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Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the changes in oxygen supply-demand balance during induction of general anesthesia using an indirect calorimeter capable of measuring oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) and carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 )., Methods: This study included patients scheduled for surgery in whom remimazolam was administered as a general anesthetic. VO 2 and VCO 2 were measured at different intervals: upon awakening (T1), 15 min after tracheal intubation (T2), and 1 h after T2 (T3). Oxygen delivery (DO 2 ) was calculated simultaneously with these measurements. VO 2 was ascertained using an indirect calorimeter and further calculated using vital signs, among other factors. DO 2 was derived from cardiac output and arterial blood gas analysis performed with an arterial pressure-based cardiac output measurement system., Results: VO 2 , VCO 2 , and DO 2 decreased significantly from T1 to T2 and T3 [VO 2 /body surface area (BSA) (ml/min/m 2 ): T1, 130 (122-146); T2, 107 (83-139); T3, 97 (93-121); p = 0.011], [VCO 2 /BSA (ml/min/m 2 ): T1, 115 (105-129); T2, 90 (71-107); T3, 81 (69-101); p = 0.011], [DO 2 /BSA (ml/min/m 2 ): T1, 467 (395-582); T2, 347 (286-392); T3, 382 (238-414); p = 0.0020]. Among the study subjects, a subset exhibited minimal reduction in VCO 2 . Although the respiratory frequency was titrated on the basis of end-tidal CO 2 levels, there was no significant difference between the groups., Conclusion: General anesthetic induction with remimazolam decreased VO 2 , VCO 2 , and DO 2 ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Reloncaví estuary in southern Chile is famous for its aquaculture. However, recurring harmful algal blooms have adversely affected mussel production. Therefore, regular monitoring of algal toxins is urgently needed to better understand the contamination status of the estuary. In this study, we quantified 15 types of lipophilic shellfish toxins in Metri Bay in the Reloncaví estuary on a biweekly basis for 4 years. We identified algal species using microscopy and metabarcoding analysis. We also measured water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, and dissolved oxygen to determine the potential relationships of these parameters with algal toxin production. Our results revealed the presence of a trace amount of pectenotoxin and the causal phytoplankton Dinophysis, as well as yessotoxin and the causal phytoplankton Protoceratium. Statistical analysis indicated that fluctuations in water temperature affected the detection of these toxins. Additionally, metabarcoding analysis detected the highly toxic phytoplankton Alexandrium spp. in some samples. Although our results suggest that the level of lipophilic shellfish toxins in Metri Bay during the study period was insignificantly low using our current LC-MS method, the confirmed presence of highly toxic algae in Metri Bay raises concerns, given that favorable environmental conditions could cause blooms., 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 © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella is a well-known paralytic shellfish toxin producer that forms harmful algal blooms, repeatedly causing damage to Chilean coastal waters. The causes and behavior of algal blooms are complex and vary across different regions. As bacterial interactions with algal species are increasingly recognized as a key factor driving algal blooms, the present study identifies several bacterial candidates potentially associated with Chilean Alexandrium catenella. This research narrowed down the selection of bacteria from the Chilean A. catenella culture using antibiotic treatment and 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis. Subsequently, seawater from two Chilean coastal stations, Isla Julia and Isla San Pedro, was monitored for two years to detect Alexandrium species and the selected bacteria, utilizing 16S and 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding analyses. The results suggested a potential association between Alexandrium species and Spongiibacteraceae at both stations. The proposed candidate bacteria within the Spongiibacteraceae family, potentially engaging in mutualistic relationships with Alexandrium species, included the genus of BD1-7 clade, Spongiibbacter, and Zhongshania., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Yarimizu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have caused damage to the marine environment in Isla San Pedro in the Gulf of Corcovado, Chile. While rising water temperature and artificial eutrophication are the most discussed topics as a cause, marine bacteria is a recent attractive parameter as an algal bloom driver. This study monitored algal and bacterial compositions in the water of Isla San Pedro for one year using microscopy and 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis, along with physicochemical parameters. The collected data were analyzed with various statistical tools to understand how the particle-associated bacteria (PA) and the free-living (FL) bacteria were possibly involved in algal blooms. Both FL and PA fractions maintained a stable bacterial composition: the FL fraction was dominated by Proteobacteria (α-Proteobacteria and γ-Proteobacteria), and Cyanobacteria dominated the PA fraction. The two fractions contained equivalent bacterial taxonomic richness (c.a. 8,000 Operational Taxonomic Units) and shared more than 50% of OTU; however, roughly 20% was exclusive to each fraction. The four most abundant algal genera in the Isla San Pedro water were Thalassiosira, Skeletonema, Chaetoceros , and Pseudo-nitzchia . Statistical analysis identified that the bacterial species Polycyclovorans algicola was correlated with Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and our monitoring data recorded a sudden increase of particle-associated Polycyclovorans algicola shortly after the increase of Pseudo-nitzschia , suggesting that P. algicola may have regression effect on Pseudo-nitzschia spp. The study also investigated the physicochemical parameter effect on algal-bacterial interactions. Oxygen concentration and chlorophyll- a showed a strong correlation with both FL and PA bacteria despite their assemblage differences, suggesting that the two groups had different mechanisms for interacting with algal species., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Bioaerosols play essential roles in the atmospheric environment and can affect human health. With a few exceptions (e.g., farm or rainforest environments), bioaerosol samples from wide-ranging environments typically have a low biomass, including bioaerosols from indoor environments (e.g., residential homes, offices, or hospitals), outdoor environments (e.g., urban or rural air). Some specialized environments (e.g., clean rooms, the Earth's upper atmosphere, or the international space station) have an ultra-low-biomass. This review discusses the primary sources of bioaerosols and influencing factors, the recent advances in air sampling techniques and the new generation sequencing (NGS) methods used for the characterization of low-biomass bioaerosol communities, and challenges in terms of the bias introduced by different air samplers when samples are subjected to NGS analysis with a focus on ultra-low biomass. High-volume filter-based or liquid-based air samplers compatible with NGS analysis are required to improve the bioaerosol detection limits for microorganisms. A thorough understanding of the performance and outcomes of bioaerosol sampling using NGS methods and a robust protocol for aerosol sample treatment for NGS analysis are needed. Advances in NGS techniques and bioinformatic tools will contribute toward the precise high-throughput identification of the taxonomic profiles of bioaerosol communities and the determination of their functional and ecological attributes in the atmospheric environment. In particular, long-read amplicon sequencing, viability PCR, and meta-transcriptomics are promising techniques for discriminating and detecting pathogenic microorganisms that may be active and infectious in bioaerosols and, therefore, pose a threat to human health., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41745-023-00380-x., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors report no conflicts of interest., (© Indian Institute of Science 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The cause of harmful algal blooms has been a mystery, but research to elucidate its mechanism has progressed over the years thanks to genetic technologies. We have monitored toxic algae and its associated bacteria as a community, the so-called 'holobiont' in Chilean coastal waters for years from the perspective of bacteria as an algal bloom driver. This review describes the challenges of holobiont monitoring, specifically with respect to standardizing and compliance with the monitoring protocols to collect reliable and sustainable data. Further, we suggest adopting the high-throughput sequencing (HTS) standard operating procedure (SOP) by the International Human Microbiome to improve the quality and consistency of holobiont monitoring in the harmful algal world., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

