Photochemical Control of Cell Division Using a Photoswitchable CENP-E Inhibitor.

Photoswitchable compounds are potent tools for elucidating molecular functions in dynamic cellular processes. Photoswitchable inhibitors targeting various mitotic spindle factors have been developed. In this chapter, we describe experimental methods for photo-controlling mitotic chromosome dynamics using a recently developed photoswitchable inhibitor of mitotic kinesin, CENP-E.

Incidence of the postpartum diagnosis of thyroid eye disease in relation to thyroid function in Graves' disease.

It has been reported that Graves' disease (GD) sometimes improves spontaneously during pregnancy, although exacerbation of GD during postpartum period or relapse of hyperthyroidism caused by GD might occur. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of postpartum diagnosis of thyroid eye disease (TED) in relation to thyroid dysfunction. This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 11,104 deliveries from the patients with GD between January 2004 and August 2022.

Exacerbation of Thyroid Eye Disease and Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy During Pregnancy: A Case Report.

A 37-year-old, never-smoker, pregnant woman diagnosed with Graves' disease who had stable thyroid eye disease (TED) before pregnancy presented with aggravated proptosis and eyelid swelling at 13 weeks of pregnancy. Despite the administration of local triamcinolone and 3 cycles of corticosteroid pulse therapy from 25 to 28 weeks, the patient's visual acuity decline necessitated postpartum orbital decompression surgery. Although TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) levels decreased during the mid- to late term of pregnancy, the TED worsened.

Subacute thyroiditis during pregnancy: clinical characteristics of seven cases.

Objective: There are few reports of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) during pregnancy. This study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of SAT in pregnant patients.

Methods And Results: Seven patients diagnosed with SAT during pregnancy at our institution from January 2004 to December 2021 were identified, and their clinical findings were retrospectively examined.

Dose-dependent incidence of agranulocytosis in patients treated with methimazole and propylthiouracil.

Agranulocytosis is a serious adverse effect of methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU), and although there have been reports suggesting a dose-dependent incidence in relation to both drugs, the evidence has not been conclusive. The objective of our study was to determine whether the incidences of agranulocytosis induced by MMI and PTU exhibit dose-dependency. The subjects were 27,784 patients with untreated Graves' disease, 22,993 of whom were on an antithyroid drug treatment regimen for more than 90 days.

Sequential Approach for Water Purification Using Seashell-Derived Calcium Oxide through Disinfection and Flocculation with Polyphosphate for Chemical Pollutant Removal.

Safe water supply is usually inadequate in areas without water treatment plants and even in a city under emergency conditions due to a disaster, even though safe water is essential for drinking and other various purposes. The purification of surface water from a river, lake, or pond requires disinfection and removal of chemical pollutants. In this study, we report a water purification strategy using seashell-derived calcium oxide (CaO) via disinfection and subsequent flocculation with polyphosphate for chemical pollutant removal.

An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Machine Learning in Predicting Thyrotoxicosis and Hypothyroidism: A Comparative Assessment of Biochemical Test Parameters Used in Different Health Checkups.

Objective This study assessed the efficacy of machine learning in predicting thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism [thyroid-stimulating hormone >10.0 mIU/L] by leveraging age and sex as variables and integrating biochemical test parameters used by the Japan Society of Health Evaluation and Promotion (JHEP) and the Japan Society of Ningen Dock (JND). Methods Our study included 20,653 untreated patients with Graves' disease, 3,435 untreated patients with painless thyroiditis, 4,266 healthy individuals, and 18,937 untreated patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Empagliflozin versus sitagliptin for ameliorating intrahepatic lipid content and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity in patients with early-stage type 2 diabetes with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A prospective randomized study.

Aim: To compare the effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on ectopic fat accumulation and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity.

Materials And Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 44 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). They were randomly assigned to receive either empagliflozin 10 mg/day or sitagliptin 100 mg/day for 12 weeks.

Nanospiked paper: Microfibrous cellulose materials nanostructured via partial hydrolysis and self-assembly.

Nanocelluloses, such as cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals, are sustainable nanomaterials that are generally extracted from natural raw materials in a top-down manner. These nanomaterials and their assemblies are facilitating new applications of biopolymers. However, creating nanostructures from conventional cellulosic materials including paper and cloth remains challenging.

Biofilm Degradation by Seashell-Derived Calcium Hydroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide.

Microbial cells and self-produced extracellular polymeric substances assembled to form biofilms that are difficult to remove from surfaces, causing problems in various fields. Seashell-derived calcium hydroxide, a sustainable inorganic material, has shown high bactericidal activity even for biofilms due to its alkalinity. However, its biofilm removal efficacy is relatively low.

Low-invasive 5D visualization of mitotic progression by two-photon excitation spinning-disk confocal microscopy.

Non-linear microscopy, such as multi-photon excitation microscopy, offers spatial localities of excitations, thereby achieving 3D cross-sectional imaging with low phototoxicity even in thick biological specimens. We had developed a multi-point scanning two-photon excitation microscopy system using a spinning-disk confocal scanning unit. However, its severe color cross-talk has precluded multi-color simultaneous imaging.

Recent Progress in the Development of Disinfectants from Scallop Shell-Derived Calcium Oxide for Clinical and Daily Use.

The current pandemic of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has highlighted the importance of disinfectants. As a raw material for next-generation disinfectants, scallop shell-derived calcium oxide (CaO) has been revealed to exhibit significant virucidal and microbicidal activities and is compatible with living tissues and the environment. This minireview summarizes recent progress in the development of disinfectants from scallop shell-CaO, focusing especially on studies of clinical and daily use applications.

