Task Shifting in Cardiac Catheterization to Sustain Physicians and Acute Coronary Syndrome Response Centers - Findings From the 2024 Japanese Circulation Society Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Survey.

Background: Sustainability of the 24/7 acute coronary syndrome response system is at risk due to the Work Style Reform for physicians.

Methods And Results: A survey of 93 facilities in Chugoku-Shikoku region found that 30% of facilities expected acute coronary syndrome services to be restricted due to the Work Style Reform. Approximately 35% had implemented task shifting, which reduced physicians' workload by 30% and improved team care.

Risk Factors for Intraoperative Instability in Sedated Patients Undergoing Pulmonary Vein Isolation Ablation.

Persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is typically treated with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation under deep sedation with propofol. Intraoperative hemodynamic or respiratory instability often interferes with the surgical procedure. We retrospectively investigated risk factors in 80 patients who underwent their first PVI ablation for atrial fibrillation at our hospital.

ISB 2001 trispecific T cell engager shows strong tumor cytotoxicity and overcomes immune escape mechanisms of multiple myeloma cells.

Despite recent advances in immunotherapies targeting single tumor-associated antigens, patients with multiple myeloma eventually relapse. ISB 2001 is a CD3 T cell engager (TCE) co-targeting BCMA and CD38 designed to improve cytotoxicity against multiple myeloma. Targeting of two tumor-associated antigens by a single TCE resulted in superior cytotoxic potency across a variable range of BCMA and CD38 tumor expression profiles mimicking natural tumor heterogeneity, improved resistance to competing soluble factors and exhibited superior cytotoxic potency on patient-derived samples and in mouse models.

PRMT1 Sustains De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis by Methylating PHGDH to Drive Chemoresistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Unlabelled: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) chemoresistance hampers the ability to effectively treat patients. Identification of mechanisms driving chemoresistance can lead to strategies to improve treatment. Here, we revealed that protein arginine methyltransferase-1 (PRMT1) simultaneously methylates D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), a critical enzyme in serine synthesis, and the glycolytic enzymes PFKFB3 and PKM2 in TNBC cells.

Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy after tafamidis therapy in a patient with transthyretin amyloidosis variant.

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) variant is a life-threatening hereditary disease predominantly affecting the peripheral nervous system and heart. Tafamidis, which prevents the deposition of amyloid by stabilizing transthyretin, is available for the treatment of neuropathy and cardiomyopathy of ATTR. However, whether tafamidis could eliminate established amyloid deposits and improve cardiac function remains unknown.

Association of Microluminal Structures Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography With Local Inflammation in Adjacent Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Coronary Plaque Characteristics in Fresh Cadavers.

Background: Coronary intraplaque microluminal structures (MS) are associated with plaque vulnerability, and the inward progression of vascular inflammation from the adventitia towards the media and intima has also been demonstrated. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the relationships among MS, local inflammation in adjacent epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and coronary plaque characteristics.

Methods and results: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed MS in the left anterior descending coronary artery in 10 fresh cadaveric hearts.

Esaxerenone, a selective mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, improves insulin sensitivity in mice consuming high-fat diet.

Background: Esaxerenone is a novel, non-steroidal selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blocker. MR activation plays a crucial role in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of esaxerenone on various metabolic parameters in mice.

A Selective Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blocker, Esaxerenone, Attenuates Vascular Dysfunction in Diabetic C57BL/6 Mice.

Aims: Pharmacological blockade of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) is a potential therapeutic approach to reduce cardiovascular complications since MRs play a crucial role in cardiovascular regulation. Recent studies suggest that MR antagonists affect several extrarenal tissues, including vessel function. We investigated the effect of a novel nonsteroidal selective MR blocker, esaxerenone, on diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction.

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Hydrodynamics in the Single-Use Bioreactor Mobius CellReady 3 L.

Two-way Euler-Lagrange simulations are performed to characterize the hydrodynamics in the single-use bioreactor Mobius CellReady 3 L. The hydrodynamics in stirred tank bioreactors are frequently modeled with the Euler-Euler approach, which cannot capture the trajectories of single bubbles. The present study employs the two-way coupled Euler-Lagrange approach, which accounts for the individual bubble trajectories through Langrangian equations and considers their impact on the Eulerian liquid phase equations.

Effects of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation on Cardiac Reserve Using Preload Stress Echocardiography in Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

The effects of catheter ablation on exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have been reported. We assessed cardiac function in more detail using the leg positive pressure (LPP) technique and found that contractile reserve is particularly important in relation to exercise tolerance and prognosis. In this study, we used the LPP technique to examine changes in contractile reserve immediately after ablation and 6 months later.

CFD-Based and Experimental Hydrodynamic Characterization of the Single-Use Bioreactor Xcellerex XDR-10.

Understanding the hydrodynamic conditions in bioreactors is of utmost importance for the selection of operating conditions during cell culture process development. In the present study, the two-phase flow in the lab-scale single-use bioreactor XcellerexTM XDR-10 is characterized for working volumes from 4.5 L to 10 L, impeller speeds from 40 rpm to 360 rpm, and sparging with two different microporous spargers at rates from 0.