To investigate the relationship between antithrombin (AT) activity level and prognosis in patients requiring intensive care. Patients whose AT activity was measured within 24 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission were enrolled for analysis. The primary endpoint was mortality at discharge. Prognostic accuracy was examined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and cox hazard regression analysis. Patients were divided into 6 groups based on predicted mortality, and a χ 2 independence test was performed on the prognostic value of AT activity for each predicted mortality; P  < .05 was considered significant. A total of 281 cases were analyzed. AT activity was associated with mortality at discharge (AT% [interquartile range, IQR]): survivor group, 69 (56-86) versus nonsurvivor group, 56 (44-73), P  = .0003). We found an increasing risk for mortality in both the lowest level of AT activity (<50%; hazard ratio [HR] 2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-4.89, P  = .01) and the middle-low level of AT activity (≥ 50% and < 70%; HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.06-4.02, P  = .03), compared with the normal AT activity level (≥ 70%). ROC curve analysis showed that the prediction accuracy of AT was an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.66 (cutoff 58%, sensitivity 61.4%, specificity 68.2%, P  = .0003). AT activity was significantly prognostic in the group with 20% to 50% predicted mortality (AUC 0.74, sensitivity: 24.0%-55.5%, specificity: 83.3%-93.0%). An early decrease in AT activity level in ICU patients may be a predictor of mortality at discharge., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

