High hand grip strength is a significant risk factor and a useful predictor of postoperative pancreatic fistula following pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is one of the most critical complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Studies on predictive factors for POPF that can be identified preoperatively are limited. Recent reports have highlighted the association between the preoperative nutritional status, including sarcopenia, and postoperative complications. We examined preoperative risk factors for POPF after PD, focusing on nutritional indicators.

METHODS

A total of 153 consecutive patients who underwent PD at our institution were enrolled in this study. Preoperative nutritional parameters, including hand grip strength (HGS) and skeletal muscle mass as components of sarcopenia, were incorporated into the analysis. POPFs were categorized according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) definition as biochemical (grade A) or clinically relevant (CR-POPF; grades B and C).

RESULTS

Thirty-seven of the 153 patients (24.1%) fulfilled the ISGPF definition of CR-POPF postoperatively. In the univariate analysis, the incidence of CR-POPF was associated with male sex, non-pancreatic tumor diseases, a high body mass index, a high HGS and a high skeletal muscle mass index. In the multivariate analysis, non-pancreatic tumor diseases and an HGS ≥23.0 kg were selected as independent risk factors for CR-POPF (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A high HGS, a screening tool for sarcopenia, was a risk factor for CR-POPF. It can accurately serve as a useful predictor of POPF risk in patients undergoing PD. These results highlight the potential of sarcopenia to reduce the incidence of POPF and highlight the need to clarify the mechanism of POPF occurrence.

Realization of photon correlations beyond the linear optics limit

Linear optical transformations of multiple single-photon inputs are fundamental for the development of photonic quantum technologies. Various nonclassical correlations can already be observed directly in states generated using only single-photon inputs and linear optics transformations. However, some quantum correlations require additional operations, and states that exhibit such correlations are classified as non-Fock states. Here, we demonstrate the generation of a two-photon three-mode non-Fock state that exhibits conditional quantum coherences that can only be achieved by non-Fock states. We determine the fidelity of the non-Fock state based on experimentally observed conditional visibilities that characterize the state and compare the result to the fidelity bounds for different classes of Fock and non-Fock states. Our experimental verification of the non-Fock character of the state provides insights into the technological requirements needed to achieve nonclassical correlations in multiphoton quantum optics.

Aggregated chromosomes/chromatin transfer: a novel approach for mitochondrial replacement with minimal mitochondrial carryover: the implications of mouse experiments for human aggregated chromosome transfer

Nuclear transfer techniques, including spindle chromosome complex (SC) transfer and pronuclear transfer, have been employed to mitigate mitochondrial diseases. Nevertheless, the challenge of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) carryover remains unresolved. Previously, we introduced a method for aggregated chromosome (AC) transfer in human subjects, offering a potential solution. However, the subsequent rates of embryonic development have remained unexplored owing to legal limitations in Japan, and animal studies have been hindered by a lack of AC formation in other species. Building upon our success in generating ACs within mouse oocytes via utilization of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl 1-methylxanthine (IBMX), this study has established a mouse model for AC transfer. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of embryo development rates and mtDNA carryover between AC transfer and SC transfer was conducted. Additionally, the mitochondrial distribution around SC and AC structures was investigated, revealing that in oocytes at the metaphase II stage, the mitochondria exhibited a relatively concentrated arrangement around the spindle apparatus, while the distribution of mitochondria in AC-formed oocytes appeared to be independent of the AC position. The AC transfer approach produced a marked augmentation in rates of fertilization, embryo cleavage, and blastocyst formation, especially as compared to scenarios without AC transfer in IBMX-treated AC-formed oocytes. No significant disparities in fertilization and embryo development rates were observed between AC and SC transfers. However, relative real-time PCR analyses revealed that the mtDNA carryover for AC transfers was one-tenth and therefore significantly lower than that of SC transfers. This study successfully accomplished nuclear transfers with ACs in mouse oocytes, offering an insight into the potential of AC transfers as a solution to heteroplasmy-related challenges. These findings are promising in terms of future investigation with human oocytes, thus advancing AC transfer as an innovative approach in the field of human nuclear transfer methodology.

Convergent synthesis of proteins using peptide-aminothiazoline

Sequential peptide coupling plays a central role in chemical protein synthesis. This paper describes a new peptide derivative, peptide-aminothiazoline (At), whereof the C-terminus is functionalized with 2-aminothiazoline. Peptide-At streamlined the sequential peptide ligation in a one-pot manner and demonstrated the convergent synthesis of a circular protein and homogeneous glycoproteins.

Downregulation of long noncoding RNA TP73-AS1 expression confers resistance to temozolomide in human glioblastoma cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive primary malignant brain tumor, is resistant to conventional radiotherapies and chemotherapies, including temozolomide (TMZ). Overcoming GBM resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent TMZ poses an important therapeutic problem. This study established an association between the long noncoding RNA TP73-AS1 and TMZ sensitivity regulation in human GBM cells (U87MG). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that TP73-AS1 expression was reduced in TMZ-resistant U87MGRT100 cells compared to that in parental U87MG cells. Additionally, TP73-AS1 knockdown in parental U87MG cells decreased their sensitivity to TMZ. Overall, these findings suggest that TP73-AS1 functions as a regulator of TMZ sensitivity in GBM cells.

