Discovery and structure-activity relationship of dimesulfazet: a novel rice paddy herbicide.

Dimesulfazet, a novel herbicide for use in paddy rice, was discovered during studies on haloalkylsulfonanilide derivatives. Our research revealed that cyclic sulfonamide derivatives exhibited herbicidal efficacy against paddy weeds prevalent in Japan, such as Schoenoplectiella juncoides (Roxb.) Lye. Furthermore, these derivatives showed efficacy against hard-to-control perennial sedges such as Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi. Subsequently, we converted the cyclic sulfonamide derivatives into cyclic amide derivatives, which demonstrated enhanced herbicidal activity. Among these derivatives, dimesulfazet was selected because of its exceptional efficacy against both annual and perennial sedges, while being safe for use on transplanted rice. A simple method was developed for the condensation of benzyl alcohol and cyclic amide intermediates to synthesize trifluoromethanesulfonanilide derivatives. We found that the mode of action of dimesulfazet involved the inhibition of very long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis. Dimesulfazet represents a valuable new tool for controlling S. juncoides, including biotypes resistant to acetolactate synthase inhibitors, and other perennial sedges in rice paddies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cauldrons of Bronze Age nomads reveals 2700 year old yak milk and the deep antiquity of food preparation techniques.

Cauldrons, vessels that are simultaneously common and enigmatic, offer insights into past cultural and social traditions. While assumed to possess a special function, what these cauldrons contained is still largely mysterious. These vessels, such as those made from bronze or copper alloys, function as reservoirs for ancient organics through the antibacterial qualities provided by the metal surfaces. Here we show, through protein analysis, that cauldrons from the Final Bronze Age (ca. 2700 BP) were primarily used to collect blood from ruminants, primarily caprines, likely for the production of sausages in a manner similar to contemporary practices in Mongolia's rural countryside. Our findings present a different function from the recent findings of cooked meat in copper-alloy vessels from the northern Caucasus 2000 years earlier, exposing the diversity in food preparation techniques. Our secondary findings of bovine milk within the cauldron, including peptides specific to Bos mutus, pushes back their regional domestication into the Bronze Age.

Surgical sealant using free pericardial fat pad with fibrin glue and polyglycolic acid sheets for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax: a novel technique.

We report on the "Triple-FP technique," a novel surgical approach for secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces, which combines a free pericardial fat pad, fibrin glue, and polyglycolic acid sheets. In our experience with 13 patients suffering from secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces, this method effectively prevented postoperative air leaks and re-operations. The technique includes the following steps: (1) harvesting free pericardial fat; (2) suturing around the lung parenchymal defect with the needles and thread left outside the thoracic cavity; (3) ensuring contact between the mediastinal pleural side of the fat and the lung; (4) applying fibrin glue to both the lung and fat before suturing; (5) securing the fat to the lung via the suture thread, reinforced with fibrin glue; and (6) stabilization with polyglycolic acid sheets and additional fibrin glue. This innovative technique is a reliable and effective treatment strategy for secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces, especially for patients with fragile lung tissue.

Epipericardial fat necrosis: A case report.

Epipericardial fat necrosis is a rare cause of acute pleuritic chest pain and is a benign and self-limiting condition. It is important to distinguish epipericardial fat necrosis from other diseases that cause acute chest pain, such as acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and acute pericarditis, because conservative treatment is recommended for epipericardial fat necrosis. This report presents the case of a 25-year-old man with severe pleuritic chest pain located on the left anterior side that was associated with dyspnea. Electrocardiogram and laboratory data were normal, except for a slight elevation of C-reactive protein level. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed a fatty ovoid lesion surrounded by a thick rim on the left side of the pericardial fat. Fat stranding was observed both inside and adjacent to the fatty ovoid lesion. A slight contrast enhancement of the thick rim and a slight linear enhancement inside the lesion were observed. Furthermore, a small amount of left pleural effusion was observed. The patient was diagnosed with epipericardial fat necrosis and treated with analgesics, and the symptoms improved 1 week after the emergency department visit. Radiologists should be familiar with epipericardial fat necrosis to prevent overlooking and misdiagnosing the condition.

