Preparation of photonic molecular trains via soft-crystal polymerization of lanthanide complexes.

Soft-crystals are defined as flexible molecular solids with highly ordered structures and have attracted attention in molecular sensing materials based on external triggers and environments. Here, we show the soft-crystal copolymerization of green-luminescent Tb(III) and yellow-luminescent Dy(III) coordination centers. Soft-crystal polymerization is achieved via transformation of monomeric dinuclear complexes and polymeric structures with respect to coordination number and geometry.

The Effects of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Hinge Domain Post-Translational Modifications on CAR-T Cell Activity.

To improve the efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cell therapeutics through enhanced CAR design, we analysed CAR structural factors that affect CAR-T cell function. We studied the effects of disulphide bonding at cysteine residues and glycosylation in the HD on CAR-T function. We used first-generation CAR[V/28/28/3z] and CAR[V/8a/8a/3z], consisting of a mouse vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-specific single-chain variable fragment tandemly linked to CD28- or CD8α-derived HD, transmembrane domain (TMD) and a CD3ζ-derived signal transduction domain (STD).

Observation of the plasmon mode transition from triangular to hexagonal nanoplates.

The geometrical shape of a metal nanostructure plays an essential role in determining the optical functionality of plasmonic cavity modes. Here, we investigate the geometrical modification effect on plasmonic cavity modes induced in two-dimensional gold nanoplates. We perform near-field transmission measurements on triangular and tip-truncated triangular nanoplates and reveal that the plasmonic cavity modes are qualitatively consistent with each other as long as the snipping size is not significant.

Photoinduced Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Acylation of Allylic Phosphates with Acylsilanes.

We report a visible-light-induced copper-catalyzed highly enantioselective umpolung allylic acylation reaction with acylsilanes as acyl anion equivalents. Triplet-quenching experiments and DFT calculations supported our reaction design, which is based on copper-to-acyl metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) photoexcitation that generates a charge-separated triplet state as a highly reactive intermediate. According to the calculations, the allylic phosphate substrate in the excited state undergoes novel molecular activation into an allylic radical weakly bound to the copper complex.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 5, presenting as diabetic ketoacidosis with alkalemia: A report of a case.

A 34-year-old man visited our Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan, because of dry mouth and weight loss. His plasma glucose level was 32.8 mmol/L and serum levels of ketone bodies were increased, but with metabolic alkalemia.

Usefulness of Endoscopy for Female Genital Plastic Surgery: A Series of 4 Cases with Genital Malformations.

BACKGROUND Female genital plastic surgery is rare and requires specific patient anatomical information to successfully carry out the appropriate procedure for each female genital malformation. Performing endoscopic surgery can increase the amount of information intraoperatively. We report on our experience of proactively using endoscopy to obtain additional intraoperative information to perform the appropriate surgical procedure suited to each female genital malformation, and evaluate the usefulness of concurrent endoscopy for improved surgical outcomes.

Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome Induced by Group A Streptococcus with the emm28 Genotype That Developed after a Uterine Cancer Test.

A 69-year-old woman without pre-existing disease visited our hospital due to general malaise, diarrhea, and arthralgia 3 days after a uterine cancer test. We diagnosed her with sepsis of unknown focus and started treatment immediately, but she died 20 hours after the first visit due to multi-organ failure and septic shock. Later, group A streptococcus was detected from the blood culture, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) was diagnosed.

Pemafibrate, a selective PPARα modulator, and fenofibrate suppress microglial activation through distinct PPARα and SIRT1-dependent pathways.

Pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α modulator, is a new drug that specifically modulates PPARα conformation and co-activator recruitment, thereby lowers plasma triglycerides with less off-target effects. Classical PPARα ligands such as fenofibrate suppress inflammatory cells including microglia. However, effects of pemafibrate on microglia have never been addressed.

Spatial characteristics of optical fields near a gold nanorod revealed by three-dimensional scanning near-field optical microscopy.

We visualize plasmon mode patterns induced in a single gold nanorod by three-dimensional scanning near-field optical microscopy. From the near-field transmission imaging, we find that 3rd and 4th order plasmon modes are resonantly excited in the nanorod. We perform electromagnetic simulations based on the discrete dipole approximation method under focused Gaussian beam illumination and demonstrate that the observed near-field spectral and spatial features are well reproduced by the simulation.

Effect of Asfotase Alfa on Muscle Weakness in a Japanese Adult Patient of Hypophosphatasia with Low ALP Levels.

A 40-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital with general fatigue and muscle weakness. She had a history of premature loss of deciduous teeth at 4 years old, her serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was as low as 91 U/L, and radiologic studies revealed thoracic deformity and sacroiliac calcification. Genetic sequencing revealed a heterozygous c.

[Effect of Statins on Glycemic Status and Plasma Adiponectin Concentrations in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypercholesterolemia].

