Glucose transporter 1 in vascular smooth muscle cells is dispensable for abdominal aortic aneurysm induced by angiotensin II.

Treatment with an inhibitor of glucose use via glucose transporters (GLUT) has been shown to attenuate experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development in mice. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) signaling seems to be essential for angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced AAA in mice. Accordingly, we have tested a hypothesis that VSMC silencing of the major GLUT, GLUT1, prevents AAA development and rupture in mice treated with Ang II plus β-aminopropionitrile.

Deep learning model to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis from haematoxylin/eosin-stained myocardial tissue.

Aims: Amyloid deposition in myocardial tissue is a definitive feature for diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis, though less invasive imaging modalities such as bone tracer cardiac scintigraphy and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have been established as first steps for its diagnosis. This study aimed to develop a deep learning model to support the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis from haematoxylin/eosin (HE)-stained myocardial tissue.

Methods And Results: This single-centre retrospective observational study enrolled 166 patients who underwent myocardial biopsies between 2008 and 2022, including 76 patients diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis and 90 with other diagnoses.

Verification of the Reliability of an Automated Urine Test Strip Colorimetric Program Using Colorimetric Analysis: Survey Study.

Background: One method for noninvasive and simple urinary microalbumin testing is urine test strips. However, when visually assessing urine test strips, accurate assessment may be difficult due to environmental influences-such as lighting color and intensity-and the physical and psychological influences of the assessor. These complicate the formation of an objective assessment.

Direct Insertion of a Dumon Stent Into an Intermediate Bronchus Fistula From the Surgical Field.

A 54-year-old man underwent right S6 segmentectomy for right lung cancer. After discharge, he presented with fever, hemoptysis, and cough, and computed tomography showed an intermediate bronchus fistula. Because direct closure or bronchoplasty was challenging, a Dumon (Novatech) stent was inserted directly into the fistula from the surgical field and covered with an autologous pericardial patch, pedicled mediastinal fat, and intercostal muscle.

Effectiveness of the educational training program for Japanese chief residents: A one-year pilot study.

Background: Multi-institutional faculty development programs for chief residents were lacking in Japan. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the program for enhancing the knowledge and behaviors of chief residents at the national level.

Methods: Six participants completed self-assessment questionnaires at three points: before, immediately after, and 6 months post-program.

Three-dimensional photoluminescence imaging of threading dislocations in GaN by sub-band optical excitation.

GaN is rapidly gaining attention for implementation in power electronics but is still impacted by its high density of threading dislocations (TDs), which have been shown to facilitate current leakage through devices limiting their performance and reliability. Here, we discuss a novel implementation of photoluminescence (PL) imaging to study TDs in regions within vertically structured p-i-n GaN (PIN) diodes consisting of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) epitaxial layers grown on ammonothermal GaN (am-GaN) substrates. PL imaging with a sub-bandgap excitation energy (3.

Application of Cas9-Based Gene Editing to Engineering of Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases.

Engineering of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) could transform the production of bioactive natural product derivatives. A number of recent reports have described the engineering of NRPSs without marked reductions in yield. Comparative analysis of evolutionarily related NRPSs can provide insights regarding permissive fusion sites for engineering where recombination may occur during evolutionary processes.

Tetraarylphosphonium Cations with Excellent Alkaline-Resistant Performance for Anion-Exchange Membranes.

To realize the robust anion exchange membrane (AEM)-based water splitting modules and fuel cells, the design and synthesis of tetraarylphosphonium (TAP) cations are described as a new class of cationic building blocks that exhibit remarkable alkaline stability under harsh conditions. TAP cations with highly sterically demanding aromatic substituents were efficiently synthesized from triarylphosphine derivatives and highly reactive arynes, whose alkaline degradation proved to be suppressed dramatically by the sterically demanding substituents. In the case of bis(2,5-dimethylphenyl)bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phosphonium, for example, approximately 60% of the cation survived for 27 d under the forced conditions (i.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial: Integrating the 'Time-limited Trial' in the emergency department.

Introduction: Time-limited trial (TLT) is a structured approach between clinicians and seriously ill patients or their surrogates to discuss patients' values and preferences, prognosis, and shared decision-making to use specific therapies for a prespecified period of time in the face of prognostic uncertainty. Some evidence exists that this approach may lead to more patient-centered care in the intensive care unit; however, it has never been evaluated in the emergency department (ED). The study protocol aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of TLTs initiated in the ED.

Activities of the Research Group for Comprehensive Research of Gene Mutation-related Rare and Intractable Diseases of the Skin within the Project for Research on Intractable Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan.

