Proteomic analysis of serum extracellular vesicles reveals Fibulin-3 as a new marker predicting liver-related events in MASLD.

Background: There is a need for novel noninvasive markers for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) to stratify patients at high risk for liver-related events including liver cancer and decompensation. In the present study, we used proteomic analysis of proteins in extracellular vesicles (EVs) to identify new biomarkers that change with fibrosis progression and can predict the development of liver-related events.

Methods: We analyzed serum EVs from 50 patients with MASLD assessed for liver fibrosis by biopsy and identified proteins that altered with advanced fibrosis.

Increased Glycine-conjugated and Unconjugated Bile Acid Levels Associated with Aggravation of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Cardiovascular Disease in SHRSP5/Dmcr Rat.

The SHRSP5/Dmcr is a useful animal model for the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pathology when fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, and further drug interventions can lead to concomitant cardiovascular disease. While SHRSP5/Dmcr rats have been used for basic research related to NASH, details of their bile acid metabolism in this condition are unknown. In this study, we aimed to clarify the changes in the serum bile acid (BA) fractions associated with NASH and found that glycine-conjugated and unconjugated bile acid increased with worsening NASH and cardiovascular disease while taurine-conjugated BA relatively decreased.

Scytonemin redox status in a filamentous cyanobacterium visualized by an excitation-laser-line-scanning spontaneous Raman scattering spectral microscope.

Some cyanobacteria produce a UVA-absorbing pigment, scytonemin, at extracellular sheaths. Although scytonemin-containing dark sheaths are recognizable through optical microscopes and its redox changes have been known for decades, there has been no report to obtain images of both oxidized and reduced scytonemins at subcellular resolution. Here, we show that a spontaneous Raman scattering spectral microscopy based on an excitation-laser-line-scanning method unveil 3D subcellular distributions of both the oxidized and reduced scytonemins in a filamentous cyanobacterium.

Suppression of nitric oxide synthase aggravates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and atherosclerosis in SHRSP5/Dmcr rat via acceleration of abnormal lipid metabolism.

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive subtype of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is closely related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nitric oxide (NO) plays a critical role in the control of various biological processes. Dysfunction of the NO signaling pathway is associated with various diseases such as atherosclerosis, vascular inflammatory disease, and diabetes.

Basic characteristics between mechanomyogram and muscle force during twitch and tetanic contractions in rat skeletal muscles.

The mechanomyogram (MMG) is a signal measured by various vibration sensors for slight vibrations induced by muscle contraction, and it reflects the muscle force during electrically induced-contraction or until 60%-70% maximum voluntary contraction, so the MMG is considered an alternative and novel measurement tool for muscle strength. We simultaneously measured the MMG and muscle force in the gastrocnemius (GC), vastus intermedius (VI), and soleus (SOL) muscles of rats. The muscle force was measured by attaching a hook to the tendon using a load cell, and the MMG was measured using a charged-coupled device-type displacement sensor at the middle of the target muscle.

Growth-phase dependent morphological alteration in higher plant thylakoid is accompanied by changes in both photodamage and repair rates.

Thylakoid membranes of young leaves consist of grana and stroma lamellae (stroma-grana [SG] structure). The SG thylakoid is gradually converted into isolated grana (IG), almost lacking the stroma lamellae during growth. This morphological alteration was found to cause a reduction in maximum photosynthetic rate and an enhancement of photoinhibition in photosystem II (PSII).

Bile acids aggravate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cardiovascular disease in SHRSP5/Dmcr rat model.

Background And Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of the risk factors in metabolic syndrome. However, the intermediary factors between NASH and cardiovascular disease are still unknown. A previous study revealed that serum and hepatic bile acid (BA) levels are increased in some NASH patients.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis aggravates nitric oxide synthase inhibition-induced arteriosclerosis in SHRSP5/Dmcr rat model.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is linked to increased cardiovascular risk, independent of the broad spectrum of metabolic syndrome risk factors. Stroke-prone (SP) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP5/Dmcr) fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet developed hepatic lesions similar to those in human NASH pathology. These rats simultaneously developed lipid deposits in the mesenteric arteries, cardiac fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction and left ventricle (LV) diastolic dysfunction.

Spectral microscopic imaging of heterocysts and vegetative cells in two filamentous cyanobacteria based on spontaneous Raman scattering and photoluminescence by 976 nm excitation.

Photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes are highly concentrated in thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts and cyanobacteria that emit strong autofluorescence (mainly 600-800 nm). In Raman scattering microscopy that enables imaging of pigment concentrations of thylakoid membranes, near infrared laser excitation at 1064 nm or visible laser excitation at 488-532 nm has been often employed in order to avoid the autofluorescence. Here we explored a new approach to Raman imaging of thylakoid membranes by using excitation wavelength of 976 nm.

A High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet Induces Cardiac Fibrosis, Vascular Endothelial, and Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in SHRSP5/Dmcr Rats.

Aim: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) increases cardiovascular risk regardless of risk factors in metabolic syndrome. However, the intermediary factors between NASH and vascular disease are still unknown because a suitable animal model has never been established. The stroke-prone (SP) spontaneously hypertensive rat, SHRSP5/Dmcr, simultaneously develops hypertension, acute arterial lipid deposits in mesenteric arteries, and NASH when feed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet.

Comparative study of thylakoid membranes in terminal heterocysts and vegetative cells from two cyanobacteria, Rivularia M-261 and Anabaena variabilis, by fluorescence and absorption spectral microscopy.

Heterocyst is a nitrogen-fixing cell differentiated from a cell for oxygen-evolving photosynthesis (vegetative cell) in some filamentous cyanobacteria when fixed nitrogen (e.g., ammonia and nitrate) is limited.

