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Abstract: The number of collembolans collected from hyphal mat soil of ectomycorrhizal fungus, Tricholoma matsutake was examined to investigate whether the ectomycorrhizal mat always includes larger numbers of collembolans than did the non-mat soil. The number of collembolans collected from hyphal mat soil did not differ significantly from that from the adjacent non-mat soil in most case. The temporarily aggregation of Isotomidae collembolans on hyphal mat of T. matsutake were observed on 2 December 2002, though the number of collembolans collected from the hyphal mat soil did not differ significantly from those collected from the adjacent non-mat soil because of a wide range of variety of the data. Fungal materials contained in the gut of the Isotomidae population consisted mostly of hyphal fragments of dematiaceous fungi and unknown basidiomycetes. Since the hyphae of T. matsutake seem to play a small role as a food resource for collembolans in the field, the existence of the hyphal mat of T. matsutake did not affect the number of collembolans inhabiting the soil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Invasive ants pose a risk to human well-being and social/ecosystem stability. Linepithema humile Mayr is among the most damaging invasive ants worldwide. Most L. humile populations invade ports/wharfs isolated from surrounding landscapes, but unfortunately, a new population was discovered in an inland urban area (Nara Prefecture) of Japan in 2021. In this study, first, the supercolony type of the Nara L. humile population was identified via a hostility test, and then its distribution pattern was characterized. In aggression tests between L. humile from Nara and four supercolonies (haplotypes LH1, LH2, LH3, LH4), this ant showed extremely strong hostility against all supercolonies exept LH2, which was detected only in Japan in its introduced range. In Nara, L. humile was abundant in and around the urban river. Simulations revealed that using this environment for movement/dispersal increased the annual dispersal ability by 14 times compared with that achieved via ground (125 m), as mentioned in the literature. Therefore, river channels can serve as major pathways of long-distance dispersal for L. humile invading inland urban areas. Since applying chemical strategies around rivers is problematic, preventing L. humile from moving to rivers from initial invasion sites is crucial., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Four new saproxylic species of the genus Paranura from Nagasaki, Nara, and Niigata provinces of Japan are described and illustrated in this paper. Paranura tsushimaensis sp. nov. is characterized by a dark blue body color, Abd. V four times as long as Abd. VI, 3+3 eyes, three ocular chaetae on the head, four ordinary chaetae De on Th. III, two ordinary chaetae Di on Abd. V, and all dorsal chaetae of Abd. VI in a unique reticulated plate. P. nakamurai sp. nov. is identified by its yellowish white body color, 2+2 eyes, tubercle Af on the head with two reticulated tubercles, and tubercles Di on Abd. V fused. P. alpicola sp. nov. is characterized by its yellow body color, 3+3 eyes, presence of complete chaetotaxy in the central area of the head, Th. IIIII with two and three ordinary chaetae De respectively, and tubercles Di on Abd. V separate. P. convallis sp. nov. is identified by its orange body color, 3+3 eyes, head without chaeta O, three mandibular teeth, and Th. IIIII with three and four ordinary chaetae De respectively. A key for all species of the genus Paranura is provided.

We describe a new species of Collembola, Crossodonthina elegans sp. nov., collected from Yonaguni-jima, southwest Japan. This new species differs from other known congeners because it has an unusual white or yellow color pattern on Ant. I and Th. I. It is similar to C. laterisensillata Ohira, Kataoka, Tanooka & Nakamori, 2022, in the structure of mouthparts, 3 + 3 eyes, cephalic chaeta O present, and tubercles De and Dl separated on Abd. V. However, it is easily distinguished from the latter species to maxilla without ciliated lamella, cephalic tubercle Dl separated from L and So, 5 chaetae of tubercle L on Abd. I and III, and macrochaetae apically rounded. We provide the key to all species of the genus and discuss the unique color pattern of the new species among the tribe Lobellini.

This study reports the first record of the genera Paralobella Cassagnau Deharveng, 1984 and Blasconura Cassagnau, 1983, three new species from Kuchinoerabu-jima and Miyako-jima of Japan, respectively. Paralobella kuchierabu sp. nov. can be distinguished from all known genus members by distinct morphological characteristics: yellow body color, mandible with 3 teeth, presence of chaeta O on head, and tubercle De of Th. IIIII with 5 (4+s) chaetae, tubercle Di of Th. I with 1 chaeta, tubercles De and Dl of Abd. V separated. Blasconura triangulum sp. nov. is characterized by a tubercle Fr fused to An, unguis without an inner tooth, and 2 very closely placed tubercles Di on head. Blasconura cordis sp. nov. is unique in the genus, with a tubercle An fused to Cl. Other characteristic features of the species are the absence of chaeta O on head, tubercle Oc with 3 chaetae, Ant. I with 7 chaetae, and tubercle De of Th. III with 5 (4+s) chaetae. A key to all species of the genus Paralobella and Blasconura is provided.

