Fabrication of a new all-in-one microfluidic dielectrophoresis integrated chip and living cell separation.

Microfluidic dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology has been applied to many devices to perform label-free target cell separation. Cells separated by these devices are used in laboratories, mainly for medical research. The present study designed a microfluidic DEP device to fabricate a rapid and semiautomated cell separation system in conjunction with microscopy to enumerate the separated cells.

NAD Levels Are Augmented in Aortic Tissue of ApoE Mice by Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Background: Maintaining bioenergetic homeostasis provides a means to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events during chronological aging. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) acts as a signaling molecule, and its levels were used to govern several biological pathways, for example, promoting angiogenesis by SIRT1 (sirtuin 1)-mediated inhibition of Notch signaling to rejuvenate capillary density of old-aged mice. NAD modulation shows promise in the vascular remodeling of endothelial cells.

Five-Year Outcomes After Fractional Flow Reserve-Based Deferral of Revascularization in Chronic Coronary Syndrome: Final Results From the J-CONFIRM Registry.

Background: Little large-scale data is available about the long-term (beyond 3 years) clinical outcomes after fractional flow reserve (FFR)-based deferral of revascularization in clinical practice. We sought to assess the 5-year outcomes after deferral of revascularization based on FFR.

Methods: The J-CONFIRM registry (Long-Term Outcomes of Japanese Patients With Deferral of Coronary Intervention Based on Fractional Flow Reserve in Multicenter Registry) prospectively enrolled 1263 patients with 1447 lesions in whom revascularization was deferred based on FFR from 28 Japanese centers.

PD-1 blockade therapy promotes infiltration of tumor-attacking exhausted T cell clonotypes.

PD-1 blockade exerts clinical efficacy against various types of cancer by reinvigorating T cells that directly attack tumor cells (tumor-specific T cells) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) also comprise nonspecific bystander T cells. Here, using single-cell sequencing, we show that TILs include skewed T cell clonotypes, which are characterized by exhaustion (T) or nonexhaustion signatures (T). Among skewed clonotypes, those in the T, but not those in the T, cluster respond to autologous tumor cell lines.

Synthesizing biochar-based fertilizer with sustained phosphorus and potassium release: Co-pyrolysis of nutrient-rich chicken manure and Ca-bentonite.

Biochar-based fertilizers (BBFs) are attracting considerable interest due to their potential to improve soil properties and the nutrient use efficiency of plants. However, a sustainable agricultural system requires decreased dependency on chemical fertilizer for BBF production and further enhancement of the slow-release performance of BBFs. In this study, we propose a simple biochar-based slow-release fertilizer synthesis technique involving the co-pyrolysis of 10 to 25% (w/w) Ca-bentonite with chicken manure as the only nutrient source (N, P, K).

Relationship Between Body Posture and Lung Fluid Volume Assessed Using a Novel Noninvasive Remote Dielectric Sensing System.

The relationship between body posture and lung fluid level has not been quantified thus far. Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) is a recently introduced non-invasive electromagnetic-based technology to quantify lung fluid percentage. ReDS values were measured at different body postures (i.

Evaluation of the Lubricating Effect of Hyaluronic Acid on Contact Lenses Using a Pendulum-Type Friction Tester Under Mimicking Physiological Conditions.

Objective: To evaluate the lubricating effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) on soft contact lenses (SCLs) measured using a pendulum-type friction tester.

Methods: We measured the coefficient of friction (CoF) of narafilcon A, delefilcon A, and etafilcon A with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), daily disposable SCL material, using a modified pendulum-type friction tester. Sample SCLs were set on an acrylic plastic half-ball and placed into the polyethylene terephthalate hemisphere cup filled with 0.

Identification of G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) as a target of curcumin.

The identification of molecular targets of bioactive food components is important to understand the mechanistic aspect of their physiological functions. Here, we have developed a screening system that enables us to determine the activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) by food components and have identified GPR55 as a target for curcumin. Curcumin activated GPR55 and induced serum-response element- and serum-response factor-mediated transcription, which were inhibited by Rho kinase and GPR55 antagonists.

Phase I studies of the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of DS-1211, a tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase inhibitor.

Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) hydrolyzes and inactivates inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent inhibitor of calcification; therefore, TNAP inhibition is a potential target to treat ectopic calcification. These two first-in-human studies evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PKs), and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of single (SAD) and multiple-ascending doses (MAD) of DS-1211, a TNAP inhibitor. Healthy adults were randomized 6:2 to DS-1211 or placebo, eight subjects per dose cohort.

