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This multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel cranial remolding helmet (baby band2), which is completely custom-made based on the shape of an infant's cranium. The study included 224 full-term infants from moderate to very severe positional plagiocephaly in Japan. Cranial geometry was assessed before and after helmet therapy using a three-dimensional scanner, and changes in the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) were analyzed. The CVAI improved significantly in all patients, with the most significant improvement observed in the most severely affected group [very severe group: −9.1, severe group: −6.6, moderate group: −4.4 (mean values), p < 0.001]. The group that started therapy before the age of 7 months showed greater improvement compared to those who started therapy at the age of 7 months or older; however, both groups demonstrated significant improvement (<7 months group: −6.6, ≥7 months group: −4.4 (mean values), p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in therapy efficacy between the centers (p = 0.402) and sex (p = 0.131). During the study period, helmet therapy did not lead to head circumference stunting, and the incidence of redness with baby band2 was five patients (2.2%). This study demonstrated that baby band2 is effective and safe for the therapy of positional plagiocephaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our aim is to compare the efficacy and safety of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) against those of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) or nasal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) after extubation in preterm infants., Methods: This prospective, randomized, noninferiority trial was conducted in 6 tertiary NICUs. Infants born at <34 weeks who needed noninvasive ventilation after extubation were enrolled. We randomly assigned infants to an HFNC group when HFNC was used or to an NCPAP/NIPPV group when NCPAP or NIPPV was used. The primary outcome was treatment failure within 7 days after extubation. We then examined clinical aspects of treatment failure with HFNC use., Results: In total, 176 and 196 infants were assigned to the HFNC and NCPAP/NIPPV groups, respectively. The HFNC group showed a significantly higher rate of treatment failure than that of the NCPAP/NIPPV group, with treatment failure occurring in 54 infants (31%) compared with 31 infants (16%) in the NCPAP/NIPPV group (risk difference, 14.9 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, 6.2-23.2). Histologic chorioamnionitis ( P = .02), treated patent ductus arteriosus ( P = .001), and corrected gestational age at the start of treatment ( P = .007) were factors independently related to treatment failure with HFNC use., Conclusions: We found HFNC revealed a significantly higher rate of treatment failure than NCPAP or NIPPV after extubation in preterm infants. The independent factors associated with treatment failure with HFNC use were histologic chorioamnionitis, treated patent ductus arteriosus, and a younger corrected gestational age at the start of treatment., Competing Interests: POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a noncoding RNA with considerable potential as a new therapeutic drug for intractable diseases. siRNAs can be rationally designed and synthesized if the sequences of the disease-causing genes are known. In this paper, we describe the synthesis and properties of siRNAs modified with biaryl units. We found that incorporation of biaryl units into the 5' and 3' ends of sense and antisense strands of siRNA duplexes improved strand selectivity and nuclease resistance.

Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) conjugated with lipophilic groups at their 3'-termini were synthesized. The silencing activities of these siRNAs were examined by a dual-luciferase assay. It was found that the '-end of the passenger strand (sense strand) was better than the guide strand (antisense strand) for connecting bulky lipophilic molecules, particularly a rigid molecule such as cholesterol.

As in many other Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacteria, the Hrp type III secretion system is essential for the pathogenicity of Ralstonia solanacearum on host plants. The expression of most of the type III effector genes previously isolated from R. solanacearum is co-regulated with those of hrp genes by an AraC-type transcriptional activator, HrpB. In order to isolate type III-related pathogenicity genes, we screened hrpB-regulated genes in R. solanacearum. Using a transposon-based system, we isolated 30 novel hpx (hrpB-dependent expression) genes outside the hrp gene cluster. Most of the hpx genes contain a PIP (plant-inducible promoter) box-like motif in their putative promoter regions. Seven hpx genes encoded homologues of known type III effectors and type III-related proteins found in other animal and plant pathogens. Four encoded known enzymes, namely, glyoxalase I, Nudix hydrolase, spermidine synthase and transposase. Interestingly, six hpx genes encoded two types of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein. Products of the remaining genes did not show any significant homology to known proteins. We also identified two novel hrpB-regulated genes, hpaZ and hpaB, downstream of hrpY in the hrp cluster. The hpaB gene of R. solanacearum, but not hpaZ, was required for both the pathogenicity and ability to induce hypersensitive reaction on plants. We show that a hpaB null mutant still produces Hrp pili on the cell surface although it shows a typical Hrp-defective phenotype on plants.

A novel gibberellin (GA)-deficient mutant designated dwarf and delayed-flowering 1 (ddf1) was isolated from a library of activation-tagged Arabidopsis. This mutant showed dwarfism and late-flowering, but the phenotype was rescued by exogenous GA3 like known mutants defective in GA biosynthesis. The contents of bioactive GA4 and GA1 were in fact decreased in ddf1 at least partially through the repression of biosynthetic steps catalyzed by GA 20-oxidase (GA20ox). Genetic and molecular analyses revealed that the ddf1 phenotypes are caused by increased or ectopic expression of a putative AP2 transcription factor. Overexpression of DDF2, encoding another putative AP2 transcription factor closely related to DDF1, also conferred the ddf1-like phenotype. Among genes encoding (putative) AP2 transcription factors in Arabidopsis, DDFs are phylogenetically close to dehydration-responsive element binding protein (DREB1)/C-repeat binding factor (CBF) genes, which are known to be involved in stress responses. The ddf1 mutation upregulates a stress-related gene RD29A. DDF1 mRNA is strongly induced by high-salinity stress within 1 h. Moreover, transgenic plants overexpressing DDF1 showed increased tolerance to high-salinity stress. These results suggest that DDF1 is involved in the regulation of GA biosynthesis and stress tolerance. The possible relation between the contents of endogenous GAs and acquisition of stress protection is discussed.

We investigated the relationship between the cellular redox state of GSH or GSSG and tracheary element (TE) differentiation using a Zinnia experimental system, in which isolated mesophyll cells transdifferentiate to TEs. TE differentiation was suppressed by the application of L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a potent inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis, at the early stage of cell culture. Application of GSSG at the early culture stage promoted the differentiation, but that of GSH or GSSG at an advanced period of culture suppressed the differentiation. Application of GSH and GSSG nullified the TE differentiation-suppressing effect of BSO. The results suggest that changes in the redox states of GSH and GSSG have a role in TE differentiation.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae MID1 gene encodes a stretch-activated Ca(2+)-permeable channel. In a protein database, we found a Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene whose predicted protein shows 26% identical and 62% similar to the Mid1 channel in amino acid sequence. cDNA derived from this gene, designated yam8(+), was isolated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Further analysis showed that the Yam8 protein consists of 486 amino acids and has 6 hydrophobic segments. The yam8(+) cDNA, placed under the S. cerevisiae TDH3 promoter, partially complemented the mating pheromone-induced death (mid) phenotype of the S. cerevisiae mid1 mutant. The expression of the yam8(+) cDNA in the mid1 mutant cells partially remediated the mid phenotype and resulted in a slight increase in Ca(2+) uptake activity. These findings suggest that Yam8 is a potential homologue of Mid1., (Copyright 2000 Academic Press.)