An mRNA vaccine candidate encoding H5HA clade 2.3.4.4b protects mice from clade 2.3.2.1a virus infection.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses from different clades have been circulating globally, threatening wild/domestic birds and mammals. Given frequent spillovers and high mortality among mammals, coupled with our inability to predict which clade of H5 virus has pandemic potential, cross-clade protective HPAI H5 vaccines are urgently needed. Here, we demonstrate the applicability of a lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA vaccine modality to induce cross-protective immunity against lethal HPAI virus infection.

Modification of Xyloglucan Metabolism during a Decrease in Cell Wall Extensibility in 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid-Treated Azuki Bean Epicotyls.

The exogenous application of ethylene or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the biosynthetic precursor for ethylene, to plants decreases the capacity of the cell wall to extend, thereby inhibiting stem elongation. In this study, the mechanism by which the extensibility of cell walls decreases in ACC-treated azuki bean epicotyls was studied. ACC decreased the total extensibility of cell walls, and such a decrease was due to the decrease in irreversible extensibility.

Clinical differences among patients with myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive interstitial lung disease.

Introduction: Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis and idiopathic interstitial lung diseases (IIPs) are positive for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA. MPO-ANCA-positive vasculitis mainly comprises microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and unclassifiable vasculitis. These diseases are frequently complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Transcatheter aspiration of a thrombus and percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction related to coronavirus disease 2019.

Although the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes severe viral pneumonia, it has also been reported, in some cases, to co-exist with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Here, we describe the case of a patient with COVID-19 and coronary risk factors for hypertension, including smoking and obesity, who developed acute myocardial infarction due to primary coronary artery thrombosis and was treated with transcatheter thrombus aspiration and percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization (PTCR) with intracoronary urokinase administration. A large volume of thrombus was collected and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 3 was obtained after the procedures.

Quantitative CT analysis of interstitial pneumonia in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis: a single center, retrospective study.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the utility of quantitative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for determining the clinical course of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (MDA5 ILD).

Method: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 34 patients with MDA5 ILD to determine the association between the clinical findings and extent of ILD via quantitative CT analysis at baseline and short-term follow-up. Quantified HRCT scores were evaluated as the lung severity score (LSS), percentage of opacity, and percentage of high opacity.

Interstitial lung disease with myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in elderly patients.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis (AAV) occurs in elderly people, and patients with anti-myeloperoxidase autoantibodies (MPO-ANCA)-positive AAV are often complicated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). This study aimed to evaluate the age-related clinical features of elderly patients with MPO-ANCA-positive AAV-ILD. This study retrospectively investigated 63 patients with MPO-ANCA-positive AAV-ILD, all of whom were 65 years or older at diagnosis.

Evaluation of the Foveal Avascular Zone in Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and retinal structure in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR).

Patients And Methods: Eighteen eyes with stage 1 or 2 FEVR and 20 control eyes were evaluated. The central retinal thickness (CRT), foveal inner retinal thickness (IRT), surface retinal vessel density (SRVD), and deep retinal vessel density (DRVD) were measured using optical coherence tomography.

Immune-related adverse events caused by treatment with pembrolizumab in a patient with lung cancer who infected influenza virus.

A 67-year-old man with stage IV B lung adenocarcinoma was treated with pembrolizumab. The patient was admitted to the hospital because of influenza on the day of the second cycle of pembrolizumab treatment. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and was treated with antiviral drugs and steroids.

Characterization of FsXEG12A from the cellulose-degrading ectosymbiotic fungus Fusarium spp. strain EI cultured by the ambrosia beetle.

Despite the threat of Fusarium dieback posed due to ambrosia fungi cultured by ambrosia beetles such as Euwallacea spp., the wood-degradation mechanisms utilized by ambrosia fungi are not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes of the microbial community from the Ficus tree tunnel excavated by Euwallacea interjectus and isolated the cellulose-degrading fungus, Fusarium spp.

Clinical features of dermatomyositis associated with anti-MDA5 antibodies by age.

Objectives: Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) autoantibody-positive and age at onset ≥60 years are poor prognosis factors in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) among Japanese patients. However, the influence of age on the clinical features of anti-MDA5 autoantibody-positive patients with DM remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 40 patients with DM and anti-MDA5 autoantibodies according to age.

Clinical features of patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis complicated by spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Background: Dermatomyositis (DM) with autoantibody against melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 (MDA5) is characterized by elevated risk of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) with a potentially fatal course. Pneumomediastinum (PNM) is a common pulmonary manifestation which accompanies ILD. However, the clinical features of the patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive DM who develop PNM remain unclear.

A protein scaffold, engineered SPINK2, for generation of inhibitors with high affinity and specificity against target proteases.

Proteases are one of attractive therapeutic targets to play key roles in pharmacological action. There are many protease inhibitors in nature, and most of them structurally have cystine knot motifs. Their structures are favorable for recognition of active pockets of proteases, leading to the potent inhibition.

Optical coherence tomography findings in unilateral peripheral cone dysfunction syndrome: a case report.

