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Background: Cardiovascular disease is a common comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pre-COPD patients, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate whether Galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels correlate with cardiovascular biomarkers and cardiopulmonary function in COPD and pre-COPD patients to assess its potential role as a marker for cardiovascular comorbidity., Methods: Community-dwelling adults with and without COPD were recruited. Biomarkers including Gal-3, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured. Subjects underwent pulmonary function tests, chest CT, echocardiograms, and a 6-minute walking test. The relationships between biomarkers and cardiopulmonary function were examined., Results: Among 120 subjects (97 COPD, 23 pre-COPD), the mean age was 70.2 years, and the mean predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) was 68.5%. Gal-3 levels averaged 1733.7 pg/mL. Gal-3 significantly correlated with NT-proBNP (ρ = 0.229, p = 0.012) and negatively with maximal pulse rate during the 6-minute walking test (ρ=-0.185, p = 0.043). No significant correlation was found between Gal-3 and hs-cTnT levels. However, hs-cTnT levels showed significant negative correlations with age (ρ=-0.526, p < 0.001), FEV1% (ρ=-0.373, p < 0.001), E/A ratio (ρ=-0.390, p < 0.001), and walking distance (ρ=-0.444, p < 0.001), and positive correlations with deceleration time (ρ = 0.299, p = 0.001), right ventricular systolic pressure (ρ = 0.197, p = 0.037), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (ρ = 0.212, p = 0.020)., Conclusions: Gal-3 levels show correlations with NT-proBNP and maximal pulse rate, supporting its investigation as a potential marker for cardiovascular comorbidity in COPD and pre-COPD populations., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All methods in this study were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on Harmonization Tripartite Guideline for Good Clinical Practice. This prospective study was approved by the ethics committee of Nippon Medical School (approval number: 28 − 16), and all patients provided written informed consent before enrolment. Consent to publish: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Fourier transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (FT-CARS) spectroscopy is a powerful spectroscopic method that combines the principles of Fourier transform spectroscopy with coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). This method stands out in spectroscopy for its ability to rapidly acquire coherent Raman spectra, achieving an impressive rate of over 10 000 spectra per second. The method involves scanning the optical delay between two femtosecond pulses; the initial pulse induces a vibrational coherence in the sample, while the subsequent pulse probes this coherence over increasing delays. The anti-Stokes scattering intensity generated is modulated by the vibrational dynamics of the sample, enabling the retrieval of Raman spectra through Fourier transformation. Over the past two decades, FT-CARS spectroscopy has undergone substantial evolution, paving the way for its application in a wide array of fields, including material analysis and flow cytometry. In this comprehensive Review, we explore the fundamental principles and diverse applications of FT-CARS spectroscopy and delve into the potential future advances and challenges associated with this emerging method.

The architecture of the avian oropharynx corresponds to the feeding pattern. The present study aims to provide data on morphology, morphometry, and spatial distribution of taste buds in the oropharyngeal floor of the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) using gross anatomy, morphometric, and scanning electron microscopy. The lower beak tip and tomia revealed the presence of variably-sized dermal papillae. The prefrenular part of the oral floor had an interrupted median groove. Numerous taste buds and rostral submandibular salivary gland openings were detected alongside this groove. The tongue partially filled the oral floor. Its rostral end formed a median pointed process, the lingual nail. The dorsolateral aspects of the lingual apex and body showed hair-like and rosette-shaped filiform papillae of variable densities and sizes. However, these parts were devoid of taste buds. On the other hand, the surface mucosa of the lingual root presented numerous scale-like cellular elevations and a large number of taste buds. Examination of cross sections in the lingual root suggested the presence of two groups of caudal lingual salivary glands, central and lateral. The laryngeal mound contained taste buds that protruded from the surface epithelium into the lumen. The mucosa of the pharyngeal floor contained many taste buds that appeared similar to those detected on the laryngeal mound, except for the large taste pores, excessive cellular porosity, and denser microvilli. The total proportions of the taste buds in the oral and pharyngeal floors were 34.1% and 65.81%, respectively. The proportions of taste buds were 34.1%, 57.26%, 4.27%, and 4.27% in the sublingual floor, lingual root, laryngeal mound, and pharyngeal wall, respectively. In conclusion, this study provides comprehensive data on the oropharynx of northern bobwhite and will help to understand mechanisms governing food gustation in the studied bird and other related birds., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rarely presents as an intraductal tumor with no parenchymal lesions. Here, we present a case of HCC arising from an intrahepatic bile duct. A 74-year-old man who had been treated with direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus infection was referred to our hospital because of elevated serum prothrombin levels induced by vitamin K absence II (PIVKA-II). Initial imaging revealed no findings suspicious of HCC; however, repeat CT six months later revealed dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts in the lateral segment of the liver. Cholangiography revealed a significant stricture of B3, and biopsy suggested adenocarcinoma. A left hepatectomy was performed with a preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Although a surface nodule on the lateral segment of the liver, suspicious for intrahepatic metastasis, was found intraoperatively, radical resection was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a tumor filling the intrahepatic bile duct from the stump to the peripheral bile duct, with no infiltration into the liver parenchyma. The surface nodule is a dilated peripheral bile duct filled with a tumor with no extrabiliary invasion. Immunohistochemistry suggested HCC. No tumor lesions were observed in the hepatic parenchyma, and the tumor was finally diagnosed as HCC stemming from the biliary epithelium., (© 2024. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

