Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on the Conformation of Bovine Serum Albumin: Insights from CD Spectroscopic Analysis and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

With the development of nanotechnology, there is growing interest in using nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications, such as diagnostics, drug delivery, imaging, and nanomedicine. The protein's structural stability plays a pivotal role in its functionality, and any alteration in this structure can have significant implications, including disease progression. Herein, we performed a combined experimental and computational study of the effect of gold NPs with a diameter of 5 nm (5 nm Au-NPs) on the structural stability of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein in the absence and presence of NaCl salt.

Dosimetric study of synchrotron rapid beam off control and skip spot function for high beam intensity proton therapy.

Background: All Hitachi proton pencil beam scanning facilities currently use discrete spot scanning (DSS). Mayo Clinic Florida (MCF) is installing a Hitachi particle therapy system with advanced technologies, including fast scan speeds, high beam intensity, rapid beam off control (RBOC), a skip spot function, and proton pencil beam scanning using dose driven continuous scanning (DDCS). A potential concern of RBOC is the generation of a shoulder at the end of the normal spot delivery due to a flap spot (FS) with a flap dose (FD), which has been investigated for carbon synchrotron but not for proton delivery.

Effect of Acetonitrile on the Conformation of Bovine Serum Albumin.

The use of organic solvents in drug delivery systems (DDSs) either to produce albumin nanoparticles or to manipulate the binding of target molecules to albumin, a promising nanocarrier material, presents challenges due to the conformational changes induced in the protein. In this study, we investigated the alterations in the conformation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) caused by acetonitrile (ACN) in aqueous solution by using a combination of spectroscopic analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Ultraviolet (UV) absorption, fluorescence, and infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy were used to analyze the BSA conformation in the solutions containing 0-60 vol % ACN.

A pilot study investigating serum carnitine profile of cats with preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

This study aimed to prospectively investigate the hypothesis that myocardial energy metabolism changes in the early stages of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by evaluating the blood carnitine profiles. Fourteen client owned cats with HCM stage B1 and 22 clinically healthy cats were included in this study. Total-carnitine, free-carnitine, acylcarnitine, and acylcarnitine/free-carnitine ratio (AF ratio) in serum were measured in both groups.

Proton FLASH Irradiation Using a Synchrotron Accelerator: Differences by Irradiation Positions.

Purpose: To establish an ultra-high dose-rate (UHDR) radiation system using a synchrotron proton beam accelerator and to compare the effects by irradiation positions on cultured cells and chick embryos.

Methods And Materials: Protons for UHDR were obtained by applying high-frequency power at much higher levels than usual to extract all protons within approximately 50 ms. Subsequently, monitoring with a Faraday cup was performed immediately after synchrotron extraction and the waveform was adjusted accordingly.

Polyethylene microplastics affect behavioural, oxidative stress, and molecular responses in the model.

The escalating presence of microplastic pollution poses a significant environmental threat, with far-reaching implications for both ecosystems and human health. This study investigated the toxicological impact of polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs) using , fruit flies, as a model organism. were exposed to PE MPs orally at concentrations of 1 mg ml and 10 mg ml agar food.

[Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Valve Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Septic Arthritis of the Sternoclavicular Joint:Report of a Case].

A 54-year-old man with a history of atopic dermatitis was admitted to our hospital for persistent fever and multiple arthralgias unresponsive to antibiotics. On the second day of hospitalization, Staphylococcus aureus was detected in the blood culture, and debridement for presumed pyogenic arthritis was performed on the patient's bilateral wrists and right ankle joints. Echocardiography showed evidence of infective endocarditis of the aortic valve.

Investigation of Ionization Chamber Characteristics for Ultrahigh-dose-rate Scanned Carbon-ion Beams.

Background/aim: There are only a few studies on dosimetry with ultrahigh-dose-rate (uHDR) scanned carbon-ion beams. This study investigated the characteristics of four types of ionization chambers for the uHDR beam.

Materials And Methods: We employed a newly developed large-plane parallel chamber to monitor a 208.