Clinical clerkship students' preferences and satisfaction regarding online lectures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption in medical education. Students and lecturers had to adapt to online education. The current study aimed to investigate the level of satisfaction and future preference for online lectures among clinical clerkship students and elucidated the factors that affect these outcomes.

Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy Due to Gastric Cancer Diagnosed Antemortem by a Cytological Examination of Aspirated Pulmonary Artery Blood.

A 66-year-old Japanese man receiving systemic chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer presented with exertional dyspnea. D-dimer was elevated in the blood. Echocardiography revealed pulmonary hypertension, and a ventilation-perfusion scan indicated decreased perfusion in the bilateral lungs.

Spatially restricted substrate-binding site of cortisol-synthesizing CYP11B1 limits multiple hydroxylations and hinders aldosterone synthesis.

Human cytochromes P450 (CYP11B1) and P450 (CYP11B2) are monooxygenases that synthesize cortisol through steroid 11β-hydroxylation and aldosterone through a three-step process comprising 11β-hydroxylation and two 18-hydroxylations, respectively. CYP11B1 also catalyzes 18-monohydroxylation and 11β,18-dihydroxylation. To study the molecular basis of such catalytic divergence of the two enzymes, we examined a CYP11B1 mutant (Mt-CYP11B1) with amino acid replacements on the distal surface by determining the catalytic activities and crystal structure in the metyrapone-bound form at 1.

Evaluation of the input site and characteristics of the antegrade fast pathway based on three-dimensional bi-atrial stimulus-ventricle mapping.

Purpose: Previous studies examined the right atrial (RA) input site of the antegrade fast pathway (AFp) (AFpI). However, the left atrial (LA) input to the atrioventricular (AV) node has not been extensively evaluated. In this study, we created three-dimensional (3-D) bi-atrial stimulus-ventricle (St-V) maps and analyzed the input site and characteristics of the AFp in both the RA and LA.

Infective Endocarditis from Furuncle with Meningitis Complication Caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Infective endocarditis (IE) may be acquired in the community as community-acquired (CA) IE or in the healthcare setting. In Japan, cases of CA-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection as skin infection have been increasing. CA-MRSA strains, including the USA300 clone, have higher pathogenicity and are more destructive to tissue than healthcare-associated MRSA strains because of the toxins they produce, including arginine-catabolic mobile element (ACME) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL).

On-tissue polysulfide visualization by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy benefits patients with ovarian cancer to predict post-operative chemosensitivity.

Chemosensitivity to cisplatin derivatives varies among individual patients with intractable malignancies including ovarian cancer, while how to unlock the resistance remain unknown. Ovarian cancer tissues were collected the debulking surgery in discovery- (n = 135) and validation- (n = 47) cohorts, to be analyzed with high-throughput automated immunohistochemistry which identified cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) as an independent marker distinguishing non-responders from responders to post-operative platinum-based chemotherapy. We aimed to identify CSE-derived metabolites responsible for chemoresistant mechanisms: gold-nanoparticle (AuN)-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to enhance electromagnetic fields which enabled to visualize multiple sulfur-containing metabolites through detecting scattering light from Au-S vibration two-dimensionally.

Activated Factor X Signaling Pathway via Protease-Activated Receptor 2 Is a Novel Therapeutic Target for Preventing Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Activated factor X (FXa), which contributes to chronic inflammation via protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), might play an important role in atrial fibrillation (AF) arrhythmogenesis. This study aimed to assess whether PAR2 signaling contributes to AF arrhythmogenesis and whether rivaroxaban ameliorates atrial inflammation and prevents AF.

Methods and results: In Study 1, PAR2 deficient (PAR2-/-) and wild-type mice were infused with angiotensin II (Ang II) or a vehicle via an osmotic minipump for 2 weeks.

Antegrade slow pathway mapping of typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia based on direct slow pathway capture.

Background: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (tAVNRT) is performed without revealing out the location of antegrade slow pathway (ASp). In this study, we studied a new electrophysiological method of identifying the site of ASp.

Methods: This study included 19 patients.

Identification and distinct regulation of three di/tripeptide transporters in Aspergillus oryzae.

The uptake of di/tripeptides is mediated by the proton-dependent oligopeptide transporter (POT) family. In this study, 3 POT family transporters, designated PotA, PotB, and PotC were identified in Aspergillus oryzae. Growth comparison of deletion mutants of these transporter genes suggested that PotB and PotC are responsible for di/tripeptide uptake.

Effects of L-/N-Type Calcium Channel Blockers on Angiotensin II-Renin Feedback in Hypertensive Patients.

Objectives: Cilnidipine, an L-/N-type calcium channel blocker (CCB), has unique organ-protective properties due to suppression of hyperactivity in the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In this study, we hypothesized that cilnidipine might exert a renoprotective effect by suppressing the RAS.

Methods: A total of 25 hypertensive patients receiving a RAS inhibitor were randomly assigned to a cilnidipine ( = 12) or amlodipine ( = 13) group.

OGT Regulates Hematopoietic Stem Cell Maintenance via PINK1-Dependent Mitophagy.

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) is a unique enzyme introducing O-GlcNAc moiety on target proteins, and it critically regulates various cellular processes in diverse cell types. However, its roles in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) remain elusive. Here, using Ogt conditional knockout mice, we show that OGT is essential for HSPCs.