A case of isolated dystextia due to subcortical infarction: a novel condition of digital device era.

Background: In recent years, cases of dystextia (texting disabilities) and dystypia (typing disabilities) have been reported. However, reports describing isolated dystextia without aphasia or other cognitive impairments are rare, and the detailed pathophysiology is not fully understood. Most Japanese people use the alphabetical spelling system (Romaji) for texting and typing.

Modification of the immune response by bacteriophages alters methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

There is an urgent need to develop phage therapies for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. However, although bacteria have been shown to be susceptible to phage therapy, phage therapy is not sufficient in some cases. PhiMR003 is a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus phage previously isolated from sewage influent, and it has demonstrated high lytic activity and a broad host range to MRSA clinical isolates in vitro.

Standardized Extract of Stem Attenuates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced IL-6 and IL-1β Production by Suppressing p44/42 MAPK and Akt Phosphorylation in Murine Primary Macrophages.

Excessive host inflammation following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with severity and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We recently reported that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 subunit (S1) induces pro-inflammatory responses by activating toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling in macrophages. A standardized extract of stem (EAS) is a unique functional food that elicits anti-photoaging effects by suppressing pro-inflammatory signaling in hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet B-exposed skin fibroblasts.

Physical Activity Attenuates the Obesity-Induced Dysregulated Expression of Brown Adipokines in Murine Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue.

In recent years, brown adipose tissue (BAT), which has a high heat-producing capacity, has been confirmed to exist even in adults, and it has become a focal point for the prevention and the improvement of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. However, the influences of obesity and physical activity (PA) on the fluid factors secreted from BAT (brown adipokines) are not well understood. In this study, therefore, we focused on brown adipokines and investigated the effects of obesity and PA.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 subunit induces pro-inflammatory responses via toll-like receptor 4 signaling in murine and human macrophages.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has now spread globally. Some patients develop severe complications including multiple organ failure. It has been suggested that excessive inflammation associated with the disease plays major role in the severity and mortality of COVID-19.

Comparative evaluation of methods to determine intra-individual reference ranges in nutrition support team (NST)-related tests.

Background: The intra-individual reference range is generally narrower than the commonly used reference range. Consequently, close monitoring of changes in the laboratory test results of individuals based on the inter-individual reference range remains challenging.

Methods: We examined the determination of individual reference ranges using four indicators of nutritional conditions: transferrin (TRF), albumin (ALB), retinol-binding protein (RBP), and transthyretin (TTR).

Exercise Training-Enhanced Lipolytic Potency to Catecholamine Depends on the Time of the Day.

Exercise training is well known to enhance adipocyte lipolysis in response to hormone challenge. However, the existence of a relationship between the timing of exercise training and its effect on adipocyte lipolysis is unknown. To clarify this issue, Wistar rats were run on a treadmill for 9 weeks in either the early part (E-EX) or late part of the active phase (L-EX).

Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma Arising from Endometrial Polyp: A Case Report.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare malignant tumor of the uterus. We report an uncommon case of ESS composed of both low-grade ESS and high-grade ESS arising from an endometrial polyp. On the findings of magnetic resonance imaging and contrast computed tomography, a patient was suspected of having uterine malignant tumor.

ETAS®50 Attenuates Ultraviolet-B-Induced Interleukin-6 Expression by Suppressing Akt Phosphorylation in Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

We recently reported that ETAS 50, a standardized extract from the stem, exerted anti-inflammatory effects on ultraviolet-B- (UV-B-) irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) by inhibiting nuclear factor-B p65 nuclear import and the resulting interleukin-1 (IL-1) expression. To further elucidate the antiphotoaging potency of ETAS 50, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects on UV-B-irradiated NHDFs by focusing on the stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt signaling pathways. NHDFs were treated with 1 mg/mL of ETAS 50 or dextrin (vehicle control) after UV-B irradiation (20 mJ/cm) for different time periods.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of ETAS®50 by Inhibiting Nuclear Factor-B p65 Nuclear Import in Ultraviolet-B-Irradiated Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation induces proinflammatory responses in skin cells, including dermal fibroblasts, accelerating premature skin aging (photoaging). ETAS 50, a standardized extract from the stem, is a novel and unique functional food that suppresses proinflammatory responses of hydrogen peroxide-stimulated skin fibroblasts and interleukin- (IL-) 1-stimulated hepatocytes. To elucidate its antiphotoaging potencies, we examined whether ETAS 50 treatment after UV-B irradiation attenuates proinflammatory responses of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs).