This protocol demonstrates the separation of living cells with the microfluidic dielectrophoresis chip, using the Jurkat cell as a model. The successful living cell separation lies in familiarity with the detailed tips, which are aided by this stepwise protocol. The knowledge of correct chip installation, sample and buffer filling, flow rate and cell concentration adjustments, and contamination sources increases the efficiency of target viable cell collection. Such instructions, although trivial, are critical for achieving cell separation. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Oshiro et al. (2022)., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We have no financial interest to declare. It should be noted that K.O., Y.W., and M.T. are employees of AFI Corporation., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The assembly process of photosystem II (PSII) requires several auxiliary proteins to form assembly intermediates. In plants, early assembly intermediates comprise D1 and D2 subunits of PSII together with a few auxiliary proteins including at least ONE-HELIX PROTEIN1 (OHP1), OHP2, and HIGH-CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE 244 (HCF244) proteins. Herein, we report the basic characterization of the assembling intermediates, which we purified from Arabidopsis transgenic plants overexpressing a tagged OHP1 protein and named the OHP1 complexes. We analyzed two major forms of OHP1 complexes by mass spectrometry, which revealed that the complexes consist of OHP1, OHP2, and HCF244 in addition to the PSII subunits D1, D2, and cytochrome b 559 . Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence showed that a major form of the complex binds chlorophyll a and carotenoids and performs quenching with a time constant of 420 ps. To identify the localization of the auxiliary proteins, we solubilized thylakoid membranes using a digitonin derivative, glycodiosgenin, and separated them into three fractions by ultracentrifugation, and detected these proteins in the loose pellet containing the stroma lamellae and the grana margins together with two chlorophyll biosynthesis enzymes. The results indicated that chlorophyll biosynthesis and assembly may take place in the same compartments of thylakoid membranes. Inducible suppression of the OHP2 mRNA substantially decreased the OHP2 protein in mature Arabidopsis leaves without a significant reduction in the maximum quantum yield of PSII under low-light conditions, but it compromised the yields under high-light conditions. This implies that the auxiliary protein is required for acclimation to high-light conditions., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Botanical Society of Japan.)

