Publications by authors named "Yu Masuda"
Background: Sedation with anesthetic medication is often required to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in young children. However, sedation involves risks, particularly respiratory depression. Therefore, it is crucial to explore methods enabling young children to undergo MRI scans without sedation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe generated soybean mutants related to two ß-amyrin synthase genes using DNA-free site-directed mutagenesis system. Our results suggested that one of the genes is predominant in the soyasaponin biosynthesis. Soyasaponins, which are triterpenoid saponins contained in soybean [Glycine max (L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Meconium peritonitis is a noninfectious chemical peritonitis that occurs following fetal intestinal perforation and leakage of meconium into the abdominal cavity. Because of the lack of appropriate animal models, its pathophysiology has not yet been elucidated. We aimed to create a neonatal mouse model of meconium peritonitis using human meconium slurry (MS).
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- Prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM) is highlighted as a key biomarker that indicates the cytokine profile in patients.
- A 14-year-old boy with severe ulcerative colitis didn't respond to traditional treatments like steroids and infliximab, requiring consideration of surgery.
- Elevated PGE-MUM levels suggested a specific cytokine profile, leading to successful treatment with mirikizumab, which resulted in the patient achieving remission.
Article Synopsis
- * The study examined the regeneration of tendons in Iberian ribbed newts after surgical transections, finding that their regenerated tendons improved significantly in strength over 12 weeks, unlike mouse tendons, which showed poor recovery.
- * Multiphoton microscopy indicated that newts form tendon-like collagen tissue during healing, whereas mice develop disorganized scar tissue, emphasizing newts as suitable models for tendon regeneration research.
The complete sequence of the chloroplast genome of , a diploid disciform capitula species of .
Mitochondrial DNA B Resour
April 2022
In this study, we analyzed the complete sequence of the chloroplast genome of Matsum. et Koidz., 1910, a diploid disciform capitula species of endemic to Japan, formerly classified as (Matsum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cervical lymphadenitis (CL) cannot be easily distinguished from Kawasaki disease (KD). We therefore explored whether brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are useful in this context.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 14 children with CL and 177 children with KD.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers investigated the fractionation of RSF using ammonium sulfate precipitation to prepare different MW silk fibroin (SF) fractions and analyzed them using gel permeation chromatography and SDS-PAGE for their MW and distribution.
- * They created films and nonwoven mats from the fractionated SF, finding that while MW affects morphology and mechanical properties of these materials, it does not influence their secondary structure or crystallinity.
Article Synopsis
- * A review of 97 patient medical records revealed a median OS of 7 months, with 1- and 2-year OS rates of 35.4% and 19.2%, respectively.
- * Key independent predictors for longer OS were found to be single bone metastasis, good performance status, and administration of systemic chemotherapy, with the best-case scenario extending OS to 14.5 months.
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed the effectiveness of quenching probe PCR (Q-probe PCR) in detecting macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in 21 children with MP infections.
- Results showed that 66.7% of the cases were resistant to macrolide antibiotics, and those patients experienced a longer fever duration after initial treatment compared to those with sensitive strains.
- The study concluded that using Q-probe PCR can help in selecting the right antibiotics and may reduce fever duration in MP infections.
Article Synopsis
- - Carnitine is crucial for transporting long-chain fatty acids to mitochondria for energy production, but its role in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) had not been previously studied.
- - The study analyzed serum free carnitine (FC) levels in 45 KD patients and found that non-responders to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) had higher FC levels compared to responders.
- - Elevated FC levels were linked to liver enzymes (AST and ALT) in KD patients, suggesting that FC measurements might indicate IVIG treatment responses and underlying liver function issues.
Article Synopsis
- Leaf senescence is triggered by different signals, with dark conditions being a significant factor that activates this process, although the intricate mechanisms involved are still not fully understood.
- Key players in dark-induced senescence include the phytochrome B receptor and transcription factors PIF4 and PIF5, as well as hormonal regulators like ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA).
- The study highlights that PIF4 and PIF5 might influence leaf senescence regulations separately from ethylene signaling and identifies potential involvement of other transcription factors, like NACs, in late-stage gene expression during leaf senescence.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of procalcitonin (PCT) as a predictor for children with Kawasaki disease who do not respond to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment.
- Analyzing data from 215 Kawasaki disease patients, the research revealed that higher PCT levels were significantly associated with IVIG resistance, with a median age of 2.4 years among the participants.