It is reported that statins have inconsistent effects on glycemic status and adiponectin concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to investigate the effect of statins on these variables in patients with T2DM and hypercholesterolemia. A control group comprising 24 patients with T2DM but without hypercholesterolemia was observed for more than 12 weeks, while 24 patients with T2DM and hypercholesterolemia were treated with statins for the same period (statin group).

Characterization of Overlapped Plasmon Modes in a Gold Hexagonal Plate Revealed by Three-Dimensional Near-Field Optical Microscopy.

A detailed characterization of plasmon modes is important not only for a deeper understanding of plasmons but also for their practical applications. In this study, we investigated the three-dimensional near-field characteristics of high-order plasmon modes excited in a gold hexagonal nanoplate. From the near-field spectroscopic images, we found that both in-plane and out-of-plane plasmon modes observed near 900 nm were spectrally and spatially overlapped.

A Case of Euthyroid Graves' Ophthalmopathy in a Patient Sero-Negative for TSH Receptor Autoantibody.

We report of a case of Graves' ophthalmopathy presented solely with symptoms of the eyes with normal thyroid function tests and negative immunoreactive TSH receptor autoantibody. 40-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to 2-month history of ocular focusing deficit without any signs or symptoms of hyper- or hypothyroidism. Serum thyroid function tests and Tc uptake were both within the normal range.

Static and Dynamic Near-Field Measurements of High-Order Plasmon Modes Induced in a Gold Triangular Nanoplate.

Precise understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics of plasmons is essential for the development of applications of plasmonic nanoparticles. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal properties of high-order plasmon modes induced in a gold triangular nanoplate by static and dynamic near-field measurements. The near-field transmission measurements revealed that in-plane and out-of-plane polarized plasmon modes were simultaneously excited and these modes spectroscopically and spatially overlapped.

An Autopsy Case of Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy Due to Rapidly Progressing Colon Cancer in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes.

We herein describe a case of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) with rapidly progressing colon cancer. A 61-year-old man who had been receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus for 3 years was hospitalized due to critical hypoxemia. Computed tomography, which had not shown any abnormalities 3 months previously, revealed a tumor in the ascending colon, multiple nodules in the liver, and the absence of any lung abnormalities.

Glucagon promotes colon cancer cell growth via regulating AMPK and MAPK pathways.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death in diabetic patients, and an association between antidiabetic drugs and cancer risk has been reported. Such evidence implies a strong connection between diabetes and cancer. Recently, glucagon has been recognized as a pivotal factor implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetes.

Nocturnal reactive hypoglycaemia well treated subjectively and objectively with voglibose.

Clinicians sometimes encounter difficulty in diagnosing hypoglycaemia. Here, we present a case report of a 53-year-old woman with recurrent nocturnal hypoglycaemia. A continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) revealed postprandial hyperglycaemia and subsequent hypoglycaemia, and an oral glucose tolerance test showed an impaired glycaemic and delayed hyperinsulinaemic pattern.

Mechanisms of PTHrP-induced inhibition of smooth muscle contractility in the guinea pig gastric antrum.

Background: Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) that causes hypercalcemia of malignancy appears to function as an endogenous smooth muscle relaxant. For example, PTHrP released upon bladder wall distension relaxes detrusor smooth muscle to accommodate urine. Here, we explored mechanisms underlying PTHrP-induced suppression of the smooth muscle contractility in the gastric antrum that also undergoes a passive distension.

Optical control of plasmonic fields by phase-modulated pulse excitations.

We developed an advanced near-field optical method by combining an ultrafast near-field optical microscope with a prism-based pulse shaping system. We used this apparatus to visualize plasmonic optical fields and to measure the lifetime of plasmons excited on a rough gold film. We also studied the influence of the phase-modulation of the excitation pulse on the spatial distribution of the optical fields.

Epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation is necessary for glucagon-like peptide-1 to protect PC12 cells from apoptosis.

Aim: Patients with long-standing diabetes commonly develop diabetic encephalopathy, which is characterized by cognitive impairment and dementia. To identify potential treatments for diabetic encephalopathy, we focused on the protective action of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) against neural cell apoptosis. In this study, we evaluated whether exposure of cells to GLP-1 leads to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation and signaling through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/GCLc/redox pathway, which we previously reported.

A short bout of stair climbing-descending exercise attenuates postprandial hyperglycemia in middle-aged males with impaired glucose tolerance.

Exercise is a useful modality to ameliorate postprandial hyperglycemia. Here we show that a short bout (∼6 min) of stair climbing-descending exercise (STAIR) starting at 90 min after meal accelerates the decrease in blood glucose concentrations in middle-aged sedentary men with impaired glucose tolerance, although STAIR is easy to perform and keeps the exercise intensity at a moderate level.