Risk factors affecting quality of life in children with epilepsy and their caregivers: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional online survey in Japan.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in children with epilepsy and their caregivers, as well as the caregiver burden, through a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional online survey in Japan.

Methods: Eligible participants were caregivers of children (aged < 18 years) diagnosed with epilepsy. Children's QOL was measured using the daily living subset of the Japanese version of the Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy (QOLCE-Js52).

Development of hydrophobic tag purifying monophosphorylated RNA for chemical synthesis of capped mRNA and enzymatic synthesis of circular mRNA.

We developed phosphorylation reagents with a nitrobenzyl hydrophobic tag and used them for 5'-phosphorylation of chemically or transcriptionally synthesized RNA. The capability of hydrophobic tags to synthesize 5'-monophosphorylated RNA was evaluated based on the yield of the desired oligonucleotides, stability of protecting groups during cleavage/deprotection, separation ability in reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC), and deprotection efficiency after RP-HPLC purification. The results showed that a nitrobenzyl derivative with a tert-butyl group at the benzyl position was most suitable for RNA 5'-phosphorylation.

Emergency management of pediatric epileptic seizures in non-hospital settings in Japan.

Objective: To assess the current management of pediatric epileptic seizures in non-hospital settings and the efficacy of early therapeutic intervention with rescue medication in Japan.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was based on an online survey of caregivers of pediatric patients with epilepsy. The survey consisted of questions regarding seizure frequency and symptoms, the use of rescue medication, and emergency medical care.

Chromatographic Assessment of Organic Compounds Using Carbon Nanotubes: The Relationship between Affinity and Dispersibility.

The affinity between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and organic compounds is of substantial importance since it strongly relates to the dispersibility of CNTs in those compounds. Several affinity evaluation methods have been developed so far, and the concept of the Hansen solubility parameter is a representative method widely used in the field of nanocarbon materials. Here, we demonstrate that CNT-loaded silica columns can effectively assess the affinity of organic compounds for CNT surface by exploiting the chromatographic retention time as a criterion.

Suppression of Type I Interferon Signaling in Myeloid Cells by Autoantibodies in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

Purpose: Auto-antibodies (auto-abs) to type I interferons (IFNs) have been identified in patients with life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), suggesting that the presence of auto-abs may be a risk factor for disease severity. We therefore investigated the mechanism underlying COVID-19 exacerbation induced by auto-abs to type I IFNs.

Methods: We evaluated plasma from 123 patients with COVID-19 to measure auto-abs to type I IFNs.