A versatile entry to unnatural, disulfide-linked amino acids and peptides through the disulfuration of azlactones.

Despite the evident demand and promising potential of disulfide-functionalized amino acids and peptides in linker chemistry and peptide drug discovery, those disulfurated specifically at the α-position constitute a unique yet rather highly underexplored chemical space. In this study, we have developed a method for preparing -linked amino acid/peptide derivatives through a base-catalyzed disulfuration reaction of azlactones, followed by the ring-opening functionalization. The disulfuration reaction proceeds under mild conditions, yielding disulfurated azlactones in excellent yields across a variety of -dithiophthalimides and diverse azlactones derived from various amino acids and peptides.

Colostomies for two lizards with cloacal prolapse.

Two captive-bred lizards, a Western spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata) and a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), were evaluated for anorexia and absence of feces. The iguana had a recent cloacal prolapse, whereas the dragon had a repaired prolapse 20 days earlier. Exploratory celiotomy under anesthesia revealed a devitalized distal colon in the iguana and stenosis of ductal organs in the pelvic cavity in the dragon, leading to colostomies.

Machine Learning Prediction for Postdischarge Falls in Older Adults: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Objectives: The study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict early postdischarge falls in older adults using data that are easy to collect in acute care hospitals. This may reduce the burden imposed by complex measures on patients and health care staff.

Design: This prospective multicenter study included patients admitted to and discharged from geriatric wards at 3 university hospitals and 1 national medical center in Japan between October 2019 and July 2023.

Efficacy and Safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan Versus Amlodipine in Japanese Patients With Essential Hypertension: A Randomized, Multicenter, Open-Label, Noninferiority Study (PARASOL Study).

Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, has demonstrated a superior blood pressure-lowering effect compared with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in several clinical trials. However, there has been no available evidence on the comparison between sacubitril/valsartan and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), a well-established class of antihypertensive drugs. In this open-label, multicenter study, we aimed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan versus amlodipine, one of the most widely used CCBs, after 8 weeks of treatment.

Less frequent skin ulcers among patients with Werner syndrome treated with pioglitazone: findings from the Japanese Werner Syndrome Registry.

Background And Aim: Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive, adult-onset, progeroid syndrome caused by mutations. As refractory skin ulcers significantly affect the quality of life of patients with WS, this study identified ulcer risk factors and assessed prevention methods.

Methods: We analyzed the data of 51 patients with WS enrolled in the Japanese Werner Syndrome Registry between 2016 and 2022.