Non-collinear generation of ultra-broadband parametric fluorescence photon pairs using chirped quasi-phase matching slab waveguides

Many optical quantum applications rely on broadband frequency correlated photon pair sources. We previously reported a scheme for collinear emission of high-efficiency and ultra-broadband photon pairs using chirped quasi-phase matching (QPM) periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPSLT) ridge waveguides. However, collinearly emitted photon pairs cannot be directly adopted for applications that are based on two-photon interference, such as quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT). In this work, we developed a chirped QPM device with a slab waveguide structure. This device was designed to produce spatially separable (photon pair non-collinear emission) parametric fluorescence photon pairs with an ultra-broadband bandwidth in an extremely efficient manner. Using a non-chirped QPM slab waveguide, we observed a photon pair spectrum with a full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) bandwidth of 26 nm. When using a 3% chirped QPM slab waveguide, the FWHM bandwidth of the spectrum increased to 190 nm, and the base-to-base width is 308 nm. We also confirmed a generation efficiency of 2.4×106 pairs/(μW·s) using the non-chirped device, and a efficiency of 8×105 pairs/(μW·s) using the 3% chirped device under non-collinear emission conditions after single-mode fiber coupling. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of frequency correlated photon pairs generation using slab waveguide device as a source. In addition, using slab waveguides as photon pair sources, we performed two-photon interference experiments with the non-chirped device and obtained a Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) dip with a FWHM of 7.7 μm and visibility of 98%. When using the 3% chirped device as photon pair source, the HOM measurement gave a 2 μm FWHM dip and 74% visibility.

Rapid Chemical Synthesis of Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal-type 13 (SPINK13) Glycoform by a Combined Method with Glycan Insertion Strategy and Fast-Flow Fmoc SPPS

Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 13 (SPINK13) is a secreted protein that has been recently studied as a therapeutic drug and an interesting biomarker for cancer cells. Although SPINK13 has a consensus sequence (Pro-Asn-Val-Thr) for N-glycosylation, the existence of N-glycosylation and its functions are still unclear. In addition to this, the preparation of glycosylated SPINK 13 has not been examined by both the cell expression method and chemical synthesis. Herein we report the chemical synthesis of the scarce N-glycosylated form of SPINK13 by a rapid synthetic method combined with the chemical glycan insertion strategy and a fast-flow SPPS method. Glycosylated asparagine thioacid was designed to chemoselectively be inserted between two peptide segments where is the sterically bulky Pro-Asn(N-glycan)-Val junction by two coupling reactions which consist of diacyl disulfide coupling (DDC) and thioacid capture ligation (TCL). This insertion strategy successfully afforded the full-length polypeptide of SPINK13 within two steps from glycosylated asparagine thioacid. Because the two peptides used for this synthesis were prepared by a fast-flow SPPS, the total synthetic time of glycoprotein was considerably shortened. This synthetic concept enables us to repetitively synthesize a target glycoprotein easily. Folding experiments afforded well-folded structure confirmed by CD and disulfide bond map. Invasion assays of glycosylated SPINK13 and non-glycosylated SPINK13 with pancreatic cancer cells showed that non-glycosylated SPINK-13 was more potent than that of glycosylated SPINK13.

Semisynthesis of homogeneous misfolded glycoprotein interleukin-8

To uncover how cells distinguish between misfolded and correctly-folded glycoproteins, homogeneous misfolded glycoproteins are needed as a probe for analysis of their structure and chemical characteristic nature. In this study, we have synthesized misfolded glycosyl interleukin-8 (IL-8) by combining E. coli expression and chemical synthesis to improve the synthetic efficiency. In order to prepare N-terminal peptide-thioester segment (1-33), we prepared an E. coli expressed peptide and then activated the C-terminal Cys by using an intramolecular N-to-S acyl shift reaction, followed by trans-thioesterification of the Cys-thioester with an external bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amine (SEA). The glycopeptide segment (34-49) was prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis and the C-terminal peptide (50-72) was prepared in E. coli. These peptide and glycopeptide segments were successfully coupled by sequential native chemical ligation. To obtain homogeneous misfolded glycoproteins by shuffling the disulfide bond pattern, folding conditions were optimized to maximize the yield of individual homogeneous misfolded glycoproteins.

Experimentally probing anomalous time evolution of a single photon

In quantum mechanics, a quantum system is irreversibly collapsed by a projective measurement. Hence, delicately probing the time evolution of a quantum system holds the key to understanding curious phenomena. Here, we experimentally explore an anomalous time evolution, where, illustratively, a particle disappears from a box and emerges in a different box, with a certain moment in which it can be found in neither of them. In this experiment, we directly probe this curious time evolution of a single photon by measuring up to triple-operator sequential weak values (SWVs) using a novel probeless scheme. The naive interpretation provided by single-operator weak values (WVs) seems to imply the "disappearance" and "re-appearance" of a photon as theoretically predicted. However, double- and triple-operator SWVs, representing temporal correlations between the aforementioned values, show that spatial information about the photon does not entirely vanish in the intermediate time. These results show that local values (in space and time) alone, such as single-operator WVs, cannot fully explain all types of quantum evolution in time-higher order correlations are necessary in general, shedding new light on time evolution in quantum mechanics. The probeless measurement technique proposed here for measuring multiple-operator WVs can be straightforwardly extended to study various other cases of curious quantum evolution in time.

