Publications by authors named "Miyata N"
Elevated concentrations of manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in water bodies can disrupt ecosystems and damage aquatic life. However, the mechanisms underlying the removal of Mn and Zn under dynamic conditions and the optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT) for passive treatment plants remain unclear. Here, a pilot-scale passive treatment system for the removal of Mn and Zn from legacy mine drainage in northern Japan is proposed; it was performed at circumneutral pH for 152 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study compares the effectiveness of sequencing-batch reactors (SBRs) and continuous-flow reactors (CFRs) in removing dissolved manganese (Mn) from mine drainage using manganese-oxidizing bacteria.
- SBRs showed superior performance, achieving over 66% Mn removal in four weeks, while CFRs reached only about 13.6%, highlighting higher microbial activity in SBRs during the start-up phase.
- Both reactors produced mixed manganese-oxide deposits, but SBRs had a slightly higher average oxidation valence, with different microbial communities dominating the early stages and steady state, indicating distinct pathways for manganese oxidation.
In this study, a silicon-based copolymer, poly(tris(trimethylsiloxy)-3-methacryloxypropylsilane)--poly(,-dimethyl acrylamide), thin film was subjected to plasma surface treatment to make its surface hydrophilic (biocompatible). Neutron reflectivity (NR) measurement of the plasma-treated thin film showed a decrease in the film thickness (etching width: ∼20 nm) and an increase in the scattering length density (SLD) near the surface (∼15 nm). The region with a considerably high SLD adsorbed water (DO) from its saturated vapor, indicating its superior surface hydrophilicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- A 40-year-old Japanese man with HIV experienced a decline in consciousness after two years of not receiving treatment, showing severe weight loss and a critically low CD4+ lymphocyte count.
- He was diagnosed with disseminated Mycobacterium avium infection and pneumocystis pneumonia, and a brain biopsy confirmed varicella zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis.
- The patient was treated with antiretroviral therapy and intravenous acyclovir, leading to survival but with ongoing neurological complications; VZV encephalitis is rare and carries a poor prognosis in AIDS patients.
Article Synopsis
- The KDM1A histone demethylase is linked to poor prognosis in aggressive neuroblastomas due to its role in regulating cell growth and differentiation.
- Research demonstrated that NCL-1, a small molecule inhibitor of KDM1A, effectively reduced cell proliferation and induced neuronal differentiation in various neuroblastoma models.
- In vivo studies showed that NCL-1 treatment significantly decreased tumor growth in mouse models by altering tumor cell behavior and disrupting blood vessel formation.
Article Synopsis
- - Studies indicate that blood flow to the renal medulla is crucial for regulating blood pressure and pressure-natriuresis.
- - Research in rats suggests that proper medullary blood flow is essential for balancing blood pressure and that reduced blood flow can lead to hypertension.
- - Enhanced blood flow in the medulla can lower hypertension, and nitric oxide production in this area is vital for protecting against damage caused by various harmful agents.
The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo and in vitro the effectiveness of the use of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 with carbonate apatite (COAp) on periodontal healing. Periodontal defects created in the maxillary first molars in rats were treated with FGF-2, COAp, FGF-2 + COAp or left unfilled. Healing was evaluated using microcomputed tomography, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study used neutron reflectivity to examine the interface between deuterated polyethylene (dPE) films and silicon substrates, finding water accumulation even in normal conditions.
- After treating the dPE films, it was revealed that the adsorption layer consisted of an inner layer (about 3.7 nm thick) and a thin outer layer, with the inner layer having a density similar to bulk polyethylene.
- Understanding the structure of these layers is important for enhancing the performance of polymer/inorganic nanocomposites, especially since crystalline polyolefins are commonly used as matrix materials.
Article Synopsis
- Persistent inflammation in people living with HIV (PWH) may influence their immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection differently than in HIV-uninfected individuals.
- During a study, proinflammatory cytokine levels were measured in PWH, revealing no significant differences in cytokine levels across various COVID-19 severity levels, unlike in HIV-uninfected individuals where higher levels correlated with severe cases.
- The findings indicate that PWH are in a heightened inflammatory state but exhibit distinct inflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2 compared to the general population, possibly due to impairments in their immune cells and existing inflammation.
A 44-year-old HIV-positive man diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 2021 achieved complete remission with six cycles of R-CHOP therapy but had a relapse in November 2022. ESHAP therapy failed to induce remission, leading to complete remission with four cycles of Pola-BR therapy. Post-failure of autologous stem cell harvest, cord blood transplantation (CBT) was performed in June 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To address the paucity of HIV-related lymphoma (HRL)-specific prognostic scores for the Japanese population by analyzing domestic cases of HRL and constructing a predictive model.
Design: A single-center retrospective study coupled with a review of case reports of HRL.
Methods: We reviewed all patients with HRL treated at our hospital between 2007 and 2023 and conducted a comprehensive search for case reports of HRL from Japan using public databases.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the etiological agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19, with the recurrent epidemics of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, remains a global public health problem, and new antivirals are still required. Some cholesterol derivatives, such as 25-hydroxycholesterol, are known to have antiviral activity against a wide range of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant homeodomain finger protein 8 (PHF8) is a histone demethylase that regulates the expression of various genes. PHF8 targets repressor histone markers and activates gene expression. Although PHF8 has been involved in X-linked mental retardation and certain types of cancers, the role of PHF8 remains largely unknown, and its relevance to the pathogenesis of these diseases is also uncertain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnresolved Palliative Care Needs of Elderly Non-Cancer Patients at Home: A Multicenter Prospective Study.