Systemic immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis presenting hematochezia as the initial symptom.

Immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is characterized by the deposition of insoluble fibrils composed of immunoglobulin light chains secreted by monoclonal plasma cells. Given the recent advances in the therapy of AL amyloidosis, it is important to diagnose this disease as early as possible. Herein, we describe the case of a 62-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis presenting with hematochezia.

Characterization of thylakoid membrane in a heterocystous cyanobacterium and green alga with dual-detector fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy with a systematic change of incident laser power.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) has been applied to plants, algae and cyanobacteria, in which excitation laser conditions affect the chlorophyll fluorescence lifetime due to several mechanisms. However, the dependence of FLIM data on input laser power has not been quantitatively explained by absolute excitation probabilities under actual imaging conditions. In an effort to distinguish between photosystem I and photosystem II (PSI and PSII) in microscopic images, we have obtained dependence of FLIM data on input laser power from a filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis and single cellular green alga Parachlorella kessleri.

Changes in antenna sizes of photosystems during state transitions in granal and stroma-exposed thylakoid membrane of intact chloroplasts in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts.

In chloroplasts of plants and algae, state transition is an important regulatory mechanism to maintain the excitation balance between PSI and PSII in the thylakoid membrane. Light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) plays a key role as the regulated energy distributor between PSI and PSII. It is widely accepted that LHCII, which is bound to PSII localized mainly in the granal thylakoid, migrates to bind with PSI localized mainly in the stroma-exposed thylakoid under preferential excitation of PSII.

Critical in-stent restenosis following fracture of biolimus-eluting stent: a report of 2 cases.

The development of drug-eluting stents (DES) has dramatically reduced the incidence of in-stent restenosis. Stent fracture (SF) of DESs, however, has recently emerged as a rare but serious complication, which may lead to acute coronary syndrome or sudden cardiac death. DES fracture results from metal fatigue and vessel hemodynamic stress on the stent strut, due to markedly reduced neointimal formation.

Transformation of thylakoid membranes during differentiation from vegetative cell into heterocyst visualized by microscopic spectral imaging.

Some filamentous cyanobacteria carry out oxygenic photosynthesis in vegetative cells and nitrogen fixation in specialized cells known as heterocysts. Thylakoid membranes in vegetative cells contain photosystem I (PSI) and PSII, while those in heterocysts contain predominantly PSI. Therefore, the thylakoid membranes change drastically when differentiating from a vegetative cell into a heterocyst.

Hemodialysis-induced P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram alterations are indicative of vulnerability to atrial arrhythmias.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia, often occurring during hemodialysis (HD). Prolongation of the total filtered P-wave duration (PWD) and reduction of the root mean square voltages for the last 20 ms of the P wave (RMS20) on a P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram (P-SAECG) are predictors of AF. We investigated whether HD induces alterations of P-SAECG, and determined the influential factors.

Torsion analysis in the early detection of anthracycline-mediated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Anthracyclines have profound consequences on the structure and function of the heart, which over time cause a cardiomyopathy that leads to congestive heart failure. Early detection of subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following a low dose of anthracyclines may be a preventive strategy. The aim of this study was to determine torsion analysis using two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging (STI), useful for detecting early anthracycline-mediated cardiotoxicity.

Low-dose rosuvastatin improves arterial stiffness in high-risk Japanese patients with dyslipdemia in a primary prevention group.

Background: The treatment effects of rosuvastatin on arterial stiffness were assessed and compared to those of fluvastatin in high-risk Japanese patients with dyslipidemia in a primary prevention group.

Methods And Results: Patients were randomly assigned to either 2.5-5 mg/day of rosuvastatin (Group A) or 20-40 mg/day of fluvastatin (Group B) and followed up for 12 months.

Catheter ablation of non-inducible atrial tachycardia after surgical repair of heart disease.

We present a patient with non-inducible atrial tachycardia (AT) after atriotomy for surgical repair of heart disease who underwent ablation successfully. Using a 3-D mapping system, we presumed the atriotomy site on the lateral right atrial wall by searching for linear double potentials (DP) during sinus/paced rhythm from the coronary sinus, but it was evaluated incompletely. We could verify the edges of the atriotomy scar precisely by pacing from close to the linear DP lesion and the opposite site.

Anti-Stokes fluorescence spectra of chloroplasts in Parachlorella kessleri and maize at room temperature as characterized by near-infrared continuous-wave laser fluorescence microscopy and absorption microscopy.

Microscopic autofluorescence spectral imaging of chloroplasts in maize mesophyll cells using near-infrared laser excitation has previously shown that a photosystem I spectral component exhibits an intensity similar to that of photosystem II at ~294 K when a continuous-wave laser at 800-820 nm is used. To establish the generality of this phenomenon, chloroplasts in Parachlorella kessleri cells (P. kessleri) were studied.

Early intervention with rosuvastatin decreases the lipid components of the plaque in acute coronary syndrome: analysis using integrated backscatter IVUS (ELAN study).

Background: It has recently become possible to analyze coronary plaque characteristics by using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS). The aim of this study was to use this modality to evaluate the impact of early intervention with rosuvastatin on both the volume and tissue characteristics of non-culprit plaques in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods And Results: Patients with ACS underwent IB-IVUS after percutaneous coronary intervention procedure and were administered rosuvastatin.

Transient pseudorestrictive pattern of transmitral flow velocity curve in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus and transmitral flow propagation velocity are reported as more reliable determinants of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with atrial fibrillation than are transmitral Doppler indices. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that transmitral flow curve shows pseudorestrictive pattern during rate-controlled atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Thirteen paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients were monitored for three phases: before atrial fibrillation, during atrial fibrillation, and after the recovery of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.