Regulating Antifreeze Activity through Water: Latent Functions of the Sugars of Antifreeze Glycoprotein Revealed by Total Chemical Synthesis

Antifreeze glycoprotein (AFGP), which inhibits the freezing of water, is highly O-glycosylated with a disaccharide, d-Galβ1-3-d-GalNAcα (GalGalNAc). To elucidate the function of the sugar residues for antifreeze activity at the molecular level, we conducted a total chemical synthesis of partially sugar deleted AFGP derivatives, and unnatural forms of AFGPs incorporating glucose (Glc)-type sugars instead of galactose (Gal)-type sugars. These elaborated AFGP derivatives demonstrated that the stereochemistry of each sugar residue on AFGPs precisely correlates with the antifreeze activity. A hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiment using synthetic AFGPs revealed a different dynamic behavior of water around sugar residues depending on the sugar structures. These results indicate that sugar residues on AFGP form a unique dynamic water phase that disturbs the absorbance of water molecules onto the ice surface, thereby inhibiting freezing.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival with S-1/Cisplatin for Liver Hilum Lymph Node Metastasis of Anal Canal Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Chemoradiotherapy]

A 70-year-old woman was admitted to a local hospital because of anal pain during defecation. Anoscopy revealed an anal mass lesion, and the patient was referred to our hospital. Colonoscopy revealed an anal canal tumor with ulceration, and biopsy showed squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was treated with chemoradiotherapy(chemotherapy with capecitabine plus mitomycin C and 54 Gy radiation in the anal region)and achieved complete response. However, metastatic recurrence was detected in a lymph node in the hepatic hilar region. We administered an S-1/CDDP combination chemotherapy (5 courses). For 3 years and 5 months since the initial treatment, the patient survived with no signs of recurrence. We report a rare case of long-term survival with S-1/CDDP for distant metastasis of anal canal squamous cell carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy.

[Two Cases of Elderly Patients with Giant Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Treated with Multidisciplinary Therapy including Ablation Therapy]

Case 1 consisted of an 86-year-old male diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC), approximately 11 cm in diameter, at segment S7/8 of the liver. A total of 4 percutaneous radiofrequency ablations(PRFA)and 3 hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapies(HAIC)of 5-FU were performed. He died after developing lung metastases 27 months after the initial treatment. Case 2 was an 85-year-old female diagnosed with ICC, 8 cm in diameter, at the posterior segment of the liver, with lymph node metastasis. She underwent HAIC of 5-FU and S-1 as well as gemcitabine-based systemic chemotherapy. The main tumor developed 10 months after the initial treatment, and PRFAs were subsequently performed twice for the main lesion. Although the tumor markers gradually decreased, she died of jaundice 33 months after the initial treatment. As one of the multidisciplinary therapies for the giant ICC, ablation therapy may be safe and effective in elderly patients.

[Clinical Study of Peritoneovenous Shunt for Patients with Refractory Ascites Accompanied with Hepatocellular Carcinoma]

BACKGROUND

Hepatic ascites may cause a variety of symptoms and may progress deterioration of quality of life. Peritoneovenous shunt(PV shunt)is technically feasible and useful for the treating of refractory ascites, but sometimes it can be associated with fatal complications. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the effect of PV shunt for patients with refractory ascites, including hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.

SUBJECTS

Between January 2010 and December 2021, we retrospectively analyzed 54 consecutive patients(including 35 HCC patients)with refractory ascites who underwent PV shunt at our institute.

RESULTS

Body weight loss after surgery was observed in 39 of the 54 cases, and eGFR improved in 34 cases. There were 17(31.5%)in-hospital deaths. Cases with present of portal vein tumor thrombus, Child-Pugh classification C, ALBI score≥-1.12, or serum total bilirubin≥1.7 mg/dL were significantly higher in hospital-death group than in the discharged from the hospital group.

CONCLUSIONS

PV shunt for HCC patients with refractory ascites may be effective for improvement of renal function and symptoms. However, indications for PV shunt should be carefully considered for high-risk patients with adequate preoperative evaluation.

[A Rapid Clinical Course of Pulmonary Embolism Associated with Gallbladder Mucinous Carcinoma]

A 51-year-old woman with edema of the lower extremities and exertional dyspnea was admitted to our hospital. Enhanced CT revealed thrombi of the pulmonary artery and a gallbladder tumor. After anticoagulation therapy was started on her, anemia and jaundice progressed; thus, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)was performed on suspicion of bleeding from a gallbladder tumor. We performed cholecystectomy in emergency to control the anemia due to hemorrhage. Oxygenation suddenly worsened intraoperatively, maintaining her blood pressure became difficult, and the patient decompensated. The histopathological diagnosis was gallbladder mucinous carcinoma with severe lymphatic invasion. Although an autopsy was not performed, pulmonary artery embolism derived from a tumor embolus was the suspected cause of the sudden change of the clinical course.

[Clinical Efficacy of Recombinant Human Thrombomodulin for Surgical Patients with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Associated with Oncologic Emergency]

AIM

We evaluated the clinical efficacy of recombinant human thrombomodulin(rTM)for surgical patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome(DIC)associated with an oncologic emergency(OE).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirteen patients who underwent surgery for OE complicated with DIC and were treated with rTM in our institution were evaluated. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical changes of parameters in white blood cell count(WBC), platelet count, CRP, PT-INR and DIC scores after the rTM treatment.

