Plasma appearance and tissue distribution of astaxanthin isomers in male Sprague-Dawley rats after oral administration of Z-isomer-enriched astaxanthin esters through thermal treatment.

Background: Astaxanthin Z-isomers have attracted much attention because recent studies have demonstrated that they exhibit greater bioavailability and biological activity than the naturally predominant all-E-isomer. However, the plasma appearance and tissue distribution of astaxanthin isomers when administered with a diet rich in astaxanthin Z-isomers are largely unknown. To understand the health benefits and safety of astaxanthin Z-isomers, it is important to study the in vivo kinetics of the isomers.

Evaluation of continuous arrhythmia monitoring using an implantable loop recorder in heart failure patients with a reduced ejection fraction: The LINQ2-HF trial rationale and protocol.

Introduction: Heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a common and serious condition often associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmias, leading to poor outcomes such as rehospitalizations and death. Detecting asymptomatic arrhythmias remains challenging, as traditional monitoring methods like 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) or Holter ECGs are insufficient for continuous surveillance. This study aims to evaluate the utility of continuous arrhythmia monitoring using an implantable loop recorder (ILR) to detect asymptomatic arrhythmias in HFrEF patients, particularly for AF and ventricular tachycardia (VT).

SOX9 Is a Key Factor for the Postnatal Maturation of the Intrahepatic Bile Duct Network.

Aim: The sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) plays a critical role in the development of intrahepatic bile ducts (IHBDs) during the embryonic stage. However, its role in postnatal IHBD maturation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of SOX9 in the postnatal development of the bile duct network, with particular emphasis on its role in structural organization.

Preventive role of CD163-positive macrophages in postoperative peritoneal adhesions.

Background: Although abdominal surgeries can be lifesaving, they are often accompanied by the complication of peritoneal adhesion formation. While macrophages contribute to this process, the specific subtypes and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: We aimed to identify and investigate the roles of the functional subtypes of macrophages involved in adhesion formation to identify new strategies to combat postoperative peritoneal adhesions.

Living Donor Left Hepatectomy as a Risk Factor for Extremely Severe Bile Leakage Requiring Nonconservative Treatment: A Retrospective Analysis.

Objectives: The safety of donors is the most important principle in living-donor liver transplant. However, some donors experience postoperative bile leakage of varying severity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the charac-teristics of patients with severe bile leakage (Clavien-Dindo ≥grade IIIa) following donor hepatectomy.

Impact of antibody Fc engineering on translational pharmacology, and safety: insights from industry case studies.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are often designed to not only bind targets via their antigen-binding domains (Fabs) but to also engage with cell surface receptors, FcγRs and FcRn, through their Fc regions, which may result in a variety of functional outcomes, including antibody- dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and alteration of circulating half-lives. Engineering the Fc regions to achieve desirable pharmacology and pharmacokinetics is a widely adopted strategy in drug development. Fc regions can be modified through amino acid substitutions and glycoengineering, resulting in enhanced or reduced effector functions, preferential binding to FcR subtypes, or pH-dependent binding to FcRns.

Comparison of hemolysis with different pulsed field ablation systems.

Background: Hemolysis is one of the unique complications of pulsed field ablation (PFA), but the differences in hemolysis between the different PFA systems are not well understood.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the differences in hemolysis between 2 PFA systems.

Methods: We included patients who underwent PFA of atrial fibrillation (PulseSelect, 38; Farapulse, 38) and those who underwent cryoballoon ablation (14 patients) as a control.

Unraveling the isomerization and extraction characteristics of ester-form astaxanthin originated from Haematococcus lacustris in supercritical CO for practical applications of Z-isomer-rich astaxanthin production.

In recent years, the superior bioavailability and biological activity of astaxanthin Z-isomers have become evident, with their application being highly anticipated. Currently, thermal treatment remains the most commonly used method for inducing Z-isomerization in astaxanthin. However, this approach often requires the use of toxic solvents and catalysts to achieve efficient thermal isomerization.

Tissue Distribution of Astaxanthin Geometrical Isomers in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats after Oral Administration of Astaxanthin Esters Derived from Haematococcus lacustris.

Recent studies have revealed that the biological activity of astaxanthin differs among E/Z-isomers. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the distribution of astaxanthin isomers in the body to comprehensively elucidate their role. However, owing to the technical complexity of astaxanthin isomer analysis, detailed information regarding the precise distribution of isomers in the body remains limited.

Formulation and physicochemical characterization of astaxanthin-loaded liposomes: A comparative study of free and ester forms with different E/Z-isomer ratios of astaxanthin.

The present study aimed to developed astaxanthin (AST)-loaded liposomes in different forms (free and ester forms) and with varying E/Z-isomer ratios and compare their physicochemical properties. Four liposomes, i.e.

Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing Corrected the Functional Block Line Caused by Right Ventricular Apex Pacing.

