Species of the snake eel genus Whitley, 1940 from Taiwan, with descriptions of a new species and two new records (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae).

The slender snake eel genus from Taiwan is reviewed, and a total of four species are recognized, including a new species described here. is described based on four specimens collected from western Taiwan. It can be distinguished from congeners by the dorsal-fin origin situated above the gill opening, the tip of lower jaw not reaching the base of the anterior-nostril tube, 1 + 3 supraorbital pores, 7-8 predorsal vertebrae, and 147-152 total vertebrae.

Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan.

Two new species of dark-body snake eels are described based on specimens collected from Taiwan. has a long tail; dorsal-fin origin above posterior third of pectoral fin; tip of lower jaw anterior to anterior-nostril tube; two simple, pointed protrusions along upper lip; preoperculomandibular pores 6 or 7 + 3; teeth on jaws and vomer mostly uniserial, except for biserial on posterior portion of maxilla and anterior portion of symphysis of dentary; vertebral formula 12-55-153 and median fins with narrow dark margins, except the pale fin origins. has a dorsal-fin origin well behind gill opening; mainly 4 rows of teeth on jaws; no protrusions along upper lip; a smaller head; mean vertebral formula 24-64-163 and pale median fins.

Comprehensive method for producing high-affinity mouse monoclonal antibodies of various isotypes against (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP) hapten.

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology has significantly contributed to basic research and clinical settings for various purposes, including protective and therapeutic drugs. However, a rapid and convenient method to generate high-affinity antigen-specific mAbs has not yet been reported. Here, we developed a rapid, easy, and low-cost protocol for antigen-specific mAb production from single memory B cells.

The Mechanism and Management of Pneumopericardium Caused by Right Ventricular Lead Perforation.

An 83-year-old man underwent dual-chamber pacemaker placement for complete atrioventricular block at another hospital. The active-fixation ventricular lead was positioned on the free wall of the anterior right ventricle. Ventricular pacing failure occurred on the day after pacemaker implantation, and fluoroscopy revealed right ventricular (RV) lead perforation.

The COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions and their impact on child and adolescent psychiatric units-Infection control or freedom.

Aim: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions on child psychiatric inpatients in Japan, particularly focusing on limitations placed on outings and overnight stays as infection-control measures.

Methods: Data were collected from inpatients from the children's mental health registry between January 2016 and December 2022. The clinical data, such as age, gender, diagnosis, result of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, frequency of outings and overnight stays before and after the pandemic, were compared.

Efficacy and safety of baricitinib in rheumatoid arthritis patients with moderate renal impairment: a multicenter propensity score matching study.

Background: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving different doses based on renal function.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study within the JAK Study Group, involving 23 facilities in Fukuoka Prefecture, examining patients treated with baricitinib for RA. Patients were categorized into two dose groups: 4 mg with normal/mild renal dysfunction and 2 mg with moderate renal dysfunction.

Inadequate Efficacy of Biologics for Treating Proximal Ileal Lesions in Crohn's Disease; A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background & Aims: Although biologic therapy has revolutionized the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), surgery remains unavoidable in cases involving ileal complications. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of biologics on proximal ileal lesions using balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE).

Methods: This open-label multicenter prospective study was conducted at tertiary referral centers in Japan.

Factors That Affect the Quality of Life of Mothers Caring for Children With Medical Needs at Home: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

Background: The number of children requiring daily medical care is on the rise, with many being cared for at home. This situation places a significant burden on mothers, who often serve as the primary caregivers.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the factors that affect the quality of life of mothers with children who require home health care.

Validating knowledge-based volumetric modulated arc therapy plans with a multi-institution model (broad model) using a complete open-loop dataset for prostate cancer.

This study examined the characteristics of the broad model (KBP) through a complete open-loop evaluation of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for prostate cancer in 30 patients at two institutions. KBP, trained using 561 prostate cancer VMAT plans from five institutions with different treatment protocols, was shared with two institutions. The institutions were not involved in the creation of KBP.

Selective coronary arteriography via transradial access in young children.

Background: Transradial access (TRA) is not a common vascular access in children. We have been performing TRA actively to reduce puncture complications, and the purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of TRA in young children.

Methods: The study included 29 patients aged 5-12 years who underwent diagnostic catheterization at Kurume University Hospital.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Mixed Adsorbed Film and Micelle Compositions above Critical Micelle Concentration.

In this paper, we proposed a thermodynamic procedure to evaluate binary surfactant mixed adsorbed film and mixed micelle compositions above critical micelle concentrations. This theory first calculates the change in the molar ratio of two surfactants in monomer and micelle states based on the phase-separation model and then imposes the chemical equilibrium between the mixed adsorbed film and mixed micelle of known composition and concentration. We applied this theory to a cationic-nonionic surfactant mixed system, and the relationship between the calculated mixed adsorbed film composition and foam film stability was discussed using the DLVO theory.

Polyanionic Electrolyte Ionization Desalination Empowers Continuous Solar Evaporation Performance.

Solar evaporation contributes to sustainable and environmentally friendly production of fresh water from seawater and wastewater. However, poor salt resistance and high degree of corrosion of traditional evaporators in brine make their implementation in real applications scarce. To overcome such deficiency, a polyanionic electrolyte functionalization strategy empowering excellent uniform desalination performance over extended periods of time is exploited.