RESULTS

The average length of the days using rTM was 4.7 for 12 patients, excluding one who died within 30 days after surgery. Nine of 12 patients(75%)had DIC scores of less than 3 after the rTM treatment. WBC tended to decrease after the rTM treatment, without statistical difference. However, CRP, platelet count, PT-INR and DIC scores were significantly improved after the rTM treatment(p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

rTM may be useful in the treatment of DIC for surgical OE patients.

High-depth-resolution imaging of dispersive samples using quantum optical coherence tomography

Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) is a promising approach to overcome the degradation of the resolution in optical coherence tomography (OCT) due to dispersion. Here, we report on an experimental demonstration of QOCT imaging in the high-resolution regime. We achieved a depth resolution of 2.5 μm, which is the highest value for QOCT imaging, to the best of our knowledge. We show that the QOCT image of a dispersive material remains clear whereas the OCT image is drastically degraded.

Isolation and characterization of high-mannose type glycans containing five or six mannose residues from hen egg yolk

High-mannose type glycans play important roles in biosynthesis of glycoproteins including glycoprotein quality control system. In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), α1,2-mannosidases cleave several mannose (Man) residues to give small high-mannose type glycans, such as glycans containing five or six mannose residues (M5-glycan or M6-glycan). These glycans are reported to act as a signal for degradation processes of glycoproteins in the ER. In this work, we isolated the M5-glycan and the M6-glycan from delipidated egg yolk and confirmed that their structures were identical to human type glycans based on rigorous NMR experiments, suggesting the potential use for semisynthesis of glycoconjugates and glycan analysis.

Design and Synthesis of Glycosylated Cholera Toxin B Subunit as a Tracer of Glycoprotein Trafficking in Organelles of Living Cells

Glycosylation of proteins is known to be essential for changing biological activity and stability of glycoproteins on the cell surfaces and in body fluids. Delivering of homogeneous glycoproteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus would enable us to investigate the function of asparagine-linked (N-) glycans in the organelles. In this work, we designed and synthesized an intentionally glycosylated cholera toxin B-subunit (CTB) to be transported to the organelles of mammalian cells. The heptasaccharide, the intermediate structure of various complex-type N-glycans, was introduced to the CTB. The synthesized monomeric glycosyl-CTB successfully entered mammalian cells and was transported to the Golgi and the ER, suggesting the potential use of synthetic CTB to deliver and investigate the functions of homogeneous N-glycans in specific organelles of living cells.

In Science Journals

Highlights from the Science family of journals.

In Science Journals

Highlights from the Science family of journals.

Optimization of Semisynthetic Approach for Glycosyl Interferon-β-polypeptide by Utilizing Bacterial Protein Expression and Chemical Modification

Synthesis of a sufficient amount of homogenous glycoprotein is of great interest because the natural glycoproteins show a considerable heterogeneity in oligosaccharide structures making the studies of glycan structure-function relationship...

Semisynthesis of a Homogeneous Glycoprotein Using Chemical Transformation of Peptides to Thioester Surrogates

Semisynthesis using recombinant polypeptides as building blocks is a powerful approach for the preparation of proteins with a variety of modifications such as glycosylation. The activation of the C terminus of recombinant peptides is a key step for coupling peptide building blocks and preparing a full-length polypeptide of a target protein. This article reports two chemical approaches for transformation of the C terminus of recombinant polypeptides to thioester surrogates. The first approach relies on efficient substitution of the C-terminal Cys residue with bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amine (SEA) to yield peptide-thioester surrogates. The second approach employs a native tripeptide, cysteinyl-glycyl-cysteine (CGC), to yield peptide-thioesters via a process mediated by a thioester surrogate. Both chemical transformation methods employ native peptide sequences and were thereby successfully applied to recombinant polypeptides. As a consequence, we succeeded in the semisynthesis of a glycosylated form of inducible T cell costimulator (ICOS) for the first time.

Renocardiac protective effects of SGLT2 inhibitor combined with angiotensin receptor blocker in salt sensitive Dahl rats

Background

Kidney plays a central role in regulating salt-sensitivity of blood pressure (BP) to governs sodium excretion via several mechanisms including pressure natriuresis and the actions of renal sodium transporters.

Purpose

We clarified the effects of combination treatment of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) on BP and the pathogenesis of renocardiac injuries, and elucidated underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of renal sodium handling in the development of salt-sensitivity by comparing with each monotreatment in Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) hypertensive rats.

Methods

DSS rats were treated orally for 8-weeks with normal salt diet (0.3% NaCl) (NS/Cont group), high salt diet (8% NaCl) (HS/Cont group), high salt diet with ipragliflozin (0.04%) (HS/Ipra group), high salt diet with losartan (0.05%) (HS/Los group), or high salt diet with combination of ipragliflozin and losartan (HS/Ipra+Los group).