Distinct retinal reflectance spectra from retinal hyperspectral imaging in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent developments in the retinal hyperspectral imaging method have indicated its potential in addressing challenges posed by neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. This human clinical study is the first to assess reflectance spectra obtained from this imaging as a tool for diagnosing patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Retinal hyperspectral imaging was conducted on a total of 40 participants, including 20 patients with PD and 20 controls. Following preprocessing, retinal reflectance spectra were computed for the macular retina defined by four rectangular regions. Linear discriminant analysis classifiers underwent training to discern patients with PD from control participants. To assess the performance of the selected features, nested leave-one-out cross-validation was employed using machine learning. The indicated values include the area under the curve (AUC) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Retinal reflectance spectra of PD patients exhibited variations in the spectral regions, particularly at shorter wavelengths (superonasal retina, wavelength < 490 nm; inferonasal retina, wavelength < 510 nm) when compared to those of controls. Retinal reflectance spectra yielded an AUC of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.43-0.78) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.43-0.78) for the superonasal and inferonasal retina, respectively, distinguishing individuals with and without PD. CONCLUSION: Reflectance spectra obtained from retinal hyperspectral imaging tended to decrease at shorter wavelengths across a broad spectral range in PD patients. Further investigations building upon these preliminary findings are imperative to focus on the retinal spectral signatures associated with PD pathological hallmarks, including α-synuclein.

Dose-escalated Salvage Whole-pelvic Radiotherapy for Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy for High-risk Prostate Cancer.

Background/Aim: To investigate the institutional experience of dose-escalated salvage whole-pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) with the simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique in patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 21 patients with BCR who received radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer and underwent salvage RT. Clinical target volume (CTV) of the whole pelvis (CTV56) included the prostate bed, common iliac, external iliac, internal iliac, and obturator lymph node regions. The boost CTV (CTV66) included the prostate bed. Planning target volumes (PTV) were generated by adding a margin of 6-8 mm to CTV (PTV56 and PTV66). Doses of 56.1 and 66 Gy in 33 fractions were delivered to PTV56 and PTV66, respectively. Results: The 5-year biochemical progression-free survival, overall survival, and cause-specific survival rates were 72%, 94%, and 94%, respectively. A grade 3 late genitourinary toxicity event of gross hematuria was observed in one patient (4%). Acute and late toxicities of grade ≥3, other than gross hematuria, were not observed in any patient. Conclusion: Dose-escalated salvage WPRT using the SIB technique provides appropriate tumor control without increasing the incident of significant toxicities.

Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of High-Thermal-Conductivity Composites Comprising Boron Nitride and Poly(methyl methacrylate) Resin through Material Design Utilizing Hansen Solubility Parameters.

Materials for heat sinks in automotive heat dissipation systems must demonstrate both high thermal conductivity and stress resistance during assembly. This research proposes a composite material, comprised of thermally conductive ceramic fillers and matrix resins, as a suitable option for such application. The strategy for designing this material interface is directed with Hansen solubility parameters (HSP). A composite material featuring a honeycomb-like structure made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and boron nitride (BN) particles was successfully fabricated through press molding. This yielded a continuous BN network exhibiting high thermal conductivity and moderate mechanical strength. The HSP evaluation led to the suggestion of introducing highly polar functional groups into the matrix resin to enhance the affinity between PMMA resin and BN fillers. In line with this recommendation, a nitrile (CN) group─a highly polar group─was introduced to PMMA (CN-PMMA), significantly enhancing the composite's maximum bending stress without noticeably degrading other properties. Surface HSP evaluation through contact angle measurements revealed an "interface enrichment effect", with the CN groups concentrating at the resin-filler interface and effectively interacting with the surface functional groups on the BN particles, which resulted in an increase in the maximum bending stress. These findings emphasize the advantage of employing HSP methodologies in designing high-performance composite materials.

