Clinical efficacy of tolvaptan in acute decompensated heart failure patients with severe aortic stenosis and atrial fibrillation: a sub-analysis from the LOHAS registry.

Background: Severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are risk factors of hemodynamic instability in heart failure (HF) management due to low cardiac output, respectively. Therefore, the treatment of HF due to severe AS complicated with AF is anticipated to be difficult. Tolvaptan, a vasopressin V2 receptor inhibitor, is effective in controlling acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) with hemodynamic stability.

Experience-Dependent Behavioral Plasticity in Avoiding Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Requires DAF-16/FOXO in the AIY Interneurons of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Bitterness and astringency are the aversive tastes in mammals. In humans, aversion to bitterness and astringency may be reduced depending on the eating experience. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying plasticity in preference to bitter and astringent tastants remain unknown.

Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Dietary Assessment in Japanese People.

A 76-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed to investigate nutritional epidemiology in urban residents in Japan. The authors prepared two food models-a life-size three-dimensional model and a life-size two-dimensional photograph-to assess the FFQ portion size. The validity of the FFQ was verified using the two food models by comparing them with 16-d weighted dietary records (WDRs).

Allostatic load and frailty do not covary significantly among older residents of Greater Poland.

Background: Physiological dysregulation/allostatic load and the geriatric syndrome frailty increase with age. As a neurophysiological response system, allostasis supports survival by limiting stressor-related damage. Frailty reflects decreased strength, endurance, and physical abilities secondary to losses of muscle and bone with age.

Identification of a Catalytic Lysine Residue Conserved Among GHKL ATPases: MutL, GyrB, and MORC.

DNA mismatch repair endonuclease MutL is a member of GHKL ATPase superfamily. Mutations of MutL homologs are causative of a hereditary cancer, Lynch syndrome. We characterized MutL homologs from human and a hyperthermophile, Aquifex aeolicus, (aqMutL) to reveal the catalytic mechanism for the ATPase activity.

The emerging emetogenicity of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS‑102) from patient self-reporting: a multicenter, prospective, observational study.

Background: Trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) is an oral anticancer drug with adequate efficacy in unresectable colorectal cancer, but frequently also induces chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). To investigate the occurrence of CINV and antiemetic therapy in patients with colorectal cancer treated with TAS-102 (JASCC-CINV 2001).

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, observational study in patients with colorectal cancer who received TAS-102 without dose reduction for the first time.

Fracture healing on non-union fracture model promoted by non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma.

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma (NTAPP) is attracting widespread interest for use in medical applications. The tissue repair capacity of NTAPP has been reported in various fields; however, little is known about its effect on fracture healing. Non-union or delayed union after a fracture is a clinical challenge.

Association between a malnutrition screening tool and mealtime observation checklist items in older people receiving oral intake support: A cross-sectional study of four long-term care facilities.

Background: Multiple nutritional screening tools are available for older people; however, few screening tools include specific eating behaviours as risk factors that could lead to poor food intake. The 24-item mealtime observation checklist (MOCL), developed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2015, comprises signs, symptoms and conditions during mealtime that reflect eating and swallowing functions and oral conditions.

Objectives: To examine factors associated with malnutrition among the MOCL items in older people.

Neutrophil extracellular trap formation and its implications in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small intestinal injury.

Background And Aim: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) damage the small intestine via neutrophil infiltration driven by the mucosal invasion of enterobacteria. The antimicrobial function of neutrophils is partially dependent on neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Excessive NET formation has been associated with several inflammatory diseases.

Alignment of fibrous J-aggregates and the resulting macroscopic optical anisotropy observed in static solution.

J-aggregates, which are supramolecular assemblies that exhibit unique optical properties owing to their excitonic interactions, have potential applications in artificial light-harvesting systems and fluorescence biosensing. Although J-aggregates are formed in solution, in situ observations of their structures and behaviors in solution remain scarce. In this study, we investigated the J-aggregates of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate [DiIC18(3)] in methanol/water (M/W) binary solvents using fluorescence imaging as well as polarized absorption and fluorescence measurements to explore the relationship between their structure and macroscopic optical properties under static conditions.

The Guidelines for Percutaneous Transhepatic Portal Vein Embolization: English Version.

Preoperative portal vein embolization is a beneficial option to reduce the risk of postoperative liver failure by promoting the growth of the future liver remnant. In particular, a percutaneous transhepatic procedure (percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization) has been developed as a less-invasive approach. Although percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization is widely recognized as a safe procedure, various complications, including rare but fatal adverse events, have been reported.

Vasa previa in singleton pregnancies: diagnosis and clinical management based on an international expert consensus.

Background: There are limited data to guide the diagnosis and management of vasa previa. Currently, what is known is largely based on case reports or series and cohort studies.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically collect and classify expert opinions and achieve consensus on the diagnosis and clinical management of vasa previa using focus group discussions and a Delphi technique.