Decision-making using the Iowa gambling test in unaffected first-degree relatives of obsessive-compulsive disorder: Comparison with healthy controls and patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Decision-making has been suggested as an endophenotype candidate for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, few studies have examined whether decision-making under ambiguity is an endophenotype of OCD. This study aimed to investigate decision-making under ambiguity, as assessed by the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), in patients with OCD and unaffected first-degree relatives (UFDR).

Immune complexome analysis reveals an autoimmune signature predictive of COVID-19 severity.

Background: The factors contributing to the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain unclear. Although the presence of immune complexes (ICs), formed between antibodies and their antigens, has been linked to COVID-19 severity, their role requires further investigation, and the antigens within these ICs are yet to be characterized.

Method: Here, a C1q enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay and immune complexome analysis were used to determine IC concentrations and characterize IC antigens, respectively, in the sera of 64 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, enrolled at seven participating centers in 2020.

Composition-Tunable Bandgap Engineering of Horizontally Guided CdSSe Nanowalls for High-Performance Photodetectors.

Composition-adjustable semiconductor nanomaterials have garnered significant attention due to their controllable bandgaps and electronic structures, providing alternative opportunities to regulate photoelectric properties and develop the corresponding multifunction optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, the large-scale integration of semiconductor nanomaterials into practical devices remains challenging. Here, we report a synthesis strategy for the well-aligned horizontal CdSSe ( = 0-1) nanowall arrays, which are guided grown on an annealed M-plane sapphire using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approaches.

Associations of sarcopenia and malnutrition with 30-day in-hospital morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Sarcopenia and malnutrition often occur simultaneously in adults with cardiovascular diseases. Our objective was to determine the associations of preoperative sarcopenia and malnutrition with major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) after cardiac surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 154 consecutive patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery between January 2015 and June 2018 at two institutions in Japan.

Antiviral peptide targeting P protein oligomerization: proof of concept for mononegaviruses.

In , phosphoproteins (P) are essential polymerase cofactors, forming oligomers and interacting with viral components to facilitate replication. Previous studies have demonstrated that a P-derived peptide (PFr) from the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), containing the oligomerization domain (OD) and C-terminal domain (CTD), effectively inhibits RSV replication. Here, we extend this approach to paramyxoviruses, including HPIV3, MeV and MuV.

Improved prognosis of de novo metastatic prostate cancer after an introduction of life-prolonging agents for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: In Japan, since 2014, new treatments such as androgen receptor signaling inhibitors and cabazitaxel have become applicable for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), leading to dramatic changes in treatment options.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of recent advancements in treatment options on the overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2450 Japanese men diagnosed with de novo mCSPC between 2008 and 2018.

Improved genome sequence of GBlys, a lysogenic strain by lysogenic phage phiOH2.

GBlys is a lysogenic strain of the temperate phage phiOH2, which is 3,644,428 bp long, has a GC content of 52%, and contains 3,595 predicted protein-coding genes. Here, we report a resequenced GBlys genome obtained by deep sequencing with long and short reads.

Successful Kidney Transplantation for Bilateral Renal Hypoplasia With Ebstein Disease.

Background: Patients with renal hypoplasia are often associated with congenital heart disease (CHD). During the perioperative period of kidney transplantation (KTx), sufficient circulation volume is required to maintain renal blood flow in the donor kidney. However, little is known about the indication and management of KTx in patients with CHD who require precise hemodynamic assessment during transplantation.

The Impact of Single Amino Acid Insertion on the Supramolecular Assembly Pathway of Aromatic Peptide Amphiphiles.

Understanding the mechanism of self-assembly driven by non-covalent interactions is crucial for designing supramolecular materials with desired properties. Here we investigate the self-assembly of aromatic peptide amphiphiles, Fmoc-LQG and Fmoc-LQG using a combination of spectroscopic, transmission electron and superresolution optical microscopy techniques. Our results show that Fmoc-LQG leads to concentration-dependent assembly, forming fibrous assemblies at low concentrations and supramolecular droplets via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) at higher concentrations.

Genetic Characterization of Captive South American Fur Seals in Japan Based on Mitochondrial and Microsatellite DNA Analyses.

Molecular genetic analyses are effective in revealing the origin, kinship, and genetic diversity of zoo animals. In this study, we carried out the genetic characterization of captive founder individuals of the South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) in Japanese zoos and aquariums based on analyses of mitochondrial sequences and nuclear microsatellite loci. In mitochondrial DNA analysis, the haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity of the overall population were 0.

Transdermal Insulin Delivery Using Ionic Liquid-Mediated Nanovesicles for Diabetes Treatment.

Transdermal insulin delivery is a promising method for diabetes management, providing the potential for controlled, sustained release and prolonged insulin effectiveness. However, the large molecular weight of insulin hinders its passive absorption through the stratum corneum (SC) of the skin, and high doses of insulin are required, which limits the commercial viability. We developed ethosome (ET) and -ethosome (TET) nanovesicle formulations containing a biocompatible lipid-based ionic liquid, [EDMPC][Lin], dissolved in 35% ethanol.