Publications by authors named "Kato F"

Article Synopsis
  • Viral RNA synthesis of mononegaviruses, like the mumps virus (MuV), occurs in specialized cytoplasmic regions called inclusion bodies (IBs) that have liquid-like properties due to liquid-liquid phase separation.
  • Research findings show that MuV IBs have a cage-like structure formed by viral proteins and the viral polymerase that spatially aligns with viral RNAs.
  • The analysis also revealed that host RNAs with G-quadruplex motifs (G4-RNAs) are concentrated in MuV IBs, and these G4-RNAs enhance the formation of these structures by interacting with a specific viral protein.
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Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) presents with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, including an increased risk of tumor development and hypertension. Comprehensive data on genotype‒phenotype correlations in patients with NF1 are limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the detailed genetic and clinical characteristics of NF1 in a hereditary tumor cohort.

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Breathing behaviour is subject to emotional regulation, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a direct relationship between the central amygdala, a major output hub of the limbic system associated with emotional brain function, and the brainstem pre-Bötzinger complex, which generates the fundamental rhythm and pattern for breathing. The connection between these two sites is monosynaptic and inhibitory, involving GABAergic central amygdala neurons whose axonal projections act predominantly via ionotropic GABA receptors to produce inhibitory postsynaptic currents in pre-Bötzinger neurons.

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  • Bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems include a toxic protein that disrupts vital cell functions and an antitoxin that neutralizes this toxin, playing roles in cell death and defense mechanisms against viruses (phages).
  • The Staphylococcus aureus TA system, tsaAT, features two membrane proteins: TsaT, which promotes cell death by damaging the membrane, and TsaA, which counteracts TsaT's effects without being toxic itself.
  • The research highlights the unique aspect of this TA system, being one of the first where both components are membrane proteins, and identifies critical amino acids involved in the toxicity and neutralization processes, enhancing our understanding of bacterial TA systems.
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  • The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of model-based deep learning reconstruction (DL-DWI) in improving prostate diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) compared to traditional parallel imaging (PI-DWI).
  • Researchers analyzed 32 patients with prostate cancer and found that DL-DWI significantly outperformed PI-DWI in terms of image quality, as shown by both qualitative and quantitative measures.
  • The results indicated that DL-DWI provided better signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, and diffusion coefficient values for prostate tissues and lesions; however, the study lacked comparisons with other deep learning methods, highlighting a need for future research.
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Anderson-Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a pathological variant of the α-galactosidase A (GLA) gene that results in deficient GLA activity. GLA deficiency leads to the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and lyso-Gb3 in many tissues. A certain number of FD patients have burning pain or acroparesthesia in the feet and hands since childhood.

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Common beans (CB), a vital source for high protein content, plays a crucial role in ensuring both nutrition and economic stability in diverse communities, particularly in Africa and Latin America. However, CB cultivation poses a significant threat to diseases that can drastically reduce yield and quality. Detecting these diseases solely based on visual symptoms is challenging, due to the variability across different pathogens and similar symptoms caused by distinct pathogens, further complicating the detection process.

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Itch is a protective/defensive function with divalent motivational drives. Itch itself elicits an unpleasant experience, which triggers the urge to scratch, relieving the itchiness. Still, it can also result in dissatisfaction when the scratch is too intense and painful or unsatisfactory due to insufficient scratch effect.

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Unlabelled: Paramyxo- and filovirus genomes are equipped with bipartite promoters at their 3 ends to initiate RNA synthesis. The two elements, the primary promoter element 1 (PE1) and the secondary promoter element 2 (PE2), are separated by a spacer region that must be precisely a multiple of 6 nucleotides (nts), indicating these viruses adhere to the "rule of six." However, our knowledge of PE2 has been limited to a narrow spectrum of virus species.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) transmits pain signals to the central amygdala (CeA), playing a key role in how the brain processes pain and emotional responses to it.
  • - Research using optogenetics showed that applying MORs agonists (like DAMGO) significantly reduces excitatory signals in the LPB-CeA connection, while an MOR antagonist increases those signals, especially after immune system activation.
  • - The study suggests that opioids can inhibit pain signals at the LPB-CeA synapse, and this suppression could be influenced by both natural opioids in the body and the immune system's response.
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Background: Young-onset dementia (YOD) community care requires personalised approaches. Yet, the specific details of YOD consultations are unclear. This study explored how initial consultations correlate with client profiles.

