Publications by authors named "Takuya Okada"

Transthyretin (TTR), a plasma protein, undergoes transformation into amyloid fibers, leading to ATTRv amyloidosis, a disease characterized by organ deposition of TTR amyloid fibrils and subsequent organ failure. Developing compounds that bind and kinetically stabilize TTR is a crucial strategy in the treatment of ATTRv amyloidosis. In this study, we narrowed 651 pesticide-related compounds down to 14 possible TTR binders through in silico screening; subsequent in vitro analysis revealed that 7 of them exhibited amyloid fibril formation inhibition activity.

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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a type of peripheral neuropathy that develops in patients treated with certain anticancer drugs. Oxaliplatin (OXA) causes CIPN in approximately 80-90 % of patients; thus, it is necessary to elucidate its underlying mechanism and develop effective treatments and prevention methods. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)/PAC1 receptor system in the spinal dorsal horn is involved in OXA-induced acute cold allodynia and examine the effect of a PAC1 receptor antagonist.

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We tested the hypothesis that Ca3.2 T-type Ca channels, which can be rebooted by sulfides from Zn inhibition under physiological conditions, and sulfide-generating enzymes including cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) would participate in the colitis-related visceral pain in mice treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The visceral hypersensitivity following TNBS-induced colitis was abolished by an inhibitor or genetic deletion of Ca3.

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  • The study investigates the effectiveness of catheter ablation in eliminating idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias from different sites in the heart.
  • It analyzes data from 58 patients and finds that overall, 72% had successful ablation, with different success rates linked to two specific sites: ECS and endo-EAS.
  • Successful ECS ablation is associated with shorter distances to the activation site, while successful endo-EAS ablation is linked to earlier electrical signals and shorter intervals between activation sites.
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  • Researchers successfully synthesized nine isoflavone natural products using 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone as the starting material.
  • The key reaction employed in constructing the isoflavone structure was the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling.
  • Among the compounds studied, millexatin F showed the best potential as a therapeutic agent for transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis, making it a promising candidate for further development.
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  • The MR1 molecule is a specialized antigen presenter that interacts with T cells, particularly mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, by presenting various metabolites.
  • Researchers discovered distinct MR1-restricted T cell receptors (TCRs) in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from breast cancer patients, which responded specifically to certain breast cancer cell lines but not others.
  • The study indicates that these TCRs can recognize antigens in breast cancer without being affected by a known MR1 ligand antagonist, suggesting a unique interaction that relies on a specific residue of MR1 (K43).
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  • Researchers studied how membrane deformation affects vesicle fusion by observing late endosomes and lysosomes in mouse yolk sac cells with large endocytic vesicles, revealing two fusion modes: homotypic (fast fusion of similar vesicles) and heterotypic (slow fusion with lysosomes).
  • Mathematical models indicated that vesicle size significantly influences fusion types, while forces from membrane fluctuations can mitigate size effects on fusion.
  • The study found that dynamic actin remodeling is crucial for rapid homotypic fusion, with cofilin playing an essential role in regulating actin activity during the fusion process, highlighting the importance of actin in efficient membrane trafficking.
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Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) is a phosphotransferase in the serine/threonine kinase family. Inhibiting DAPK1 is expected to be beneficial in treating Alzheimer's disease and protecting neuronal cells during cerebral ischemia. In this study, we demonstrated that the natural chalcone isoliquiritigenin inhibits DAPK1 in an ATP-competitive manner, and we synthesized halogen derivatives to amplify the inhibitory effect.

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  • * The newer posteromedial technique for harvesting the semitendinosus tendon offers advantages over the traditional anteromedial approach, but can be challenging for inexperienced surgeons.
  • * Using ultrasound guidance during the tendon harvest can enhance accuracy and efficiency, making the procedure safer and less invasive.
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Purpose: To investigate the midterm stent patency and patient prognosis after stenting for superior mesenteric artery malperfusion complicating with acute aortic dissection.

Material And Methods: Thirteen patients who underwent branch vessel stenting for superior mesenteric artery malperfusion between 2011 and 2021 in six institutions were retrospectively reviewed. By comparing pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans in the same plane, the length of the stent implanted in the superior mesenteric artery and the stent-to-vessel diameter ratio were measured.

