Clinical Evaluation of Acute Exacerbation of Interstitial Lung Disease in a Single Tertiary Center: Perspectives before and after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a major challenge. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate occurrences of AEs in patients with ILDs, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), non-IPF (iNSIP: idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia), and connective tissue disease (CTD)-associated ILDs (CTD-ILDs), at a single tertiary center before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to clarify the seasonal and regional trends of AEs of ILDs, assess the roles of viral and bacterial infections, and identify key prognostic factors for patient outcomes.

Long-term impact of rotavirus vaccination on all-cause and rotavirus-specific gastroenteritis and strain distribution in Central Kenya: An 11-year interrupted time-series analysis.

Background: Kenya introduced a monovalent rotavirus vaccine administered orally at 6 and 10 weeks of age into her National Immunization Program in July 2014. The study evaluated the long-term impact of the vaccine on hospitalization for all-cause and rotavirus-specific acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and strain epidemiology in Kenya.

Methods: Data on all-cause and rotavirus-specific AGE and strain distribution were derived from an eleven-year hospital-based surveillance of AGE among children aged <5 years at Kiambu County Teaching and Referral Hospital (KCTRH) in Central Kenya between 2009 and 2020.

Impact of Cough Severity on the Diagnostic Yield of Endobronchial Ultrasonography Transbronchial Biopsy with Guide Sheath: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure, and patient coughing during examination has been reported to cause patient distress. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between cough severity and diagnostic yield of endobronchial ultrasonography with guide sheath transbronchial biopsy (EBUS-GS-TBB). Data of patients who underwent bronchoscopy at Kyorin University Hospital between April 2019 and March 2022 were retrospectively evaluated.

Multifunctionality of Iodinated Halogen-Bonded Polymer: Biodegradability, Radiopacity, Elasticity, Ductility, and Self-Healing Ability.

A polymer with high contents of ester bonds and iodine atoms was synthesized, exhibiting sufficient biodegradability and radioactivity for biomedical applications. The iodine moieties of the synthesized polyester can generate halogen bonding between molecules, which may develop additional functional properties through the bonding. In this study, poly(glycerol adipate) (PGA) was selected and synthesized as a polyester, which was then adequately conjugated with three different types of iodine compounds via the hydroxy groups of PGA.

Association between being Overweight in Young Childhood and during School Age and Puberty.

To examine whether body type at birth, body weight, and obesity in early childhood are associated with overweight/obesity during school age and puberty. Data from maternal and child health handbooks, baby health checkup information, and school physical examination information of participants at birth and three-generation cohort studies were linked. Association between body type and body weight at different time intervals (at birth and at 1.

Molecular Assembly and Gelating Behavior of (l)-Alanine Derivatives.

In this study, a low-molecular-weight organogelator derived from (l)-amino acids was designed and synthesized. Gelation assays using (l)-amino acid derivatives were performed to confirm the gelation ability, which was found to be high in several compounds. The (l)-alanine derivatives were determined to be excellent gelators, forming good gels even when smaller amounts were added.

[A Pharmacist's Query Avoiding Exacerbation of Adverse Effects in a Patient with Acyclovir Encephalopathy: A Case Report].

We report a haemodialysis patient with end-stage renal failure whom a pharmacist aided in the management of acyclovir (ACV) encephalopathy, which may have been related to valacyclovir hydrochloride (VACV) administered without sufficient dose reduction. The patient 78 years was admitted with a tentative diagnosis of varicella zoster viral meningitis. A pharmacist suspected ACV encephalopathy related to excessive VACV administration and raised a query with the attending physician.

Compensation for Orientation Birefringence of PMMA by Blending Bottlebrush Polymers Composed of Well-Controlled Graft Chains.

The birefringence of optical polymers is a great issue in optical devices, inhibiting major applications of polymers to optical lenses and films. In this study, we have synthesized effective bottlebrush polymers with which we could attain almost zero birefringence when mixed with optical poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In detail, the PMMA bottlebrush polymers (PMMA-BBP) were synthesized by the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene-terminated PMMA macromonomers prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with hyper-IgE syndrome.

Hyperimmunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome (HIES) is a rare disease with an unclear prognosis. We report a case of HIES comorbid with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). A 19-year-old male was referred to our department with a medical history of bacterial pneumonia and skin infection.

Oligomeric Structural Transition of HspB1 from Chinese Hamster.

HspB1 is a mammalian sHsp that is ubiquitously expressed in almost all tissues and involved in regulating many vital functions. Although the recent crystal structure of human HspB1 showed that 24 monomers form the oligomeric complex of human HspB1 in a spherical configuration, the molecular architecture of HspB1 is still controversial. In this study, we examined the oligomeric structural change of CgHspB1 by sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation.

Safety and immunogenicity of a plant-derived rotavirus-like particle vaccine in adults, toddlers and infants.

Background: This study is the first clinical trial for a parenteral non-replicating rotavirus vaccine developed using virus-like particle (VLP) technology.

