Publications by authors named "Taoka M"

Bacterial endospores are ubiquitous and are responsible for various human infections. Recently, we reported that an ionic liquid (IL)-based sample preparation method (named pTRUST) facilitated highly efficient shotgun analysis of the Bacillus subtilis spore proteome in trace samples. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency and applicability of the pTRUST technology using three different spore preparations: one purified from the closely related subspecies B.

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Lysosomal stress due to the accumulation of nucleic acids (NAs) activates endosomal TLRs in macrophages. Here, we show that lysosomal RNA stress, caused by the lack of RNase T2, induces macrophage accumulation in multiple organs such as the spleen and liver through TLR13 activation by microbiota-derived ribosomal RNAs. TLR13 triggered emergency myelopoiesis, increasing the number of myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow and spleen.

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WD repeat domain 74 (WDR74) is a nucleolar protein involved in the early stages of pre-60S maturation in the ribosome biogenesis pathway. In later stages, WDR74 interacts with MTR4, an RNA helicase that functions with the exosome nuclease complex, and is dissociated upon ATP hydrolysis by the chaperone-like nuclear VCP-like 2 (NVL2) AAA-ATPase. We previously reported that ATP hydrolysis-defective NVL2 causes aberrant accumulation of WDR74 on the MTR4-exosome complex at the nucleolar periphery and in the nucleoplasm and that this nuclear redistribution of WDR74 leads to the unusual cleavage of the early rRNA precursor within the internal transcribed spacer 1 sequence.

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Limited data are available on the frequency and significance of body weight loss during cancer therapy. This study investigated the frequency of patients who experienced body weight loss during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) plus chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the impact of weight loss on treatment outcomes. Using the clinical data of 370 patients with NSCLC who received a combination of ICI and chemotherapy at 13 institutions, this study investigated the frequency of body weight loss > 5% during treatment and determined the impact of body weight loss on patient outcomes.

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The radiation dose reduction factor represents a building's shielding capability against radiation in scenarios of potential nuclear accidents. Notably, the radiation dose reduction for school buildings and gymnasiums have not yet been determined, even though the building types are planned to be used as evaluation shelters in Japan. This study evaluated dose reduction factors in relation to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP).

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Surface collection efficiency (SCE) of a cellulose membrane filter (CMF) and a cellulose-glass fiber filter used in environmental monitoring for alpha-emitting radionuclides from nuclear facilities and natural radioactivity sources was evaluated for particles in the size range of 0.03-0.1 μm at different levels of face velocity.

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Purpose: Since 2014, an educational activity on radiation and health in northern Japan has been carried out by young scientists, the so-called 'Educational Symposium on Radiation and Health (ESRAH)'. Close cooperation has been continued in preparing for any possible emergency response to radiation accidents because several facilities, e.g.

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Article Synopsis
  • A case of an aortopulmonary fistula related to a post-operative aortic pseudoaneurysm is discussed, which is a rare complication following aortic surgery.
  • The patient, a 60-year-old man with severe heart failure unresponsive to diuretics, was diagnosed after advanced imaging techniques revealed shunt blood flow from the aortic aneurysm to the pulmonary artery.
  • The study emphasizes the effectiveness of transesophageal echocardiography for accurately diagnosing this condition, as it provides better details than routine imaging methods like CT angiography.
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Endospore-forming bacteria are ubiquitous. Bacterial endospores are multilayered proteinaceous structures that protects the bacterial genome during stress conditions. They are also responsible for a wide range of critical clinical infections in humans.

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  • Chronic kidney disease and anemia are important factors in heart failure, and recent treatments include HIF-PH inhibitors for renal anemia.
  • A study with 40 patients compared the effects of switching from CERA to four different HIF-PH inhibitors, focusing on changes in hemoglobin levels and other health markers.
  • Results showed no significant overall difference in hemoglobin levels between treatments, but roxadustat was superior to others after six months; however, due to the small sample size, further research is needed to understand the full impact of HIF-PH inhibitors.
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The mitoribosome translates mitochondrial mRNAs and regulates energy conversion that is a signature of aerobic life forms. We present a 2.2 Å resolution structure of human mitoribosome together with validated mitoribosomal RNA (rRNA) modifications, including aminoacylated CP-tRNA.

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Leishmania is the causative agent of cutaneous and visceral diseases affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Pseudouridine (Ψ), the most abundant modification on rRNA, changes during the parasite life cycle. Alterations in the level of a specific Ψ in helix 69 (H69) affected ribosome function.

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A woman with a single coronary artery underwent aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis. Two years later, she developed an aortic annular abscess around the right coronary cusp and non-coronary cusp. Significant adhesions to the right coronary artery (RCA) resulted from the abscess, making artery separation challenging, and raising concerns about potential future RCA stenosis.

