KLF2 expression in IgG plasma cells at their induction site regulates the migration program.

Newly generated plasma cells in secondary lymphoid organs migrate to niches in the bone marrow, wherein they survive as long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). Although LLPCs have been extensively characterized, it is still unclear what the key determinant(s) are for plasma cell longevity. One model postulates that plasma cell heterogeneity is established at the induction site, thereby instructing their longevity.

Short-term noise annoyance towards drones and other transportation noise sources: A laboratory study.

Noise from unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as "drones," will likely shape our acoustic environment in the near future. Yet, reactions of the population to this new noise source are still little explored. The objective of this study was to investigate short-term noise annoyance reactions to drones in a controlled laboratory experiment.

A Novel Directed Seed-Based Connectivity Analysis Toolbox Applied to Human and Marmoset Resting-State FMRI.

Estimating the direction of functional connectivity (FC) can help further elucidate complex brain function. However, the estimation of directed FC at the voxel level in fMRI data, and evaluating its performance, has yet to be done. We therefore developed a novel directed seed-based connectivity analysis (SCA) method based on normalized pairwise Granger causality that provides greater detail and accuracy over ROI-based methods.

Roles of HMGB1 on life-threatening traumatic brain injury and sequential peripheral organ damage.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been found to be associated with certain peripheral organ injuries; however, a few studies have explored the chronological influences of TBI on multiple organs and the systemic effects of therapeutic interventions. Particularly, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a potential therapeutic target for TBI; however, its effects on peripheral organs remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether severe TBI can lead to multiple organ injury and how HMGB1 inhibition affects peripheral organs.

Replicating outdoor environments using VR and ambisonics: a methodology for accurate audio-visual recording, processing and reproduction.

This paper introduces a methodology tailored to capture, post-process, and replicate audio-visual data of outdoor environments (urban or natural) for VR experiments carried out within a controlled laboratory environment. The methodology consists of 360 video and higher order ambisonic (HOA) field recordings and subsequent calibrated spatial sound reproduction with a spherical loudspeaker array and video played back via a head-mounted display using a game engine and a graphical user interface for a perceptual experimental questionnaire. Attention was given to the equalisation and calibration of the ambisonic microphone and to the design of different ambisonic decoders.

Csk restrains BCR-mediated ROS production and contributes to germinal center selection and affinity maturation.

Compared with naïve B cells, the B cell receptor (BCR) signal in germinal center (GC) B cells is attenuated; however, the significance of this signaling attenuation has not been well defined. Here, to investigate the role of attenuation of BCR signaling, we employed a Csk mutant mouse model in which Csk deficiency in GC B cells resulted in augmentation of net BCR signaling with no apparent effect on antigen presentation. We found that Csk is required for GC maintenance and efficient antibody affinity maturation.

Fatal cardiac dysfunction in a child with Williams syndrome.

Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a microdeletion of chromosome 7q11.23. Although the mortality rate of patients with WS is not very high, sudden cardiac death can occur, particularly in cases complicated by coronary artery stenosis.

The roles and competencies of welfare commissioners supporting children with developmental disorders and their families expected by Japan's public health nurses.

Background: Public Health Nurses (PHNs) collaborate with community volunteer welfare commissioners to support children with developmental disorders and their families lead a life without isolation.

Objective: This study aims to clarify the roles and competencies that PHNs expect of welfare commissioners in supporting children with developmental disorders and their families.

Methods: An online survey was administered through Survey Monkey© to 220 PHNs working in Japanese municipalities using an independently developed questionnaire regarding the roles and competencies of welfare commissioners supporting children with developmental disorders and their families expected by PHNs.

Characterization of missense mutations in the NADPH oxidase partner p22 in the A22° subtype of chronic granulomatous disease.

Defective superoxide production by NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) in phagocyte cells results in the development of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a hereditary disease characterized by recurrent and life-threatening infections. The partner protein p22 is a membrane-spanning protein which forms a stable heterodimer with Nox2 in the endoplasmic reticulum. This interaction ensures the stability of each protein and their accurate trafficking to the cell membrane.

Antibody feedback contributes to facilitating the development of Omicron-reactive memory B cells in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinees.

In contrast to a second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, a third dose elicits potent neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant. To address the underlying mechanism for this differential antibody response, we examined spike receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific memory B cells in vaccinated individuals. Frequency of Omicron-reactive memory B cells increased ∼9 mo after the second vaccine dose.

Effects of DNA degradation and genotype imputation on high-density SNP microarray in pairwise kinship analysis.

High-density single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can detect distant relatives even in the context of pairwise kinship analysis. Although DNA microarrays conveniently generate genome-wide SNP data, they require large quantities of high-quality DNA. Genotyping data obtained from low-quantity and low-quality samples are likely unreliable owing to the incidence of no-called or mistyped SNPs.

Systemic amyloidosis with amyloid goiter: An autopsy report.

