Thrombin-induced kynurenine 3-monooxygenase causes variations in the kynurenine pathway, leading to neurological deficits in a murine intracerebral hemorrhage model.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate changes in the kynurenine pathway after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and its effects on ICH-induced injury. The exposure of a primary rat microglial culture to thrombin increased the mRNA level of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), and this increase was attenuated by a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Thrombin also increased the protein level of KMO.

Preparation of Alginate Hydrogel Beads on a Superhydrophobic Surface with Calcium Salt Powder to Enhance the Mechanical Strength and Encapsulation Efficiency of Ingredients.

Calcium alginate hydrogel is one of the most widely used materials for drug-carrier beads used in drug-delivery systems. In this study, we developed a new method to improve the encapsulation efficiency of ingredients, such as medicines, in calcium alginate hydrogel beads. In the gold standard method, the hydrogel beads are prepared in the liquid phase.

A Case of Ossified Tissue Misdiagnosed as Amyloid Deposits by Congo Red Stain and Birefringence.

Pulmonary amyloidosis is diagnosed by identifying amyloid deposits using Congo red stain (CR) and birefringence under polarized light. However, collagen fibers can also produce similar staining results, complicating diagnosis. We report a case of a 55-year-old male patient with lung opacities, initially suspected to have amyloidosis based on CR positivity and green birefringence.

piRNA processing within non-membrane structures is governed by constituent proteins and their functional motifs.

Discovered two decades ago, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are crucial for silencing transposable elements (TEs) in animal gonads, thereby protecting the germline genome from harmful transposition, and ensuring species continuity. Silencing of TEs is achieved through transcriptional and post-transcriptional suppression by piRNAs and the PIWI clade of Argonaute proteins within non-membrane structured organelle. These structures are composed of proteins involved in piRNA processing, including PIWIs and other proteins by distinct functional motifs such as the Tudor domain, LOTUS, and intrinsic disordered regions (IDRs).

Predictors and clinical outcomes of true mitral stenosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: Predictors of true degenerative mitral stenosis (MS) in patients with aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the predictors and prognostic value of true degenerative MS in this population.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 760 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI.

An efficient extraction device for microplastics in marine sediments and its applications.

Microplastics, defined as small pieces of plastic with a size less than 5 millimeters, constitute a significant sink for microplastics in marine sediments. Given the potential harm to nature and human beings, accurate detection of microplastics in marine sediments is of the utmost importance. The separation of microplastics from marine sediments represents a pivotal step in the quantitative detection of microplastics.

Significant role of secondary electrons in the formation of a multi-body chemical species spur produced by water radiolysis.

Scientific insights into water photolysis and radiolysis are essential for estimating the direct and indirect effects of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. Secondary electrons from radiolysis intricately associated with both effects. In our previous paper, we simulated the femtosecond (1 × 10 s) dynamics of secondary electrons ejected by energy depositions of 11-19 eV into water via high-energy electron transport using a time-dependent simulation code.

Right Ventricular to Pulmonary Artery Uncoupling Is Associated With Impaired Exercise Capacity in Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: Exercise capacity is related to mortality and morbidity in heart failure (HF) patients. Determinants of exercise capacity in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) have not been established.

Methods And Results: This single-center study retrospectively evaluated ATTR-CA patients and patients with non-amyloidosis HF with preserved/mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF/HFmrEF) (n=32 and n=51, respectively).

Effect of Combined Exercise and Nutrition Interventions During Inpatient Chemotherapy in Acute Leukemia and Malignant Lymphoma Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of combined exercise and nutrition interventions on physical function and quality of life (QOL) in patients with acute leukemia or malignant lymphoma (ML) during inpatient chemotherapy. The study was a randomized controlled trial where patients with acute leukemia or ML who were receiving inpatient chemotherapy and exercise therapy were divided into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). Both groups underwent resistance training and aerobic exercise.

Liquid water radiolysis induced by secondary electrons generated from MeV-energy carbon ions.