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella is a well-known paralytic shellfish toxin producer that forms harmful algal blooms (HABs) worldwide. Blooms of this species have repeatedly brought severe ecological and economic impacts to Chile, especially in the southern region, where the shellfish and salmon industries are world-famous. The mechanisms of such HABs have been intensively studied but are still unclear. Nutrient overloading is one of the often-discussed drivers for HABs. The present study used the A. catenella strain isolated from southern Chile to investigate how iron conditions could affect their growth and toxin production as related to HAB. Our results showed that an optimum concentration of iron was pivotal for proper A. catenella growth. Thus, while excess iron exerted a toxic effect, low iron media led to iron insufficiency and growth inhibition. In addition, the study shows that the degree of paralytic shellfish toxin production by A. catenella varied depending on the iron concentration in the culture media. The A. catenella strain from southern Chile produced GTX1-4 exclusively in the fmol cell -1 scale. Based on these findings, we suggest that including iron and paralytic shellfish toxin measurements in the fields can improve the current HAB monitoring and contribute to an understanding of A. catenella bloom dynamics in Chile., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Microfluidic dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology has been applied to many devices to perform label-free target cell separation. Cells separated by these devices are used in laboratories, mainly for medical research. The present study designed a microfluidic DEP device to fabricate a rapid and semiautomated cell separation system in conjunction with microscopy to enumerate the separated cells. With this device, we efficiently segregated bacterial cells from liquid products and enriched one cell type from two mixed eukaryotic cell types. The device eliminated sample pretreatment and established cell separation by all-in-one operation in a lab-on-chip, requiring only a small sample volume (0.5-1 mL) to enumerate the target cells and completing the entire separation process within 30 min. Such a rapid cell separation technique is in high demand by many researchers to promptly characterize the target cells., Competing Interests: We have no financial interest to declare. It should be noted that the authors K.O., Y.W., M.T., and T.I. are employees of AFI Corporation., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Harmful algae blooms (HABs) monitoring has been implemented worldwide, and Chile, a country famous for its fisheries and aquaculture, has intensively used microscopic and toxin analyses for decades for this purpose. Molecular biological methods, such as high-throughput DNA sequencing and bacterial assemblage-based approaches, are just beginning to be introduced in Chilean HAB monitoring, and the procedures have not yet been standardized. Here, 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA metabarcoding analyses for monitoring Chilean HABs are introduced stepwise. According to a recent hypothesis, algal-bacterial mutualistic association plays a critical synergetic or antagonistic relationship accounting for bloom initiation, maintenance, and regression. Thus, monitoring HAB from algal-bacterial perspectives may provide a broader understanding of HAB mechanisms and the basis for early warning. Metabarcoding analysis is one of the best suited molecular-based tools for this purpose because it can detect massive algal-bacterial taxonomic information in a sample. The visual procedures of sampling to metabarcoding analysis herein provide specific instructions, aiming to reduce errors and collection of reliable data.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology was carried out on plutonic rocks from Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, Andong Meas, Oyadav South, Svay Leu, and Phnom Soporkaley. The zircon U-Pb ages from the plutonic rocks determined in this study can be roughly divided into two groups. One is the Late Permian to Triassic ages of 278-202 Ma for the Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Oyadav South, Svay Leu, and Phnom Soporkaley, and the other is the early Cretaceous ages of 118-98 Ma for the Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, and Andong Meas samples. The plutonic rocks from Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Svay Leu, Oyadav South, and Phnom Soporkaley were likely formed by magmatic activity in the Loei Fold Belt. These plutonic rocks were likely formed in an extensional setting and/or a region where the continental crust was thin. The plutonic rocks of Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, and Andong Meas were likely formed by magmatic activity in the Dalat-Kratie Fold Belt, related to the NW-directed subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean plate. These plutonic rocks are thought to correspond to the Dinhquan suite in southern Vietnam. The Kon Mom and Koh Nheak plutonic rocks fall within the alkaline series, which suggests that the magma genesis was deep and far from the western Paleo-Pacific Ocean plate. Magmatic activity in the Dalat-Kratie Fold Belt migrated oceanward as a whole during the Cretaceous., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Phytoplankton blooms, including harmful algal blooms (HABs), have serious impacts on ecosystems, public health, and productivity activities. Rapid detection and monitoring of marine microalgae are important in predicting and managing HABs. We developed a toolkit, the Suitcase Lab, to detect harmful algae species in the field. We demonstrated the Suitcase Lab's capabilities for sampling, filtration, DNA extraction, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) detection in cultured Alexandrium catenella cells as well as Chilean coastal waters from four sites: Repollal, Isla García, Puerto Montt, and Metri. A LAMP assay using the Suitcase Lab in the field confirmed microscopic observations of A. catenella in samples from Repollal and Isla García. The Suitcase Lab allowed the rapid detection of A. catenella, within 2 h from the time of sampling, even at a single cell per milliliter concentrations, demonstrating its usefulness for quick and qualitative on-site diagnosis of target toxic algae species. This method is applicable not only to detecting harmful algae but also to other field studies that seek a rapid molecular diagnostic test.

Recent increase of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) causes world-wide ecological, economical, and health issues, and more attention is paid to frequent coastal monitoring for the early detection of HAB species to prevent or reduce such impacts. Use of molecular tools in addition to traditional microscopy-based observation has become one of the promising methodologies for coastal monitoring. However, as ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes are commonly targeted in molecular studies, variability in the rRNA gene copy number within and between species must be considered to provide quantitative information in quantitative PCR (qPCR), digital PCR (dPCR), and metabarcoding analyses. Currently, this information is only available for a limited number of species. The present study utilized a dPCR technology to quantify copy numbers of rRNA genes per single cell in 16 phytoplankton species, the majority of which are toxin-producers, using a newly developed universal primer set accompanied by a labeled probe with a fluorophore and a double-quencher. In silico PCR using the newly developed primers allowed the detection of taxa from 8 supergroups, demonstrating universality and broad coverage of the primer set. Chelex buffer was found to be suitable for DNA extraction to obtain DNA fragments with suitable size to avoid underestimation of the copy numbers. The study successfully demonstrated the first comparison of absolute quantification of 18S rRNA copy numbers per cell from 16 phytoplankton species by the dPCR technology., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Harmful algae blooms (HABs) cause acute effects on marine ecosystems due to their production of endogenous toxins or their enormous biomass, leading to significant impacts on local economies and public health. Although HAB monitoring has been intensively performed at spatiotemporal scales in coastal areas of the world over the last decades, procedures have not yet been standardized. HAB monitoring procedures are complicated and consist of many methodologies, including physical, chemical, and biological water sample measurements. Each monitoring program currently uses different combinations of methodologies depending on site specific purposes, and many prior programs refer to the procedures in quotations. HAB monitoring programs in Chile have adopted the traditional microscopic and toxin analyses but not molecular biology and bacterial assemblage approaches. Here we select and optimize the HAB monitoring methodologies suitable for Chilean geography, emphasizing on metabarcoding analyses accompanied by the classical tools with considerations including cost, materials and instrument availability, and easiness and efficiency of performance. We present results from a pilot study using the standardized stepwise protocols, demonstrating feasibility and plausibility for sampling and analysis for the HAB monitoring. Such specific instructions in the standardized protocol are critical obtaining quality data under various research environments involving multiple stations, different analysts, various time-points, and long HAB monitoring duration.

