Optimum culture conditions for the production of exfoliative toxin by Staphylococcus hyicus (shET) were examined. High shET activity was obtained from the culture filtrate of HI and TY broth inoculated with S. hyicus. The pH in these two media ranged from 7 to 8.5 during bacterial culture, while the lowest pH in TS and BHI broth was less than 6. shET activity in the culture filtrate from TY broth inoculated with 107 CFU of S. hyicus per ml was higher than that in TY broth inoculated with 106 and 108 CFU of bacteria per ml. When shET activity in the culture filtrate was measured under various shaking conditions, the culture filtrate shaken at 75 oscillations per min had the highest shET activity of the five shaking conditions. shET activity of the culture filtrate of TY broth to which protease inhibitor had been added was the same as that of TY broth without inhibitor. shET activity in a shaking culture in an Erlenmeyer flask was also the same as that in sac culture and that in shaking culture using a shaking (Sakaguchi) flask. shET activity in TY broth supplemented with 100 mM glucose was significantly lower than that in TY broth without glucose. Based on the above results, the optimum culture conditions for the production of shET were as follows: inoculation of 3 × 109 CFU of S. hyicus strain P‐1 into 300 ml of TY broth in a 2,000‐ml Erlenmeyer flask, and incubation at 37 C with shaking at 75 oscillations per min. Then shET activity of the culture filtrate under appropriate culture conditions was measured after various incubation periods. shET activity was detected 6 hr after inoculation, reached the maximum (253 exfoliative unit/0.1 ml) at 16 hr and decreased between 20 and 48 hr. Thus, the optimum incubation period was determined to be 16 hr. Then the optimum concentration of ammonium sulfate for isolation of shET from the culture filtrate under appropriate culture conditions was examined. The greatest shET activity was obtained from the fraction salted out with 90% saturated ammonium sulfate. Thus, the optimum concentration of ammonium sulfate for the isolation of shET was determined to be 90% saturation.

We investigated methods for strengthening the transverse abdominis. [Subjects] Twelve healthy subjects participated in this research. [Method] The thicknesses of the external oblique, internal oblique and transverse abdominis were measured on both the right and left sides using ultrasonography. The position of the measurements were as follows: A) the supine position, B) lying on a stretch pole (with upper limb support), C) lying on a stretch pole (without upper limb support). [Results] The thicknesses of the transverse abdominis showed significant difference among the positions, but there was no significant difference in the external oblique and internal oblique muscles. The transverse abdominis showed a significant difference between A and B, and A and C. [Conclusion] A stretch pole was effective for exercising the transverse abdominis.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationships between the chest and abdominal circumferences, and the thickness of the transversus abdominis during breathing. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 11 healthy adult females. The chest circumference, the abdominal circumference, and the thickness of the transversus abdominis during respiratory exercise were measured with the elastic strain sensor C-STRETCH and an ultrasonic diagnostic device. [Results] The amount of change in the chest circumference did not correlate with the difference in the thickness of the transversus abdominis. However, the amount of change in the abdominal circumference was significantly positively correlated with the change in the thickness of the transversus abdominis.[Conclusion] This study showed that abdominal circumference could be used to infer the muscle thickness of the transversus abdominis.