Development of a virtual reality simulator for training canine endotracheal intubation technique and evaluation of the educational impacts.

Virtual reality (VR)-based training has shown some benefits in medical education, supporting skill acquisition, and helping reduce anxiety in real-world settings. However, the use of VR simulators in veterinary education remains limited. This study aimed to introduce a VR simulator to support veterinarian training in canine anaesthesia induction and endotracheal intubation.

Development of a visible to 1600 nm hyperspectral imaging rigid-scope system using supercontinuum light and an acousto-optic tunable filter.

In this study, we developed a rigid-scope system that can perform hyperspectral imaging (HSI) between visible and 1600 nm wavelengths using a supercontinuum light source and an acousto-optic tunable filter to emit specific wavelengths. The system optical performance was verified, and the classification ability was investigated. Consequently, it was demonstrated that HSI (490-1600 nm) could be performed.

Zinc chloride-catalyzed Grignard addition reaction of aromatic nitriles.

In the alkyl addition reaction of aromatic nitriles using Grignard reagents, ketones are formed after hydrolysis. However, this addition reaction is often slow compared to that using reactive organolithium(i) reagents. In this study, we improved the reaction by using zinc(ii)ates, which are generated using Grignard reagents and zinc chloride (ZnCl) as a catalyst.

Pixel Screening in Lifetime-Based Temperature Mapping Using β-NaYF:Nd,Yb by Time-Gated Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging on Deep Tissue in Live Mice.

Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) thermometry is an emerging method for the noncontact measurement of deep temperatures. Fluorescence-lifetime-based methods are effective because they are unaffected by optical loss due to excitation or detection paths. Moreover, the physiological changes in body temperature in deep tissues and their pharmacological effects are yet to be fully explored.

Development and characterization of a dedicated dose monitor for ultrahigh-dose-rate scanned carbon-ion beams.

The current monochromatic beam mode (i.e., uHDR irradiation mode) of the scanned carbon-ion beam lacks a dedicated dose monitor, making the beam control challenging.

Temperature imaging inside fluid devices using a ratiometric near infrared (NIR-II/III) fluorescent YO: Nd, Yb, Er nanothermometer.

Luminescence thermometry is a non-contact method that can measure surface temperatures and the temperature of the area where the fluorescent probe is located, allowing temperature distribution visualizations with a camera. Ratiometric fluorescence thermometry, which uses the intensity ratio of fluorescence peaks at two wavelengths with different fluorescence intensity dependencies, is an excellent method for visualizing temperature distributions independent of the fluorophore spatial concentration, excitation light intensity and absolute fluorescence intensity. Herein, Nd/Yb/Er-doped YO nanomaterials with a diameter of 200 nm were prepared as phosphors for temperature distribution measurement of fluids at different temperatures.

Visualization of hydrocarbon chain length and degree of saturation of fatty acids in mouse livers by combining near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and machine learning.

Fatty acids play various physiological roles owing to their diverse structural characteristics, such as hydrocarbon chain length (HCL) and degree of saturation (DS). Although the distribution of fatty acids in biological tissues is associated with lipid metabolism, in situ imaging tools are still lacking for HCL and DS. Here, we introduce a framework of near-infrared (1000-1400 nm) hyperspectral label-free imaging with machine learning analysis of the fatty acid HCL and DS distribution in the liver at each pixel, in addition to the previously reported total lipid content.

Infrared spectroscopy analysis determining secondary structure change in albumin by cerium oxide nanoparticles.

Cerium oxide (CeO) nanoparticles are expected to have applications in the biomedical field because of their antioxidative properties. Inorganic nanoparticles interact with proteins at the nanoparticle surface and change their conformation when administered; however, the principle underlying this interaction is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the secondary structural changes occurring in bovine serum albumin (BSA) mixed with CeO nanoparticles having different surface modifications using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Enhancing near-infrared fluorescence intensity and stability of PLGA-b-PEG micelles by introducing Gd-DOTA at the core boundary.