Results

The combination group significantly reduced systolic BP compared with either high salt diet control group, losartan or ipragliflozin monotreatment groups (HS/Ipra+Los: 182.5±18.4mmHg vs HS/Cont: 227.7±26.1; HS/Ipra: 216.6±26.9; HS/Los: 208.6±21.6, at 8-weeks of treatment, P&lt;0.05, respectively) (Figure 1A). The slope of pressure-natriuresis curve was significantly increased in the HS/Ipra+Los group compared to that in the HS/Cont group (interaction P=0.024), HS/Ipra group (P=0.009), and HS/Los group (P=0.084) using the linear regression model (Figure 1B), which indicated that only the combination treatment of ipragliflozin and losartan improved salt-sensitivity. The combined treatment significantly improved creatinine clearance (HS/Ipra+Los: 3.3±0.9mL/min vs HS/Cont: 1.1±0.5; HS/Ipra: 1.7±0.6; HS/Los: 1.9±0.8, P&lt;0.05, respectively). The combination treatment also significantly ameliorated glomerulosclerosis, and improved cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis (Figure 1C). Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) protein expression level in the kidney was remarkably suppressed in the combination treatment group compared to the other high salt diet groups. The protein expression level of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) and Na+-K+-Cl– cotransporter 2 (NKCC2), two of major sodium transports in the renal tubules, were significantly decreased with losartan monotreatment and combination treatment, but not with ipragliflozin monotreatment (Figure 2).

Conclusions

The dual inhibition of SGLT2 and AT1R effectively improved salt-sensitivity via reducing renal expression levels of the sodium transporters, which eventually lead to renocardiac protection. Thus, the combination treatment could be a novel and useful therapeutic strategy for treating salt-sensitive hypertension and renal injury in non-diabetic patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research

Efficient generation of ultra-broadband parametric fluorescence using chirped quasi-phase-matched waveguide devices

We present a highly efficient photon pair source using chirped quasi-phase-matched (QPM) devices with a ridge waveguide structure. We developed QPM waveguide devices with chirp rates of 3% and 6.7%. Spectrum measurements reveal that the generated photons have bandwidths of 229 nm and 325 nm in full width at half maximum (FWHM), alternatively, 418 nm and 428 nm in base-to-base width for the 3% and 6.7% chirped devices, respectively, which are much broader than the bandwidth of 16 nm in FWHM observed with a non-chirp device. We also evaluate the generation efficiency of photon pairs from coincidence measurements using two superconducting single photon detectors (SSPDs). The estimated generation efficiencies of photon pairs were 2.7 × 10⁶ pairs/s·µW and 1.2 × 10⁶ pairs/s·µW for the 3% and 6.7% chirped devices, respectively, which are comparable to the generation efficiency for the non-chirp device of 2.7 × 10⁶ pairs/s·µW. We also measured the frequency correlation of the photon pairs generated from the 6.7% chirped device. The experimental results clearly show the frequency correlation of the generated broadband photon pairs.

Glycoprotein Semisynthesis by Chemical Insertion of Glycosyl Asparagine Using a Bifunctional Thioacid-Mediated Strategy

Glycosylation is a major modification of secreted and cell surface proteins, and the resultant glycans show considerable heterogeneity in their structures. To understand the biological processes arising from each glycoform, the preparation of homogeneous glycoproteins is essential for extensive biological experiments. To establish a more robust and rapid synthetic route for the synthesis of homogeneous glycoproteins, we studied several key reactions based on amino thioacids. We found that diacyl disulfide coupling (DDC) formed with glycosyl asparagine thioacid and peptide thioacid yielded glycopeptides. This efficient coupling reaction enabled us to develop a new glycoprotein synthesis method, such as the bifunctional thioacid-mediated strategy, which can couple two peptides with the N- and C-termini of glycosyl asparagine thioacid. Previous glycoprotein synthesis methods required valuable glycosyl asparagine in the early stage and subsequent multiple glycoprotein synthesis routes, whereas the developed concept can generate glycoproteins within a few steps from peptide and glycosyl asparagine thioacid. Herein, we report the characterization of the DDC of amino thioacids and the efficient ability of glycosyl asparagine thioacid to be used for robust glycoprotein semisynthesis.

Frequency correlated photon generation at telecom band using silicon nitride ring cavities

Frequency entangled photon sources are in high demand in a variety of optical quantum technologies, including quantum key distribution, cluster state quantum computation and quantum metrology. In the recent decade, chip-scale entangled photon sources have been developed using silicon platforms, offering robustness, large scalability and CMOS technology compatibility. Here, we report the generation of frequency correlated photon pairs using a 150-GHz silicon nitride ring cavity. First, the device is characterized for studying the phase matching condition during spontaneous four-wave mixing. Next, we evaluate the joint spectrum intensity of the generated photons and confirm the photon pair generation in a total of 42 correlated frequency mode pairs, corresponding to a bandwidth of 51.25 nm. Finally, the experimental results are analyzed and the joint spectral intensity is quantified in terms of the phase matching condition.

