Hollow Fiber Microreactor Combined with Digital Twin to Optimize the Antimicrobial Evaluation Process.

In order to reproduce pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles seen in vivo, the Hollow Fiber Infection Model (HFIM) is a useful in vitro module in the evaluation of antimicrobial resistance. In order to reduce the consumption of culture medium and drugs, we developed a hollow fiber microreactor applicable to the HFIM by integrating the HFIM function. Next, we constructed a novel control method by using the "digital twin" of the microreactor to achieve precise concentration control.

Transcostal Microendoscopic Discectomy for Central Thoracic Disc Herniation Causing Myelopathy: A Technical Note.

Introduction: Minimally invasive surgical treatment of myelopathy caused by central thoracic disc herniation (TDH) is challenging to carry out because reaching the herniation site is difficult and the thoracic spinal cord is fragile. In this study, using the posterior-lateral approach for central TDH with myelopathy, we present a novel procedure of transcostal microendoscopic discectomy (TCMED).

Technical Note: The patient was operated in a prone position under general anesthesia.

Amorphous Magnesium Coating for Achieving Functional Changes from Antibacterial to Osteogenic Activities.

Medical devices composed of titanium (Ti) should exhibit antibacterial and osteogenic activities to achieve both infection prevention and rapid bone reconstruction. Here, a Ti surface was modified by performing magnetron sputtering (MS) using pure Mg or Mg-30Ca alloy targets for surface functionalization. MC0, prepared with a pure Mg target, had a crystalline metallic-Mg coating layer, whereas MC30, prepared with an Mg-30Ca alloy target, had an amorphous coating composed of Mg and Ca.

Clinical outcomes in febrile children with a positive urine culture without pyuria: Implications for antibiotics.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether antibiotics should be administered to patients aged <2 years with a positive urine culture without pyuria by identifying their clinical characteristics and outcomes in the absence of antibiotic treatment.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included children aged <2 years with positive findings on a culture of urine obtained using a catheter in the paediatric emergency department between 2016 and 2021. The primary outcome was the spontaneous resolution of fever without antibiotics in patients with a positive urine culture without pyuria.

Immediate change following valve deployment in left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an effective treatment for aortic valve disorder. Several studies have reported improvements in systolic and diastolic function following TAVR. However, few studies have addressed immediate post-deployment changes.

Thyroid Cancer With Autocrine Sialyl-fibronectin Depletion Has a Poor Prognosis due to EMT Progression.

Background/aim: Elevated blood fibronectin (FN) levels have been observed in various cancers; however, their significance remains controversial. Herein, we measured the levels of sialyl-fibronectin (S-FN), a type of FN secreted by tumor cells, and investigated whether blood S-FN secretion is associated with recurrent metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Patients And Methods: An ELISA system recognizing S-FN was constructed, and the amount of S-FN in blood samples from 63 patients with thyroid carcinoma was measured.

Conformational Changes and Coordination Stability of Flexible Tripeptides During Ni(II)-mediated Self-assembly.

The rational design of artificial supramolecular structures with specific properties and functions hinges the comprehensive understanding of the coordination and noncovalent interactions driving self-assembly. Herein, the self-assembly of supramolecular systems through octahedral coordination between Ni(II) ions and a flexible tripeptide was theoretically investigated using quantum chemical calculations. These calculations utilized the B3LYP functional with the polarizable continuum model.

Democratizing Microreactor Technology for Accelerated Discoveries in Chemistry and Materials Research.

Microreactor technologies have emerged as versatile platforms with the potential to revolutionize chemistry and materials research, offering sustainable solutions to global challenges in environmental and health domains. This survey paper provides an in-depth review of recent advancements in microreactor technologies, focusing on their role in facilitating accelerated discoveries in chemistry and materials. Specifically, we examine the convergence of microfluidics with machine intelligence and automation, enabling the exploitation of the cyber-physical environment as a highly integrated experimentation platform for rapid scientific discovery and process development.

Biocompatible Core-Shell Microneedle Sensor Filled with Zwitterionic Polymer Hydrogel for Rapid Continuous Transdermal Monitoring.

Microneedle (MN)-based electrochemical biosensors hold promising potential for noninvasive continuous monitoring of interstitial fluid biomarkers. However, challenges, such as instability and biofouling, exist. This study proposes a design employing hollow MN to encapsulate a zwitterionic polymer hydrogel sensing layer with excellent biocompatibility and antifouling properties to address these issues.

Natural history of asymptomatic cervical internal carotid artery stenosis in diabetes mellitus patients.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be a cause of cervical internal carotid artery stenosis (ICS). In this study, we investigated the natural history of asymptomatic ICS in DM patients without surgical intervention.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 148 DM patients with asymptomatic ICS treated medically at the Kansai Electric Power Hospital from April 2013 to March 2023, inclusive.

Fucosylation inhibitor 6-alkynylfucose enhances the ATRA-induced differentiation effect on acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

For acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), differentiation therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is well established. However, the narrow application and tolerance development of ATRA remain to be improved. In this study, we investigated the effects of combinations of glycosylation inhibitors with ATRA to achieve better efficiency than ATRA alone.

A Staphylococcus epidermidis strain inhibits the uptake of Staphylococcus aureus derived from atopic dermatitis skin into the keratinocytes.