Micelles have been extensively used in biomedicine as potential carriers of hydrophobic fluorescent dyes. Their small diameters can potentially enable them to evade recognition by the reticuloendothelial system, resulting in prolonged circulation. Nevertheless, their lack of stability in physiological environments limits the imaging utility of micelles.

Evaluating the identification of the extent of gastric cancer by over-1000 nm near-infrared hyperspectral imaging using surgical specimens.

Significance: Determining the extent of gastric cancer (GC) is necessary for evaluating the gastrectomy margin for GC. Additionally, determining the extent of the GC that is not exposed to the mucosal surface remains difficult. However, near-infrared (NIR) can penetrate mucosal tissues highly efficiently.

Luminescence imaging of water irradiated by protons under FLASH radiation therapy conditions.

FLASH radiation therapy with ultrahigh dose rates (UHDR) has the potential to reduce damage to normal tissue while maintaining anti-tumor efficacy. However, rapid and precise dose distribution measurements remain difficult for FLASH radiation therapy with proton beams. To solve this problem, we performed luminescence imaging of water following irradiation by a UHDR proton beam captured using a charge-coupled device camera.

Controlling Molecular Dye Encapsulation in the Hydrophobic Core of Core-Shell Nanoparticles for In Vivo Imaging.

Polymeric nanoparticles with a hydrophobic core are valuable biomedical materials with potential applications in in vivo imaging and drug delivery. These materials are effective at protecting vulnerable molecules, enabling them to serve their functions in hydrophilic physiological environments; however, strategies that allow the chemical composition and molecular weight of polymers to be tuned, forming nanoparticles to control the functional molecules, are lacking. In this article, we review strategies for designing core-shell nanoparticles that enable the effective and stable encapsulation of functional molecules for biomedical applications.

Influence of Carboxyl Group Ratios on the Design of Breast Cancer Targeting Bimodal MR/NIR-II Imaging Probe from PLGA@Gd-DOTA@PEG Micelles Conjugating Herceptin.

We developed a small MRI/NIR-II probe to target HER2 (tetanucleotide) breast cancer cells. The probe is composed of PLGA--PEG micelles encapsulated NIR-II, and Gd-DOTA is conjugated at the border of PLGA/PEG. Herceptin was then conjugated to carboxyl residues of PLGA--PEG chains.

Effect of carbonaceous ultrafine particles on the structure and oligomerization of Aβ peptide.

The impact of pervasive air pollutants on human health is a growing concern in scientific communities. Among different air pollutants, ultrafine particles (UFPs; with aerodynamic diameter <100 nm) might pass through biological barriers and have a severe impact on human health, including early progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). A significant fraction of UFPs consists of carbonaceous compounds, composed of elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC).

[Total Arch Replacement using the Frozen Elephant Trunk for Kommerell Diverticulum with Right Aortic Arch:Report of a Case].

A 42-year-old woman with dysphagia was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed Kommerell diverticulum( KD) associated with right aortic arch( RAA) and aberrant left subclavian artery (ALSCA). We performed total arch replacement (TAR) using a frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique.

Ultra-high Dose-rate Carbon-ion Scanning Beam With a Compact Medical Synchrotron Contributing to Further Development of FLASH Irradiation.

Background/aim: The focus of this report is establishing an irradiation arrangement to realize an ultra-high dose-rate (uHDR; FLASH) of scanned carbon-ion irradiation possible with a compact commonly available medical synchrotron.

Materials And Methods: Following adjustments to the operation it became possible to extract ≥1.0×10 carbon ions at 208.

[Stanford Type A Acute Aortic Dissection with Acute Myocardial Infarction due to Compression of Left Main Coronary Artery:Report of a Case].

A 58-year-old man was admitted to our institution with sudden onset of hypotension and acute ischemia of left lower extremity. Electrocardiography showed ST segment elevation in leads V1~V6 and a transthoracic echocardiogram revealed antero-septal wall hypokinesis. He was given a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction caused by left main coronary artery compression due to acute aortic dissection by enhanced computed tomography.