Relationship among muscle strength, muscle endurance, and skeletal muscle oxygenation dynamics during ramp incremental cycle exercise.

Peak oxygen uptake (VO2), evaluated as exercise tolerance, is a strong predictor of life prognosis regardless of health condition. Several previous studies have reported that peak VO2 is higher in those with a greater decrease in muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) in the active muscles during incremental exercise. However, the skeletal muscle characteristics of individuals exhibiting a greater decrease in SmO2 during active muscle engagement in incremental exercise remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the relationship among muscle strength, muscle endurance, and skeletal muscle oxygenation dynamics in active leg muscles during incremental exercise. Twenty-four healthy young men were included and categorized into the non-moderate-to-high muscular strength and endurance group (those with low leg muscle strength, endurance, or both; n = 11) and the moderate-to-high muscular strength and endurance group (those with both moderate-to-high leg muscle strength and endurance; n = 13). All participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing combined with near-infrared spectroscopy to assess whole-body peak VO2 and the change in SmO2 at the lateral vastus lateralis from rest to each exercise stage as skeletal muscle oxygenation dynamics. A linear mixed-effects model, with the change in SmO2 from rest to each stage as the dependent variable, individual participants as random effects, and group and exercise load as fixed effects, revealed significant main effects for both group (P = 0.001) and exercise load (P < 0.001) as well as a significant interaction between the two factors (P < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple-comparison test results showed that the change in SmO2 from rest to 40%-100% peak VO2 was significantly higher in the moderate-to-high muscular strength and endurance group than in the non-moderate-to-high muscular strength and endurance group. Maintaining both muscle strength and endurance at moderate or higher levels contributes to high skeletal muscle oxygenation dynamics (i.e., greater decrease in SmO2) during moderate- or high-intensity exercise.

Five-Year Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Outcomes in Chronic Hemodialysis vs. Non-Hemodialysis Patients Using Balloon-Expandable Devices.

BACKGROUND: Based on the results of a clinical trial in Japan, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for hemodialysis (HD) patients gained approval; however, mid-term TAVR outcomes and transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) durability in HD patients remain unexplored.Methods and Results: We analyzed background, procedural, in-hospital outcome, and follow-up data for 101 HD patients and 494 non-HD patients who underwent TAVR using balloon-expandable valves (SAPIEN XT or SAPIEN 3) retrieved from Osaka University Hospital TAVR database. Periprocedural mortality and TAVR-related complications were comparable between HD and non-HD patients. However, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that HD patients had significantly lower survival rates (log-rank test, P<0.001). In addition, HD patients had significantly higher rates of severe structural valve deterioration (SVD) than non-HD patients (Gray test, P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: TAVR in HD patients had comparable periprocedural mortality but inferior mid-term survival and TAV durability than in non-HD patients. Indications for TAVR in younger HD patients should be carefully determined, considering the possibility of a TAV-in-TAV procedure when early SVD occurs.

Laser Patterning of Porous Support Membranes to Enhance the Effective Surface Area of Thin-Film Composite-Facilitated Transport Membranes for CO2 Separation.

Although thin-film composite membranes have achieved great success in CO2 separation, further improvements in the CO2 permeance are required to reduce the size and cost of the CO2 separation process. Herein, we report the fabrication of composite membranes with high CO2 permeability using a laser-patterned porous membrane as the support membrane. High-aspect-ratio micropatterns with well-defined micropores on their surface were carved on microporous polymer supports by a direct laser writing process using a short-pulsed laser. By using a Galvano scanner and optimizing the laser conditions and target materials, in-plane micropatterns, such as microhole arrays, microline grating, microlattices, and out-of-plane hierarchical micropatterns, were created on porous membranes. An aqueous suspension of hydrogel microparticles doped with an amine-based mobile carrier was sprayed onto the patterned surface to form a defect-free thin separation layer. The surface area of the separation layer on the patterned support is up to 80% larger than that of flat pristine membranes, resulting in a 52% higher CO2 permeance (1106 GPU) with a CO2/N2 selectivity of 172. The laser-patterned porous membranes allow the development of inexpensive and high-performance functional membranes not only for CO2 separation but also for other applications, such as water treatment, cell culture, micro-TAS, and membrane reactors.

