Brain region-specific neural activation by low-dose opioid promotes social behavior.

The opioid system plays crucial roles in modulating social behaviors in both humans and animals. However, the pharmacological profiles of opioids regarding social behavior and their therapeutic potential remain unclear. Multiple pharmacological, behavioral, and immunohistological c-Fos mapping approaches were used to characterize the effects of μ-opioid receptor agonists on social behavior and investigate the mechanisms in naive mice and autism spectrum disorder-like (ASD-like) mouse models, such as prenatally valproic acid-treated mice and Fmr1-KO mice.

Dispersion-managed mode-locked Tm:ZBLAN fiber lasers.

We demonstrated a dispersion-managed 2 µm ultrafast laser based on Tm:ZBLAN fiber. By controlling intracavity net dispersion using passive fibers, we observed soliton, stretched-pulse, and dissipative-soliton mode-locked operations. In particular, the broadest output spectrum with a bandwidth at 30 dB below the peak of 320 nm and a pulse duration of 61 fs were obtained at a net dispersion of -0.

ALPK2 prevents cardiac diastolic dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Protein phosphorylation, controlled by protein kinases, is central to regulating various pathophysiological processes, including cardiac systolic function. The dysregulation of protein kinase activity plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardiac systolic dysfunction. While cardiac contraction mechanisms are well documented, the mechanisms underlying cardiac diastole remain elusive.

Long-term safety and efficacy of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in Japanese patients with polycythemia vera.

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (ropegIFN), a new-generation interferon-based agent, has been approved in Japan for patients with polycythemia vera (PV) who are ineligible for or respond inadequately to conventional treatment. However, long-term outcomes with ropegIFN in Japanese patients have not been reported. This extension of a phase 2 study of ropegIFN in Japanese patients with PV aimed to determine its long-term safety/efficacy, and changes over time in JAK2 V617F allele burden.

Protein kinase N promotes cardiac fibrosis in heart failure by fibroblast-to-myofibroblast conversion.

Chronic fibrotic tissue disrupts various organ functions. Despite significant advances in therapies, mortality and morbidity due to heart failure remain high, resulting in poor quality of life. Beyond the cardiomyocyte-centric view of heart failure, it is now accepted that alterations in the interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) also play a major role in the development of heart failure.