Rejection of the concept of hemiurid genus Pulmovermis (Digenea: Hemiuridae) and other taxonomic propositions: new morphological and molecular data regarding Lecithochirium cyanovitellosum (Coil and Kuntz, 1960) Urabe and Sokolov, comb. nov. (formerly Pulmovermis cyanovitellosus).

Pulmovermis cyanovitellosus Coil and Kuntz, 1960 is a species of hemiurid trematode that localizes in the lung of sea snakes, an unusual trait for this group of parasites. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies based on 28S rRNA gene sequences have shown that this species is closely related to members of the genus Lecithochirium Lühe, 1901. This finding is unexpected given that Pulmovermis Coil and Kuntz, 1960 and Lecithochirium are currently classified in different subfamilies of Hemiuridae (Pulmoverminae Sandars, 1961 vs.

Comparisons of oscillatory potentials and 30 Hz flicker electroretinograms for discriminating eyes with diabetic retinopathy from normal eyes.

Purpose: To compare the amplitudes and implicit times of the oscillatory (OPs) of the full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) to those of the 30 Hz flicker ERGs in differentiating eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR) from normal eyes.

Study Design: Single-center observational study.

Methods: Full-field ERGs were recorded in 55 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and 20 normal control subjects.

First-line biologics as a treatment for ulcerative colitis: a multicenter randomized control study.

Background: Despite the availability of several biologics for ulcerative colitis (UC), there remains a critical need to identify first-line treatment biologics. The superiority of infliximab (IFX) over vedolizumab (VED) and ustekinumab (UST) was evaluated as initial UC treatments in patients with biologic-naïve UC.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized control trial was conducted across 20 Japanese medical institutions.

Distribution analysis of RAB11A and RAB11B, small GTP-binding proteins, in mice.

Background: RAB11 is a small GTP-binding protein that regulates intracellular trafficking of recycling endosomes and is thereby involved in several neural functions. Highly similar RAB11 isoforms are encoded by RAB11A and RAB11B genes, and their pathogenic variants are associated with similar neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting that RAB11A and RAB11B play similar and important roles in brain development. However, the detailed distribution patterns of these isoforms in various organs, including the brain, remain undetermined.

Management Strategies for Truncus Arteriosus: A Comparative Analysis of Staged vs. Primary Repair.

We reviewed the outcomes of truncus arteriosus repair (primary vs. staged repair incorporating bilateral pulmonary artery banding), focusing on survival, reintervention, and functional data. We analyzed 39 patients who underwent a first intervention for truncus arteriosus (staged, n = 19; primary, n = 20) between 1992 and 2022.

Aryne Generation from -Triazenylarylboronic Acids Induced by 1,2-Diols and 4-Nitrophenol.

Arynes are important synthetic intermediates that are usually generated under alkaline conditions. We developed a method for generating arynes using two hydroxy compounds as activators. -Triazenylarylboronic acids generate (hetero)arynes when activated by a combination of ethylene glycol, pinacol, and -nitrophenol; these arynes then react with a range of arynophiles under slightly acidic conditions that complement the conventional basic conditions with unique chemoselectivities observed even in the presence of excess hydroxy compounds.

Recent progress in xenotransplantation and its application to pediatric kidney disease.

Patients with kidney failure require dialysis or kidney transplantation. Kidney transplantation offers great benefits, including reduced mortality; however, many patients who wish to undergo kidney transplantation are unable to do so due to a shortage of donor organs. This shortage is a global issue, and xenotransplantation has emerged as a potential solution.

Distinct Aggregation Behavior of -Terminally Truncated Aβ Over Aβ in the Presence of Zn(II).

The deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates and metal ions within senile plaques is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among the modifications observed in Aβ peptides, -terminal truncation at Phe4, yielding Aβ, is highly prevalent in AD-affected brains and significantly alters Aβ's metal-binding and aggregation profiles. Despite the abundance of Zn(II) in senile plaques, its impact on the aggregation and toxicity of Aβ remains unexplored.

Retinoid-impregnated nanoparticles enable control of bone growth by site-specific modulation of endochondral ossification in mice.

Growth-plate (GP) injures in limbs and other sites can impair GP function and cause deceleration of bone growth, leading to progressive bone lengthening imbalance, deformities and/or physical discomfort, decreased motion and pain. At present, surgical interventions are the only means available to correct these conditions by suppressing the GP activity in the unaffected limb and/or other bones in the ipsilateral region. Here, we aimed to develop a pharmacologic treatment of GP growth imbalance that involves local application of nanoparticles-based controlled release of a selective retinoic acid nuclear receptor gamma (RARγ) agonist drug.

Phototropin 2 mediates daily cold priming to promote light responses in Arabidopsis.

Organisms adapt to predictable environmental changes via a biological mechanism called priming. Phototropin (phot) is a plant-specific blue light photoreceptor that mediates daily light-induced responses, such as chloroplast relocation, stomatal opening, and phototropism, to optimize photosynthesis. Phot also functions as a thermosensor for chloroplast relocation that may sense daily temperature decreases at night, thereby modulating light-induced responses at dawn; however, this hypothesis has not yet been fully explored.

Validation of a Pretransplant Risk Prediction Model for Early Allograft Dysfunction After Living-donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) affects outcomes in liver transplantation (LT). Existing risk models developed for deceased-donor LT depend on posttransplant factors and fall short in living-donor LT (LDLT), where pretransplant evaluations are crucial for preventing EAD and justifying the donor's risks.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 2944 adult patients who underwent LDLT at 17 centers between 2016 and 2020.

Identification of an enzyme with strong single-stranded DNA ligation activity and its application for sequencing.

