Publications by authors named "K A Higuchi"

SLC17A3 localized to the apical membrane of the renal proximal tubules has been implicated in the urinary excretion of drugs and endogenous/exogenous metabolites transported into the tubules by OAT1 and OAT3. Because SLC17A3 mediates the facilitated diffusion of organic anions, which requires a sensitive and rapid assay, no system has been established to evaluate its transport activity in mammalian cells. In this study, we demonstrated that the exposure of cells expressing click beetle luciferase (bLuc) and SLC17A3 to D-luciferin produces marked bioluminescence, which enables the evaluation of SLC17A3 function.

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The association between serum uric acid (UA) levels and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate this association using electrocardiographic findings. Health examination data from Kagoshima Kouseiren Hospital included 79,200 participants without cardiovascular diseases.

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Perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology holds great promise with continuously improving power conversion efficiency; however, the use of metal electrodes hinders its commercialization and the development of tandem designs. Although single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), as one-dimensional materials, have the potential to replace metal electrodes in PSCs, their poor conductivity still limits their application. In this study, the near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing anionic heptamethine cyanine dye-doped SWCNTs functioned in a dual role as an efficient charge-selective layer and electrode in PSCs.

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Peroral flexible endoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that enables the local resection of gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) with malignant potential. Resection techniques are mainly chosen on the basis of the lesion size. Minute SETs less than 1 cm should be managed through a watch and wait strategy, with the exception of histologically diagnosed superficial lesions, which require endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection.

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The large-conductance calcium- and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels, encoded by the KCNMA1 gene, play important roles in neuronal function. Mutations in KCNMA1 have been found in patients with various neurodevelopmental features, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous studies of KCNMA1 knockout mice have suggested altered activity patterns and behavioral flexibility, but it remained unclear whether these changes primarily affect immediate behavioral adaptation or longer-term learning processes.

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