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  • * A 68-year-old woman with this condition, linked to Takayasu arteritis, underwent a bypass surgery with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to severe cardiac dysfunction and recurrent heart failure.
  • * The patient's care involved careful preparation for potential circulatory collapse during anesthesia induction, ensuring a quick response with ECMO if complications arose.
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  • * A 71-year-old man with a history of heart issues experienced cardiac arrest due to an AAA rupture into the inferior vena cava, requiring emergency surgery.
  • * Successful management involved early recognition of an intraoperative right-to-left shunt via transesophageal echocardiography and the use of intra-aortic balloon occlusion to control severe bleeding.
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  • * Researchers are exploring an "antiausterity strategy," which targets cancer cells under nutrient deprivation, as a potential new approach to treating pancreatic cancer.
  • * In this study, a derivative called Nic-15 showed strong effectiveness against pancreatic cancer cell lines, inhibited tumor growth, and enhanced the effects of gemcitabine in an animal model, suggesting it could be a promising treatment option.
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  • The sheath-in-sheath technique involves using a 15Fr cryoballoon delivery sheath inside a larger 16Fr sheath to assist in medical procedures.
  • This method is particularly effective for accessing complex iliac veins during cryoballoon ablation, a treatment for atrial fibrillation.
  • It ensures safe delivery of the cryoballoon while maintaining the device's performance and avoiding any complications.
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This paper presents a novel approach to gap mapping in pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment, utilizing the real-time Ripple (RR) technique. Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation, particularly encircling PVI, is a common intervention for AF. Identifying left atrium-pulmonary vein conduction gaps is crucial for achieving PVI with minimal additional ablation if first-pass PVI is unsuccessful.

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The newly-proposed tandem approach, Wire ThRoUgh Snare Twice (Wire TRUST) is effective for grasping a lead with inaccessible ends. This case report shows that Wire TRUST can also enable successful extraction of a left ventricular lead by iteratively grasping and repositioning to the distal portion of the lead.

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This study investigates the efficacy of a collagen membrane as a substitute for autologous periosteum in atelocollagen-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) using J-TEC autologous cultured cartilage (JACC®). Sixty-nine patients with knee joint chondral defects underwent ACI using JACC®-34 with periosteum-covered ACI (P-ACIs) and 35 with collagen-covered ACI (C-ACIs). Clinical outcomes were compared through patient-reported measures, International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) Cartilage Repair Assessment (CRA) scores at second-look arthroscopy one year postoperatively, and adverse event incidence.

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Transthyretin amyloidosis is a fatal disorder caused by transthyretin amyloid aggregation. Stabilizing the native structure of transthyretin is an effective approach to inhibit amyloid aggregation. To develop kinetic stabilizers of transthyretin, it is crucial to explore compounds that selectively bind to transthyretin in plasma.

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Background: The TactiFlex SE catheter (TFSE, Abbott) with a contact force (CF) sensor and a laser-cut irrigated-tip has recently become available but lacks a lesion quality marker. This study aimed to explore distinctions in lesion characteristics between the TFSE and the ThermoCool SmartTouch SurroundFlow catheter (STSF, Biosense Webster), which utilizes a porous irrigated tip, and to assess the most effective application settings for the TFSE.

Methods: Lesions were generated using varying settings of radiofrequency power (30-50 W), CF (10-20 g), application duration (10-40 s), and catheter orientation (perpendicular or parallel) in an ex vivo porcine model.

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We report a case of a life-threatening ruptured renal angiomyolipoma (AML) that did not meet the criteria for prophylactic treatment (tumor >4 cm or intratumoral aneurysm >5 mm) during follow-up. A woman in her 70s was followed up for a 2.5-cm AML with a rich vascular component.

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Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pre-emptive transcatheter arterial embolization (P-TAE) of aortic side branches to prevent type II endoleak in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Materials And Methods: This multicenter, prospective, single-arm trial enrolled 100 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm from nine hospitals between 2018 and 2021. There were 85 men and 15 women, with a mean age of 79.

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