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  • Persister cells are a type of cancer cell that resist treatment by slowing their growth and adapting to drugs, ultimately creating pathways for cancer to develop resistance.
  • The resistance is mainly due to epigenetic changes rather than permanent genetic mutations, with factors like stem-cell-like properties, changes in the tumor environment, and immune escape playing a role.
  • The article focuses on EGFR lung cancer, discussing why current treatments like EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors often fail and exploring potential new strategies to tackle resistance caused by persister cells.
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  • A 77-year-old man with heart failure developed a rare left ventricular pseudoaneurysm with a left-to-right shunt after heart surgery for a previous heart issue.
  • The pseudoaneurysm formed 16 months post-surgery, with some blood leaking into the right ventricle, and required surgical intervention due to his symptoms.
  • Despite the high risks associated with such surgeries, the patient had a successful operation and was discharged just 13 days later, showing no abnormalities during follow-up.
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Feeder cells and the synthetic auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in a culture medium promote mitosis and cell division in cultured cells. These are also added to nutrient medium for the cultivation of highly active in mitosis and dividing zygotes, produced in vitro or isolated from pollinated ovaries. In the study, an in vitro fertilization (IVF) system was used to study the precise effects of feeder cells and 2,4-D on the growth and development of rice ( L.

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Trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that cycle between insect and mammalian hosts and are the causative agent of sleeping sickness. Here, we describe the changes of pseudouridine (Ψ) modification on rRNA in the two life stages of the parasite using four different genome-wide approaches. CRISPR-Cas9 knock-outs of all four snoRNAs guiding Ψ on helix 69 (H69) of the large rRNA subunit were lethal.

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Many ion channels and receptor proteins are potential targets for new drugs. However, standard methods for profiling these integral membrane proteins (IMPs) have not been fully established, especially when applied to rare and quantity-limited biological samples. We previously demonstrated that a mixture containing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cyanate, an ionic liquid (IL), and NaOH (termed i-soln) is an excellent solubilizer for insoluble aggregates.

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  • * About 100 days into treatment, he developed confusion, a high fever, and showed signs of liver and kidney dysfunction, eventually experiencing severe convulsions that led to an intensive care unit admission.
  • * He was diagnosed with cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, but his condition was managed with immunosuppressive drugs, allowing him to be discharged despite the rarity of successful outcomes in such cases during immunotherapy.
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The mitoribosome translates mitochondrial mRNAs and regulates energy conversion that is a signature of aerobic life forms. We present a 2.2 Å resolution structure of human mitoribosome together with validated mitoribosomal RNA (rRNA) modifications, including aminoacylated CP-tRNA .

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Loss-of-function mutations in the lysosomal nucleoside transporter SLC29A3 cause lysosomal nucleoside storage and histiocytosis: phagocyte accumulation in multiple organs. However, little is known about the mechanism by which lysosomal nucleoside storage drives histiocytosis. Herein, histiocytosis in Slc29a3-/- mice was shown to depend on Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), which senses a combination of nucleosides and oligoribonucleotides (ORNs).

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Background: Oral beta-blockers are effective for heart failure and hypertension. Here, we conducted a prospective study to investigate the efficacy of the beta-blocker bisoprolol in patients switching from the oral tablet to the transdermal patch.

Methods: We studied 50 outpatients receiving oral bisoprolol for chronic heart failure and hypertension.

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  • The case discusses a 66-year-old woman with lung cancer who developed myelopathy symptoms including double vision, nausea, spasticity, and impaired sensation, raising diagnostic challenges.
  • MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed abnormalities, leading to a diagnosis of sarcoid-associated myelopathy rather than meningeal metastasis from her cancer.
  • Treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone, oral prednisolone, and methotrexate stabilized her condition, highlighting the diagnostic importance of clinical assessment and thorough testing in cancer patients.
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Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents improve the NYHA functional class and decrease the hospital readmission rates for heart failure; however, little is known about the influence of continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) on the heart. Therefore, a prospective study was conducted to investigate the effects of CERA on cardiac and renal function and oxidative stress in chronic heart failure with renal anemia. Sixty patients with chronic heart failure and renal anemia were enrolled and received CERA for 12 months.

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mRNA-based medicines are a promising modality for preventing virus-caused illnesses, including COVID-19, and treating various types of cancer and genetic diseases. To develop such medicines, methods to characterize long mRNA molecules are needed for quality control and metabolic analysis. Here, we developed an analytical platform based on isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) that quantitatively characterizes long, modified mRNAs by comparing them to a stable isotope-labeled reference with an identical sequence to that of the target medicine.

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