Risk factors affecting quality of life in children with epilepsy and their caregivers: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional online survey in Japan.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in children with epilepsy and their caregivers, as well as the caregiver burden, through a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional online survey in Japan.

Methods: Eligible participants were caregivers of children (aged < 18 years) diagnosed with epilepsy. Children's QOL was measured using the daily living subset of the Japanese version of the Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy (QOLCE-Js52).

Development of hydrophobic tag purifying monophosphorylated RNA for chemical synthesis of capped mRNA and enzymatic synthesis of circular mRNA.

We developed phosphorylation reagents with a nitrobenzyl hydrophobic tag and used them for 5'-phosphorylation of chemically or transcriptionally synthesized RNA. The capability of hydrophobic tags to synthesize 5'-monophosphorylated RNA was evaluated based on the yield of the desired oligonucleotides, stability of protecting groups during cleavage/deprotection, separation ability in reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC), and deprotection efficiency after RP-HPLC purification. The results showed that a nitrobenzyl derivative with a tert-butyl group at the benzyl position was most suitable for RNA 5'-phosphorylation.

Emergency management of pediatric epileptic seizures in non-hospital settings in Japan.

Objective: To assess the current management of pediatric epileptic seizures in non-hospital settings and the efficacy of early therapeutic intervention with rescue medication in Japan.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was based on an online survey of caregivers of pediatric patients with epilepsy. The survey consisted of questions regarding seizure frequency and symptoms, the use of rescue medication, and emergency medical care.

Chromatographic Assessment of Organic Compounds Using Carbon Nanotubes: The Relationship between Affinity and Dispersibility.

The affinity between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and organic compounds is of substantial importance since it strongly relates to the dispersibility of CNTs in those compounds. Several affinity evaluation methods have been developed so far, and the concept of the Hansen solubility parameter is a representative method widely used in the field of nanocarbon materials. Here, we demonstrate that CNT-loaded silica columns can effectively assess the affinity of organic compounds for CNT surface by exploiting the chromatographic retention time as a criterion.

Suppression of Type I Interferon Signaling in Myeloid Cells by Autoantibodies in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

Purpose: Auto-antibodies (auto-abs) to type I interferons (IFNs) have been identified in patients with life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), suggesting that the presence of auto-abs may be a risk factor for disease severity. We therefore investigated the mechanism underlying COVID-19 exacerbation induced by auto-abs to type I IFNs.

Methods: We evaluated plasma from 123 patients with COVID-19 to measure auto-abs to type I IFNs.

Enhanced reactivity of Li@C toward thermal [2 + 2] cycloaddition by encapsulated Li Lewis acid.

Lithium ion-endohedral fullerene (Li@C), a member of the burgeoning family of ion-endohedral fullerenes, holds substantial promise for diverse applications owing to its distinctive ionic properties. Despite the high demand for precise property tuning through chemical modification, there have been only a few reports detailing synthetic protocols for the derivatization of this novel material. In this study, we report the synthesis of Li@C derivatives via the thermal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of styrene derivatives, achieving significantly higher yields of monofunctionalized Li@C compared to previously reported reactions.

Enhancing the Thermal Conductivity of CNT/AlN/Silicone Rubber Composites by Using CNTs Directly Grown on AlN to Achieve a Reduced Filler Filling Ratio.

Achieving the thermal conductivity required for efficient heat management in semiconductors and other devices requires the integration of thermally conductive ceramic fillers at concentrations of 60 vol% or higher. However, an increased filler content often negatively affects the mechanical properties of the composite matrix, limiting its practical applicability. To address this issue, in this paper, we present a new strategy to reduce the required ceramic filler content: the use of a thermally conductive ceramic composite filler with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on aluminum nitride (AlN).

Single-cell RNA sequencing of submandibular gland reveals collagen type XV-positive fibroblasts as a disease-characterizing cell population of IgG4-related disease.

