Publications by authors named "Mizumoto K"

Visualizing the subcellular localization of presynaptic proteins with fluorescent proteins is a powerful tool to dissect the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying synapse formation and patterning in live animals. Here, we utilize split green and red fluorescent proteins to visualize the localization of endogenously expressed presynaptic proteins at a single neuron resolution in Caenorhabditis elegans. By using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we generated a collection of C.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread school closures were implemented globally based on the assumption that transmission among children in the school environment is common. However, evidence regarding secondary infection rates by school type and level of contact is lacking. Our study estimated the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in school settings by examining the positivity rate according to school type and level of contact by using data from a large-scale school-based PCR project conducted in Okinawa, Japan, during 2021-2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • Motor circuits are crucial for producing various movements, from simple actions like swimming to complex tasks like human manipulation.
  • Research has shown that despite long-standing efforts, understanding of motor circuit development and function is still lacking, but recent advancements provide new tools for exploration.
  • Recent studies on both vertebrates (like mice and frogs) and invertebrates (such as nematodes and fruit flies) have revealed important cellular and molecular processes in the development and functioning of motor circuits, highlighting both shared and unique mechanisms across species.
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We estimated the seroprevalence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) in different island groups in Okinawa. A cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted over three periods between July 2020 and February 2021. A total of 2,683 serum samples were collected from six referral medical centers, each covering a separate region in Okinawa.

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Objective: This study aimed to clarify the molecular mechanism of remnant pancreatic cancer (PC) development after primary PC resection.

Summary Background Data: Molecular mechanisms of the development of remnant PCs following primary PC resection are largely unknown.

Methods: Forty-three patients undergoing remnant PC resection after primary PC resection between 2001 and 2017 at 26 institutes were retrospectively analyzed.

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Background: While airport screening measures for COVID-19 infected passengers at international airports worldwide have been greatly relaxed, observational studies evaluating fever screening alone at airports remain scarce. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively assess the effectiveness of fever screening at airports in preventing the influx of COVID-19 infected persons.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective epidemiological analysis of fever screening implemented at 9 airports in Okinawa Prefecture from May 2020 to March 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • * It included Thai individuals aged 18 and older, focusing on those between 30 and 59, and analyzed factors like gender, age, economic status, and confidence in Japanese.
  • * Results showed that 56.6% had regular dental check-ups, with higher rates linked to better economic status and confidence in the Japanese language, highlighting the need for language and financial support in dental health programs for foreigners.
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Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and reactive sulfur species (RSS) act as signaling molecules, regulating gene expression, enzyme activity, and physiological responses. However, excessive amounts of these molecular species can lead to deleterious effects, causing cellular damage and death. This dual nature of ROS, RNS, and RSS presents an intriguing conundrum that calls for a new paradigm.

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We report the unprecedented sergeants and soldiers (S&S)-type remote control of one-handed helicity in copolymers of chiral/achiral biphenylylacetylenes bearing amphiphilic oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) side chains. A small amount of chiral binaphthyl residues (≤10 mol %) introduced at the terminal of the achiral OEG spacers as many as 80 bonds away from the polymer backbones induced a complete one-handed helix in water through preferential intramolecular encapsulation of the binaphthyl groups within a cavity of the copolymers. A fully one-handed helix can be induced virtually independent of the OEG spacer length and concentrations.

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Background: Olanexidine glucuronide (Olanedine®), an antiseptic solution may cause skin dermatitis around one week after disinfection. Although removal after the procedure is recommended to avoid skin dermatitis, whether it is effective for preventing skin dermatitis has not been documented in detail in the literature.

Case Presentation: We encountered two cases of delayed-onset contact dermatitis by Olanedine®.

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The auxin-inducible degron (AID) provides reversible, spatiotemporal control for the knockdown of target proteins. Here, we present a protocol for AID-mediated protein knockdown in Caenorhabditis elegans. We describe steps for generating the knock-in mutants using two CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing techniques and preparing the auxin-containing nematode growth media (NGM) plates.