Diffusion Mediates Molecular Transport through the Perivascular Space in the Brain.

The perivascular space has been proposed as a clearance pathway for degradation products in the brain, including amyloid β, the accumulation of which may induce Alzheimer's disease. Live images were acquired using a two-photon microscope through a closed cranial window in mice. In topical application experiments, the dynamics of FITC-dextran were evaluated from 30 to 150 min after the application and closure of the window.

Identification of the Cirratiomycin Biosynthesis Gene Cluster in Streptomyces Cirratus: Elucidation of the Biosynthetic Pathways for 2,3-Diaminobutyric Acid and Hydroxymethylserine.

Cirratiomycin, a heptapeptide with antibacterial activity, was isolated and characterized in 1981; however, its biosynthetic pathway has not been elucidated. It contains several interesting nonproteinogenic amino acids, such as (2S,3S)-2,3-diaminobutyric acid ((2S,3S)-DABA) and α-(hydroxymethyl)serine, as building blocks. Here, we report the identification of a cirratiomycin biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces cirratus.

Involvement of CX3CR1 cells appearing in the abdominal cavity in the immunosuppressive environment immediately after gastric cancer surgery.

Background: Gastric cancer is primarily treated by surgery; however, little is known about the changes in the intraperitoneal immune environment and the prognostic impact of surgery. Surgical stress and cancer-associated inflammation cause immune cells to mobilize into the abdominal cavity via numerous cytokines. One such cytokine, CX3CR1, has various immune-related functions that remain to be fully explained.

Theoretical investigation of multi-spin excited states of anthracene radical-linked π-conjugated spin systems by computational chemistry.

Multi-spin excited states of chromophore radical-linked π-conjugated spin systems are investigated by molecular orbital calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The investigated systems consist of an anthracene photosensitive unit leading to a triplet-excited-state ( = 1), π-conjugated linker to propagate spin exchange-coupling, and stable organic radical with a doublet-ground-state ( = 1/2). The intramolecular exchange coupling (), value, and fine-structure interaction of their excited states depended on the π-conjugation network (π-topology), type of radical, and molecular structure of the π-linker (length and dihedral angle).

Single Person Identification and Activity Estimation in a Room from Waist-Level Contours Captured by 2D Light Detection and Ranging.

To develop socially assistive robots for monitoring older adults at home, a sensor is required to identify residents and capture activities within the room without violating privacy. We focused on 2D Light Detection and Ranging (2D-LIDAR) capable of robustly measuring human contours in a room. While horizontal 2D contour data can provide human location, identifying humans and activities from these contours is challenging.

Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of Molybdenum- and Tungsten-Indane Complexes with Tris(pyrazolyl)borate Ligand.

The reaction of molybdenum complexes with a tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand (EtN[TpMo(CO)] and EtN[Tp*Mo(CO)] (Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate, Tp* = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate)) and InBr at a 1:1 molar ratio afforded molybdenum-indane complexes (EtN[TpMo(CO)(InBr)] and EtN[Tp*Mo(CO)(InBr)] ). In addition, tungsten-indane complexes, EtN[TpW(CO)(InBr)] and EtN[Tp*W(CO)(InBr)] , were obtained by the reaction of corresponding tungsten complexes. Complex reacted with HO to form the hydrido complex Tp*W(CO)H, in which the W-In bond was cleaved.

Serum MYCN as a predictive biomarker of prognosis and therapeutic response in the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence.

The proto-oncogene MYCN expression marked a cancer stem-like cell population in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and served as a therapeutic target of acyclic retinoid (ACR), an orally administered vitamin A derivative that has demonstrated promising efficacy and safety in reducing HCC recurrence. This study investigated the role of MYCN as a predictive biomarker for therapeutic response to ACR and prognosis of HCC. MYCN gene expression in HCC was analyzed in the Cancer Genome Atlas and a Taiwanese cohort (N = 118).

New-onset Kidney Biopsy-proven Membranous Nephropathy Induced End-stage Kidney Disease in a Living Donor.

Thirteen years after kidney donation, a 70-year-old man was referred to a nephrologist because of proteinuria. The serum creatinine, albumin, and urinary protein levels were 2.39 mg/dL, 3.

[HVPG minimally invasive era: exploration based on forearm venous approach].

The transjugular or transfemoral approach is used as a common method for hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement in current practice. This study aims to confirm the safety and effectiveness of measuring HVPG via the forearm venous approach. Prospective recruitment was conducted for patients with cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement via the forearm venous approach at six hospitals in China and Japan from September 2020 to December 2020.

Distinct manifold encoding of navigational information in the subiculum and hippocampus.

The subiculum (SUB) plays a crucial role in spatial navigation and encodes navigational information differently from the hippocampal CA1 area. However, the representation of subicular population activity remains unknown. Here, we investigated the neuronal population activity recorded extracellularly from the CA1 and SUB of rats performing T-maze and open-field tasks.