Molecular mechanism of flagellar motor rotation arrest in bacterial zoospores of Actinoplanes missouriensis before germination.

Zoospores of the filamentous actinomycete Actinoplanes missouriensis swim vigorously using flagella and stop swimming to initiate germination in response to nutrient exposure. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying swimming cessation remain unknown. A protein (FtgA) of unknown function encoded by a chemotaxis gene cluster (che cluster-1) was found to be required for flagellar rotation arrest; the zoospores of ftgA-knockout mutants kept swimming awkwardly after germination.

Heme deficiency in skeletal muscle exacerbates sarcopenia and impairs autophagy by reducing AMPK signaling.

Heme serves as a prosthetic group in hemoproteins, including subunits of the mammalian mitochondrial electron transfer chain. The first enzyme in vertebrate heme biosynthesis, 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 (ALAS1), is ubiquitously expressed and essential for producing 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). We previously showed that Alas1 heterozygous mice at 20-35 weeks (aged-A1s) manifested impaired glucose metabolism, mitochondrial malformation in skeletal muscle, and reduced exercise tolerance, potentially linked to autophagy dysfunction.

Systematic crosstalk in plasmalogen and diacyl lipid biosynthesis for their differential yet concerted molecular functions in the cell.

Plasmalogen is a major phospholipid of mammalian cell membranes. Recently it is becoming evident that the sn-1 vinyl-ether linkage in plasmalogen, contrasting to the ester linkage in the counterpart diacyl glycerophospholipid, yields differential molecular characteristics for these lipids especially related to hydrocarbon-chain order, so as to concertedly regulate biological membrane processes. A role played by NMR in gaining information in this respect, ranging from molecular to tissue levels, draws particular attention.

[A Case of Unilateral Interstitial Lung Disease in a Patient Treated with Oxaliplatin, 5-Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin].

Respiratory symptoms are rarely reported as side effects of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and Leucovorin(FOLFOX)therapy. We report a case of a patient with FOLFOX-induced unilateral interstitial pneumonia. The patient was a 68-year-old man who underwent ileocecal resection of cecum cancer.

Postoperative diaphragmatic hernia with upside-down stomach: a case report.

A 31-year-old man presented to our hospital's Emergency Department with sudden epigastric pain and vomiting. He had undergone endoscopic resection via the retroperitoneal route for a retroperitoneal tumor located in the left diaphragmatic crus of the esophageal hiatus at another hospital 8 months previously. Radiography and computed tomography showed inversion of the stomach beyond the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity, with the gastroesophageal junction serving as the fulcrum point.

-Acylimino-λ-iodanes from the Metathesis of Iodosoarenes and Nitriles for the Photoinduced C-H Perfluoroacylamination of (Hetero)Arenes.

An efficient and scalable synthesis of -perfluoroacylimino-λ-iodanes was achieved via an unprecedented metathesis between iodosoarenes and perfluoroalkanenitriles. The perfluoroacylamino groups of the iodanes could be introduced to aromatic and heteroaromatic rings using photoirradiation.

Incisional hernia after extreme lateral interbody fusion on the lumbar spine: A case report.

Introduction: Extreme lateral interbody fusion is a minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach for spine surgery. We herein report a case of an incisional hernia after an extreme lateral interbody fusion on the lumbar spine that was successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery with intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair.

Presentation Of Case: A 78-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a complaint of left abdominal bulge and pain.

Heterozygous disruption of ALAS1 in mice causes an accelerated age-dependent reduction in free heme, but not total heme, in skeletal muscle and liver.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the rate-limiting intermediate in heme biosynthesis in vertebrate species; a reaction catalyzed by the mitochondrial ALA synthase 1 (ALAS1) enzyme. Previously we reported that knockdown of the ubiquitously expressed ALAS1 gene in mice disrupts normal glucose metabolism, attenuates mitochondrial function and results in a prediabetic like phenotype when animals pass 20-weeks of age (Saitoh et al., 2018).

Phosphatidylserine biosynthesis pathways in lipid homeostasis: Toward resolution of the pending central issue for decades.

Enzymatic control of lipid homeostasis in the cell is a vital element in the complex organization of life. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an essential anionic phospholipid of cell membranes, and conducts numerous roles for their structural and functional integrity. In mammalian cells, two distinct enzymes phosphatidylserine synthases-1 (PSS1) and -2 (PSS2) in the mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM) in the ER perform de novo synthesis of PS.

Real-World Preventive Effects of Suvorexant in Intensive Care Delirium: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of suvorexant on delirium prevention in a real-world setting. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of suvorexant for delirium prevention in limited randomized clinical trial settings; however, its effectiveness in everyday clinical settings remains unknown.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted in the intensive care unit of an academic hospital.

Evaluation of the Tiller Switch Layout of a Tractor Using Eye-Fixation Related Potentials.

The human-machine interface (HMI) of a tractor cockpit includes not only the steering wheel and pedals, but also many levers and switches. According to a report from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization of Japan, the HMI layout often differs from the operator's expectation. This gap between expectations and reality has led to operator errors and market complaints.

