Vgll2 as an integrative regulator of mitochondrial function and contractility specific to skeletal muscle.

During skeletal muscle adaptation to physiological or pathophysiological signals, contractile apparatus and mitochondrial function are coordinated to alter muscle fiber type. Although recent studies have identified various factors involved in modifying contractile proteins and mitochondrial function, the molecular mechanisms coordinating contractile and metabolic functions during muscle fiber transition are not fully understood. Using a gene-deficient mouse approach, our previous studies uncovered that vestigial-like family member 2 (Vgll2), a skeletal muscle-specific transcription cofactor activated by exercise, is essential for fast-to-slow adaptation of skeletal muscle.

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-15 regulates adipogenesis in human SGBS cells.

Adipogenesis involves intricate molecular mechanisms regulated by various transcription factors and signaling pathways. In this study, we aimed to identify factors specifically induced during adipogenesis in the human preadipocyte cell line, SGBS, but not in the mouse preadipocyte cell line, 3T3-L1. Microarray analysis revealed distinct gene expression profiles, with 1460 genes induced in SGBS cells and 1297 genes induced in 3T3-L1 cells during adipogenesis, with only 297 genes commonly induced.

Effects of a high-phosphate diet on vascular calcification and abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice.

Aim: Vascular aging is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and pathological aortic dilatation, playing a critical role in the morbidity and mortality of older adults. Vascular calcification, a phenotype of vascular aging, is frequently associated with AAA. However, this association remains unclear owing to the lack of animal models.

The Role of TLR7 and TLR9 in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis.

The bleomycin-induced scleroderma model is a well-established and dependable method for creating a mouse model of SSc (systemic sclerosis). In the field of skin connective tissue diseases, increasing evidence from clinical and animal experiments suggests that TLRs (Toll-like receptors) play an important role in several diseases. This study aimed to determine the role of TLR7 (Toll-like receptor 7) and TLR9 (Toll-like receptor 9) in the mechanisms of immune abnormalities and fibrosis in SSc.

The Features and Treatment Effects on Keratoepitheliopathy for Meibomitis-Related Keratoconjunctivitis.

Meibomitis-related keratoconjunctivitis (MRKC) is characterized by meibomitis with corneal epithelial abnormalities, and can be divided into two types: MRKC accompanied with phlyctenular keratitis, and MRKC accompanied with keratoepitheliopathy that is similar to superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK). The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the characteristic features of keratoepitheliopathy and treatment outcomes for MRKC. This study involved 27 eyes of 18 MRKC patients (3 males and 15 females).

Theoretical Prediction of the Reaction Probabilities of H, O, and OH Radicals on the Polypropylene Surface.

To determine the H-abstraction reaction probabilities of H/O/OH radicals with a polypropylene (PP) surface, a first-principles calculation was performed based on the DLPNO-CCSD(T)/CBS//M06-2X-D3/def-TZVP theory level. The PP chain model used in this study was 2,4,6-trimethylheptane. The rate constants of the H/O/OH radicals with the isolated PP chain model were calculated based on the conventional transition-state theory.

Effectiveness of Single-Dose Oral Pilocarpine Administration in Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a single-dose oral pilocarpine administration on tear film (TF), as well as dry eye and dry mouth symptoms, in 53 eyes of 27 Sjögren syndrome (SS) patients who were experiencing dry mouth. To evaluate the changes in tear volume, a digital video-meniscometer was used to measure the radius of the lower central tear meniscus curvature (R, mm) of each eye at prior to the administration of 5 mg oral pilocarpine, and at 15 (R:(15)), 30 (R:(30)), and 60 (R:(60)) minutes after administration. The fluorescein breakup time (FBUT, seconds) and ocular and oral dryness symptoms were evaluated before and at 60 min after administration using a visual analogue scale (VAS, mm).

Eye Pain Caused by Epithelial Damage in the Central Cornea in Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye.

In this study, the severity of eye pain (EP) and associated objective findings were evaluated in aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE) patients using PainVision, a quantitative pain-measuring device. This study involved 53 eyes of 53 ADDE patients (6 males and 47 females; mean age: 64.4 ± 13.

Effect of Punctal Occlusion on Blinks in Eyes with Severe Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye.

Punctal occlusion (PO) is considered to improve both tear-film instability and increased friction during blinking and may consequently affect blinks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of PO on blinks. This study involved 16 eyes of 16 severe aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE) patients (mean age: 65.

Differential regulation of ATP hydrolysis of RIG-I-like receptors by transactivation response RNA-binding protein.

Retinoic acid inducible gene (RIG)-I-like receptors (RLRs), including RIG-I, melanoma differentiation associated-5 (MDA5), and laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2), play pivotal roles in viral RNA sensing to initiate antiviral interferon (IFN) responses. We previously reported that an RNA-silencing regulator, transactivation response RNA-binding protein (TRBP), up-regulates MDA5/LGP2-mediated IFN responses through interaction with LGP2. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the TRBP-mediated up-regulation of IFN response.

MYC/Glutamine Dependency Is a Therapeutic Vulnerability in Pancreatic Cancer with Deoxycytidine Kinase Inactivation-Induced Gemcitabine Resistance.

Unlabelled: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most life-threatening malignancies. Although the deoxycytidine analog gemcitabine has been used as the first-line treatment for PDAC, the primary clinical challenge arises because of an eventual acquisition of resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms underlying gemcitabine resistance to improve treatment efficacy.