Background: Only a few studies have examined the effects of regular acetaminophen drip infusion as postoperative analgesia in lung cancer surgery., Methods: We consecutively collected the medical data of 282 patients who underwent complete resection for lung cancer and divided them into 2 groups according to their postoperative analgesia;248 patients with conventional analgesia( group C) and 34 who received acetaminophen( group A)., Results: There was no significant difference in the surgical approach, length of surgical incision, or postoperative pain scale between the 2 groups. Postoperative vital signs and laboratory data were also not significantly different., Conclusion: Postoperative analgesia with acetaminophen was conducted safely, but its effect on postoperative pain did not differ from the conventional analgesia.

Phytoplankton blooms can cause acute effects on marine ecosystems due either to their production of endogenous toxins or to their enormous biomass leading to major impacts on local economies and public health. Despite years of effort, the causes of these Harmful Algal Blooms are still not fully understood. Our hypothesis is that bacteria that produce photoactive siderophores may provide a bioavailable source of iron for phytoplankton which could in turn stimulate algal growth and support bloom dynamics. Here we correlate iron concentrations, phytoplankton cell counts, bacterial cell abundance, and copy numbers for a photoactive siderophore vibrioferrin biosynthesis gene in water samples taken from 2017 cruises in the Gulf of California, and the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northern Baja California as well as during a multiyear sampling at Scripps Pier in San Diego, CA. We find that bacteria producing the photoactive siderophore vibrioferrin, make up a surprisingly high percentage of total bacteria in Pacific/Gulf of California coastal waters (up to 9%). Vibroferrin's unique properties and the widespread prevalence of its bacterial producers suggest that it may contribute significantly to generating bioavailability of iron via photoredox reactions.

Background: Spread through air spaces (STAS) identified in lung cancer is considered to be a risk factor for recurrence after surgery. The purpose of this study is to clarify the prognostic impact of STAS in sublobar resections., Methods: We studied 514 patients with clinical stage IA cancers: 329 underwent lobectomies and 185 underwent sublobar resections. We assessed the prognostic impact of STAS in the cases with a sublobar resection for stage IA lung cancer versus the cases with a lobectomy., Results: STAS was found in 73 of 329 (22.2%) lobectomy cases and 31 of 185 (16.8%) sublobar resection cases. For overall survival, univariate analysis revealed that STAS was not a prognostic factor in the lobectomy group, but it was a significantly worse prognostic factor for the sublobar resection group in both univariate and multivariate analyses. For the recurrence-free rate, multivariate analysis showed STAS was not a risk factor in the lobectomy group, but it was a significant risk factor for the sublobar resection group in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients with STAS and sublobar resection had a significantly higher rate of pulmonary metastases than did patients with STAS and lobectomy (8 of 31 [25.8%] vs 6 of 73 [8.2%])., Conclusions: STAS is a prognostic factor of poor outcomes for sublobar resection in patients with lung cancer. The worse prognosis for sublobar resection would be associated with STAS., (Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

An 81-year-old woman with acute respiratory distress was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography showed a large mass in the upper mediastinum with severe tracheal stenosis. Endotracheal intubation was performed under the preparation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and high-frequency jet ventilation, and the tumor was completely removed. The pathologic diagnosis was a goiter. Post-operatively, respiratory distress disappeared. No tumor recurrences have been noted for more than 2 years after surgery.