The antigen-mediated B cell isolation method, based on the detection of surface IgG (sIgG), has increased the efficiency of therapeutic antibody (Ab) discovery. However, the reduction in sIgG expression on B cells during plasma cell differentiation presents challenges as it enables Ab production from only a small subset of B cells (e.g., memory B cells). The present study aimed to addressed this problem by developing a workflow to isolate human-IgG-secreting hybridoma cells produced by cell fusion, the majority of which express sIgG. We showed that our sIgG-based antigen-coated bead separation method efficiently enriched hybridoma cells expressing antigen-specific Abs with a yield of 83.5% (from the cell fusion pool) and a positive rate of 73.2%. Furthermore, because the separation could be performed after only a short (1-2-day) culture period following cell fusion, diverse hybridoma clones could be obtained, minimizing clonal selection and the incidence of duplicates. Given that the expression of membrane-bound IgG and sIgG are regulated by different splicing mechanisms, we speculate that the cell fusion step potentially attenuated the suppression of human sIgG expression. Overall, our proposed method is expected to markedly improve the efficiency of therapeutic Ab candidate production, which will have important clinical implications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Hemodialysis patients are at high risk for developing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the first-line agent for treating this disease. However, there is a lack of consensus on the required dosage of TMP-SMX for hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study used the nationwide Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database to review hemodialysis patients hospitalized for PJP from April 2014 to March 2022. Eligible patients were divided into high-dose and low-dose groups based on the median daily dose per body weight of TMP. The 90-day mortality and adverse events after propensity score matching were compared between the groups. Results: A total of 126 hemodialysis patients with PJP were included, and the median daily dose per body weight of TMP was 5.74 mg/kg/day (interquartile range: 4.33-8.18 mg/kg/day). Thirty-two pairs were analyzed after the propensity score matching. No significant differences in the 90-day mortality and proportion of adverse events were observed between the high-dose and low-dose groups. Conclusions: A high dose of TMP-SMX is unlikely to decrease the in-hospital mortality and adverse events among hemodialysis patients with PJP. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, given the lack of power and lack of long-term follow-up. Additional prospective interventional studies are required to validate these results.

Introduction: A blood culture (BC) test is vital for diagnosing bacteremia in clinical practice. Although incubation time varies among automated BC systems, 4-5 days is deemed to be sufficient time for the BD BACTEC FX blood culture system. This study compared the clinical and microbiological characteristics of true-positive BC samples on day 5 with those within 4 days to reduce missed true bacteremia cases., Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of blood cultures from hospitalized patients between April 2020 and April 2023 at a tertiary care hospital in Japan., Results: In total, 12,342 BC sets were collected from 6,567 patients. Gram-positive bacilli other than Bacillus spp. and Corynebacterium spp., non-albicans Candida, and yeasts other than Candida spp. were detected more frequently in BC-positive patients on day 5 than in those within 4 days. The gastrointestinal tract was the portal of entry more frequently on day 5 than within 4 days (25 % vs. 4 %, p = 0.006)., Conclusion: A 4-day incubation period is sufficient for the BD BACTEC FX blood culture system under routine conditions. However, a 5-day incubation period may be warranted when low pathogenicity is suspected or the gastrointestinal tract is suspected as the portal of entry., (Copyright © 2024 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Flow cytometry is a vital tool in biomedical research and laboratory medicine. However, its accuracy is often compromised by undesired fluctuations in fluorescence intensity. While fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) bypasses this challenge as fluorescence lifetime remains unaffected by such fluctuations, the full integration of FLIM into flow cytometry has yet to be demonstrated due to speed limitations. Here we overcome the speed limitations in FLIM, thereby enabling high-throughput FLIM flow cytometry at a high rate of over 10,000 cells per second. This is made possible by using dual intensity-modulated continuous-wave beam arrays with complementary modulation frequency pairs for fluorophore excitation and acquiring fluorescence lifetime images of rapidly flowing cells. Moreover, our FLIM system distinguishes subpopulations in male rat glioma and captures dynamic changes in the cell nucleus induced by an anti-cancer drug. FLIM flow cytometry significantly enhances cellular analysis capabilities, providing detailed insights into cellular functions, interactions, and environments., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) photoreduction is an intriguing approach that converts CO 2 into high-value substances with the assistance of a photocatalyst. Key to effective photoreduction is to promote the interaction of photo-induced holes and a sacrificial reagent (SCR), separating the holes from photoelectrons and enhancing the rate of the subsequent product generation. Methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and water SCRs were tested for their ability to assist a copper-doped sodium dititanate nanosheets/graphene oxide heterostructure (CTGN) in CO 2 photoreduction. The CTGN photocatalyst was suspended in a CO 2 -saturated aqueous solution with the assigned SCR while illuminated by a mercury lamp. Product samples from the gas and liquid phases were analyzed for targeted product compositions. Methanol SCR exhibited the best performance in facilitating CO 2 photoreduction, producing ethanol as the main product at a total carbon consumption (TCC) of 6544 μmol g cat -1 . The remarkable performance of methanol is attributed to the high diffusivity and excellent stability of the hydroxymethyl radical that developed during the photoreduction. The kinetics studies revealed the first and second order for the CO 2 depletion and product generation rates, respectively, for the alcohol SCRs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no financial or personal interest that affects professional judgment regarding the validity and analysis of this research., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: Although older individuals are prone to pneumonia relapse, little real-world evidence is available on the main factors contributing to pneumonia recurrence. This study assessed the impact of patients' lifestyles on hospital readmission due to pneumonia recurrence., Methods: We retrospectively included consecutive patients (aged ≥65 years) who were admitted for community-onset pneumonia. A binary or multiple-choice postal questionnaire survey on lifestyles after hospitalization was conducted to identify the factors associated with readmission due to pneumonia recurrence., Results: Of 117 patients who responded to the questionnaires, 89 were included in the analyses after excluding 28 patients who died within 1 year of discharge. Twenty-four of 89 (27%) patients were readmitted to the hospital for pneumonia within 1 year of discharge. Multivariate analysis revealed that cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 3.912; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.104-13.861; p = 0.035) and need of assistance at mealtime (OR, 2.225; 95% CI, 1.182-4.186; p = 0.013) were significantly associated with readmission due to pneumonia recurrence. Oral care and mealtime body position were not associated with readmission., Conclusions: Host factors, not patients' lifestyles such as oral care and body position, mainly contribute to the development of pneumonia among older people. These results should be considered risk factors for readmission by medical workers and family members., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Kosaku Komiya received lecture fees from Kyorin Pharmaceuticals, MSD Pharmaceuticals, and Shionogi Pharmaceuticals. Akihiko Gotoa, Kenji Umeki, Kazufumi Hiramatsu, and Jun-ichi Kadotaha have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Japanese Respiratory Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Precise vaccination data is essential to accurately estimate the effectiveness of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine against HPV-related cancers. In Japan, the number of subsidized HPV vaccinations can be tracked through registries, but the number of self-funded vaccinations has not been tracked. The number of individuals who chose to receive the vaccine at their own expense, despite being ineligible for public subsidies due to their age, is unknown and has been nominally considered to be zero. Our aim is to produce a more accurate estimate of this number using recently released proprietary data. First, we estimated the total number of self-funded HPV vaccinations occurring from 2010 to 2012 using public data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and our previously reported data on the number of HPV vaccinations eligible for public subsidy. Second, using proprietary data from the vaccine manufacturer, we calculated the distribution of self-funded vaccination shots by age. Finally, we combined these data to estimate the number of self-funded HPV vaccinations by birth fiscal year (FY) relative to a yearly reference population. We found that 78,264 individuals born in FY1993 and 58,190 born in FY1992 self-funded their vaccinations, representing 13.6% and 10.0% of the reference population, respectively. Additionally, we found that 5%-10% of individuals born from FY1986 to FY1991 self-funded their vaccinations. Our study revealed for the first time that a certain number of individuals from the "HPV unvaccinated generation," ineligible for subsidies due to age restrictions, chose to self-fund their vaccinations., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer Science published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association.)