J Prim Care Community Health
December 2023
Introduction/objectives: There is growing consensus on the benefits of initiating palliative care early in the disease trajectory; however, palliative care needs for non-cancer patients remain to be elucidated. We investigated the trajectory of unresolved palliative care needs of non-cancer patients at home and explored associated factors.
Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study of elderly non-cancer patients at home in Japan between Jan 2020 and Dec 2020.
Article Synopsis
- Recent studies indicate that gut microbiota plays a significant role in anorexia nervosa (AN), with patients showing ongoing microbial imbalances even after treatment and weight gain.
- Research used advanced PCR technology to analyze gut microbiomes over three months in hospitalized AN patients, revealing a unique microbial profile compared to healthy individuals.
- Findings suggest that simply gaining weight may not restore gut health, indicating the need for possible treatment approaches like diet changes or microbiota-targeted therapies.
1-Kestose (KES), a dietary fiber and prebiotic carbohydrate, benefits various physiological functions. This study aimed to examine whether diets supplemented with KES over three consecutive generations could significantly affect some host physiological aspects, including behavioral phenotypes and gut microbial ecology. Mice that received KES-supplemented diets for three generations demonstrated increased activity compared with those fed diets lacking KES.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKnockout of Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 Opposes Hypertension- and Diabetes-induced Nephropathy.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol
December 2023
The progression of chronic kidney disease results from the accumulation of extracellular matrix leading to end-stage renal disease. We previously demonstrated that a broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor reduced renal injury in rat models of hypertension and diabetes. However, the isoforms and mechanisms involved are unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn 8-year retrospective review of emergency laparotomy outcomes in a Queensland rural hospital.
Aust J Rural Health
October 2023
Objective: Emergency laparotomy (EL) is a major operation performed in critically unwell patients. The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA), undertaken in the UK since 2013 has shown progressive improvement in clinical outcomes, specifically reduced mortality, and length of stay (LOS) through the implementation of perioperative key performance indicators (KPIs) (ANZ J Surg. 2021;91:2575, Br J Surg.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Japan has maintained a rabies-free status for over 50 years, yet some travelers have reported rabies exposure abroad; this study aimed to analyze animal encounters among these travelers.
- The study reviewed data from the Japanese Registry for Infectious Diseases from Abroad (J-RIDA) for travelers between October 2017 and October 2019, focusing on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and types of animals involved in incidents.
- Findings revealed that a majority of travelers were exposed to animals in rabies-risk countries, with most injuries linked to dogs, cats, and monkeys; the study emphasizes the need for better pre-travel consultations and awareness about rabies risks.
Article Synopsis
- - The study focuses on the importance of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids like EPA and DHA for ecosystem health, highlighting their presence in both fish and food sources in lakes.
- - Researchers collected data from five dominant fish species and basal food sources in Lake Hachiro, Japan, over five years to examine the correlation between fish EPA/DHA levels and those in the food sources.
- - Results showed strong correlations, particularly with the species Hypomesus nipponensis, indicating it can serve as a reliable indicator of EPA and DHA availability in lake ecosystems.
Article Synopsis
- Filamentous manganese oxide particles in suboxic water zones play a crucial role in elemental cycles and are believed to be formed by bacteria, but the environmental factors driving their formation are still unclear.
- This study shows that algal extracellular polysaccharides enhance manganese oxidation by certain bacteria, leading to the production of these filamentous particles.
- Investigating Lake Biwa, researchers found a correlation between the density of manganese particles and phytoplankton, particularly green algae, suggesting that algal mucilage is vital for forming these manganese oxide particles in the lake’s near-bottom layer.
CMG (Cdc45-MCM-GINS) helicase assembly at the replication origin is the culmination of eukaryotic DNA replication initiation. This process can be reconstructed in vitro using defined factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; however, in vertebrates, origin-dependent CMG formation has not yet been achieved partly due to the lack of a complete set of known initiator proteins. Since a microcephaly gene product, DONSON, was reported to remodel the CMG helicase under replication stress, we analyzed its role in DNA replication using a Xenopus cell-free system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Water absorbed by epoxy resins from humid environments significantly impacts their structure and properties, especially in adhesive applications.
- - A study using neutron reflectometry revealed a 1-nm-thick condensed water layer forms at the SiO/epoxy resin interface after 8 hours at 85% humidity, influenced by curing conditions.
- - The findings suggest that high-temperature and high-humidity conditions can alter water accumulation at the interface, highlighting the importance of improving epoxy resin construction to reduce this issue in practical use.
Objectives: One primary concern about receiving care at home is that survival might be shortened because the quality and quantity of treatment provided at home will be inferior to that given in the hospital. Although our previous study demonstrated a longer survival of those with home-based palliative care (PC), it lacked adjustment for some potential confounders including symptoms and treatments during the stay. We aimed to compare the survival times among advanced cancer patients receiving home-based and hospital-based PC with adjusting for symptoms and treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study focuses on the low-temperature synthesis of thick multilayered hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) on quartz and silicon substrates to improve electronic devices using 2D materials.
- Using inductively coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at temperatures between 400 and 500 °C, researchers achieved h-BN thickness over 5 nm, with enhanced crystal quality through optimized synthesis parameters.
- The synthesized h-BN exhibited a band gap of about 5.8 eV and comparable Raman peak characteristics to commercially available h-BN, indicating potential for applications in high-performance electronics.