Upregulation of Piezo2 and increased extracellular matrix protein in diabetic kidney disease mice.

Mechanical forces such as glomerular hyperfiltration are crucial in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic kidney disease. Piezo2 is a mechanosensitive cation channel and plays a major role in various biological and pathophysiological phenomena. We previously reported Piezo2 expression in mouse and rat kidneys and its alteration by dehydration and hypertension.

Spontaneous resumption of severe infranodal conduction disturbances that followed COVID-19 vaccination.

We report reversible severe infranodal conduction disturbances that followed COVID-19 vaccination in a young woman. Right and left bundle branch conduction were impaired and recovered at different times, resulting in reversible paroxysmal complete atrioventricular block.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Sotorasib in Healthy Subjects and Advanced Solid Tumor Patients Harboring a KRAS Mutation from Phase 1 and Phase 2 Studies.

Sotorasib is a novel KRAS inhibitor that has shown robust efficacy, safety, and tolerability in patients with KRAS mutation. The objectives of the population pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis were to characterize sotorasib population PK in healthy subjects and patients with advanced solid tumors with KRAS mutation from 6 clinical studies, evaluate the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on PK parameters, and perform simulations to further assess the impact of identified covariates on sotorasib exposures. A two-compartment disposition model with three transit compartments for absorption and time-dependent clearance and bioavailability well described sotorasib PK.

Pre-stroke patient characteristics that influence skeletal muscle quality: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: One of the parameters that is measurable using bioelectrical impedance is the phase angle (PhA), which is an indicator of skeletal muscle quality. The PhA reflects cellular health and nutritional status and is an important parameter for monitoring recovery after stroke. However, the factors affecting skeletal muscle quality remain unclear.

Fallopian tube carcinoma mimicking inguinal hernia: A case report with imaging and histological insights.

Fallopian tube carcinoma, presenting as an inguinal hernia, is a rare entity. We report the case of a woman in her 70s with a history of hysterectomy and right oophorectomy 29 years prior who presented with left cervical lymphadenopathy and elevated CA125 levels. Imaging revealed a tubular structure in the left pelvic region extending into the inguinal hernia sac.

Methods for treating coronary eruptive calcified nodules.

Eruptive calcified nodules (CNs) are a manifestation of severely calcified plaques, which exist in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), non-ACS lesions. Optical coherence tomography is crucial for diagnosing and treating eruptive CNs in clinical practice. Management of eruptive CNs is still a challenge for interventional cardiologists.

Premature ventricular contraction arising from the left coronary sinus cusp: Which signal is the target of ablation?

We described a premature ventricular contraction arising from the left coronary sinus cusp, in which we discussed about the interpretations of the signals recorded there. Our case provided further insights into the interpretation of signals recorded at the coronary sinus cusp during premature ventricular contraction ablation.

A new and simplified extraoral approach for inferior alveolar nerve block: a cadaveric study and clinical case reports.

Purpose: Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) blocks are commonly performed using the intraoral landmark techniques. However, these methods have a risk of unanticipated nerve and arterial injury or a higher failure rate. We developed a novel extraoral approach for the IAN and LN blocks, the "inferior alveolar nerve block mandibular angle approach (IANB-MA)," using ultrasound guidance.

Piezo ion channels: long-sought-after mechanosensors mediating hypertension and hypertensive nephropathy.

Recent advances in mechanobiology and the discovery of mechanosensitive ion channels have opened a new era of research on hypertension and related diseases. Piezo1 and Piezo2, first reported in 2010, are regarded as bona fide mechanochannels that mediate various biological and pathophysiological phenomena in multiple tissues and organs. For example, Piezo channels have pivotal roles in blood pressure control, triggering shear stress-induced nitric oxide synthesis and vasodilation, regulating baroreflex in the carotid sinus and aorta, and releasing renin from renal juxtaglomerular cells.

The impact of novel scoring balloon and cutting balloon after orbital atherectomy on severely calcified coronary lesion as assessed by optical coherence tomography.

Background: Debulking devices are often followed by a scoring or cutting balloon in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for severely calcified lesions. However, there are limited data on balloon preparation after orbital atherectomy (OA) assessed using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Aim: We aimed to compare the effects of a novel scoring and cutting balloon on calcified coronary lesions with OCT.

Predictors of target lesion failure after percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-coated balloon for de novo lesions.

Background: There are limited data about determinant factors of target lesion failure (TLF) in lesions after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a drug-coated balloon (DCB) for de novo coronary artery lesions, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings.

Aims: The present study aims to investigate the associated factors of TLF in de novo coronary artery lesions with DCB treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 328 de novo coronary artery lesions in 328 patients who had undergone PCI with a DCB.

Glomerular Endothelial Cell Receptor Adhesion G-Protein-Coupled Receptor F5 (ADGRF5) and the Integrity of the Glomerular Filtration Barrier.

Key Points: Deletion of endothelial receptor adhesion G-protein–coupled receptor F5 in mice led to abnormal structural and functional properties of the glomerular filtration barrier. Adhesion G-protein–coupled receptor F5 regulates gene expression of glomerular basement membrane components and a mechanosensitive transcription factor.

Background: Glomerular endothelial cells are recognized to be important for maintaining the glomerular filtration barrier.

A light-controlled phospholipase C for imaging of lipid dynamics and controlling neural plasticity.

Phospholipase C (PLC) is a key enzyme that regulates physiological processes via lipid and calcium signaling. Despite advances in protein engineering, no tools are available for direct PLC control. Here, we developed a novel optogenetic tool, light-controlled PLCβ (opto-PLCβ).

All-optical presynaptic plasticity induction by photoactivated adenylyl cyclase targeted to axon terminals.

Intracellular signaling plays essential roles in various cell types. In the central nervous system, signaling cascades are strictly regulated in a spatiotemporally specific manner to govern brain function; for example, presynaptic cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) can enhance the probability of neurotransmitter release. In the last decade, channelrhodopsin-2 has been engineered for subcellular targeting using localization tags, but optogenetic tools for intracellular signaling are not well developed.

Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy against COVID-19 among adults in Europe: a descriptive study analysis applying socio-ecological framework.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Europe among adults by using the Socio-Ecological Model.

Results: This cross-sectional study used secondary data collected from respondents residing in 27 EU countries at the time of May 2021. The outcome was vaccine hesitancy against COVID-19, and the total sample size of 23,606 was analysed by binary logistic regression, as well as McKelvey and Zavonoia's R.

Demonstration of differential ventricular overdrive pacing during long RP' supraventricular tachycardia.

We described the differential ventricular overdrive pacing during long RP' supraventricular tachycardia and discussed about its response leading to the dianosis.

A multistate platform model for time-to-event endpoints in oncology clinical trials.

A multistate platform model was developed to describe time-to-event (TTE) endpoints in an oncology trial through the following states: initial, tumor response (TR), progressive disease (PD), overall survival (OS) event (death), censor to the last evaluable tumor assessment (progression-free survival [PFS] censor), and censor to study end (OS censor), using an ordinary differential equation framework. Two types of piecewise functions were used to describe the hazards for different events. Piecewise surge functions were used for events that require tumor assessments at the scheduled study visit times (TR, PD, and PFS censor).