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Raman spectroscopy is a powerful method for estimating the molecular structure of a target that can be adapted for biomedical analysis given its non-destructive nature. Inflammatory skin diseases impair the skin's barrier function and interfere with the patient's quality of life. There are limited methods for non-invasive and objective assessment of skin inflammation. We examined whether Raman spectroscopy can be used to predict skin inflammation with high sensitivity and specificity when combined with artificial intelligence (AI) analysis. Inflammation was chemically induced in mouse ears, and Raman spectra induced by a 785 nm laser were recorded. A principal component (PC) analysis of the Raman spectra was performed to extract PCs with the highest percentage of variance and to estimate the statistical score. The accuracy in predicting inflammation based on the Raman spectra with or without AI analysis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. We observed some typical changes in the Raman spectra upon skin inflammation, which may have resulted from vasodilation and interstitial oedema. The estimated statistical scores based on spectral changes correlated with the histopathological changes in the skin. The ROC curve based on PC2, which appeared to include some spectral features, revealed a maximum accuracy rate of 80.0% with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.864. The AI analysis improved the accuracy rate to 93.1% with an AUC of 0.972. The current findings demonstrate that the combination of Raman spectroscopy with near-infrared excitation and AI analysis can provide highly accurate information on the pathology of skin inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cellulose is generally considered not to affect the viscosity of the digesta in the upper gastrointestinal tract, we found previously that the ingestion of cellulose elevated the viscosity of the gastric, small intestinal, and cecal contents when particulate matter was included in the measurements. We hypothesized that the digesta viscosity influences absorption. Here, we examined the effects of crystalline cellulose on plasma glucose concentrations by infusing control and cellobiose- and cellulose-containing artificial digesta of ~30 mL into the small intestine of rats. Cellulose, but not cellobiose, decreased the postinfusion plasma glucose concentration (P < 0.05), although cellulose did not cause adsorption or dilution of glucose. Among the physical properties of the artificial digesta, only viscosity was responsible for the decrease in the plasma glucose concentration, whereas water content, free water, bound water, and osmotic pressure were not. The cellulose-induced increase in digesta viscosity may delay glucose diffusion in the lumen, as found in our previous study. Cellulose also stimulated water absorption from the small intestine (P < 0.05), which may be attributable to increases in the water potential of the digesta moving through the small intestine. The ingestion of cellulose with meals, which increases digesta viscosity, is likely to modulate the postprandial plasma glucose concentration and to reduce the incidence of diarrhea associated with enteral nutrition. KEY WORDS: * crystalline cellulose * viscosity * intestinal contents * plasma glucose * water potential

Distant metastases derived from papillary carcinoma are generally detected in the lungs and bones. However, renal metastasis is rare. We herein report a case of papillary thyroid carcinoma with renal and pulmonary metastases that had been initially diagnosed as primary renal carcinoma with pulmonary metastases. The lesions showed response to immune checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitor but not to radioactive iodine therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Si tunnel FETs (TFETs) with the vertical tunneling junction (nVTFETs) were demonstrated by utilizing fabrication processes compatible to those used for conventional Si MOSFETs. The vertical tunneling junction was realized by forming n-type surface pocket regions under gate overlap regions of p-type source extensions only using the ion implantation (I/I). The impacts of carbon (C) coimplantation and formation of offset spacer (OSS) on the TFET performance were examined. As a result, the performance of the fabricated nVTFETs was enhanced by applying the C coimplantation and the OSS formation before the I/I for the vertical tunneling junctions. It has been found, on the other hand, that nVTETs exhibit a reverse short-channel effect, where the threshold voltage increases with decreasing the channel length, and that this effect is correlated with the enhanced temperature dependence of subthreshold slope. These phenomena are attributable to the existence of a thermionic barrier between the source junction and the channel, formed by boron diffusion from the source region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We have previously reported that HYBID (hyaluronan (HA)-binding protein involved in HA depolymerization/KIAA1199/CEMIP) is a specific HA-binding protein that is essential for HA depolymerization in skin and synovial fibroblasts. HA is incorporated into cells in the presence of HYBID and clathrin, degraded in endosomes, and