Reliable identification of species is important for protecting native ecosystems against the invasion of non-native species. DNA barcoding using molecular markers, such as the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene, helps researchers distinguish species. In this study, we focused on introduced veronicellid slugs in the Ryukyu Islands and some greenhouses on mainland Japan. Some veronicellids are medium-to-high risk pest species for humans. Identifying veronicellid species by their external morphology is difficult and unreliable because there is substantial overlap between intraspecific variation and interspecific differentiation. Therefore, internal morphologies such as male genitalia have been the primary traits used to distinguish veronicellids. To identify introduced veronicellid slugs in Japan to the species level, we used morphological assessment of male genitalia and DNA barcoding of the standard COI gene fragment. We also conducted species-delimitation analyses based on the genetic data. The results showed that five evolutionarily significant units, corresponding to four nominal species inhabit the Ryukyu Islands, of which two species were also found in the greenhouses of mainland Japan, including the first record of Sarasinula plebeia in Japan. The presence of non-native slug species could increase the transmission of parasites in Japan., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 Hirano et al.)

Strategic responses to invasive Latrodectus widow spiders are a global challenge due to the risks they pose to health and ecosystems. Chemical strategies involving the use of pyrethroids are effective against adult spiders, but as their populations rebound, chemical control becomes costly and unsustainable for eradication. A major obstacle is the inefficacy of insecticides against eggs, which are covered by a protective silk egg sac. Eradication of invasive spiders must focus on destroying progeny. Here, the responses of eggs in egg sacs of two invasive Latrodectus spiders in Japan (Latrodectus hasseltii (Thorell) and Latrodectus geometricus (C.L. Koch)) to short-term dry-heat exposure were examined. To test whether the dry-heat tolerance of the egg sacs of both spider species differed, lethal temperature (LT) was determined based on the hatching rate of eggs from egg sacs subjected to a range of temperatures. Hatching in both species failed completely when the egg sacs were exposed to temperatures of 55°C and above for 10 min, but the LT to reduce hatching by 90% (LT90) differed significantly between L. hasseltii (50. 9°C) and L. geometricus (52. 8°C). Our study highlights the efficacy of dry heat in suppressing hatching and thus shows the possibility for effective extermination of these noxious invasive pests. Further exploration and investigation of the effects of humidity and heat exposure time on egg sacs under field conditions are needed to guide Latrodectus spider control strategies., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Volcanic eruptions are one of the largest natural disturbances and are followed by the establishment of novel plant and animal communities in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the role of pre-eruption vegetation in the establishment of arthropod communities after volcanic disturbances is currently unknown. Here, we asked whether the legacy of pre-eruption vegetation mediates the community structure of ground-dwelling arthropods after volcanic disturbances. The 2015 eruption in Kuchinoerabu-jima Island, southwest Japan, caused two types of disturbances [a pyroclastic flow and a lahar (i.e., mudflow)] in three types of forests (broad-leaved, black pine, and cedar). We hypothesized that pre-eruption vegetation would influence the community structure of ground-dwelling arthropods after the disturbance, and we expected that these effects from vegetation would be more prevalent for the less severe disturbances. The total abundance of ground-dwelling arthropods decreased more in the lahar than the pyroclastic flow, and arthropod species composition showed a greater change after the lahar. These findings suggest that the lahar disturbance was more severe than the pyroclastic disturbance. Contrary to expectations, the difference