Objectives: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic autoimmune disease with an unknown etiology, affecting single/multiple organ(s). Pathological findings include the infiltration of IgG4-producing plasma cells, obliterative phlebitis, and storiform fibrosis. Although immunological studies have shed light on the dysregulation of lymphocytes in IgG4-RD pathogenesis, the role of non-immune cells remains unclear.

Rotating suture technique combined with lid margin split and lower eyelid retractor disinsertion for epiblepharon.

Epiblepharon is an eyelid disease affecting 46-52.5% of Asian children. The Hotz procedure was commonly used for the treatment.

Comparison of postoperative recurrence rates between percutaneous and transconjunctival approaches for involutional entropion.

Lower eyelid entropion is the second most common disease seen after ptosis in oculoplastic outpatients. In this study, we performed percutaneous and transconjunctival shortening of the anterior and posterior layers of the lower eyelid retractor (LER) to treat lower eyelid involutional entropion. This study aimed to examine the recurrence rate and complications of the percutaneous and transconjunctival approaches.

Pathogenic helper T cells as the novel therapeutic targets for immune-mediated intractable diseases.

Allergic diseases arise from a complex interplay between immune system and environmental factors. A link between the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and type 2 immune responses has become evident, with conventional and pathogenic type 2 helper T (Th2) cells involved in both. Recently, there has been a significant development in therapeutic agents for allergic diseases: IL-5 and IL-5 receptor antagonists, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).

Cap analogs with a hydrophobic photocleavable tag enable facile purification of fully capped mRNA with various cap structures.

Starting with the clinical application of two vaccines in 2020, mRNA therapeutics are currently being investigated for a variety of applications. Removing immunogenic uncapped mRNA from transcribed mRNA is critical in mRNA research and clinical applications. Commonly used capping methods provide maximum capping efficiency of around 80-90% for widely used Cap-0- and Cap-1-type mRNAs.

Visualization of deformation-induced changes in carbon nanotube networks in rubber composites using lock-in thermography.

In this study, we used the lock-in thermography technique (LIT) to successfully visualize the single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) networks during the tensile deformation of CNT/fluoro-rubber (FKM) composites. The LIT images revealed that the CNT network modes in CNT/FKM during strain-loading and unloading can be classified into four sites: (i) disconnection, (ii) recovery after disconnection, (iii) undestroyable, and (iv) no network. Quantitative analysis of the heat intensity of the LIT also indicated that the change in resistance during strain-loading and unloading plays a role in the balance of disconnection and reconstruction of the conductive network.

Thioredoxin-interacting protein is essential for memory T cell formation via the regulation of the redox metabolism.

CD4 memory T cells are central to long-lasting protective immunity and are involved in shaping the pathophysiology of chronic inflammation. While metabolic reprogramming is critical for the generation of memory T cells, the mechanisms controlling the redox metabolism in memory T cell formation remain unclear. We found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism changed dramatically in T helper-2 (Th2) cells during the contraction phase in the process of memory T cell formation.

Interleukin-33-activated neuropeptide CGRP-producing memory Th2 cells cooperate with somatosensory neurons to induce conjunctival itch.

Allergic conjunctivitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by severe itch in the conjunctiva, but how neuro-immune interactions shape the pathogenesis of severe itch remains unclear. We identified a subset of memory-type pathogenic Th2 cells that preferentially expressed Il1rl1-encoding ST2 and Calca-encoding calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the inflammatory conjunctiva using a single-cell analysis. The IL-33-ST2 axis in memory Th2 cells controlled the axonal elongation of the peripheral sensory C-fiber and the induction of severe itch.

Inhibition of the chemokine signal regulator FROUNT by disulfiram ameliorates crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Activated monocytes/macrophages promote glomerular injury, including crescent formation, in anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis. Disulfiram, an alcohol-aversion drug, inhibits monocyte/macrophage migration by inhibiting FROUNT, a cytosolic protein that enhances chemokine receptor signaling. Our study found that disulfiram at a human equivalent dose successfully blocked albuminuria and crescent formation with podocyte loss, and later stage kidney fibrotic lesions, in a rat model of anti-GBM glomerulonephritis.