excreted into the extracellular space. However, it is not yet clear whether HYBID itself catalytically cleaves HA. A recent report on transmembrane protein 2 (TMEM2)—a novel cell surface hyaluronidase—prompted us to investigate whether TMEM2 is essential for HYBID-mediated HA depolymerization. In the present study, we found that transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), which suppressed HA depolymerization with a concomitant decrease in HYBID expression, upregulated TMEM2 expression conversely in human skin fibroblasts. TMEM2 expression was not affected by histamine, which significantly increased HA depolymerization accompanied by an increase in HYBID expression. We confirmed a similar response in two other cell lines: KEL FIB keloid fibroblasts and HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. TGF-β1 was the only inducer of TMEM2 expression among growth factors including epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), which suppressed HYBID expression. Moreover, HYBID knockdown completely suppressed HA depolymerization, whereas TMEM2 knockdown unexpectedly enhanced it. These findings clearly indicate that HYBID is indispensable, but TMEM2 is not involved in the HYBID-mediated HA depolymerization system as a catalytic hyaluronidase in human skin fibroblasts. Highlights • TGF-β1 upregulated TMEM2 expression in human skin fibroblasts. • TGF-β1 was the only inducer of TMEM2 among growth factors, which suppressed HYBID. • HYBID knockdown suppressed HA depolymerization, whereas TMEM2 knockdown enhanced it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction We evaluated 3-D CT imaging for preoperative classification of the left gastric artery and vein in patients with early gastric cancer and estimated its clinical benefit. Methods Between April 2009 and March 2014, 279 patients underwent preoperative 3-D CT using a 64-row multi-detector CT scanner, followed by laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy. The 3-D CT images of the arterial and portal phases were reconstructed and fused. The operative outcomes were compared between patients who had not undergone 3-D CT (2007-2008) and who had undergone 3-D CT (2009-2011). Results According to Adachi's classification, the numbers of type I, II, III, IV, V, and VI arterial patterns were 253, 15, 1, 3, 3, and 1, respectively. Three cases could not be classified. According to the Douglass classification, the left gastric vein flowed into the portal vein, splenic vein, junction of the portal vein and splenic vein, and left branch of the portal vein in 119, 111, 36, and 5 patients, respectively. The left gastric vein could not be visualized in six patients, and two patients could not be classified. In addition, the relation was absent for an Adachi type I vein and one of the 'other' types of veins. The total operative time was significantly shorter with 3-D CT than without it ( P = 0.01), and the degree of lymph-node dissection was significantly higher ( P = 0.01). Inflammatory parameters and operative morbidity tended to decrease with 3-D CT. Conclusion Three-dimensional CT is a useful modality to visualize the vessel anatomy around the stomach, and it improves clinical effectiveness and reduces the invasiveness of surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Total mixed ration ( TMR) is widely used for dairy cattle and needs to be prepared daily because it deteriorates rapidly. Ensiling TMR allows preservation and saves labour at the farm; however, silage fermentation may influence various nutritional components. The objectives of this study were to evaluate nutritional changes and in vitro rumen fermentation of TMR silage that was stored at different temperatures and durations on a laboratory scale in comparison with those of typical TMR before ensiling. RESULTS No distinct changes in crude protein ( CP), neutral detergent fibre and non-fibrous carbohydrate contents were observed during silage fermentation. However, clear changes were observed in the soluble CP and soluble sugar fractions; solubilisation of the CP fraction in TMR silage was enhanced by prolonged storage and higher storage temperatures, and most soluble sugars were lost during ensiling. Short-chain fatty acid concentrations in the in vitro rumen from TMRs before and after ensiling were not significantly different; however, throughout incubation, NH3-N concentrations from TMR silages were significantly higher than those from TMR before ensiling. CONCLUSION A higher ruminal NH3-N concentration from TMR silage may be a result of a shortage of fermentable sugars and enhanced deamination of CP. Feeding TMR ensiled under a high temperature must be investigated to balance proteins and carbohydrates for rumen fermentation. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cellulases contain carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) that largely contribute to their activity for insoluble substrates.Clostridium thermocellumCel5E is an endoglucanase having xylanolytic activity. The Cel5E originally has a family 11 CBM preferentially binding to β-1,4- and β-1,3-1,4-mixed linkage glucans. In this study, we replaced the CBM with a different type of CBM, either a family 3 microcrystalline cellulose-directed CBM fromClostridium josuiscaffoldin, or a family 6 xylan-directed CBM fromClostridium stercorariumxylanase 11A. Chimeric endoglucanases showed enhanced activity that was affected by CBM binding specificity. These chimeric enzymes could efficiently degrade milled lignocellulosic materials, such as corn hulls, because of heterologous components in the plant cell wall, indicating that diverse CBMs play roles in degradation of lignocellulosic materials. Substrate specificities of an endoglucanase, Cel5E fromClostridium thermocellumwere affected by fusion of different type CBMs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Spontaneous esophageal perforation, also commonly referred to as Boerhaave's syndrome, is one of the most lethal diseases causing an acute abdomen. Though rare, emergent surgical intervention is often required and management can be various based upon the site of the perforation. This literature has been written in line with the SCARE criteria (Agha et al., 2020) [1]. A 76-year-old man presented with acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed and an emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed carefully, which revealed a 7 cm all-layer esophageal laceration in the left lower esophageal wall. In our case, a hiatal hernia was protruding into the mediastinum, and the perforation site was inside of it, but there was no invasion into the thoracic cavity, thus a transabdominal approach was performed without thoracotomy. This type of esophageal perforation within a hiatal hernia is quite rare and provides a unique clinical challenge. In addition, A review reported the average length of spontaneous esophageal perforation to be around 2 cm while our case had a perforation with a length of 7 cm. We chose the combination of the simple suture with omental buttress and wide drainage, but a complete fundoplication was impossible due to its large size of perforation. We chose the open abdominal approach because the case had high inflammation, a hiatal hernia and possibility of retro-gastric perforation. However, MIS should have been considered first if a situation or human resources allow it. • Esophageal perforation combined with a hiatal hernia is quite rare. • Our case had about 7cm of perforation though it is around 2cm on average. • We chose the trans abdominal approach due to the hiatal hernia. • In some conditions, thoracotomy is not required, and it would be beneficial when considering the invasiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the lignocellulose degradation activity of the Clostridium josui cellulosome, a carbohydrate-binding module of the scaffoldin Cj CBM3 was characterized. Cj CBM3 shows binding to crystalline cellulose, non-crystalline cellulose and soluble polysaccharides. The binding isotherm of Cj CBM3 to acid-swollen cellulose is best fitted by the Langmuir two-site model, suggesting that there are two Cj CBM3 binding sites on acid-swollen cellulose with different affinities. The second site shows lower affinity and larger binding capacity, suggesting that the cellulosome is directly targeted to the cellulose surface with high affinity, where larger amounts of the cellulosome bind to cellulose with low affinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the fermentation quality and nutritive value of whole crop rice silage (WCRS) treated with a monosodium glutamate fermented by-product (MGB), and its effects on the digestion of WCRS using four Japanese Black cows. The whole crop rice was chopped into 3-5 cm lengths after being harvested at the yellow-ripeness stage and ensiled for 30 days after being treated with 0 (CMG), 2.5 (LMG), 5 (MMG) and 10% (HMG) levels of MGB. Samples of whole crop rice and that of WCRS were collected and analyzed for fermentation characteristics. This was followed by a nutrient digestion study using four Japanese Black cows in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The MGB treatment improved ( P < 0.05) lactic acid production compared to the CMG treatment, but was not affected by the MGB level. Butyric acid production was reduced ( P < 0.05) with MMG and HMG treatments of WCRS. The crude protein (CP) content of WCRS increased, whereas neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content decreased with MGB treatment and these changes were affected by the MGB level. The nitrogen content in MGB improved ( P < 0.05) CP intake of WCRS, but did not ( P > 0.05) affect N retention. The digestibility of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and NDF increased with MGB treatment, and the degree was also affected by the level of MGB. The ruminal ammonia-N at 4 h after feeding was higher in MGB treatments than in the CMG treatment. This study demonstrated that although improvement on fermentation quality and digestibility of MGB treatment were not notable; however, MGB-treated WCRS have beneficial effects if fed for a sufficiently long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examines the significance of family 17 and 8 carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) on the identification of different cell-wall sites in sweet potato roots. Findings of the study reveal that CBMs determined several components on sweet potato root's cell wall. It also indicates that family 17 and family 28 of CBMs recognized that the polysaccharides configuration in the cell wall differ between tissues.