in the arthropod species composition among the vegetation types was greatest after the lahar. After the pyroclastic flow, leaf litter remained to some degree with all the vegetation types. After the lahar disturbance, however, although the litter in the cedar forests remained, the litter disappeared completely from broad-leaved and black pine forests. The disappearance of litter from these two forest types after the lahar may be responsible for the greater difference in arthropod species composition among the vegetation types. This study shows that the legacy effects of pre-eruption vegetation on terrestrial arthropod communities after volcanic disturbance were different depending on the type of disturbance. Focusing on the role of pre-eruption biotic factors would contribute to a better understanding of the recovery processes of terrestrial ecosystems after large natural disturbances., Competing Interests: We declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Prompt responses to invasive Latrodectus spiders introduced unintentionally are needed worldwide due to their medical and ecological importance. Latrodectus species are chemically controlled using pyrethroid insecticides despite concerns about the ecological impacts of these compounds on biodiversity/ecosystems. Here, the relative sensitivities (acute toxicity: 48-h LC50) of Latrodectus hasseltii Thorell and Latrodectus geometricus C.L. Koch from Japan to the conventional neurotoxic insecticide bifenthrin (pyrethroid) and a new candidate insecticide, fipronil (phenylpyrazole), were examined. Acute residual toxicity tests of these compounds in two nontarget spiders (Parasteatoda tepidariorum C.L. Koch (Araneae: Theridiidae), Badumna insignis L. Koch (Araneae: Desidae)) were conducted for comparison. To test whether bifenthrin and fipronil toxicities differed among the four spiders, corresponding species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) were compared, and hazardous concentrations were determined. Sensitivity (especially in the nontarget species) was two to four orders of magnitude higher for bifenthrin than for fipronil. The SSD patterns of the two insecticides differed significantly, with the spider communities being more sensitive to bifenthrin than to fipronil. The lethal bifenthrin concentration for Latrodectus may reduce spider populations by over 70-90%. If L. hasseltii (established throughout Japan) is targeted for effective population suppression rather than L. geometricus (with a limited distribution range) using the specified insecticide concentration (LC50 value) for fipronil, less than 20% of spider communities will be impacted. Chemical operations aimed at the effective population management and subsequent eradication of invasive Latrodectus spiders while supporting local biodiversity conservation would benefit from considerations of fipronil dosages and target species sensitivities., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile Mayr, has spread to almost all continents. In each introduced region, L. humile often forms a single large colony (supercolony), the members of which share the haplotype "LH1", despite the presence of other supercolonies with different genetic structures. However, the mechanisms underlying the successful invasion of LH1 ants are unclear. Here, we examined whether diet breadth differs between more successful (LH1) and less successful (LH2, LH3, LH4) L. humile supercolonies in Japan to better understand the processes responsible for invasion success. The standard ellipse areas (SEAs) of δ 13 C and δ 15 N and their ranges (CR and NR) were used as diet breadth indices. The SEAs of LH1 were much larger than those of the less successful supercolonies despite no differences in the baseline SEAs of arthropods within the supercolony habitats, indicating that the invasion success of a supercolony is associated with its diet breadth. Furthermore, LH1 had a broader CR than the other supercolonies, suggesting that which might be derived from superior resource exploitation ability. Our study highlights the importance of focusing on intraspecific differences in diet breadth among supercolonies when assessing organisms that can potentially invade and become dominant in new habitats.

