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In surface grinding, the shape error is occurred by the thermal deformation of a ground workpiece. To finish the workpiece with high accuracy, it is necessary to understand the temperature distribution of the workpiece during grinding process. However there is no study to analyze the temperature distribution of a large workpiece during surface grinding process. In this study, an advanced simulation analysis method of the temperature distribution for a large workpiece was developed. In the developed simulation analysis method, the temperature distribution was calculated from the power consumption of the wheel motor. The power consumption can be obtained easily without any specialized equipment. To evaluate the developed simulation analysis method, in-process measurement of the temperature distribution of a large workpiece was also carried out. A large workpiece ground in this study weights about 1.3 tons. The temperature distribution was measured with thermistors mounted in many places of the ground workpiece. At the area close to the grinding surface, it was found that temperature rises immediately after the passage of grinding wheel with measuring the developed in-process measurement system. On the other hand, at the area far from the grinding point, temperature does not change quickly. The in-process measured temperature distribution agreed well with the simulated results.

Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, we reclassified Cordyceps cuboidea and allied species C. alboperitheciata, C. prolifica, and Ophiocordyceps ryogamiensis. We investigated their teleomorph-anamorph relationships and revealed that these four species have Hirsutella-like anamorphs with morphological differences between them. By analyzing their molecular phylogeny, inferred from DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) D1/D2 region of rDNA, they were separated into four close-knit clades. Although C. prolifica and O. ryogamiensis formed their own clades, isolates of C. cuboidea separated into two clades, i.e., a true C. cuboidea clade and one resembling a new species, the O. paracuboidea clade. The latter two species are distinguished by the fruiting region of the stroma. In addition, C. alboperitheciata is regarded as a synonym of C. cuboidea. From the morphology, teleomorph-anamorph relationships, and molecular phylogeny, we concluded these species should be assigned to the genus Ophiocordyceps.

Phylogenetic relationships of the species belonging to the genus Myxococcus were elucidated based on the sequences of 16S rRNA genes and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The Myxococcus species were consequently classified into four distinct groups. The type strain of Myxococcus coralloides occupied an independent position (Group 1); it has been recently reclassified as Corallococcus coralloides. Group 2 comprised the type strains of both Myxococcus virescens and Myxococcus xanthus, and some strains assigned to Myxococcus flavescens. The type strain of M. flavescens was contained in Group 3 along with the strains of Myxococcus fulvus. Group 4 included the strains belonging to C. coralloides, M. fulvus, and M. stipitatus. The type strain of M. fulvus that was allocated outside Group 4 in the 16S rRNA gene tree belonged to Group 3 in the ITS tree. These results strongly suggest that the morphological characteristics of Myxococcus species are not consistent with the phylogenetic relationships. The Myxococcus species must therefore be redefined according to the phylogenetic relationships revealed in this study.

An actinomycete that developed sporangia containing four spores in a single row at the ends of short sporangiophores on branched aerial hyphae was isolated from subtropical forest soil. The isolate contained menaquinone MK-9(H4), glutamic acid, alanine and meso-diaminopimelic acid as cell-wall amino acids and madurose in the whole-cell hydrolysate. The 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the isolate formed a monophyletic cluster with Planotetraspora mira. On the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA relatedness data, a novel species of the genus Planotetraspora is proposed, Planotetraspora silvatica sp. nov. (type strain, TT 00-51T=NBRC 100141T=DSM 44746T).

1. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the vasorelaxant effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is, in part, endothelium dependent in humans. 2. We used veno-occlusive plethysmography to measure forearm blood flow (FBF) during intra-arterial infusions of ANP (4, 8, 16, 32 pmol/min per dL forearm tissue volume) before and after the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 100 micromol) in seven normal healthy subjects. 3. Atrial natriuretic peptide caused a dose-dependent increase in FBF both before and after L-NMMA and significantly reduced the plasma concentration of angiotensin (Ang) II. Administration of L-NMMA significantly diminished the increase in FBF in response to ANP infusion (P < 0.05). 4. These results suggest that the forearm vasodilative response to ANP is modulated, in part, by an endothelium-derived NO-mediated mechanism associated with a decrease in AngII caused by ANP.