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been administered in many countries after the COVID-19 pandemic. Lymphadenopathy is a side effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. We report a rare example of Kikuchi disease in the cervical lymph nodes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. A 41-year-old man complained of a swollen neck and fever 9 days after the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine. Computed tomography revealed enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Fine needle aspiration and resection were performed, and the clinicopathological diagnosis was consistent with Kikuchi disease. Histologically, the resected lymph nodes lost their polarity, and many histiocytes were aggregated with karyorrhectic nuclear debris and apoptosis. SARS-CoV-2 positive cells were small lymphocytes detected by immunohistochemistry. This is the first report that demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 expression in Kikuchi disease post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: The fibrosis-5 (FIB-5) index is a noninvasive marker for assessing the progression of liver fibrosis and predictor in patients with heart failure (HF). This study investigated the association between the FIB-5 index and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and evaluated its predictive value for prognosis., Methods: In total, 203 patients who underwent CRT/CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation were retrospectively included. The FIB-5 index was calculated using blood samples obtained before and after CRT/CRT-D. Response to CRT was defined as a relative reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume of ≥15% 6 months after CRT/CRT-D. We compared the prognosis after CRT/CRT-D between the groups according to the FIB-5 index., Results: One hundred and twenty-three patients (61%) responded to CRT. The responder group demonstrated a significantly higher FIB-5 index than the nonresponder group (-2.76 ± 3.85 vs. -4.67 ± 3.29, p < 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve of the FIB-5 index was 0.660 with a cutoff value of -4.00 for responders. In multivariate analysis, FIB-5 index ≥ -4.00 was an independent predictor for CRT response (odds ratio: 3.665, p = 0.003), in addition to QRS duration ≥ 150 ms and echocardiographic dysynchrony. The FIB-5 index increased significantly after 6 months in the responder group but not in the nonresponder group. The FIB-5 index ≥ -4.00 group showed a significantly better prognosis for cardiac death, HF hospitalization, and composite endpoint than the FIB-5 index < -4.00 group., Conclusion: The FIB-5 index in addition to classical predictors may be a useful marker for predicting response to CRT., (© 2024 The Author(s). Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective Patients with advanced interstitial lung disease (ILD) struggle to undergo spirometry to evaluate the respiratory function. The cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) on chest radiography can potentially reflect the lung volume; however, this has not yet been fully established. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the CTR and the respiratory function in patients with interstitial lung diseases. Patients and Methods We reviewed 120 consecutive patients with idiopathic interstitial lung disease who were admitted to our department between April 2018 and March 2023 and who underwent chest radiography, spirometry, and echocardiography. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the CTR. Correlations between the CTR and the respiratory or cardiac function were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results A multiple linear regression analysis showed the percent vital capacity (β = -0.598, p <0.001), age (β = 0.405, p <0.001), and female sex (β = 0.177, p = 0.047) to be independently associated with the CTR, whereas no relationship was observed between the left ventricular ejection fraction, body mass index, and smoking habits. The CTR was significantly negatively correlated with the vital capacity (r = -0.490, p <0.001). Conclusions An increased CTR might reflect a decreased vital capacity, but not a decreased cardiac function, in patients with interstitial lung diseases. Measuring the CTR can thus be beneficial for predicting progression in patients with ILD.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an intractable disease that affects young adults. Histological findings are essential for its diagnosis; however, the number of diagnostic pathologists is limited. Herein, we used a no-code artificial intelligence (AI) platform "Teachable Machine" to train a model that could distinguish between histological images of UC, non-UC coloproctitis, adenocarcinoma, and control. A total of 5100 histological images for training and 900 histological images for testing were prepared by pathologists. Our model showed accuracies of 0.99, 1.00, 0.99, and 0.99, for UC, non-UC coloproctitis, adenocarcinoma, and control, respectively. This is the first report in which a no-code easy AI platform has been able to comprehensively recognize the distinctive histologic patterns of UC., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Competing Interests: All authors disclosed no financial relationships.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) typically presents as a predominant ground-glass opacity (GGO) in the upper lobes. We report a case of a patient with PCP that mimicked organizing pneumonia or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, showing peripheral predominant consolidation with traction bronchiectasis and peribronchovascular thickening in the lower lobes on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Pneumocystis jirovecii was detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and no other pathogens were isolated. After confirmation of a high plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-RNA titer and a low CD4+ cell count, the patient was diagnosed with PCP associated with HIV infection. The peripheral predominant consolidation was successfully resolved after treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. To the best of our knowledge, no previous case of PCP presenting with peripheral predominant consolidation, traction bronchiectasis, or peribronchovascular thickening has been reported. Physicians should consider PCP as a differential diagnosis even in cases suspected as organizing pneumonia or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia on HRCT., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Fujishima et al.)

