Depolymerization of vulcanized poly(cyclopentene), poly(norbornene--cyclopentene) and poly(-dicyclopentadiene--cyclopentene) rubbers ring-closing metathesis depolymerization for monomer recycling.

Herein, we report a study on the preparation, properties, and depolymerization of pristine and vulcanized poly(cyclopentene) (poly(CP)), poly(norbornene--cyclopentene) (poly(NB--CP)) and poly(-dicyclopentadiene--cyclopentene) (poly (DCP--CP)). First, poly(CP), poly(NB--CP) and poly(DCP--CP) were prepared with high molecular weight control ( = 200 000-500 000) using dichloro(3-phenyl-1-inden-1-ylidene)bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)ruthenium(ii). Next, carbon black, zinc oxide and other additives were blended into the pristine polymers using a mixer and twin roll rubber mills at 50 °C, followed by vulcanization in metal molds at 160 °C for 10 min, resulting in molded black rubber specimens.

Clinical Prediction Models for Upper Airway Volume Based on Soft Palate and Airway Lumen Dimensions in Adults With Varying Vertical Skeletal Patterns.

Objectives: To determine the intricate associations between soft palate dimensions, pharyngeal airway lumen area, the minimal constricted area of the airway (MinAx), and pharyngeal airway volume in subjects with diverse vertical skeletal patterns, and to develop prediction models that could help clinicians predict upper airway volume using soft palate dimensions, airway lumen dimensions, and MinAx.

Materials And Methods: Pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 80 women were classified into three vertical skeletal groups based on Frankfort-mandibular plane angle (FMA angle): hypodivergent (FMA < 26.9°, n = 26), normodivergent (26.

Assessment of Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels and Non-invasive Vascular Health in School-aged Children: A Study in Ogasa District, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Aim: The present study assessed low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in school-aged children from the Ogasa District of Shizuoka Prefecture and evaluated the utility of non-invasive vascular tests, namely flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and intima-media thickness (IMT), in pediatric patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

Method: We analyzed the lipid test results of 8,568 students screened for prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and 78 children under 15 years old with cholesterol levels exceeding 220 mg/dL who visited Chutoen General Medical Center. We examined the LDL-C distribution from school-age screenings and conducted FMD and IMT assessments on those meeting the 2022 Pediatric FH Guidelines criteria.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Gram Stains in Obstructive Pyelonephritis due to Ureteral Stones.

Background: The diagnostic utility of point-of-care (POC) Gram stains for obstructive pyelonephritis with hydronephrosis is not well established. The current study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of urine Gram stains in patients with obstructive pyelonephritis due to ureteral stones.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients with obstructive pyelonephritis admitted to our hospital between January 2011 and December 2021.

Skin care by washing with water is not inferior to washing with a cleanser in children with atopic dermatitis in remission in summer: WASH study.

Background: Washing with water is not inferior to washing with soaps and detergents in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in remission during the fall-winter seasons. We investigated whether this finding varies during summer based on the type of cleanser (soaps and detergents).

Methods: This evaluator-blinded, pragmatic, randomized, and non-inferiority study enrolled patients with AD whose eczema was controlled following regular steroid ointment application 2 days/week.

Wernicke encephalopathy: limitations in a laboratory and radiological diagnosis.

Wernicke encephalopathy is an emergent neurological disorder caused by vitamin B (thiamine) deficiency. Here, we present a case of Wernicke encephalopathy in a male patient in his 70s with normal serum thiamine levels and MRI findings on admission. He had a history of heavy alcohol consumption and a gradual decrease in food intake.

Ruxolitinib altered IFN-β induced necroptosis of human dental pulp stem cells during osteoblast differentiation.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of ruxolitinib in the interferon beta (IFN-β) mediated osteoblast differentiation using human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).

Design: hDPSCs from five deciduous teeth of healthy patients were stimulated by adding human recombinant IFN-β protein (1 or 2 ng/ml) to the osteogenic differentiation induction medium. Substrate formation was determined using Alizarin Red staining, calcium concentration, and osteoblast marker expression levels.

Augmentation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling in cranial neural crest cells in mice deforms skull base due to premature fusion of intersphenoidal synchondrosis.