Exercise capacity is often reduced in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but very few studies have focused on changes in endothelial function as a potential mechanism for the exercise limitation. The present study used using venous occlusion plethysmography to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilatation is attenuated during exercise in patients with AF by measuring forearm blood flow (FBF) in 10 patients at rest and immediately after 2 levels of rhythmic handgrip exercise, before and after inhibition of NO synthesis with N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 100 micromol). The measurements were repeated 1 day after restoration of sinus rhythm by cardioversion. FBF responses to graded doses of acetylcholine (ACh) were also observed before and after cardioversion. Heart rate decreased after cardioversion, but blood pressure did not change. FBF at rest was not affected by cardioversion, but at the highest level of exercise it increased from 28.4+/-2.3 ml x min(-1) x dl(-1) before to 39.4+/-3.2 ml x min(-1) x dl(-1) after cardioversion (p

The chiral indan derivative (S)-2 (2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl-amine) was synthesized by enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis of the racemic acetamide 1 (N-[2-(1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl)ethyl]acetamide). The reaction was carried out using Bacillus sp. SUI-12 screened for the ability to hydrolyze 1 to give (S)-2 with high enantioselectivity. In a scaled-up experiment, a low reaction rate was observed. However, by changing the culture medium and the reaction conditions, it became possible to run the reaction to 40% conversion on a 10-g or more scale, obtaining (S)-2 at >;99% enantiomeric excess (ee). The (S)-2 obtained was available for the synthesis of the melatonin receptor agonist TAK-375 (N-[2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl]propanamide).

Recent studies have demonstrated that proinflammatory cytokines induce large amounts of nitric oxide (NO) and that the amount increases in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). There are, however, few reports regarding the relationships between NO production, cytokines and the severity of heart failure, so the plasma concentrations of nitrite and nitrate (NOx), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured in 43 patients with CHF caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and 26 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured using plethysmography during infusions of acetylcholine and nitroglycerin and after the administration of the NO synthesis inhibitor L-NMMA (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine). Plasma concentrations of both NOx and TNF-α were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p

Three new Ophiocordyceps species from Japan are described: 1) O. coenomyia, which is parasitic to awl-fly larvae; 2) O. arborescens; and 3) O. macroacicularis, which parasitize moth larvae. Ophiocordyceps coenomyia is characterized by a globose, alutaceous fertile part at the apex of cylindrical, luteofulvous-to-pale yellow stroma, immersed lanceolate perithecia, and ascospores dividing into partspores. Based on its morphology and phylogenetic position, the new species is closely related to O. heteropoda. The latter two species produce superficial oval perithecia at the apex of cylindrical stroma, multiseptate ascospores, and Hirsutella-type anamorphs on the culture media. However, they are distinguished by the shape and size of their stroma. Multi-locus sequence analysis revealed that O. arborescens and O. macroacicularis were in the same phylogenetic clade, which is a sister to the clade containing O. sinensis. The distribution of anamorphic types in Ophiocordyceps is discussed.

OBJECTIVESWe examined whether a relationship exists between the vasoconstrictive response to endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibition and the severity of heart failure in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).BACKGROUNDControversy exists as to whether the vasoconstrictive response to NO synthesis inhibition in patients with CHF is comparable to that in normal subjects or is enhanced.METHODSForearm blood flow (FBF) and calculated forearm vascular conductance (FVC) were obtained using plethysmography before and after administration of the NO synthesis inhibitor l-NMMA (NG-monomethyl-l-arginine) in 40 patients with CHF due to dilated cardiomyopathy and in 16 normal control subjects. Basal plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and nitric oxide concentrations were measured in all subjects.RESULTSPlasma BNP and nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels in the patients group were significantly greater and baseline FBF was significantly less. Administration of l-NMMA significantly decreased FBF and FVC in both groups. The percent changes in FBF (%FBF) and FVC (%FVC) from the baseline after l-NMMA correlated significantly with plasma BNP level (%FBF: r = 0.72; %FVC: r = 0.76; both p < 0.001). Percent changes in both FBF and FVC were greater in patients with BNP ≥ 100 pg/ml than in normal subjects; however, in patients with BNP < 100 pg/ml they were comparable to those in normal subjects.CONCLUSIONSVasoconstrictive response to l-NMMA in patients with CHF was preserved or enhanced in proportion to the basal plasma BNP level, indicating a close relationship between the contribution of endogenous NO to basal vasomotor tone and the severity of heart failure.

We report a case of a 60-year-old woman. She was transferred from a local hospital to our cardiovascular medicine department with a diagnosis of infectious endocarditis due to Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Transthoracic echocardiograph confirmed the presence of large vegetations on the native aortic and mitral valve, and subsequent severe regurgitation due to the aortic and mitral valve destruction. Emergent operation was performed and patient's life was barely rescued. However, S. lugdunensis belongs to coagulase-negative staphylococci, which are generally regarded as relatively avirulent bacterium, the endocarditis caused by S. lugdunensis can be invasive and often resembles endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, whenever this organism is found in patients with endocarditis, early surgical treatment of the infected valve should be considered.