Background: Gastrointestinal mucormycosis is a rapidly progressing and often fatal disease, predominantly affecting immunocompromised patients. Surgical intervention, in addition to antifungal therapy, is essential. Herein, we describe the successful management of appendiceal mucormycosis in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia through rapid surgical intervention and antifungal therapy., Case Presentation: A 29-year-old woman underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Subsequently, her condition relapsed, and remission induction therapy was initiated. During the immunosuppressive period, she developed a fever and severe abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed severe edema of the ileum, cecum, and ascending colon. Despite receiving multiple antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals, her condition showed no improvement. Consequently, she underwent exploratory laparotomy, with no bowel perforation noted, revealing severe inflammation in the ileum, cecum, and ascending colon, as well as appendiceal necrosis. Appendectomy was performed, and histopathological analysis revealed hyphae in the vessels and layers of the appendiceal wall, suggestive of mucormycosis. The patient was diagnosed with appendiceal mucormycosis, and liposomal amphotericin B was administered. Subsequent monitoring showed no recurrence of mucormycosis. Genetic analysis of the resected tissue revealed Rhizopus microspores as the causative agent., Conclusions: Rapid surgical intervention and antifungal drug administration proved successful in managing appendiceal mucormycosis in a patient with APL. Early recognition and aggressive surgical intervention are imperative to improve outcomes in such patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, we investigated a deleterious mutation in the β-xylosidase gene, xylA (AkxylA), in Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii IFO 4308 by constructing an AkxylA disruptant and complementation strains of AkxylA and xylA derived from A. luchuensis RIB2604 (AlxylA), which does not harbor the mutation in xylA. Only the AlxylA complementation strain exhibited significantly higher growth and substantial β-xylosidase activity in medium containing xylan, accompanied by an increase in XylA expression. This resulted in lower xylobiose and higher xylose concentrations in the mash of barley shochu. These findings suggest that the mutation in xylA affects xylose levels during the fermentation process. Because the mutation in xylA was identified not only in the genome of strain IFO 4308 but also the genomes of other industrial strains of A. luchuensis and A. luchuensis mut. kawachii, these findings enhance our understanding of the genetic factors that affect the fermentation characteristics., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.)

No specific treatment has been developed for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). However, the prognosis can improve with early plasma exchange. Therefore, rapid and accurate detection of SFTS virus is important for diagnosis and prognosis. Direct real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing is easier and more time-efficient than conventional real-time RT-PCR. Our study compared direct real-time RT-PCR efficiency without the RNA extraction and purification of conventional real-time RT-PCR. Samples were collected from 18 patients with SFTS and five without SFTS. A strong correlation (r = 0.774, 95% CI: 0.652-0.857, P <0.01) was found between conventional and direct real-time RT-PCR assays. Direct real-time RT-PCR showed 84.4% sensitivity and 92.0% specificity for viral detection. Direct real-time RT-PCR is an effective diagnostic tool for patients with acute phase SFTS, but further optimization is required for viral detection.

Purpose: Although the international guidelines for managing bronchiectasis are centred on preventing the exacerbation of bronchiectasis, the medical causes of admissions to hospital among patients with bronchiectasis have not been fully investigated., Methods: This study targeted patients with bronchiectasis who were admitted to hospitals between April 2018 and March 2020 using the national inpatient database in Japan. The causes of hospitalisation and types of antibiotics used for hospitalised patients were recorded., Results: In total, 21,300 hospitalisations of 16,723 patients with bronchiectasis were analysed. The most common cause was respiratory diseases in 15,145 (71.1%) admissions, including bacterial pneumonia and the exacerbation of bronchiectasis in 6238 (41.2%) and 3151 (20.8%), respectively. Antipseudomonal antibiotics were used in approximately 60% of patients with bacterial pneumonia who were administered antibiotic treatments and in approximately 50% of patients with the exacerbation of bronchiectasis., Conclusions: Bacterial pneumonia was the most frequent cause of hospitalisation, followed by the exacerbation of bronchiectasis, among patients with bronchiectasis. Physicians need to focus on the prevention of bacterial pneumonia in addition to the exacerbation of bronchiectasis in patients with bronchiectasis.

Fluorescence-encoded vibrational spectroscopy has attracted increasing attention by virtue of its high sensitivity and high chemical specificity. We recently demonstrated fluorescence-encoded time-domain coherent Raman spectroscopy (FLETCHERS), which enables low-frequency vibrational spectroscopy of low-concentration fluorophores using near-infrared (800-900 nm) light excitation. However, the feasibility of this study was constrained by the scarcity of excitable molecules in the near-infrared range. Consequently, the broader applicability of FLETCHERS has not been investigated. Here we extend the capabilities of FLETCHERS into the visible range by employing a noncollinear optical parametric amplifier as a light source, significantly enhancing its versatility. Specifically, we use the method, which we refer to as visible FLETCHERS (vFLETCHERS), to individually acquire Raman spectra from five visible fluorophores that have absorption peaks in the 600-700 nm region. These results not only confirm the versatility of vFLETCHERS for a wide range of molecules but also allude to its widespread applicability in biological research through highly sensitive supermultiplexed imaging.

