Konica Minolta (Japan)

Anthraquinones are valuable compounds that are traditionallyusedas natural pigments and have diverse pharmacological activities, includingantimicrobial and anticancer effects. In this study, we aimed to enhancethe production of 1,3,5-trihydroxyanthraquinone (AQ256) using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a host. AQ256 is biosynthesized from eight malonyl-CoA moleculesvia the type II polyketide synthase pathway. However, previous studieshave reported very low production levels of AQ256 in E. coli (approximately 2.5 mg/L), mainly becauseof limited malonyl-CoA availability. To address this, we introduceda heterologous malonate assimilation pathway and reinforced the endogenousmalonyl-CoA biosynthesis pathway. An E. coli strain harboring AQ256 biosynthetic genes from Photorhabduslaumondii TTO1 produced only 1.3 mg/L AQ256. Uponintroducing the malonate assimilation pathway and cultivating in malonate-supplementedLuria–Bertani medium, production increased to 3.8 mg/L. Furtherenhancement of the endogenous malonyl-CoA supply through the coexpressionof pantothenate kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase resulted in strainAQ-04, which produced 12.3 mg/L AQ256. Optimization of cultivationconditions enabled AQ-04 to achieve 23.9 mg/L AQ256, a 9.6-fold increasecompared to previous studies. Our results demonstrate that the combinationof introducing a malonate assimilation pathway and enhancing nativemalonyl-CoA supply is a highly effective strategy for increasing malonyl-CoAavailability. This approach is promising for the biosynthesis of awide range of malonyl-CoA-derived compounds.

Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) expands treatment options for solid tumor patients and identifies hereditary cancers. However, in Japan, confirmatory tests have been conducted in only 31.6% of patients with presumed germline pathogenic variants (GPVs) detected through tumor-only testing. Paired tumor-normal analysis enables differentiation between somatic and germline variants. GenMineTOP, covered by Japan’s national health insurance since August 2023, analyzes paired samples and reports GPVs in 40 genes. This study provides an initial characterization of GPVs based on clinical findings collected during the first year of GenMineTOP implementation. We analyzed 1356 solid tumor patients who underwent GenMineTOP testing in the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) database between August 2023 and July 2024, focusing on GPV detection rates, gene distribution, and comparisons with other CGP tests. Among the analyzed cancer types, GenMineTOP had a higher proportion of CNS/brain, soft tissue, bone, and head and neck cancers compared to other CGP tests. GPVs were detected in 73 patients (5.4%), with 38.2% classified as off-tumor. HR-related GPVs (ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D) were found in both males (median age: 69) and females (median age: 54). Among males, 57.9% were aged 65 or older. GPVs may be detected in any cancer patients, including those with off-tumor findings, particularly in older male patients, especially in HR-related genes. These findings support the use of paired CGP to improve the diagnosis of hereditary cancers that could otherwise remain undetected.

A method for correlating reaction conditions with device performance was developed by combining Design-of-Experiments and machine-learning strategies in multistep device fabrication processes. This method allowed the "from-flask-to-device" optimisation of a macrocyclisation reaction yielding a mixture of methylated [n]cyclo-meta-phenylenes, and a crude raw material was directly applied to the fabrication of Ir-doped organic light-emitting devices via spin-coating. The method succeeded in eliminating energy-consuming and waste-producing separation and purification steps during device fabrication. The device using the optimal raw mixture material recorded a high external quantum efficiency of 9.6%, which surpassed the performance of purified materials. The raw material method was also found to be applicable to screen-printing processes, and image-transferred OLEDs were fabricated using the low-cost, environmentally benign materials.

