QTN detection and candidate gene identification for improved eating and cooking quality in rice using GWAS and PLS regression analysis.

We performed GWAS for starch properties and eating, cooking and appearance quality characteristics traits in rice and then used PLS regression to show importance of different loci for different food applications. We performed a genome-wide association study for appearance, eating and cooking quality traits in grain of japonica rice cultivars and identified candidate genes for adhesiveness of cooked rice grains, amylopectin composition and β-glucanase activity in rice endosperm among a total of 525 quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) loci. The study used 1,054,635 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on genome sequence data of 150 rice cultivars and 89 grain appearance, eating and cooking quality traits.

[A Case of Anaplastic Carcinoma of the Pancreas with Long-Term Prognosis by Multidisciplinary Treatment].

A 67-year-old man presented with obstructive jaundice in March 2022 and was diagnosed with borderline resectable pancreatic head cancer. Gemcitabine+nab-paclitaxel(GnP)was started as preoperative chemotherapy, and tumor shrinkage was observed. In August of the same year, he underwent a subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, combined portal vein resection and reconstruction.

Aromatic Ring-Fused Amidine Based Allosteric Receptors Activated by Guest-Induced π-Conjugation Switching.

Amidine-substituted allosteric receptors 2 a and 2 b for benzenediols were synthesized. Receptor 2 a with five-membered amidines exhibited greater allostericity than the amide-substituted receptor 1, while 2 b with six-membered amidines exhibited less allostericity. NMR titration experiments revealed that a significant enthalpic factor was involved in the allostericity of these receptors.

Polymorphisms in genes involved in regulating follicular helper T cell differentiation predict de novo donor-specific antibody formation after liver transplantation.

Background: De novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSAs) significantly affect the long-term outcomes of liver transplantation (LT), highlighting the importance of risk prediction. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells have been implicated in dnDSA formation after transplantation. Considering the influence of immune response gene polymorphisms on transplantation outcomes, we investigated the association between polymorphisms in Tfh cell-related genes and dnDSA formation after LT.

/ Helicity Switching and Chiral Amplification in Double-Helical Monometallofoldamers.

Short-stranded double-helical monometallofoldamers capable of /-switching were constructed by the complexation of two strands, each with two L-shaped units linked by a 2,2'-bipyridine, with a Zn(II) cation. The helix terminals of the "double-helical form" folded by π-π interactions can unfold in solution to equilibrate with the "open forms" that are favored at higher temperatures. Interestingly, the helical chirality of the monometallofoldamers with chiral side chains induced a single-handed helix sense and controlled /-switching depending on achiral solvent stimuli.

Reversible Adsorption of Ammonia in the Crystalline Solid of a COH-Functionalized Cyclic Oligophenylene.

Ammonia (NH) is a viable candidate for the storage and distribution of hydrogen (H) due to its exceptional volumetric and gravimetric hydrogen energy density. Therefore, it is desirable to develop NH storage materials that exhibit robust stability across numerous adsorption-desorption cycles. While porous materials with polymeric frameworks are often used for NH capture, achieving reversible NH uptake remains a formidable challenge, primarily due to the high reactivity of NH.

Recognition of Amino Acid Salts by Temperature-Dependent Allosteric Binding with Stereodynamic Urea Receptors.

Positive homotropic artificial allosteric systems are important for the regulation of cooperativity, selectivity and nonlinear amplification. Stereodynamic homotropic allosteric receptors can transmit and amplify induced chirality by the first ligand binding to axial chirality between two chromophores. We herein report stereodynamic allosteric urea receptors consisting of a rotational shaft as the axial chirality unit, terphenyl units as structural transmission sites and four urea units as binding sites.

Anti-Donor T-Cell Responses Are Not Necessarily Attenuated During Cytomegalovirus Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), the most common opportunistic infection of kidney transplantation (KT), is preventable by prophylactic and preemptive antiviral drugs in CMV-immunoglobulin (Ig)G-positive donors. Our preemptive therapy optimized immunosuppressive doses based on mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) results, regardless of preoperative CMV-IgG serostatus pairing. This study used the MLR to compare the anti-donor T-cell responses between CMV antigenemia-positive and -negative cases.

Effects of different modes and intensities of exercise on longevity proteins in middle-aged mouse skeletal muscle.

Physical exercise represents one of the most effective approaches to anti-aging. The goal of this study was to verify the effects of different modes and intensities of exercise on longevity proteins in the skeletal muscle in midlife. Middle-aged mice were trained in aerobic or resistance exercise for 8 weeks, and the changes in sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways in the skeletal muscle were evaluated by western blotting.

Structural Interconversion Based on Intramolecular Boroxine Formation.

A novel structural interconversion unit based on intramolecular boroxine formation has been developed. A macrocyclic triboronic acid consisting of three phenylboronic acid units linked by covalent linkers preferentially underwent intramolecular rather than intermolecular boroxine formation, resulting in a quantitative formation of tricyclic boroxine. This structural transformation was accompanied by changes in the polarity, flexibility, and size of the molecule.

Genetic Polymorphisms in Follicular Helper T Cell-Related Molecules Predispose Patients to De Novo Donor-Specific Antibody Formation After Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Risk prediction of de novo donor-specific antibody (dnDSA) formation is crucial for understanding the long-term prognostic impact of kidney transplantation (KT). Recently, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, a subtype of CD4 T cells, have been reported to play an important role in dnDSA formation after solid organ transplantation. Given the growing recognition of the importance of Tfh cells in generating a strong humoral immune response, we examined whether polymorphisms in Tfh cell-related molecules were associated with dnDSA formation after KT.

