Evaluation of diseases complicating long COVID: A retrospective chart review.

Background: Evidence for the pathogenesis and treatment of postacute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (long COVID) is lacking. As long COVID symptoms are predicted to have an impact on the global economy, clarification of the pathogenesis is urgently needed. Our experiences indicated that some symptoms were complicated by diseases established before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Treatment of long COVID complicated by postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome-Case series research.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sequelae, also known as long COVID, can present with various symptoms. Among these symptoms, autonomic dysregulation, particularly postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), should be evaluated. However, previous studies on the treatment of POTS complicated by COVID-19 are lacking.

Five cluster classifications of long COVID and their background factors: A cross-sectional study in Japan.

Purpose: The long-term symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), i.e., long COVID, have drawn research attention.

Need for revision of the ACMG/AMP guidelines for interpretation of X-linked variants.

The guidelines provided by American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP) (ACMG/AMP guidelines) suggest a framework for the classification of clinical variants. However, the interpretations can be inconsistent, with each definition sometimes proving to be ambiguous. In particular, there can be difficulty with interpretation of variants related to the X-linked recessive trait.

Relationship between changes in symptoms and antibody titers after a single vaccination in patients with Long COVID.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide; there is a need to address its sequelae known as Long COVID. This study evaluated postvaccination changes in symptoms and antibody titers in patients with Long COVID. Patients visiting the outpatient department specializing in Long COVID at our hospital were enrolled.

Deletion of the gene encoding prostamide/prostaglandin F synthase reveals an important role in regulating intraocular pressure.

Prostamide/prostaglandin F synthase (PM/PGFS) is an enzyme with very narrow substrate specificity and is dedicated to the biosynthesis of prostamide F and prostaglandin F (PGF). The importance of this enzyme, relative to the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) series, in providing functional tissue prostamide F levels was determined by creating a line of PM/PGFS gene deleted mice. Deletion of the gene encoding PM/PGFS (Fam213b / Prxl2b) was accomplished by a two exon disruption.

Component-resolved diagnostics can be useful for identifying hazelnut allergy in Japanese children.

Background: Cor a 9 and Cor a 14 are effective markers for predicting hazelnut allergy. However, there have been no reports on the component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) of hazelnut allergy using an oral food challenge (OFC) for diagnosis in Asia. We hypothesized that CRD would improve the accuracy of diagnosing hazelnut allergies in Japanese children.

Development of Ion Mobility Spectrometry with Novel Atmospheric Electron Emission Ionization for Field Detection of Gaseous and Blister Chemical Warfare Agents.

Drift tube ion mobility spectrometry with a novel atmospheric electron emission (AEE) source was developed for determination of gaseous and blister chemical warfare agents (CWAs) in negative mode. The AEE source was fabricated from an aluminum substrate electrode covered with 1 μm silver nanoparticle-dispersed silicone resin and a thin gold layer. This structure enabled stable tunneling electron emission upon the application of more than 11 V potential under atmospheric pressure.

Measurement of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Children: A Comparison Between NObreath® and NIOX VERO® Analyzers.

Purpose: Few studies have compared fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement by NIOX VERO® (NOV) and other devices in children. Moreover, there is no agreement between differences in FeNO values obtained using different devices in adults. Here, we compared FeNO values obtained using NOV and NObreath® (NOB) systems to derive a correction equation for children.

Loss of X-linked Protocadherin-19 differentially affects the behavior of heterozygous female and hemizygous male mice.

Mutations in the X-linked gene Protocadherin-19 (Pcdh19) cause female-limited epilepsy and mental retardation in humans. Although Pcdh19 is known to be a homophilic cell-cell adhesion molecule, how its mutations bring about female-specific disorders remains elusive. Here, we report the effects of Pcdh19 knockout in mice on their development and behavior.

A hairy-leaf gene, BLANKET LEAF, of wild Oryza nivara increases photosynthetic water use efficiency in rice.

Background: High water use efficiency is essential to water-saving cropping. Morphological traits that affect photosynthetic water use efficiency are not well known. We examined whether leaf hairiness improves photosynthetic water use efficiency in rice.

Phosphorylation of the centrosomal protein, Cep169, by Cdk1 promotes its dissociation from centrosomes in mitosis.

Cep169 is a centrosomal protein conserved among vertebrates. In our previous reports, we showed that mammalian Cep169 interacts and collaborates with CDK5RAP2 to regulate microtubule (MT) dynamics and stabilization. Although Cep169 is required for MT regulation, its precise cellular function remains largely elusive.

Cep169, a Novel Microtubule Plus-End-Tracking Centrosomal Protein, Binds to CDK5RAP2 and Regulates Microtubule Stability.

The centrosomal protein, CDK5RAP2, is a microcephaly protein that regulates centrosomal maturation by recruitment of a γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) onto centrosomes. In this report, we identified a novel human centrosomal protein, Cep169, as a binding partner of CDK5RAP2, a member of microtubule plus-end-tracking proteins (+TIPs). Cep169 interacts directly with CDK5RAP2 through CM1, an evolutionarily conserved domain, and colocalizes at the pericentriolar matrix (PCM) around centrioles with CDK5RAP2.