Systemic amyloidosis is a rare but potentially lethal disease characterized by amyloid accumulation in all organs. Amyloid goiter is an extremely rare pathological lesion characterized by thyroid gland enlargement with fat deposition due to local or systemic amyloidosis. A 60 s woman with rheumatoid arthritis was found unconscious on her bed and declared dead after failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Inhibition of pancreatic cancer-cell growth and metastasis in vivo by a pyrazole compound characterized as a cell-migration inhibitor by an in vitro chemotaxis assay.

Pancreatic cancer is recalcitrant to treatment as it is highly metastatic and rapidly progressive. While observing the behavior of human pancreatic BxPC-3 cells using an optical assay device called TAXIScan, we found that several synthetic pyrazole and pyrimidine derivatives inhibited cell migration. One such compound, 14-100, inhibited metastasis of fluorescence-labeled BxPC-3 cells, which were transplanted into the pancreas of nude mice as a subcutaneously grown cancer fragment.

Regulation of Derlin-1-mediated degradation of NADPH oxidase partner p22 by thiol modification.

The transmembrane protein p22 heterodimerizes with NADPH oxidase (Nox) 1-4 and is essential for the reactive oxygen species-producing capacity of oxidases. Missense mutations in the p22 gene prevent the formation of phagocytic Nox2-based oxidase, which contributes to host defense. This results in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a severe primary immunodeficiency syndrome.

Mitochondrial fission in hepatocytes as a potential therapeutic target for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Aim: The mitochondria are highly plastic and dynamic organelles; mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported to play causative roles in diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the relationship between mitochondrial fission and NAFLD pathogenesis remains unknown. We aimed to investigate whether alterations in mitochondrial fission could play a role in the progression of NAFLD.

The good, the bad, and the red: implicit color-valence associations across cultures.

Cultural differences-as well as similarities-have been found in explicit color-emotion associations between Chinese and Western populations. However, implicit associations in a cross-cultural context remain an understudied topic, despite their sensitivity to more implicit knowledge. Moreover, they can be used to study color systems-that is, emotional associations with one color in the context of an opposed one.

A proof-of-concept study to construct Bayesian network decision models for supporting the categorization of sudden unexpected infant death.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant death in high-income countries. Supporting models for categorization of sudden unexpected infant death into SIDS/non-SIDS could reduce mortality. Therefore, we aimed to develop such a tool utilizing forensic data, but the reduced number of SIDS cases renders this task inherently difficult.

Fatal Dieulafoy lesion with IgG4-related disease: An autopsy case report.

Dieulafoy lesions are rare vascular malformations of the gastrointestinal tract; however, they can lead to fatal vascular bleeding. Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare systemic fibroinflammatory disease involving multiple organs, including the vasculature. To date, no autopsy reports of Dieulafoy lesions with IgG4-RD have been described in the literature.

The downregulation of NADPH oxidase Nox4 during hypoxia in hemangioendothelioma cells: a possible role of p22 on Nox4 protein stability.

NADPH oxidase (Nox) 4 produces HO by forming a heterodimer with p22 and is involved in hemangioendothelioma development through monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) upregulation. Here, we show that Nox4 protein levels were maintained by p22 in hemangioendothelioma cells and Nox4 protein stability was dependent on p22 coexpression. Conversely, the degradation of Nox4 monomer was enhanced by p22 knockdown.

Fine definition of the epitopes on the human gp91/NOX2 for the monoclonal antibodies CL-5 and 48.

Superoxide-producing NADPH oxidase, gp91/NOX2, in phagocytes plays a critical role in the host defenses against pathogens. Moreover, gp91/NOX2 contributes to the oxidative stress in endothelial cells. Therefore, investigating the level of gp91/NOX2 with immunoblotting is important for estimating the amount of superoxide produced.

Coculture in vitro with endothelial cells induces cytarabine resistance of acute myeloid leukemia cells in a VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling-independent manner.

An interaction between acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and endothelial cells in the bone marrow seems to play a critical role in chemosensitivity on leukemia treatment. The endothelial niche reportedly enhances the paracrine action of the soluble secretory proteins responsible for chemoresistance in a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) signaling pathway-dependent manner. To further investigate the contribution of VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling to the chemoresistance of AML cells, a biochemical assay system in which the AML cells were cocultured with human endothelial EA.

Perceptions of nurse managers and staff nurses regarding Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing theory in general hospitals in Japan.

Background: Nurses as primary healthcare providers demonstrate quality nursing care through competencies with healthcare technologies, while nurse managers assume the primacy of managing quality healthcare in their respective care settings. However, little is known about perceptions of the influence of care technologies on their nursing practice.

Objective: This study aimed to determine managers' and staff nurses' perceptions regarding the Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing (TCCN) theory in general hospitals in Japan.

Implementation of a Weight-Based High-Flow Nasal Cannula Protocol for Children With Bronchiolitis.

Objectives: To determine if the implementation of a weight-based high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) protocol for infants with bronchiolitis was associated with improved outcomes, including decreased ICU use.

Methods: We implemented a weight-based HFNC protocol across a tertiary care children's hospital and 2 community hospitals that admit pediatric patients on HFNC. We included all patients who were <2 years old and had a discharge diagnosis of bronchiolitis or viral pneumonia during the preimplementation (November 2013 to April 2018) and postimplementation (November 2018 to April 2020) respiratory seasons.