Rapid access to functionalized nanographenes through a palladium-catalyzed multi-annulation sequence.

Nanographenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exhibit many intriguing physical properties and have potential applications across a range of scientific fields, including electronics, catalysis, and biomedicine. To accelerate the development of such applications, efficient and reliable methods for accessing functionalized analogs are required. Herein, we report the efficient synthesis of functionalized small nanographenes from readily available iodobiaryl and diarylacetylene derivatives a one-pot, multi-annulation sequence catalyzed by a single palladium catalyst.

Procalcitonin as an early predictive marker for infectious complications after hepatectomy.

Introduction: The present study aimed to determine the clinical value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) level in predicting postoperative infections after hepatectomy.

Methods: Medical records of 301 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy were retrospectively reviewed. We divided the patients into infection-positive and infection-negative groups.

Wound, Pressure Ulcer, and Burn Guidelines-5: Guidelines for the management of lower leg ulcers and varicose veins, second edition.

"Wound, Pressure Ulcer, and Burn Guidelines-5: Guidelines for the management of lower leg ulcers and varicose veins, second edition" is revised from the first edition, which was published in the Japanese Journal of Dermatology in 2011. The guidelines were drafted by the Wound, Pressure Ulcer, and Burn Guidelines Drafting Committee delegated by the Japanese Dermatological Association and intend to facilitate physicians' clinical decisions in preventing, diagnosing and management of lower leg ulcers and varicose veins. We updated all sections by collecting documents published since the publication of the first edition.

A benchmark for computational analysis of animal behavior, using animal-borne tags.

Background: Animal-borne sensors ('bio-loggers') can record a suite of kinematic and environmental data, which are used to elucidate animal ecophysiology and improve conservation efforts. Machine learning techniques are used for interpreting the large amounts of data recorded by bio-loggers, but there exists no common framework for comparing the different machine learning techniques in this domain. This makes it difficult to, for example, identify patterns in what works well for machine learning-based analysis of bio-logger data.

High-fat/high-sucrose diet-induced renal changes in obese diabetic mice: a comparison with db/db and KK-Ay mice.

Many genetic and environmental factors are involved in the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and its pathology shows various characteristics. Animal models of DKD play an important role in elucidating its pathogenesis and developing new therapies. In this study, we investigated the pathophysiological features of two DKD animal models: db/db mice (background of hyperglycemia) and KK-Ay mice (background of hyperinsulinemia).

Fibroblast Activation Protein-α Expression in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Shows the Poor Survival of Colorectal Cancer via Immune-Mediated Pathways : Implications of FAP in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Link Immune Dysregulation to Adverse Survival in Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune cells, the key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), play critical roles in oncogenesis. Despite the recognized function of fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP), a specific biomarker of CAFs in cancer progression, its role in the survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remains unclear.

Methods: We investigated 180 pathological sections obtained from 178 consecutive patients with CRC who underwent surgical resection at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital between January 2013 and December 2015.

Precursor-free synthesis of carbon quantum dots and carbon microparticles in supercritical acetone.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have recently received a lot of attention due to their unique physical properties, and their environmentally friendly features such as low toxicity and high biocompatibility. Supercritical fluids, which possess unusual properties such as high solubility, high diffusivity, low viscosity and zero surface tension, are now commonly used particularly in the fields of electronic, chemical and materials science and engineering. Here, we synthesise carbon nano/microparticles in supercritical acetone, in which neither external molecules nor starting materials are dissolved/dispersed.

Comparison of Hemodynamic Effects of Remimazolam and Midazolam During Anesthesia Induction in Patients Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery: A Single-Center Retrospective and Exploratory Study.

Introduction: Patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery may experience hemodynamic instability during the induction of general anesthesia, and anesthetic agents with minimal hemodynamic effects should be administered. Midazolam, a classic benzodiazepine anesthetic, is known to have relatively weak circulatory depression during anesthesia induction compared to other sedatives. On the other hand, remimazolam, a newly approved short-acting benzodiazepine anesthetic, is expected to have fewer circulatory depressant effects.