Soybean β-Conglycinin Prevents Age-Related Hearing Impairment.

Obesity-related complications are associated with the development of age-related hearing impairment. β-Conglycinin (β-CG), one of the main storage proteins in soy, offers multiple health benefits, including anti-obesity and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Here, to elucidate the potential therapeutic application of β-CG, we investigated the effect of β-CG on age-related hearing impairment.

Protocadherin-17 mediates collective axon extension by recruiting actin regulator complexes to interaxonal contacts.

In the process of neuronal wiring, axons derived from the same functional group typically extend together, resulting in fascicle formation. How these axons communicate with one another remains largely unknown. Here, we show that protocadherin-17 (Pcdh17) supports this group extension by recruiting actin polymerization regulators to interaxonal contact sites.

Adiponectin ameliorates endotoxin-induced acute cardiac injury.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence suggests that reduced levels of the adipocyte-derived plasma protein adiponectin are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Here, we examined the effects of adiponectin on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute cardiac injury in vivo.

Multilayered adipose-derived regenerative cell sheets created by a novel magnetite tissue engineering method for myocardial infarction.

Background: Adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) are a promising source of autologous stem cells for regeneration and repair of damaged tissue. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic potential of ADRC sheets created by a magnetite tissue engineering technology (Mag-TE) for myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: Adipose tissue was obtained from wild-type (WT) mice and ADRCs were isolated.

A Japanese region-wide survey of the knowledge, difficulties and self-reported palliative care practices among nurses.

Objective: We investigated palliative care knowledge, difficulty and self-reported practice among a region-wide sample of nurses who cared for cancer patients in Japan.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was distributed to 9 designated cancer centers, 17 community hospitals and 73 district nurse services across 4 regions in 2008. We used the Palliative Care Knowledge Test, the Palliative Care Difficulty Scale (five-point Likert scale) and the Palliative Care Self-Reported Practices Scale (five-point Likert scale).

Protective effects of a nicotinamide derivative, isonicotinamide, against streptozotocin-induced β-cell damage and diabetes in mice.

Objective: Nicotinamide rescues β-cell damage and diabetes in rodents, but a large-scale clinical trial failed to show the benefit of nicotinamide in the prevention of type 1 diabetes. Recent studies have shown that Sirt1 deacetylase, a putative protector of β-cells, is inhibited by nicotinamide. We investigated the effects of isonicotinamide, which is a derivative of nicotinamide and does not inhibit Sirt1, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in mice.

Cystatin C as a predictor of mortality and cardiovascular morbidity after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been reported to improve symptoms and cardiac performance in patients with severe heart failure (HF), but CRT recipients with advanced HF do not always experience improved mortality rates. Cystatin C has recently been involved in HF, but the association of serum cystatin C level with adverse events and long-term prognosis after CRT is unknown. This study investigated whether cystatin C level can predict mortality and cardiovascular events after CRT.

E6201, a novel kinase inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase-1: in vivo effects on cutaneous inflammatory responses by topical administration.

E6201 [(3S,4R,5Z,8S,9S,11E)-14-(ethylamino)-8,9,16-trihydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-3,4,9,10-tetrahydro-1H-2-benzoxacyclotetradecine-1,7(8H)-dione)] is a novel anti-inflammatory agent that has potent inhibitory effects on the production of proinflammatory cytokines from leukocytes and antiproliferative activity on keratinocytes. To characterize the in vivo pharmacological activity of E6201, topically administered E6201 was evaluated in several different animal models of dermatitis. E6201 formulated as an ointment or cream showed dose-dependent inhibition of croton oil-induced acute edema formation and neutrophil infiltration into mouse skin.

Higher toxicity of dibutyltin and poly-L-lactide with a large amount of tin but lower toxicity of poly-L-lactide of synthetic artificial dura mater exhibited on murine astrocyte cell line.

Neurotoxicities of dibutyltin (DBT), tin(II) octylate (OT), poly-L-lactides (PLLA, molecular weight [MW]=5000, PLLA 5000), PLLA without tin (MW=3000, PLLA 3000), PLLA with a large amount (590 ppm) of tin (S3), poly(glycolic acid-co-epsilon-caprolactone) oligomer (MW=6200, PGC oligomer), and poly(L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid-co-epsilon-caprolactone) oligomer (MW=6400, PLGC oligomer) related to artificial dura mater were examined using the murine astrocyte cell line, CRL-2534. The indices were cell viability, glutamate concentration in the cell supernatant, and cell proliferation. Lower cell viability was observed among cells exposed to 0.

Fibroma of the omentum resembling an ovarian tumor in the pelvis.

We would like to report the case of a patient with fibroma of the omentum that resembled an ovarian tumor in the pelvis. Since primary tumours of the omentum are rare, there is a paucity of information about the biology of such tumors in the basic texts and literature. An ultrasound examination of the patient revealed a mass, likely of ovarian origin, which consisted of liquid and solid components.