Background: Although positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) findings are prognostic in lung cancer patients, the prognostic value of PET/CT findings in patients with pulmonary metastases has neither been comprehensively investigated nor clarified. The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the value of PET/CT and identify novel prognostic indicators for pulmonary metastasectomy., Methods: Between May 2004 and February 2017, 178 patients underwent PET/CT and resection of pulmonary metastases. After exclusion of patients who underwent biopsy only or duplicate cases, 142 patients were analyzed. Prognostic indicators, including PET/CT findings and outcomes were investigated., Results: The median follow-up time was 42 months. The primary tumor site was colorectal in 76, kidney in 14, head and neck in 13, breast in 12, stomach in 8, urinary tract in 7, and other organs in 12 patients. The median maximal standardized uptake value (SUV max ) was 4.6. The optimal cut-off value, determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, identified the following cut-off values: disease-free interval (DFI) (12 months; SUV max =4.5). Univariable analysis revealed that DFI ≤12 months, incomplete resection, and SUV max ≥4.5 were significant for poor outcome. Multivariable analysis revealed incomplete resection and SUV max ≥4.5 were significant for poor outcome. The 5-year survival rates of patients with SUV max ≥4.5 and SUV max <4.5 were 51.6% and 74.0%, respectively., Conclusions: Analysis of patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy demonstrated that incomplete resection and an SUV max ≥4.5 are significant prognostic indicators. PET/CT findings should be included in estimations of these patients' prognosis., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vienna, Austria, 7–11 October 2017.

The iron uptake and storage systems of terrestrial/higher plants are now reasonably well understood with two basic strategies being distinguished: Strategy I involves the induction of an Fe(III)-chelate reductase (ferrireductase) along with Fe(II) or Fe(III) transporter proteins while strategy II plants have evolved sophisticated systems based on high-affinity, iron specific, binding compounds called phytosiderophores. In contrast, there is little knowledge about the corresponding systems in marine, plant-like lineages. Herein we report a study of the iron uptake and storage mechanisms in the harmful algal bloom dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum. L. polyedrum is an armored dinoflagellate with a mixotrophic lifestyle and one of the most common bloom species on Southern California coast widely noted for its bioluminescent properties and as a producer of yessotoxins. Short term radio-iron uptake studies indicate that iron is taken up by L. polyedrum in a time dependent manner consistent with an active transport process. Based on inhibitor and other studies it appears that a reductive-oxidative pathway such as that found in yeast and the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is likely. Of the various iron sources tested vibrioferrin, a photoactive and relatively weak siderophore produced by potentially mutualistic Marinobacter bacterial species, was the most efficient. Other more stable and non-photoactive siderophores such as ferrioxamine E were ineffective. Several pieces of data including long term exposure to 57 Fe using Mössbauer spectroscopy suggest that L. polyedrum does not possess an iron storage system but rather presumably relies on an efficient iron uptake system, perhaps mediated by mutualistic interactions with bacteria.

Lung cancer invading neighboring anatomical structures is categorized as T3 or T4 and is regarded as locally advanced lung cancer. The 8th Edition Lung Cancer Stage Classification reclassified tumors 5~7 cm in size as T3 and tumors >7 cm or invading the diaphragm as T4. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment results for resectable cT3-4N0-1M0 non-small cell lung cancer. From 1985 to 2016, 138 patients were surgically treated in our hospital, and their median follow-up was 78 months. Overall, the 5-year survival was 50%. According to the cT factor, the 5-year survival was 60% in patients with 5~7 cm tumors, 35% in patients with >7 cm tumors, and 58% in the group with chest wall invasion;however, no patients with tumors invading the diaphragm, pericardium or great vessels survived 5 years postoperatively. Preoperative chemotherapy was given to 16 patients( 12%), and 6 of those patients received chemoradiotherapy;40 patients (29%) received postoperative chemotherapy. All patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery had a complete resection and good pathological effects. While surgery alone is associated with an insufficient prognosis in patients with T3-T4 lung cancer, the addition of preoperative treatment is promising for improving survival.

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital pulmonary anomaly. Here we report a case of extralobar sequestration with calcification. A 34-year-old man was admitted to our department because of a tumor shadow on the chest radiological examination. Computed tomography examination revealed a mass measuring 5 cm above the left diaphragm. The mass contained cysts and calcification. Aberrant vessels were not detected. Teratoma, hamartoma or solitary fibrous tumor were suspected and the surgical treatment was performed. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was extralobar pulmonary sequestration.

