Pyrobacteriopheophorbide-a derivatives possessing various hydrophilic esterifying groups at the C17-propionate residues for photodynamic therapy.

Aiming at the application to photodynamic therapy, natural bacteriochlorophyll-a was converted to chemically stable free-base derivatives possessing different kinds of hydrophilic C17-propionate residues. These semi-synthetic bacteriochlorins were found to have self-assembling ability in an aqueous environment and formed stable J-type aggregates in a cell culture medium containing 0.2% DMSO.

Formation of a Metallomacrocycle Possessing Nitrogen Donors Assembled in the Cavity and Unique Water Clusters.

2,2'-Bipyridyl (bpy) is widely used as a chelating unit for metal complexation but is not usually considered as a hydrogen-bonding unit. This is because the metal-free bpy units are usually in a transoid conformation, and the two nitrogen lone pairs are pointed to the opposite sides. We now report a metallomacrocycle whose three metal-free bpy units are in a cisoid conformation and are fixed in the cavity.

Contribution of Phe112, Ser114, and Tyr115 to Drug-Binding Selectivity in the A Variant of α-Acid Glycoprotein.

The plasma protein α-acid glycoprotein (AGP) primarily affects the pharmacokinetics of basic drugs. There are two AGP variants in humans, A and F1*S, exhibiting distinct drug-binding selectivity. Elucidation of the drug-binding selectivity of human AGP variants is essential for drug development and personalized drug therapy.

Presenilin deficiency enhances tau phosphorylation and its secretion.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of abnormally folded amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in the brain parenchyma and phosphorylated tau in neurons. Presenilin (PS, PSEN) 1 and PS2 are essential components of γ-secretase, which is responsible for the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to generate Aβ. PSEN mutations are associated with tau aggregation in frontotemporal dementia, regardless of the presence or absence of Aβ pathology.

Impact of in vivo fate of STING agonist-loaded lipid nanoparticles on antitumor immunity.

Therapeutically manipulating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has promising potential for enhancing antitumor immunity. Agonists of this pathway (STING agonists) are being evaluated in clinical trials. Loading the STING agonists into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) increases their safety and efficacy.

Phosphatidylcholine head group chemistry alters the extrahepatic accumulation of lipid-conjugated siRNA.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are revolutionizing the treatment of liver-associated indications. Yet, robust delivery to extrahepatic tissues remains a challenge. Conjugating lipids (e.

Inhibitory effect of organogermanium compound 3-(trihydroxygermyl)propanoic acid on fructose-induced glycation of amino compounds.

3-(Trihydroxygermyl)propanoic acid (THGP), a hydrolysate of poly-trans-[(2-carboxyethyl)germasesquioxane] (Ge-132, also known as repagermanium), can inhibit glycation between glucose/ribose and amino compounds. In addition, THGP may inhibit glycation by inhibiting reactions that occur after Amadori rearrangement and inducing the reversible solubilization of AGEs. In this study, we first investigated the effects and mechanisms on the glycation of fructose and amino compounds by THGP, as a greater reactivity was obtained with fructose than with glucose.

Clinical outcomes of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia in wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: a proposed treatment strategy for catheter ablation in each arrhythmia.

Aims: Wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM) is often accompanied by atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL), and atrial tachycardia (AT), which are difficult to control because beta-blockers and antiarrhythmic drugs can worsen heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) for AF/AFL/AT in patients with ATTRwt-CM and propose a treatment strategy for CA.

Methods And Results: A cohort study was conducted on 233 patients diagnosed with ATTRwt-CM, including 54 who underwent CA for AF/AFL/AT.

Correction: Ishikawa et al. Systematic Review of Beta-Lactam vs. Beta-Lactam plus Aminoglycoside Combination Therapy in Neutropenic Cancer Patients. 2024, , 1934.

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Major depressive disorder after heart transplantation with partial response to antidepressant therapy and remission with aripiprazole augmentation: A case report.

The incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) after heart transplantation is high; however, there are no reports on treatment options when antidepressant therapy fails to improve the condition. We herein report on the case of a woman with MDD after heart transplantation who partially improved with antidepressant treatment but continued to have a loss of appetite. Augmentation treatment with aripiprazole improved her appetite, and her MDD went into remission.

Fetal 24-Segment Sphericity Index and Ventricular Fractional Shortening Between 12 and 20 Weeks of Gestation.

