Carbon nanotube growth catalyzed by metal nanoparticles formed the seed effect of metal clusters.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are useful nanomaterials owing to their distinct functions that depend on their structure and diameter; therefore, CNTs have recently attracted much attention. Catalytic chemical vapor deposition using metal nanoparticles as catalysts is one of the most useful methods for synthesizing CNTs. However, fine control of the CNT diameter has been technically difficult at the 1 nanometer level owing to the size distribution of metal nanoparticles and the difficulty in suppressing their aggregation during the CNT growth reaction.

Development of a Ru-porphyrin-based supramolecular framework catalyst for styrene epoxidation.

A new microporous supramolecular-framework Ru(II)-porphyrin catalyst containing non-covalent interactions between pyrenylphenyl moieties at the -position of the porphyrin ring is synthesised and structurally characterised. This recyclable catalyst expedites styrene epoxidation more efficiently than homogeneous Ru-porphyrin catalytic systems.

Digital detection of Alzheimer's disease using smiles and conversations with a chatbot.

In super-aged societies, dementia has become a critical issue, underscoring the urgent need for tools to assess cognitive status effectively in various sectors, including financial and business settings. Facial and speech features have been tried as cost-effective biomarkers of dementia including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to establish an easy, automatic, and extensive screening tool for AD using a chatbot and artificial intelligence.

Isolated central nervous system lymphomatoid granulomatosis in an older adult patient with systematic lupus erythematosus: A case report.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a rare, T-cell-rich Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive B-cell lymphoproliferative systemic disease. Only a few cases of LYG have been described in patients with autoimmune disorders, with only one case described in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, no cases of isolated central nervous system (CNS)-LYG have been reported in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Rate of hydrolysis of the phosphate esters of B vitamins is reduced by zinc deficiency: In vitro and in vivo.

Extracellular hydrolysis of the phosphate esters of B vitamins (B1, B2, and B6) is crucial for their cellular uptake and metabolism. Although a few zinc-dependent enzymes have been implicated in these processes, their exact mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. This study investigated the potential involvement of phosphate group hydrolyzing enzymes in the hydrolysis of B vitamin phosphate esters.

Photocatalytic Three-Component Acylcarboxylation of Alkenes with CO.

γ-Keto acid is a valuable chemical motif in a wide range of fields including organic, biological, and medicinal chemistry. However, its single-step synthesis is challenging because of the mismatch of the carbonyl polarity and low tolerance of carboxylic acids. Herein, we report the single-step syntheses of γ-keto acids using alkenes and CO.

Reduced Mn uptake of pleiotropic ZIP8 SNP is caused by its loss of Mn-responsive accumulation on the cell-surface.

Zrt/Irt-like protein 8 (ZIP8), which is a Zn transporter, plays a pivotal role as a Mn transporter. Recent studies have shown that a ZIP8 SNP (rs13107325 C→T, A391T) is associated with multiple diseases, likely by causing systemic Mn deficiency. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

ZNT5-6 and ZNT7 play an integral role in protein N-glycosylation by supplying Zn to Golgi α-mannosidase II.

The stepwise addition of monosaccharides to N-glycans attached to client proteins to generate a repertoire of mature proteins involves a concerted action of many glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. Here, we report that Golgi α-mannosidase II (GMII), a pivotal enzyme catalyzing the first step in the conversion of hybrid- to complex-type N-glycans, is activated by Zn supplied by the early secretory compartment-resident ZNT5-ZNT6 heterodimers (ZNT5-6) and ZNT7 homodimers (ZNT7). Loss of ZNT5-6 and ZNT7 function results in marked accumulation of hybrid-type and complex/hybrid glycans with concomitant reduction of complex- and high-mannose-type glycans.

Protein-Labeling Reagents Selectively Activated by Copper(I).

Copper is an essential trace element that participates in many biological processes through its unique redox cycling between cuprous (Cu) and cupric (Cu) oxidation states. To elucidate the biological functions of copper, chemical biology tools that enable selective visualization and detection of copper ions and proteins in copper-rich environments are required. Herein, we describe the design of Cu-responsive reagents based on a conditional protein labeling strategy.

Totally retroperitoneal approach for robot-assisted nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff without repositioning.

Introduction: Robot-assisted nephroureterectomy (RANU) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma is typically performed via the transperitoneal approach because of limited surgical space. However, a retroperitoneal approach may be preferable in patients with a history of abdominal surgery or in those in whom pelvic lymph node dissection is unnecessary.

Materials And Surgical Techniques: RANU via the retroperitoneal approach was selected for two patients diagnosed with high-grade upper urothelial carcinoma with a history of abdominal surgery.

Zinc and manganese homeostasis closely interact in mammalian cells.

Understanding the homeostatic interactions among essential trace metals is important for explaining their roles in cellular systems. Recent studies in vertebrates suggest that cellular Mn metabolism is related to Zn metabolism in multifarious cellular processes. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Analgesic effect of a cholinergic agonist (carbachol) in a sural nerve ligation-induced hypersensitivity mouse model.

Objectives: Neuropathic pain is characterized by long-lasting, intractable pain. Sciatic nerve ligation is often used as an animal model of neuropathic pain, and the spared nerve injury (SNI) model, in which the common peroneal nerve (CPN) and tibial nerve (TN) are ligated, is widely used. In the present study, we evaluated the analgesic effect of a cholinergic agonist, carbachol, on a neuropathic pain model prepared by sural nerve (SN) ligation in mice.

Metalation and activation of Zn enzymes via early secretory pathway-resident ZNT proteins.

Zinc (Zn), an essential trace element, binds to various proteins, including enzymes, transcription factors, channels, and signaling molecules and their receptors, to regulate their activities in a wide range of physiological functions. Zn proteome analyses have indicated that approximately 10% of the proteins encoded by the human genome have potential Zn binding sites. Zn binding to the functional site of a protein (for enzymes, the active site) is termed Zn metalation.

Structural Characterization of Graphite Analogue BC Synthesized Under Various Conditions and Its Application to Ti Intercalation.

A graphite-like material boron carbide (BC) was synthesized under various heat treatment conditions and extensively characterized. First, we synthesized the BC precursor phase by a single-step reaction using a mixed solution of BBr and CH. We confirmed that the precursor phase had a graphite-like structure with B-C chemical bonds, but its crystallinity was poor.

Clinical usefulness of phase angle as an indicator of muscle wasting and malnutrition in inpatients with cardiovascular diseases.

Background and Objectives: Extracellular water is increased in patients with edema, such as those with chronic heart failure, and it is difficult to assess skeletal muscle mass with the skeletal muscle mass index when extracellular water is high. We investigated the relationship between phase angle and physical function, nutritional indices, and sarcopenia in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including chronic heart failure. Methods and Study Design: In 590 patients with cardiovascular diseases (372 men), handgrip strength, gait speed, and anterior mid-thigh muscle thickness by ultrasound were measured, and the skeletal muscle mass index, phase angle, and the extracellular water: total body water ratio were measured with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer, and presence of sarcopenia was evaluated.