A Hairless Mouse Model for Vitiligo: Enhancing Preclinical Therapeutic Evaluation.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that targets melanocytes, and preclinical models of the disease can strongly promote the development of new treatments. This study introduces a vitiligo model using hairless hk14-SCF Tg mice, whose melanocyte distribution closely mimics that of human skin, enabling comprehensive therapeutic evaluation. Two methods were used to induce vitiligo: (i) hairless hk14-SCF Tg mice received bone marrow-derived dendritic cells pulsed with the melanocyte-specific peptide gp100 and CD8 T cells targeting gp100 (PMEL CD8 T cells), and (ii) hk14-SCF Tg mice were crossbred with PMEL TCR transgenic mice without additional treatment.

Pseudogap and Fermi arc induced by Fermi surface nesting in a centrosymmetric skyrmion magnet.

Skyrmions in noncentrosymmetric materials are believed to occur due to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. By contrast, the skyrmion formation mechanism in centrosymmetric materials remains elusive. Here, we reveal the intrinsic electronic structure of the centrosymmetric GdRuSi by selectively measuring magnetic domains using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES).

Synonymous but Significant: New Findings of Pathological Variants in Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and systemic complications, including bleeding tendencies. While 11 genes associated with HPS have been identified, cases of HPS5 remain exceedingly rare, particularly in Japan. Here, we report two Japanese patients with novel pathological HPS5 variants, expanding the genetic spectrum of this disorder.

Fermi Surface Nesting Driving the RKKY Interaction in the Centrosymmetric Skyrmion Magnet Gd_{2}PdSi_{3}.

The magnetic skyrmions generated in a centrosymmetric crystal were recently first discovered in Gd_{2}PdSi_{3}. In light of this, we observe the electronic structure by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and unveil its direct relationship with the magnetism in this compound. The Fermi surface and band dispersions are demonstrated to have a good agreement with the density functional theory calculations carried out with careful consideration of the crystal superstructure.

Broken Screw Rotational Symmetry in the Near-Surface Electronic Structure of AB-Stacked Crystals.

We investigate the electronic structure of 2H-NbS_{2} and h-BN by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and photoemission intensity calculations. Although in bulk form, these materials are expected to exhibit band degeneracy in the k_{z}=π/c plane due to screw rotation and time-reversal symmetries, we observe gapped band dispersion near the surface. We extract from first-principles calculations the near-surface electronic structure probed by ARPES and find that the calculated photoemission spectra from the near-surface region reproduce the gapped ARPES spectra.

A Newly Developed Method-Based Xanthine Oxidoreductase Activities in Various Human Liver Diseases.

Studies evaluating xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activities in comprehensive liver diseases are scarce, and different etiologies have previously been combined in groups for comparison. To accurately evaluate XOR activities in liver diseases, the plasma XOR activities in etiology-based comprehensive liver diseases were measured using a novel, sensitive, and accurate assay that is a combination of liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to detect [C, N]uric acid using [C, N]xanthine as a substrate. We also mainly evaluated the association between the plasma XOR activities and parameters of liver tests, purine metabolism-associated markers, oxidative stress markers, and an inflammation marker.

Semiconducting Electronic Structure of the Ferromagnetic Spinel HgCr_{2}Se_{4} Revealed by Soft-X-Ray Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy.

We study the electronic structure of the ferromagnetic spinel HgCr_{2}Se_{4} by soft-x-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SX-ARPES) and first-principles calculations. While a theoretical study has predicted that this material is a magnetic Weyl semimetal, SX-ARPES measurements give direct evidence for a semiconducting state in the ferromagnetic phase. Band calculations based on the density functional theory with hybrid functionals reproduce the experimentally determined band gap value, and the calculated band dispersion matches well with ARPES experiments.

Testing electron-phonon coupling for the superconductivity in kagome metal CsVSb.

In crystalline materials, electron-phonon coupling (EPC) is a ubiquitous many-body interaction that drives conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductivity. Recently, in a new kagome metal CsVSb, superconductivity that possibly intertwines with time-reversal and spatial symmetry-breaking orders is observed. Density functional theory calculations predicted weak EPC strength, λ, supporting an unconventional pairing mechanism in CsVSb.

Cosmetic and shoulder functional outcomes in posterolateral minithoracotomy atrial septal defect closure: A retrospective study.

Background And Aim: Transcatheter device closure has become the first treatment option for atrial septal defects (ASD). Surgical ASD closure, although still implemented, is cosmetically inferior to transcatheter closure. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility as well as short- and long-term clinical outcomes of the right posterolateral minithoracotomy approach for surgical ASD closure.

Tubular Pouch Technique Using Aortic Tissues for Single Coronary Artery Transfer.

A single coronary artery with a single ostium from sinus 2 (2 R L Cx) is rare and difficult to transfer. A 6-day-old male neonate was diagnosed with dextro-transposition of the great arteries with an intact ventricular septum at birth. Computed tomography revealed the presence of a single coronary artery with a single ostium from sinus 2 (2 R L Cx).

Re-Norwood operation using femoral artery cannulation.

Re-Norwood operation is technically difficult to perform and is a high risk procedure due to the underlying hypocardiac function. Herein, we describe our successful re-Norwood operation approach in a 6-month old infant with persistent severe cyanosis and aortic re-coarctation. Our procedure was performed using femoral artery cannulation to protect cerebrospinal and lower body perfusion.

Apex rotation as a risk factor for total anomalous pulmonary connection repair in single ventricle.

Background: The high incidence of postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) is a major mortality-associated concern in patients with right atrial isomerism and extracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). We evaluated new anatomical risk factors for reducing the space behind the heart after TAPVC repair.

Methods: Eighteen patients who underwent TAPVC repair between 2014 and 2020 were enrolled.

Visualization of the strain-induced topological phase transition in a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor TaSe.

Control of the phase transition from topological to normal insulators can allow for an on/off switching of spin current. While topological phase transitions have been realized by elemental substitution in semiconducting alloys, such an approach requires preparation of materials with various compositions. Thus it is quite far from a feasible device application, which demands a reversible operation.

Variation of vortex veins at the horizontal watershed in normal eyes.

Purpose: To assess the vascular pattern of choroidal vortex veins at the horizontal watershed zone in normal eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: We retrospectively studied 207 normal eyes of 207 patients whose fellow eyes were diagnosed with unilateral retinal diseases without choroidal involvement. Venous anastomosis between the superior and inferior vortex veins and deviation of the horizontal watershed zone were evaluated using 12 × 12-mm en face OCT images.

The Role of the Albumin-Bilirubin Score for Predicting the Outcomes in Japanese Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Ramucirumab: A Real-World Study.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab treatment under real-world conditions and to clarify the role of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score in predicting outcomes.

Methods: Between June 2019 and May 2020, a total of 16 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with ramucirumab in Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital and its affiliated hospitals was included.

Results: The median age was 71 (interquartile range [IQR] 65-74) years old, and 12 patients (75.

Quantitative measures of vortex veins in the posterior pole in eyes with pachychoroid spectrum diseases.

Pachychoroid spectrum diseases have attracted increasing attention, though their pathophysiology has yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we assessed the vascular diameters of vortex veins in pachychoroid spectrum diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), pachychoroid neovasculopathy without polypoidal lesions (PNV), and pachychoroid neovasculopathy with polypoidal lesions (polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: PCV). In a retrospective case series of 94 eyes with CSC, 60 eyes with PNV and 57 with PCV, we binarized en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of choroidal vortex veins and analyzed the mean diameter of vortex veins.