- The findings suggest that a PCT cutoff value of 2.18 ng/mL could effectively identify non-responders to IVIG, showing high specificity (93.9%) and a decent sensitivity (46.4%).
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated factors that can predict how effective intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is for children with Kawasaki disease (KD) by analyzing data from 77 patients treated with IVIG.
- When comparing laboratory results before and 24 hours after IVIG treatment, responders showed significantly lower white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts than nonresponders, who experienced recurring fever.
- The findings suggested that monitoring WBC and neutrophil counts within the first day post-treatment can effectively predict IVIG therapy outcomes and identify patients who may not respond to the treatment.
Article Synopsis
- * Chrysanthemum morifolium faces challenges in genetic analysis and breeding due to its autohexaploid nature and high genome heterogeneity, prompting the development of a more manageable model strain called Gojo-0 from the diploid C. seticuspe.
- * Gojo-0 is advantageous for genetic studies and breeding as it allows for the isolation of mutants and easier genome analysis, enabling further research and genetic improvements in chrysanthemum cultivars.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how the acceleration voltage affects the spatial resolution of an electron-beam assisted optical microscope (EXA).
- Using red-emitting cathodoluminescence from a YO:Eu thin film, higher voltages resulted in better spatial resolution, achieving around 90 nm resolution at voltages above 20 kV.
- The findings are explained through simulations that analyze electron scattering trajectories in the luminescent thin film, highlighting the connection between voltage and image quality.
Article Synopsis
- Chlorophyll degradation is crucial for leaf senescence and involves the breakdown of chlorophyll-binding proteins, but the full regulation of the process is still not completely understood.
- Green cotyledon mutants in legumes are unique because they show impaired chlorophyll degradation during leaf aging and have a maternally inherited soybean gene that affects this process.
- Further research revealed that a specific 5-bp insertion in the gene affects photosystem II, leading to reduced chlorophyll degradation activity in mutant plants, suggesting that this gene uniquely connects photosynthesis and chlorophyll breakdown during leaf senescence and seed maturation.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how intrapulmonary clots (IPCs) influence lung perfused blood volume (LPBV) improvement after anticoagulation therapy using advanced CT imaging in patients with venous thromboembolism.
- A total of 81 patients were analyzed, with significant findings indicating that those with IPCs showed higher initial D-dimer levels and V5 values, but these differences diminished with treatment.
- The results highlighted that increased overall lung perfusion (V120) and decreased low perfusion volume (V5) significantly contribute to the improvement in the %V5 values post-treatment.
Article Synopsis
- Recent whole-genome sequencing of soybean uncovered significant duplications that contributed to its unique genome structure, indicating a complex evolutionary history.
- A natural green-cotyledon mutant, Tenshin-daiseitou, was found to have a stay-green phenotype due to mutations in GmSGR1 and GmSGR2, which play a role in chlorophyll degradation during leaf senescence.
- Analysis revealed four genomic regions related to chlorophyll degradation genes, demonstrating a connection between whole-genome duplications and the evolution of soybean traits.
Article Synopsis
- * Through gene mapping and analysis, the candidate gene Os07g0558500 was linked to the nyc4-1 mutant, with evidence suggesting a disruption in this gene affects chlorophyll degradation.
- * Unlike wild-type plants, nyc4-1 maintains functionality in photosystem II during dark incubation, and its core subunits are retained more effectively during senescence compared to other chlorophyll degradation mutants.
Article Synopsis
- The current "handicapped independence support law" restricts government assistance for hearing aids to those classified as physically handicapped, leaving many without support.
- Local governments, like Okayama Prefecture, have started providing financial aid for hearing aids to children with mild to moderate hearing loss, following petitions from concerned societies and community members.
Indication criteria for tonsillectomy in IgA nephropathy patients.
Adv Otorhinolaryngol
January 2012
Article Synopsis
- Proposed criteria for tonsillectomy in patients with IgA nephropathy require a confirmed diagnosis through renal biopsy and specific renal pathology grades.
- Surgery is recommended for patients with mild to moderate renal issues (grade I-III) and lower serum creatinine levels, but can be considered for more severe cases (grade IV) if safe and with patient consent.
- Additional indications include worsened urine findings during tonsillitis and specific local tonsil findings, although these are less established compared to the primary criteria.