Introduction: To report a case of unilateral peripheral cone dysfunction syndrome and evaluate the associated clinicopathological changes using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old Japanese woman reported a visual field defect of 2-years duration in the right eye. The patient underwent visual field testing, full-field electroretinography (ff-ERG), SS-OCT, and a routine ophthalmologic examination.

Paradoxical embolism caused by ovarian vein thrombosis extending to inferior vena cava in a female with uterine myoma.

Deep vein thrombosis occasionally causes paradoxical embolism in patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO). We report the case of a 42-year-old female who was hospitalized for stroke. Detailed investigations revealed the existence of a PFO, pulmonary embolism, and ovarian vein thrombosis extending to inferior vena cava.

Differential clinical features of patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis who have circulating anti-MDA5 autoantibodies with or without myositis-associated autoantibodies.

Background: Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) autoantibodies have been identified as myositis-specific autoantibodies that are often associated with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) and a poor prognosis due to rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) in East Asian patients. Besides anti-MDA5 autoantibodies, patients with CADM may have myositis-associated autoantibodies (MAAs), which characterize other connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome. However, the clinical significance of the coexistence of anti-MDA5 autoantibodies and MAAs in patients with CADM remains unclear.

Contacts with large, active individuals intensify the predation risk of small conspecifics.

Size variation within a population can influence the structure of ecosystem interactions, because ecological performance differs between individuals of different sizes. Although the impact of size variation in a predator species on the structure of interactions is well understood, our knowledge about how size variation in a prey species might modify the interactions between predators and prey is very limited. Here, by examining the interactions between predatory Hynobius retardatus salamander larvae and their prey, Rana pirica frog tadpoles, we investigated how large prey individuals affect the predation mortality of small prey conspecifics.

Response of a Wild Edible Plant to Human Disturbance: Harvesting Can Enhance the Subsequent Yield of Bamboo Shoots.

Wild edible plants, ecological foodstuffs obtained from forest ecosystems, grow in natural fields, and their productivity depends on their response to harvesting by humans. Addressing exactly how wild edible plants respond to harvesting is critical because this knowledge will provide insights into how to obtain effective and sustainable ecosystem services from these plants. We focused on bamboo shoots of Sasa kurilensis, a popular wild edible plant in Japan.

Anti-Hu Antibody-associated Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome Showing Peripheral Neuropathy and Atypical Multifocal Brain Lesions.

A 64-year-old Japanese woman presented with a three-month history of progressive numbness and weakness of the lower extremities. A neurological examination and nerve conduction study indicated sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Since the serum anti-Hu antibody titer was remarkably elevated, paraneoplastic neurological syndrome was highly suspected.

A case of Trousseau syndrome caused by pulmonary adenocarcinoma that was controlled for one year and 10 months with thrombosis treatment using an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor and chemotherapy.

A 47-year-old female with no history of previous illnesses developed cerebral infarction and was diagnosed with lung cancer, specifically EGFR mutation-positive adenocarcinoma, and Trousseau syndrome. The patient's response to anticoagulant therapy with non-fractionated heparin was very poor; however we were able to control the thrombosis with chemotherapy. She survived for one year and 10 months following treatment with gefitinib, CBDCA + PEM and erlotinib, without recurrence of thrombosis.

A case of anti-MDA5-positive rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease in a patient with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis ameliorated by rituximab, in addition to standard immunosuppressive treatment.

Rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) in patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) associated with antibodies to melanoma differentiation-associated gene5 (MDA5) results in a high mortality rate. We experienced a case of anti-MDA5-positive RP-ILD of CADM which showed a response to rituximab, although there was no significant effect due to standard immunosuppressive treatment. This case suggests that rituximab has the potential to offer an effective agent for the treatment of anti-MDA5-positive RP-ILD of CADM.

Development of potent antagonists for formyl peptide receptor 1 based on Boc-Phe-D-Leu-Phe-D-Leu-Phe-OH.

While stimulation of formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) on the surface of human neutrophils induces several immune responses, under conditions of continuous activation of the receptor by agonists such as formyl-Met-Leu-Phe-OH (fMLP), neutrophil-dependent tissue damage ensues. Thus, FPR antagonists could be anticipated as drugs for FPR-related disease. In this study, Boc-Phe-D-Leu-Phe-D-Leu-Phe-OH (Boc-FlFlF), one of several FPR subtype selective antagonists, was chosen and the positions at the Phe residues were optimized.

Lubiprostone prevents nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small intestinal damage by suppressing the expression of inflammatory mediators via EP4 receptors.

Lubiprostone, a bicyclic fatty acid derived from prostaglandin E1, has been used to treat chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, and its mechanism of action has been attributed to the stimulation of intestinal fluid secretion via the activation of the chloride channel protein 2/cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (ClC-2/CFTR) chloride channels. We examined the effects of lubiprostone on indomethacin-induced enteropathy and investigated the functional mechanisms involved, including its relationship with the EP4 receptor subtype. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered indomethacin (10 mg/kg p.