No systematic review of trial designs in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) was reported. This systematic review was conducted on the trial designs and primary end points (PEs) of phase II and III trials intended to modify the natural course of the disease in patients with RMS. The purpose of the study is to explore trends/topics and discussion points in clinical trial design and PE, comparing them to regulatory guidelines and expert recommendations. Three trial registration systems, ClinicalTrials.gov, the EU Clinical Trials Register, and the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials, were used and 60 trials were evaluated. The dominant clinical trial design was a randomized controlled parallel-arms trial and other details were as follows: in adult phase III confirmatory trials (n = 32), active-controlled double-blind trial (DBT) (53%) and active-controlled open-label assessor-masking trial (16%); in adult phase II dose-finding trials (n = 9), placebo- and active-controlled DBT (44%), placebo-controlled DBT (22%), and placebo-controlled add-on DBT (22%); and in pediatric phase III confirmatory trials (n = 8), active-controlled DBT (38%) and active-controlled open-label non-masking trial (25%). The most common PEs were as follows: in adult confirmatory trials, annual relapse rate (ARR) (56%) and no evidence of disease activity-3 (NEDA-3) (13%); in adult dose-finding trials, the cumulative number of T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions (56%), combined unique active lesions (22%), and overall disability response score (22%); and in pediatric confirmatory trials, ARR (38%) and time to first relapse (25%). It was suggested that some parts of the regulatory guidelines and expert recommendations need to be revised., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Objective: Although fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery during induced labor, there is limited evidence to guide labor management. This study aimed to investigate the prognosis of induced labor in pregnancies with suspected FGR and whether oxytocin discontinuation during the active phase of labor affects maternal and neonatal outcomes., Study Design: This retrospective cohort study investigated singleton pregnancies with vertex presentation and indications for labor induction owing to FGR after 34.0 weeks of gestation at Osaka University Hospital. From January 2010 to December 2013, women were conventionally managed, and oxytocin was continued until delivery unless there was an indication for discontinuation (conventional management group). From January 2013 to December 2020, oxytocin was routinely discontinued, or the dose was reduced at the beginning of the active phase of labor (oxytocin discontinuation group)., Results: A total of 161 women (conventional management group, n  = 74; oxytocin discontinuation group, n  = 87) were included. After the active phase of induced labor, the total incidence of cesarean delivery was very low (3.1%), and the duration was short (173 ± 145 minutes). Oxytocin discontinuation was associated with lower cesarean delivery (1.1 vs. 5.4%; p  = 0.12) and uterine tachysystole (9.8 vs. 23.0%; p  = 0.08) rates and longer duration of the second stage of labor (mean: 56.5 ± 90 vs. 34.2 ± 45 minutes; p  = 0.08) than conventional management; however, the difference was not significant. The other maternal and neonatal outcomes, including postpartum hemorrhage, did not also significantly differ between them., Conclusion: After the active phase of induced labor for suspected FGR, the risk of cesarean delivery is low, and the high incidence of uterine tachysystole and rapid labor progression should be considered cautiously. Oxytocin can be safely discontinued during the active phase of labor in women undergoing labor induction for FGR without an increased risk of cesarean delivery or other unfavorable outcomes., Key Points: · The cesarean delivery rate was low after the active phase.. · The labor progress after the active phase was rapid.. · Oxytocin can be safely discontinued during the active phase.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduces all-cause mortality. However, the mechanisms and risk factors for liver fibrosis and portal hypertension post-SVR remain incompletely understood. In the gut-liver axis, mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM) substantially influence immune and metabolic functions, displaying spatial heterogeneity at the anatomical intestinal site. We analyzed MAM composition and function to isolate the locoregional MAM involved in chronic liver disease progression in HCV post-SVR patients., Methods: We collected MAM samples from three intestinal sites (terminal ileum, ascending colon, and sigmoid colon) via brushing during colonoscopy in 23 HCV post-SVR patients and 25 individuals without liver disease (controls). The 16S rRNA of bacterial DNA in specimens collected with a brush and in feces was sequenced. The molecular expression of intestinal tissues and hepatic tissues were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR., Results: In the post-SVR group, the microbial β-diversity of MAM, especially in the ascending colon, differed from the control group and was associated with liver fibrosis progression. In PICRUSt analysis, MAM in the ascending colon in the liver cirrhosis (LC) group showed compromised functions associated with the intestinal barrier and bile acid production, and FGF19 expression was markedly decreased in the terminal ileum biopsy tissue in the LC group. At the genus level, six short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacterial genera, Blautia , Alistipes , Roseburia , Agathobaculum , Dorea , and Pseudoflavonifractor were reduced in the ascending colon of post-SVR LC patients., Conclusion: In patients of HCV post-SVR, we identified the association between the degree of liver fibrosis and dysbiosis of mucosa-associated SCFA-producing bacterial genera that may be related to intestinal barrier and bile acid production in the ascending colon., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Midori, Nosaka, Hiramatsu, Akazawa, Tanaka, Takahashi, Naito, Matsuda, Ohtani and Nakamoto.)

