Creating coveted bioluminescence colors for simultaneous multi-color bioimaging.

Bioluminescence, an optical marker that does not require excitation by light, allows researchers to simultaneously observe multiple targets, each exhibiting a different color. Notably, the colors of the bioluminescent proteins must sufficiently vary to enable simultaneous detection. Here, we aimed to introduce a method that can be used to expand the color variation by tuning dual-acceptor bioluminescence resonance energy transfer.

Ratiometric bioluminescent detection of Cu(II) ion based on differences in enzymatic reaction kinetics of two luciferase variants.

Heavy metal contamination in water bodies has raised global concerns due to its significant threats to both public health and ecosystem. Copper (Cu), one of the most widely used metals, is also an essential trace element in physiological systems. Excessive intake of Cu from water can cause toxicity, potentially resulting in serious health risks.

Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension as Risk Factors for Advanced Fibrosis in Biopsy Proven Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Objectives: To identify the diagnostic criteria for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) related to liver fibrosis and to characterize patients with cryptogenic steatotic liver disease (SLD) (non-MASLD) among those previously diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 511 patients diagnosed with NAFLD via liver biopsy, and the prevalence of MASLD was assessed based on the diagnostic criteria. Patients were divided into those who met the MASLD criteria and those who did not, and the characteristics of advanced fibrosis and associated cardiometabolic factors were evaluated.

The steatosis-associated fibrosis estimator score is a useful indicator of recurrence and survival after initial curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aims: Liver fibrosis predisposes patients to liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Various markers, which can be calculated easily from serum parameters, have been reported to predict liver fibrosis accurately. This study investigated the prognostic factors, including blood-based markers for liver fibrosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following initial curative hepatectomy.

Automated design prediction for definitive obturator prostheses: A case-based reasoning study.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a case-based reasoning (CBR) system in predicting the design of definitive obturator prostheses for maxillectomy patients.

Materials And Methods: Data from 209 maxillectomy cases, including extraoral images of obturator prostheses and occlusal images of maxillectomy defects, were collected from Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital. These cases were organized into a structured database using Python's pandas library.

Neonatal gut microbiota and risk of developing food sensitization and allergy.

Background: Food sensitization (FS) develops in early infancy and is a risk factor for subsequent food allergy (FA). Recent evidence suggests relationships of gut microbiota with FS and FA. However, little is known about the role of neonatal gut microbiota in the pathobiology of these manifestations.

Hornerin expressed on endothelial cells via interacting with thrombomodulin modulates vascular inflammation and angiogenesis.

Thrombomodulin is predominantly expressed on vascular endothelial cells and modulates endothelial cell functions by interacting with multiple ligands. The specific thrombomodulin receptor or cofactor active on the endothelial cell surface remains elusive. This study aims to identify interacting partners of thrombomodulin on endothelial cells.

Commentary on: γ-enolase (ENO2) is methylated at the Nτ position of His-190 among enolase isozymes.

Post-translational modifications play crucial roles in regulating protein function. Protein methylation, occurring at lysine, arginine, and histidine, has gained attention, particularly for histone methylation. However, the mechanism and significance of protein methylation at histidine remains poorly understood.

Custom Ocular Prosthesis With Intraoral Obturator for Orbital and Intraoral Defects Resulting From Mucormycosis: A Technical Case Report.

Orbital defects can result from a myriad of underlying diseases and injuries. Treatment of malignant neoplasms and maxillofacial trauma are common reasons for orbital exenteration. Recently, a growing number of cases of orbital defects have been reported due to mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19.

Role of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that shed from the primary tumor or metastatic loci, intravasate, and circulate in the bloodstream. CTCs have been suggested to play a major role in the metastatic spread of cancer, constantly shedding from tumors during proliferation or as a result of mechanical insults. Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most representative tumors in CTC research, with several studies conducted on its clinical validity and utility in both early and advanced BC (EBC and ABC, respectively).

Genetically encoded bioluminescent glucose indicator for biological research.

Glucose is an essential energy source in living cells and is involved in various phenomena. To understand the roles of glucose, measuring cellular glucose levels is important. Here, we developed a bioluminescent glucose indicator called LOTUS-Glc.

Multi-biome analysis identifies distinct gut microbial signatures and their crosstalk in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

The integrative multi-kingdom interaction of the gut microbiome in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) remains underinvestigated. Here, we perform shotgun metagenomic sequencing of feces from patients with UC and CD, and healthy controls in the Japanese 4D cohort, profiling bacterial taxa, gene functions, and antibacterial genes, bacteriophages, and fungi. External metagenomic datasets from the US, Spain, the Netherlands, and China were analyzed to validate our multi-biome findings.

Digitization of Dentate and Edentulous Maxillectomy and Mandibulectomy Defects with Three Different Intraoral Scanners: A Comparative In Vitro Study.

: The objective of this study was to compare the trueness and precision of three intraoral scanners (IOSs) for the digitization of dentate and edentulous maxillectomy and mandibulectomy defects in artificial models. Four representative defect models-a dentate and an edentulous maxillectomy model and a dentate and an edentulous mandibulectomy model-were used for digital scanning. After a reference scan of each model, they were scanned with three IOSs: CEREC AC Omnicam, True Definition, and cara TRIOS 3.

Cardiac rupture caused by penetration of the heart by fractured costal cartilage following blunt chest trauma: A case report.

Background: Cardiac rupture is rare but has a high mortality rate. Cardiac rupture due to blunt trauma is generally caused by the heart being pinched into the bony thorax.

Case Presentation: A 90-year-old man in shock was transported to the hospital after his precordium was stepped on by a cow.

Functional improvements in β-conglycinin by preparing bioconjugates with carboxymethyl cellulose.

β-Conglycinin was conjugated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) by using water-soluble carbodiimide to improve its function. Two kinds of CMC differing in average molecular weight (about 1 kDa and 90 kDa) were used to investigate the relationship between molecular weight of conjugated saccharide and saccharide content in the conjugates and degree of functional changes in β-conglycinin. The β-conglycinin-CMC conjugates were purified by dialysis using a dialysis membrane whose molecular weight cutoff is 100 kDa.

Functional improvements in β-lactoglobulin by conjugation with high methoxy pectin by the Maillard reaction.

β-lactoglobulin (BLG), a major protein in whey, was conjugated with high methoxy pectin (HMP) by the Maillard reaction to improve emulsifying property and reduce allergenicity of BLG. The Maillard reaction was carried out at a weight ratio BLG: HMP = 1:4.15 and 1:6 at 60 °C at a relative humidity of 79% for 5 days.

AI-driven mechanistic analysis of conformational dynamics in CNNM/CorC Mg transporters.

The CNNM/CorC Mg transporters are widely conserved in eukaryotes (cyclin M [CNNM]) and prokaryotes (CorC) and participate in various biological processes. Previous structural analyses of the CorC transmembrane domain in the Mg-bound inward-facing conformation revealed the conserved Mg recognition mechanism in the CNNM/CorC family; however, the conformational dynamics in the Mg transport cycle remain unclear because structures in other conformations are unknown. Here, we used AlphaFold structure prediction to predict the occluded-like and outward-facing-like conformations of the CorC and CNNM proteins and identified conserved hydrophilic interactions close to the cytoplasmic side in these conformations.

Long-term quality of life after open and laparoscopic total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer: A prospective multi-institutional study (CCOG1504).

Background: Little information is available from prospective clinical trials on the influences of surgical approaches on postoperative quality of life (QOL). We aimed to prospectively compare chronological changes in postoperative body weight and QOL between laparoscopic and open total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective study (CCOG1504) of patients who undergo laparoscopic or open total gastrectomy.