Understanding fatigue among Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease: insights from international comparisons and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) scale has demonstrated reliability and validity in assessing fatigue in patients with IBD and is used worldwide. This study aimed to examine the current state of fatigue among Japanese patients with IBD using the FACIT-F scale and to compare these findings with data from global studies through a systematic review.

Hollow Fiber Microreactor Combined with Digital Twin to Optimize the Antimicrobial Evaluation Process.

In order to reproduce pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles seen in vivo, the Hollow Fiber Infection Model (HFIM) is a useful in vitro module in the evaluation of antimicrobial resistance. In order to reduce the consumption of culture medium and drugs, we developed a hollow fiber microreactor applicable to the HFIM by integrating the HFIM function. Next, we constructed a novel control method by using the "digital twin" of the microreactor to achieve precise concentration control.

Long-term in vivo performance of silicone membrane lungs coated with novel methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymers: A pilot study.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the long-term durability, oxygenation, and pressure loss of newly developed, methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-polymer-coated, nonporous silicone hollow fiber-membrane lungs in vivo using a pulmonary artery-to-left-atrium paracorporeal configuration.

Methods: An extracorporeal circuit from the pulmonary artery (device inflow) to the left atrium (device outflow) was established using dedicated composite vascular grafts in three healthy female goats for the prototype lung testing.

Results: Duration of testing the prototype lungs was 52, 57, or 100 days.

Design of enzyme immobilized zwitterionic copolymer nanogels and its size effect on electrochemical reaction.

For enzyme-based electrochemical devices, an improvement in electron transfer between the enzyme and electrode is important. Thus, we developed a nano-scaled hydrogel that includes an electron mediator and enzyme to realize nano-sized effects that enhance the functions. Three different chain lengths (short, medium, and long) of copolymers composed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and methacrylic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MNHS; poly(MPC-co-MNHS), PMS) were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.

Biocompatible Core-Shell Microneedle Sensor Filled with Zwitterionic Polymer Hydrogel for Rapid Continuous Transdermal Monitoring.

Microneedle (MN)-based electrochemical biosensors hold promising potential for noninvasive continuous monitoring of interstitial fluid biomarkers. However, challenges, such as instability and biofouling, exist. This study proposes a design employing hollow MN to encapsulate a zwitterionic polymer hydrogel sensing layer with excellent biocompatibility and antifouling properties to address these issues.

Detailed Study of the Interactions between Glycopolymers in the Presence of Metal Ions through Quartz Crystal Microbalance Method.

Polymer self-assemblies driven by enthalpic interactions, such as hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, exhibit distinct properties compared to those driven by hydrophobic interactions. Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions, which are observed in physiological phenomena, also fall under enthalpic interactions. Our group previously reported on self-assemblies of methacrylate-type glycopolymers carrying mannose units in the presence of calcium ions; however, a detailed study of these interactions was lacking.

The role of LPA receptor signaling in modulating cellular responses of colon cancer cells co-cultured with lymphoid endothelial cells under hypoxic stress.

Solid tumors are formed by cancer cells and the surrounding non-cancer stromal cells under hypoxic conditions, collectively referred to as the tumor microenvironment (TME). Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor (LPA to LPA) signaling is crucial in regulating tumor progression. This study investigated the impact of LPA receptor signaling on the biological behaviors of colon cancer DLD-1 cells co-cultured with lymphatic endothelial SVEC4-10 cells under hypoxic conditions.

High-Quality Three-Dimensionally Cultured Cells Using Interfaces of Diblock Copolymers Containing Different Ratios of Zwitterionic -Oxides.

To control three-dimensional (3D) cell spheroid formation, it is well-known the surface physicochemical and mechanical properties of cell culture materials are important; however, the formation and function of 3D cells are still unclear. This study demonstrated the precise control of the formation of 3D cells and 3D cell functions using diblock copolymers containing different ratios of a zwitterionic trimethylamine -oxide group. The diblock copolymers were composed of poly(-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) as the hydrophobic unit for surface coating on a cell culture dish and stabilization in water, and poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) as the precursor of -oxide.

Stability Enhancement by Hydrophobic Anchoring and a Cross-Linked Structure of a Phospholipid Copolymer Film for Medical Devices.