The article presents a study on the differences of the binding properties of three Clostridium josui carbohydrate-binding modules (CjCBMs) families such as 17, 28, and 17/28. It notes that an isothermal titration calorimetry was used to determine the thermodynamic parameter for the binding of the CBMs with cellooligosaccharides. Results show that the individual CBMs had different mechanisms for binding to cellooligosaccharides but with similar binding constants (Ka) for cellopentaose.

Digestive efficiency and nutrient and energy consumption of the dugong (Dugong dugon) were determined during 1 year, using one male and one female captive animals fed eelgrass (Zostera marina) at the Toba Aquarium. The quantity of urine excreted was also estimated to evaluate ingestion of metabolic energy (ME), by measuring creatinine concentration of spot samples taken from the female. Estimated consumption rate of eelgrass was low at 0.82-0.99% dry matter (DM) of bodyweight, which was closely associated with its high nutritive value and digestibility as shown by 74% total digestible nutrients and 14.6% digestible crude protein on a DM basis. Consumption of gross energy and digestible energy averaged 10.4 Mcal per day and 9.6 Mcal per day, respectively. The female individual consumed 8.64 Mcal per day ME, calculated from urination of 26.2 l per day and estimated from urinary creatinine concentration and an equation for urinary creatinine excretion and bodyweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylalanine fermentation byproduct (PFB) is generated by purifying phenylalanine products from microbial fermentation in the food industry. We examined the function of PFB as an ensiling agent to improve the silage fermentation and nutritive value of forage crops. We investigated the fermentation quality and rumen degradability of whole crop barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) silage in situ. We ensiled this type of silage in a laboratory scale using five compositional ratios (v/v) of PFB (20%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 80%) and a mixture of sugarcane molasses (SCM). Controls included the same volumes of water as the mixture of sugarcane molasses. The following strains Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (IFO12007), Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides (IFO12060), Lactobaccillus plantarum (IF014713), Pedioccocus acidilactici (IFO3858), Clostridium butyricum (IFO3858) and silage yeast (strain MY; separated from whole crop rice silage in this laboratory) were cultivated at 30°C in the recommended media containing a substituted carbon source depending on the compositional ratios of PFB and SCM mixtures. The growth of these strains was determined by measuring the optical density at 600 nm (OD600). The growth of the lactic acid bacteria significantly ( P < 0.001) increased in the presence of all PFB additives as compared with the control. The growth of C. butyricum was significantly increased, whereas that of silage yeast was decreased under all conditions. The concentrations of lactate and total organic acids were significantly higher ( P < 0.001) whereas those of acetate were lower in all PFB silages. These results indicated that PFB improved the silage fermentation of forage crops. With leaf and stem fractions, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content was significantly ( P < 0.001) decreased by the PFB additive and the rumen degradability of DM and NDF in situ was also significantly increased ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was carried out to examine the effect of crushing unhulled rice and the addition of fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB) on the fermentation quality of whole crop rice silage, and its digestibility and rumen fermentation in sheep. After whole rice plants ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Haenuki) were harvested between the yellow and full-ripened period of maturity, and cut at a length of 2 cm, four silage treatments were set: (i) non-treatment; (ii) crushing treatment of unhulled rice division (crushing); (iii) addition of 1% FJLB; and (iv) crushing + addition of 1% FJLB. Lactic acid content increased with the addition of FJLB, and was highest in the crushing + FJLB treatment. Digestibilities of crude fiber, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber were significantly higher during the crushing + FJLB treatment. There were no differences among treatments in the volatile fatty acid concentrations before and after feeding. At 4 h after feeding, however, the ratio of acetic acid : propionic acid was significantly lower with the addition of FJLB. It was proven that the fermented quality of silage was improved when FJLB was added to rice plants and then ensilaged, and the digestibility of the fibrous component was raised when unhulled rice division was crushed and FJLB was supplemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro rumen dry matter degradability, volatile fatty acid (VFA) and methane production were examined in a total mixed ration pretreated with different levels of either commercial cellulolytic enzyme (CCE), the surfactant poly oxyethylene sorbitan