Publications by authors named "Oda A"

Article Synopsis
  • This study examines factors influencing the failure of left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) isolation during cryoballoon (CB) procedure, even when complete occlusion is achieved.
  • Researchers analyzed 300 patients undergoing ablation, identifying two groups based on their LSPV isolation results: those needing additional freezing (Group A) and those only needing complete occlusion (Group B).
  • Key findings show that Group A had larger LSPV diameters, higher left atrial volumes, and different freezing conditions, suggesting the importance of balloon positioning for effective isolation in challenging cases.
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[Purpose] Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include pain, limited range of motion, and muscle weakness. Conservative treatment for knee osteoarthritis includes exercise therapy, physical therapy, and taping therapy. Kinesiology taping has gained traction in clinical practice for knee osteoarthritis treatment owing to its therapeutic benefits.

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Organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) 1B1 and 1B3 are expressed in liver cells and are involved in drug uptake in the liver. OATP1B activity varies due to polymorphisms and is decreased by OATP1B inhibitors. Variability of OATP1B activity impacts the pharmacokinetics of OATP1B substrate drugs through drug-drug interactions.

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  • This study investigates the effectiveness of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) of the left atrial roof using the POLARx catheter compared to the AFA-Pro in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
  • The results show that POLARx achieved a complete conduction block more effectively and maintained a significantly lower cryoballoon temperature during the procedure compared to AFA-Pro.
  • As a result, POLARx eliminates the need for rapid right ventricular pacing, making the procedure simpler and more efficient for achieving the desired outcomes.
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Multiple myeloma (MM) cells and osteoclasts (OCs) activate with each other to cause drug resistance. Human Th1-like Vγ9Vδ2 (γδ) T cells, important effectors against tumors, can be expanded and activated ex vivo by the aminobisphosphonate zoledronic acid in combination with IL-2. We previously reported that the expanded γδ T cells effectively targeted and killed OCs as well as MM cells.

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Proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) are particularly vulnerable to acute kidney injury (AKI). While fatty acids are the preferred energy source for PTECs via fatty acid oxidation (FAO), FAO-mediated H O production in mitochondria has been shown to be a major source of oxidative stress. We have previously shown that a mitochondrial flavoprotein, long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD), which catalyzes a key step in mitochondrial FAO, directly produces H O .

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BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 caused a worldwide pandemic, and mRNA vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were developed to avoid SARS-CoV-2 infection. Short-term adverse events, such as fever, malaise, body aches, and headaches, develop within a few days following COVID-19 vaccination. Those adverse events are common and widely known as transient reactions.

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Introduction: Ependymomas are neuroepithelial neoplasms of the central nervous system that arise from the precursor cells lining the ventricular system and the central canal of the spinal cord. Herein, we report a case of an extremely rare type of ependymoma arising from the thigh. Then, a literature review was performed.

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Purpose: Blackberries are rich in polyphenols and are a human health food continuously consumed to improve health and reduce diseases caused by aging. Herein, we evaluated the effects of daily blackberry administration before and after transient cerebral ischemia in gerbils.

Methods: Blackberry extract (BBE) was orally administered twice a day for two weeks to protect against ischemic events during continuous administration.

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  • The study presents a novel method for capturing low-pressure CO using alkaline earth metal ion pairs in a ferrierite-type zeolite, enhancing their CO adsorption capability.
  • The unique structure allows up to four CO molecules to form stable M-(CO)-M complexes due to favorable interactions, particularly with barium ions.
  • High-accuracy energy calculations reveal that the barium pair can effectively capture and release CO even at low concentrations (400 ppm) and moderate temperatures (298 K), suggesting potential for improved CO adsorbent designs.
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  • - The enzyme CYP2B6 is crucial for metabolizing drugs like efavirenz and propofol, and genetic variations in the CYP2B6 gene can alter its effectiveness and lead to side effects.
  • - This study examined 29 rare genetic variants of CYP2B6 found in a large Japanese population, showing that some variants significantly reduce enzyme activity.
  • - Researchers used techniques like western blotting and molecular simulations to identify how structural changes in the enzyme affect its function, which could aid in predicting drug metabolism and minimizing adverse effects.
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Purpose: Amid rising health awareness, natural products which has milder effects than medical drugs are becoming popular. However, only few systems can quantitatively assess their impact on living organisms. Therefore, we developed a deep-learning system to automate the counting of cells in a gerbil model, aiming to assess a natural product's effectiveness against ischemia.