Chemical Synthesis of Ubiquitinated High-Mannose-Type N-Glycoprotein CCL1 in Different Folding States

Degradation of misfolded glycoproteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a very important process for protein homeostasis. To demonstrate the accessibility toward a ubiquitinated glycoprotein probe for the study of glycoprotein degradation by UPS, we synthesized ubiquitinated glycoprotein CC motif chemokine 1 (CCL1) bearing a high-mannose-type N-glycan, starting from six peptide segments. A native isopeptide linkage was constructed using δ-thiolysine (thioLys)-mediated chemical ligation. CCL1 glycopeptide with a high-mannose-type N-glycan as well as a δ-thioLys residue was synthesized chemically. The chemical ligation between δ-thioLys-containing glycopeptide and ubiquitin-α-thioester successfully yielded a ubiquitinated glycopeptide with a native isopeptide bond after desulfurization, even in the presence of a large N-glycan. In vitro folding experiments under reduced and redox conditions gave the desired two types of ubiquitinated glycosylated CCL1s, consisting of unfolded CCL1 and folded ubiquitin, and the folded form of both CCL1 as well as ubiquitin. We achieved the chemical synthesis of a complex protein molecule that contains not only the two major post-translational modifications, ubiquitination and glycosylation, but also controlled folding states of ubiquitin and CCL1. These chemical probes could have useful applications in the study of complex ubiquitin biology and glycobiology.

Acceleration and Deceleration Factors on the Hydrolysis Reaction of 4,6-O-Benzylidene Acetal Group

The benzylidene acetal group is one of the most important protecting groups not only in carbohydrate chemistry but also in general organic chemistry. In the case of 4,6-O-benzylidene glycosides, we previously found that the stereochemistry at 4-position altered the reaction rate constant for hydrolysis of benzylidene acetal group. However, a detail of the acceleration or deceleration factor was still unclear. In this work, the hydrolysis reaction of benzylidene acetal group was analyzed using the Arrhenius and Eyring plot to obtain individual parameters for glucosides (Glc), mannosides (Man), and galactosides (Gal). The Arrhenius and Eyring plot indicated that the pre-exponential factor (A) and ΔS^⧧ were critical for the smallest reaction rate constant of Gal among nonacetylated substrates. On the other hand, both E_a/ΔH^⧧ and A/ΔS^⧧ were influential for the smallest reaction rate constant of Gal among diacetylated substrates. All parameters obtained suggested that the rate constant for hydrolysis reaction was regulated by protonation and hydration steps along with solvation. The obtained parameters support wide use of benzylidene acetal group as orthogonal protection of cis- and trans-fused bicyclic systems through the fast hydrolysis of the trans-fused benzylidene acetal group.

[A Resected Case of Metachronous Solitary Metastasis of Jejunum after Surgery of Triple Colon Cancers]

A 68-year-old man underwent partial colectomy and double-barrel colostomy for an obstructive colon cancer of the splenic flexure at another hospital 10 years before. He was referred to us with an examination of anemia pointed out in human dock. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed the tumor occupied the remnant descending colon. We performed remnant left hemicolectomy and diagnosed as triple colon cancers. Six months after the initial operation, he was admitted to us with the chief complaints of abdominal fulness and vomit. Abdominal CT and radiologic enteroclysis after decompression used the ileus tube revealed complete stenosis at the small intestine. We performed surgery with a suspicion of obstruction of the small intestine. The tumor, 5 cm in diameter, occupied the jejunum was detected, and partial resection of the jejunum was performed. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as solitary metastasis of jejunum.

[Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Combined Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence in a Hemophilia a Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus-A Case Report]

A 40's Japanese man had a history of blood transfusion and administration of treatment coagulation factors for hemophilia A since he was 6 years old. He has been on IFN treatment for hepatitis C since he was 14 years old. Lastly, he has been undergoing HAART therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection since he was 18 years old. Three years ago, he underwent partial hepatectomy for a tumor located in segment 8 of his liver and was diagnosed with combined hepatocellular carcinoma(CHC). Two years and 7 months after the operation, 2 intrahepatic recurrences were detected in the left lobe. He was referred to our hospital to undergo curative resection, and we performed a left lobectomy of the liver for the CHC recurrences. Perioperatively, supplemental factor Ⅷ was administered via APTT. Its activity was used as an index. Postoperatively, the patient was well, was discharged 13 days after surgery, and remained recurrence-free for 4 months.

Chemical Synthesis of an Erythropoietin Glycoform Having a Triantennary N-Glycan: Significant Change of Biological Activity of Glycoprotein by Addition of a Small Molecular Weight Trisaccharide

The glycosylation of proteins contributes to the modulation of the structure and biological activity of glycoproteins. Asparagine-linked glycans (N-glycans) of glycoproteins naturally exhibit diverse antennary patterns, such as bi-, tri-, and tetra-antennary forms. However, there are no chemical or biological methods to obtain homogeneous glycoproteins via the intentional alteration of the antennary form of N-glycans. Thus, the functions of the individual antennary form of N-glycan at a molecular level remain unclear. Herein, we report the chemical synthesis of an erythropoietin (EPO) glycoform having a triantennary sialylglycan at position 83, as well as two biantennary sialylglycans at both positions 24 and 38. We demonstrated efficient liquid-phase condensation reactions to prepare a sialylglycopeptide having a triantennary N-glycan prepared by the addition of a Neu5Ac-α-2,6-Gal-β-1,4-GlcNAc element to the biantennary glycan under semisynthetic conditions. The molecular weight of the newly added antennary element was ∼3% of the EPO glycoform, and the introduced position was the most distant from the bioactive protein. However, in vivo assays using mice revealed that the additional antennary element at position 83 dramatically increased the hematopoietic activity compared to a commercially available native EPO. These unprecedented data clearly indicate that the antennary pattern of N-glycans inherently plays a critical role in the modulation of protein functions.