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been shown to be effective and safe in preventing pulmonary embolism recurrence. In this single-center retrospective observational study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reduced-dose DOACs in 86 consecutive patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Patients were divided into standard-dose and reduced-dose DOACs groups. Initial clot volume did not significantly differ between the two groups (standard-dose DOACs vs. reduced-dose DOACs, 18.8 [Q1-Q3 7.3-30.8] mL vs. 10.0 [Q1-Q3 3.2-27.9] mL, p = 0.1). Follow-up computed tomography (CT) within 30 days showed a higher rate of clot volume reduction or disappearance in the standard-dose group compared to the reduced-dose group (standard-dose DOACs vs. reduced-dose DOACs, 81.6% vs. 53.9%, p = 0.02). However, at the final follow-up CT, there was no significant difference in clot volume change between the two groups (standard-dose DOACs vs. reduced-dose DOACs, 91.5% vs. 82.0%, p = 0.19). Major bleeding occurred in two patients in the standard-dose group (4.3%) and three patients in the reduced-dose DOACs group (7.7%) (p = 0.5). In conclusion, while standard-dose DOACs demonstrated superior efficacy in early clot reduction, reduced doses of apixaban and edoxaban showed comparable efficacy and safety profiles in long-term treatment of acute pulmonary embolism in certain patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The white koji fungus Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii secretes substantial amounts of citric acid through the expression of the citric acid exporter CexA, a member of the DHA1 family. In this study, we aimed to characterize 11 CexA homologs (Chl proteins) encoded in the genome of A. luchuensis mut. kawachii to identify novel transporters useful for organic acid production. We constructed overexpression strains of chl genes using a cexA disruptant of the A. luchuensis mut. kawachii as the host strain, which prevented excessive secretion of citric acid into the culture supernatant. Subsequently, we evaluated the effects of overexpression of chl on producing organic acids by analyzing the culture supernatant. All overexpression strains did not exhibit significant citric acid accumulation in the culture supernatant, indicating that Chl proteins are not responsible for citric acid export. Furthermore, the ChlH overexpression strain displayed an accumulation of 2-oxoglutaric and fumaric acids in the culture supernatant, while the ChlK overexpression strain exhibited the accumulation of 2-oxoglutaric, malic and succinic acids. Notably, the ChlH and ChlK overexpression led to a substantial increase in the production of 2-oxoglutaric acid, reaching approximately 25 mM and 50 mM, respectively. Furthermore, ChlH and ChlK overexpression also significantly increased the secretory production of dicarboxylic acids, including 2-oxoglutaric acid, in the yellow koji fungus, Aspergillus oryzae. Our study demonstrates that overexpression of DHA1 family gene results in enhanced secretion of organic acids in koji fungi of the genus Aspergillus., (Copyright © 2024 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Intrinsic antitachycardia pacing (iATP) is a novel automated antitachycardia pacing (ATP) that provides individual treatment to terminate ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, the clinical efficacy of iATP in comparison with conventional ATP is unknown. We aim to compare the termination rate of VT between iATP and conventional ATP in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators using a unique setting of different sequential orders of both ATP algorisms., Methods: Patients with the iATP algorithm were assigned to iATP-first and conventional ATP-first groups sequentially. In the iATP-first group, a maximum of seven iATP sequences were delivered, followed by conventional burst and ramp pacing. In contrast, in the conventional ATP-first group, two bursts and ramp pacing were initially programmed, followed by iATP sequences. We compared the success rates of VT termination in the first and secondary programmed ATP zones between the two groups., Results: Fifty-eight and 56 patients were enrolled in the iATP-first and conventional ATP-first groups, and 67 and 44 VTs were analyzed in each group, respectively. At the first single ATP therapy, success rates were 64% and 70% in the iATP and conventional groups, respectively. At the end of the first iATP treatment zone, the success rate increased from 64% to 85%. Moreover, secondary iATP therapy following the failure of conventional ATPs increased the success rate from 80% to 93%. There was a significant benefit of alternative iATP for VT termination compared to secondary conventional ATP (100% vs. 33%, p = .028)., Conclusions: iATP may be beneficial as a secondary therapy after failure of conventional ATP to terminate VT., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Backgrounds: It remains unclear if antibiotics should be used for the treatment of acute aspiration bronchitis to prevent the development of pneumonia. This study aimed to assess the associations between the use of antibiotics and the development of pneumonia among patients with acute aspiration bronchitis., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with acute aspiration bronchitis aged ≥75 years. Acute aspiration bronchitis was defined as a condition with aspiration risk, high fever (body temperature, ≥37.5 °C), respiratory symptoms, and the absence of evidence of pneumonia., Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of pneumonia between patients treated with and without antibiotics for acute aspiration bronchitis (6/44, 14% vs. 31/143, 22%; p = 0.242). Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.956; 95% confidence interval, 0.920-0.993) was significantly associated with the development of pneumonia., Conclusions: Antibiotic administration should not be routinely recommended to prevent pneumonia following acute aspiration bronchitis, and patients with decreased renal function should be closely monitored. A randomized controlled trial is necessary to validate these results.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), have emerged as a promising feed ingredient in broiler chicken diets, known for their high protein content, nutritional richness, and environmental sustainability. This review examines the effects of integrating BSFL into broiler feeds, focusing on aspects such as growth performance, nutrient digestibility, physiological responses, and immune health. The ability of BSFL to transform waste into valuable biomass rich in proteins and lipids underscores their efficiency and ecological benefits. Protein levels in BSFL can range from 32% to 53%, varying with growth stage and diet, offering a robust source of amino acids essential for muscle development and growth in broilers. While the chitin in BSFL poses questions regarding digestibility, the overall impact on nutrient utilization is generally favorable. The inclusion of BSFL in diets has been shown to enhance growth rates, feed efficiency, and carcass quality in broilers, with the larvae's balanced amino acid profile being particularly advantageous for muscle development. BSFL may also support gut health and immunity in broilers due to its bioactive components, potentially influencing the gut's microbial composition and enhancing nutrient absorption and overall health. Moreover, the capacity of BSFL to efficiently convert organic waste into protein highlights their role as an environmentally sustainable protein source for broiler nutrition. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to fully understand the long-term effects of BSFL, ideal inclusion rates, and the impact of varying larval diets and rearing conditions. It is crucial for poultry producers to consult nutritionists and comply with local regulations when incorporating new feed ingredients like BSFL into poultry diets.

