Control of the morphology of ceria nanocrystals is achieved through a simple, rapid, and green chemistry approach by tuning the reaction of organic ligand molecules with specific crystallographic ...planes of fluorite cubic ceria crystal during supercritical hydrothermal synthesis, as shown in the figure. It provides a novel self‐assembly approach for producing metal oxide nanocrystals with uniform size and well‐defined shape.
Background
TRPA1 is a Ca‐permeable nonselective cation channel expressed in sensory neurons and acts as a nocisensor. Recent reports show that some monoterpenes, a group of naturally occurring ...organic compounds, modulate TRP channel activity. Here, we report that limonene, being contained in citrus fruits and mushrooms, shows a unique bimodal action on TRPA1 channel.
Methods
We examine the effects of limonene on sensory neurons from wild‐type, TRPV1‐ and TRPA1‐gene‐deficient mice and on heterologously expressed channels in vitro. Molecular determinants were identified with using mutated channels. Cellular excitability is monitored with ratiometric Ca imaging. Nociceptive and analgesic actions of limonene are also examined in vivo.
Results
In wild‐type mouse sensory neurons, limonene increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+i), which was inhibited by selective inhibitors of TRPA1 but not TRPV1. Limonene‐responsive neurons highly corresponded to TRPA1 agonist‐sensitive ones. Limonene failed to stimulate sensory neurons from the TRPA1 (−/−) mouse. Heterologously expressed mouse TRPA1 was activated by limonene. Intraplantar injection of limonene elicited acute pain, which was significantly less in TRPA1 (−/−) mice. Systemic administration of limonene reduced nociceptive behaviours evoked by H2O2. In both heterologously and endogenously expressed TRPA1, a low concentration of limonene significantly inhibited H2O2‐induced TRPA1 activation. TRPA1 activation by limonene was abolished in H2O2‐insensitive cysteine‐mutated channels.
Conclusions
Topically applied limonene stimulates TRPA1, resulting in elicitation of acute pain, but its systemic application inhibits nociception induced by oxidative stress. Because limonene is a safe compound, it may be utilized for pain control due to its inhibition of TRPA1 channels.
What does this study add: Limonene, a monoterpene in essential oils of various plants, has been known for its antitumor and anti‐inflammatory properties. However, molecular basis of their actions has not been identified. This study shows that limonene activates nociceptive TRPA1 and elicits acute pain, when it is topically applied. In addition, systemic application of limonene exerts inhibitory effects on nociception induced by an oxidative stress‐induced TRPA1 activation.
Recently, it has been reported that frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) may be associated with causing heart failure in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. However, the ...prognostic significance of frequent PVCs in asymptomatic patients with a normal LV function is unclear.
Two hundred and thirty-nine consecutive patients presenting with frequent PVCs (>1000 beats/day) originating from the right or left ventricular outflow tract without any detectable heart disease were enrolled in the study. Structural heart disease was ruled out by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and Holter-ECG monitoring was repeated two or three times to evaluate the PVC prevalence at the initial evaluation. All patients were followed up for at least 4 years, and further observation was continued if possible.
During an observation period of 5.6 (1.7) years, no patients exhibited any serious cardiac events. Although there was no significant change in the mean LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and mean LV diastolic dimension (LVDd), there was a significant negative correlation between the PVC prevalence and DeltaLVEF (p<0.001) and positive correlation between the PVC prevalence and DeltaLVDd (p<0.001). When the development of LV dysfunction was defined as DeltaLVEF>-6%, 13 patients exhibited LV dysfunction. For the prediction of the development of LV dysfunction, PVC prevalence and LVEF at the initial evaluation were independent predicting factors (p<0.01).
Although the prognosis in patients with frequent PVCs was considered relatively benign, attention should be paid to the progression of the LV dysfunction during a long-term observation, especially in patients with a high PVC prevalence.
Purpose
During the last decade, the incidence of anaerobic bacteremia (AB) has been increasing. Patients with AB may develop complex underlying diseases, which can occasionally be accompanied by ...fatal or fulminant outcomes. However, the risk factors for AB-related mortality remain unclear. Herein, we sought to elucidate the risk factors for AB-related mortality.
Methods
In this multicenter, retrospective, observational study, we enrolled patients with culture-proven AB from six tertiary hospitals in Japan, between January 2012 and December 2021. Data on patient and infection characteristics, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome were collected, and their associations with mortality were analyzed.
