Low-Frequency Spectra of Hydrated Ionic Liquids with Kosmotropic and Chaotropic Anions.

In this study, we investigated the water concentration dependence of the intermolecular vibrations of two hydrated ionic liquids (ILs), cholinium dihydrogen phosphate ([ch][dhp]) and cholinium bromide ([ch]Br), using femtosecond Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy (fs-RIKES). The anions of the former and latter hydrated ILs are kosmotropic and chaotropic, respectively. We found that the spectral peak of ∼50 cm shifted to the low-frequency side in hydrated [ch][dhp], indicating the weakening of its intermolecular interactions.

Investigation of Hydration States of Ionic Liquids by Fourier Transform Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy: Relevance to Stabilization of Protein Molecules.

Among many kinds of ionic liquids, some hydrated ionic liquids (Hy ILs) have shown an exceptional capability to stabilize protein molecules and maintain their structure and functions over a long period. However, the complex IL-water interaction among these protein-stabilizing Hy ILs has yet to be elucidated clearly. In this work, we investigate the origin of the compatibility of ionic liquid with proteins from the viewpoint of hydration structure.

Hydrated Ionic Liquids: Perspective for Bioscience.

Hydrated ionic liquid (IL) is a simple mixture of IL and water. Unique aqueous electrolyte solution can be designed by mixing IL with limited amount of water. In most hydrated ILs, there are no free water and all are strongly interacted with ions.

THREE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF PROGRESSIVE CHORIORETINAL ATROPHY IN ATYPICAL ALAGILLE SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT.

Purpose: To report a case of atypical Alagille syndrome with progressive chorioretinal atrophy.

Methods: Case Report.

Results: A 42-year-old Japanese man presented with atypical Alagille syndrome.

Electrochemical sensing of the secretion of indoxyl sulfate in a rat intestinal loop using a self-assembled monolayer-modified gold bead electrode.

Indoxyl sulfate is a uremic toxin that accumulates in the plasma after a decline in renal function that might progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD). This accumulation is associated with the onset of dialysis and exacerbation of CKD and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate intestinal secretion as an excretion pathway of indoxyl sulfate in the severe stage of CKD using electrochemical sensing.

Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment in Lymphoid Blast Crisis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

We herein report a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), who presented with bilateral serous retinal detachment (SRD). A 36-year-old Asian male presented with the symptoms of decreased vision and was found to have bilateral SRD involving fovea. There was no inflammation in the anterior chamber or vitreous.

Oxygen Release and Storage Property of Fe-Al Spinel Compounds: A Three-Way Catalytic Reaction over a Supported Rh Catalyst.

We evaluated the catalytic performance of the Rh-Fe/AlO catalyst during a three-way catalytic reaction and found, by chance, that a part of Fe species was dissolved into the γ-AlO support and worked as an oxygen storage material, which adjusts the oxygen concentration around the catalytically active sites to a suitable level for three-way catalysis. In this study, we demonstrated that the Fe-doped γ-AlO can reversibly store and release oxygen by the redox of Fe/Fe at the tetrahedral (T) site of the spinel structure without its structure deformation. The finding that a spinel-structured metal oxide, Fe-doped γ-AlO, could work as an oxygen storage material suggested a new opportunity for the development of oxygen storage materials without rare metals.

Impact of low luminance conditions on quality of life for the visually impaired: development of the Low Luminance Questionnaire Japanese version.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Low Luminance Questionnaire (LLQ-J) and to evaluate its reliability and validity.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: LLQ-J was developed by standardized methods.

Fundus Autofluorescence after Half-Dose Photodynamic Therapy for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Introduction: To evaluate the fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images 1 year after half-dose photodynamic therapy (hdPDT) for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods: Forty-six eyes of 46 consecutive patients with chronic CSC underwent hdPDT. Short wavelength-elicited FAF images and enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographic (EDI-OCT) images were recorded before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the hdPDT.

Early non-convulsive seizures are associated with the development of acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion.

Introduction: Children with either febrile seizure or acute encephalopathy exhibit seizures and/or impaired consciousness accompanied by fever of unknown etiology (SICF). Among children with SICF, we previously reported those who have refractory status epilepticus or prolonged neurological abnormalities with normal AST levels are at a high risk for the development of acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD), considered to be caused by excitotoxicity. Non-convulsive seizures (NCS) are common in critically ill children and cause excitotoxic neuronal injury.

Improvement of Low Luminance Visual Acuity in Patients with Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy after Half-Dose Verteporfin Photodynamic Therapy.

Patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) often complain of visual difficulties under low luminance conditions. In this study, we evaluated low luminance visual acuity (LLVA) after half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (hdPDT) in eyes with CSC. The study included eight eyes of eight patients with chronic CSC that underwent hdPDT.

Predicting Entropic Effects of Water Mixing with Ionic Liquids Containing Anions of Strong Hydrogen Bonding Ability: Role of the Cation.

Ionic liquids (ILs) such as choline dihydrogen phosphate exhibit an extraordinary solubilizing ability for proteins such as cytochrome C when mixed with 20 wt % water. Most widely used imidazolium-based ionic liquids coupled with dihydrogen phosphate do not exhibit the same solubilizing properties, suggesting that a multifunctional cation such as choline might play a key role in enhancing these properties of ionic liquid mixtures with water. In this theoretical work, we compare intermolecular interactions between the water molecule and ionic liquid ions in two ion-paired clusters of choline- and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium-based ionic liquids coupled with acetate, dihydrogen phosphate, and mesylate.