1. Low doses of sublingual nifedipine are still used for the treatment of hypertensive crises, although recent studies have raised concerns that sublingual nifedipine may cause serious dose-dependent adverse effects. The present study was performed to test the safety of low-dose sublingual nifedipine administered to elderly hypertensive patients. 2. Systemic blood pressure measurements and electrocardiographic (ECG) examinations were performed before and 45-60 min after a 5 mg dose of sublingual nifedipine in 93 consecutive hypertensive patients, 65 years of age or older, who were without coronary artery disease. In 33 patients, the effects of nifedipine on myocardial lactate metabolism were studied during cardiac catheterization. 3. In all patients, following nifedipine administration, blood pressure (BP) decreased significantly, while heart rate (HR) increased, and symptoms associated with elevated BP disappeared. However, changes consistent with myocardial ischaemia appeared on the ECG in six of 55 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and in one of 38 patients without LVH, although only two of these seven patients experienced angina-like precordial tightness. Sublingual nifedipine decreased myocardial lactate extraction from 52 +/- 13 to 38 +/- 19% in 20 patients with LVH (P = 0.02), but myocardial lactate extraction remained stable in 13 patients without LVH (49 +/- 7 to 50 +/- 5%; NS). The change in lactate extraction was significantly correlated with the percentage change in diastolic arterial pressure (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). 4. These results suggest that sublingual nifedipine, even at the low dose of 5 mg, may cause myocardial ischaemia in some elderly patients with LVH that is associated with a marked reduction in coronary perfusion pressure.

The taxonomic status of Arthrobacter sp. Y-11T, which was described as a squalene-degrading bacterium, was investigated by chemotaxonomic and genetic methods. The strain possesses wall chemotype IV, MK-9(H2) as the predominant menaquinone, mycolic acids, and straight-chain, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, with considerable amounts of tuberculostearic acid. The DNA G+C content is 67.5 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and quantitative DNA-DNA hybridization experiments provided strong evidence that strain Y-11T represents a new species within the genus Corynebacterium, for which the name Corynebacterium terpenotabidum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of C. terpenotabidum is strain Y-11T (= IFO 14764T).

Phylogenetically, Cytophaga aprica and Cytophaga diffluens occupy independent positions in the flavobacter-bacteroides phylum. Both of these organisms are gram-negative rods that are motile by gliding, chemoorganotrophic, and aerobic, degrade several kinds of biomacromolecules, and inhabit marine environments. Their major isoprenoid quinone is menaquinone 7. The G+C content of the DNA of C. aprica is 35 to 37 mol%, and the G+C content of the DNA of C. diffluens is 40 to 42 mol%. In addition to constituting an independent phylogenetic lineage, each species has a distinctive cellular polyamine constitution. C. aprica is characterized by possessing cadaverine as its major polyamine, and C. diffluens is characterized by possessing spermidine, in contrast to most species of the genera Cytophaga, Flavobacterium, and Flexibacter and related organisms, which possess homospermidine. Transfer of C. aprica to the genus Flammeovirga gen. nov. as Flammeovirga aprica comb. nov. and transfer of C. diffluens to the genus Persicobacter gen. nov. as Persicobacter diffluens comb. nov. are proposed.

Five chitin-degrading bacteria were isolated from soil. These organisms were strictly aerobic and rod shaped, formed spores, contained menaquinone 7 as the major isoprenoid quinone and 12-methyltetradecanoic acid as the major cellular fatty acid, and had guanine-plus-cytosine contents of 51.3 to 54.9 mol%, characteristics which indicate that they belong to the genus Bacillus. These five strains were divided into two groups on the basis of physiological characteristics and the results of a DNA-DNA hybridization study. As low levels of DNA relatedness were found between our isolates and previously described Bacillus strains, we propose that our isolates should be classified in two new Bacillus species, Bacillus ehimensis and Bacillus chitinolyticus. The type strains of B. ehimensis and B. chitinolyticus are strains IFO 15659 and IFO 15660, respectively.