Results
A total of 520 participants were included. The 30-day mortality in the study cohort was 14.0% (73 patients), and malignant tumors were frequently observed comorbidities in 48% of the entire cohort. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed a Charlson comorbidity score of > 6, serum creatinine level of > 1.17 mg/dL, and hypotension to be independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in AB (odds ratios ORs 2.12, 2.25, and 5.12, respectively;
p
< 0.05), whereas drainage significantly reduced this risk (OR, 0.28;
p
< 0.0001). Twelve patients (2.3% of the whole cohort and 16.4% of the deceased patients) presented with extremely rapid progression leading to fatal outcome, consistent with “fulminant AB.”
Conclusions
This study identified acute circulatory dysfunction and performance of drainage as independent predictive factors for 30-day AB-related mortality and revealed the existence of a fulminant AB sub-phenotype. Our findings could serve as a practical guide to predict the clinical outcomes of AB.
Amelogenin and ameloblastin, the major enamel matrix proteins, are important for enamel mineralization. To identify their synergistic roles in enamel development, we generated Amel X
−/−
/Ambn
−/−
...mice. These mice showed additional enamel defects in comparison with Amel X
−/−
or Ambn
−/−
mice. In 7-day-old Amel X
−/−
/Ambn
−/−
mice, not only was the ameloblast layer irregular and detached from the enamel surface, as in Ambn
−/−
, but also, the enamel width was significantly reduced in the double-null mice as compared with Amel X
−/−
or Ambn
−/−
mice. Proteomic analysis of the double-null teeth revealed increased levels of RhoGDI (Arhgdia), a Rho-family-specific guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor, which is involved in important cellular processes, such as cell attachment. Both Amel X
−/−
/Ambn
−/−
mice and Ambn
−/−
mice displayed positive staining with RhoGDI antibody in the irregularly shaped ameloblasts detached from the matrix. Ameloblastin-regulated expression of RhoGDI suggests that Rho-mediated signaling pathway might play a role in enamel formation.
To eliminate the scattering loss at the crossing points of cross-grid busline waveguides, the multilevel crossing structure of the busline waveguides was introduced into a vertically coupled ...microring resonator (VCMRR) filter. To achieve this structure, two fabrication technologies were newly developed; one is a method to planarize perfectly the top surface of each buried waveguide, and the other is a method to fabricate microring waveguides with very smooth sidewalls. Using the latter method, an ultracompact VCMRR with a ring radius of 5 /spl mu/m was realized and a free spectral range of 37 nm was successfully demonstrated. Next, using the former method, single-ring and quadruple series-coupled ring resonators with multilevel crossing busline waveguides were fabricated. A clear filter response was obtained for the single-microring resonator, and a boxlike filter response was obtained for the quadruple series-coupled microring resonator with multilevel crossing busline waveguides.
We propose prediction model of HbA1c with interpolated missing value based on medical records in order to enable state-space model to follow longitudinal HbA1c variation. The value and the variation ...of HbA1c are defined as target parameter of the model. The likelihood function is defined by the observed HbA1c value and clustering result of deep learning with text data in the missing value case. The prediction experiments for longitudinal HbA1c data is executed for Kochi Medical School hospital data. The experiment results show that the RMSE of HbA1c after 1,200 days from first test is 0.30, which the result is reduced by about half compared to the method without interpolation process. The proposed method with combining multiple data source is useful for long term prediction of real medical data.
We theoretically investigate the k-space distributions of coexisting dx2-y2-wave superconducting (SC) and antiferromagnetic or spin-density-wave (SDW) orders induced by the paramagnetic pair-breaking ...(PPB) effect. It is shown that the SDW order develops in k- space regions near the SC nodes, where the SC order is suppressed by the PPB, and that the SC and SDW orders are enhanced with each other even in k-space owing to the sign change of the dx2-y2-wave SC gap function. The field dependence of the PPB-induced SDW moment in the case with a large Fermi surface curvature is discussed based on the distributions of the SC and SDW orders in k-space.
We previously reported that amelogenin isoforms M180 and leucine-rich amelogenin peptide (LRAP) are expressed in the periodontal region, and that their absence is associated with increased cementum ...defects in amelogenin-knockout (KO) mice. The aim of the present study was to characterize the functions of these isoforms in osteoclastogenesis and in the proliferation and migration of cementoblast/periodontal ligament cells. The co-cultures of wild-type (WT) osteoclast progenitor and KO cementoblast/periodontal ligament cells displayed more tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells than the co-cultures of WT cells. The addition of LRAP to both co-cultures significantly reduced RANKL expression and the TRAP-positive cells. Proliferation and migration rates of the KO cementoblast/periodontal ligament cells were lower than those of WT cells and increased with the addition of either LRAP or P172 (a porcine homolog of mouse M180). Thus, we demonstrate the regulation of osteoclastogenesis by LRAP, and the proliferation and migration of cementoblast/periodontal ligament cells by LRAP and P172.
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