Introduction: Right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing has been reported to induce pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM), with biventricular pacing being the standard cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for RVA-PICM. However, recent studies suggest that left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) may provide even better outcomes as a CRT. In this case, we observed a dynamic alteration in the left ventricular (LV) activation pattern when transitioning from RVA-PICM to LBBAP, including changes in the functional block line.

Regeneration of Two-Walled Infrabony Periodontal Defects in Swine After Buccal Fat Pad-Derived Dedifferentiated Fat Cell Autologous Transplantation.

Mature adipocyte-derived dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells show proliferative capabilities and multipotency. Given that the buccal fat pad (BFP) serves as a readily available resource for DFAT cell isolation, BFP-derived DFAT (BFP-DFAT) cells are a promising candidate in orofacial tissue engineering. In this research, we assessed the regenerative capacity of the periodontium through autologous BFP-DFAT cell transplantation in adult swine (micro-minipigs; MMPs).

Intravital Imaging of Immune Responses in the Cancer Microenvironment.

Background: To date, many types of immune cells have been identified, but their precise role in cancer immunity remains unclear. Understanding the immune responses involved in cancer and the cancer microenvironment is becoming increasingly important for elucidating disease mechanisms. In recent years, the application of intravital imaging in cancer research has provided new insights into the mechanisms of cancer-specific immune events, including innate and adaptive immunity.

Photosensitized Z-isomerization of (all-E)-carotenoids by a natural sensitizer riboflavin (vitamin B): Experimental and quantum chemistry studies.

Recent studies have shown that the Z-isomers of carotenoids have higher bioavailability and potentially greater biological activity than the naturally predominant all-E-isomers. Therefore, the development of a safe and efficient isomerization method is required. In this study, a riboflavin-mediated photoisomerization technique was established for increasing the Z-isomer ratio of carotenoids.

Pediatric living donor liver transplantation for small infants with biliary atresia using interposition portal vein grafts: A multicenter cohort study.

Despite multiple techniques, portal vein (PV) inflow reconstruction during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for patients with biliary atresia (BA) and small-diameter PV remains a challenge. The use of PV interposition grafts has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate complications and reinterventions. We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients under 3 years of age (n=85) undergoing LDLT for BA using PV interposition grafts.

Extreme surgery using the hypothermic perfusion technique for conventionally unresectable abdominal malignant tumours: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Extreme surgery using the hypothermic perfusion technique is often the only treatment option to achieve R0 resection and long-term prognosis for abdominal tumours that are either conventionally unresectable or contraindicated to allotransplantation. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to delineate the indications and outcomes of extreme surgery.

Materials And Methods: Human studies on extreme resection for abdominal malignant tumours were searched among five databases between January 1988 to March 2023.

Impact of Altered Graft Position During Living Donor Liver Retransplantation and its Outcomes.

Introduction: Liver retransplantation (reLT), which is the only treatment for liver graft failure, remains challenging not only because of its technical nature but also because it is performed in high-risk patients.

Methods: Nineteen patients who underwent reLT (second LT, n = 18; third LT, n = 1) between 1999 and 2021 were divided into two groups according to the graft laterality between prior transplantation and reLT (ipsilateral group, n = 9; contralateral group, n = 10). The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and the long-term outcomes of patients who underwent living donor reLT and compared graft survival between ipsilateral and contralateral grafts.

Vegetables containing sulfur compounds promote trans-isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids in triacylglycerols during the cooking process.

Growing evidence indicates that the intake of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease; therefore, various industrial measures have been taken to reduce the amount of TFAs consumed. However, research on TFAs formed during cooking is limited. Isothiocyanates and polysulfides, which are widely distributed in various vegetables, have recently been shown to promote the cis-trans isomerization of double bonds.

Knockdown of decorin in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells suppresses proteoglycan layer formation and establishes a pro-inflammatory environment on titanium oxide surfaces.

Osseointegration is essential for successful implant treatment. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we focused on decorin (DCN), which was hypothesized to be present in the proteoglycan (PG) layer at the interface between bone and the titanium oxide (TiOx) surface.

Right Posterior Segment Graft in Adult Living-Donor Liver Transplantation: A Report of 17 Years of Experience at a Single Institution.

Objectives: The right posterior segment graft can be selected in cases where neither the right nor left lobe graft satisfies the selection criteria for adult living donor liver transplant. However, vascular and biliary anatomy may cause technical difficulties in procurement of posterior segments in donors of living donor liver transplant and may require specific attention in vascular and biliary reconstruction in the recipient. In this study, we examined the feasibility of right posterior segment grafts in adult living donor liver transplants through donor safety and recipient outcomes and clarified the anatomic points of the surgical technique.

Possibility of refining carotenoid geometrical isomer analysis utilizing DFT-based quantum chemical calculations.

We performed quantum chemical calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) for the all-E- and several Z-isomers of three commercially important carotenoids (lycopene, β-carotene, and astaxanthin) and theoretically obtained the UV-Vis spectrum, response factor (determined from absorption intensities of the all-E- and the Z-isomers), and Q-ratio for each carotenoid isomer. The calculated spectra reproduced the experimental spectral shapes (e.g.