The distribution of 3-ketolactose formation among members of the alpha subclass of the Proteobacteria was investigated by the Benedict reagent test and by a more sensitive quantitative method in which high-performance liquid chromatography was used. 3-Ketolactose formation activity was found in strains of Agrobacterium biovar 1 and in strains of eight species of the genus Sphingomonas, including Sphingomonas paucimobilis (the type species), which belong to the alpha-2 and alpha-4 subclasses of the Proteobacteria, respectively. Weak activity was found in Erythrobacter longus IFO 14126T(T = type strain), a member of the alpha-4 subclass of the Proteobacteria. The ketosugar was not produced by members of the other taxa of the alpha subclass of the Proteobacteria tested. The ketosugar was isolated from culture broths of S. paucimobilis IFO 13935Tand Sphingomonas yanoikuyae IFO 15102Tand was identified as 3-ketolactose [4-O-(β-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl-3-ulose)-D-glucopyranose] by chromatographic analyses and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The taxonomic positions of 10 strains of 3-ketolactose-forming bacteria which were isolated from the roots of plants (Rosa sp., Psychotria nairobiensis, Ardisia crispa, Prunus persica, and apple trees) were investigated. The DNA base compositions of these strains ranged from 64.0 to 65.7 mol%, the isoprenoid quinone of each strain was ubiquinone 10, 3-hydroxy fatty acids were lacking in the cellular fatty acids of these organisms, and all of the strains contained a sphingolipid with the long-chain base dihydrosphingosin. These are characteristics of the genus Sphingomonas. On the basis of morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, together with DNA-DNA hybridization and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence comparison data, we propose the following four new species of the genus Sphingomonas: Sphingomonas rosa (type strain, IFO 15208) for the strains isolated from rose plants and formerly named [Agrobacterium rhizogenes]; Sphingomonas pruni (type strain, IFO 15498) for the strains isolated from Prunus persica; and Sphingomonas asaccharolytica (type strain, IFO 15499) and Sphingomonas mali (type strain, IFO 15500) for the strains isolated from apple trees. Two strains which were isolated from Psychotria nairobiensis and formerly named [Chromobacterium lividum] were identified as Sphingomonas yanoikuyae strains.

Microbial production of idoheptulosan has been established using a two-stage fermentation system. Sedoheptulosan was first converted to 5-ketosedoheptulosan by a strain of Agrobacterium , 449-1, in a medium containing sorbitol as the energy source. After 4 d of cultivation, sedoheptulosan (100 g/ l was almost completely converted to its 5-keto form. Many strains of Gluconobacter were also found to have the same oxidizing activity. Asymmetric reduction of 5-ketosedoheptulosan to idoheptulosan was performed with strains of Aureobacterium, Pseudomonas, Paracoccus, Micrococcus or soil isolates of coryneform bacteria. By incubating these bacteria with 5-ketosedoheptulosan in medium containing d -glucose as the hydrogen donor for reduction, 5-ketosedoheptulosan was converted specifically to idoheptulosan after 5 d. The overall yield of idoheptulosan was about 60% when soil isolate CF-987 was used. Other stereoisomers of idoheptulosan and other metabolites were not detected in the final broth of the strain.

We report the case of a 62-year-old woman with Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia. She was admitted to our hospital with ventricular tachycardia and was subsequently diagnosed with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, with no structural heart disease. However, 12 days after admission, she suddenly developed a high-grade fever with chills and diarrhea. Her blood cultures revealed A. baumannii, and the patient was treated with meropenem and amikacin sulfate. Yet, the patient's symptoms and clinical signs became worse. We then began to administer a large quantity of intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam, and the patient improved dramatically. Although rare, bloodstream infection caused by A. baumannii tends to be severe. Therefore, when A. baumannii is found in a patient's bloodstream, clinicians should start appropriate treatment immediately and should recall ampicillin-sulbactam as a sensible option for treatment.

Long-term administration of nicorandil has been shown to improve outcomes through cardioprotective effects in patients with coronary artery disease. To identify the mechanisms responsible for these effects, this study examined the impact of long-term nicorandil administration on endothelial function, systemic inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Fifty-three patients were assigned to receive either nicorandil therapy (15 mg/day; n = 26) (nicorandil group) or usual care (n = 27) (nonnicorandil group). All study participants underwent flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery 1 month before treatment, just before treatment, and at 3, 6, and 12 months following treatment. At identical time points, serum levels of malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were collected. Compared with the nonnicorandil group, the nicorandil group demonstrated significantly increased FMD at 12 months, a finding not replicated for endothelium-independent vasodilatation with nitroglycerine. Analysis of biochemical markers revealed significantly reduced MAD-LDL levels in the nicorandil group at 12 months, as compared to slightly increased MAD-LDL levels in the nonnicorandil group. Significant reductions in hs-CRP levels were also noted at 6 and 12 months in the nicorandil group, while no change was found in the nonnicorandil group. Results demonstrated that long-term nicorandil therapy is associated with gradual improvements in endothelial function. Our findings also suggest that nicorandil treatment may result in cardiovascular protection through pleiotropic effects including reductions in oxidative injury and systemic inflammation.

