Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors reduce hepatic fibrosis and lipid accumulation in rat intestinal failure-associated liver disease models.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors (DPP4-I) against liver damage, especially fibrosis and lipid accumulation, in a rat intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) model.

Methods: SD rats were divided into two groups: the Control (n = 7; normal saline + IFALD model) and DPP4-I (n = 7; DPP4-I + IFALD model; short bowel syndrome (SBS) + total parenteral nutrition) groups. All rats were euthanized 21 days postoperatively to obtain tissue samples.

Rapid Glyco-Qualitative Assessment of Recombinant Proteins Using a Fully Automated System.

Protein glycosylation, a critical post-translational modification, influences the stability, efficacy, and immunogenicity of recombinant proteins, including biopharmaceuticals. Glycan structures exhibit significant heterogeneity, varying with production cell types, culture conditions, and purification methods. Consequently, monitoring and evaluating the glycan structures of recombinant proteins is vital, particularly in biopharmaceutical production.

The Clinical Course and Treatment of a Case of Refractory Systemic Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis Successfully Treated with Thymectomy.

Juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) exhibits a more favorable response to glucocorticoids and has a better prognosis than adult myasthenia gravis. However, no established treatment exists for refractory JMG. Although thymectomy has been performed in several patients with refractory systemic JMG, there are few detailed clinical descriptions of patients who underwent thymectomy.

Auto-Lectin Dotcoding by Two Octopuses: Rapid Analysis of Fluorescence-Labeled Glycoproteins by an 8-channel Fully-Automatic Bead Array Scanner with a Rolling-Circle Detector.

Protein glycosylation is a crucial factor that must be evaluated in biological pharmaceuticals. The glycoform profile of a protein can vary depending on the conditions of the cultivation, purification process, and the selection of a host cell. Lectin microarrays are reliable bioanalytical methods used in the early phases of bioprocesses for the detection of glycosylation.

Successful administration of eltrombopag in preparation for peritoneal dialysis catheter placement in a girl with MYH9-related disease.

MYH9-related disease is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by macrothrombocytopenia, nephropathy, inclusion bodies in leukocytes, sensorineural hearing loss, and cataract. Severe cases require kidney replacement therapy in the patient's second decade of life; thrombocytopenia constitutes a major risk factor for hemorrhagic complications during dialysis initiation or kidney transplantation. Prophylactic platelet transfusion prior to surgery is commonly administered to affected patients in these cases.

Decreased liver damage in rat models of short bowel syndrome through DPP4 inhibition.

Purpose: Total parenteral nutrition causes liver damage in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS), in whom intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) is the strongest risk factor for mortality. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4-Is) for nutritional absorption and intestinal barrier function enhancement. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of DPP4-Is in preventing liver damage in SBS rat models.

A recurrent de novo ZSWIM6 variant in a Japanese patient with severe neurodevelopmental delay and frequent vomiting.

A recurrent ZSWIM6 variant, NM_020928.2:c.2737C>T [p.

Nationwide survey of pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy in Japan.

Background And Aim: The implementation rates of pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy are increasing with advancements in the devices used and pediatricians' skills. As part of the Japan Pediatric Endoscopy Study Group, we aimed to investigate the rates of pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy use and the associated adverse events through a nationwide survey.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 630 institutions in Japan.

GlycoBIST: A System for Automatic Glycan Profiling of a Target Protein Using Milli-Bead Array in a Tip.

Lectin is a biomolecule that recognizes a specific part of glycans and, thus, has been used widely as a probe for glycoprotein analysis. Owing to the wide repertoire in nature combined with the recent two decades of advances in microarray technology, the multiplexed use of lectins has been widely used for glycan profiling of endogenous proteins. Because protein glycosylation is recognized as being biologically important and is expected to be a reliable disease marker, lectin microarray analysis with highly sensitive detection has been used to discover disease-relevant glycosylation alterations.

Lectin Bead Array in a Single Tip Facilitates Fully Automatic Glycoprotein Profiling.

A quantitative description of glyco-alteration/differences in diseases can lead to the development of a diagnostic agent for use in vitro to monitor the degree of change in target glycoproteins. Analytical systems have been developed along with the progress of omics-oriented technologies. For clinical implementation, their full automation is required with an apparatus that is simple to operate.

A case of cervical esophageal duplication cyst in a newborn infant.

Esophageal duplication cyst is a rare congenital anomaly resulting from a foregut budding error during the fourth to sixth week of embryonic development. Cervical esophageal duplication cysts are very rare and may cause respiratory distress in infancy. A full-term newborn girl who was born by normal delivery was transferred to our hospital because of swelling of the right anterior neck since birth.

