Genome Sequencing Unveils Nomadic Traits of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Japanese Post-Fermented Tea.

Post-fermented tea production involving microbial fermentation is limited to a few regions, such as Southeast Asia and Japan, with Japan's Shikoku island being particularly prominent. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was the dominant species found in tea leaves after anaerobic fermentation of Awa-bancha in Miyoshi City, Tokushima, and Ishizuchi-kurocha in Ehime. Although the draft genome of L.

Diversity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Involved in the Fermentation of Awa-bancha.

The lactic acid bacteria involved in fermentation and components in the tea leaves of Awa-bancha, a post-fermented tea produced in Naka, Kamikatsu, and Miyoshi, Tokushima, were investigated in the present study. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from tea leaves after anaerobic fermentation and identified by multiplex PCR targeting of the recA gene and 16S ribosomal RNA gene homology. Lactiplantibacillus pentosus was the most frequently isolated species in Naka and Kamikatsu and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Miyoshi.

Changes in lactic acid bacteria and components of Awa-bancha by anaerobic fermentation.

Awa-bancha is a post-fermented tea produced in Naka and Kamikatsu, Tokushima, Japan. We investigated the lactic acid bacteria in each stage of production of Awa-bancha and evaluated the relationships with the components. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from tea leaves cultured with de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar plates, and the species were identified by homology of the 16 S rRNA gene and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the gene to distinguish the group.

Ankle-brachial index, arterial stiffness, and biomarkers in the prediction of mortality and outcomes in patients with end-stage kidney disease.

Background: Although ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) are significant predictors of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), their prognostic value in association with biomarkers has not been fully evaluated in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that ABI/baPWV would provide better prognostic value independent of biomarkers in ESKD patients.

Methods: This study included 104 ESKD patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis who underwent ABI and baPWV examinations and laboratory tests, including brain-natriuretic peptide, high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

π-Electronic Co-crystal Microcavities with Selective Vibronic-Mode Light Amplification: Toward Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Lasing.

π-conjugated organic microcrystals often act as optical resonators in which the generated photons in the crystal are confined by the reflection at the crystalline facets and interfere to gain lasing action. Here, we fabricate microcrystals from a mixture of carbon-bridged oligo- para-phenylenevinylenes (COPVs) with energy-donor (D) and energy-acceptor (A) characters. Upon weak excitation of the single D-A co-crystal, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) takes place, exhibiting spontaneous emission from A.

Associations of sensitive cardiac troponin-I with left ventricular morphology, function and prognosis in end-stage renal disease patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Sensitive cardiac troponin I (cTnI) predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in various clinical settings. However, its clinical significance in hemodialysis (HD) patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has not been fully elucidated. This study investigated the association of cTnI with LV morphology and function, and its long-term outcome in HD patients with preserved LVEF.

Disodium Benzodipyrrole Sulfonate as Neutral Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Hole-transporting material (HTM) is an indispensable constituent in organic electronic devices, generally comprising a donor/dopant combination. We report that a disodium salt of substituted benzo[1,2- b:4,5- b']dipyrrole bearing two racemic alkanediylsulfonate anion side chains (BDPSOs) serves as a neutral, nonhygroscopic, dopant-free HTM for lead perovskite (MAPbI) solar cells. These organic/inorganic hybrid molecules are useful for tunable orbital level and controllable solubility.

Neuroprotective effect through the cerebral sodium-glucose transporter on the development of ischemic damage in global ischemia.

Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose metabolism are the most important risk factors for stroke. We recently demonstrated that cerebral ischemic stress causes hyperglycemia (i.e.

Detailed observation of arterial healing after stent implantation in swine arteries by using optical coherence tomography.

Background: Histopathological examination is not suitable for sequential in vivo analysis of arterial healing after stenting because it can be performed only after the animals are killed. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides higher resolution than intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). The aim of this study was to compare arterial healing images after stenting on the basis of the findings of histopathological examination, IVUS, and OCT.

Utility of myocardial fractional flow reserve for prediction of restenosis following sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Drug-eluting stents reduce restenosis due to neointimal growth suppression. Considering long-term outcomes, it is both difficult and important to predict drug-eluting stent restenosis. Thus, this study was designed to examine the utility of myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) as a predictor of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) restenosis.

Impact of body mass index and Framingham risk score on coronary artery plaque.

Background: It is still unclear whether traditional risk factors for heart disease and body weight correlate with the progression of left main coronary artery (LMCA) atherosclerosis. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-sectional relation between conventional risk score or metabolic disorder and non-stenotic LMCA atherosclerosis using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods: We analyzed procedural and demographic data from 217 consecutive patients undergoing intervention for a left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary artery lesion, including their cardiovascular risk (Framingham risk score) and degree of adiposity.

Kimura disease: diagnostic imaging findings and surgical treatment.

We have encountered 11 cases of Kimura disease, comprising 10 males and 1 female. The ages at presentation ranged from 16 to 48 years, with a mean of 31.5 years.

Method analysis for optimal continuous imaging using intravascular optical coherence tomography.

Objectives: Optical coherence tomography(OCT)is a high-resolution imaging method that can clearly visualize vessels through the displacement of blood with flushing agents. Continuous imaging methods have not been established. This study investigated optimal methods for continuous OCT imaging.

Acute myocardial infarction: clinical characteristics and plaque morphology between expansive remodeling and constrictive remodeling by intravascular ultrasound.

Background: According to recent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies, expansive remodeling (ER) at the culprit lesion has been observed in almost 50% of patients with acute coronary syndrome and constrictive remodeling (CR) in 30%. The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference between ER and CR at the culprit lesion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: Preinterventional IVUS images of 73 patients with AMI were identified.

The impact of IVUS guided bare metal stent implantation for non-small vessel.

Unlabelled: Previous studies have shown larger target vessel or greater stent area contribute to reduced restenosis rate. Thus, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided bare metal stent (BMS) implantation for selected lesions might achieve drug-eluting stent-like outcomes. The aim was to examine the long-term outcomes of BMS using IVUS-guided optimization.

Impact of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors for non-treated coronary segments.

Background: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statin) have been reported to decrease coronary artery events in several angiographic studies. However, the mechanism by which statin achieve this is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of statin on coronary plaque using serial intravascular ultrasound analysis.

Cardioprotective effect of SEA0400, a selective inhibitor of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

In this study, we investigated whether the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) inhibitor SEA0400 (2-[4-[(2,5-difluorophenyl)methoxy]phenoxy-5-ethoxyaniline) might have a protective effect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. In particular, we focused on cardiac function using Doppler echocardiography and cardiac gene expression. We intravenously administered either SEA0400 and delivery vehicle or only the vehicle (as a control) to Wistar rats 5 min before ischemia was induced.