Phylloporia , in the Hymenochaetaceae, is a polypore genus with a worldwide distribution. The new taxon Phylloporia lonicerae is introduced, which is the first Phylloporia species to originate from Japan. This species grows exclusively on living Lonicera japonica and is distinguished by annual, sessile basidiocarps that occur in clusters, pileal surface of narrow, concentrically sulcate zones, 6-8 pores per mm, duplex context separated by a black zone, dimitic hyphal system and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, 3.2-4 × 2.3-3.1 µm. Phylogenetically, P. lonicerae is nested within the Phylloporia clade as a distinct terminal lineage with full statistical supports and sister to the clade of P. minutispora , P. cf. pulla and P. terrestris with weak supports. Besides Phylloporia bibulosa , P. chrysites and P. spathulata , P. lonicerae is the fourth species of Phylloporia recorded from Japan. An identification key to all accepted 48 species of Phylloporia is provided.

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr; Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is one of the world's most hazardous invasive species, and thus its eradication from Japan is important. Physical and chemical controls can be expensive and cause strong adverse effects on local terrestrial ecosystems regardless of their high efficacy. Here, presence/absence of host-tree selection by Argentine ants was investigated to understand the ant-honeydew-producing insects interactions in order to develop new cultural controls compatible with biodiversity conservation. Abundance of Argentine ants and their tree utilization ratio was measured among dominant roadside trees (Cinnamomum camphora, Myrica rubra, Nerium indicum, Rhaphiolepis indica var. umbellata, Juniperus chinensis var. kaizuka) in two areas around Kobe, Japan. Almost all ants collected were Argentine ants suggesting that native ants would have been competitively excluded. Tree utilization of Argentine ants clearly differed among host trees. Abundance of both Argentine ants and honeydew-producing insects and tree utilization rate of the ants were significantly lower in especially C. camphora and J. chinensis. Few Argentine ants were observed trailing on C. camphora, J. Chinensis, and N. indicum, most probably due to low abundance of honeydew-producing insects on these trees with the toxic and repellent chemical components. On the other hand, high abundance of both Argentine ants and homopterans were found in M. rubra and especially R. indica. We suggest that reductions of R. indica and M. rubra would lead to a decrease in abundance of honeydew-producing insects, and thus effectively control populations of Argentine ants. At the same time, planting of C. camphora, J. Chinensis, and N. indicum may also play a role in restraint efficacy against invasion of the invasive ants., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Fipronil is one of the most effective insecticides to control the invasive ant Linepithema humile, but its effectiveness has been assessed without considering the genetic differences among L. humile supercolonies. We hypothesized that the susceptibility of the ant to fipronil might differ among supercolonies. If so, dosage and concentration of fipronil may need to be adjusted for effective eradication of each supercolony. The relative sensitivities of four L. humile supercolonies established in Hyogo (Japan) to fipronil baits were examined based on their acute toxicity (48-h LC(50)). Toxicities of fipronil to seven ground arthropods, including four native ant species, one native isopoda, and two cockroaches were also determined and compared to that of L. humile supercolonies using species sensitivity distributions. Marked differences in susceptibility of fipronil were apparent among the supercolonies (P < 0.008), with the 'Japanese main supercolony' (271 μg L(-1)) being five to ten times more sensitive to fipronil than other colonies (1183-2782 μg L(-1)). Toxicities to non-target species (330-2327 μg L(-1)) were in the same range as that of L. humile, and SSDs between the two species groups were not significantly different (t = -1.389, P = 0.180), suggesting that fipronil's insecticidal activity is practically the same for L. humile as for non-target arthropods. Therefore, if the invasive ant is to be controlled using fipronil, this would also affect the local arthropod biodiversity. Only the 'Japanese main supercolony' can be controlled with appropriate bait dosages of fipronil that would have little impact on the other species.

In general, mycoviruses are transmitted through hyphal anastomosis between vegetatively compatible strains of the same fungi, and their entire intracellular life cycle within host fungi limits transmission to separate species and even to incompatible strains belonging to the same species. Based on field observations of the white root rot fungus, Rosellinia necatrix, we found two interesting phenomena concerning mycovirus epidemiology. Specifically, apple trees in an orchard were inoculated with one or two R. necatrix strains that belonged to different mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs), strains W563 (virus-free, MCG139) and NW10 (carrying a mycovirus-like double-stranded (ds) RNA element (N10), MCG442). Forty-two sub-isolates of R. necatrix, which were retrieved 2-3 years later, were all genetically identical to W563 or NW10: however, 22 of the sub-isolates contained novel dsRNAs. Six novel dsRNAs (S1-S6) were isolated: S1 was a new victorivirus; S2, S3, and S4 were new partitiviruses; and S5 and S6 were novel viruses that could not be assigned to any known mycovirus family. N10 dsRNA was detected in three W563 sub-isolates. These findings indicated that novel mycoviruses, from an unknown source, were infecting strains W563 and NW10 of R. necatrix in the soil, and that N10 dsRNA was being transmitted between incompatible strains, NW10 to W563., (© 2012 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We set out to see if nutritional assessment(management)using MUST could be useful for patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy., Methods: The study sample consisted of 197 patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy between June 2010 and November 2010. The results of MUST, serum albumin levels, and nutritional intervention were investigated., Results: High- and medium-risk patients requiring nutritional therapy was comprised of 17/78 breast cancer(21. 8%), 16/63 hematologic malignancy(25. 4%), and 26/56 colonic cancer(46. 4%)patients.Moreover, the serum albumin level in high- and medium-risk patients was likely to decrease compared to low-risk patients, suggesting the usefulness of MUST., Discussion and Conclusion: It is important to assess nutritional status focusedon simplicity, objectivity, andspeedin outpatient chemotherapy. Assessment of patients' nutritional status and cancer treatment compliance are expected to be improved using MUST.

