Targeted insertion of heterogenous DNA using Cas9-gRNA ribonucleoprotein-mediated gene editing in .

Gene editing is emerging as a powerful tool for introducing novel functionalities in mushrooms. While CRISPR/Cas9-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) typically rely on non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) for gene disruption, precise insertion of heterologous DNA in mushrooms is less explored. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of inserting donor DNAs (8-1008 bp) with or without homologous arms at Cas9-gRNA RNP-induced DSBs.

Validity of the international physical activity questionnaire short form for assessing physical activity in Japanese adults with type 1 diabetes.

Objective: To examine the validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF) against an objective method for assessing physical activity (PA) in Japanese adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 126 adults with T1D (aged 20-74 years). The participants wore a triaxial accelerometer for 7 consecutive days and completed the IPAQ-SF (a recall survey for the last 7 days) on the day following the 7-day accelerometer period.

Vacuolated Parabasal Cells in Papanicolaou Smears Are Cellular Changes Caused by Human Papillomavirus 16 Infection.

In cervical cancer screening, cytology is used as a triage test to refer high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV)-positive women for colposcopy, but its accuracy is inadequate. The present study aimed to demonstrate that the presence of atypical cells with large vacuoles in the cytoplasm of parabasal cells, referred to as vacuolated parabasal cells (VPCs), which are observed in the Pap smears of HPV-positive women, is associated with specific HPV genotypes. Among 2175 patients, 310 with a single HR-HPV infection and cytological diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) or atypical squamous cells not excluding HSIL (ASC-H) were included, of which 86 were infected with HPV16.

Oral care methods to reduce salivary bacteria in infants undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Background/purpose: Complications, such as postoperative pneumonia, can occur after pediatric cardiac surgery; however, studies on related changes in perioperative oral bacterial counts are scarce. Herein, we investigated the changes in oral bacterial counts before and after surgery in infants who underwent cardiac surgery, as well as after oral care using an antiseptic mouthwash.

Materials And Methods: A total of 102 infants who underwent congenital heart disease surgery were enrolled in this study.

Why work in another country? Japanese nurses' experience and their reasons for staying in Australia.

Aim: Many Japanese nurses have moved to Australia, yet their experiences and perceived reasons for staying in Australia are understudied. This study identified why Japanese nurses who moved internationally to Australia continued to stay and work in Australia.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Japanese nurses who hold Japanese nursing licenses and are registered as nurses in Australia.

Relationship between neutropenia caused by nanoliposomal irinotecan/fluorouracil/leucovorin and treatment outcomes in the NAPOLEON-2 study (NN-2301).

The relationship between nanoliposomal irinotecan/fluorouracil/leucovorin (NFF) treatment outcomes and neutropenia in patients with pancreatic cancer has not been thoroughly examined. Thus, we conducted a retrospective analysis of data from patients with pancreatic cancer who were treated with NFF to investigate this relationship. Neutropenia was assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events across three cutoffs: A (grade 0 versus grade 1-4), B (grades 0-1 versus 2-4), and C (grades 0-2 versus 3-4).

Biosynthetic characterization of bacillibactin in thermophilic Bacillaceae and its potential for in vitro mutational synthesis.

Bacillibactin (BB) is a microbial siderophore produced by Bacillus species. BB is biosynthesized from 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHB), Gly, and L-Thr by nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) enzymes DhbE, DhbB, and DhbF. The biosynthetic gene cluster (dhb) is also conserved in some strains of thermophilic genera, Geobacillus, Anoxybacillus and Parageobacillus.

Gut microbes associated with functional cure of chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is prevalent worldwide and is difficult to eradicate. Current treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis B ultimately seek to achieve functional cure (FC); however, the factors contributing to FC remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the gut microbiota profiles of patients with chronic hepatitis B who achieved FC.

Endothelial lipase-binding peptides similar to netrin-1 inhibit hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects cells by attaching to heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) and Na/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP). The endothelial lipase LIPG bridges HSPG and HBV, facilitating HBV attachment. From a randomized peptide expression library, we identified a short sequence binding to LIPG.

Serum Periostin is Able to Stratify Type 2-Dominant Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a heterogeneous disease composed of different endotypes. It is important to develop useful biomarkers for endotyping UC; however, available biomarkers are insufficient. We have already established that periostin is a surrogate biomarker of type 2 inflammation.

Nutritional Status Modifies the Association Between Hemoglobin Level and Mortality in Older Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Nationwide Dialysis Registry in Japan.

Objective: Anemia is a common complication associated with adverse outcomes in older patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). They also tend to experience malnutrition, which can affect the course of anemia. We hypothesized that the optimal hemoglobin (Hb) level varies depending on nutritional status in older patients undergoing HD and aimed to investigate the association between Hb levels and mortality according to nutritional status.

Clinical and biochemical factors associated with amygdalar metabolic activity.

We investigated clinical factors and biochemical markers associated with amygdalar metabolic activity evaluated by [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in 346 subjects without a history of malignant neoplasms. Univariate regression analysis revealed significant relationships between amygdalar metabolic activity and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin, coronary artery disease (CAD) history, aspirin use, oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) use, and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). In multiple stepwise regression analysis, FPG and CAD history were independently associated with amygdalar metabolic activity.

