The Japanese Society of Internal MedicineActa Medica Okayama0918-291854142015Detection of Identical Isolates of Enterococcus faecalis from the Blood and Oral Mucosa in a Patient with Infective Endocarditis18091814ENAkemiOkuiYoshihikoSogaSusumuKokeguchiMotokoNoseReikoYamanakaNobuchikaKusanoManabuMoritaThe detection of infective endocarditis (IE) of oral origin has been previously discussed. However, there are few reports confirming this infection using molecular biological techniques. We herein describe the case of a 67-year-old man who developed IE. Blood culture samples and strains obtained from the gingival and buccal mucosa showed 100% identity to Enterococcus faecalis JCM 5803 on sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. A random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis showed the same pattern for these samples, thus confirming the identity of E. faecalis isolates in the blood and oral mucosa. Our observations provide novel information regarding the level of identity between IE pathogens and oral bacteria.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Okayama University Medical SchoolActa Medica Okayama0386-300X6822014Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Implications of Metallo-ƒÀ-Lactamase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Urine8999ENShinichiSakoReikoKariyamaRitsukoMitsuhataMasumiYamamotoKoichiroWadaAyanoIshiiShinyaUeharaSusumuKokeguchiNobuchikaKusanoHiromiKumonOriginal Article/10.18926/AMO/52405We conducted a study on molecular epidemiology and clinical implications of metallo-ƒÀ-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from urine. Over a 10-year period from 2001 through 2010, a total of 92 MBL-producing P. aeruginosa urine isolates were collected from patients (one isolate per patient) who were admitted to 5 hospitals in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. When cross-infection was suspected in the hospital, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was performed. In the resulting dendrogram of 79 MBL-producing P. aeruginosa urine isolates, no identical isolates and 7 pairs of isolates with ≥80% similarity were found. The biofilm-forming capabilities of 92 MBL-producing P. aeruginosa urine isolates were significantly greater than those of 92 non-MBL-producing urine isolates in a medium of modified artificial urine. The imipenem resistance transferred in 16 of 18 isolates tested, and these frequencies were in the range of 10|3 to 10|9. All of 18 isolates tested belonged to internationally spread sequence type 235 and had 3 gene cassettes of antimicrobial resistance genes in the class 1 integron. The strong biofilm-forming capabilities of MBL-producing P. aeruginosa urine isolates could be seriously implicated in nosocomial infections. To prevent spread of the organism and transferable genes, effective strategies to inhibit biofilm formation in medical settings are needed.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Okayama University Medical SchoolActa Medica Okayama0386-300X6822014Effects of Antibiotics Administration on the Incidence of Wound Infection in Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy5762ENHideharuHagiyaHiromichiNaitoShingoHagiokaShujiOkaharaNaokiMorimotoNobuchikaKusanoFumioOtsukaOriginal Article/10.18926/AMO/52402The effect of antibiotics during the perioperative period of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is still controversial. A total of 297 patients who underwent the PDT procedure were divided into 2 groups:those administered antibiotics perioperatively and those not administered antibiotics. Wound infections were noted in 7 cases (incidence rate, 2.36%) and no death was recorded. Of the 69 patients without antibiotics, 5 developed wound infections (incidence rate, 7.25%), while only 2 of the 228 patients with antibiotics developed wound infections (incidence rate, 0.88%) (p0.002;risk ratio, 8.82;95% confidence interval, 1.67-46.6). Of the 7 cases of wound infection, 5 cases occurred during the early period after PDT (within 7 days). Collectively, the present results suggest that prophylactic administration of antibiotics may prevent the incidence of PDT-induced wound infection, especially in the early phase after the PDT procedures. The need for antibiotics in PDT should be reconsidered.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.‰ªŽRˆãŠw‰ïActa Medica Okayama0030-155812612014dÇ”M«ŒŒ¬”ÂŒ¸ÇŒóŒQ6567ENTokikoWatanabeNobuchikaKusanoKeijiIwatsukiNo potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Okayama University Medical SchoolActa Medica Okayama0386-300X5832004Analysis of HCV genotypes from blood donors shows three new HCV type 6 subgroups exist in Myanmar.135142ENToshiyukiShinjiYi YiKyawKatsunoriGokanYasuhitoTanakaKojiOchiNobuchikaKusanoTakaakiMizushimaShin-ichiFujiokaHidenoriShirahaAye AyeLwinYasushiShiratoriMasashiMizokamiMyoKhinMasayukiMiyaharaShigeruOkadaNorioKoideArticle/10.18926/AMO/32110The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Myanmar in comparison with the rest of Southeast Asia is not well known. Serum samples were obtained from 201 HCV antibody-positive volunteer blood donors in and around the Myanmar city of Yangon. Of these, the antibody titers of 101 samples were checked by serial dilution using HCV antibody PA test II and Terasaki microplate as a low-cost method. To compare antibody titers by this method and RNA identification, we also checked HCV-RNA using the Amplicor 2.0 test. Most high-titer groups were positive for HCV-RNA. Of the 201 samples, 110 were successfully polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified. Among them, 35 (31.8%) were of genotype 1, 52 (47.3%) were of genotype 3, and 23 (20.9%) were of type 6 variants, and phylogenetic analysis of these type 6 variants revealed that 3 new type 6 subgroups exist in Myanmar. We named the subgroups M6-1, M6-2, and M6-3. M6-1 and M6-2 were relatively close to types 8 and 9, respectively. M6-3, though only found in one sample, was a brand-new subgroup. These subtypes were not seen in Vietnam, where type 6 group variants are widely spread. These findings may be useful for analyzing how and when these subgroups were formed.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Okayama University Medical SchoolActa Medica Okayama0386-300X5642002Establishment of a novel collagenase perfusion method to isolate rat pancreatic stellate cells and investigation of their gene expression of TGF-beta1, type I collagen, and CTGF in primary culture or freshly isolated cells.211218ENToshiyukiShinjiKozoUjikeKojiOchiNobuchikaKusanoTetsuyaKikuiNaokiMatsumuraYasuyukiEmoriToshinobuSenoNorioKoideArticle10.18926/AMO/31682In studies of the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis, pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) have recently gained attention. In the present study, we established a new collagenase perfusion method through thoracic aorta cannulation to isolate PSCs, and we studied gene expression of TGF-beta1, type I collagen, and connective tissue growth factor using primary cultured PSCs. Our method facilitated PSC isolation, and by our new method, 4.3 +/- 1.2 x 10(6) PSCs were obtained from a rat. In comparing the expression of these genes with that of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), we observed a similar pattern, although PSCs expressed type I collagen gene earlier than did HSCs. These results suggest that PSCs may play an important role in fibrosis of the pancreas, as HSCs do in liver fibrosis; in addition, PSCs may exist in a preactivated state or may be more easily activated than are HSCs. We also isolated the PSCs from a WBN/Kob rat, the spontaneous pancreatitis rat, and compared the gene expression with that from a normal rat.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.‰ªŽRˆãŠw‰ïActa Medica Okayama0030-155811312001‰ªŽR‘åŠwˆãŠw•”•‘®•a‰@‚É‚¨‚¯‚é‰@“àŠ´õ‘Îô7377ENNo potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.‰ªŽRˆãŠw‰ïActa Medica Okayama0030-155811512005d“x‹}«ŒÄ‹zŠíÇŒóŒQSARS6368ENNo potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.