Postoperative hemorrhagic cerebral infarction is rare but fatal complication. We report a case of hemorrhagic cerebral infarction after lung cancer surgery without a history of atrial fibrillation and cerebrovascular disease. A 58-year-old man who have a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia underwent right segmental lung resection. During surgery, he had no atrial fibrillation episode. On postoperative day 1, he presented a slight consciousness disturbance. On the day 2, he suffered from a headache and nausea. Brain computed tomography demonstrated a hemorrhagic infarction at the right posterior cerebral artery territory. Transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance angiography did not show the thrombus. The symptoms were gradually improved with intensive medical therapy, and he was discharged with a left homonymous hemianopsia. Although a diagnosis of the consciousness disturbance in the early-phase postoperative period is difficult, perioperative cerebral infarction should be recognized as a postoperative complication.

Evidence is increasing for a mutualistic relationship between phytoplankton and heterotrophic marine bacteria. It has been proposed that bacteria producing photoactive iron binding compounds known as siderophores could play an important role in such mutualistic associations by producing bioavailable iron utilizable by phytoplankton and in exchange receive autotrophically derived DOM. In order to understand the potential role photoactive siderophores might be playing in bacterial-algal mutualism or marine biogeochemistry in general, it is important to be able to detect and quantify their presence in various environments. One approach to accomplish that end is to make use of high sensitivity genomics technology (qPCR) to search for siderophore biosynthesis genes related to the production of photoactive siderophores. In this way one can access their "biochemical potential" and utilize this information as a proxy for the presence of these siderophores in the marine environment. In this report we studied the correlation of the presence of bacteria producing one of the three photoactive siderophores relative to total bacterial and dinoflagellate numbers from surface water at the Scripps Pier before, during, and after fall bloom of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum. We believe that these findings will aid us in gauging the importance of photoactive siderophores in the marine environment and in harmful algal bloom dynamics in particular.

The human ecto-ATPase (NTPDase 2) contains conserved motifs including five apyrase conserved regions (ACRs) and four conserved regions (CRs) as well as conserved lysine and arginine residues that are also present in other cell surface E-NTPDases. Some of the positively charged amino acids may be involved in ATP binding. The protein also contains six potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Results obtained with seven lysine and six arginine mutants indicate the importance of K62 that is located in CR1, K182, which is downstream of ACR3, and R155, which immediately follows CR3. Mutation of asparagine at the six potential N-linked glycosylation sites individually to glutamine established the importance of N64 in CR1 and N443 in ACR5 in protein function and expression. Mutation of N64, which is conserved in all cell surface NTPDases, results in the expression of an unstable protein, the activity of which is only manifested in the presence of concanavalin A. Both K62 and N64 reside in CR1 that is conserved in all cell surface NTPDases. In the sequence of the CR1 of human ecto-ATPase, 58WPADKENDTGIV69, 65DTG67 is similar to the phosphate-binding motif (DXG) in ACR1 and 4. The D65A and G67A mutants have reduced protein expression and activity. Mutations of other residues in CR1 to alanine led to partial to complete loss of protein expression and activity except for P59. The alanine mutants of the three acidic amino acid residues, D61, E63, and D65, all have decreased affinity for divalent ions. D61 can be substituted by glutamate, but E63 appears to be invariable. Taken together, these results indicate that CR1, which follows ACR1 in the cell surface NTPDases, is an essential structural element in these enzymes.

