Evaluation of rewarding effects of nitazene analogs: results from conditioned place preference tests and in vivo microdialysis experiments in mice.

In illicit drug markets, the most recently expanding new synthetic opioid subclass is benzimidazoles, also known as nitazenes, which were originally developed as analgesics in the 1950s. The emergence of this classical, potent drug family has attracted extensive research interest in the field of forensic toxicology; however, information on their psychological and physical dependence is very limited. Herein, we evaluated the rewarding effects of four nitazene analogs using a battery of in vivo experiments, with a positive control drug (isotonitazene).

Metatranscriptomic Analysis Reveals Actively Expressed Antimicrobial-Resistant Genes and Their Hosts in Hospital Wastewater.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global concern and economic threat, necessitating a reliable monitoring approach to understand its frequency and spread via the environment. Hospital wastewater serves as a critical reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant organisms; however, its role in resistance gene distribution and dissemination remains poorly understood. This study integrates metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses, elucidating the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in hospital wastewater.

[Single-Laboratory Validation Study of Simultaneous Determination Methodfor Five Organochlorine Unstable Pesticides in Agricultural Products by GC-MS/MS].

A method was developed for determining five organochlorine unstable pesticides (captan, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, folpet, and tolylfluanid) in agricultural products using GC-MS/MS. To prevent pesticide degradation, the food sample was maintained at -20℃ until the initiation of the extraction process. The sample underwent homogenization with acetonitrile and salting out using anhydrous magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride in the presence of citrate salts.

[Determination and Residue Survey of Novel Nicotinic AcetylcholineReceptor Modulator Pesticides in Brown Rice by LC-MS/MS].

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are neurotransmitter receptors found in the nervous system of many organisms, including humans. Neonicotinoid pesticides act as nAChRs modulators that affect neurotransmission. Due to toxicity effects, their use has been restricted.

Induction of IGHV3-53 public antibodies with broadly neutralising activity against SARS-CoV-2 including Omicron subvariants in a Delta breakthrough infection case.

Background: Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants that escape neutralising antibodies hampers the development of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. IGHV3-53/3-66-derived public antibodies, which are generally specific to the prototype virus and are frequently induced in infected or vaccinated individuals, show minimal affinity maturation and high potency against prototype SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Monoclonal antibodies isolated from a Delta breakthrough infection case were analysed for cross-neutralising activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

A heterocyclic compound inhibits viral release by inducing cell surface BST2/Tetherin/CD317/HM1.24.

The introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has greatly improved the quality of life of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. Nonetheless, the ever-present desire to seek out a full remedy for HIV-1 infections makes the discovery of novel antiviral medication compelling. Owing to this, a new late-stage inhibitor, Lenacapavir/Sunlenca, an HIV multi-phase suppressor, was clinically authorized in 2022.

A micro-disc-based multiplex method for monitoring emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants using the molecular diagnostic tool Intelli-OVI.

Background: Highly transmissible viruses including SARS-CoV-2 frequently accumulate novel mutations that are detected via high-throughput sequencing. However, there is a need to develop an alternative rapid and non-expensive approach. Here we developed a novel multiplex DNA detection method Intelli-OVI for analysing existing and novel mutations of SARS-CoV-2.

Genetic characteristics of invasive pneumococcal disease-derived Streptococcus pneumoniae of serogroup 24 isolated in Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Since the introduction of the national routine vaccination program against Streptococcus pneumoniae in Japan from the early 2010s, the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by non-vaccine serotypes has increased. This study focused on non-vaccine serogroup 24 strains derived from IPD and aimed to clarify their genetic characteristics.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2022, 121 strains identified as serogroup 24 in patients with IPD were collected and applied to multilocus sequence typing and next-generation sequencing.

Anisakid larvae in the skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis captured in Japanese waters: Two-year monitoring of infection levels after the outbreak of human anisakiasis in 2018.

In 2018, human anisakiasis caused by the ingestion of the skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis occurred frequently in Japan. This may be attributable to a heavy infection of A. simplex (s.

Potential Role of APOBEC3 Family Proteins in SARS-CoV-2 Replication.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has acquired multiple mutations since its emergence. Analyses of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes from infected patients exhibit a bias toward C-to-U mutations, which are suggested to be caused by the apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3, A3) cytosine deaminase proteins. However, the role of A3 enzymes in SARS-CoV-2 replication remains unclear.

A Case of Food Poisoning Caused by Campylobacter jejuni after the Ingestion of Undercooked Chicken Meal with Subsequent Development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the major bacterial strains that cause diarrhea in humans. It has been associated with many cases of food poisoning in Japan caused by eating raw, undercooked, and/or improperly prepared chicken meat, liver, and grilled chicken (Yakitori). Campylobacter jejuni is also known to be a preceding infectious pathogen of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which has a considerably negative health impact on humans.

Variable temperature-nuclear magnetic resonance experiment and high-resolution MS/MS measurement of hydroxycarbodenafil, and its PDE5 inhibitory activity.

Hydroxycarbodenafil, an analogue of carbodenafil, was detected in a dietary supplement in China in 2020. However, previous reports have not identified some carbon signals from the piperazine ring in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Because the compound contains an amide bond, the reaction was suggested to be characteristic of compounds with rotational isomers.

Biological and environmental factors influencing reproductive performance in ICR mice, Mus musculus.

Background: Since strain names and breeding facilities of ICR mice used in 37 reproductive toxicity studies have changed from 1990 to 2022 in our laboratory, biological and environmental factors that affect reproductive parameters were investigated in control mice to examine the validity of the background data.

Methods: Litter size and sex ratio were measured at birth [postnatal day (PND) 0], while offspring body weight was measured on PND 0 and 21 during the lactation. The relationships between biological and environmental factors and reproductive parameters were assessed with multiple regression analysis using stepwise regression as an explanatory variable selection strategy.

Growth and Survival of Escherichia albertii in Food and Environmental Water at Various Temperatures.

Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne pathogen that causes diarrhea. E. albertii has been isolated from various foods, including pork and chicken meat, and environmental waters, such as river water.