Baseline clinical features in a large-scale registration survey of patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy throughout Japan: J-HCM registry study

Background

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a most prevalent primary myocardial disorder with heterogeneous clinical features. However, there have been few studies on clinical features of HCM as a prospective cohort. In 2015, we established a large-scale registration survey of patients with HCM throughout Japan, named J-HCM registry study.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical features of Japanese patients with HCM.

Methods

J-HCM registry study is a prospective, multicenter investigation, consisting of 24 hospitals. This time, we present the baseline clinical characteristics in this survey.

Results

Total 1484 patients were registered. The ages at registration and at diagnosis were 65±15 and 56±17 years, respectively, and 806 patients (54%) were men. Majority of the patients (95%) was NYHA class I or II. With regard to subtypes of HCM, there were 526 patients (36%) in the HCM with left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction, 126 patients (8%) in the mid-ventricular obstruction, 57 patients (4%) in the end-stage phase characterized by LV ejection fraction &lt;50%, and 197 patients (14%) in apical HCM. At registration, 80 patients (6%) had prior successful recovery from sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, 162 patients (11%) suffered from heart failure hospitalization, and 64 patients (4%) had history of embolic event. Regarding invasive treatment, 160 patients (10%) had prior septal reduction therapy and 162 patients (11%) had ICD implantation. According to the 2014 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention, the study patients were divided into 3 categories by the HCM Risk-SCD calculator: patients distribution, 4% in the high risk group (≥6% calculated HCM Risk-SCD at 5 years), 7% in the intermediate risk group (4% to &lt;6%), 69% in the low risk group (&lt;4%), and 16% in the patients with extreme characteristics (Figure 1).

Conclusions

In this multicenter registration survey of patients with HCM, the baseline clinical characteristics were almost similar to several retrospective large-scale cohorts in Western countries except older age and less symptomatic state. This study will provide important knowledge regarding management of HCM.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

A study on the educational significance of special needs education in basis PHN education - 1st report

Background

For public health nurses to support school-aged children with disabilities who live in the community, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of special needs education and learn the inter-professional collaboration that takes place in it. A survey was conducted on school teachers supporting school-aged children with special needs, and the perception of educational significance in basic PHN education and its related factors were examined.

Methods

In December 2019, a survey questionnaire was sent to all 1,052 special needs schools in Japan. Of the 350 respondents, 330 valid replies were analyzed. Regarding the significance of providing special needs education in basic PHN education, we asked for answers on a four-point scale from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” and scored 4 to 1 points. Then, unpaired t-tests were performed between every two groups of “school-targeted type of disabilities,” “respondent's position,” and “respondent's perception/experience.” In addition, Pearson's correlation coefficient test was performed on the relationship with the years of teacher experience in special needs schools.

Results

Perception of the significance of providing education was as follows: “school-targeted type of disabilities” refers to school groups with hearing impairments (p &lt; 0.05), “respondent's position” groups are special needs education coordinators (p &lt; 0.05), “respondent's perception/experience” was significantly higher in the group with a high cognition of PHN work (p &lt; 0.05) and in the group with experience of cooperating with PHN (p &lt; 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation with the years of teacher experience in special needs schools.

Conclusions

There was a high perception of the significance of providing education in school groups with hearing impairment and groups with actual coordination experience, especially where early detection and care were particularly required, regardless of years of teacher experience.

Key messages

Special needs education should be included in basic PHN education to promote inter-professional collaboration for improving QOL of school-age children with disabilities living in communities. To foster the foundation for promoting special needs education in basic PHN education, in-service PHNs need to work closely with schools to meet their expectations for PHNs.

Teriparatide improves microarchitectural characteristics of peri-implant bone in orchiectomized rats

This study evaluated the peri-implant bone repair in orchiectomized rats receiving intermittently PTH 1-34. The treatment returned the bone quality and quantity of the animals to normal in the computerized microtomography, laser confocal microscopy, and histological analysis. The PTH 1-34 promoted marked bone formation with increased volume, improved quality, and greater bone turnover.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis can be a problem in implant osseointegration. So this study aimed to evaluate the quantity and quality of peri-implant bone repair in orchiectomized Wistar rats receiving intermittently administered PTH 1-34.

METHODS

Animals (n = 24) were divided into 3 groups: healthy control (SHAM), orchiectomized (ORQ), and orchiectomized and treated with 0.5 μg/kg/day PTH 1-34 (TERI), and each received an implant in the right and left tibial metaphysis, which was allowed to repair for 60 days. The resultant bone formation was evaluated through computerized microtomography (micro-CT) to compare the percent bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number and separation (Tb.N, Tb.Sp), and bone implant contact (BIC) through the intersection surface (i.S) between groups. Laser confocal microscopy was used to evaluate fluorochrome areas for mineral apposition rate (MAR) and neoformed bone area (NBA). In addition, histological evaluation of calcified tissues with Stevenel blue and alizarin red staining was performed.

RESULTS

Treatment with PTH 1-34 returned the bone quality and quantity of the osteoporotic animal to normal, as the TERI group presented statistically significant higher values for BV/TV, Tb.Th, and BIC parameters compared with ORQ (p < 0.05), but when compared with SHAM (p > 0.05), no statistical difference was noted. In addition, in the bone turnover analysis (MAR, NBA) for TERI, the highest results are presented, followed by SHAM, and then ORQ (TERI × ORQ: p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intermittent treatment with PTH 1-34 on orchiectomized animals promoted marked bone formation with increased volume, improved quality, and greater bone turnover in the peri-implant space, returning the bone quality and quantity to the present standard in healthy animals.

