Stable and Minimum Size Solubilization of Membrane Proteins with Cocktails of Phospholipid Analogues.

Membrane proteins (MPs) play important roles in various cellular processes and are major targets for drugs. Solubilization of MPs is often needed for structural and biophysical studies. For high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, there is a size limit of the sample (<100 kDa), and a high thermal stability at an increased temperature is required.

Risk factors for nausea and vomiting requiring the daily administration of 5-HT receptor antagonists in radiotherapy combined with temozolomide for high-grade glioma.

Radiotherapy combined with temozolomide (TMZ+RT) is the primary treatment for high-grade glioma. TMZ is classified as a moderate emetic risk agent and, thus, supportive care for nausea and vomiting is important. In Nagoya University Hospital, all patients are treated with a 5-hydroxy-tryptamine 3 receptor antagonist (5-HTRA) for the first 3 days.

Exploring simple ways to avoid collecting highly 137Cs-contaminated Aralia elata buds for the revival of local wild vegetable cultures.

Collection and cooking of wild vegetables have provided seasonal enjoyments for Japanese local people as provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. However, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011 caused extensive radiocesium contamination of wild vegetables. Restrictions on commercial shipments of wild vegetables have been in place for the last 10 years.

Evaluating the risk of phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers in dust samples from 100 Japanese houses.

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizer and associated with various health issues. Recently, non-phthalate plasticizers are replacing phthalates; however, the exposure to these substances and the risk in Japan is unclear. In this study, we assessed the concentrations of phthalates, non-phthalate plasticizers, and phthalate degradation products in house dust and determined their respective exposure risks via oral and dermal routes.

Urinary concentrations and elimination half-lives of parabens, benzophenones, bisphenol and triclosan in Japanese young adults.

Environmental phenols are widely distributed in the environment and human samples, suggesting potential exposure to these chemicals. We designed an intervention trial with 30 participants over 6 days to assess the urinary concentrations and half-lives of environmental phenols in Japanese young people. The target environmental phenols include three parabens (methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, and propyl paraben), two benzophenones (benzophenone 1 and 3), two bisphenols (bisphenol F and bisphenol S), and triclosan.

Explaining the variation in Cs aggregated transfer factor for wild edible plants as a case study on Koshiabura (Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides) buds.

The aggregated transfer factor (T) is commonly used to represent the actual transfer of radiocesium from soil to wild edible plants, but the values have shown substantial variation since the Fukushima nuclear accident. To elucidate the factors causing this variation, we investigated the effects of spatial scale and vertical Cs distribution in the soil on the variation of T-Cs values for one of the most severely contaminated wild edible plants, Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides Franch. et Sav.

A multiscale, vertical-flow perfusion system with integrated porous microchambers for upgrading multicellular spheroid culture.

Spheroid formation assisted by microengineered chambers is a versatile approach for morphology-controlled three-dimensional (3D) cell cultivation with physiological relevance to human tissues. However, the limitation in diffusion-based oxygen/nutrient transport has been a critical issue for the densely packed cells in spheroids, preventing maximization of cellular functions and thus limiting their biomedical applications. Here, we have developed a multiscale microfluidic system for the perfusion culture of spheroids, in which porous microchambers, connected with microfluidic channels, were engineered.

Aggregated transfer factor of Cs in edible wild plants and its time dependence after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident.

We obtained the aggregated transfer factor (T) for 10 common edible wild plant species (four perennial spermatophytes, bamboo shoot, two tree species, and three perennial pteridophytes) in northeastern Japan. Measurement of T was carried out in 2012-2019 and we also used publicly available data for 2012-2019: food monitoring data and total deposition data from an airborne survey. The T obtained from actual measurements agreed well with T values calculated from the publicly available data.

Baseline Complete Blood Count and Chemistry Panel Profile from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

Background: The Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) is a nationwide birth cohort study of environmental factors affecting children's health and development. We summarize the complete blood count and chemistry panel statistical data from pregnant women enrolled in JECS.

Methods: Statistical data of up to 58,056 mother's sample in their first (gestational age ≤ 13 weeks) and second trimester (22-27 weeks) were calculated.

A randomized clinical trial of triamcinolone acetonide injection for suppression of inflammation after blepharoptosis surgery.

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of triamcinolone acetonide in suppressing inflammation after blepharoptosis surgery. The study was designed as prospective, randomized, two medical centers' clinical trial. Thirty-two patients with involutional blepharoptosis of the same degree in both eyelids underwent bilateral transcutaneous levator advancement.

Dacryoendoscopy-guided re-canalization of canaliculops: Two case reports.

Rationale: Canaliculops is a rare condition, and only 11 cases have been reported previously. We report 2 cases of canaliculops, which were successfully treated using the new recanalization technique under dacryoendoscopy followed by bicanalicular lacrimal intubation.

Patient Concerns: A 78-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman had 3- and 1-year histories of medial-upper eyelid swelling (left and right, respectively) without any inflammatory signs, history of periocular trauma, herpes infection, use of specific drugs, or ophthalmic diseases of note.

Development of central retinal artery occlusion accompanied by choroidal folds in a patient with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: A case report.

Rationale: We report a case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) accompanied by choroidal folds in a patient positive for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA).