monoolate (Tween 80) or both: (i) no pretreatment (Control); (ii) with 1% CCE alone; (iii) with 2% CCE alone; (iv) with 1% Tween 80 alone; (v) with 1% Tween 80 + 1% CCE;(vi) with 1% Tween 80 + 2% CCE; (vii) with 2% Tween 80 alone; (viii) with 2% Tween 80 + 1% CCE; and (ix) with 2% Tween 80 +2% CCE. In all culture supernatants of rumen microorganisms, activities of xylanase and cellulase were significantly ( P < 0.001) increased with pretreatment of CCE alone, Tween 80 alone and both combined. Within the same treatment of no CCE and 1% CCE levels, the total VFA concentration was significantly ( P < 0.001) higher with 2% Tween 80 than with no or 1% Tween 80 treatments. The molar percentage of propionate significantly ( P < 0.001) increased only with Tween 80. Throughout the in vitro incubation, the average value of methane concentration decrease was greater ( P < 0.001) with 1% CCE treatment than with no CCE and 2% CCE treatments, accounting for 0.797 and 0.887 of no CCE and 2% CCE treatments, respectively. Accumulative methane production was significantly lower with 1% CCE treatment than with no CCE and 2% CCE treatments. A ratio of VFA : methane production was significantly ( P < 0.001) higher with 2% Tween 80 treatment than with no Tween 80 and 1% Tween 80 treatments, showing the average values of 7.28, 5.33 and 6.69, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of microorganisms in the hindgut of dugongs ( Dugong dugon ) were estimated and their in vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and degradation of eelgrass measured. Scanning electron microscopy showed that some rod bacteria attached to the surface of plant tissue degraded and eroded the cell walls. Number of starch-, lactate-, cellobiose-, pectin-, xylan- and cellulose-utilizing bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and methane-producing bacteria were estimated at 10 9 ∼ 10 10 colony forming units g -1 . Microorganisms degraded the cellulose and noncellulolytic components of the eelgrass, and about 47.3% of dry matter was degraded after 36 h in vitro incubation. The total VFA concentration was 10.5 mmol dL -1 at 36 h incubation, which included 55.7 mol% acetate, 18.0 mol% n -butyrate and 15.1 mol% propionate. The gas composition of in vitro fermentation was 68.4% carbon dioxide, 22.2% methane and 9.4% hydrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food consumption and digestion of male and female dugongs ( Dugong dugon ) was examined by analyzing long-term (1979-1998) feeding records at Toba Aquarium (Japan). Throughout all captive feeding periods, dugongs consumed eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) and showed steady increases in feed consumption with a consistent weight gain of 42-45 kg a year. The daily consumption of male and female dugongs increased from 10-15 kg to 23-26 kg of fresh eelgrass, accounting for approximately 14 and 7% of their body weight at one and seven years old, respectively. Both dugongs had a marginal dry matter digestibility of over 90%. Food consumption varied between seasons and individuals. There were major reductions ( P <0.05) in consumption by the male in November and January and by the female in August and September. The seasonal reductions in food consumption coincided with high digestibility of eelgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A work of ultraviolet microspectrometry and immuno light microscopy of cinnamyl alcohol hydrogenase (CAD) in the cells of leaf blades was carried out on rice plants grown in a paddy field with (+Si) or without (−Si) application of a silicate fertilizer. The pattern of silicon distribution on the longitudinal surface of leaf blades by X-ray microanalyzer, morphological characteristics, and gross composition such as silica, other major mineral elements, cellulose, non-cellulosic polysaccharides, lignin and phenolic acids were also compared between both rice plants. The X-ray microanalysis of silicon indicated the higher deposit on dumbbell bodies and other surface area in the +Si rice plants compared with those of the −Si rice plants. The +Si rice plants also showed the lower immuno-reaction of antiserum of the CAD in the cell walls of sclerenchyma, vascular bundle sheath and metaxylem vessel cells. The +Si rice plants had the lower UV absorbance around 280 and 320 nm in the leaf blades compared with those of the −Si rice plants. Microscopic observations of leaf blades in both sets of rice plants were also consistent with results of phenolic acids examined. This study suggests that silica fertilization and/or silicate accumulation in the leaves can be associated with decreases of the phenolic biosynthesis in rice plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article investigates the local variability of bacterial species within the lumen of the cecum and proximal colon of guinea pigs by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The DGGE banding profiles revealed radial and axial variation of the bacteria. The article discusses the physiological importance of the variation of bacteria within the large intestinal lumen for the degradation of dietary fiber and interaction between bacteria and the mucosal immune system.