Impact of baseline yellow plaque assessed by coronary angioscopy on vascular response after stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between baseline yellow plaque (YP) and vascular response after stent implantation has not been fully investigated. METHODS: This was a sub-analysis of the Collaboration-1 study (multicenter, retrospective, observational study). A total of 88 lesions from 80 patients with chronic coronary syndrome who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and coronary angioscopy (CAS) were serially performed immediately and 11 months after stent implantation. YP was defined as the stented segment with yellow or intensive yellow color assessed by CAS. Neoatherosclerosis was defined as a lipid or calcified neointima assessed by OCT. OCT and CAS findings at 11 months were compared between lesions with baseline YP (YP group) and lesions without baseline YP (Non-YP group). RESULTS: Baseline YP was detected in 37 lesions (42 %). OCT findings at 11 months showed that the incidence of neoatherosclerosis was significantly higher in the YP group (11 % versus 0 %, p = 0.028) and mean neointimal thickness tended to be lower (104 ±â€¯43 µm versus 120 ±â€¯48 µm, p = 0.098). CAS findings at 11 months demonstrated that the dominant and minimum neointimal coverage grades were significantly lower (p = 0.049 and P = 0.026) and maximum yellow color grade was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the YP group. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline YP affected the incidence of neoatherosclerosis as well as poor neointimal coverage at 11 months after stent implantation.

Impact of curcumin supplementation on exercise performance and muscle damage after a soccer match: a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study.

PURPOSE: Curcumin ingestion can mitigate muscle damage, soreness, and inflammation following a laboratory-based eccentric exercise. Similar effects were observed in recent field-based studies wherein responses were evaluated after a soccer match. However, various potential confounding factors, such as matching opponent skill levels and daily training conditions, may have influenced the outcomes. In the present study, we investigated whether curcumin intake ameliorates changes in muscle damage markers following a soccer match while controlling for the potential confounding factors. METHODS: Fifteen collegiate athletes were tested in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over manner. They were recruited from the same college soccer team and thus followed the same daily training regimen and competition levels. Furthermore, athletes positioning during matches were counterbalanced. They consumed either 180 mg/day of curcumin or a placebo starting 1 h before the match and continuing for 2 days after a match (two 45-min plays and a 15-min half-time). Muscle soreness, jump performance (including countermovement jump and rebound jump index), and inflammatory and muscle damage markers (high-sensitive C-reactive protein, serum creatine kinase activity, and urinary N-terminal fragment of titin concentration) were evaluated before and after the match. The washout period between matches was set at 1 week. RESULTS: After the match, all markers showed similarity between the placebo and curcumin conditions (all P > 0.208). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that ingesting 180 mg/day of curcumin may not expedite recovery from muscle damage elicited by soccer matches in collegiate soccer players.

[Spontaneous regression of HIV-associated EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer due to immune reconstruction with antiretroviral therapy].

A 24-year-old man was found to have an ileocecal ulcer by colonoscopy. A pathological diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with diffuse positive reaction of Epstein-Barr encoding region (EBER) by in situ hybridization was made based on analysis of the specimen. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) complicated by pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia was also diagnosed. As no other significant lymphomatous lesions were identified by further examination, a clinical diagnosis of EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) was made. Rather than performing systemic chemotherapy, the lesion was closely monitored and antiretroviral therapy (ART) for AIDS was started with the hope of treating the lesion through immune reconstitution. The lesion had completely disappeared by day 79 after starting ART, and has not recurred for over 3 years. EBVMCU is known to develop secondary to various immunosuppressive states including AIDS. Here we report a rare case of EBVMCU detected at diagnosis of AIDS that entered complete remission after immune reconstitution by ART.

