Sequence-Specific Free Energy Changes in DNA/RNA Induced by a Single LNA-T Modification in Antisense Oligonucleotides.

2',4'-methylene bridged nucleic acid/locked nucleic acid (2',4'-BNA/LNA; LNA) is a modified nucleic acid that improves the function of antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. In particular, LNA in the DNA strand increases its binding affinity for the target RNA. Predicting the binding affinities of LNA-containing antisense oligonucleotides and RNA duplexes is useful for designing antisense oligonucleotides.

[Curative Treatment for COPD Based on Differentiation Induction by Synthetic Retinoid Am80 and Development of Inhalation Powder].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and current drug treatments is limited to symptomatic therapy. Thus, there is an urgent need for development of new treatments to repair alveolar destruction. To regenerate the destroyed alveoli, we focused on the differentiation of alveolar epithelial progenitor cells into type I or type II alveolar epithelial cells that constitute the alveoli.

Comparison Between Attenuation Measurement and the Controlled Attenuation Parameter for the Assessment of Hepatic Steatosis Based on MRI Images.

Background And Aims: This study prospectively compared the diagnostic accuracies of the improved Attenuation Measurement (iATT) algorithm and the Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) and assessed the interchangeability of iATT with magnetic resonance imaging-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-derived PDFF).

Methods: Patients with chronic liver disease were prospectively enrolled and underwent iATT, CAP and MRI-derived PDFF measurements for hepatic steatosis evaluation. According to MRI-derived PDFF values, steatosis grades were categorised as steatosis (S)0 (< 5.

Association Between Introduction of the 23-valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23) and Pneumonia Incidence and Mortality Among General Older Population in Japan: A Community-Based Study.

BackgroundWith global aging, especially in Asia, preventing pneumonia among seniors is vital. The necessity of introducing pneumococcal vaccines among the elderly has been highlighted but there is a paucity of community-based real-world evidence on their effect. Sera Town in Hiroshima Prefecture, a super-aged community, launched a distinctive pneumococcal vaccination support project for elderly residents and conducted a 5-year follow-up survey.

L-Histidine Modulates the Catalytic Activity and Conformational Changes of the HD3 Deoxyribozyme.

: Riboswitches are functional nucleic acids that regulate biological processes by interacting with small molecules, such as metabolites, influencing gene expression. Artificial functional nucleic acids, including deoxyribozymes, have been developed through in vitro selection for various catalytic functions. In a previous study, an l-histidine-dependent deoxyribozyme was identified, exhibiting RNA cleavage activity in the presence of l-histidine resembling ribonuclease catalytic mechanisms.

Sustained applicability of SARS-CoV-2 variants identification by Sanger Sequencing Strategy on emerging various SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in Hiroshima, Japan.

Background: The evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) persists, giving rise to new variants characterized by mutations in the spike protein. However, public data regarding the virus's evolutionary trend is not widely available after the downgrade of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the applicability of an in-house Sanger-based method for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly focusing on newly emerged Omicron variants, and updating the epidemiology of COVID-19 during the 8 wave in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Risk factors for wound dehiscence after surgery for epilepsy.

Objective: Wound dehiscence following craniotomy is a complication for which patients are subjected to additional procedures to achieve wound closure. During surgery for epilepsy, a craniotomy is performed at various sites to cure or palliate seizures in patients with intractable epilepsy. Collaborations between medicine and engineering have provided many surgical devices and materials for various stages of craniotomy, from skin incision to wound closure.

A comparative study of extraction free detection of HBV DNA using sodium dodecyl sulfate, N-lauroylsarcosine sodium salt, and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.

This study aimed to develop an extraction-free method for quantitative and qualitative detection of HBV DNA compared to traditional nucleic acid extraction. Paired serum and dried blood spot (DBS) samples from 67 HBsAg-positive and 67 HBsAg-negative individuals were included. Two samples with known HBV DNA titers (~ 10 copies/mL) were examined by extraction-free detection using three surfactants (0.

Changes in interoception before and after treatment in patients with alcohol use disorder.

Aims: To investigate the factors associated with interoception in patients with alcohol use disorder and determine whether treatment causes changes in their interoception.