Background: Although the fetal sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) of 24 transverse segments have been previously reported after the 20th gestational week, there have been no reports during the first and early second trimester.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the SI and FS of 24 transverse segments in normal fetuses before the 20th gestational week.

Methods: A total of 101 normal fetuses aged between 12 and 20 gestational weeks were examined.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for perioperative management of infective endocarditis after COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a case report.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare cardiovascular complication in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). IE after COVID-19 can also be complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); however, the guidelines for the treatment of such cases are not clear. Here, we report a case of perioperative management of post-COVID-19 IE with ARDS using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO).

Associations of combined genetic and lifestyle risks with hypertension and home hypertension.

No study, to our knowledge, has constructed a polygenic risk score based on clinical blood pressure and investigated the association of genetic and lifestyle risks with home hypertension. We examined the associations of combined genetic and lifestyle risks with hypertension and home hypertension. In a cross-sectional study of 7027 Japanese individuals aged ≥20 years, we developed a lifestyle score based on body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and sodium-to-potassium ratio, categorized into ideal, intermediate, and poor lifestyles.

A case of chronic progressive autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy with extensive meningoencephalomyelitis and contrast enhancement on MRI.

•We herein present a case of chronic progressive autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy.•Symmetrical high-intensity signals on FLAIR were observed in the white matter of the temporal and occipital lobes, lateral cerebral ventricle walls, hippocampus, amygdala, and occipital cortex, with extensive Gd enhancement in radial perivascular lesions and the ependyma in the choroid plexus.•Improvements were achieved by 4 courses of IVMP and one of IVIg.

In Vivo Oxidation and Wear in Remelted Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Liners Retrieved at a Minimum of 10 Years After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: With the decreasing age threshold for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is an escalating demand for enhanced polyethylene durability. Although reports assessing wear in remelted highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) through radiographic imaging exist, a consensus regarding its oxidation level is lacking. This study investigated the wear, oxidation levels, and degradation of remelted HXLPE that was retrieved at least 10 years after THA.

Possible Shifts in the Genetic Diversity of Red-crowned Cranes () in Hokkaido, Japan: Indications of Continental Gene Flow.

Red-crowned cranes () consist of two distinct groups: the continental population and the island population. The island population, localized in Hokkaido, Japan, exhibits very low genetic diversity due to its rapid recovery from the brink of extinction. Our previous research in 2018 highlighted a possible mating between a male from the continental population, with the Gj5 haplotype, and a female from the island population, with the Gj2 haplotype, at Hitominuma Sawmp shore in northern Hokkaido.

Functional Analysis of Oligoadenylate Synthetase in the Emu ().

2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) is one of the proteins that act as a defense mechanism against foreign RNA in cells. OAS has two functions: an antiviral effect against a wide range of virus species via the OAS/RNase L pathway with synthesized oligoadenylates and inhibition of viral replication specific to viruses of the genus , which is independent of enzymatic activity. Several birds have been reported to possess only one type of OAS family member, OASL, which has both enzymatic activity and inhibitory effects on flaviviral replication.

Dysregulation of SNX1-retromer axis in pharmacogenetic models of Parkinson's disease.

Since the identification of vacuolar protein sorting (VPS) 35, as a causative molecule for familial Parkinson's disease (PD), retromer-mediated endosomal machinery has been a rising factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. The retromer complex cooperates with sorting nexin (SNX) dimer and DNAJC13, another causal molecule in PD, to transport cargoes from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network, and is also involved in mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy. Retromer dysfunction may induce neuronal death leading to PD via several biological cascades, including misfolded, insoluble α-synuclein (aS) accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction; however, the detailed mechanisms remain poorly understood.

SNap Bond, a Crucial Hydrogen Bond Between Ser in Helix 3 and Asn in Helix 4, Regulates the Structural Dynamics of Heliorhodopsin.

Heliorhodopsin (HeR) is a new rhodopsin family discovered in 2018 through functional metagenomic analysis. Similar to microbial rhodopsins, HeR has an all-trans retinal chromophore, and its photoisomerization to the 13-cis form triggers a relatively slow photocycle with sequential intermediate states (K, M, and O intermediates). The O intermediate has a relatively long lifetime and is a putative active state for transferring signals or regulating enzymatic reactions.