Long-term passages of Plantago asiatica mosaic virus alter virulence and multiplication in Nicotiana benthamiana plants.

We demonstrated the infectivity and host adaptation of a viola isolate of Plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV-Vi) in an asymptomatic host, Nicotiana benthamiana, through long-term serial passages. Serial passaging of a green fluorescent protein-tagged full-length cDNA clone of PlAMV-Vi (PlAMV-ViGFP) in N. benthamiana plants resulted in the appearance of a new virus line inducing leaf-crinkle symptoms, the Leaf Crinkle (LC) line. Virus titers were higher for both in the LC and the 14th passage line(s) of PlAMV-ViGFP compared with the original line. The LC line was found to have seven unique nucleotide mutations that may have contributed to its higher virulence and multiplication rate in N. benthamiana.

Lipoaspirate stored at a constant low temperature by electric control suppresses intracellular metabolism and maintains high cell viability.

Background: Cell therapy is a useful treatment method for wide spectrum of diseases which utilizes the immunosuppressive and regenerative abilities of administered cells. It is essential to build a transport system of tissues from which cells are harvested, because various external factors, such as temperature, time, air pressure, and vibration affect the cell functions isolated from body tissues. In particular, temperature is a critical factor which determines the viability of the cells and organs. In this study, we investigated the optimal temperature during the transportation of lipoaspirates from which adipose -derived stem cells (ASCs) were isolated. Method: Lipoaspirates obtained by liposuctions (lipomatic or vaser method) were transported in four different temperature zones (4, 20, 32, and 37 °C) in a transport container which is electrically controlled to maintain a constant temperature during transport. Stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) were harvested from the lipoaspirate, and the cell number, viability and proliferation rate and the yield of ASCs were examined. In addition, the metabolic state of the cells was examined. Results: ASCs from lipoaspirates transported at high temperature significantly decreased cell viability, while those at low temperature maintained high cell viability and showed good cell proliferation. In addition, transportation of lipoaspirates at low temperature resulted in a high level of NAD+/NADH, coenzymes involved in intracellular metabolism, and a low level of lactate in lipoaspirate suppressed the glycolytic system of intracellular metabolism, in ASCs. Conclusion: The lipoaspirate transported at 4 °C exhibited best results regarding live cell number, viability and cell proliferation in our experiments. This study offers a direction to build a transport system that connects laboratories and hospitals and achieve a beneficial therapy for patients.

First Report of Electromagnetic Interference Between Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) between implantable left ventricular assist devices and cardiac implantable electronic devices has been observed. We demonstrated the first case of EMI between a percutaneous ventricular assist device and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, validated by an extra vivo simulation test. EMI might depend on the distance between devices. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Signatures of a magnetic superstructure phase induced by ultrahigh magnetic fields in a breathing pyrochlore antiferromagnet.

The mutual coupling of spin and lattice degrees of freedom is ubiquitous in magnetic materials and potentially creates exotic magnetic states in response to the external magnetic field. Particularly, geometrically frustrated magnets serve as a fertile playground for realizing magnetic superstructure phases. Here, we observe an unconventional two-step magnetostructural transition prior to a half-magnetization plateau in a breathing pyrochlore chromium spinel by means of state-of-the-art magnetization and magnetostriction measurements in ultrahigh magnetic fields available up to 600 T. Considering a microscopic magnetoelastic theory, the intermediate-field phase can be assigned to a magnetic superstructure with a three-dimensional periodic array of 3-up-1-down and canted 2-up-2-down spin molecules. We attribute the emergence of the magnetic superstructure to a unique combination of the strong spin-lattice coupling and large breathing anisotropy.