Background: Thalidomide was approved in Japan for multiple myeloma treatment in October 2008. A program called the Thalidomide Education and Risk Management System (TERMS®) was established to help ensure that every effort is made to use the drug safely., Purpose: We report the use of thalidomide to treat multiple myeloma, and describe problems arising in the Thaled® outpatient department., Patients and Methods: Multiple myeloma patients treated with thalidomide at Hitachi General Hospital., Intervention: Monitoring of the efficacy and safety of thalidomide, and a questionnaire survey conducted at the Thaled® outpatient department., Results: The thalidomide response rate was 41. 7%. In 5 cases, all patients received steroids along with thalidomide. After auto-PBSCT, 1 of 2 cases demonstrated a good response (PR 1). After treatment with bortezomib, 1 of 2 cases demonstrated a good response (MR 1). After auto-PBSCT and treatment with bortezomib, 1 of 4 cases demonstrated a good response (PR 1). In a case demonstrating hematotoxicity Grade 3 (in addition to neutropenia), administration was discontinued. Regarding problems in the Thaled® outpatient department, the medical staff indicated that TERMS® is a very complicated program, while the patients requested prolongation of the prescription days and reduction of the economic burden of medication costs., Conclusion: Thalidomide showed some success in treating multiple myeloma either after auto-PBSCT or following treatment with bortezomib. In the case demonstrating hematotoxicity Grade 3 (in addition to neutropenia), grave complications could have very easily developed, thus underscoring the importance of careful monitoring. Based on a questionnaire survey conducted in the Thaled® outpatient department, the medical staff made comments and patients raised issues that should be examined in the future.

A colony-print immunoassay (CPIA) using an anti-dsRNA antibody was developed to visualize the distribution of four unrelated mycoviruses with dsRNA genomes, a partitivirus (RnPV1), mycoreovirus (RnMyRV3), megabirnavirus (RnMBV1), and an unidentified virus (RnQV1), in mycelia of the white root rot fungus, Rosellinia necatrix. CPIA revealed different distribution patterns within single colonies for each virus. Both RnPV1 and RnMBV1 were distributed throughout single colonies, RnMyRV3 was absent from some colony sectors, and RnQV1 exhibited varied accumulation levels between sectors. RnMyRV3 and RnQV1 were transmitted to the recipient virus-free colonies of virus-infected and virus-free colony pairs more slowly than were RnPV1 or RnMBV1. The presence of RnMyRV3 in recipient colonies restricted horizontal transmission of RnPV1 and RnMBV1. These results imply that one or more mechanisms are present in host-virus and virus-virus interactions that restrict the spread of viruses within and between colonies., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We examined the incidence of nosocomial diarrhea caused by Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPEnt) in three tertiary hospitals in the Tsukuba-Tsuchiura district, Japan. In addition, isolated strains were genomically characterized. Among 294 stool specimens submitted for C. difficile toxin A (CDTxA) assay during a period of 6 months, 6 (0.42 cases per 1000 beds monthly) and 79 (5.5) were positive for CPEnt and CDTxA, respectively. C. perfringens with the cpe gene was detected in 15 (5%) of the specimens. Genomically indistinguishable strains were isolated from one pair of specimens submitted from one hospital, and from three submitted from different hospitals. Four specimens submitted from one hospital contained C. perfringens with the cpe and the cpb2 genes. We concluded that C. perfringens caused nosocomial diarrhea one-tenth as frequently as C. difficile did in this district, and that strains causing nosocomial diarrhea might have already been acquired in the community.

Two major volatiles produced by the mycelia and fruiting bodies of Tricholoma matsutake (1-octen-3-ol and methyl cinnamate) repel a mycophagous collembolan, Proisotoma minuta. Aggregation of the collembolans on their diet was significantly inhibited by exposure to 1 ppm methyl cinnamate or 10 to 100 ppm 1-octen-3-ol. The aggregation activity decreased dose-dependently upon exposure to 1-octen-3-ol at concentrations higher than 0.01 ppm. Aggregation in the presence of methyl cinnamate exhibited three phases: no significant effect at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 0.1 ppm, significant inhibition from 1 to 100 ppm, and strong inhibition at 1,000 ppm. These results may explain why certain collembolan species do not prefer T. matsutake fruiting bodies.