Phylogenetic relationships of the species belonging to the genus Myxococcus were elucidated based on the sequences of 16S rRNA genes and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The Myxococcus species were consequently classified into four distinct groups. The type strain of Myxococcus coralloides occupied an independent position (Group 1); it has been recently reclassified as Corallococcus coralloides. Group 2 comprised the type strains of both Myxococcus virescens and Myxococcus xanthus, and some strains assigned to Myxococcus flavescens. The type strain of M. flavescens was contained in Group 3 along with the strains of Myxococcus fulvus. Group 4 included the strains belonging to C. coralloides, M. fulvus, and M. stipitatus. The type strain of M. fulvus that was allocated outside Group 4 in the 16S rRNA gene tree belonged to Group 3 in the ITS tree. These results strongly suggest that the morphological characteristics of Myxococcus species are not consistent with the phylogenetic relationships. The Myxococcus species must therefore be redefined according to the phylogenetic relationships revealed in this study.

Bacillus ehimensis EAG1 (IFO15659) produced and secreted chitosanase in the presence of exogenous chitosan. The chitosanase was purified from the culture filtrate of the bacterium to apparent homogeneity in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 31,000. A 1.9-kbp DNA fragment containing the chitosanase gene was cloned and the complete nucleotide sequence was determined. The sequence was found to contain a single open reading frame encoding a protein of 302 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed significant homology with the chitosanase from Bacillus circulans MH-K1.

Activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been reported in congestive heart failure (CHF) conditions. However, it is unknown whether activation of iNOS affects prognosis of CHF patients. We prospectively studied the influence of activation of iNOS in the forearm on the outcome of CHF patients.Forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to 3 doses of acetylcholine (ACh) and nitroglycerin (NTG), and 4 doses of a selective iNOS inhibitor (aminoguanidine: Amn) and a nonselective NOS inhibitor (L-NMMA) were examined using plethysmography in 68 patients with CHF from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were also measured in all patients. During the mean follow-up period of 3.8 years, 25 patients were hospitalized for worsening heart failure and 9 of these patients died. Patients with adverse events had a diminished vasodilator response to ACh (P.001) compared to patients without adverse events. Amn significantly decreased FBF (P.001) in patients with adverse events, but not in patients without adverse events. FBF responses to NTG and L-NMMA were not significantly different between the 2 groups. When grouped by maximum FBF responses to each drug above and below the median value, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analyses for cardiac event showed a significance in the FBF response to Amn (adjusted hazard ratio 5.89, P.001). FBF responses to maximum dose of Amn significantly correlated with BNP and TNF-alpha levels (both P.001).CHF patients with vascular iNOS activation, as demonstrated by a greater vasoconstrictor response to Amn, had poor outcomes. Activation of iNOS in peripheral vessels, associated with proinflammatory cytokines in accordance to the severity of heart failure, is a marker for, or contributes to, adverse events in patients with CHF.

In the course of screening novel secondary metabolites, an acidophilic actinomycete strain, designated Aac-30T, was isolated from forest soil and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic characterization study. It grew well on media in which the pH ranged from 4 to 6, but not on medium with pH adjusted to 7. It possessed ll-diaminopimelic acid and glycine in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) as major isoprenoid quinones, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 as major cellular fatty acids, and phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 69.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the organism belonged to the family Catenulisporaceae and consistently formed a monophyletic cluster with members of the genus Catenulispora. Physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data revealed that this novel organism could be readily differentiated from recognized members of the genus Catenulispora and that it merits separate species status. Based on the phenotypic and genetic evidence presented, strain Aac-30T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Catenulispora, for which the name Catenulispora rubra sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Aac-30T (=NBRC 101179T=DSM 44948T).