Impact of helical organization on the photovoltaic properties of oligothiophene supramolecular polymers.

Helical self-assembly of functional π-conjugated molecules offers unique photochemical and electronic properties in the spectroscopic level, but there are only a few examples that demonstrate their positive impact on the optoelectronic device level. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen-bonded tapelike supramolecular polymers of a barbiturated oligo(alkylthiophene) show notable improvement in their photovoltaic properties upon organizing into helical nanofibers. A tapelike hydrogen-bonded supramolecular array of barbiturated oligo(butylthiophene) molecules was directly visualized by STM at a liquid-solid interface.

Regular Voluntary Exercise Potentiates Interleukin-1 and Interleukin-18 Secretion by Increasing Caspase-1 Expression in Murine Macrophages.

Moderate-intensity regular exercise improves proinflammatory responses of lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated macrophages. However, intracellular events that mediate the beneficial effects of exercise were unclear. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism by which regular voluntary exercise (VE) improves proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages challenged with LPS.

NEU1 sialidase controls gene expression and secretion of IL-6 and MCP-1 through NF-κB pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

A sialidase NEU1 that removes sialic acids from glycoconjugates has been implicated in diverse cellular functions. Aberrant NEU1 activity is associated with various pathologies including lysosomal storage disorder sialidosis, autoimmune diseases and the malignancy and metastasis of cancer cells. We recently reported that NEU1 activity increases during 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and that it is higher in the epididymal fat of obese and diabetic mice.

Aggressive Granulosa Cell Tumor of the Ovary with Rapid Recurrence: a Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Aggressive adult granulosa cell tumor (AGCT) of the ovary remains uncommon. We report a case of aggressive AGCT of the ovary who had rapid recurrence at two months after surgery. A patient was referred for further examination of a pelvic tumor.

Enzyme-Treated Asparagus Extract Attenuates Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression in Murine Skin Fibroblast L929 Cells.

Enzyme-treated asparagus extract (ETAS) exerts a wide variety of beneficial biological actions including facilitating anti-cortisol stress and neurological anti-aging responses. However, the anti-skin aging effects of ETAS remain to be elucidated. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play pivotal roles in skin aging.

Hydrogen-bonded oligothiophene rosettes with a benzodithiophene terminal unit: self-assembly and application to bulk heterojunction solar cells.

Benzodithiophene-functionalized oligothiophene with barbituric acid hydrogen-bonding unit self-assembles into nanoscopic structures via the formation of rosettes. The nanostructures show a power conversion efficiency of 3% upon mixing with PC61BM in bulk-heterojunction solar cells without thermal annealing.

Effect of Circadian Rhythm on Clinical and Pathophysiological Conditions and Inflammation.

Circadian rhythms have long been known to regulate numerous physiological processes that vary across the diurnal cycle. The circadian clock system also controls various parameters of the immune system and its biological defense functions, allowing an organism to anticipate daily changes in activity and feeding and the associated risk of infection. Inflammation is an immune response triggered in living organisms in response to external stimuli.

Development of dispersive XAFS system for analysis of time-resolved spatial distribution of electrode reaction.

Apparatus for a technique based on the dispersive optics of X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) has been developed at beamline BL-5 of the Synchrotron Radiation Center of Ritsumeikan University. The vertical axis of the cross section of the synchrotron light is used to disperse the X-ray energy using a cylindrical polychromator and the horizontal axis is used for the spatially resolved analysis with a pixel array detector. The vertically dispersive XAFS (VDXAFS) instrument was designed to analyze the dynamic changeover of the inhomogeneous electrode reaction of secondary batteries.

Habitual exercise training acts as a physiological stimulator for constant activation of lipolytic enzymes in rat primary white adipocytes.

It is widely accepted that lipolysis in adipocytes are regulated through the enzymatic activation of both hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) via their phosphorylation events. Accumulated evidence shows that habitual exercise training (HE) enhances the lipolytic response in primary white adipocytes with changes in the subcellular localization of lipolytic molecules. However, no study has focused on the effect that HE exerts on the phosphorylation of both HSL and ATGL in primary white adipocytes.

Melatonin promotes adipogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Melatonin is synthesized in the pineal gland, but elicits a wide range of physiological responses in peripheral target tissues. Recent advances suggest that melatonin controls adiposity, resulting in changes in body weight. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin on adipogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis in 3T3-L1 mouse embryo fibroblasts.