Methods: The Body Perception Questionnaire-Body Awareness ultra-short version Japanese version (BPQ-BAVSF-J) was used to measure interoception in 50 alcohol-dependent participants (27 in the inpatient group and 23 in the outpatient group). The BPQ-BAVSF-J was administered and data on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), mean corpuscular volume, platelet count, and Fib-4 index were extracted at admission and immediately before discharge for the inpatient group and at the first outpatient visit and approximately 3 months after the visit for the outpatient group.

Feasibility of preventing massive contrast media extravasation using a sensor device in contrast-enhanced CT: an observational study.

Background: Recent guidelines recommend direct patient observation, pressure monitoring, and sensor devices to prevent extravasation during contrast media (CM) injection. However, it is impractical in terms of time and cost to install sensors for all patients.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for CM extravasations during contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in a large population and to establish criteria for placing the sensor device on patients.

Intermediate hepatitis C virus (HCV) endemicity and its genotype distribution in Myanmar: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Comprehensive details on Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Myanmar are lacking. This study determined the prevalence of HCV antibodies and ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes across different populations in Myanmar from 1990 to 2023.

Material And Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and local journals identified studies reporting on HCV antibodies, RNA, and genotypes, excluding clinical research related to liver disease prognosis.

Enhancing origin prediction: deep learning model for diagnosing premature ventricular contractions with dual-rhythm analysis focused on cardiac rotation.

Aims: Several algorithms can differentiate inferior axis premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) originating from the right side and left side on 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs). However, it is unclear whether distinguishing the origin should rely solely on PVC or incorporate sinus rhythm (SR). We compared the dual-rhythm model (incorporating both SR and PVC) to the PVC model (using PVC alone) and quantified the contribution of each ECG lead in predicting the PVC origin for each cardiac rotation.

Identification of risk groups for advanced liver fibrosis in the general population using the Fibrosis-3 index.

Background And Aim: We conducted a study using the Fibrosis-3 (FIB-3) index, which is the established age-independent index of fibrosis in nonviral liver disease and addresses the limitations of the FIB-4 index in older age group, to assess the liver fibrosis risk among diverse demographic groups in the general population.

Methods: We analyzed 31 327 individuals who underwent health examinations between 2013 and 2020 and investigated the distribution of the FIB-3 index by age group. In addition, we examined the age distribution of the FIB-3 index stratified by background factors, such as sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption habits, and the presence or absence of fatty liver.

Streptococcus suis subsp. hashimotonensis subsp. nov.: Lancefield group A antigen-positive organisms isolated from human clinical specimens and wild boar oral cavity samples.

Three Streptococcus suis-like strains positive for Lancefield antigen group A were isolated from human boar bite wounds and the oral cavities of boars in Hashimoto City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, and their taxonomic positions were investigated. Application of the VITEK2 system identified all three isolates as S. suis with > 94 % probability.

Treatment rationale and protocol design: an investigator-initiated phase II study of combination treatment of nivolumab and TM5614, a PAI-1 inhibitor for previously treated patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: There is no established standard 3 line treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents that are not used as 1 or 2 line treatment are administrated as 3 line treatment, their anti-tumor efficacy is insufficient. Anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)/programmed death-1 (PD1) treatment is more effective and less toxic than chemotherapy in anti-PD-L1/PD-1 treatment-naïve patients with NSCLC.

Development of a two-dimensional LC-MS/MS system for the determination of proline and 4-hydroxyproline enantiomers in biological and food samples.

A two-dimensional LC-MS/MS system has been developed for the enantioselective determination of proline (Pro), cis-4-hydroxyproline (cis-4-Hyp) and trans-4-hydroxyproline (trans-4-Hyp) in a variety of biological samples. The amino acids were pre-column derivatized with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F), and the NBD-derivatives were separated by a reversed-phase column (Singularity RP18) as their D plus L mixtures in the first dimension. The collected target fractions were then introduced into the second dimension where the enantiomers were separated by a Pirkle-type enantioselective column (Singularity CSP-001S) and determined by a tandem mass spectrometer (Triple Quad™ 5500).