Cellular communication network factor 3 contributes to the pathological process of rheumatoid arthritis through promoting cell senescence and osteoclastogenesis in the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic and autoimmune disease that primarily affects joints and causes pain, stiffness and swelling. The affected joints exhibit severe inflammation in the synovium and bone erosion, leading to joint deformity. Aging is an important factor facilitating the development of RA, as it is associated with an increase in the number of senescent cells and the production of the autoantibodies and proinflammatory cytokines in tissues.

Evaluation of the Highly Ordered Structure, Ligature, and Enzymatic Degradation of Poly[()-3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate] Elastic Porous Fibers.

We prepared biocompatible elastic fibers with high porosity and high tensile strength from poly[()-3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate], which is a microbial polyester that can be produced from renewable carbon resources by isothermal crystallization. It was possible to control the pore size by adjusting the isothermal crystallization time. Most of the pores were approximately less than 10 μm in diameter, did not penetrate, and were distributed discontinuously throughout the fibers.

Dynamic transcriptome analysis of osteal macrophages identifies a distinct subset with senescence features in experimental osteoporosis.

Given the potential fundamental function of osteal macrophages in bone pathophysiology, we study here their precise function in experimental osteoporosis. Gene profiling of osteal macrophages from ovariectomized mice demonstrated the upregulation of genes that were involved in oxidative stress, cell senescence, and apoptotic process. A single-cell RNA-Seq analysis revealed that osteal macrophages were heterogeneously clustered into 6 subsets that expressed proliferative, inflammatory, antiinflammatory, and efferocytosis gene signatures.

Synthesis of Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan Analogue and Its Inhibitory Activities against Heparanase and SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Heparan sulfate (HS) is ubiquitous on cell surfaces and is used as a receptor by many viruses including SARS-CoV-2. However, increased activity of the inflammatory enzyme heparanase (HPSE), which hydrolyses HS, in patients with COVID-19 not only increases the severity of symptoms but also may facilitate the spread of the virus by degrading HS on the cell surface. Therefore, synthetic HPSE blockades, which can bind to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SARS-CoV-2-S) and inhibit viral entry, have attracted much attention.

Safety and validity of selective cerebrospinal fluid drainage in open and endovascular aortic repair.

Objectives: Although cerebrospinal fluid drainage has been shown to reduce the risk of ischemic spinal cord injury, serious complications have also been reported. We have been using it selectively in a pressure- and volume-regulated method and aimed to evaluate its safety, and its validity in elective thoracic endovascular aortic repair in a propensity-matched cohort.

Methods: Among the 450 patients who underwent open surgery (n = 169) or thoracic endovascular aortic repair (n = 281) on the descending or thoracoabdominal aorta, 147 underwent cerebrospinal fluid drainage, which was prophylactic in 135 and therapeutic in 12.

A novel photosensitizer based on hypocrellin B activated by cysteine over-expressed in cancer cells.

L-Cysteine (Cys)-activatable photosensitizer 3 was designed and synthesized based on hypocrellin B (1). Cys is a novel tumor-associated biomarker. 3 exhibited negligible photosensitizing ability without Cys.

T-cell immunosuppression in sepsis is augmented by sciatic denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a known risk factor for immunosuppressive conditions and for a poor prognosis in sepsis. However, its immunopathology has not been experimentally elucidated. This study investigated the effects of skeletal muscle atrophy on the immunopathology of sepsis.

Bimodal machine learning model for unstable hips in infants: integration of radiographic images with automatically-generated clinical measurements.

Bimodal convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are frequently combined with patient information or several medical images to enhance the diagnostic performance. However, the technologies that integrate automatically generated clinical measurements within the images are scarce. Hence, we developed a bimodal model that produced automatic algorithm for clinical measurement (aaCM) from radiographic images and integrated the model with CNNs.

Sugar and arginine facilitate oral tolerance by ensuring the functionality of tolerogenic immune cell subsets in the intestine.

Although oral tolerance is a critical system in regulating allergic disorders, the mechanisms by which dietary factors regulate the induction and maintenance of oral tolerance remain unclear. To address this, we explored the differentiation and function of various immune cells in the intestinal immune system under fasting and ad libitum-fed conditions before oral ovalbumin (OVA) administration. Fasting mitigated OVA-specific Treg expansion, which is essential for oral tolerance induction.

Photo-induced glycosylation using the edible polyphenol curcumin.

