A radio frequency identification implanted in a tooth can communicate with the outside world.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder covering the 13.56 MHz band was adapted to minimize its volume so that it could be placed in the pulp chamber of an endodontically treated human tooth. The minimized transponder had a maximum communication distance of 30 mm. In an animal experiment, the transponder was fixed in the cavity of a mandibular canine of a dog. An RFID reader positioned close to the dog's face could communicate with the transponder in the dog's tooth. In certain cases, the system is applicable for the personal identification procedures for hospitalized patients instead of an identification wristband.     

Use of a highly sensitive latex reagent with amino acid spacer for determination of C-reactive protein concentration in a variety of liver diseases

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute-phase protein, which is extremely important in inflammatory disease diagnosis. CRP is rapidly elevated in various diseases as a result of tissue injury, infection and inflammation. Recently, many reports have shown its usefulness as a risk marker for arteriosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. However, the lack of sensitivity of existing CRP assays has hampered CRP testing in conditions associated with viral infections, where CRP levels typically elevate only marginally. In this report, we prepared a novel, ultra-sensitive latex-based CRP test using amino acid spacers with a high sensitivity and a wider assay range. Our method of conjugating latex beads enabled us to measure CRP in the range of 5-500?ng/mL in patient sera. Furthermore, we studied CRP levels in patients with various liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma, in order to examine the correlation between severity of liver dysfunction and CRP levels, and to examine the likelihood of recurrence of liver dysfunction. The reagent was simple to prepare and sensitive during clinical investigation, where it discriminated clearly between normal subjects and those with liver diseases. Therefore, we conclude that our ultra-sensitive CRP assay will contribute greatly to the clinical study of hepatic disorders.     

Temperature effect on single bubble rise characteristics in stagnant distilled water

Rise characteristics of spherical and ellipsoidal bubbles in normal- and high-temperature distilled water were visually observed. In the high-temperature experiments, the measured results of the rise velocity of a single bubble and the existence of rise path oscillation roughly agreed with the correlations for the bubbles in contaminated liquid. Also, applicability of an available correlation for the frequency of rise path oscillation was confirmed and a new correlation was developed to evaluate the amplitude of oscillation. It is expected that these results are to contribute to the further improvement of the prediction methods of multidimensional void distribution.     

Cell surface hydrophobicity and colony morphology of Trichosporon asahii clinical isolates

Trichosporon asahii is a pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast. Individual strains of T. asahii have different colony morphologies. However, it is not clear whether cell surface phenotypes differ among the colony morphologies. Here we characterized the cell surface hydrophobicity and analysed the carbohydrate contents of the cell surface polysaccharides in T. asahii clinical isolates with various colony morphologies. Among the three distinctive colony morphologies obtained from one clinical isolate, the white‐type morphology exhibited higher hydrophobicity. The hydrophobicity of heat‐killed T. asahii cells was greatly reduced after periodate oxidation of the cell surface carbohydrates. Furthermore, the cell wall and extracellular polysaccharide components differed among the morphologies. Our results suggest that T. asahii cell surface hydrophobicity is affected by cell surface carbohydrate composition. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Green luminescence from Mn ions in ZnO-GeO2 glasses prepared by sol-gel method and their glass ceramics

Zn₂SiO₄:Mn²⁺ is one of the green light luminants used for cathode ray tubes of televisions. Recently, optical materials emitting strong visible light under lower energy excitation have been expected. To obtain new luminants of high quality, we prepared Mn ion doped ZnO-GeO₂ glasses and glass ceramics from solutions of (CH₃COO)₂Zn·2H₂O, Ge(OC₂H₅)₄, and Mn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O by a sol-gel method and the subsequent heat treatment up to 1000 °C, respectively. Materials of the system xMnO-yZnO-(100 − y)GeO₂ (x = 0-5, y = 0-40) were obtained and their luminescence, excitation, and X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were measured. Under UV irradiation of 254 or 365 nm, the glass ceramics showed green luminescence at 535 nm, which may be due to the ⁴T₁→⁶A₁ transition of Mn²⁺ ions incorporated in Zn₂GeO₄ polycrystals. The intensity of this green luminescence increased and the crystallinity of Zn₂GeO₄ became high with increasing the heat-treatment temperature up to 1000 °C. In materials with low crystallinity and large amount of MnO, we observed a broad, featureless ESR signal of g = 2.01. On the other hand, in a high-crystallinity and low MnO content sample heat-treated at 1000 °C, 0.1 MnO-40 ZnO-60 GeO₂, many ESR signals were found in the range of about 20-500 mT; typical signals having six hyperfine lines were at g = 2.01 (A = 8.3-8.7 mT) and g = 4.27 (A = 8.2-8.3 mT).     

Lecithin Inclusion by α-Cyclodextrin Activates SREBP2 Signaling in the Gut and Ameliorates Postprandial Hyperglycemia

Background: α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) is one of the dietary fibers that may have a beneficial effect on cholesterol and/or glucose metabolism, but its efficacy and mode of action remain unclear. Methods: In the present study, we examined the anti-hyperglycemic effect of α-CD after oral loading of glucose and liquid meal in mice. Results: Administration of 2 g/kg α-CD suppressed hyperglycemia after glucose loading, which was associated with increased glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion and enhanced hepatic glucose sequestration. By contrast, 1 g/kg α-CD similarly suppressed hyperglycemia, but without increasing secretions of GLP-1 and insulin. Furthermore, oral α-CD administration disrupts lipid micelle formation through its inclusion of lecithin in the gut luminal fluid. Importantly, prior inclusion of α-CD with lecithin in vitro nullified the anti-hyperglycemic effect of α-CD in vivo, which was associated with increased intestinal mRNA expressions of SREBP2-target genes (Ldlr, Hmgcr, Pcsk9, and Srebp2). Conclusions: α-CD elicits its anti-hyperglycemic effect after glucose loading by inducing lecithin inclusion in the gut lumen and activating SREBP2, which is known to induce cholecystokinin secretion to suppress hepatic glucose production via a gut/brain/liver axis.     

Efficient hydrogen production from acetate through isolated Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Photosynthetic bacteria produce hydrogen from lactate and acetate that are products of hydrogen producing bacteria in the dark. Thus, their coculture is a promising method for hydrogen production. However, the hydrogen production yield from acetate of Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV, which has been shown to possess the highest yield and hydrogen production rate, is low as compared to that from lactate. Photosynthetic bacteria that produce hydrogen from acetate as well as lactate were screened from lakes and swamps in the Tokyo and Chiba areas in Japan. Seventy-six strains of photosynthetic bacteria were obtained and the analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they belong to R. sphaeroides. Among the isolated bacteria, R. sphaeroides HJ produced the highest amount of hydrogen from acetate and lactate. The HJ strain produced a 2300 ± 93 ml/L-broth of hydrogen from 75 mM acetate consumed during for 120 h of fermentation. The amount of hydrogen and the yield from acetate were 1.9 and 2.1 times higher, respectively, than those of R. sphaeroides RV. The amount and yield of hydrogen, produced by R. sphaeroides HJ from lactate were similar to those produced by R. sphaeroides RV. Since the amount and yield of produced hydrogen by the HJ strain were similar regardless of the substrate (acetate or lactate), its metabolic pathway could have a key to increasing hydrogen production from acetate.