Draft genome sequence of the basidiomycetous yeast Mrakia hoshinonis JCM 32575T isolated from Ellesmere Island, Canadian High Arctic.

Mrakia hoshinonis JCM 32575 was isolated from glacial sediments on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian High Arctic and described as a new basidiomycetous yeast. This species does not require amino acids and vitamins for growth and can grow at sub-zero temperatures. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of this strain.

Prevalence and appropriateness of indwelling urinary catheters in Japanese hospital wards: a multicenter point prevalence study.

BACKGROUND: Indwelling urinary catheters are commonly used in hospitalized patients, which can lead to the development of urinary catheter complications, including catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Limited reports on the appropriateness of urinary catheter use exist in Japan. This study investigated the prevalence and appropriateness of indwelling urinary catheters, and the incidence of CAUTI in non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) wards in Japanese hospitals. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in 7 non-ICU wards from 6 hospitals in Japan from October 2017 to June 2018. At each hospital the study teams evaluated urinary catheter prevalence through in-person bedside evaluation for at least 5 days of each week for 3 months. Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) incidence and appropriateness of catheter use was collected via chart review. RESULTS: We assessed 710 catheter-days over 5528 patient-days. The mean prevalence of indwelling urinary catheter use in participating wards was 13% (range: 5% to 19%), while the mean incidence of CAUTI was 9.86 per 1000 catheter-days (range: 0 to 33.90). Approximately 66% of the urinary catheter days assessed had an appropriate indication for use (range: 17% to 81%). A physician's order for catheter placement was present in only 10% of catheterized patients. CONCLUSION: This multicenter study provides epidemiological information about the appropriate use of urinary catheters in Japanese non-ICU wards. A multimodal intervention may help improve the appropriate use of urinary catheters.

Periostin Exon-21 Antibody Neutralization of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell-Derived Periostin Regulates Tumor-Associated Macrophage Polarization and Angiogenesis.

Periostin (Pn) is involved in multiple processes of cancer progression. Previously, we reported that Pn expression is correlated with mesenchymal tumor markers and poor prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the TNBC xenograft model, chemotherapy increased expression of a Pn alternative splicing variant (ASV) with exon 21, and administration of the neutralizing antibody against Pn with exon 21 (Pn-21 Ab) overcame chemoresistance with a reduction in the mesenchymal cancer cell fraction. In the present study, the role of Pn ASV with exon 21 in TNBC progression has been addressed. We first established a stable cell line carrying a fluorescence-based splicing reporter. Pn-positive TNBC has higher expression of genes related to tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and ECM-receptor interaction than Pn-negative cells. In a xenograft model, only Pn-positive cells initiated tumor formation, and the Pn-21 Ab suppressed tumor cell growth, accompanied by decreased M2 TAM polarization and the number of tumor vessels. These data suggest that cancer cell-derived Pn ASV educates TAMs and regulates angiogenesis, which in turn establishes a microenvironmental niche that is supportive of TNBC.

Co-infection with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and Rickettsia japonica after Tick Bite, Japan.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome was diagnosed in a febrile woman in Japan after a tick bite. However, Rickettsia japonica DNA was retrospectively detected in the eschar specimen, suggesting co-infection from the bite. Establishment of the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection might have overpowered the R. japonica infection.

Generation of four induced pluripotent stem cell lines (FHUi003-A, FHUi003-B, FHUi004-A and FHUi004-B) from two affected individuals of a familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus family.

Four disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines were respectively derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two affected individuals in a family affected by familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus carrying the c.314G>C mutation. The expression of pluripotency markers (NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2), maintenance of a normal karyotype, absence of episomal vectors used for iPSC generation, and presence of the original pathogenic mutation were confirmed for each iPSC line. The ability to differentiate into three germ layers was confirmed by a teratoma formation assay. These iPSC lines can help in disease recapitulation in vitro using organoids and elucidation of disease mechanisms.

Therapeutic Angiogenesis Using HGF Plasmid.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is secreted from stromal and mesenchymal cells, and its receptor cMet is expressed on various types of cells such as smooth muscle cells, fibroblast, and endothelial cells. HGF stimulates epithelial and endothelial cell proliferation, motility, and morphogenesis in a paracrine and autocrine manner, organizing multistep of angiogenesis in many organs. In addition, HGF is recognized as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic growth factor, which has been proved in several animal studies, including neointimal hyperplasia and acute myocardial infarction model in rodent. Thus, as compared to other angiogenic growth factors, HGF exerts multiple effects on ischemic tissues, accompanied by the regression of tissue inflammation and fibrosis. These data suggest the therapeutic potential of the HGF for peripheral artery disease as it being accompanied with chronic tissue inflammation and fibrosis. In the present narrative review, the pleiotropic action of the HGF that differentiates it from other angiogenic growth factors is discussed first, and later, outcomes of the human clinical study with gene therapy are overviewed.