Fast ion beams induce damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by chemical products, including secondary electrons, produced from interaction with liquid water in living cells. However, the production process of these chemical products in the Bragg peak region used in particle therapy is not fully understood. To investigate this process, we conducted experiments to evaluate the radiolytic yields produced when a liquid water jet in vacuum is irradiated with MeV-energy carbon beams.

Pulmonary fibrosis insights and therapy targets from disease models and administration of the lipophilic diterpene, sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate: Review and meta-analysis.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic and progressive pulmonary interstitial disease of unknown etiology and is also a sequela in severe patients with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Seven databases were systematically searched to evaluate the preclinical evidence of Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) on PF. The quality of the included studies was assessed using a 10-item risk of bias tool, and data were analyzed using RevMan 5.

Lycium ruthenicum Murray derived exosome-like nanovesicles inhibit Aβ-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells via MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (ELNs) are nano-sized vesicles extracted from edible plants. Lycium ruthenicum Murray (LRM) has been gaining increasing attention due to its nutritional and medicinal value, but the ELNs in LRM has not been reported. In this study, LRM-ELNs were obtained, and the proteins, lipids, microRNAs (miRNAs) and active components in LRM tissues and LRM-ELNs was analyzed by LC-MS/MS, LC-MS, high-throughput sequencing techniques, and physical and chemical analysis.

Cardiac power output is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with preserved ejection fraction after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: Cardiac power output (CPO) measures cardiac performance, and its prognostic significance in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (EF) has been previously reported. However, the effectiveness of CPO in risk stratification of patients with valvular heart disease and post-operative valvular disease has not been reported. We aimed to determine the association between CPO and clinical outcomes in patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) EF after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

HemK2 functions for sufficient protein synthesis and RNA stability through eRF1 methylation during Drosophila oogenesis.

HemK2 is a highly conserved methyltransferase, but the identification of its genuine substrates has been controversial, and its biological importance in higher organisms remains unclear. We elucidate the role of HemK2 in the methylation of eukaryotic Release Factor 1 (eRF1), a process that is essential for female germline development in Drosophila melanogaster. Knockdown of hemK2 in the germline cells (hemK2-GLKD) induces apoptosis, accompanied by a pronounced decrease in both eRF1 methylation and protein synthesis.

Consideration of the dielectric response for radiation chemistry simulations.

The spur reaction, a spatially nonhomogeneous chemical reaction following ionization, is crucial in radiolysis or photolysis in liquids, but the spur expansion process has yet to be elucidated. One reason is the need to understand the role of the dielectric response of the solvating molecules surrounding the charged species generated by ionization. The dielectric response corresponds to the time evolution of the permittivity and might affect the chemical reaction-diffusion of the species in a spur expansion process.

Change of hand sensation and function in patients with malignant lymphoma during early-stage vincristine chemotherapy: A single-center observational study.

This study aimed to investigate changes in hand sensation (finger tactile threshold and two-point discrimination) and function in patients with malignant lymphoma, particularly during the early stages of chemotherapy with vincristine. Eighteen patients with malignant lymphoma were enrolled in this study. Data on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.

Proteomic profiling of FFPE specimens: Discovery of HNRNPA2/B1 and STT3B as biomarkers for determining formalin fixation durations.

Recent advancements in proteomics technologies using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples have significantly advanced biomarker discovery. Yet, the effects of varying sample preparation protocols on proteomic analyses remain poorly understood. We analyzed mouse liver FFPE samples that varied in fixatives, fixation duration, and storage temperature using LC/MS.

Impact of postoperative cerebral complications in acute infective endocarditis: a retrospective single-center study.

Background: The treatment of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) who have preoperative cerebral complications remains less understood. Therefore, this study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with acute IE based on preoperative intracranial findings.

Methods: Of 32 patients with acute IE treated at our hospital between August 2015 and March 2022, 31 patients of whom preoperative intracranial imaging evaluation was available were included in our analysis and compared with those with and without intracranial findings.