Gut microbes associated with functional cure of chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is prevalent worldwide and is difficult to eradicate. Current treatment strategies for chronic hepatitis B ultimately seek to achieve functional cure (FC); however, the factors contributing to FC remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the gut microbiota profiles of patients with chronic hepatitis B who achieved FC.

Association of Circulating Basophil Count with Gastric Cancer Prognosis.

Purpose: Basophils play a crucial role in immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic reactions and parasitic infections. Recently, a low basophil count was reported to be a poor prognostic indicator in patients with malignant tumors. This study aimed to investigate the cut-off value to evaluate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of the basophil count in patients with gastric cancer.

Genomic and phenotypic characterisation of Leeuwenhoekiella obamensis sp. nov., a novel marine bacterium isolated from the surface water of a Japanese fishing port.

A novel aerobic marine bacterium, FRT2, isolated from surface water of a fishing port in Fukui, Japan, was characterised based on phylogenomic and phylogenetic analyses combined with classical phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterisations. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain FRT2 clustered with genus Leeuwenhoekiella. Closest relatives of FRT2 were Leeuwenhoekiella palythoae KMM 6264 and Leeuwenhoekiella nanhaiensis G18 with 16S rRNA gene sequence identities of 95.

MFGE8 Acts as a Cell Adhesion Factor for Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Embryology.

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) have been widely used as feeder cells in embryonic stem cell cultures because they can mimic the embryonic microenvironment. Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFGE8) is expressed during mouse gonadal development, 10.5-13.

Horizontal Gaze Tolerance and Its Effects on Visual Sensitivity in Glaucoma.

Purpose: This study evaluates the effect of 6° horizontal gaze tolerance on visual field mean sensitivity (MS) in patients with glaucoma using a binocular head-mounted automated perimeter, following findings of structural changes in the posterior globe from magnetic resonance imaging and optical coherence tomography.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 161 eyes (85 primary open-angle glaucoma [POAG] and 76 healthy) from 117 participants were included. Logistic regression and 1:1 matched analysis assessed the propensity score for glaucoma and healthy eyes, considering age, sex, and axial length as confounders.

THG-1/TSC22D4 promotes interleukin-1 signaling through stabilization of TRAF6 in squamous cell carcinoma.

Malignant neoplasms arise within a region of chronic inflammation caused by tissue injuries. Inflammation is a key factor involved in all aspects of tumorigenesis including initiation, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays critical functions in tumor development with influencing the tumor microenvironment and promoting cancer progression.

Pacing and Ablation Technique Using Microelectrode for Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using a Local Impedance-Guided Catheter.

Background: The IntellaNav MiFi OI catheter (MiFi) is equipped with a sensor for local impedance (LI) monitoring and three mini-electrodes. In this study, we investigated the target LI values for a successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) under the pacing and ablation technique using the MiFi catheter.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients underwent PVI using the MiFi catheter under mini electrode pacing from the MiFi catheter.

Discovery and Theoretical Studies of Nonenzymatic Polyketide Dimerizations of Chaetophenols.

Nonenzymatic reactions sometimes construct complex structures observed in natural products, showing us unique chemical reactions. In our exploration of natural products, we identified a novel type of isochromene-derived polyketide dimer with a 6/6/6/6/6 five-ring system from along with several new related polyketides. We demonstrated that isochromene and its oxidized derivative undergo nonenzymatic dimerization under acidic conditions to give .

Hotspots and global trends in research of host immune response in periodontitis: A bibliometric analysis.

Background: The host immune response plays a major role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. A bibliometric study can be crucial to understanding the different processes involved in this area; however, to our knowledge, it has not been published until now. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess research hotspots and global trends in scientific articles about the immune response in periodontitis published between 1952 and 2023.

In Vivo Tissue Temperature Characteristics of Contact Force Catheter With a Mesh-Shaped Irrigation Tip: A Porcine Study.

Background: Neither the actual in vivo tissue temperatures reached with a novel contact force sensing catheter with a mesh-shaped irrigation tip (TactiFlex SE, Abbott) nor the safety profile has been elucidated.

Methods: In a porcine model (n = 8), thermocouples were implanted epicardially in the superior vena cava, right pulmonary vein, and esophagus close to the inferior vena cava following a right thoracotomy. After chest closure, endocardial ablation was conducted near the thermocouples under fluoroscopic guidance.

Spontaneous Transformation from Lung Adenocarcinoma to MYC-amplified Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma.

Recent studies suggest that lung adenocarcinoma cells are closely associated with the tumorigenesis of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma via cellular transformation. However, morphological evidence, along with genetic abnormalities before, during, and after transformation, is quite limited. We present here a case of combined large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma exhibiting acinar and solid patterns.

MHC Class II-Expressing Mucosal Mast Cells Promote Intestinal Mast Cell Hyperplasia in a Mouse Model of Food Allergy.

