and indicates that the strain is a new species of the genus Flexibacter. The bacteria produced the inhibitor in parallel with their growth up to 72 hours.

An unidentified oligosporic actinomycete strain, No. E864-61, produced two new antibiotics, Bu-2313 A (C27H35NO9) and Bu-2313 B (C26H33NO9). Bu-2313 A and B each exhibited a broad antibiotic spectrum against Gram-positive and Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, and showed in vivo activity against experimental infections produced by B. fragilis and C. perfringens. Bu-2313 also inhibited some aerobic bacteria such as streptococci. Bu-2313 B was approximately two-fold more active than Bu-2313 A.

The structures of Bu-2313 A and B have been determined. They are dienoyltetramic acid-containing antibiotics structurally related to streptolydigin and tirandamycin.

Structures of the new aminocyclitol antibiotics, inosamycins A, B, C, D and E, have been determined by a combination of chemical degradation and spectroscopic studies. They are structurally related to neomycin, paromomycin and ribostamycin but differ in that all the inosamycin components contain 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosamine in place of 2-deoxystreptamine in the known aminoglycoside antibiotics.

A strain of a new Pseudomonas species produced the aminoglycoside antibiotic complex, sorbistin, which was separated by ion-exchange chromatography into three bio-active components A1, A2 and B, and two bio-inactive components C and D. Sorbistins A1, A2 and B showed moderate intrinsic activity against a wide range of bacterial species and inhibited most of the aminoglycoside-resistant organisms. Sorbistin A1 exhibited the highest activity among the three bio-active components. Sorbistins showed low order of acute toxicity in mice.

A strain of Streptomyces hygroscopicus No. J296-21 (ATCC 39150) was found to produce a complex of new antibiotics, called inosamycins, which consisted of components A, B, C, D and E. They are novel aminocyclitol antibiotics structurally related to neomycin, paromomycin and ribostamycin. The antibiotic complex and each component of inosamycin exhibit a broad antibacterial spectrum but they are inactive against most of the aminoglycoside-resistant organisms. The antibacterial activity of inosamycin A, the major component of the complex, is comparable to that of neomycin but its acute toxicity is significantly lower (ca. 1/3) than that of neomycin.

Empedopeptin is a new antibiotic produced by empedobacter haloabium nov. sp. (ATCC 31962). It is a water-soluble depsipeptide antibiotic containing eight amino acid residues and a C14-fatty acid moiety in the molecule. Although structurally unrelated, empedopeptin and vancomycin have similar antimicrobial spectra against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria including antibiotic-resistant strains. Empedopeptin is highly active in vivo in mice against systemic infections of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Clostridium perfringens. Empedopeptin is not absorbed orally.