Background: Various bacterial species form a microbiome in the skin. In the past, dead Staphylococcus aureus derived from atopic dermatitis (AD) are taken up by keratinocytes; however, whether live S. aureus can be taken up by keratinocytes is unknown.

Methylglyoxal activates transient receptor potential A1/V1 via reactive oxygen species in the spinal dorsal horn.

Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive dicarbonyl metabolite of glucose primarily formed during the glycolytic pathway, is a precursor of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Recently, numerous studies have shown that MGO accumulation can cause pain and hyperalgesia. However, the mechanism through which MGO induces pain in the spinal dorsal horn remains unclear.

Proportion of Successful Lumbar Punctures in Infants Younger Than Three Months.

It is important to perform lumbar punctures (LPs) without a single traumatic tap in infants younger than three months owing to the risk of serious complications. The proportion of LPs in which clear cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was obtained has been previously reported, but some of the procedures involved a traumatic tap. The present study aimed to identify the proportion of LPs in which clear CSF was obtained without a single traumatic tap and the factors associated with successful LPs in infants younger than three months.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of nectriatide derivatives, potentiators of amphotericin B activity.

Nectriatide 1a, a naturally occurring cyclic tetrapeptide, has been reported to a potentiator of amphotericin B (AmB) activity. In order to elucidate its structure-activity relationships, we synthesized nectriatide derivatives with different amino acids in solution-phase synthesis and evaluated AmB-potentiating activity against Candida albicans. Among them, C-and N-terminal protected linear peptides were found to show the most potent AmB-potentiating activity.

Twig-like middle cerebral artery as a variety of isolated middle cerebral artery disease with new vessel formation: illustrative case.

Background: Twig-like middle cerebral artery (T-MCA) is reported as a rare vascular anomaly characterized by reconstitution of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) by a plexiform network of small vessels. Although it is generally believed that the etiology of T-MCA is an embryological persistence, some investigators have suggested that T-MCA may be a secondary consequence. Here, the authors report a second case of de novo T-MCA formation and reconsider the concept of T-MCA in connection with isolated MCA disease.

Posterior Epidural Migrated Lumbar Disc Fragment at L2-3 Level Mimicking an Extradural Spinal Tumor: A Case Report.

Introduction: Disc sequestration is well known as a perforation of the fibrous ring and posterior longitudinal ligament, and migration of the fragment to the epidural space.

Case Report: A 62-year-old man complained of increased pain and hypoesthesia and muscle weakness of the left lower limb that had started 1 month before. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor-like mass at the L2-3 level on the posterior side of the dura.

Effect of brain acidification on depression-related behaviors in diabetes mellitus.

Major depressive disorder (depression) is a leading cause of disability. The severity of depression is affected by many factors, one of which being comorbidity with diabetes mellitus (DM). The comorbidity of depression with DM is a major public health concern due to the high incidence of both conditions and their mutually exacerbating pathophysiology.

Microbial Biomanufacturing Using Chemically Synthesized Non-Natural Sugars as the Substrate.

The bioproduction of valuable materials using biomass sugars is attracting attention as an environmentally friendly technology. However, its ability to fulfil the enormous demand to produce fuels and chemical products is limited. With a view towards the future development of a novel bioproduction process that addresses these concerns, this study investigated the feasibility of bioproduction of valuable substances using Corynebacterium glutamicum (C.

Construction of an autocatalytic reaction cycle in neutral medium for synthesis of life-sustaining sugars.

Autocatalytic mechanisms in carbon metabolism, such as the Calvin cycle, are responsible for the biological assimilation of CO to form organic compounds with complex structures, including sugars. Compounds that form C-C bonds with CO are regenerated in these autocatalytic reaction cycles, and the products are concurrently released. The formose reaction in basic aqueous solution has attracted attention as a nonbiological reaction involving an autocatalytic reaction cycle that non-enzymatically synthesizes sugars from the C1 compound formaldehyde.

Quantum Chemical Calculations of Flexible Tripeptide-Ni(II) Ion-Mediated Supramolecular Fragments and Comparative Analysis of Tripeptide Complexes with Various Metal(II) Ions.

An automated conformational search method was employed to efficiently determine the stable conformers and weak hydrogen bonds of a flexible tripeptide coordinated with a solitary metal(II) ion in an aqueous environment. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to investigate the tendency of octahedral coordination formation between different metal(II) ions and various coordination models (ammonia molecule, chelate molecule, and flexible tripeptide). The octahedral coordination was analyzed by decomposing it into tridentate, bidentate, and monodentate coordination model complexes to assess their formation propensities and conformational properties.

Moyamoya disease presenting with symptomatic ischemic stroke during new-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment: two illustrative cases.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been widely used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia. Nilotinib and ponatinib, which are second- and third-generation TKIs, have been reported to cause cerebrovascular arterial complications. Here, we present two cases of moyamoya disease presenting with symptomatic ischemic stroke during new-generation TKI treatment.

Preoperative serum tissue factor pathway inhibitor‑2 level as a prognostic marker for endometrial cancer.

Advanced endometrial cancer (EC) often recurs and has a poor prognosis. Various serum markers have been used for EC but their usefulness as biomarkers is still unclear; therefore, identifying new biomarkers is important. The present study aimed to investigate whether the tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI2) level was elevated in the preoperative serum of patients with EC and if it may be a prognostic factor.