Forty-nine strains belonging to the genus Gluconobacter were re-examined with respect to their species identification based on the sequences of the 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS). A phylogenetic tree constructed from the 16S rDNA sequences indicated the presence of five clusters corresponding, respectively, to the major five species of the genus Gluconobacter, namely G. albidus, G. cerinus, G. frateurii, G. oxydans (type species), and G. thailandicus. The type strain of G. asaii, NBRC 3276T (T=type strain) was included in the G. cerinus cluster, which is consistent with the report that G. asaii is a junior subjective synonym of G. cerinus. Existence of the G. albidus, G. cerinus, G. frateurii, G. oxydans, and G. thailandicus clusters was also recognized by the ITS sequence analysis. Both sequence analyses revealed that the G. cerinus and G. frateurii clusters were heterogeneous. The G. cerinus cluster comprised three strains of G. cerinus and one strain of G. frateurii, while the G. frateurii cluster included ten strains of G. frateurii, three of G. cerinus, and eleven of G. oxydans. These results suggest that phenotypic differences among Gluconobacter species are ambiguous and the species definition must be re-evaluated. The 16S rDNA and ITS sequences determined in this study are valuable for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of Gluconobacter species.

1. Previous clinical studies with prostaglandin I(2) (PGI(2)) analogue beraprost sodium suggested the potential effects on protection of cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral artery disease. Although the mechanism is not well known, experimental studies have shown protective effects of endothelial cells. This study was designed to examine the effects of beraprost sodium on vascular endothelial function in the forearm of patients with coronary artery disease. 2. Beraprost sodium (120 microg/day) was orally administered to 14 coronary artery disease patients for 4 weeks and then stopped for 4 weeks. Eleven control patients did not receive beraprost sodium treatment. Reactive hyperemia was induced in the forearm, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was assessed by plethysmography, and urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (8-iso-PGF(2alpha)) was measured at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. 3. Both groups had similar reactive hyperemic responses at baseline. In the control group, reactive hyperemic response and urinary 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) remained unchanged for 8 weeks. In the beraprost group, maximum forearm blood flow increased significantly (P = 0.01) after 4 weeks of treatment and returned to baseline at 8 weeks. Duration of hyperemia increased significantly (P = 0.003) after 4 weeks, and remained greater than baseline at 8 weeks (P = 0.02). Urinary 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) decreased significantly (P = 0.03) after 4 weeks, and tended to be lower at 8 weeks (P = 0.07). Changes in reactive hyperemia correlated weakly but significantly with changes in 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) (P < 0.001). 4. Beraprost sodium decreased oxidative stress and improved forearm endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in coronary artery disease patients. The favorable effects on vascular endothelium could potentially lead to a decrease in vascular events.

Background Peripheral vascular endothelial dysfunction is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, and can be assessed noninvasively by measuring reactive hyperemia, either by vascular ultrasound measurement of flow-mediated vasodilatation or, less commonly, by measurement of blood flow using plethysmography. In the present study reactive hyperemia was measured using plethysmography in healthy subjects with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Methods and Results Reactive hyperemia was measured following 5-min occlusion of the upper arm in 449 healthy subjects (302 men, 147 women, age range 20-70 years) with (n=352) and without (n=97) risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, family history of cardiovascular disease, and menopause. Maximum blood flow and minimum vascular resistance in reactive hyperemia did not differ between subjects with and without risk factors regardless of gender. Duration of reactive hyperemia, however, was significantly shorter in subjects with risk factors. Age-adjusted mean value of duration of reactive hyperemia was significantly smaller in men with a smoking habit, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia or obesity, and in women with smoking habit, hypertension, diabetes mellitus or obesity. The number of risk factors significantly correlated with the duration of reactive hyperemia in both men (r=-0.56, p

During a study of the distribution of actinomycetes in a mangrove zone, a strain forming spore chains borne on the tip of short sporophores arising directly from the agar surface was isolated from soil. The isolate contained glutamic acid, glycine, alanine and meso-diaminopimelic acid as cell-wall amino acids, menaquinone MK-10(H6, H8), fatty acid type 2d and xylose in the whole-cell hydrolysate. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate formed a monophyletic cluster with the members of the genus Asanoa in the family Micromonosporaceae. On the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization, a novel species of the genus Asanoa is proposed for strain TT 97-02T (=NBRC 100142T=DSM 44745T), Asanoa iriomotensis sp. nov.