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  • A study measured plasma belimumab levels in 13 SLE patients receiving treatment, focusing on variations both within and between individuals over time.
  • Results showed a significant 5-fold difference in plasma concentrations among patients, while individual patients exhibited smaller variability in their levels.
  • There was no notable correlation between the plasma concentration of belimumab and the dose given, indicating that patient response to treatment can vary widely even at the same dosage.
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Structure-function relationships of supported metal nanoparticle catalysts in the CO-assisted oxidation of ethane to ethanol were investigated. A rutile TiO-supported Pt nanoparticle catalyst exhibited the highest ethanol production rate and selectivity. During the reaction, sequential changes in the geometric/electronic states and the particle size of the Pt nanoparticles were observed.

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Near-seafloor concentrated gas hydrates (GHs) containing large amounts of methane have been identified at various gas chimney sites. Although understanding the spatial distribution of GHs is fundamental for assessing their dissociation impact on aggravating global warming and resource potential, the spatial distribution of GHs within gas chimneys remains unclear. Here, we estimate the subseafloor distribution of GHs at a gas chimney site in the Japan Sea using marine electrical resistivity tomography data.

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: In patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), early detection and optimal elective treatment before rupture are desirable. In the absence of an established public screening system, opportunistic screening during ultrasound examination for another purpose might be efficacious. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of opportunistic screening for AAA.

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Vascularization plays a critical role in organ maturation and cell-type development. Drug discovery, organ mimicry, and ultimately transplantation hinge on achieving robust vascularization of in vitro engineered organs. Here, focusing on human kidney organoids, we overcame this hurdle by combining a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line containing an inducible ETS translocation variant 2 (ETV2) (a transcription factor playing a role in endothelial cell development) that directs endothelial differentiation in vitro, with a non-transgenic iPSC line in suspension organoid culture.

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The maximum blood flow velocity through the aortic valve (AVmax) using Doppler transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is important in assessing the severity of aortic stenosis (AS). The right parasternal (RP) approach has been reported to be more useful than the apical approach, but the anatomical rationale has not been studied. We aimed to clarify the influence of the angle formed by the ascending aorta and left ventricle on Doppler analysis by TTE (Sep-Ao angle) and three-dimensional multidetector computed tomography (3D-MDCT) in patients with AS.

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Massive ovarian edema (MOE) is a rare benign condition presenting as unilateral ovarian enlargement with stromal edema, and only a limited number of MOE cases during pregnancy have been reported. MOE is often complicated by ovarian torsion, which requires detorsion. Although the diagnosis of MOE can be made using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, its rarity makes diagnosis difficult, usually leading to overtreatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • A2 domain dissociation in activated factor VIII (FVIIIa) leads to reduced activity, but certain mutations (D519V/E665V and K1813A) can enhance coagulation potential due to delayed dissociation.* -
  • The study assessed a combination mutation (D519V/E665V/K1813A) and found it significantly improved FVIII's performance in coagulation, showing a higher enzyme activity compared to wild-type FVIII.* -
  • In tests with hemophilia A mice, the D519V/E665V/K1813A mutant exhibited an approximately eightfold increase in hemostatic function over wild-type FVIII, indicating a potential for improved treatment options.*
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Background: The anatomical approach for the management of para-Hisian ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) with QRS morphological changes after catheter ablation (CA) has not been well investigated.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the electrocardiographic and electrophysiological findings and ablation outcomes of para-Hisian VAs with QRS morphological changes after CA.

Methods: Of the 30 patients who underwent CA for para-Hisian VAs at 4 institutions, 10 (33%) had QRS morphological changes after ablation.

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Ensitrelvir is a noncovalent inhibitor of the main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Acquisition of drug resistance in virus-derived proteins is a serious therapeutic concern, and drug resistance occurs due to amino acid mutations. In this study, we computationally constructed 24 mutants, in which one residue around the active site was replaced with alanine and performed molecular dynamics simulations to the complex of Mpro and ensitrelvir to predict the residues involved in drug resistance.

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The Maillard reaction is one of the nonenzymatic post-translational modifications of proteins. Products of this reaction are considered to be related to aging diseases and the sensation of taste. In the initial stage of the Maillard reaction, Schiff base formation first occurs by the nucleophilic attack of amine nitrogen in proteins, and then, the reaction proceeds through the formation of 1,2-eminal and Amadori compounds.

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