Publications by authors named "M Hiratsuka"

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an incurable intestinal disease, with current treatments mainly focused on inflammation control and, in severe cases, surgical resection. Recent studies have highlighted the need for new therapies that promote tissue regeneration. R-spondin-1 (RSPO1) and interleukin-22 (IL-22) have shown anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects in UC models, but have short half-lives and poor targeting abilities.

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The involvement of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in plasma clozapine (CLZ) dynamics has not been well examined in Japanese patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Therefore, this clinical study investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of various pharmacokinetic factors (drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters) and dynamic changes in CLZ. Additionally, we aimed to determine whether CLZ acts as a substrate for pharmacokinetic factors using in vitro assays and molecular docking calculations.

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The microphase-separated structures of block copolymers are inherently highly ordered local structures, commonly characterized by differences in domain width and curvature. By focusing on diblock copolymers, we propose local order parameters (LOPs) that accurately distinguish between adjacent microphase-separated structures on the phase diagram. We used the Molecular Assembly structure Learning package for Identifying Order parameters (MALIO) to evaluate the structure classification performance of 186 candidate LOPs.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The enzyme CYP2B6 is crucial for metabolizing drugs like efavirenz and propofol, and genetic variations in the CYP2B6 gene can alter its effectiveness and lead to side effects.
  • - This study examined 29 rare genetic variants of CYP2B6 found in a large Japanese population, showing that some variants significantly reduce enzyme activity.
  • - Researchers used techniques like western blotting and molecular simulations to identify how structural changes in the enzyme affect its function, which could aid in predicting drug metabolism and minimizing adverse effects.
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  • The CYP3A4 enzyme is crucial for metabolizing about 30% of drugs, including key antimalarials, and variations in this enzyme can lead to differences in drug metabolism among individuals.
  • Researchers studied CYP3A4 polymorphisms in populations from malaria-affected regions in Lake Victoria, Kenya, and Vanuatu, analyzing archived blood samples to find genetic variations.
  • They identified multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both regions, with a higher level of genetic variance in Vanuatu, contributing to better understanding and potential improvements in personalized medicine for antimalarial treatments.
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