Background: Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) has been widely performed because the osteochondral component of the osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion is the most suitable for reconstructing the joint structure., Purpose: To evaluate radiological healing in terms of reconstructed bony structure after ORIF with bone graft by computed tomography (CT), to identify preoperative prognostic factors for failure, and to determine the cutoff value of radiological healing for risk of failure., Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 42 patients (44 knees) who underwent internal fixation with bone graft for OCD lesions of the knee from 2004 to 2018 was conducted. All patients were evaluated 6 months postoperatively, and if not healed 6 months after surgery, they were evaluated by CT periodically thereafter. Radiological healing was judged according to the following 3 criteria: (1) reossification of the OCD lesion, (2) bony continuity between the OCD lesion and basal floor, and (3) reconstructed bony surface of the femoral condyle reconstructed to match the normal joint. Then, the percentage of the radiological healing area was calculated as the ratio of the healing length to the total lesion length. The nonhealing area was calculated by multiplying the sum of the total nonhealing length. Clinical failure was defined as any definitive reoperation for the same OCD lesion, such as fragment excision, or a cartilage restoration procedure. After 6 months, all eligible patients underwent arthroscopy to check for protrusion of the absorbable pin into the joint; the removal of an absorbable pin protruding into the joint was not considered a failure., Results: Clinical failure was recorded for 4 cases (9.1%). The mean overall percentage of the radiological healing area of OCD 6 months after ORIF with bone graft was 79.5% ± 24.4%, and the mean overall nonhealing area at 6 months was 87.8 ± 107.9 mm 2 . The percentages of radiological healing area of stable (International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society OCD II) lesions and femoral condylar (lateral femoral condyle + medial femoral condyle) lesions were significantly lower than unstable lesions and femoral groove lesions, respectively ( P = .01 and P = .03, respectively). On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the cutoff points for predicting a significantly increased risk of failure were 33.9% (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 100%; area under the curve, 1) for the percentage of radiological healing area and 222.9 mm 2 (sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 100%; area under the curve, 0.956) for the nonhealing area 6 months postoperatively., Conclusion: A stable lesion and a femoral condylar lesion were the predictors of poor radiological healing on CT images 6 months after ORIF with bone graft. The risk of failure was increased significantly in cases with only approximately one-third of the lesion healed or in cases with large nonhealing areas at 6 months postoperatively., Competing Interests: The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 are often asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. The studies on the seroprevalence kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of the positive rate of the SARS-CoV-2 IgG in pediatric patients without suspected COVID-19 infection between January 2007 and March 2022. We defined the serum samples from the pre-pandemic and pandemic groups (1st-6th waves). Totally, 2557 samples were collected and no samples from the pre-pandemic group or the 1st-4th waves were positive for IgG. There were 4/661 and 16/373 positives at the 5th and 6th waves, respectively. At the 5th wave, the prevalence of IgG was 1.3% in children aged 1-4 years. At the 6th wave, in children <1 year of age, the prevalence was 4.0%, and 2.4%, 5.3%, 5.2% and 10% in age groups 1-4, 5-9, 10-14 and 15-18 years, respectively. In conclusions, the pre-pandemic samples were negative, and the IgG positivity increased during the later period of the pandemic., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is known as a lipoprotein receptor. LSR is expressed in various solid tumors, including epithelial ovarian, gastric, and colon cancers. High LSR expression is significantly associated with poor prognosis, but its role in cancer has not been fully elucidated. LSR belongs to the Ig protein superfamily, which is conserved in B7 family. Here, we assessed LSR as a novel immune checkpoint molecule. We developed a novel anti-LSR antibody (#27-6 mF-18) that defects antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity activity. The #27-6 mF-18 cross-reacts with both human and mouse LSR. We found that LSR was expressed on 4T1 murine breast cancer cell line. The #27-6 mF-18 exhibited antitumor effects against the 4T1 syngeneic tumor model, a poor immunogenic model refractory to treatment with anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. Compared with control antibody-treated mice, mice treated with #27-6 mF-18 showed significantly increased numbers of CD8 + T cells and a ratio of activated CD8 + T cells infiltrated in the tumor tissue. This antitumor effect was abrogated by CD8 + T-cell depletion through anti-CD8 antibody treatment, indicating that LSR negatively regulates tumor immunity by repressing CD8 + T cells. These findings show that LSR negatively regulates T-cell immune activity. LSR targeting could provide immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy., (© 2023 UICC.)

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a cryptogenic inflammatory bowel disease, and there is an urgent need to elucidate its pathogenesis. ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the entry molecules of SARS-CoV-2, are reportedly associated with the disease; however, no consensus has been reached yet. In this study, we examined the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in colon and rectal specimens of UC. We collected colorectal specimens from 60 patients (30 patients with UC and 30 controls from 2018 to 2021) and analyzed the proportion and intensity of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 using immunohistochemistry. The results revealed a significant increase in the proportion of ACE2 expression and the intensity of TMPRSS2 expression in patients with UC. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in UC remained unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We demonstrated that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are likely involved in the pathogenesis of UC., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: It has not been fully elucidated that nutritional parameters affect the change of activities of daily living (ADL) during pneumonia treatment. This study assessed the impact of nutritional status, including erector spinae muscle (ESM) size on ADL changes from admission to discharge among older patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)., Methods: We retrospectively included patients (age: ≥65 years) who were admitted to the hospital for CAP and underwent chest computed tomography (CT) on admission. ADL was evaluated using the Barthel index, and patients were divided into the maintained or improved ADL group and the declined ADL group from admission through discharge. The ESM cross-sectional area was measured on a single-slice CT image. Logistic regression models were applied for assessing factors associated with changes in ADL., Results: A total of 523 patients hospitalized for CAP (median age 86 years) were evaluated. The declined group had significantly higher ADL levels on admission, a greater frequency of smoking history and malignancy, and a lower frequency of cerebrovascular disease and dementia. No significant difference in ESM size was observed between the groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher ADL levels on admission (odds ratio 1.034, interquartile range 1.026-1.043) and malignancy (3.002, 1.150-7.836) were associated with a decline in ADL, whereas cerebrovascular disease (0.579, 0.373-0.900) was related to improvement or maintenance of ADL., Conclusions: Although nutritional status might not affect the change of ADL among older patients hospitalized with pneumonia, a cerebrovascular disease history may be a good predictor for ADL improvement., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have stated explicitly that there are no conflicts of interest in association with this article., (Copyright © 2023 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Yersinia enterocolitica is a gram-negative zoonotic bacterial pathogen that is typically transmitted via the fecal-oral route. The most common clinical manifestation of a Y. enterocolitica infection is self-limited gastroenteritis. Although various extraintestinal manifestations of Y. enterocolitica infection have been reported, there are no reports of thyroid abscesses., Case Presentation: An 89-year-old Japanese man with follicular adenoma of the left thyroid gland was admitted to our hospital with a 2-day history of fever and left neck pain. Laboratory tests revealed low levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and elevated levels of free thyroxine 4. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed low-attenuation areas with peripheral enhancement in the left thyroid gland. He was diagnosed with thyroid abscess and thyrotoxicosis, and treatment with intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam was initiated after collecting blood, drainage fluid, and stool samples. The isolated Gram-negative rod bacteria from blood and drainage fluid cultures was confirmed to be Y. enterocolitica. He was diagnosed with thyroid abscess and thyrotoxicosis due to be Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica. The piperacillin-tazobactam was replaced with levofloxacin., Conclusion: We report a novel case of a thyroid abscess associated with thyrotoxicosis caused by Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica in a patient with a follicular thyroid adenoma., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) often receive tazobactam/piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) and glycopeptide antibiotics for febrile neutropenia. The effect of concomitant use of TAZ/PIPC on risk of teicoplanin (TEIC)-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unclear. We investigated the impact of concomitant TAZ/PIPC use on TEIC-associated AKI in HM patients and identified the risk factors. In this retrospective, single-center, observational cohort study, 203 patients received TEIC, 176 of whom satisfied the selection criteria and were divided into TEIC cohort (no TAZ/PIPC; n = 118) and TEIC + TAZ/PIPC cohort (n = 58). AKI was defined as serum creatinine increase ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 h or ≥50% from baseline. Incidence of AKI in TEIC cohort before and after propensity score matching was 9.3 and 5.9%, respectively, and that in TEIC + TAZ/PIPC cohort was 10.3 and 11.8%. AKI incidence and risk were not significantly different between two cohorts before (p = 0.829; odds ratio (OR) 1.122, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.393-3.202) and after matching (p = 0.244; OR 2.133, 95% CI 0.503-9.043). Logistic regression analysis with factors clinically or mechanistically potentially related to TEIC-associated AKI, including concomitant TAZ/PIPC use, as independent variables identified baseline hemoglobin level as the only significant risk factor for TEIC-associated AKI (p = 0.011; OR 0.484, 95% CI 0.276-0.848). In HM patients treated with TEIC, concomitant TAZ/PIPC use did not increase AKI risk whereas lower hemoglobin levels had higher risk for TEIC-associated AKI development, suggesting the necessity to monitor serum creatinine when using TEIC in patients with anemia.

