Albuminuria rather than glomerular filtration rate is associated with vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: Albuminuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are manifestations of diabetic kidney disease and are both shown to be associated with cardiovascular outcomes. However, the differential association of albuminuria and reduced GFR with endothelial dysfunction, an early feature of atherosclerotic vascular damage, remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between albuminuria or estimated GFR (eGFR) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), a marker of endothelial function, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

ERF Gene Clusters: Working Together to Regulate Metabolism.

Plants produce structurally diverse specialized metabolites, including bioactive alkaloids and terpenoids, in response to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. The APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) family of transcription factors (TFs) play key roles in regulating biosynthesis of specialized metabolites. Increasing genomic and functional evidence shows that a subset of the ERF genes occurs in clusters on the chromosomes.

Evaluating the Knockdown Activity of MALAT1 ENA Gapmers In Vitro.

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are widely used for the identification of gene functions and regulation of genes involved in different diseases for therapeutic purposes. For in vitro evaluation of the knockdown activity of gapmer ASOs, we often use lipofection or electroporation to deliver gapmer ASOs into the cells. Here, we describe a method for evaluating the knockdown activity of gapmer ASOs by a cell-free uptake mechanism, termed as gymnosis, using MALAT1 gapmer ASOs modified with 2'-O-methoxyethyl RNA (2'-MOE) or 2'-O,4'-C-ethylene-bridged nucleic acid (ENA).

Factors affecting impingement and dislocation after total hip arthroplasty - Computer simulation analysis.

Background: Studies on the causes and factors affecting dislocation after total hip arthroplasty have revealed conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting impingement and dislocation after total hip arthroplasty, using a 3-dimensional dynamic motion analysis.

Methods: The CT data of 53 patients (53 hips: anterior dislocation; 11 cases, and posterior dislocation; 42 cases) who experienced hip dislocation after total hip arthroplasty with posterior approach, and 120 control patients (120 hips) without dislocation were analyzed.

The effect of pore diameter on neo-tissue formation in electrospun biodegradable tissue-engineered arterial grafts in a large animal model.

To date, there has been little investigation of biodegradable tissue engineered arterial grafts (TEAG) using clinically relevant large animal models. The purpose of this study is to explore how pore size of electrospun scaffolds can be used to balance neoarterial tissue formation with graft structural integrity under arterial environmental conditions throughout the remodeling process. TEAGs were created with an outer poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) electrospun layer and an inner sponge layer composed of heparin conjugated 50:50 poly (l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymer (PLCL).

Subclinical decrease in cardiac autonomic and diastolic function in patients with metabolic disorders: HSCAA study.

Heart failure due to decreased diastolic function, HFpEF, is a growing health concern with rising prevalence. We examined subclinical cardiac autonomic and diastolic functions in 605 patients with metabolic diseases classified as pre-heart failure. Presence of glucose intolerance or diabetes, or visceral adiposity was significantly associated with reduced cardiac autonomic and diastolic functions.

Associations of sleep quality, sleep apnea and autonomic function with insulin secretion and sensitivity: HSCAA study.

Rationale And Purpose: Although sleep disorders are shown to be involved in occurrence of diabetes, impacts of several quantitative parameters related to sleep on insulin secretion and sensitivity is yet to be elucidated. We cross-sectionally examined relationships among quantitative sleep quality, sleep apnea, and autonomic function with insulin secretion and sensitivity in 399 patients without previous diagnosed diabetes who underwent 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (75gOGTT).

Method: Poor sleep quality (PSQ) was defined as an activity index ≥50 by actigraphy.

The treatment and survival of patients with postoperative recurrent thymic carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: There are few data available on the outcomes of postoperative recurrent thymic carcinoma (TC) and thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma (TNEC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment and survival in patients with recurrent TC and TNEC after undergoing surgical resection.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed using our multicenter database to identify patients with a postoperative recurrence of TC and TNEC from 1995 to 2018.

Magnification Effect of Foveal Avascular Zone Measurement Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) of healthy subjects and examine the magnification effect.

Methods: A total of 33 healthy volunteers were enrolled and all subjects were eligible for analysis. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) examination scanned 3 × 3 mm of the macular area.

Oxidative Stress and Inflammation as Predictors of Mortality and Cardiovascular Events in Hemodialysis Patients: The DREAM Cohort.

Aim: Both oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The serum level of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) is a measure of the total amount of hydroperoxides serving as a marker of oxidative stress. We investigated whether d-ROMs could predict the clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients and whether the associations of d-ROMs with the outcomes are independent of a marker of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP).

Synthesis of thiophene-fused heptalenes by cycloaddition of azulenothiophenes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate.

Heptalene has a fused structure of two cycloheptatrienes which is one of the non-aromatic bicyclic molecules with a 12π-electronic structure. We report herein the synthesis of thiophene-fused heptalene derivatives from the corresponding azulenothiophenes via cycloaddition reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Their structure was clarified by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis.

Pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells curatively resected after pembrolizumab therapy for lung metastases: a case report.

Background: Therapy targeting programmed death-1 or programmed death-1 ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) has been developed for various solid malignant tumors, such as melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but this approach has little effect in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCOGC) is a rare pancreatic malignancy having unique morphology and is considered a variant of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Although UCOGC has been reported to have better prognosis than conventional PDAC, the optimal treatment for UCOGC with distant metastases has not been determined.