Photo-induced glycosylations of trichloroacetimidate donors and alcohols using an edible polyphenol, curcumin, were examined under visible photo-irradiation (470 nm). It was found, for the first time, that these glycosylations proceed smoothly under mild reaction conditions to give the corresponding glycosides in high yields. In addition, the present glycosylation method was applicable to a wide range of trichloroacetimidate donors and alcohol acceptors and showed high chemoselectivity over glycosyl phosphite, phosphate, (-phenyl)trifluoroacetimidate, fluoride, glycal and thioglycoside.

Designed Mannosylerythritol Lipid Analogues Exhibiting Both Selective Cytotoxicity Against Human Skin Cancer Cells and Recovery Effects on Damaged Skin Cells.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are a class of amphipathic molecules bearing a hydrophilic 4-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-D-erythritol skeleton. Here, we designed and synthesized four kinds of MEL analogues R-MEL-A ([2R,3S]-erythritol type), S-mannosylthreitol lipid (MTL)-A ([2S,3S]-threitol type), R-MTL-A ([2R,3R]-threitol type), and α-S-MEL-A ([2S,3R]-erythritol type) using our previously reported boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) method and a neighboring group assisted glycosylation method. The selective cytotoxicity of the target compounds against cancer cells was evaluated, with R-MTL-A showing the highest selective cytotoxicity against human skin squamous carcinoma HSC-5 cells.

Cytosolic UDP-L-arabinose synthesis by bifunctional UDP-glucose 4-epimerases in Arabidopsis.

L-Arabinose (L-Ara) is a plant-specific sugar found in cell wall polysaccharides, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and small glycoconjugates, which play physiologically important roles in cell proliferation and other essential cellular processes. L-Ara is synthesized as UDP-L-arabinose (UDP-L-Ara) from UDP-xylose (UDP-Xyl) by UDP-Xyl 4-epimerases (UXEs), a type of de novo synthesis of L-Ara unique to plants. In Arabidopsis, the Golgi-localized UXE AtMUR4 is the main contributor to UDP-L-Ara synthesis.

Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Subchondral Insufficiency Fracture: Recent Insights.

The increased incidence of osteoarthritis (OA), particularly knee and hip OA, and osteoporosis (OP), owing to population aging, have escalated the medical expense burden. Osteoarthritis is more prevalent in older women, and the involvement of subchondral bone fragility spotlights its association with OP. Notably, subchondral insufficiency fracture (SIF) may represent a more pronounced condition of OA pathophysiology.

Life Course Epidemiology of Hip Osteoarthritis in Japan: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in Japanese newborns has reduced drastically following a primary prevention campaign initiated around 1972 to 1973; this perinatal education campaign promoted maintaining the hips of newborns in the naturally flexed-leg position. The purpose of the present study was to describe the life course epidemiology of hip osteoarthritis (OA) in adolescent and adult patients and to assess its association with exposure to the primary prevention campaign for DDH.

Methods: We included new patients with hip OA diagnosed from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, at 12 core hospitals (8 special-function hospitals and 4 regional medical care support hospitals).

Total Synthesis of Mannosylerythritol Lipids and Structure-Function Relationship Studies.

Mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) has attracted much attention as an environmentally benign and biocompatible material in many research fields due to its significant biochemical and physiological properties. However, heterogeneity always exists in MEL obtained from microbial products with respect to the chain length of the fatty acids. In this context, the total synthesis of the 20 members of MEL was effectively and stereoselectively achieved using our boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) method.

A novel immunocomplex capture fluorescence assay (ICFA) using fluorescent beads and transfected cells for specific identification of human neutrophil antigen (HNA)-1a and -1b antibodies.

Background: To identify specific human neutrophil antigen (HNA) antibodies, assays using neutrophils such as monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of granulocyte antigens (MAIGA) are recommended. However, these assays are limited by labor-intensive neutrophil preparation and varying antigen expression levels.

Methods: We evaluated a newly developed immunocomplex capture fluorescence assay (ICFA) for identifying HNA-1 antibodies and compared it to MAIGA and LABScreen Multi (LABM), which utilizes recombinant HNA-coated Luminex beads.

Varicella-Zoster Meningitis and Myelitis After Herpes Zoster Dermatitis Treatment With Amenamevir: A Case Series and Literature Review.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), known for causing chickenpox, establishes latent infections in neural tissues. Reactivation of VZV can lead to herpes zoster (HZ) and various neurological complications. In this report, we present four cases of VZV meningitis and myelitis following amenamevir treatment for HZ dermatitis with positive VZV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).