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Dengue virus (DENV) causes dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever, and DENV infection kills 20,000 people annually worldwide. Therefore, the development of anti-DENV drugs is urgently needed. Sofosbuvir (SOF) is an effective drug for HCV-related diseases, and its triphosphorylated metabolite inhibits viral RNA synthesis by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of HCV.

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Skeletal muscle development is a highly ordered process orchestrated transcriptionally by the myogenic regulatory factors. However, the downstream molecular mechanisms of myogenic regulatory factor functions in myogenesis are not fully understood. Here, we identified the RNA-binding protein Musashi2 (Msi2) as a myogenin target gene and a post-transcriptional regulator of myoblast differentiation.

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We numerically study the anisotropic Turing patterns (TPs) of an activator-inhibitor system described by the reaction-diffusion (RD) equation of Turing, focusing on anisotropic diffusion using the Finsler geometry (FG) modeling technique. In FG modeling, the diffusion coefficients are dynamically generated to be direction dependent owing to an internal degree of freedom (IDOF) and its interaction with the activator and inhibitor. Because of this dynamical diffusion coefficient, FG modeling of the RD equation sharply contrasts with the standard numerical technique in which direction-dependent coefficients are manually assumed.

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Japanese spotted fever (JSF) is a tick-transmitted infection caused by (), which is indigenous to Japan. Patients with JSF typically present with fever and spotted erythema on the palms and/or soles, and most of them have site(s) of tick bites. The prognosis is good, but some cases have a fatal course.

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The patient was a 33-year-old female. She was referred to our hospital from a previous clinic with abdominal pain and vomiting. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT revealed intussusception, leading to a diagnosis of intussusception with a small intestinal tumor as an advanced part.

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Article Synopsis
  • Congenital tracheal stenosis is a serious disorder caused by a narrow tracheal ring that lacks smooth muscle, but its genetic basis is not well understood.
  • Researchers conducted whole exome sequencing on a patient with this condition and found a new harmful variant in the TBX5 gene that affects protein stability and activity.
  • The study's findings, along with observations in mice, suggest that TBX5 variants play a significant role in the development of congenital tracheal stenosis.
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Functional somatic syndromes (FSSs) represent a clinically important group of disorders that are often stress-related. Their autonomic pathophysiology, including reduced heart rate variability (HRV), has been reported. However, the response pattern to mental stress and recovery in FSSs remains unclear.

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Background: Plasminogen serves as the precursor to plasmin, an essential element in the fibrinolytic process, and is synthesized primarily in the liver. Plasminogen activation occurs through the action of plasminogen activator, converting it into plasmin. This conversion greatly enhances the fibrinolytic system within tissues and blood vessels, facilitating the dissolution of fibrin clots.

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With the rapid expansion of genomic medicine, more citizens are compelled to think about genetics in their daily lives. This study aims to explore appropriate types of educational media and methods to enlighten activities for genetics and hereditary cancer. We presented an 18-min YouTube video on genetics and hereditary cancer to participants at a scientific event, Science Agora 2020, and administered a web questionnaire to investigate their opinions about when and how citizens should start learning about genetics and hereditary cancer.

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Aim: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a hyperinflammatory multisystem condition associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Critically ill COVID-19 patients may develop multiorgan damage and elevated inflammatory responses, thus making it difficult to differentiate between progression to organ damage due to COVID-19 itself or MIS-A. This study aimed to explore the characteristics and complications of MIS-A in critical COVID-19 patients.

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Neonates infected with enterovirus in utero would be fulminant at birth or develop symptoms within a few days. Echovirus 11 causes life-threatening hepatic necrosis with coagulopathy and adrenal hemorrhagic necrosis. The prognosis depends on the enterovirus serotype and the absence of serotype-specific maternal antibodies at the time of delivery.

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: This study aimed to elucidate the role of laser photocoagulation therapy in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the first-line treatment, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). : A comprehensive literature search to identify studies that evaluated the efficacy of laser photocoagulation therapy in the management of DME was performed. The relevant findings of the efficacy of focal/grid laser therapy from data in randomized, controlled trials were synthesized, and the potential of new laser technologies, such as navigated laser systems, pattern scan lasers, and subthreshold lasers, was explored.

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Introduction: Ileorectal fistulas following sigmoid colon vaginoplasty are rare. Reports on the management of the surgical complications of sex reassignment operations among transgender patients are few.

Presentation Of Case: A 40-year-old patient with a male-to-female sex identity disorder underwent sigmoid vaginoplasty for sex reassignment 4 months prior to presentation.

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