Macrophages are innate immune cells with multiple functions such as phagocytosis, cytokine production, and antigen presentation. Since macrophages play critical roles in some bacterial infectious diseases in cattle, including tuberculosis, paratuberculosis, and brucellosis, the in vitro culturing of bovine macrophages is useful for evaluating host-pathogen interactions at the cellular and molecular levels. We have previously reported the establishment of two immortalized bovine liver sinusoidal cell lines, endothelial B46 cells and myofibroblast-like A26 cells (Cell Biology International, 40, 1372-1379, 2016). In this study, we investigated the use of these cell lines as feeder cells that support the proliferation of bovine blood-derived macrophages (BBMs). Notably, the B46 cell line efficiently acts as feeder cells for the propagation of BBMs. Compared with primary cultured vascular endothelial cells, the infinite proliferation ability of B46 cells is more beneficial for preparing confluent feeder layers. In conclusion, this study provides a simple and efficient protocol for the isolation and propagation of BBMs using a primary mixed culture of bovine whole blood with B46 feeder cells. Isolated BBMs are expected to be useful for developing in vitro models for studying the interactions between bovine pathogens and host immune cells., (© 2023 International Federation of Cell Biology.)

We investigated the role of dietary carbohydrates in the maintenance of the enterocyte microvillar structure in the chicken ileum. Male chickens were divided into the control and three experimental groups, and the experimental groups were fed diets containing 50%, 25%, and 0% carbohydrates of the control diet. The structural alterations in enterocytes were examined using transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescent techniques for β-actin and villin. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2 and proglucagon mRNA were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively. Fragmentation and wide gap spaces were frequently observed in the microvilli of the 25% and 0% groups. The length, width, and density of microvilli were also decreased in the experimental groups. The experimental groups had shorter terminal web extensions, and there were substantial changes in the mitochondrial density between the control and experimental groups. Intensities of β-actin and villin immunofluorescence observed on the apical surface of enterocytes were lower in the 0% group. The frequency of GLP-2-immunoreactive and proglucagon mRNA-expressing cells decreased with declining dietary carbohydrate levels. This study revealed that dietary carbohydrates contribute to the structural maintenance of enterocyte microvilli in the chicken ileum. The data from immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization assays suggest the participation of GLP-2 in this maintenance system., (© 2024 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

Introduction: The clinical outcomes and mechanisms of delayed responses to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the differences in outcomes and gain insight into the mechanisms of early and delayed responses to CRT., Methods: This retrospective study included 110 patients who underwent CRT implantation. Positive response to CRT was defined as ≥15% reduction of left ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume on echocardiography at 1 year (early phase) and 3 years (delayed phase) after implantation. The latest mechanical activation site (LMAS) of the LV was identified using two-dimensional speckle-tracking radial strain analysis., Results: Seventy-eight (71%) patients exhibited an early response 1 year after CRT implantation. Of 32 non-responders in the early phase, 12 (38%) demonstrated a delayed response, and 20 (62%) were classified as non-responders after 3 years. During the follow-up time of 10.3 ± 0.5 years, the delayed and early responders had a similar prognosis of mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. In contrast, non-responders had a worse prognosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that a longer duration (months) between initial HF hospitalization and CRT (odds ratio [OR]: 1.126; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.036-1.222; p = .005), non-exact concordance of LV lead location with LMAS (OR: 32.744; 95% CI: 1.101-973.518; p = .044), and pre-QRS duration (OR: 0.901; 95% CI: 0.827-0.981; p = .016) were independent predictors of delayed response to CRT compared with early response., Conclusion: The prognoses were similar regardless of the response time after CRT. A longer history of HF, suboptimal LV lead position, and shorter pre-QRS duration were related to delayed response than early response., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)