Background and Aims: Telomerase activity is thought to be necessary for cellular immortality and carcinogenesis. The mRNA that encodes the telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) has recently been identified, and expression of hTERT mRNA is thought to regulate activation of telomerase. To determine at what stage of carcinogenesis cells begin to express hTERT, we analysed hTERT mRNA expression in gastric carcinoma and precancerous conditions, focusing on chronic gastritis with or without intestinal metaplasia., Methods: Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, hTERT gene expression was investigated in 18 gastric cancers and 60 specimens of chronic gastritis. Telomerase activity was evaluated using telomeric repeat amplification protocol., Results: Sixteen of 18 (89%) gastric carcinomas expressed hTERT mRNA, and this expression was unrelated to histological type or depth of invasion. Telomerase activity was found in seven of eight (88%) gastric cancer tissues, all of which expressed hTERT mRNA. Expression of hTERT mRNA was positive in 14 of 60 (23%) specimens of chronic gastritis, and was most prominent in seven of 15 (47%) specimens of gastric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia. Expression of the hTERT gene was significantly more frequent in chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia than in gastritis without intestinal metaplasia (P=0.030). In addition, hTERT gene expression was not correlated with age, sex, biopsy site, histological grade of inflammatory cells, glandular atrophy and lymph follicles, or infection with Helicobacter pylori. None of eight normal gastric mucosa expressed hTERT mRNA., Conclusions: Our results indicate that hTERT mRNA is expressed in precancerous conditions as well as in gastric cancer, and that hTERT gene expression is induced at an early stage of gastric carcinogenesis.

Three assays for measuring hepatitis C virus(HCV) were compared with regard to sensitivity and correlations. The methods included were the Roche Amplicor HCV Monitor test(PCR), the branched DNA signal amplification assay(b-probe), and the serum concentration of HCV core protein measured by the sandwich FEIA (Core-Ag). Also, HCV serotypes were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Testing 105 consecutive HCV-RNA positive samples showed that the PCR was the most sensitive assay(100% quantifiable), followed by the Core-Ag(82.4%) and the b-probe(75.3%). The values obtained by each method correlated well in serotype 1, whereas some discordance was noted in serotype 2 cases. Also, serotype 2 samples were less quantifiable particularly by b-probe assay than serotype 1 samples. These points have to be considered in quantification of serum HCV levels by currently available these three methods.

Clinical efficacies of fosfomycin (FOM) or arbekacin (ABK) plus beta-lactam combination therapies against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections were examined in 15 major hospitals in Ibaraki Prefecture. The subjects were 54 inpatients from January 1991 to April 1993, and most of them showed moderate to severe infections with underlying diseases. MRSA alone was isolated from 23 patients and the other 31 patients had polymicobes including MRSA. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent among the co-isolated strains. The number of patients treated with FOM and cefmetazole (CMZ) was 22 (Group C) and that with FOM and flomoxef (FMOX) was 25 (Group F). CMZ or FMOX was administrated 60 minutes after FOM administration. To 8 nonresponding patients in Groups C and F and 7 nonresponders to the other therapies, ABK and ceftazidime (CAZ) or ABK and piperacillin (PIPC) were treated simultaneously (Group A). The clinical efficacies of Groups C and F were 63.6% and 64%, respectively. The bacteriological efficacies (eradication rates) of both groups including microbial substitutions were 42.9% in the former and 56.5% in the latter. No statistical differences were observed in the clinical and the bacteriological efficacies between Groups C and F. The clinical and bacteriological efficacies in Group A were 66.7% and 46.2%, respectively. No side effects were observed in any cases. Mild disturbances of hepatic functions were observed in 2 cases of Groups C and F, and there were no abnormal laboratory test results in Group A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Guinea pigs were sensitized with 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) by a repetitive application onto the bilateral nasal vestibules once a day for 5 consecutive days. When these animals were further treated with TDI for additional 9 weeks, a number of these animals exhibited external symptoms similar to those in human asthmatics, such as labored breathing characterized by prolonged expiration phases. Pathological examination of the lung of these animals clearly revealed contraction of bronchioles where hypertrophy of the smooth muscle and hypersecretion of mucin were evident. Furthermore, infiltration of numerous inflammatory cells, especially eosinophils, was observed in the peribronchial area. In these animals, the histamine-releasing activity of lung tissues was also demonstrated after challenge with TDI-guinea pig serum albumin conjugate. The histamine-releasing activity was found to be elevated to a maximum level during the first 2 weeks after sensitization and to remain at a constant level throughout the rest of the treatment period. Similar time courses were observed with respect to serum levels of TDI-specific antibodies, IgE and IgG. A survey of a series of 28 separate experiments using totally 565 animals indicated that the incidence of animals exhibiting an asthmatic response was 35% on average, ranging from 0 to 58.3%. Furthermore, the serum level of TDI-specific IgG, rather than that of TDI-specific IgE, was rather closely related to the incidence of asthmatic responses in TDI-treated guinea pigs.

