Overexpression of the RNA-binding protein NrdA affects global gene expression and secondary metabolism in species.

RNA-binding protein Nrd1 plays a role in RNA polymerase II transcription termination. In this study, we showed that the orthologous NrdA is important in global mRNA expression and secondary metabolism in species. We constructed an conditional expression strain using the Tet-On system in mut.

Crucial role of early addition of Wickerhamiella versatilis in enhancing aroma formation during soy sauce fermentation.

In modern Japanese soy sauce production, sealed outdoor fermentation tanks are used to ferment moromi with halotolerant starter cultures: the lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus and yeasts Wickerhamiella versatilis and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. T. halophilus and W.

CHAMP1 premature termination codon mutations found in individuals with intellectual disability cause a homologous recombination defect through haploinsufficiency.

CHAMP1 (chromosome alignment-maintaining phosphoprotein 1) plays a role in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination (HR). The CHAMP1 gene is one of the genes mutated in individuals with intellectual disability. The majority of the mutations are premature termination codon (PTC) mutations, while missense mutations have also been reported.

Development of a machine learning tool to predict the risk of incident chronic kidney disease using health examination data.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a decreased glomerular filtration rate or renal injury (especially proteinuria) for at least 3 months. The early detection and treatment of CKD, a major global public health concern, before the onset of symptoms is important. This study aimed to develop machine learning models to predict the risk of developing CKD within 1 and 5 years using health examination data.

A successful complete resection for multidrug-resistant giant gastrointestinal stromal tumor invading the transverse colon with multiple liver metastases in a young female: a case report.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare in young people and are often detected after becoming symptomatic or at an advanced stage. Herein, we report a case of complete reduction surgery for a substantially large malignant gastric GIST with multiple liver metastases in a young woman who successfully resulted in R0 surgery.

Case Presentation: An 18-year-old woman presented to our hospital with anorexia and vomiting, and was diagnosed with a 17 cm gastric GIST with transverse colon invasion and multiple liver metastases.

Secondary ileal lymph node metastases from rectal cancer: a case report.

Background: Colorectal cancer can invade adjacent organs, but rarely metastasizes to the regional lymph nodes (LNs) of the invaded organ. Herein, we report a case of rectal cancer invading the ileum and metastasized to the regional ileal LNs.

Case Presentation: A 77-year-old male presented abdominal pain and anorexia, diagnosed with rectal cancer invading the small intestine and concurrently metastasized to the regional LN of the intestine and liver.

Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein level as a prognostic indicator of acute kidney injury secondary to severe falciparum malaria.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to severe falciparum malaria possesses a high mortality rate; however, a prognostic marker of renal dysfunction has not yet been identified. Thus, we reported a case of a patient with AKI secondary to falciparum malaria who underwent hemodialysis and a renal biopsy due to prolonged renal dysfunction. The male patient, in his 50 s, presented to our hospital with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and decreased level of consciousness.

A unique case of a typical pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma that initially presented with a cystic component but underwent morphological changes.

A 66-year-old man was initially suspected of having a microcystic serous cystic neoplasm based on magnetic resonance imaging findings of a multifocal mass measuring 46 mm in the pancreatic head, with a cystic component showing a high signal on T2-weighted images. The tumor marker levels were within normal limits. However, contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed thick cyst walls with delayed staining, which was atypical for serous cystic neoplasms; therefore, the patient was followed up closely.

Establishment of a Method for the Introduction of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs in Cells and Evaluation of Intracellular Concentration Distribution Using Resonance Raman Imaging.

Label-free measurement is essential to understand the metabolism of drug molecules introduced into cells. Raman imaging is a powerful method to investigate intracellular drug molecules because it provides in situ label-free observation of introduced molecules. In this study, we propose that Raman imaging can be used not only to observe the intracellular distribution of drug molecules but also to quantitatively visualize the concentration distribution reflecting each organelle in a single living cell using the Raman band of extracellular water as an intensity standard.

Development of immune cell delivery system using biodegradable injectable polymers for cancer immunotherapy.

Immune cell delivery using injectable hydrogel attracts much attention for improving its therapeutic effect. Specifically, dendritic cells (DCs) are the trigger cells for immune responses, and DC vaccines are studied for improving cancer immunotherapy. Hydrogel-assisted cell delivery is expected to enhance the viability of the implanted cells.

Shochu Koji Microstructure and Starch Structure during Preparation.

In this study, we investigated the changes in composition, microstructure, and starch molecular structure of shochu koji during preparation. We observed that the gelatinized and outer part of starch was decomposed in priority during the early and middle preparation stages. The gap between the starch granules increased with the delayed time.

Synthesis of Topological Gels by Penetrating Polymerization Using a Molecular Net.

Topological gels possess structures that are cross-linked only via physical constraints; ideally, no attractive intermolecular interactions act between their components, which yields interesting physical properties. However, most reported previous topological gels were synthesized based on supramolecular interlocked structures such as polyrotaxane, for which attractive intermolecular interactions are essential. Here, we synthesize a water-soluble "molecular net" (MN) with a large molecular weight and three-dimensional network structure using poly(ethylene glycol).

Staining, magnification, and algorithmic conditions for highly accurate cell detection and cell classification by deep learning.

Objectives: Research into cytodiagnosis has seen an active exploration of cell detection and classification using deep learning models. We aimed to clarify the challenges of magnification, staining methods, and false positives in creating general purpose deep learning-based cytology models.

Methods: Using 11 types of human cancer cell lines, we prepared Papanicolaou- and May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG)-stained specimens.

Effect of Smoke Evacuator on Reduction of Volatile Organic Compounds and Particles in Surgical Smoke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Surgical smoke is an occupational health problem and is increasingly recognized as a potential source of virus transmission. Dedicated smoke evacuators are used to protect against surgical smoke exposure. We tested the hypothesis that using smoke evacuators would reduce volatile organic compounds and the number of particles in surgical smoke during the laparotomy procedure.

A case of pseudomyxoma peritonei arising from a perforated intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm that underwent cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) of pancreatic origin arising from an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is rare. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been established as the optimal treatment for PMP. However, the benefits and safety of CRS with HIPEC for treating PMP of pancreatic origin remain unclear.

Expression of heterochromatin protein 1 affects citric acid production in Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii.

A putative methyltransferase, LaeA, controls citric acid production through epigenetic regulation of the citrate exporter gene, cexA, in the white koji fungus Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii. In this study, we investigated the role of another epigenetic regulator, heterochromatin protein 1, HepA, in citric acid production.

Laparoscopic minor liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with lower postoperative complications compared with open liver resection.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 109 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent minor liver resection at a Japanese tertiary care hospital from November 2010 to December 2022.

Results: The laparoscopic liver resection group experienced significantly lower median intraoperative blood loss compared with the open liver resection group (P = 0.

Cellular Internalization and Exiting Behavior of Zwitterionic 4-Armed Star-Shaped Polymers.

The zwitterionic phospholipid polymer poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine---butyl methacrylate) (PMB) is amphiphilic copolymer, and it has been reported to directly penetrate cell membranes and have good cytocompatibility. Conventional PMBs are linear-type random copolymers that are polymerized by a free radical polymerization technique. In contrast, star-shaped polymers, or simple branched-type polymers, have unique properties compared to the linear types, for example, a viscosity based on the effect of the excluded volume.