Skeletal muscle ischemia and reperfusion is now recognized as one form of acute inflammation in which activated leukocytes play a key role. Although restoration of flow is essential in alleviating ischemic injury, reperfusion initiates a complex series of reactions which lead to neutrophil accumulation, microvascular barrier disruption, and edema formation. A large body of evidence exists which suggests that leukocyte adhesion to and emigration across postcapillary venules plays a crucial role in the genesis of reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle. Reactive oxygen species generated by xanthine oxidase and other enzymes promote the formation of proinflammatory stimuli, modify the expression of adhesion molecules on the surface of leukocytes and endothelial cells, and reduce the bioavailability of the potent antiadhesive agent nitric oxide. As a consequence of these events, leukocytes begin to form loose adhesive interactions with postcapillary venular endothelium (leukocyte rolling). If the proinflammatory stimulus is sufficient, leukocytes may become firmly adherent (stationary adhesion) to the venular endothelium. Those leukocytes which become firmly adherent may then diapedese into the perivascular space. The emigrated leukocytes induce parenchymal cell injury via a directed release of oxidants and hydrolytic enzymes. In addition, the emigrating leukocytes also exacerbate ischemic injury by disrupting the microvascular barrier during their egress across the vasculature. As a consequence of this increase in microvascular permeability, transcapillary fluid filtration is enhanced and edema results. The resultant increase in interstitial tissue pressure physically compresses the capillaries, thereby preventing microvascular perfusion and thus promoting the development of the no-reflow phenomenon. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available information regarding these mechanisms of skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) refers to a phenomenon in which a tissue is rendered resistant to the deleterious effects of prolonged ischemia by previous exposure to brief periods of vascular occlusion. While the beneficial effects of IPC were first demonstrated in the myocardium, it is now clear that preconditioning protects postischemic skeletal muscle, brain, and small intestine and may also occur in humans. Although first described over a decade ago, the mechanisms underlying the powerful protective effects of IPC remain uncertain. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that the beneficial actions of IPC involve the activation of adenosine A1 receptors during the period of preconditioning ischemia in most organs and species. Adenosine A1 receptor stimulation is thought to promote the translocation and activation of specific isoforms of protein kinase C1 which in turn phosphorylate as yet unidentified cellular effector molecules. In the heart, it has been suggested that ATP-sensitive potassium channels may represent important effectors of the preconditioning phenomenon. In contrast, ATP-sensitive potassium channel activation does not seem to contribute to the beneficial effects of IPC in the small bowel and seems to play only a limited role in skeletal muscle. In these peripheral tissues, the beneficial effects of IPC are related to inhibition of leukocyte adhesion and emigration. In the small intestine, IPC seems to prevent postischemic leukocyte adhesion by maintaining the bioavailability of nitric oxide (a potent endogenous anti-adhesive agent) and preventing, the expression of P-selectin (an adhesive molecule expressed by endothelial cells that is thought to modulate leukocyte rolling). In skeletal muscle, these actions are mediated by an effect of IPC to augment the production of adenosine (another potent endogenous anti-adhesive agent) during reperfusion. Thus, although adenosine-induced protein kinase C activation seems to play an important role in initiating the beneficial actions of IPC in most tissues, the effector of the preconditioning phenomenon seems to differ among tissues. Understanding the mechanisms of IPC has led to the recognition that tissues may also be preconditioned by administration of agents that act via the same signaling cascade (e.g., adenosine, bradykinin, alpha 1-adrenergic agonists). The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence regarding the mechanisms of IPC in different organs.

Insulin secretion from pancreatic islets has been found to be periodic by in vivo and in vitro experiments. The pacemaker which regulates the periodicity may be localized in the central nervous system or in the pancreas, though the precise location and the mechanisms of generating pacing have not been determined. In order to solve these problems, we examined the period of secretory cycles of insulin in isolated islets using a prolonged perfusion system, and investigated the effects of glucose and other agents on these periods. Isolated islets from male Wistar rats were enclosed in a millipore holder and were perfused with MEM containing 1 mg/ml glucose at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min for 240 min. The effluent was collected at 1-min intervals to measure insulin secretion. The results were analyzed by the maximum entropy method to demonstrate the periodicity of insulin secretion. When islets were perfused with 1 mg/ml glucose, the periodicity comprised five cycles with different duration: 71.5 +/- 14.6 min, 29.8 +/- 3.4 min, 19.2 +/- 1.5 min, 11.6 +/- 2.1 min and 4.3 +/- 0.4 min. This indicates the presence of a pacemaker within the islets, although, in vivo, participation of a higher center to control periodicity has to be taken into account. Further, the presence of a long cycle (71.5 +/- 14.6 min) of insulin secretion which previously has only been observed in vivo was first demonstrated in this in vitro study. The cycles were consistent even in islets which were desensitized to glucose by cultivating in a high glucose medium for 5 days before perfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for somatostatin (SS)-like immunoreactivity (SS-LI) was developed with the use of beta-D-galactosidase labeled antigen. The minimum amount of SS-like immunoreactive substance (SS-IS) detectable by this method was 1.0 fmol/well (25 pmol/l). The level of SS-IS in bovine foremilk was about 20 pmol/l, and the level was unchanged after delivery. On the other hand, the levels of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP)-IS and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-IS in bovine foremilk were very high, but fell during 1 week after delivery to about 10% of those in foremilk.