Effectiveness of Thermal Barrier Bag for Prolonged Vascular Anastomosis in Kidney Transplantation.

Background: In kidney transplantation (KT), efforts to minimize rewarming and optimize anastomosis time during vascular anastomosis improve graft outcomes. We recently reported the safety and efficacy of a pouch-type thermal barrier bag (TBB) made of elastomer gel to reduce second-warm ischemic injury during vascular anastomosis. We aimed to examine the usefulness of the TBB in prolonged vascular anastomosis in KT performed by young transplant fellows.

Effect of abdominal aortic calcification on the prognosis and recurrence of colorectal cancer stages II-III: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is a well-known risk marker for cardiovascular disease. However, its clinical effect on patients who underwent radical surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) stages II-III is unclear. This study aimed to analyze the associations between AAC and prognosis of patients with stage II-III CRC.

-Functionalized Cyclic Oligophenylenes: Synthesis and Complexation with a Chiral Phosphoric Acid.

The synthesis of -functionalized cyclic oligophenylenes in which adjacent benzene rings are perpendicular to one another is described. Annulation precursors, OH- or NH-functionalized quinquephenyl diboronic acids, and septiphenyl dibromo compounds were systematically prepared by using a diprotected biphenyl-3,4'-diyl diboronic acid as a key compound. Four -functionalized cyclic oligophenylenes were synthesized by annulation of the precursors in dilute conditions through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling.

Boroxine template for macrocyclization and postfunctionalization.

A novel synthetic strategy for large macrocyclic molecules using boroxine formation was developed. For this, the threefold intramolecular olefin metathesis of 3,5-bis(alkenyloxy)phenylboroxines with various lengths of alkenyl chains, formed by the dehydration of the corresponding boronic acid substrates, together with treatment with pinacol, was used to produce 39-, 45-, and 51-membered macrocyclic compounds with three boronate units. The boroxine moiety functions as a covalent template but can also be used to postmodify the macrocycle.

Ring-Over-Ring Deslipping From Imine-Bridged Heterorotaxanes.

Ring-over-ring slippage and ring-through-ring penetration are important processes in the construction of ring-in-ring multiple interlocked architectures. We have successfully observed "ring-over-ring deslipping" on the rotaxane axle by exploiting the dynamic covalent nature of imine bonds in imine-bridged heterorotaxanes and with two macrocycles of different ring sizes on the axle. When the imine bridges of were cleaved, a hydrolyzed hetero[4]rotaxane was formed as an intermediate under dynamic equilibrium, and the larger 38-membered macrocycle was deslipped over the 24-membered ring (24C8 or DB24C8) to dissociate into a [3]rotaxane and a macrocycle .

Shanghai fever, a fatal enteric illness, in an adult patient with neutropenia caused by treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome: a case report.

Background: Shanghai fever is a rare community-acquired enteric illness with sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cases of Shanghai fever in pediatric patients have been reported; however, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of adult cases.

Case Presentation: A 65-year-old man visited the emergency department with sudden onset of abdominal pain.

Polymorphisms in CTLA-4 predict de novo donor specific antibody formation after kidney transplantation.

The post-transplant development of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) initiates the antibody-mediated rejection, which is associated with an increased rate of graft loss. Therefore, risk prediction of de novo DSA (dnDSA) is important for understanding long-term prognostic implications for kidney transplantation outcomes. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), a cell surface molecule, suppresses T cell responses.

Determining a preventive strategy for ankle sprain injury through a questionnaire survey of coaches of junior high school basketball teams.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine a preventive strategy for ankle sprain injury through a questionnaire survey of coaches of junior high school basketball teams. [Participants and Methods] The questionnaire comprised questions concerning coaches' characteristics, prevention-related content, and collaboration with medical staff. We distributed the questionnaire to 108 coaches, of which 48 (41.

3D-Boronic Ester Architectures: Synthesis, Host-Guest Chemistry, Dynamic Behavior, and Supramolecular Catalysis.

Boronic esters are known to be formed simply by mixing boronic acids and alcohols under neutral conditions, and the equilibrium is in favor of the boronic esters when 1,2- or 1,3-diols are employed as alcohols. By utilizing the dynamic nature of the boronic ester formation, our group successfully constructed unique boron-containing 3D structures, such as ring-shaped macrocycles, cages, and tubes, based on the boronic ester formation of various aromatic di-, tri-, or hexaboronic acids with an originally designed tetrol 1 containing two sets of fixed 1,2-diol units oriented on the same face of an indacene framework. Various functions of the obtained boronates were further pursued to disclose the characteristic features of this system.

Molecular Mismatch Predicts T Cell-Mediated Rejection and De Novo Donor-Specific Antibody Formation After Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecular mismatch (MM) analysis improves the prediction of clinical outcomes in kidney transplantation compared with prediction via traditional antigen MM. However, it remains unclear whether the level of MM can be used for risk stratification among liver transplantation (LT) recipients. A retrospective observational study of 45 living donor LTs was performed to evaluate eplet MM as a risk factor for both T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) in the first month and de novo donor-specific antibody (dnDSA) formation.