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The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a research model organism particularly suited to the mechanistic understanding of synapse genesis in the nervous system. Armed with powerful genetics, knowledge of complete connectomics, and modern genomics, studies using C. elegans have unveiled multiple key regulators in the formation of a functional synapse.

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Purpose: Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive systemic disorder characterized by retinitis pigmentosa, polydactyly, obesity, intellectual disability, renal impairments, and hypogonadism. The purpose of this study was to determine the ocular characteristics of a boy with BBS caused by a novel homozygous variant in the ARL6 (alternative named BBS3) gene who had been originally diagnosed with retinitis punctata albescens.

Methods: This was an observational case study.

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Unlike mammals, primordial germ cells (PGCs) in avian early embryos exploit blood circulation to translocate to the somatic gonadal primordium, but how circulating PGCs undergo extravasation remains elusive. We demonstrate with single-cell level live-imaging analyses that the PGCs are arrested at a specific site in the capillary plexus, which is predominantly governed by occlusion at a narrow path in the vasculature. The occlusion is enabled by a heightened stiffness of the PGCs mediated by actin polymerization.

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Precise synaptic connection of neurons with their targets is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. A plethora of signaling pathways act in concert to mediate the precise spatial arrangement of synaptic connections. Here we show a novel role for a gap junction protein in controlling tiled synaptic arrangement in the GABAergic motor neurons in , in which their axons and synapses overlap minimally with their neighboring neurons within the same class.

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The clinical outcomes of adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) remain unclear. Furthermore, no report has compared the characteristics of ARFID and restricting-type anorexia nervosa (R-AN) in elementary-school students on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). This study retrospectively reviewed inpatients diagnosed with ARFID or R-AN between 2005 and 2019.

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Introduction: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is an aggressive malignancy, with a major mortality resulting from the rapid progression of metastasis. Unfortunately, no effective treatment strategy has been developed for PAAD metastasis to date. Thus, unraveling the mechanisms involved in PAAD metastatic phenotype may facilitate the treatment for PAAD patients.

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Neuronal cell fate determinants establish the identities of neurons by controlling gene expression to regulate neuronal morphology and synaptic connectivity. However, it is not understood if neuronal cell fate determinants have postmitotic functions in synapse pattern formation. Here we identify a novel role for UNC-4 homeobox protein and its corepressor UNC-37/Groucho, in tiled synaptic patterning of the cholinergic motor neurons in .

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To ensure the safe operation of schools, workplaces, nursing homes, and other businesses during COVID-19 pandemic there is an urgent need to develop cost-effective public health strategies. Here we focus on the cruise industry which was hit early by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 40 cruise ships reporting COVID-19 infections. We apply mathematical modeling to assess the impact of testing strategies together with social distancing protocols on the spread of the novel coronavirus during ocean cruises using an individual-level stochastic model of the transmission dynamics of COVID-19.

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A 45-year-old man presented with severe pinch-point crush injury to his left foot. Plain radiographs revealed dislocation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and dorsolateral dislocation of the basal phalanx and sesamoids. The first tarsometatarsal joint was subluxed in the plantar direction and the second to fourth tarsometatarsal joints were subluxed dorsally.

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Article Synopsis
  • The first COVID-19 case in Hokkaido, Japan, was reported on February 14, 2020, with a subsequent surge leading to 90 diagnosed cases by March 6, but many mild or asymptomatic cases likely went unrecognized.
  • Two statistical models were used to predict the actual number of COVID-19 cases in Hokkaido and Sapporo, leading to estimates of 2,297 and 2,233 cases, respectively, as of late February, suggesting a significant number of undetected infections.
  • This analysis provided critical information to inform public health responses during the early stages of the pandemic and offered valuable insights into potential undetected transmission for future evaluations.
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Background/objectives: Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are involved in abundant desmoplasia, which promotes cancer cell aggressiveness and resistance to anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, PSCs are suggested to be a promising therapeutic target by attenuating PSC activation to inhibit tumor-stromal interactions with pancreatic cancer cells. Here, we developed a screen to identify compounds that reduce the activity of PSCs and investigated the effect of candidates on pancreatic cancer.

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