Methods: This open-labeled, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in two parts: Part A (a first-in-human study in Australian adults) and Part B (ascending dose and descending age in South African adults, toddlers and infants). In Part A, two cohorts of 10 adults were assigned to receive a single intramuscular injection of 1 of 2 escalating dose levels of the rotavirus VLP (Ro-VLP) vaccine (7 μg or 21 μg) or placebo.

A simple method for discrimination of carcinomatous meningitis using CEA, total protein, and total cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid of primary lung cancer patients.

Carcinomatous meningitis (CM) is a critical issue for physicians. However, no study has reported a simple and useful diagnostic or predictive marker for CM.This study aimed to elucidate the potential markers for diagnosing CM derived from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Special reference to the effects on the lungs.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as evolutionary treatments for malignant diseases. Although ICIs can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in various organs, precise timing after ICI initiation has been scarcely reported. Elucidating the effects of irAEs, such as time to onset, involvement of major organs, influence on progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), are critical issues for physicians.

Fabrication of Gd-DOTA-functionalized carboxylated nanodiamonds for selective MR imaging (MRI) of the lymphatic system.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents with the particle diameter of around 3-10 nm hold the potential to be selectively uptaken by lymphatic vessels and be filtered in the kidney for final excretion. However, there are no existing MRI contrast agents based on gadolinium (Gd) complexes within the size of this range, and thus the selective imaging of the lymphatic system has not yet been achieved. In our previous report, we succeeded in fabricating nano-scale MRI contrast agents by complexing ordinary contrast agents (Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)) with carboxylated nanodiamond (CND) particles to conquer this problem.

Novel predictive factors for patient discomfort and severe cough during bronchoscopy: A prospective questionnaire analysis.

During bronchoscopy, discomfort is mainly caused by an unavoidable cough; however, there are no reports of any predictive factors for strong cough during bronchoscopy identified before the procedure. To clarify the factors underlying the discomfort status and predictive factors for strong cough during bronchoscopy, we prospectively evaluated patients who underwent bronchoscopy at Kyorin University Hospital between March 2018 and July 2019. Before and after bronchoscopy, the enrolled patients answered a questionnaire regarding the procedure.

Thermophysical Property Measurements of Tetrabutylphosphonium Oxalate (TBPOx) Ionic Semiclathrate Hydrate as a Media for the Thermal Energy Storage System.

With increasing global power demand, thermal energy storage technology could play a role ensuring a sustainable energy supply in power generation from renewable energy sources and power demand concentration. Hydrates have high potential as phase change materials (PCMs) for the use as a thermal energy storage medium. To develop thermal energy storage technology using a hydrate-based material, further investigation of thermophysical properties and the selection of a suitable hydrate are required.

New approach to evaluating the effects of a drug on protein complexes with quantitative proteomics, using the SILAC method and bioinformatic approach.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) lead the formation of protein complexes that perform biochemical reactions that maintain the living state of the living cell. Although therapeutic drugs should influence the formation of protein complexes in addition to PPI network, the methodology analyzing such influences remain to be developed. Here, we demonstrate that a new approach combining HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) for separating protein complexes, and the SILAC (stable isotope labeling using amino acids in cell culture) method for relative protein quantification, enable us to identify the protein complexes influenced by a drug.

SANS study on the nano-crystalline network structure of elastic physical gels made of syndiotactic polypropylene.

The structure-property relationship of an elastic physical gel, obtained by simply quenching syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP)/decahydronaphthalene solution with liquid nitrogen, was investigated based on small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) analysis. The SANS analysis revealed that sPP nanocrystals with a constant radius of 4-5 nm existed in the sPP gels regardless of the sPP concentration, whereas the correlation length of the nanocrystals drastically decreased from ∼130 to ∼20 nm upon increasing the sPP concentration from 2 to 12 wt%. The volume fraction and the number density of the sPP nanocrystals increased monotonously with the increase in the sPP concentration.

Exposure profile of mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, antimony, copper, selenium and zinc in maternal blood, cord blood and placenta: the Tohoku Study of Child Development in Japan.

Background: The effects of prenatal exposure to toxic elements on birth outcomes and child development have been an area of concern. This study aimed to assess the profile of prenatal exposure to toxic elements, arsenic (As), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), mercury (total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MHg), inorganic mercury (IHg)), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn), and essential trace elements, copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), using the maternal blood, cord blood and placenta in the Tohoku Study of Child Development of Japan (N = 594-650).

Methods: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of these elements (except mercury).

Determination of the cut-off point of the Functional Independence Measure as a predictor of adverse events in patients with acute stroke.

Objective This study was performed to determine the cut-off point of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) to discriminate patients with acute stroke who develop adverse events during their stay in a stroke care unit (SCU). Methods All consecutive patients with stroke admitted to a single institute from January to March 2015 were enrolled. They were divided into two groups according to their average daily energy intake in the SCU: ≥66% or <66% of the target (high- and low-energy group, respectively).

pH Stability and Antioxidant Power of CycloDOPA and Its Derivatives.

CycloDOPA (leukodopachrome), a well known metabolite of tyrosine, is a precursor of melanine in mammalian organisms and of the pigment betalain in plants. However, the isolation of cycloDOPA from natural sources has not been widely reported. In the present work, the stabilities of cycloDOPA and cycloDOPA methyl ester at various pH levels were studied.