Surface modification using zwitterionic 2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers is one of the most reasonable ways to prepare medical devices that can suppress undesired biological reactions such as blood coagulation. Usable MPC polymers are hydrophilic and water soluble, and their surface modification strategy involves exploiting the copolymer structures by adding physical or chemical bonding moieties. In this study, we developed copolymers composed of MPC, hydrophobic anchoring moiety, and chemical cross-linking unit to clarify the role of hydrophobic interactions in achieving biocompatible and long-term stable coatings.

Impact of cellular ATP levels on cell viability in response to fluorouracil through lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-4 (LPA) and LPA in colon cancer cells.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling via LPA receptors (LPA to LPA) mediates various aspects of cancer cell behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the variation in intracellular ATP levels and its impact on cell viability in response to fluorouracil (5-FU) through LPA and LPA in colon cancer DLD-1 cells. LPA and LPA are linked to Gs and Gi proteins.

Explainable Prediction of Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Property of Polymer Brush Surfaces by Chemical Modeling and Machine Learning.

Polymer informatics has attracted increasing attention as a specialized branch of material informatics. Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity is one of the most important properties of interfaces involved in antifouling, self-cleaning, antifogging, oil/water separation, protein adsorption, and bioseparation. Establishing a quantitative structure-property relationship for the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of polymeric interfaces could significantly benefit from machine learning modeling.

FFAR-mediated signaling drives migration of pancreatic cancer cells in hypoxic fibroblast co-cultures.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises cancer and non-cancerous stromal cells, including fibroblasts. Free fatty acids (FFAs) regulate various biological responses by binding to G protein-coupled FFA receptors (FFARs). In this study, we examined the impact of FFAR1 and FFAR4 on the cell migration of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells co-cultured with 3T3 fibroblast cells under hypoxic conditions.

Impact of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in the Management of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

In this study, we aimed to determine the utility of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in real-world clinical practice and investigate whether CN contributes to improved oncological outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This retrospective multicenter cohort study enrolled patients with mRCC who received systemic therapy at six institutions between May 2005 and May 2023. The patients were divided into those who did not undergo CN (Group I) and those who underwent CN (Group II).

Roles of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling in cancer cell biology.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a simple lipid which is endogenously synthesized from lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) by autotaxin (ATX). LPA mediates a variety of cellular responses through the binding of G protein-coupled LPA receptors (LPA to LPA). It is considered that LPA receptor-mediated signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of human malignancy.

Involvement of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling in breast cancer cell functions by long-term tamoxifen treatment under hypoxic and estrogen-deprived conditions.

Background: Tamoxifen (TAM) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator and has anti-estrogenic activity. Breast cancer cells acquire drug resistance to TAM as a consequence of long-term treatment. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling contributes to the promotion of tumor progression.

Enzyme stability in polymer hydrogel-enzyme hybrid nanocarrier containing phosphorylcholine group.

Enzymes are biological catalysts with good biocompatibility and high efficiency and have been widely used in many fields, such as wastewater treatment, biosensors, and the medical industry. However, their inherently low stability under conditions of practical use limits further applications. Zwitterionic polymers possessing a pair of oppositely charged groups in their repeating units can increase protein stability because of their good biocompatibility and high water content.

Development of an internal two-stage upflow anaerobic reactor integrating biostimulation strategies to enhance the degradation of aromatic compounds in wastewater from purified terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate manufacturing processes.

In this study, we aimed to establish high-rate biological treatment of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) wastewater that minimizes the inhibitory effects of high concentration benzoate and acetate. To achieve this, we developed a novel bioreactor system and biostimulation strategy. An internal two-stage upflow anaerobic (ITUA) reactor was operated with (i) a packed bed containing green tuff medium underlying (ii) a compartment seeded with anaerobic granular sludge.

Microfluidic electrochemical biosensors: tools for advancing the sustainable development goals.

New technologies can help to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. We discuss the contribution of microfluidic electrochemical biosensors to advancing the SDGs. These sensors can be applied in various fields given their low cost, self-powering ability, environmental compatibility, ease of use, and small sample volume requirements.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling regulates hypoxia-induced biological functions of lymphatic endothelial cells.

The tumor microenvironment is an extremely complex composed of cancer cells and various non-cancer cells, including lymphatic endothelial cells. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors (LPA to LPA) activate a variety of malignant properties in human malignancies. In the present study, we examined the roles of LPA receptor-mediated signaling in biological responses of lymphatic endothelial SVEC4-10 cells induced by hypoxia.