Laparoscopic treatment for adult inguinal hernia with cryptorchidism: A case report.

Introduction: Cryptorchidism or undescended testis is the most common disorder of male children, which is often diagnosed and treated during childhood. Adult patients with cryptorchidism are uncommon. Herein we report the case of adult inguinal hernia with cryptorchidism successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery simultaneously.

Preparation of Zoospores and Assay for Their Adherence to Solid Surfaces.

Spherical zoospores of a rare actinomycete, , adhere to various hydrophobic solid surfaces by means of type IV pili. The purpose of this protocol is to provide detailed descriptions of the preparation of zoospores and an assay for the adhesion of the zoospores to solid surfaces. This adhesion assay, which measures numbers of zoospores that adhered to the dish surface and swimming zoospores in a tunnel chamber by using a phase-contrast microscope, can also be used for swimming cells of other microorganisms.

Inhibitor of Growth 4 (ING4) is a positive regulator of rRNA synthesis.

Ribosome biogenesis is essential for maintaining basic cellular activities although its mechanism is not fully understood. Inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) is a member of ING family while its cellular functions remain controversial. Here, we identified several nucleolar proteins as novel ING4 interacting proteins.

Prospective clinical trial evaluating vulnerability and chemotherapy risk using geriatric assessment tools in older patients with lung cancer.

Aim: In Japan, the number of older patients with cancer has been increasing. Assessment of performance status, cognitive function and social background is necessary for the treatment of older patients. The aims of the present study were: (i) to establish an evaluation system using electronic medical records; and (ii) to distinguish older patients as fit versus vulnerable or frail according to a geriatric assessment (GA) system score.

Plasmalogen loss caused by remodeling deficiency in mitochondria.

Lipid homeostasis is crucial in human health. Barth syndrome (BTHS), a life-threatening disease typically diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and neutropenia, is caused by mutations in the mitochondrial transacylase tafazzin. By high-resolution P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with cryoprobe technology, recently we found a dramatic loss of choline plasmalogen in the tafazzin-knockdown (TAZ-KD) mouse heart, besides observing characteristic cardiolipin (CL) alterations in BTHS.

Characterization of Zoospore Type IV Pili in Actinoplanes missouriensis.

The rare actinomycete produces terminal sporangia containing a few hundred flagellated spores. After release from the sporangia, the spores swim rapidly in aquatic environments as zoospores. The zoospores stop swimming and begin to germinate in niches for vegetative growth.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 That Was Successfully Treated with Regorafenib.

An unconscious 55-year-old man with a history of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) was transported to the emergency department and was diagnosed with acute renal failure owing to a large bladder tumor. A submucosal tumor was also identified in the duodenum. The patient was diagnosed with a primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the bladder and duodenum.

Membrane curvature allosterically regulates the phosphatidylinositol cycle, controlling its rate and acyl-chain composition of its lipid intermediates.

Signaling events at membranes are often mediated by membrane lipid composition or membrane physical properties. These membrane properties could act either by favoring the membrane binding of downstream effectors or by modulating their activity. Several proteins can sense/generate membrane physical curvature ( shape).

Substantial Decrease in Plasmalogen in the Heart Associated with Tafazzin Deficiency.

Tafazzin is the mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes transacylation between a phospholipid and a lysophospholipid in remodeling. Mutations in tafazzin cause Barth syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disease with the major symptom being cardiomyopathy. In the tafazzin-deficient heart, cardiolipin (CL) acyl chains become abnormally heterogeneous unlike those in the normal heart with a single dominant linoleoyl species, tetralinoleoyl CL.

Metformin directly binds the alarmin HMGB1 and inhibits its proinflammatory activity.

Metformin is the first-line drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In addition to its hypoglycemic effect, metformin has an anti-inflammatory function, but the precise mechanism promoting this activity remains unclear. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an alarmin that is released from necrotic cells and induces inflammatory responses by its cytokine-like activity and is, therefore, a target of anti-inflammatory therapies.

Risk factors and management for gastric stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric epithelial neoplasm.

Background: Only a few studies have reported treatment options for stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric neoplasms. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for and evaluate the management of stenosis after ESD for gastric epithelial neoplasms in the cardia and antrum.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1218 patients (1447 gastric epithelial neoplasms) who underwent ESD at Tonan Hospital from June 2004 to November 2015.

Short- and long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in elderly patients aged 75 years and older.

Background: Only a few studies have reported long-term outcomes for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early gastric cancer (EGC) in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ESD for EGC in elderly patients ≥75 years with respect to both short- and long-term outcomes.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of elderly patients ≥75 years who had undergone ESD for EGC at Tonan Hospital from January 2003 to May 2010.

Roles of specific lipid species in the cell and their molecular mechanism.

Thousands of different molecular species of lipids are present within a single cell, being involved in modulating the basic processes of life. The vast number of different lipid species can be organized into a number of different lipid classes, which may be defined as a group of lipids with a common chemical structure, such as the headgroup, apart from the nature of the hydrocarbon chains. Each lipid class has unique biological roles.