Skin reactivity in guinea pigs sensitized with 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) has been examined. For sensitization, guinea pigs were treated daily with a 10% TDI solution in ethyl acetate by intranasal application for 5 consecutive days. Local application of TDI onto the flank skin of these TDI-sensitized animals resulted in an immediate development of the flare-and-wheal reaction at the site of application. The extent of the skin response was dependent on the concentration of TDI used for provocation. It was also demonstrated that the skin reactivity was successfully transferred to untreated animals by injecting sera obtained from actively sensitized animals. However, heat treatment of sensitized sera resulted in a slight, but not significant decrease in its ability to sensitize recipient animals. Histological examination revealed degranulation of mast cells and infiltration of basophils and eosinophils in the superficial dermis as the characteristics of the skin reaction in the immediate and late phase, respectively. Pretreatment of TDI-sensitized animals with dexamethasone, a steroidal agent, mepyramine, an antagonist of the histamine H1 receptor, or several antiallergic agents including ketotifen, azelastine and oxatomide resulted in a significant inhibition of the skin reactivity. However, some antiallergic agents such as tranilast, ibuzilast and DSCG were not effective in inhibiting this skin reactivity.

This study which was undertaken at several major hospitals in Ibaraki-ken revealed that, 1) the proportion of Staphylococcus aureus in all the isolates ranged from 5% to 17% and the prevalence of MRSA in isolates of Staphylococcus aureus varied from 51% to 82% depending upon each individual hospital. 2) the clinical response to FOM and CMZ combination therapy was 88.9% and, to FOM and CZON was 57.1% showing no statistical differences between the two regimens. 3) in vitro analyses assessed by the FIC index of 251 isolates revealed that FOM had an additive or synergistic effect with CMZ in 53.8%, with CZON in 66.9%, with minocycline (MINO) in 43.8%, with cefamandole (CMD) in 61.8%, with cefazolin (CEZ) in 62.9% and with imipenem/cliastatin sodium (IPM/CS) in 68.9% at all isolates. 4) the cumulative curve of susceptibility to single CMZ and the combination of CMZ and FOM revealed that the blood levels of CMZ at 3 hours after intravenous administration covered 57% of isolates when used alone and 82% of isolates when in combination with FOM. The blood levels of CZON at 3 hours covered 5% of isolates when used alone and 41% when in combination with FOM. The extent of the therapeutic effect increased from 6% to 42% by CMD, from 12% to 54% by CEZ, from 20% to 58% by IPM/CS and from 78% to 84% by MINO. The combination of CMZ and FOM was found to be the most effective for enhanced effects on MRSA in vitro.

1-Vinylbenzene 3,4-oxide, a putative intermediate in the metabolism of styrene to 4-vinylphenol, was synthesized and examined for its obligatory intermediacy to the phenol, its physical properties, and its mutagenicity toward Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. The 3,4-oxide had a half-life of 4.3 sec at pH 7.4 in an aqueous solution, and yielded 4-vinylphenol quantitatively without concomitant formation of any trace amount of 3-vinylphenol. The 3,4-oxide had a potent mutagenicity toward the TA100 bacteria but not toward the TA98 strain, whereas it showed a potent cytotoxicity to both of them His+ revertant colonies induced by the 3,4-oxide were 7233/plate at a total dose of 1.0 micromole/plate when it was applied in a sequential manner to the bacterial suspension during the pre-incubation of the testing system. Under the same conditions, benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide and phenyloxirane showed 1283 and 1657 of His+ revertant colonies/plate at 19 nmoles and 10 micromoles/plate, respectively, as the maximal activities. The isomeric arene oxide, 1-vinylbenzene 1,2-oxide, had a longer half-life (1.63 min) than the 3,4-oxide at pH 7.4 in aqueous solution and was specifically rearranged to 2-vinylphenol. The 1,2-oxide also showed more potent mutagenicity to the TA100 strain bacteria than phenyloxirane but weaker than the 3, 4-oxide. 4- and 2-vinylphenols were neither mutagenic nor cytotoxic to the bacteria at concentrations ranging up to 4 micromoles/plate.