The 16S rDNA sequences of 40 strains of 17 species in the genus Flexibacter, 5 strains of 4 species in the genus Microscilla, and 1 strain of Flexithrix dorotheae, including all type strains of approved and validated species in these genera, were determined to reveal their phylogenetic relationships. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis demonstrated the extreme heterogeneity of the genera Flexibacter and Microscilla. The strains examined diverged into 24 distinct lines of descent (1 group included both flexibacteria and flexithrix, and 1 group included both flexibacteria and microscilla) that were remote from each other at the genus level or higher. Flexibacter strains were scattered across the cytophaga-flavobacteria-bacteroides phylum and divided into 20 phylogenetic groups, and the genus Microscilla was separated into 5 groups. Flexibacter flexilis, the type species of the genus Flexibacter, and Microscilla marina, the type species of the genus Microscilla, were isolated from other organisms in their respective genera. This means that each genus should be restricted to only the type species. Flexithrix dorotheae, the type species of the genus Flexithrix, clustered with Flexibacter aggregans. The heterogeneity was found not only within genera but also within species. Flexibacter aggregans, Flexibacter aurantiacus, Flexibacter flexilis, Flexibacter roseolus, Flexibacter tractuosus, and "Microscilla sericea" each contained phylogenetically distant strains. The taxonomic concept of the genera Flexibacter, Flexithrix, and Microscilla should be reorganized in accordance with the natural relationships revealed in this study.

Recent studies have demonstrated that proinflammatory cytokines induce large amounts of nitric oxide (NO) and that the amount increases in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). There are, however, few reports regarding the relationships between NO production, cytokines and the severity of heart failure, so the plasma concentrations of nitrite and nitrate (NOx), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured in 43 patients with CHF caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and 26 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured using plethysmography during infusions of acetylcholine and nitroglycerin and after the administration of the NO synthesis inhibitor L-NMMA (N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine). Plasma concentrations of both NOx and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p0.001) and correlated closely with BNP concentrations (p0.001). There was a positive relationship between NOx and TNF-alpha concentrations (r=0.80, p0.001). Administration of L-NMMA significantly reduced FBF in both groups, and the percent change in FBF from baseline correlated significantly with TNF-alpha concentrations (r=0.63, p0.001). The FBF response to acetylcholine was depressed in the patient group and correlated inversely with TNF-alpha concentrations. The FBF response to nitroglycerin did not correlate with TNF-alpha concentrations. The findings indicate that the concentrations of NO and TNF-alpha in patients with CHF increase in proportion to the severity of heart failure, and that TNF-alpha plays a role in the enhanced systemic and local production of NO.

Exercise capacity is often reduced in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but very few studies have focused on changes in endothelial function as a potential mechanism for the exercise limitation. The present study used using venous occlusion plethysmography to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilatation is attenuated during exercise in patients with AF by measuring forearm blood flow (FBF) in 10 patients at rest and immediately after 2 levels of rhythmic handgrip exercise, before and after inhibition of NO synthesis with N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 100 micromol). The measurements were repeated 1 day after restoration of sinus rhythm by cardioversion. FBF responses to graded doses of acetylcholine (ACh) were also observed before and after cardioversion. Heart rate decreased after cardioversion, but blood pressure did not change. FBF at rest was not affected by cardioversion, but at the highest level of exercise it increased from 28.4+/-2.3 ml x min(-1) x dl(-1) before to 39.4+/-3.2 ml x min(-1) x dl(-1) after cardioversion (p0.05). L-NMMA significantly decreased FBF at rest (p0.01) and depressed the increase in FBF response to exercise after (p0.01), but not before cardioversion. The FBF response to ACh was also accelerated significantly after cardioversion. The present results provide new evidence that NO bioavailability is depressed at rest and during exercise in patients with AF.

Novel anti-Helicobacter pylori antibiotics, pyloricidins A, A 1 , A 2 , B, C and D, were discovered in the culture broth of two bacilli strains. Pyloricidins selectively inhibited the growth of H. pylori. Pyloricidin B was efficacious in the treatment of gastric infection caused by H. pylori in Mongolian gerbils and may be promising for cure of H. pylori infection as a single agent.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac involvement is an important prognostic factor in patients with sarcoidosis. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of gadolinium-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid)–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-MRI) for diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis and evaluating the effects of steroid therapy. METHODS: Sixteen patients with sarcoidosis diagnosed by histology or by Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare criteria for cardiac sarcoidosis underwent Gd-MRI with a 1.5-Tesla superconducting magnet system using a T1-weighted spin-echo sequence. RESULTS: Gd-MRI showed localized enhancement of signal intensity, indicating interstitial edema, in the left ventricle in 8 of the 16 patients. Two patients with enhancement also had thinning of the left ventricular septal wall. After 1 month of prednisolone therapy (60 mg every other day or 30 to 40 mg every day), the localized high-intensity signals were markedly diminished in all 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Images of the heart obtained by Gd-MRI may reflect active inflammation with interstitial edema in patients with sarcoidosis. Gd-MRI may be a useful noninvasive method for early detection of cardiac sarcoidosis and for evaluating the effects of steroid therapy.

