Photoconductive Dynamics of Photorefractive Poly((4-Diphenylamino)benzyl Acrylate)-Based Composites Sensitized by Perylene Bisimide.

The transient dynamics of photocurrents for poly((4-diphenylamino)benzyl acrylate) (PDAA)-based photorefractive (PR) polymers sensitized with perylene bisimide derivative N,N'-diisopropylphenyl-1,6,7,12-tetrachloroperylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyl bisimide (PBI) at various composition ratios were studied. The PR polymer included (4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)methanol (TPAOH) photoconductive plasticizer and (4-(azepan-1-yl)-benzylidene) malononitrile nonlinear optical dye as well, which are needed for inducing PR effects. All the photocurrents measured at 640 nm were well simulated by a two-trapping site model considering photocarrier generation and recombination processes of the charge transfer (CT) complex between PBI and PDAA.

Photorefractivity and photocurrent dynamics of triphenylamine-based polymer composites.

The photorefractive properties of triphenylamine polymer-based composites with various composition ratios were investigated via optical diffraction, response time, asymmetric energy transfer, and transient photocurrent. The composite consisted of a photoconductive polymer of poly((4-diphenylamino)benzyl acrylate), a photoconductive plasticizer of (4-diphenylamino)phenyl)methanol, a sensitizer of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, and a nonlinear optical dye of (4-(azepan-1-yl)-benzylidene)malononitrile. The photorefractive properties and related quantities were dependent on the composition, which was related to the glass transition temperature of the photorefractive polymers.

Endogenous chondroitin extends the lifespan and healthspan in C. elegans.

Chondroitin, a class of glycosaminoglycan polysaccharides, is found as proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix, plays a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis during development and axonal regeneration. Ingestion of chondroitin prolongs the lifespan of C. elegans.

Impact of left atrium plication on chronic heart failure with atrial functional mitral regurgitation.

Purpose: We hypothesized that a giant left atrium may oppress  the posterior left ventricle and aggravate diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. We evaluated the effect of left atrial plication (LAP) on atrial functional mitral regurgitation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent LAP for atrial functional mitral regurgitation at our institution between January 2017 and December 2021.

Long-term outcomes of left ventricular posterior wall plication for ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Purpose: To evaluate the early and long-term outcomes of left ventricular posterior wall plication for ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Methods: Patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation who underwent left ventricular posterior wall plication via right-sided left atriotomy at our institution between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases with normal cardiac function, left ventricular end-systolic diameter < 50 mm, and left ventriculotomy approach were excluded.

Involvement of ω-O-acylceramides and protein-bound ceramides in oral permeability barrier formation.

The permeability barrier present in the oral cavity is critical for protection from infection. Although lipids have properties suitable for permeability barrier formation, little is known about their role in oral barrier formation. Here, we show the presence of ω-O-acylceramides (acylceramides) and protein-bound ceramides, which are essential for the formation of permeability barriers in the epidermis, in the oral mucosae (buccal and tongue mucosae), esophagus, and stomach in mice.

Incomplete Elongation of Ultra-long-chain Polyunsaturated Acyl-CoAs by the Fatty Acid Elongase ELOVL4 in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 34.

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are autosomal dominant diseases characterized by cerebellar atrophy and ataxia. The SCA subtype SCA34 is caused by specific mutations in the gene , which encodes a fatty acid (FA) elongase that synthesizes ultra-long-chain (ULC; ≥C26) FAs. However, the pathogenesis and molecular mechanism that confers dominant inheritance remains unknown.

Noncommunicating acute type A aortic dissection in elderly patients: Surgery versus medical management.

Objectives: Our goal was to evaluate the surgical and conservative outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection with a thrombosed false lumen of the ascending aorta in elderly patients.

Methods: Patients older than 75 years with acute type A aortic dissection admitted to our hospital from October 2011 to December 2020 were reviewed retrospectively, including those with the noncommunicating type without malperfusion and low physical capacity prehospitalization.

Results: Sixty-six patients were enrolled consecutively in the medical (M, n = 30) and surgical (S, n = 36) groups.

Cardiac fibroblasts regulate the development of heart failure via Htra3-TGF-β-IGFBP7 axis.

Tissue fibrosis and organ dysfunction are hallmarks of age-related diseases including heart failure, but it remains elusive whether there is a common pathway to induce both events. Through single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, and genetic perturbation, we elucidate that high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 3 (Htra3) is a critical regulator of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure by maintaining the identity of quiescent cardiac fibroblasts through degrading transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Pressure overload downregulates expression of Htra3 in cardiac fibroblasts and activated TGF-β signaling, which induces not only cardiac fibrosis but also heart failure through DNA damage accumulation and secretory phenotype induction in failing cardiomyocytes.

Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation by Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography/Fluoroscopy Fusion Imaging Guidance in a Patient With Right-Sided Aortic Arch and Chronic Aortic Dissection.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) represents the standard of care for relieving aortic stenosis in high-risk patients for surgery. The transfemoral approach is preferable with respect to invasiveness, but is often difficult in patients with complex vascular structures. Recently, the clinical application of advanced visualization and guidance technology with three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) during TAVI has received considerable attention.

Hypomyelinating spastic dyskinesia and ichthyosis caused by a homozygous splice site mutation leading to exon skipping in ELOVL1.

Introduction: Next generation sequencing technologies allow detection of very rare pathogenic gene variants and uncover cerebral palsy. Herein, we describe two siblings with cerebral palsy due to ELOVL1 splice site mutation in autosomal recessive manner. ELOVL1 catalyzes fatty acid elongation to produce very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs; ≥C21), most of which are components of sphingolipids such as ceramides and sphingomyelins.

Surgical repair for systolic anterior motion of anterior mitral leaflet due to mitral annular calcification.

Systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet with anterior displacement of the coaptation site of the bi-leaflets due to mitral annular calcification on the posterior side, causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, is rare. We report the case of a 72-year-old woman with exertional dyspnea due to systolic anterior motion who underwent surgical repair to decalcify the mitral annular calcification and mitral valve repair. Hence, the systolic anterior motion, mitral valve regurgitation, and symptoms improved significantly.

Erratum: Diverse meibum lipids produced by Awat1 and Awat2 are important for stabilizing tear film and protecting the ocular surface.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.

Comparison of left ventricular pacing performance among pre-shaped guidewires designed for transfemoral-approach transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

TAVI is an established therapy for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Rapid or control pacing is necessary for TAVI, and most centers are familiar with right ventricular (RV) pacing. Although there are several reports on the efficacy and safety of LV pacing, they are still few.

Current Awareness and Status of Venous Ultrasonography in Kumamoto Prefecture - A Report of the Kumamoto Cardiovascular Echocardiography Standardization Project.

There are few reports on the current awareness and status of venous ultrasonography, including the number of specialists who perform this procedure, in a specific regional area in Japan. This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Kumamoto Prefecture from October 2018 to March 2019. Of the 366 medical institutions providing cardiology services in Kumamoto Prefecture, 259 (101 general hospitals, 158 small clinics) responded to our questionnaire.

Diverse meibum lipids produced by Awat1 and Awat2 are important for stabilizing tear film and protecting the ocular surface.

A lipid layer consisting of meibum lipids exists in the tear film and functions in preventing dry eye disease. Although the meibum lipids include diverse lipid classes, the synthesis pathway and role of each class remain largely unknown. Here, we created single and double knockout (KO and DKO, respectively) mice for the two acyl-CoA wax alcohol acyltransferases ( and ) and investigated their dry eye phenotypes and meibum lipid composition.