Kyushu University

About: Kyushu University is a education organization based out in Fukuoka, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 68284 authors who have published 135190 publications receiving 3055928 citations. The organization is also known as: Kyūshū Daigaku.

Bactericidal activity of phlorotannins from the brown alga Ecklonia kurome

Abstract: The bactericidal activity of phlorotannins from brown algae against food-borne pathogenic bacteria (25 strains), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (nine strains) and Streptococcus pyogenes (one strain) was examined and compared with that of catechins. In addition, the effect of the oral administration of phlorotannins on mice was investigated. Phlorotannins, which are oligomers of phloroglucinol, were extracted from thalli of the brown alga Ecklonia kurome and prepared by silicic acid chromatography. The bactericidal activity of polyphenols was determined using a broth microdilution method. Of the bacteria tested, Campylobacter spp. were the most susceptible to the phlorotannins. The MBCs of the crude phlorotannins, dieckol and 8,8'-bieckol (hexamers), and that of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against Campylobacter jejuni were 50 mg/L, 0.03 micromol/mL and 0.03 micromol/mL, respectively. On the whole, the bactericidal effects of the phlorotannins were more pronounced than those of the catechins. The phlorotannins were as effective against MRSA as against the other bacteria tested. At twice the MBCs, all Vibrio parahaemolyticus were killed within 0.5-2 h. However, at the same concentration, catechins showed little bactericidal activity within 4 h. No effect on mice was observed with oral administration of the phlorotannins under the conditions tested.

Gastric cancer treated in 2002 in Japan: 2009 annual report of the JGCA nationwide registry

Abstract: Background The Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA) started a new nationwide gastric cancer registration in 2008.

Artificial Receptors as Chemosensors for Carbohydrates

Abstract: As the chemistry of saccharides and related molecular species plays a significant role in the metabolic pathways of living organisms, detecting the presence and concentration of biologically important sugars in aqueous solution is necessary in a variety of medicinal and industrial contexts. The recognition of d-glucose is of particular interest, for example in the monitoring of diabetics. Recent research provides clear evidence that tight control of blood sugar levels in diabetics sharply reduces the risk of long term complications, which include blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and even gangrene and amputation of the limbs. Current enzymatic detection methods of sugars offer specificity for only a few saccharides; additionally, enzyme based sensors are unstable in harsh conditions. Phenylboronic acid has been known for 120 years. However, it took until 1959 for the first quantitative evaluation of saccharide boronic acid interactions. Boronic acids react with 1,2 or 1,3 diols of saccharides to form five- or six-membered cyclic esters in non-aqueous or basic aqueous media. The stable boronic acid-based saccharide receptors offer the possibility of creating saccharide sensors ‘chemosensors’ which are selective and sensitive for any chosen saccharide.