Background: Although there have been many studies on the effects of atrial fibrillation (AF) on cardiac function, few studies have been done on its effects on endothelial function. The present study was designed to examine the effects of AF on endothelial function in human subjects. Methods and Results: Changes in forearm blood flow (FBF) induced by acetylcholine and nitroglycerin were measured by using plethysmography in 14 patients with lone AF, 13 patients with AF and underlying heart disease, and 12 normal control subjects. In the patients, these measurements were repeated after cardioversion. Although baseline FBF was the same in the 3 groups, acetylcholine-induced increases in FBF were significantly smaller in both patient groups than in the control group, and FBF increases were particularly depressed in AF patients with underlying heart disease. After restoration of sinus rhythm by cardioversion, FBF response to the highest dose of acetylcholine increased by 46% in patients with lone AF (n = 10) and by 90% in AF patients with underlying heart disease (n = 11). Nitroglycerin-induced vasodilatation was the same in all 3 groups and was not affected by cardioversion. Conclusions: These findings suggest that endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is impaired by AF and improves after sinus rhythm is restored.

Recent in vitro experiments have shown that amrinone enhances the release of nitric oxide (NO) from the endothelium and induces NO mediated vasodilatation. This in vivo study examined whether amrinone causes vasodilatation mediated by endothelium-derived NO, and whether this effect is attenuated in patients with endothelial dysfunction. Eight patients with congestive heart failure and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were studied. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured before and during infusion of drugs of acetylcholine, amrinone, and nitroglycerin in incremental doses. After the completion of these measurements, 100 micromol of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) was infused intraarterially. Thereafter, FBF measurement in response to incremental doses of amrinone was repeated. Infusion of incremental doses of amrinone caused a comparable increase in amrinone plasma concentration in both groups. Baseline FBF was 3.2+/-0.79 ml/min/100 ml in controls vs. 2.91+/-0.79 ml/min/100 ml in patients (p = 0.43). In both groups, FBF increased in response to acetylcholine, amrinone, and nitroglycerin. During infusion of the highest dose of nitroglycerin, FBF was not different between the two groups (p = 0.51); however, FBF during infusion of the highest doses of acetylcholine and amrinone was significantly less in patients than in controls: 9.75+/-2.69 vs. 24.87+/-8.65 ml/min/100 ml (p < 0.001) and 3.79+/-1.21 vs. 7.15+/-2.06 ml/min/100 ml (p < 0.001), respectively. L-NMMA significantly depressed the increase in FBF in response to amrinone in controls, but not in patients. In conclusion, the selective PDE III inhibitor, amrinone, has endothelium-derived NO-mediated vasodilating effects in addition to direct effects. This property may be impaired in patients with endothelial dysfunction.

1. Myocardial injury has been shown to be associated with successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The present study was designed to determine whether uncomplicated successful PTCA results in myocardial injury by measuring coronary sinus (CS) cardiac troponin T (cTnT). 2. We measured cTnT in the CS and the femoral vein (FV) in 16 patients with stable angina pectoris who underwent uncomplicated PTCA for stenotic lesions of the left anterior descending artery. Blood samples were drawn from both the CS and FV before and immediately after PTCA and every 4 h for the next 12 h. 3. All patients had chest pain and electrocardiographic ST segment elevation or depression during balloon inflation and higher peak elevation of cTnT in the CS than in the FV (0.054 +/- 0.059 vs 0.036 +/- 0.022 ng/mL; P < 0.05). However, all CS cTnT levels were within the normal range over the 12 h period. 4. The fact that CS cTnT measurements showed no evidence of uncomplicated PTCA-related myocardial injury led us to conclude that uncomplicated successful PTCA does not cause myocardial injury.

The taxonomic position of Flavobacterium okeanokoites IFO 12536T (T = type strain) was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and chemotaxonomic methods. Phylogenetic evidence derived from a 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that F. okeanokoites, which forms rod-shaped cells, belongs to the genus Planococcus, which forms spherical cells. A phylogenetically close relationship was supported by chemotaxonomic characteristics, such as the presence of menaquinone 7 and menaquinone 8 as major isoprenoid quinones, the presence of phosphatidylglycerol, bisphosphatydylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine as cellular polar lipids, and the G + C content of the DNA (46.3 mol%). These data suggest that whether a cell is a rod or a coccus is not a generic criterion. Accordingly, we propose that F. okeanokoites should be transferred to the genus Planococcus and that the description of the genus Planococcus should be emended.