Long Period Voltage Oscillations Associated with Reaction Changes between CO Reduction and H Formation in Zero-Gap-Type CO Electrochemical Reactor.

Zero-gap-type reactors with gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) that facilitate the CO reduction reaction (CORR) are attractive due to their high current density and low applied voltage. These reactors, however, suffer from salt precipitation and anolyte flooding of the cathode, leading to a short lifetime. Here, using a zero-gap reactor with a transparent cathode end plate, we report periodic voltage oscillations under constant current operation.

Annotated draft genome sequences of KT1a and KT1b strains isolated from dry-aged beef surface.

KT1a and KT1b were isolated and identified in our earlier study as the two dominant fungal species on dry-aged beef. In this study, we report their genome sequences and annotations.

Successful utilization of clozapine for a patient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia after recurrent violent behavior.

Background: In patients with schizophrenia, violent behavior is a clinically important factor that prevents their discharge. Clozapine is an effective antipsychotic medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, and its usefulness for aggressive behavior has also been suggested.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 38-year-old male patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who was successfully treated with clozapine after recurrent violent behavior.

Sodium removal per ultrafiltration volume in automated peritoneal dialysis in pediatric patients.

Background: The standard rate of sodium removal in adult anuric patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is 7.5 g/L of ultrafiltration volume (UFV). Although automated PD (APD) is widely used in pediatric patients, no attempt has yet been made to estimate sodium removal in APD.

Single-cell transcriptome landscape of circulating CD4 T cell populations in autoimmune diseases.

CD4 T cells are key mediators of various autoimmune diseases; however, their role in disease progression remains unclear due to cellular heterogeneity. Here, we evaluated CD4 T cell subpopulations using decomposition-based transcriptome characterization and canonical clustering strategies. This approach identified 12 independent gene programs governing whole CD4 T cell heterogeneity, which can explain the ambiguity of canonical clustering.

A Case of Unilateral Renal Agenesis Detected by Abdominal Point-Of-Care Ultrasound.

As the interest in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for investigating pediatric abdominal emergencies has been growing, an increasing number of literatures about abdominal POCUS has been published. We describe a noteworthy instance of a systematic approach using abdominal POCUS for detecting unilateral renal agenesis (URA) in previously healthy children with suspected intussusception. A previously healthy three-year-old girl was brought to our emergency department (ED) due to abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.

Treatment Delay of Febrile Urinary Tract Infections Among Infants With Respiratory Symptoms.

Objective: To evaluate whether antibiotic treatment of febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) is delayed in febrile infants with respiratory symptoms compared with those without.

Study Design: Data of infants 2-24 months of age diagnosed with UTI from March 1, 2012 to May 31, 2023 were collected from our hospital's medical charts and triage records. Patients with known congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract or a history of febrile UTI were excluded.

Regulatory T cells in autoimmune kidney diseases and transplantation.

Regulatory T (T) cells that express the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) are naturally present in the immune system and have roles in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and immune system and tissue homeostasis. T cells suppress T cell activation, expansion and effector functions by various mechanisms, particularly by controlling the functions of antigen-presenting cells. They can also contribute to tissue repair by suppressing inflammation and facilitating tissue regeneration, for example, via the production of growth factors and the promotion of stem cell differentiation and proliferation.

Treg-based immunotherapy for antigen-specific immune suppression and stable tolerance induction: a perspective.

FoxP3-expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs), whether naturally generated in the immune system or unnaturally induced from conventional T cells (Tconvs) in the laboratory, have much therapeutic value in treating immunological diseases and establishing transplantation tolerance. Natural Tregs (nTregs) can be selectively expanded by administration of low-dose IL-2 or IL-2 muteins for immune suppression. For adoptive Treg cell therapy, nTregs can be expanded by strong antigenic stimulation in the presence of IL-2.

Mechanical analysis of the improved superelastic Ni-Ti alloy wire using the orthodontic simulator with high-precision sensors.

Purpose: The authors have been using improved superelastic Nickel-Titanium alloy wire (ISW) to close and align extraction spaces simultaneously, instead of separately using rigid wires for closing extraction spaces and Ni-Ti alloy wires for leveling and aligning. ISW has a low stiffness, which makes it challenging to generate sufficient moments. This study aimed to demonstrate the forces and moments exerted on adjacent brackets using an orthodontic simulator (OSIM) attached to a high-precision 6-axis sensor.

Grape cytochrome P450 CYP90D1 regulates brassinosteroid biosynthesis and increases vegetative growth.