Compliance of Clinical Trial Protocols for Foods with Function Claims (FFC) in Japan: Consistency between Clinical Trial Registrations and Published Reports.

Background: A new type of foods with a health claims notification system, the Foods with Function Claims (FFC), was introduced in Japan in April 2015. This cross-sectional study sought to clarify compliance of clinical trial protocols reported as the scientific basis of efficacy in the FFC system.

Methods: All articles based on clinical trials published on the Consumer Affairs Agency website from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2021 were reviewed.

Sex Difference and Rupture Rate of Intracranial Aneurysms: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: In previous studies, women had a higher risk of rupture of intracranial aneurysms than men, but female sex was not an independent risk factor. This may be explained by a higher prevalence of patient- or aneurysm-related risk factors for rupture in women than in men or by insufficient power of previous studies. We assessed sex differences in rupture rate taking into account other patient- and aneurysm-related risk factors for aneurysmal rupture.

Early Improvement with Vortioxetine Predicts Response and Remission: A Post Hoc Analysis of Data from a Clinical Trial Conducted in Japan.

Aim: Several weeks of treatment with an antidepressive agent may be required before efficacy is demonstrated in patients with major depressive disorder. This study investigated the predictive value of early partial improvement with vortioxetine for treatment response and remission.

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study of vortioxetine (10 mg or 20 mg) in Japanese patients aged 20-75 years with recurrent major depressive disorder and a Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of at least 26.

Optimal Heart Rate and Prognosis in Patients with Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: Optimal heart rate (HR) that associates with higher cardiac output and greater clinical outcomes in patients with cardiac amyloidosis remains unknown.

Methods: Consecutive patients with sinus rhythm who were diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis at our institute between February 2015 and February 2021 were retrospectively included. Ideal HR, at which E-wave and A-wave stand adjacent without any overlaps in the trans-mitral flow echocardiography, was calculated by the formula: 86.

Smartphone-based digital phenotyping for dry eye toward P4 medicine: a crowdsourced cross-sectional study.

Multidimensional integrative data analysis of digital phenotyping is crucial for elucidating the pathologies of multifactorial and heterogeneous diseases, such as the dry eye (DE). This crowdsourced cross-sectional study explored a novel smartphone-based digital phenotyping strategy to stratify and visualize the heterogenous DE symptoms into distinct subgroups. Multidimensional integrative data were collected from 3,593 participants between November 2016 and September 2019.

Factors Related to End-of-Life Care Discussions Among Community-Dwelling People in Japan.

Context: End-of-life discussions regarding healthcare preferences are important to ensure a dignified end of life.

Objectives: This study clarifies the factors associated with such discussions among community-dwelling people in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 2400 randomly selected community-dwelling adults over the age of 40 in one urban and rural area each, in Japan.

Clinical Implications of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate Therapy in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure and Hyperkalemia.

Background: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC), a newly introduced specific potassium binder, is introduced to treat hyperkalemia. However, the implications of SZC in up-titrating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors in patients with systolic heart failure remain unknown.

Methods And Results: Patients with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction <50% and hyperkalemia who had completed 3-month SZC therapy were retrospectively included.

Novel Platform for Regulation of Extracellular Vesicles and Metabolites Secretion from Cells Using a Multi-Linkable Horizontal Co-Culture Plate.

Microfluidics is applied in biotechnology research via the creation of microfluidic channels and reaction vessels. Filters are considered to be able to simulate microfluidics. A typical example is the cell culture insert, which comprises two vessels connected by a filter.

Current Therapeutic Strategies and Prospects for EGFR Mutation-Positive Lung Cancer Based on the Mechanisms Underlying Drug Resistance.

The discovery of activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor () gene and the development of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). mutation-positive NSCLC is common in East Asia, and approximately 50% of adenocarcinomas harbor mutations. Undoubtedly, EGFR-TKIs, with their promising efficacy, are the mainstay of primary therapy.

Implication of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Esaxerenone in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

The implications of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, including the newly introduced esaxerenone, on cardiac reverse remodeling in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remain uncertain. We included patients with HFpEF who received esaxerenone for hypertension between November 2019 and July 2021 in this retrospective study. Changes in left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were compared between the 6-month pretreatment period (without esaxerenone) and the 6-month treatment period (on esaxerenone).

Hyperkalemia in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Both hypo- and hyperkalemia are associated with adverse events in heart failure patients. Their effects on patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) remains unknown. The cohort included consecutive patients undergoing LVAD implantation between 2014 and 2018.