The Hashimoto Research Group for Comprehensive Research of Gene Mutation-related Rare and Intractable Diseases of the Skin is a contributor to the Project for Research on Intractable Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan. Our research group performs clinical research on 23 rare intractable genetic skin diseases that are classified into eight disease groups. Among the 23 diseases, 17 are mainly studied by our research group, and 6 diseases are studied in collaboration with other research groups.

Effects of aromatherapy on the overload and fatigue of informal elderly caregivers: a pilot study.

Objective: To verify the effect of aromatherapy (inhaled or via the skin) with lavender, sweet orange and bergamot essential oils on caregivers' overload and fatigue.

Method: Pilot, quasi-experimental, randomized, non-blind and parallel study with two groups. The reduced Zarit Burden Interview and Revised Piper scales were used, comparing the effect of two routes of administration.

Exploring the Replication and Pathogenic Characteristics of Alpha, Delta, and Omicron Variants of SARS-CoV-2.

The variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 have exhibited different phenotypic characteristics in clinical settings which are yet to be fully explored. This study aimed to characterize the viral replication features of major VOCs of SARS-CoV-2 and their association with pathogenicity. The Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from the COVID-19 patients in Japan were propagated in VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells.

Methylobacterium populi Peritonitis Associated with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis.

Methylobacterium populi is a fastidious, pink-pigmented, Gram-negative bacterium that has been isolated from poplar trees that are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere in both temperate and subtropical regions. Herein, we report a novel case of M. populi peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Practical guide for the diagnosis and treatment of localized and generalized cutaneous pruritus (chronic itch with no underlying pruritic dermatosis).

Itch, also known as pruritus, is one of the most prevalent symptoms observed in dermatological practices. Itch frequently arises from primary pruritic dermatoses, although it may also manifest in the absence of a primary pruritic skin rash. The latter itchy condition is referred to as "cutaneous pruritus" in the Japanese guidelines published in 2020.

Increasing eccentric contraction duration enhances resistance exercise-induced inhibitory control improvement while reducing the exertion perception: A pilot study in young men.

Low-intensity resistance exercise with slow movement and tonic force generation (LRST) effectively improves cognitive inhibitory control (IC) while heightening the subjective perception, which is a barrier to exercise adherence. Compared with concentric (CON) contractions, eccentric (ECC) contractions have greater brain activation related to cognitive functions while decreasing subjective perception. Therefore, we examined whether LRST with a longer duration of ECC contraction (ECC-LRST) could further enhance exercise-induced IC improvement while reducing the subjective perception, compared with traditional LRST.

[A Case of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer with Ulceration, in Which the Combination of Mohs' Paste and Systemic Drug Therapy Resulted in Improvement of Quality of Life and Disease Control].

Locally advanced breast cancer can lead to self-destruction, necrosis, and malodor, which may reduce the patients' quality of life. We encountered a case where the combination of Mohs' paste and systemic drug therapy for locally advanced breast cancer improved quality of life and achieved marked disease control. The patient, a woman in her 70s, was referred to our department with suspected right breast cancer.

The "make a flower bud and push at neck" technique: A safe and versatile technique for Woven EndoBridge treatment.

Purpose: The safety and efficacy of Woven EndoBridge (WEB) treatment has been proven. However, only a few standard techniques for safe and versatile WEB deployment have been described in the literature. In this study, we introduce the "make a flower bud and push at neck" technique to achieve safety and versatility during WEB treatment, referred to simply as the "flower bud" technique.

Comparison of outcomes between surgery and chemoradiotherapy after endoscopic resection for pT1a-MM with lymphovascular invasion or pT1b esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Japanese multicenter propensity score-matched study.

Background: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) or pT1b is noncurative after endoscopic resection (ER) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and therefore surgery or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is recommended. However, there has been debate regarding which treatment has better outcomes and whether individual risks should be considered.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective study conducted at 65 hospitals in Japan.

Discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S2 protein antibody CV804 with broad-spectrum reactivity with various beta coronaviruses and analysis of its pharmacological properties in vitro and in vivo.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic alerted the potential for significant harm due to future cross-species transmission of various animal coronaviruses to human. There is a significant need of antibody-based drugs to treat patients infected with previously unseen coronaviruses. In this study, we generated CV804, an antibody that binds to the S2 domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is highly conserved across the coronavirus family and less susceptible to mutations.

Correction: Bright middle cerebellar peduncle sign in multiple system atrophy with predominant cerebellar ataxia is more apparent in double-inversion recovery imaging than in conventional imaging.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.