Mental Health Status in Patients Undergoing Intracoronary Acetylcholine Provocation Test.

Background: Previous studies showed the relation of mental distress such as anxiety and depression to coronary vasoconstriction and myocardial ischemia. However, the mental health status of patients suspected to have vasospastic angina is unclear.

Methods: A total of 99 patients underwent intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) provocation tests for the diagnosis of vasospastic angina and mental health assessment using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI Y-2).

Efficacy of corticosteroid therapy for IgA nephropathy patients stratified by kidney function and proteinuria.

Background: Steroid therapy is one of the important therapies for IgA nephropathy (IgAN), but the features of the IgAN patients who have the benefit from this therapy remained unclear.

Methods: This retrospective observational study, using data of 874 patients with IgAN analyzed the proteinuria and kidney function of IgAN patients who had beneficial effect by steroid therapy. Two advantages of the present study were a large cohort and a long observational period.

Agr virulence is critical for epidermal colonization and associates with atopic dermatitis development.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is commonly associated with colonization by in the affected skin. To understand the role of in the development of AD, we performed whole-genome sequencing of strains isolated from the cheek skin of 268 Japanese infants 1 and 6 months after birth. About 45% of infants were colonized with at 1 month regardless of AD outcome.

Association between Rates of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning after Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Procedures and Disc Hemorrhage.

Purpose: To compare the rates of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning after intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering procedures in eyes with or without disc hemorrhage (DH) history.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Methods: A total of 166 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes and glaucoma suspect eyes (37 eyes with DH history (DH group) and 129 eyes without DH (non-DH group)) were included from the African Decent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) and the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS).

Better remission rates in elderly Japanese patients with primary membranous nephropathy in nationwide real-world practice: The Japan Nephrotic Syndrome Cohort Study (JNSCS).

Background: The aim of the present study was to clarify the prevalence of immunosuppressive drug use and outcomes in elderly and non-elderly patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN) in nationwide real-world practice in Japan.

Patients And Methods: Between 2009 and 2010, 374 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome were enrolled in the cohort study (The Japan Nephrotic Syndrome Cohort Study, JNSCS), including 126 adult patients with MN. Their clinical characteristics were compared with those of nephrotic patients with primary MN registered in a large nationwide registry (The Japan Renal Biopsy Registry, J-RBR).

Questionnaire in patients with aborted sudden cardiac death due to coronary spasm in Japan.

Objectives: We investigated the medical or mechanical therapy, and the present knowledge of Japanese cardiologists about aborted sudden cardiac death (ASCD) due to coronary spasm.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed regarding the number of cases of ASCD, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and medical therapy in ASCD patients due to coronary spasm. The questionnaire was sent to the Japanese general institutions at random in 204 cardiology hospitals.

Development of an exon skipping therapy for X-linked Alport syndrome with truncating variants in COL4A5.

Currently, there are no treatments for Alport syndrome, which is the second most commonly inherited kidney disease. Here we report the development of an exon-skipping therapy using an antisense-oligonucleotide (ASO) for severe male X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS). We targeted truncating variants in exon 21 of the COL4A5 gene and conducted a type IV collagen α3/α4/α5 chain triple helix formation assay, and in vitro and in vivo treatment efficacy evaluation.

The Evolution of Fretting Wear Behavior and Damage Mechanism in Alloy 690TT with Cycle Number.

The evolution of fretting wear behavior and damage mechanism in Alloy 690TT with cycle number was investigated via laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focus ion beam (FIB), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the fretting running status underwent a transition from partial slip and mixed stick-slip to final gross slip with the transformation of Ft-D curves from the ellipse to the parallelogram. The coefficient of friction (COF) experienced three drops throughout the fretting process, which indicated the transformation from high-friction wear to low-friction wear.

Magnetic-structure imaging in polycrystalline materials by specimen-tilt series averaged DPC STEM.

Differential phase contrast (DPC) imaging in scanning transmission electron microscopy is a technique to visualize electromagnetic field distribution inside specimens at high spatial resolution. However, diffraction contrast strongly hampers electromagnetic contrast in DPC images especially in polycrystalline samples. In this paper, we develop an imaging technique to effectively suppress diffraction contrast in DPC images.

Frequent Clinical and Radiological Progression of Optic Pathway/Hypothalamic Pilocytic Astrocytoma in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Most cases of optic hypothalamic pilocytic astrocytoma (OHPA) develop during childhood, so few cases of histologically verified OHPA have been described in adolescents and young adults (AYA). To elucidate the clinical features of OHPA with histological verification in AYA, we reviewed the clinical and radiological finding of OHPA treated at our institute from January 1997 and July 2017. AYA are aged between 15 and 39 years.

Electrophoretic Adhesion of Conductive Hydrogels.

For the development of next-generation wearable and implantable devices that connect the human body and machines, the adhesion of a conductive hydrogel is required. In this study, a conductive hydrogel is adhered using an electrophoretic approach through polyion complex formation at the interface of the hydrogels. Cationic and anionic conductive hydrogels adhere to anionic and cationic hydrogels, respectively.

Effect of table height displacement and patient center deviation on size-specific dose estimates calculated from computed tomography localizer radiographs.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of table height displacement and patient center deviation along the [Formula: see text]-axis on size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) calculations based on computed tomography (CT) localizer radiographs in pediatric and adult abdominal CT examinations. CT localizer radiographs and CT axial images were acquired with table heights of - 5.0, - 2.