Patient Concerns: The study involved a 67-year-old female patient who presented at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki-City, Osaka, Japan on October 24, 2016 after becoming aware of a sudden decrease of visual acuity (VA) in her right eye. Other than suffering with scleritis 6-months previous, there was no obvious past history.

Reassessment of early I inhalation doses by the Fukushima nuclear accident based on atmospheric Cs and I/Cs observation data and multi-ensemble of atmospheric transport and deposition models.

The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accidents following the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake, and subsequent tsunami released radioactive materials into the atmosphere and caused significant public health concerns, particularly thyroid cancers in children. However, the lack of measurement data for atmospheric concentrations of I has caused persistent and widespread uncertainty. This study estimated the maximum potential thyroid doses of inhaled I in the early post-accident phase between March 12 and 23, 2011 by using the hourly measured data of the Cs concentrations at 101 suspended particulate matter (SPM) monitoring sites, a new multi-model ensemble (MME) method of simulating Cs concentrations using two Atmospheric Transport and Deposition Models (ATDMs), the I/Cs ratio obtained from measurement data analysis, and the internal exposure model.

Health Risk Assessment and Source Apportionment of Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Selenium, and Manganese in Japanese Women: An Adjunct Study to the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Toxic element pollution is a serious global health concern that has been attracting considerable research. In this study, we elucidated the major routes of exposure to three toxic elements (mercury, cadmium, and lead) and two essential elements (manganese and selenium) through diet, soil, house dust, and indoor air and assessed the potential health risks from these elements on women from the coastal area of Miyagi prefecture, Japan. Twenty-four-hour duplicate diet, house dust, soil, and indoor air samples were collected from 37 participants.

Estimation of the radiation dose via indoor dust in the Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures, 150-200 km south from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

The radiation dose effects due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident are of public concern. Although indoor dust is an important exposure route for some hazardous chemicals, the radiation exposure dose from the radioactive caesium (Cs) in it has not been well investigated. Hence, in this study, we measured the radioactive Cs in the indoor dust of private houses in order to estimate the resulting human exposure.

Two Cases of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Associated with Asteroid Hyalosis.

Background: To report two cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) associated with asteroid hyalosis (AH).

Case Presentation: Two patients presented with RRD originating from a flap tear. Case 1 involved a 62-year-old male who was found to have bullous RRD in his left eye originating from a flap tear.

Case of Primary Leptomeningeal Lymphoma Presenting with Papilloedema and Characteristics of Pseudotumor Syndrome.

The authors describe an immunocompetent, 50-year-old man who complained of a daily transient blurring of his vision with bilateral papilloedema. His visual acuity was 20/20 OU, and the blind spot was enlarged bilaterally. There was intracranial hypertension, but imaging for systemic and brain tumours were negative.

Lead Exposure Assessment among Pregnant Women, Newborns, and Children: Case Study from Karachi, Pakistan.

Lead (Pb) in petrol has been banned in developed countries. Despite the control of Pb in petrol since 2001, high levels were reported in the blood of pregnant women and children in Pakistan. However, the identification of sources of Pb has been elusive due to its pervasiveness.

Plant Aurora kinases interact with and phosphorylate transcription factors.

Aurora kinase (AUR) is a well-known mitotic serine/threonine kinase that regulates centromere formation, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis in eukaryotes. In addition to regulating mitotic events, AUR has been shown to regulate protein dynamics during interphase in animal cells. In contrast, there has been no identification and characterization of substrates and/or interacting proteins during interphase in plants.

External lead contamination of women's nails by surma in Pakistan: Is the biomarker reliable?

Adverse health effects of heavy metals are a public health concern, especially lead may cause negative health impacts to human fetal and infantile development. The lead concentrations in Pakistani pregnant women's nails, used as a biomarker, were measured to estimate the lead exposure. Thirteen nail samples out of 84 nails analyzed contained lead higher than the concentration (13.

Pravastatin Modulate Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 and ATP-Binding Cassette G5 and G8 to Influence Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption.

Purpose: Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1), ATP-binding cassette (ABC)G5, and ABCG8 mediate intestinal cholesterol absorption. It is unclear whether pravastatin (PR) or ezetimibe (EZ) affect expression of these transporters. We examined the effects of PR and EZ on NPC1L1, ABCG5, and ABCG8 expression in human hepatoma HepG2 cells and the murine small intestine.

Stimulation of phosphorylation of ERK and CREB by phellopterin and auraptene isolated from Citrusjunos.

Bioactive compounds from citrus fruits contribute many benefits to human health. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling plays an important role in the regulation of multiple cellular processes. Activation of the ERK-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signaling is required for long- term memory formation.

Three decades of environmental specimen banking at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan.

After two decades operation of the initial environmental specimen banking, a new program, Environmental Time Capsule Program, started in 2002 as a government-supported long-term program to construct a firm scientific basis for various environmental research studies. The program consists of long-term environmental specimen banking activity and specimen collection of endangered wildlife and is based on cryogenic sample preservation facility called Environmental Time Capsule building, which completed construction in 2004. After 9 years of extensive research, research focuses have been selected and the program was reorganized to the environmental sample collection part and endangered wildlife collection part in 2011.