Metabolomic analysis revealed that Methylobacterium cells accumulate a large amount of ergothioneine (EGT), which is a sulfur-containing, non-proteinogenic, antioxidative amino acid derived from histidine. EGT biosynthesis and its role in methylotrophy and physiology for plant surface-symbiotic Methylobacterium species were investigated in this study. Almost all Methylobacterium type strains can synthesize EGT. We selected one of the most productive strains (M. aquaticum strain 22A isolated from a moss), and investigated the feasibility of fermentative EGT production through optimization of the culture condition. Methanol as a carbon source served as the best substrate for production. The productivity reached up to 1000 μg/100 ml culture (1200 μg/g wet weight cells, 6.3 mg/g dry weight) in 38 days. Next, we identified the genes (egtBD) responsible for EGT synthesis, and generated a deletion mutant defective in EGT production. Compared to the wild type, the mutant showed better growth on methanol and on the plant surface as well as severe susceptibility to heat treatment and irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) and sunlight. These results suggested that EGT is not involved in methylotrophy, but is involved in their phyllospheric lifestyle fitness of the genus in natural conditions.

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SummaryThis multi-center, prospective, open-label, observational study evaluated the effects of once-monthly minodronate (50 mg) on treatment persistence, bone turnover markers, bone mineral density, low back pain, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms in outpatients with osteoporosis previously treated with daily or weekly bisphosphonate products.IntroductionThe purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of once-monthly oral minodronate (MIN 50 mg) on bone turnover markers and bone mineral density, low back pain, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as preference for and treatment persistence of MIN 50 mg among Japanese osteoporosis patients currently treated with daily or weekly bisphosphonates.MethodsStudy patients were allocated based on their preference to either the Switch group (patients willing to switch over to MIN 50 mg) or the Continue group (patients wanting to continue their current therapies). Patients’ treatment persistence and satisfaction levels with the therapies were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The study endpoints were serum TRACP-5b, serum P1NP, bone mineral density, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and low back pain.ResultsIn total, 264 and 133 patients were allocated into the Switch and Continue groups, respectively. Approximately, 65 % of patients were willing to switch to MIN 50 mg, with the predominant reason being “less frequent dosing more convenient.” Treatment persistence was significantly higher in the Switch group (MIN 50 mg) than the Continue group. Almost all patients with abnormal bone metabolism markers demonstrated normalization after switchover. MIN 50 mg alleviated low back pain and upper gastrointestinal symptoms induced by prior bisphosphonate use.ConclusionsMIN 50 mg alleviates low back pain, reduces bone turnover markers and increases bone density, and induces fewer upper gastrointestinal symptoms after switchover from prior bisphosphonate products, and therefore, it may provide patients with a more convenient treatment option and enhance long-term treatment persistence.

Split-pit in peach fruit is a problematic disorder. Split-pit fruit cannot be detected based on external appearance, and contamination of fruit by split-pit reduces its reliability in the marketplace. Here, we demonstrate that split-pit fruit can be identified by a nondestructive acoustic vibration method and a unique approach based on the ratio of the third (f 3 ) to the second (f 2 ) resonant frequency. The response-resonant frequency spectra showed that the peaks of f 2 frequencies in split-pit fruit were shifted to much lower values than those in normal fruit, whereas those of f 3 frequencies showed only small shifts. The calculated f 3 /f 2 ratios in most normal fruit were in the range of 1.35-1.4, whereas those in split-pit fruit were 1.45-2.0. Analysis of more than 300 fruit samples revealed that by setting the f 3 /f 2 cut-off value at >1.45, 95% of split-pit fruit in the fruit samples were detected, whereas only 1.5% of normal fruit were missorted as split-pit fruit. A model for simulating the vibration properties of peach fruit was developed by using the finite element method. The simulated vibration patterns showed that f 3 /f 2 values were increased by the insertion of split pit, indicating that, at least partially, the observed high f 3 /f 2 values in split-pit fruit directly reflected split-pit occurrence. These results clearly demonstrate that the use of f 3 /f 2 ratios obtained using an acoustic vibration method can effectively detect fruit with split-pit. The possibility of installing acoustic vibration devices in peach sorting lines and the application of portable devices to unpicked fruit on the tree are discussed.

SummaryCombined treatment with alendronate and eldecalcitol was found to be more effective in reducing the bone turnover markers and increasing bone mineral density than alendronate treatment with vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation in the osteoporotic patients.IntroductionWe compared the clinical efficacy and safety of combined treatment with alendronate plus eldecalcitol (ALN + ELD) with those of treatment with ALN plus vitamin D and calcium (ALN + VitD).MethodsOsteoporotic 219 patients were randomly assigned to the ALN + ELD, or the ALN + VitD group. Primary endpoint was the inter-group differences in lumbar spine BMD (L-BMD) at patient’s last visit. Secondary endpoints included the differences in BMD at other sites and the bone turnover marker (BTM) levels.ResultsL-BMD, total hip BMD and femoral neck (FN-BMD) increased from baseline by 7.30, 2.41, and 2.70 % in the ALN + ELD group, and by 6.52, 2.27, and 1.18 % in the ALN + VitD group, respectively. Inter-group differences of the L-BMD and total hip BMD values were not significant. The increase of the FN-BMD was larger in the ALN + ELD group than the ALN + VitD group. Reductions of the BTMs were greater in the ALN + ELD group than the ALN + VitD group. Interaction of the percent increase of the L-BMD with the baseline values of the BTMs was observed in the ALN + VitD group only. The increases of the FN-BMD in patients with lower baseline values of type-I-collagen C-telopeptide (sCTX) and serum 25(OH) D levels <20 ng/mL were significantly larger in the ALN + ELD group than the other group.ConclusionCombination treatment of ALN plus ELD was more effective in reducing the BTMs and increasing the FN-BMD than ALN treatment with vitamin D3 and calcium.