Electrochemical analysis of uric acid excretion to the intestinal lumen: Effect of serum uric acid-lowering drugs and 5/6 nephrectomy on intestinal uric acid levels.

Recently, extensive efforts have been made to understand the importance of the extra-renal uric acid (UA) excretion pathways and their contribution to UA-related diseases. However, the method typically used to measure UA concentrations in the intestinal lumen is difficult to real time and dynamic analysis. In this study, UA excretion in the rat intestinal lumen was measured in real time using an electrochemical method.

Detailed clinical course of fatal acute encephalopathy in children.

Objective: Although the mortality among previously healthy children with acute encephalopathy (AE) is approximately 5%, their detailed clinical course has not been clarified. The objective of the present study was to describe the detailed clinical course, in minutes, of fatal AE.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of five patients (from 6 months to 14 years of age) who previously had no neurological disorders and were diagnosed with brain death due to AE between 2002 and 2018 at Kobe Children's Hospital.

Effects of charge balance and hydrophobicity of the surface of cytochrome c on the distribution behaviour in an ionic liquid/buffer biphasic system.

Factors contributing to the different distribution behaviour of cytochrome c were investigated in a biphasic tetrabutylphosphonium 2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonate and potassium phosphate buffer system, which shows a lower critical solution temperature. To change charge balance and hydrophobicity of cytochrome c, surface modification with a few modifier molecules was applied. Surface charge and hydrophobicity affected the distribution behavior of chemically modified cytochrome c in the tetrabutylphosphonium 2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonate and potassium phosphate buffer biphasic system.

Predicting the outcomes of targeted temperature management for children with seizures and/or impaired consciousness accompanied by fever without known etiology.

Background: Seizures and/or impaired consciousness accompanied by fever without known etiology (SICF) is common in the pediatric emergency setting. No optimal strategy for the management of SICF in childhood currently exists. We previously demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted temperature management (TTM) against SICF with a high risk of morbidity; however, some patients with SICF develop neurological sequelae despite TTM, which necessitate additional neuroprotective treatment.

Clinical time course of pediatric acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

The detailed clinical time course in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) from initial symptoms, through exacerbation, to remission has not been widely reported. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the clinical time course of pediatric ADEM. This was a multicenter retrospective study based on registry data from medical chart reviews.

Hydrated ionic liquids enable both solubilisation and refolding of aggregated concanavalin A.

The dissolution and refolding of aggregated concanavalin A have been achieved, in hydrated ionic liquids containing a limited number of water molecules. Both ammonium and phosphonium salts were examined to find a suitable hydrophobicity of ions and water content for refolding. Recovery of sugar recognition was confirmed as a proof of refolding.

Nonconvulsive Seizure Detection by Reduced-Lead Electroencephalography in Children with Altered Mental Status in the Emergency Department.

Objectives: To evaluate the proportion of children presenting to the emergency department (ED) with altered mental status who demonstrate nonconvulsive seizures on reduced-lead electroencephalography (EEG), and to further investigate the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes in these patients compared with patients without nonconvulsive seizures.

Study Design: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the database and medical records of pediatric patients (aged <18 years) in a single ED between May 1, 2016, and April 30, 2018. We first determined the proportion of nonconvulsive seizures among patients with altered mental status (Glasgow Coma Scale <15).

Fosphenytoin vs. continuous midazolam for pediatric febrile status epilepticus.

Background: Fosphenytoin (fPHT) and continuous intravenous midazolam (cMDL) had commonly been used as second-line treatments for pediatric status epilepticus (SE) in Japan. However, there is no comparative study of these two treatments.

Methods: We included consecutive children who 1) were admitted to Kobe Children's Hospital because of convulsion with fever and 2) were treated with either fPHT or cMDL as second-line treatment for convulsive SE lasting for longer than 30 min.

Ionic Liquids as Stabilization and Refolding Additives and Solvents for Proteins.

This chapter focuses on recent advances in the use of ionic liquids as additives and solvents in protein applications. The solvent properties of ionic liquids can be tuned by the appropriate selection of cation and anion. The effects of different kinds of ionic liquids on protein stability and refolding behavior have been investigated and reported.

Unusual Case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease Associated with SAPHO Syndrome: A Case Report.

A 66-year-old Japanese woman who was diagnosed with synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome presented with bilateral blurred vision 4 months prior to visiting our hospital. She had visited a local ophthalmology clinic first. She was diagnosed with conjunctivitis and was prescribed antibacterial eye drops.

Early risk factors for mortality in children with seizure and/or impaired consciousness accompanied by fever without known etiology.

Background: Children who present with seizure and/or impaired consciousness accompanied by fever without known etiology (SICF) may be diagnosed with either acute encephalopathy (AE) or febrile seizure (FS). Although approximately 5% of AE cases are fatal, it is difficult to identify fatal cases among children with SICF, which are often critical by the time of diagnosis. Thus, early prediction of outcomes for children with SICF, prior to diagnosis, may help to reduce mortality associated with AE.

Diurnal occurrence of complex febrile seizure and their severity in pediatric patients needing hospitalization.

Several studies describing the diurnal occurrence of febrile seizures have reported greater seizure frequency early or late in the evening relative to midnight or early morning. However, no articles have reported on the diurnal occurrence of complex febrile seizure. Moreover, no studies have addressed the relationship between seizure severity and diurnal occurrence.