Unified integration scheme using an N × N active switch for efficient generation of a multi-photon parallel state

A source to efficiently generate multiple indistinguishable single photons in different spatial modes in parallel (multi-photon parallel state) is indispensable for realizing large-scale photonic quantum circuits. "A naive scheme" may be to use a heralding single photon source with an on-off detector set at each of parallel modes and to select the cases where each mode contains one photon at the same time. However, it is also necessary to suppress the probability of generating more than two photons from a single-photon source. For this requirement, serial-parallel conversion and a multiplexed heralded single photon source (HSPS) have been proposed and demonstrated. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a novel method to produce a multi-photon parallel state efficiently using multiple HSPSs and an N × N active optical switch. As an advantage over the simple combination of a spatial multiplexed HSPS and a serial-parallel converter, our method, called the "unified integration scheme," can generate a multi-photon parallel state with minimized optical losses in the switch. Using a 2 × 2 active optical switch and a fixed delay, we achieve an enhancement factor of 1.59 ± 0.14, compared with a naive scheme using two HSPSs, and better than the factor of 1.46 using the simple combination scheme. Furthermore, we confirm the reduction of multi-photon events to 62 % of that of the naive scheme.

Color single-pixel digital holography with a phase-encoded reference wave

We propose and demonstrate a multicolor single-pixel digital holography technique. The intensity and phase images of an object are simultaneously obtained from the time-sequence intensity data captured using a single-pixel photodetector. Moreover, phase-structured light and phase-shifting interferometry are implemented using only a spatial light modulator without any mechanical movements. The adopted configuration dramatically simplifies the optical setup by removing both imaging optics and the resultant chromatic aberration. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is demonstrated numerically and experimentally.

P5437The BNP reporter mouse by knock-in technology is useful for the analysis of mechanism in reactivation of BNP in adult heart

Background

It has been thought BNP is induced by undetermined stretch-activated receptors, however, which receptor is associated remains unknown. The stretch-activated receptors include mechanically gated channels, which can be activated by a mechanical stimulus alone, and mechanically modulated channels, which require nonmechanical stimuli such as agonists. It has been recently shown that 1.1kb segment of mouse NPPB promoter dose not reproduce the pattern of reactivation of BNP in adult heart, although it could monitor the expression of BNP in neonatal cardiomyocytes.

Purpose

Our aim is to develop a true BNP reporter mouse and examine whether this mouse is useful or not for the investigation of BNP reactivation mechanism in adult heart and for the measurement of serum-induced BNP expression in patients with heart failure.

Methods

We generated the BNP reporter mice by knocking luciferase cDNA in the initiation site of NPPB. In vivo imaging of luciferase was performed in the BNP reporter mice after the intraperitoneal injection of luciferin. The luciferase activity was examined in neonatal cardiomyocyte, isolated adult cardiomyocytes, adult cardiac dissected tissue with or without 120–150% stretch or angiotensin II stimulation. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was ligated to study myocardial infarction. Cardiac dissected tissue segments from the BNP reporter mouse were incubated for 8 hours with 20% serum from patients with or without heart failure and the luciferase activity was measured after homogenization.

Results

The in vivo imaging system showed the activity of BNP was high in 1 day-old neonates and the reactivation of BNP in the adult heart after LAD ligation could be monitored by the luciferase activity (figure). The treatment of Ang II could increase the activity of pBNP more than ten folds in heart tissue from adult mice. On the other hand, the 120–150% stretch did not show any effect on the activity of pBNP in this system. We could not observe any activation of pBNP in cultured neonatal or adult cardiomyocytes demonstrated by immunostain with antibodies against luciferase after 120–150% stretch. Interestingly, the luciferase activity was extensively higher in cultured heart tissue segments from the BNP reporter mice after the treatment of serum from patients with heart failure than without heart failure.

In vivo imaging of BNP reporter mice

Conclusion

These results indicate the BNP reporter mouse by knock-in technology is useful for the analysis of mechanism in reactivation of BNP in adult heart and the elevation of BNP in patients of heart failure partly due to the serum-derived induction of BNP from heart.

N,N-Dimethylaminoxy Carbonyl, a Polar Protecting Group for Efficient Peptide Synthesis

Peptide coupling with minimal protection is one of the desired methods for the synthesis of peptides and proteins. To achieve regioselective amide bond formation, side chain protection is often essential; however, protecting groups potentially diminish peptide solubility and render the polar polyamide chain amphipathic due to their apolar nature. In this manuscript, we describe a new protecting group, N,N-dimethylaminoxy carbonyl (Dmaoc), and its use in peptide coupling reactions. The Dmaoc group has a relatively polar character compared to the Boc group, which is a conventional protecting group for the N^ε-amine of Lys residues. This polar protecting group is removable by reduction in the buffer containing (±)-dithiothreitol (DTT). Furthermore, the Dmaoc group proved compatible with peptide ligation strategies featuring the activation of N-acyl diaminobenzamides (Dbz) with sodium nitrate to generate the respective benzotriazole leaving group. The Dmaoc/Dbz strategy described in this manuscript provides a new method for the chemical synthesis of peptides.