FcγRIIB inhibits inflammation in a murine model of psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory cutaneous disease. FcγRIIB is a low-affinity receptor for the IgG Fc fragment that provides a negative feedback pathway to down-regulate B-cell antigen receptor signaling.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of FcγRIIB in the development of murine imiquimod (IMQ)-induced, psoriasis-like skin inflammation.

A Novel Method to Suppress the Effect of Subdiaphragmatic Activity in Tc Myocardial Perfusion SPECT and Evaluation of Its Usefulness Using a Myocardial Phantom.

: Smoothing in Tc myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) often increases myocardial artifacts due to subdiaphragmatic activity near the heart. To reduce these artifacts, we developed a new process flow, masking on unsmoothed images (MUS), that includes the extraction of the myocardium by masking before smoothing. : This study evaluated the relationships between matrix sizes and distances to the subdiaphragmatic activity using the MUS method compared to conventional methods using a combination of image reconstruction methods (filtered back-projection [FBP] and ordered subset expectation maximization [OSEM]) with or without corrections (attenuation [AC], scatter [SC], and resolution recovery [RR]) using a myocardial phantom.

Theilovirus 3C Protease Cleaves the C-Terminal Domain of the Innate Immune RNA Sensor, Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5, and Impairs Double-Stranded RNA-Mediated IFN Response.

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), a member of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs), has pivotal roles in innate immune responses against many positive-stranded RNA viruses, including picornavirus and coronavirus. Upon engagement with dsRNA derived from viral infection, MDA5 initiates coordinated signal transduction leading to type I IFN induction to restrict viral replication. In this study, we describe a targeted cleavage events of MDA5 by the 3C protease from Theilovirus.

Cytokine-producing B-cell balance associates with skin fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by skin and lung fibrosis. Over 90% of patients with SSc are positive for autoantibodies. In addition, the serum levels of B-cell activating factor, a potent B-cell stimulator, are correlated with SSc severity and activity.

KDM4B promotes acute myeloid leukemia associated with AML1-ETO by regulating chromatin accessibility.

Epigenetic alterations of chromatin structure affect chromatin accessibility and collaborate with genetic alterations in the development of cancer. Lysine demethylase 4B (KDM4B) has been identified as a JmjC domain-containing epigenetic modifier that possesses histone demethylase activity. Although recent studies have demonstrated that KDM4B positively regulates the pathogenesis of multiple types of solid tumors, the tissue specificity and context dependency have not been fully elucidated.

Genes for tRNA recycling are upregulated in response to infection with Theiler's mouse encephalitis virus.

The concept of tRNA recycling has recently emerged from the studies of ribosome-associated quality control. Therein tRNase Z removes the 2', 3'>p from the ANKZF1-cleaved tRNA and the subsequent TRNT1 action re-generates the intact tRNA. To know the roles of the tRNA recycling in vivo, we investigated how viral infection affects the tRNA recycling system by analyzing the mRNA levels of tRNase Z and TRNT1.

A role for FcγRIIB in the development of murine bleomycin-induced fibrosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by excessive fibrosis. FcγRIIB is a low-affinity receptor for the Fc fragment of IgG. FcγRIIB is expressed on the surface of various leukocyte subsets and signals negative feedback pathways to down-regulate B-cell antigen receptor signaling.

Transcription from the proximal promoter of ELAC1, a gene for tRNA repair, is upregulated by interferons.

tRNase Z (ELAC1) and TRNT1 function in tRNA recycling. Recently, we have shown that these genes are upregulated in the cells infected with Theiler's mouse encephalitis virus (TMEV), implying that tRNA recycling functions in response to viral infection. To address the molecular mechanism underlying the ELAC1 upregulation in the cells infected with TMEV, we performed luciferase assays using various plasmid constructs harboring the ELAC1 promoter region.

Clinical Factors for Determining the Severity of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Dry Eye.

Purpose: Lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) is an epitheliopathy of the marginal conjunctival portion of the eyelids that wipes the ocular surface during blinking. Although LWE is often observed in patients with dry eye, the factors determining LWE severity in dry eye remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between LWE, tear abnormalities, and blinks in dry eye.

PRRX1 induced by BMP signaling decreases tumorigenesis by epigenetically regulating glioma-initiating cell properties via DNA methyltransferase 3A.

Glioma-initiating cells (GICs), a major source of glioblastoma recurrence, are characterized by the expression of neural stem cell markers and the ability to grow by forming nonadherent spheres under serum-free conditions. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), members of the transforming growth factor-β family, induce differentiation of GICs and suppress their tumorigenicity. However, the mechanisms underlying the BMP-induced loss of GIC stemness have not been fully elucidated.

Accuracy and dimensional reproducibility by model scanning, intraoral scanning, and CBCT imaging for digital implant dentistry.

Background: Recently, it has become possible to analyze implant placement position using the digital matching data of optical impression data of the oral cavity or plaster models with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data, and create a highly accurate surgical guide. It has been reported that CBCT measurements were smaller than the actual values, termed shrinkage. Matching of digital data is reliable when the plaster model or intraoral impression values show shrinkage at the same rate as the CBCT data.

The efficacy and safety of paclitaxel plus bevacizumab therapy in breast cancer patients with visceral crisis.

Background: Visceral crisis in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is defined as severe organ dysfunction requiring rapidly efficacious therapy. Although weekly paclitaxel plus bevacizumab (wPTX + BV) achieves a high response rate in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative MBC, the efficacy and safety of wPTX + BV for visceral crisis is unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with MBC with visceral crisis who received wPTX + BV.