Vine vigor or vegetative growth is an important factor related to berry quality and vinicultural training management, but brassinosteroid (BR)-induced molecular mechanisms underlying vine growth remain unclear. In this study, the hypothesis that the Vitis vinifera CYP90D1 gene VvCYP90D1, one of the genes for BR biosynthesis, plays a critical role in shoot elongation was tested. RNA sequencing analysis of shoots collected from the vigorous cultivar Koshu (KO) and the reference cultivar Pinot Noir (PN) 7 days after bud break showed higher expression levels of various genes in the BR biosynthesis pathway in KO than in PN.

Factors related to ultrafiltration volume with icodextrin dialysate use in children.

Background: Icodextrin has a lower absorption rate, and icodextrin peritoneal dialysate contributes to more water removal than glucose dialysate in patients with high peritoneal permeability. There are limited data on icodextrin dialysate use in children.

Methods: This study included all pediatric patients who received peritoneal equilibration tests and peritoneal dialysis with icodextrin dialysate at the study center.

A Novel Mouse Model of Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome Induced by Immunization with the Podocyte Protein Crb2.

Background: The cause of podocyte injury in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) remains unknown. Although recent evidence points to the role of B cells and autoimmunity, the lack of animal models mediated by autoimmunity limits further research. We aimed to establish a mouse model mimicking human INS by immunizing mice with Crb2, a transmembrane protein expressed at the podocyte foot process.

Zygote Microinjection for Creating Gene Cassette Knock-in and Flox Alleles in Mice.

CRISPR-Cas technology has enabled the rapid and effortless generation of genetically modified mice. Specifically, mice and point mutant mice are readily produced by electroporation of CRISPR factors (and single-stranded oligo DNA donors) into the zygote. In contrast, gene cassette (>1 kb) knock-in and floxed mice are mainly generated by microinjection of CRISPR factors and double-stranded DNA donors into zygotes.

Direct Rub Inoculation of Fungal Flora Changes Fatty Acid Composition and Volatile Flavors in Dry-Aged Beef: A Preliminary Study.

Here, we established a method to produce dry-aged beef (DAB) by rub inoculation with fungal flora on the prepared DAB surface. Portions of Holstein steers’ rumps were prepared by direct rub inoculation of fungal flora or without treatment (conventional DAB) and dry-aged for 26 days in an aging room at 2.9 °C and 90% relative humidity.

CT Findings and Treatment Outcomes of Ground-Glass Opacity Predominant Lung Cancer After Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been rapidly evolving and increasingly performed in patients with ground-glass opacity (GGO) predominant lung cancer (GGOp-LC).

Purpose: To evaluate early-phase CT findings of GGOp-LC after SBRT.

Materials And Methods: Patients with GGOp-LC staged as cTis-2bN0M0 treated with SBRT were retrospectively identified.

Therapeutic Strategy for Rheumatoid Arthritis by Induction of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells with High Suppressive Potential.

Combination treatment using fingolimod (FTY720), an immunomodulator, and a pathogenic antigen prevents the progression of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI)-induced arthritis. In this study, we focused on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs; CD11bGr-1 cells) and investigated the effects of the combination treatment on these cells. DBA/1J mice with GPI-induced arthritis were treated using FTY720 and/or GPI for five days.

USP40 deubiquitinates HINT1 and stabilizes p53 in podocyte damage.

Podocyte damage is a major pathological lesion leading to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Podocytes damaged by cellular stress undergo hypertrophy to compensate for podocytopenia. It is known that cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors induced by p53 ensure podocytes hypertrophy; however, its precise mechanism remains to be further investigated.

Half of children with IgA vasculitis-associated nephritis with nephrotic state spontaneously recover.

Background: The clinical spectrum of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN), now known as IgA vasculitis-associated nephritis (IgAVN), ranges from isolated microscopic haematuria to nephrotic syndrome, progressive glomerulonephritis, and kidney failure. The outcome also varies, and the management of IgAVN is controversial. The presence of nephrotic state at disease onset is thought to be a risk factor of a poor prognosis.

Continuous intradialytic amino acid infusion from the start of dialysis is better to avoid catabolism under the high-volume pre-dilution on-line HDF.

It was reported that amino acid infusion during hemodialysis is useful for improving nutritional status. The optimal administration method of amino acid infusion under the high-volume pre-dilution on-line HDF (HVPO-HDF) was analyzed in this study. Subjects were 10 patients on maintenance dialysis at our clinic.