Background: IgE-mediated food allergy is accompanied by mucosal mast cell (MMC) hyperplasia in the intestinal mucosa. Intestinal MMC numbers correlate with the severity of food allergy symptoms. However, the mechanisms by which MMCs proliferate excessively are poorly understood.

Unconventional and Powerful Ion Sources for Solid-State Ion Exchange, CuSO and CuPO: Exemplified by the Synthesis of Metastable β-CuGaO from Stable β-LiGaO.

This study introduces a new method for synthesizing Cu-containing metastable phases through ion exchange. Traditionally, CuCl has been used as a Cu ion source for solid-state ion exchanges; however, its thermodynamic driving force is often insufficient for complete ion exchange with Li-containing precursors. First-principles calculations have identified CuSO and CuPO as more powerful alternatives, providing a higher driving force than CuCl.

Predictors of Arrhythmia Recurrence After Cryoballoon Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Sub-Analysis of the Cryo Global Registry.

Introduction: Freedom from recurrences of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) is suboptimal after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF). This sub-analysis from the Cryo Global Registry sought to investigate predictors of ablation success after PVI using cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for PsAF.

Methods And Results: ATA recurrence was defined as ≥ 30 s recurrence of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia after a 90-day blanking period and through 12-months.

Post-transcriptional regulation of aromatic amino acid metabolism by GcvB small RNA in .

synthesizes aromatic amino acids (AAAs) through the common pathway to produce the precursor, chorismate, and the three terminal pathways to convert chorismate into Phe, Tyr, and Trp. also imports exogenous AAAs through five transporters. GcvB small RNA post-transcriptionally regulates more than 50 genes involved in amino acid uptake and biosynthesis in , but the full extent of GcvB regulon is still underestimated.

HIV-1 and BLV are insensitive to SERINC5 restriction under the cell-cell infection.

ine orporator 5 (INC5, SER5) suppresses viral cell-free infection. However, its antiviral potency under viral cell-cell infection is not examined yet. Here, we established the cell-cell infection systems to assess SER5's antiviral activity on HIV-1 and bovine leukemia virus (BLV).

Pre- and Postnatal Development Study of Nemolizumab, a Humanized Anti-Interleukin-31 Receptor A Monoclonal Antibody, in Cynomolgus Monkey.

Background: Nemolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-31 receptor A (IL-31RA), is used to treat atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. These inflammatory skin diseases affect a wide range of age groups, including pregnant women and children; however, little is known about their biological effects on pre- and postnatal development. Therefore, we report and discuss the results of an enhanced pre- and postnatal development study in cynomolgus monkeys treated with nemolizumab, which also incorporates an assessment of juvenile toxicities.

A Case of Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Exophiala xenobiotica in a Poorly-Controlled Diabetic Patient: The Conventional Papanicolaou Staining on Cytology Specimen Can Potentially Guide Us to the Correct Diagnosis.

Background: Phaeohyphomycosis is a very rare fungal infection, which is one of more usual complications in immunocompromised and/or traumatic patients, has never been reported especially in a cytological field. We describe a first case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala xenobiotica (E. xenobiotica) in a poorly controlled diabetic patient, and in which a correct cytological diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis was possible to conclude.

Trends in age and antithrombotic therapy in patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor and perioperative complications.

Introduction: We investigated the subsequent trends in age and antithrombotic therapy in patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and examined the rate of perioperative complications.

Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent TURBT were retrospectively analyzed. We arbitrarily divided the observation years into three periods (I: 2007-2013, II: 2014-2018, and III: 2019-2023) to compare the trends in age and frequency of perioperative complications after TURBT between patients taking and those not taking antithrombotic drugs.

A rapid and simple MALDI-TOF MS lipid profiling method for differentiating from .

, a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium, causes Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease. Distinguishing from related species, including , poses challenges with respect to making accurate identifications. In this study, we developed a rapid and simple identification method based on mycobacterial lipid profiles and used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to analyze the lipid profiles of ( = 35) and ( = 19) isolates.

Far-Ultraviolet Plexciton Formation in Water-Covered Indium Clusters.

In this work, we study the plexciton in the far-ultraviolet region formed between indium nanoclusters and water molecules. The indium clusters are fabricated on graphene under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and show a strong localized surface plasmon polariton (LSP) absorption band at 6-7 eV. Adsorption of water molecules onto the clusters at 115 K induces a band splitting larger than 1 eV, indicating a strong coupling between the LSP and water 4a ← 1b transition.

Should Metronidazole Be Included in Second-Line Treatment After Standard Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori?: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Aim: Although standard triple therapy remains the first-line eradication treatment for H. pylori worldwide, it is unclear whether metronidazole should be included empirically in second-line eradication treatments. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of metronidazole-containing regimens with that of metronidazole-free regimens after failure of first-line eradication using standard triple therapy.