Current Practice and Outcomes of Thoracoscopic Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula Repair: A Multi-institutional Analysis in Japan.

Background: In order to better understand the current practice and outcomes of thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia (EA)/tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), a multi-institutional analysis was conducted among seven Japanese institutes.

Materials And Methods: A survey was sent to the seven institutes regarding the surgical technique, postoperative management, and outcomes of thoracoscopic repair of EA/TEF.

Results: The operation was uniformly performed via an intrapleural approach in the 0-45° prone position.

Isolated intestinal neuronal dysplasia Type B (IND-B) in Japan: results from a nationwide survey.

Purpose: Intestinal neuronal dysplasia Type B (IND-B) has been proposed to be an allied disorder of Hirschsprung's disease (ADHD). The original histological criteria included hyperganglionosis, giant ganglia, ectopic ganglion cells and an increased AChE activity in the lamina propria. The criteria for IND-B have been gradually revised.

Skill qualifications in pediatric minimally invasive surgery.

Purpose: In 2006, The Japanese Society of Pediatric Endoscopic Surgeons devised a plan to develop a pediatric endoscopic surgical skill qualification (ESSQ) system. This system is controlled by The Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery. The standard requirement for skills qualification is the ability of each applicant to complete common types of laparoscopic surgery.

Interleukin-18 promoter polymorphisms and the disease progression of Hepatitis B virus-related liver disease.

In this study, we aimed to explore whether interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene-promoter polymorphisms are associated with the outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In all, 204 chronically HBV-infected patients were recruited in this study. Of the 204 HBV-infected patients, 43 were considered to be inactive HBV carriers based on the sustained normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) together with seropositivity for the antibody to hepatitis B e-antigen (anti-HBe).

Laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Objective: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement is associated with considerable complications. We added laparoscopic monitoring to improve outcome.

Methods: Thirty-four patients who had laparoscopy-assisted PEG (LAP-PEG) were reviewed.

Development of the Handy Bio-Strand and its application to genotyping of OPRM1 (A118G).

We previously developed a three-dimensional microarray system, the Bio-Strand, which exhibits advantages in automated DNA analysis in combination with our Magtration Technology. In the current study, we have developed a compact system for the Bio-Strand, the Handy Bio-Strand, which consists of several tools for the preparation of Bio-Strand Tip, hybridization, and detection. Using the Handy Bio-Strand, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of OPRM1 (A118G) by allele-specific oligonucleotide competitive hybridization (ASOCH).

Development of an automated SNP analysis method using a paramagnetic beads handling robot.

Biological and medical importance of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has led to development of a wide variety of methods for SNP typing. Aiming for establishing highly reliable and fully automated SNP typing, we have developed the adapter ligation method in combination with the paramagnetic beads handling technology, Magtration(R). The method utilizes sequence specific ligation between the fluorescently labeled adapter and the sample DNAs at the cohesive end produced by a type IIS restriction enzyme.

Development of a novel method for operating magnetic particles, Magtration Technology, and its use for automating nucleic acid purification.

Magnetic particles are useful for simple and efficient nucleic acid extraction. To achieve fully automated nucleic acid extraction and purification using magnetic particles, a new method for operating magnetic particles, Magtration Technology, was developed. In this method, magnetic separation is performed in a specially designed disposable tip.

Development of an integrated automation system with a magnetic bead-mediated nucleic acid purification device for genetic analysis and gene manipulation.

We have developed an integrated automation system for genetic analysis and gene manipulation. The system, SX-8G Plus, is equipped with an 8-nozzle dispensing unit, a thermal cycler, a cooled reagent reservoir, four tip storage racks, four microplate platforms, buffer reservoirs, an agarose gel electrophoresis unit, a power supply, a pump for exchanging electrophoresis buffer, and a CCD camera. Automation of nucleic acid extraction and purification, the most difficult step in automating genetic analysis and gene manipulation, was realized using magnetic beads with Magtration Technology, which we have previously developed for automating the handling of paramagnetic beads.

Laparoscopically assisted anorectovaginoplasty for selected types of female anorectal malformations.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe laparoscopically assisted anorectovaginoplasty (LAARVP) for the repair of selected types of female anorectal malformation.

Methods: Five cases (case 1, rectovaginal fistula with a high rectum; case 2, rectovestibular fistula with double vagina; case 3, rectovestibular fistula with absent vagina; case 4, anovestibular fistula with absent vagina; case 5, cloaca) were reviewed.

Results: Patient 4 had undergone a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty without vaginoplasty at another hospital after misdiagnosis of simple anovestibular fistula.