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We conducted whole-genome sequencing to investigate the serotypes, the presence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, and the genetic relationships among isolates of Actinobacillus. pleuropneumoniae derived from diseased pigs. Serotype 2 (71.2%) was the most common, but the prevalence of serotypes 6 (13.6%) and 15 (6.8%) increased. Existing vaccines are considered ineffective on the isolates belonging to serotypes 6 and 15. The phylogenetic tree based on core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms showed that the isolates were clustered by serotype. Of the isolates, 62.5% did not have an antimicrobial resistance gene, including a florfenicol resistance gene, but 32.2% had a tetracycline resistance gene. The antimicrobial resistant phenotype and genotype were almost identical. The plasmid-derived contigs harbored resistance genes of aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, β-lactams, phenicols, or sulfonamides. It has been suggested that isolates with different genetic properties from vaccine strains are circulating; however, antimicrobial resistance may not be widespread., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The coronal ring of patients with unilateral coronal synostosis (UCS) presents premature fusion. This study aims to elucidate whether or not the dynamic behavior of the orbit in response to intracranial pressure (ICP) differs between patients in whom the premature fusion exists only in the frontoparietal suture (FPS) and those in whom the premature fusion extends to the frontosphenoidal suture (FSS)., Methods: A total of 15 UCS patients were included in the present study. Patients in whom premature fusion was seen inside the FPS and those in whom premature fusion extended to the FSS were categorized as FP Only (4.2 +/- 1.4 m/o) and FP + FS groups (4.6 +/- 2.2 m/o), respectively. On the basis of computed tomography (CT) data, computer-aided design models were produced. Pressure of 15 mm Hg was applied to the neurocranium of each skull model to simulate ICP. Using the finite element method, the displacements presented by each model's orbits were calculated. Displacements of the two groups were compared., Results: The orbit demonstrated greater displacement in the FP Only group than in the FP + FS group, suggesting that premature closure of the FSS disturbs growth of the orbit in response to ICP., Conclusion: In performing surgical treatment for UCS, the degree of fusion that the FSS presents should be evaluated carefully. In cases in which the FSS presents premature fusion, it is recommended to release the fusion at an early stage of cranial growth to improve the appearance of the orbital region.

The inhibitory effect of poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-butylmetacrylate) (PMB) on the in vitro skin permeation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and its esters (parabens; methylparaben, ethylparaben, n-propylparaben and n-butylparaben) as model compounds was evaluated. Solubility of the parabens in distilled water was increased by addition of PMB, and the increasing ratio was dependent on the concentration of PMB. The increment of the ratio was more marked in lipophilic parabens than hydrophilic ones. Skin permeability of parabens from their aqueous suspensions was decreased by addition of PMB, and the decreasing ratio was dependent on the PMB concentration. Then, antibacterial effect of parabens of their aqueous solutions was determined with and without PMB by measuring minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against E. coli and S. aureus. As results, MIC and antibacterial effect were increased and decreased, respectively, by addition of PMB. The contribution of PMB was more marked in butylparaben than methylparaben. These decreases in skin permeation and antibacterial effect of parabens by PMB are probably due to a higher solubility in water and a lower partition to the skin and bacterial membranes of parabens by addition of PMB.

Objective: To examine changes in the Body Mass Index (BMI) and in the prevalence of obesity among male Japanese workers after five years., Design: Follow-up study, based on data from annual health checkups performed at workplaces., Subjects and Methods: We had access to the data for a total of 63,951 male workers aged 20 through 54 years in 1992 who were examined in both 1992 and 1997. In quinquennial cohorts, we compared the findings for mean BMI and the prevalence of obesity in 1992 with the findings in 1997., Results: Between 1992 and 1997, in all cohorts the mean BMI increased significantly. For each adjacent cohort pair the mean BMI value in 1997 was significantly higher than in 1992. In 1992, 21.3% of all subjects were obese, increasing by 3.4% after five years to 24.7% in 1997. In the younger 1968-1972 and 1963-1967 cohorts the prevalence of obesity increased by 6.3% during five years. The significant increase in the obesity prevalence was observed from 1992 to 1997 for each age-adjusted cohort., Conclusions: These results suggest a substantial increase in obesity among male Japanese workers. The notable increase in the prevalence of obesity among young male adults and the general trend toward widespread obesity during five years signal an increasing risk of lifestyle-related diseases.