Craniofacial anomalies (CFAs) are a diverse group of disorders affecting the shapes of the face and the head. Malformation of the cranial base in humans leads CFAs, such as midfacial hypoplasia and craniosynostosis. These patients have significant burdens associated with breathing, speaking, and chewing.

Skin and soft tissue infections and bacteremia caused by Vibrio cincinnatiensis.

is a halophilic species found in marine and estuarine environments worldwide. It is a rare pathogen whose impact on humans has remained unclear; only two cases of infection have been reported in humans, so far. A 63-year-old man with a history of myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes mellitus presented to the emergency department with fever and dyspnea.

Predictors of initial oral food challenge outcome in food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome.

Background: There is a paucity of data on predictors of clinical history in oral food challenge (OFC) outcome for the initial diagnosis of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES).

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors for the diagnosis of FPIES.

Methods: The study included patients who underwent OFC to diagnose FPIES from 2010 to 2021.

Paediatric progressive primary tuberculosis.

A previously healthy 13-year-old Japanese girl with a BCG vaccination history and no tuberculosis (TB) exposure history presented to the hospital with mild dyspnea for 1 month and fever for 5 days. Computed tomography showed consolidation with a pleural effusion, obstructed left main bronchus with an air bronchogram, and traction bronchiectasis of the left upper lobe (Fig. 1A, B).

Asymmetric Molecular Dynamics and Anisotropic Phase Separation in the Cocrystal of the Crystalline/Crystalline Polymer Blend.

Semicrystalline polymers are categorized as either mobile or fixed crystals, depending on chain mobility in the crystalline region. In this work, we investigate molecular dynamics and phase structure in the cocrystal consisting of fixed and mobile polymer crystals by solid-state (ss) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that (i) the mobile component begins large amplitude motions associated with crystal-crystal transition, while fixed ones keep their rigidity in the cocrystal, and (ii) asymmetric molecular dynamics leads to nanosegregations into mobile- and fixed-rich domains in the cocrystal below the melting temperature ().

Acute Dacryoadenitis due to Primary Epstein-Barr Virus Infection.

We herein present the case of a 28-year-old male patient who presented with fever and bilateral upper eyelid edema without other upper airway symptoms and was diagnosed with acute dacryoadenitis due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The patient's medical history was unremarkable. Laboratory tests revealed lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes and abnormal liver function tests.

Investigation of the molecular causes underlying physical abnormalities in Diamond-Blackfan anemia patients with RPL5 haploinsufficiency.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins and characterized by erythroid aplasia and various physical abnormalities. Although accumulating evidence suggests that defective ribosome biogenesis leads to p53-mediated apoptosis in erythroid progenitor cells, little is known regarding the underlying causes of the physical abnormalities. In this study, we established induced pluripotent stem cells from a DBA patient with RPL5 haploinsufficiency.

O-GlcNAcylation drives calcium signaling toward osteoblast differentiation: A bioinformatics-oriented study.

This study aimed to reveal the possible mechanisms by which O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) regulates osteoblast differentiation using a series of bioinformatics-oriented experiments. To examine the influence of O-GlcNAcylation levels on osteoblast differentiation, osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) inhibitors. Correlations between the levels of O-GlcNAcylation and the expression of osteogenic markers as well as OGT were evaluated by qPCR and western blotting.

Subtypes of atopic dermatitis: From phenotype to endotype.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a heterogenous disorder and can be classified into different types. Stratification of subtypes may enable personalized medicine approaches. AD can be categorized into the IgE-high, extrinsic subtype and the IgE-normal, intrinsic subtype.

subsp. bacteraemia in a patient with liver cirrhosis.

subsp. is a family of and exists in the marine environment. The organism rarely causes soft-tissue infection in humans; moreover, most of the infected individuals have a history of fishing or exposure to brackish water.

The study of differences by region and type of gambling on the degree of gambling addiction in Japan.

We conducted an online national survey using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) on 42,880 people in Japan to identify gambling addiction prevalence differences with regard to gambling type and region. This study included 14,780 individuals (valid responses) who engaged in gambling activities in the past year. There was a large difference in mean SOGS score by gambling type: public gambling and casinos score ≈ 4.