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We report the complete genomic sequences of two agarolytic Vibrio species strains, STUT-A11 and STUT-A16, isolated from the red algae Gracilaria . Genomic annotations revealed that both strains harbor four β-agarases, α-neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolase, and agarolytic β-galactosidase, which support efficient agarose catabolism.

SecM, a bacterial secretion monitor protein, posttranscriptionally regulates downstream gene expression via translation elongation arrest. SecM contains a characteristic amino acid sequence called the arrest sequence at its C-terminus, and this sequence acts within the ribosomal exit tunnel to stop translation. It has been widely assumed that the arrest sequence within the ribosome tunnel is sufficient for translation arrest. We have previously shown that the nascent SecM chain outside the ribosomal exit tunnel stabilizes translation arrest, but the molecular mechanism is unknown. In this study, we found that residues 57–98 of the nascent SecM chain are responsible for stabilizing translation arrest. We performed alanine/serine-scanning mutagenesis of residues 57–98 to identify D79, Y80, W81, H84, R87, I90, R91, and F95 as the key residues responsible for stabilization. The residues were predicted to be located on and near an α-helix-forming segment. A striking feature of the α-helix is the presence of an arginine patch, which interacts with the negatively charged ribosomal surface. A photocross-linking experiment showed that Y80 is adjacent to the ribosomal protein L23, which is located next to the ribosomal exit tunnel when translation is arrested. Thus, the folded nascent SecM chain that emerges from the ribosome exit tunnel interacts with the outer surface of the ribosome to stabilize translation arrest.

A patient undergoing liver resection for a 30×28mm hepatocellular carcinoma in the S4 segment developed a recurrence in the remnant liver, 29×26mm lesion in the S8 segment, about 7 months after the operation. But the patient did not wish reoperation, and ultrasonic examination disclosed that PEIT was a really difficult work to carry out, because its route could not be kept. And then, thoracoscopic microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy (thoraco. MCN) was first attempted for the patient. As a result, CT taken about 2weeks after the procedure revealed that the treated lesion remarkably transformed into low dencity area and was not entirely enhanced. The therapeutic result was satsfactory. After the therapy the patient demanded no analgesic treatment and could take ordinary meals from the 2nd day. In this procedure the diaphragm was also coagulated with the carcinoma, but no postoperative complications occurred. It is concluded that the thoraco. MCN is a new useful procefure for recurrence in the remnant liver after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially that in the dome area just under the diaphragm in terms of both good therapeutic outcome and quality of life.

Excepting operation-related deaths, including deaths within 30 days after operation and hospital deaths, and absolute non-curative resection cases, 171 resected cases of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were classified into 3 groups in terms of Kobayashi's risk score, namely, group A (score 7.5 or above; 29 cases), group B (7.4-6.0; 94) and group C (5.9 or below; 48). Results were: 1) The number of cases with a score of 6.0 or above was 123 out of 171 cases (71.9%). 2) In comparison with the other 2 groups, both postoperative survival rate and non-recurrent rate were significantly poor in group A (p

To minimize intraoperative bleeding and allow more accurate resection, we have devised a new technique for hepatectomy. In addition to occlusion of the afferent vessels, we occlude the hepatic vein at the hepatocaval junction using a balloon catheter inserted transhepatically under intraoperative ultrasonic guidance. We have performed eight hepatectomies using this method. A sequence of 15 minutes of vascular occlusion followed by 5 minutes reperfusion was repeated throughout the operation, and the total ischemic time ranged from 45 to 90 minutes. This method greatly decreased intraoperative bleeding without causing significant elevation of the postoperative transaminase or lactic dehydrogenase levels when compared with occlusion of only the afferent vessels or nonischemic resection using a microwave tissue coagulator in patients undergoing equivalent resections. Also, the postoperative prothrombin time recovered to a significantly higher level, and there were no fatal postoperative complications using this method. Our method is useful for systematic hepatic resection along the hepatic vein or for resection of tumor sited at the confluence of the hepatic vein.