Snowflake Data Warehouse for Large-Scale and Diverse Biological Data Management and Analysis.

With the increasing speed of genomic, transcriptomic, and metagenomic data generation driven by the advancement and widespread adoption of next-generation sequencing technologies, the management and analysis of large-scale, diverse data in the fields of life science and biotechnology have become critical challenges. In this paper, we thoroughly discuss the use of cloud data warehouses to address these challenges. Specifically, we propose a data management and analysis framework using Snowflake, a SaaS-based data platform.

Different fates between extracellular and intracellular antimicrobial resistome in full-scale activated sludge and membrane bioreactor processes.

Treated effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are major sources of extracellular antimicrobial resistance genes (eARGs) into aquatic environments. This study aimed to clarify the fate and origins of eARGs from influent to treated effluent at a full-scale WWTP. The compositions of eARG and intracellular ARG (iARG) were acquired via shotgun metagenomic sequencing in influent wastewater, activated sludge, and treated effluent of the target WWTP, where identical wastewater was treated by conventional activated sludge (CAS) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes.

Rspo3-mediated metabolic liver zonation regulates systemic glucose metabolism and body mass in mice.

The unique architecture of the liver consists of hepatic lobules, dividing the hepatic features of metabolism into 2 distinct zones, namely the pericentral and periportal zones, the spatial characteristics of which are broadly defined as metabolic zonation. R-spondin3 (Rspo3), a bioactive protein promoting the Wnt signaling pathway, regulates metabolic features especially around hepatic central veins. However, the functional impact of hepatic metabolic zonation, regulated by the Rspo3/Wnt signaling pathway, on whole-body metabolism homeostasis remains poorly understood.

Pre-operative subjective functional capacity and postoperative outcomes in adult non-cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Assessment of functional capacity is an essential part of peri-operative risk stratification. Subjective functional capacity is easier to examine than objective tests of patient fitness. However, the association between subjective functional capacity and postoperative outcomes has not been established.

Associations Between Ambient PM and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico.

Introduction: This study investigates associations between fine particulate air pollution (PM) exposure and thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy in Puerto Rican individuals, a vulnerable population facing socioeconomic and environmental disparities.

Methods: This research draws on data from the PROTECT cohort study and involves 1040 participants to measure the effect of PM on developmentally important thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4, and FT4). Pollution concentrations were linked to participant locations using EPA air quality data and analyzed across two visits during gestational weeks 16-20 and 24-28.

Single Dose of Attenuated Vaccinia Viruses Expressing H5 Hemagglutinin Affords Rapid and Long-Term Protection Against Lethal Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5N1 Virus in Mice and Monkeys.

Background/objectives: In preparation for a potential pandemic caused by the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, pre-pandemic vaccines against several viral clades have been developed and stocked worldwide. Although these vaccines are well tolerated, their immunogenicity and cross-reactivity with viruses of different clades can be improved.

Methods: To address this aspect, we generated recombinant influenza vaccines against H5-subtype viruses using two different strains of highly attenuated vaccinia virus (VACV) vectors.

Acute therapeutic effects and pathophysiology of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis neuropathy.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of early treatment and pathophysiology on eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis neuropathy (EGPA-N).

Methods: Twenty-six consecutive patients with EGPA-N were diagnosed and treated within a day of admission and underwent clinical analysis. Peripheral nerve recovery rates were evaluated after early treatment by identifying the damaged peripheral nerve through detailed neurological findings.

Rapid growth of a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura after slow long-term progression: a case report.

Background: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) of the pleura are usually benign. We present a case of SFT of the pleura which grew rapidly after slow long-term progression.

Case Presentation: A 78-year-old man was referred to our hospital for left-sided back pain and shortness of breath.

Associations of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time with all-cause mortality in Japanese older adults: a 10-year prospective study.

Objective: To examine the associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time with all-cause mortality in older Japanese adults.

Methods: A total of 1723 independent Japanese adults aged ≥65 years were followed from 2011 to 2021. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA) and sedentary time were measured using a triaxial accelerometer secured to participants' waists.

Light-Harvesting Spin Hyperpolarization of Organic Radicals in a Metal-Organic Framework.

Light-driven spin hyperpolarization of organic molecules is a crucial technique for spin-based applications such as quantum information science (QIS) and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). Synthetic chemistry provides the design of spins with atomic precision and enables the scale-up of individual spins to hierarchical structures. The high designability and extended pore structure of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can control interactions between spins and guest molecules.

Effect of cardiac rehabilitation on progression to long-term care: A clinical and economic longitudinal study in Japan.

Background: The social burden of nursing care is increasing with age, particularly for patients with heart failure who often require intensive care. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between nursing care needs and the clinical status of patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, focusing on the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in reducing these needs.

Methods: This single-gate, multicenter, retrospective observational study included patients of all ages with a history of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases using government-administered insurance claims and health examination data.