An enzyme with strong single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) ligation activity would be advantageous for many molecular biology applications. However, currently available enzymes exhibit only limited activity. Here, we identified an enzyme with strong ssDNA ligation activity upon searching the databases for proteins homologous to TS2126 RNA ligase, the known enzyme with the highest yet limited ssDNA ligation activity.

Ultrathin Terahertz-Wave Absorber Based on Inorganic Materials for 6G Wireless Communications.

Terahertz waves are gathering attention as carrier waves for next-generation wireless communications such as sixth-generation wireless communication networks and autonomous driving systems. Electromagnetic-wave absorbers for the terahertz-wave region are necessary to ensure information security and avoid interference issues. Herein we report a high-performance terahertz-wave absorber composed of a composite of metallic λ-TiO and insulating TiO nanocrystals (λ-TiO@TiO).

Site-Selective and High-Density Gold Nanoparticle Photodeposition on the Edges of ZnO Nanowires.

Selective modification of chemically active sites on supports, such as steps, edges, and corners, with metal nanoparticles (NPs) is a challenging topic in the fields of catalysis and photocatalysis. However, the formation of site-selective, high-density metal NPs on a support has not yet been achieved. Radial ZnO mesocrystals composed of hexagonal nanowires (NWs) with {101̅0} sidewalls were synthesized by a simple solution-phase method.

Replication across O6-methylguanine activates futile cycling of DNA mismatch repair attempts assisted by the chromatin remodeling enzyme Smarcad1.

SN1-type alkylating reagents generate O6-methylguanine (meG) lesions that activate the mismatch repair (MMR) response. Since post-replicative MMR specifically targets the nascent strand, meG on the template strand is refractory to rectification by MMR and, therefore, can induce non-productive MMR reactions. The cycling of futile MMR attempts is proposed to cause DNA double-strand breaks in the subsequent S phase, leading to ATR-checkpoint-mediated G2 arrest and apoptosis.

Identification of a Novel Stomatal Opening Chemical, PP242, That Inhibits Early Abscisic Acid Signal Transduction in Guard Cells.

Plants control their stomatal apertures to optimize carbon dioxide uptake and water loss. Stomata open in response to light through the phosphorylation of the penultimate residue, Thr, of plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase in guard cells. Stomata close in response to drought and the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA), and ABA suppresses the light-induced activation of PM H+-ATPase.

Peripheral Neuropathy in Systemic Sclerosis with Proximal Nerve Involvement: Diagnostic Challenges and Response to Corticosteroid Therapy.

Peripheral neuropathy is a complication in systemic sclerosis that is occasionally encountered in clinical settings. The mechanisms underlying this condition remain unclear and treatment strategies have not yet been established, making management challenging. Here, we report a case of peripheral neuropathy associated with systemic sclerosis that was successfully treated with corticosteroid therapy despite the absence of conventional inflammatory findings on histopathology or blood tests.

Efficacy and safety of risankizumab for the treatment of patients with plaque type psoriasis.

Risankizumab (Skyrizi, Abbvie, North Chicago, IL, USA) is a humanized immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 monoclonal antibody targeting the p19 subunit of IL-23, thereby inhibiting IL-23-dependent releasing of proinflammatory cytokines in plaque psoriasis. Risankizumab is licensed is most countries for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and in Japan for generalized pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis and palmoplantar pustulosis. Risankizumab showed higher efficacy and favorable safety profiles in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, compared with adalimumab, secukinumab and ustekinumab in several randomized controlled phase 3 pivotal studies and among real-life data in large retrospective studies.

Influence of sewage effluent discharge on putative pathogen community in drinking water sources: insights from full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

The discharge of sewage effluent is a major source of microbial contamination in drinking water sources, necessitating a comprehensive investigation of its impact on pathogenic bacterial communities. This study utilized full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to identify putative pathogenic bacteria and analyze their community structures in drinking water sources subjected to different levels of fecal pollution: urban rivers with low, moderate, and high sewage effluent mixing ratios, and mountain streams with minimal human impact. The sewage effluent itself was also analyzed.

Synaptic enrichment and dynamic regulation of the two opposing dopamine receptors within the same neurons.

Dopamine can play opposing physiological roles depending on the receptor subtype. In the fruit fly , and encode the D- and D-like receptors, respectively, and are reported to oppositely regulate intracellular cAMP levels. Here, we profiled the expression and subcellular localization of endogenous Dop1R1 and Dop2R in specific cell types in the mushroom body circuit.

Exploring the association between happy hypoxia and Coronavirus disease 2019 in the triage phase.

Background: Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported to show hypoxia without displaying typical clinical signs or symptoms, called "happy hypoxia." To explore the potential of happy hypoxia as a distinctive symptom of COVID-19, we compared vital signs in the triage phase between patients with and without COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively identified emergency patients with and without COVID-19 admitted to Rakuwakai Marutamachi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan, between January 2021 and December 2021.

Relationship between volleyball spike jump height and lower limb kinetics is stronger for orientation leg than rear leg.

The orientation and rear legs have different roles in the spike jump (SPJ) in volleyball, yet the relationship between the jump height and kinetics of each leg remains underexplored. We aimed to clarify the relationships between jump height and kinetics of the orientation and rear legs in the SPJ. This study included 18 female college volleyball players.

Differences in kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity between underwater dolphin kicking and flutter kicking: multiple approaches using three-dimensional motion analysis, electromyography, and hydrodynamic simulation.

It is well-known among swimmers and coaches that the swimming speed of the underwater dolphin kick (UDK) is higher than that of the underwater flutter kick (UFK). This study aimed to clarify the differences in swimming performance between the two kicking styles in terms of kinematics, kinetics and muscle activity. Eight male swimmers performed UDK and UFK in a water flume at same effort levels.