Molecular basis of functional exchangeability between ezrin and other actin-membrane associated proteins during cytokinesis.

The mechanism that mediates the interaction between the contractile ring and the plasma membrane during cytokinesis remains elusive. We previously found that ERM (Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin) proteins, which usually mediate cellular pole contraction, become over-accumulated at the cell equator and support furrow ingression upon the loss of other actin-membrane associated proteins, anillin and supervillin. In this study, we addressed the molecular basis of the exchangeability between ezrin and other actin-membrane associated proteins in mediating cortical contraction during cytokinesis.

Efficacy of Bioshell Calcium Oxide Water as Disinfectants to Enable Face Mask Reuse.

Bioshell calcium oxide (BiSCaO) is derived from scallop shells and after heat treatment exhibits broad microbicidal activity. BiSCaO Water is a disinfectant prepared by collecting the aqueous layer after adding BiSCaO powder to water, is colorless and transparent, and has a pH of 12.8.

A prospective randomized study comparing effects of empagliflozin to sitagliptin on cardiac fat accumulation, cardiac function, and cardiac metabolism in patients with early-stage type 2 diabetes: the ASSET study.

Background: While the cardioprotective benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been established in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), their advantages over other anti-diabetic drugs at earlier stages remain unclear. We compared the cardioprotective effects of empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, with those of sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, focusing on cardiac fat accumulation, cardiac function, and cardiac metabolism in patients with early-stage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without CVD complications.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, parallel-group trial that enrolled 44 Japanese patients with T2DM.

Safety of Concentrated Bioshell Calcium Oxide Water Application for Surface and Skin Disinfections against Pathogenic Microbes.

Immediately post-production, commercially available bioshell calcium oxide (BiSCaO) water is colorless, transparent, and strongly alkaline (pH 12.8), and is known to possess deodorizing properties and broad microbicidal activity. However, BiSCaO Water may represent a serious safety risk to the living body, given the strong alkalinity.

Bioshell Calcium Oxide-Containing Liquids as a Sanitizer for the Reduction of Histamine Production in Raw Japanese Pilchard, Japanese Horse Mackerel, and Chub Mackerel.

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of food poisoning cases associated with histamine in food, mainly in relation to histamine in fish. Here, we investigated methods to decrease histamine levels in Japanese pilchard, Japanese horse mackerel, and chub Mackerel, stored at 10 °C using various concentrations of heated scallop bioshell calcium oxide (BiSCaO) suspension, dispersion (BiSCaO + NaHPO), colloidal dispersion (BiSCaO + NapolyPO), scallop shell powder (SSP) Ca(OH) in pure water (PW) or saline, and BiSCaO water. BiSCaO in a high alkaline pH solution chemically decomposes histamine poorly, but the partial flocculation/precipitation of histamine was observed with 1 and 0.

Concentrated Bioshell Calcium Oxide (BiSCaO) Water Kills Pathogenic Microbes: Characterization and Activity.

Bioshell calcium oxide (BiSCaO) exhibits deodorizing properties and broad microbicidal activity. In this study, we examined possible utility of BiSCaO Water for that purpose. BiSCaO Water was prepared by adding 10 wt% BiSCaO to clean water and gently collecting the supernatant in a bottle.

Bioshell Calcium Oxide (BiSCaO) Ointment for the Disinfection and Healing of -Infected Wounds in Hairless Rats.

Bioshell calcium oxide (BiSCaO) possesses deodorizing properties and broad microbicidal activity. This study aimed to investigate the application of BiSCaO ointment for the prevention and treatment of infection in chronic wounds in healing-impaired patients, without delaying wound healing. The bactericidal activities of 0.

Relationship between shape of peripheral initial lymphatics and efficiency of mechanical stimulation-induced lymph formation.

Objective: The present study aimed to combine the physiological significance of irregularly shaped initial lymphatics and mechanisms of mechanical stimulation-induced lymph formation.

Methods: To confirm stretch-induced expansion of initial lymphatics, a finite element model that simulated morphological changes on a computer and fluorescent image and immunohistochemical analyses in mouse skin were adopted. Next, to quantitatively analyze the stretch-induced expansion, a simulation study was performed using a viscoelastic model of the tissue including initial lymphatics.

Photoswitchable CENP-E Inhibitor Enabling the Dynamic Control of Chromosome Movement and Mitotic Progression.

Interfering with mitosis is a potential cancer therapy strategy. However, the lack of controllability of antimitotic drugs in cell growth suppression causes severe side effects and limits their clinical utility. Herein, we developed an azobenzene-based photoswitchable inhibitor of CENP-E, a mitotic kinesin required for chromosome transportation.

Application of Colloidal Dispersions of Bioshell Calcium Oxide (BiSCaO) for Disinfection.

Bioshell calcium oxide (BiSCaO) is a scallop-shell powder heated at a high temperature. BiSCaO is composed mainly of calcium oxide and exhibits broad microbicidal properties. The aim of this study is to evaluate the disinfection and decontamination abilities of BiSCaO colloidal dispersions with that of commercially available bioshell calcium hydroxide (BiSCa(OH)) following the formation of flocculants/precipitates under strongly alkaline conditions (pH 11.

Preparation and Application of Bioshell Calcium Oxide (BiSCaO) Nanoparticle-Dispersions with Bactericidal Activity.

Scallop-shell powder (SSP) heated at high temperature exhibits high pH and broad antimicrobial activity. Bioshell calcium oxide (BiSCaO) is an SSP composed mainly of calcium oxide. It is poorly water-soluble under alkaline conditions and the generated precipitate can plug spray nozzles.