Positive Antiganglioside Antibodies in a Patient with Primary Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma of the Central Nervous System.

Up to one-third of lymphoma cases involve the nervous system. Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) associated with lymphoma is extremely rare. We herein report a case of primary central nervous system lymphoma initially mimicking MFS in a 70-year-old man who presented with subacute unsteady gait and diplopia.

Defense-related callose synthase PMR4 promotes root hair callose deposition and adaptation to phosphate deficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plants acquire phosphorus (P) primarily as inorganic phosphate (Pi) from the soil. Under Pi deficiency, plants induce an array of physiological and morphological responses, termed phosphate starvation response (PSR), thereby increasing Pi acquisition and use efficiency. However, the mechanisms by which plants adapt to Pi deficiency remain to be elucidated.

Clinical impact of the prognostic nutritional index and skeletal muscle index for the incompletion of adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy is a standard therapeutic option for resected pancreatic cancer. However, the risk factors for incompletion of adjuvant chemotherapy remain unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 72 patients who underwent radical pancreatectomy and received S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

Heart rate and insula activity increase in response to music in individuals with high interoceptive sensitivity.

Interoception plays an important role in emotion processing. However, the neurobiological substrates of the relationship between visceral responses and emotional experiences remain unclear. In the present study, we measured interoceptive sensitivity using the heartbeat discrimination task and investigated the effects of individual differences in interoceptive sensitivity on changes in pulse rate and insula activity in response to subjective emotional intensity.

Hidden rivals: the negative impacts of dolphinfish on seabird foraging behaviour.

Marine predators often aggregate at the air-sea boundary layer to pursue shared prey. In such scenarios, seabirds are likely to benefit from underwater predators herding fish schools into tight clusters thereby enhancing seabirds' prey detectability and capture potential. However, this coexistence can lead to competition, affecting not only immediate foraging strategies but also their distribution and interspecies dynamics.

Risk Index of Regional Infection Expansion of COVID-19: Moving Direction Entropy Study Using Mobility Data and Its Application to Tokyo.

Background: Policies, such as stay home, bubbling, and stay with your community, recommending that individuals reduce contact with diverse communities, including families and schools, have been introduced to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these policies are violated if individuals from various communities gather, which is a latent risk in a real society where people move among various unreported communities.

Objective: We aimed to create a physical index to assess the possibility of contact between individuals from diverse communities, which serves as an indicator of the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread when considered and combined with existing indices.

A disease resistance assay in Nicotiana benthamiana reveals the immune function of Response to HopBA1.

A receptor protein variant lacking 2′,3′-cAMP/cGMP synthetase activity but retaining NADase activity does not induce cell death but confers resistance to Potato virus X.

[The Association of Docetaxel Side Effects and Introduction of Subsequent Cabazitaxel for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer : A Clinical Study].

The administration of cabazitaxel for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) requires prior docetaxel therapy. Sequential chemotherapy may have to be discontinued due to docetaxelassociated side effects. This study investigated the relationship between treatment outcome of docetaxel and cabazitaxel and their associated side effects.

Protocols for collecting mouse PDL cells and bone marrow cells, differentiation, and data analysis.

Periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and macrophages in bone marrow cells have been widely used to investigate novel therapeutic agents to treat periodontitis. Here, we present a protocol for collecting primary mouse PDLCs and bone marrow cells. We detail steps for culturing and differentiation for both cell types and review data analysis for in vitro experiments using primary PDLCs and bone marrow cells.

Biphenotypic Cells and α-Synuclein Accumulation in Enteric Neurons of Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Knockout Mice.

Background: Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 is a molecule that is responsible for familial Parkinson's disease. Our previous findings revealed that leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 is expressed in the enteric nervous system. However, which cells in the enteric nervous system express leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 and whether leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 is associated with the structure of the enteric nervous system remain unclear.