Conventional and pathogenic Th2 cells in inflammation, tissue repair, and fibrosis.

Type 2 helper T (Th2) cells, a subset of CD4 T cells, play an important role in the host defense against pathogens and allergens by producing Th2 cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13, to trigger inflammatory responses. Emerging evidence reveals that Th2 cells also contribute to the repair of injured tissues after inflammatory reactions. However, when the tissue repair process becomes chronic, excessive, or uncontrolled, pathological fibrosis is induced, leading to organ failure and death.

Effects of the tip structure of temporary indwelling catheters on blood recirculation at various blood flow rates and diameters of the mock blood vessel.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the tip structure of the catheters used for hemodialysis on blood recirculation at varying blood flow rates and diameters of the mock blood vessel in a well-defined in vitro experimental system, focusing on reverse connection mode.

Methods: A mock circulatory circuit was created with silicon tubing (15 or 20 mm), a circulatory pump, connected through the catheter to dialysis circuit and dialyzer attached to dialysis machine. The tip of the inserted catheter was fixed to the center of the silicone tube, and 3 L of pig blood was poured into the blood side of the dialyzer and the recirculation rates were measured at blood flow rates of 100, 150, and 200 mL/min.

Factors associated with elevated blood lactate levels in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Factors associated with chronic elevation of the blood lactate levels in patients undergoing chronic maintenance hemodialysis (hereinafter, hemodialysis patients) have not yet been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of the present study was to clarify factors associated with elevated blood lactate levels in hemodialysis patients. We divided the hemodialysis patients into two groups according the blood lactate levels (the high blood lactate group [> 2 mmol/L] and normal blood lactate group), and conducted a retrospective comparison of the following items between the two groups: (1) the creatinine generation rate (%CGR) and the geriatric nutrition risk index (GNRI) as indices of the nutritional status; (2) the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and E/A, an indicator of diastolic function; (3) the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen as indices of the adequacy of circulation in the peripheral blood vessels of the lower extremities; (4) the white blood cell count and serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) before dialysis as markers of an inflammatory state.

Working Conditions, Work Productivity, Quality of Life, and Depressive Symptoms in Undiagnosed Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment status, work productivity, quality of life (QOL), and depressive symptoms in undiagnosed adults with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in Japan.

Methods: An observational study used baseline data from a Japanese Medilead Healthcare Panel before the COVID-19 pandemic (October-December 2019). Eligible panel participants were then surveyed during the pandemic (March 2021).

Visualization of lower extremity lymphedema in the same cohort using 99mTc-human serum albumin and 99mTc-phytate lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT-CT.

Lymphoscintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) is useful in diagnosing lymphedema. However, there are multiple timings, techniques, and tracers utilized worldwide without any comparison. We examined and compared the image clarity with two different radiotracers, 99mTc human serum albumin (HSA) and 99mTc phytate (phytate), in the same patients.

Elevated Myl9 reflects the Myl9-containing microthrombi in SARS-CoV-2-induced lung exudative vasculitis and predicts COVID-19 severity.

The mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is strongly correlated with pulmonary vascular pathology accompanied by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection-triggered immune dysregulation and aberrant activation of platelets. We combined histological analyses using field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses of the lungs from autopsy samples and single-cell RNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to investigate the pathogenesis of vasculitis and immunothrombosis in COVID-19. We found that SARS-CoV-2 accumulated in the pulmonary vessels, causing exudative vasculitis accompanied by the emergence of thrombospondin-1-expressing noncanonical monocytes and the formation of myosin light chain 9 (Myl9)-containing microthrombi in the lung of COVID-19 patients with fatal disease.