There is no consensus on treatment protocols based on severity and timing for acute lateral ankle sprain (LAS). Appropriate decision-making is necessary to prevent reinjury or chronic ankle instability. In this retrospective observational study, we clarified the duration of recovery from anterior ankle joint displacement in patients with initial acute LAS of several severities. Overall, 101 patients with varying grades of initial unilateral LAS were included. Injury severity was based on ligament tears and anterior ankle joint displacement using the reverse anterior drawer test with ultrasonography. The automated length measurement system software measured changes in the talofibular distance. The median (95% confidence interval) change in the talofibular distance on the affected side was 1.24 (0.96-1.76), 3.03 (2.91-3.74) and 3.06 (2.37-4.69) mm for LAS grades I, II and III, respectively, on the first medical examination. The increase in talofibular distance for grade I injuries was significantly smaller than for Grades II and III (p < 0.01). The regression equation was y = -0.02 × days + 1.43, -0.05 × days + 3.30 and -0.05 × days + 3.42 for Grades I, II and III, respectively; the time it took to reach the value of the unaffected side was 14.5, 43.2 and 45.6 days, respectively. Regression coefficients were significantly greater for Grades II and III than for Grade I (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). No significant differences were observed between Grades II and III. These results revealed that the recovery time for displacement varies according to the severity of the sprain, suggesting the need to develop optimal treatment protocols. Level III.

A comparative interpretation of mammograms has become increasingly important, and it is crucial to develop subtraction processing and registration methods for mammograms. However, nonrigid image registration has seldom been applied to subjects constructed with soft tissue only, such as mammograms. We examined whether subtraction processing for the comparative interpretation of mammograms can be performed using nonrigid image registration. As a preliminary study, we evaluated the results of subtraction processing by applying nonrigid image registration to normal mammograms, assuming a comparative interpretation between the left and right breasts. Mediolateral-oblique-view mammograms were taken from noncancer patients and divided into 1000 cases for training, 100 cases for validation, and 500 cases for testing. Nonrigid image registration was applied to align the horizontally flipped left-breast mammogram with the right one. We compared the sum of absolute differences (SAD) of the difference of bilateral images (Difference Image) with and without the application of nonrigid image registration. Statistically, the average SAD was significantly lower with the application of nonrigid image registration than without it (without: 0.0692; with: 0.0549 (p < 0.001)). In four subgroups using the breast area, breast density, compressed breast thickness, and Difference Image without nonrigid image registration, the average SAD of the Difference Image was also significantly lower with nonrigid image registration than without it (p < 0.001). Nonrigid image registration was found to be sufficiently useful in aligning bilateral mammograms, and it is expected to be an important tool in the development of a support system for the comparative interpretation of mammograms.

Excessive mechanical stress accumulates and causes knee injury. Meniscal extrusion is a key factor in detecting the reaction to cumulative mechanical stress. The accumulation of stress strongly depends on environmental conditions such as flat ground or uphill/downhill, and accumulates in knee compartments; only a few studies have reported the effects of different environments on lateral and medial meniscus extrusion. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cumulative uphill/downhill stress on the meniscal extrusion in each compartment. A total of 30 healthy volunteers with 30 affected knees were involved in this cohort study (mean age, 22.0 ± 1.1 years; men, n = 14). The participants were divided into flat-walking, uphill/downhill-walking, and uphill/downhill-jogging groups and their numbers of steps taken were recorded during the effort. Moreover, medial and lateral meniscal extrusions during walking were evaluated using ultrasound three times, before and after efforts (T1) and (T2), and one day after efforts (T3), respectively. In the flat-walking group, no significant differences were observed between the follow-up periods. Conversely, in the uphill/downhill-walking and jogging groups, the medial meniscus extrusion at T2 was significantly higher than that at T1. Conversely, the medial meniscus extrusion at T3 was significantly lower than that at T2. By contrast, the lateral meniscus did not show any difference between the follow-up periods in any group. Temporary extrusion of the meniscus occurred after uphill/downhill tasks in healthy volunteers, and its reaction was observed only in the medial meniscus.

Although flexible laryngoscopy (FL) is the reference modality for diagnosing vocal cord paralysis (VCP), FL involves patient discomfort and insertion intolerance. Dynamic digital radiography (DDR) with high spatial and temporal resolution is easier to use and less invasive when evaluating VCP. Seventy-eight patients underwent FL and DDR before and after neck surgery. Qualitative and quantitative vocal cord movement (VCM) evaluations were conducted. Patients with postoperative VCP were followed-up regularly. DDR exhibited diagnostic performance with 67% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The cutoff for VCM was 2.4 mm, with DDR exhibiting 100% sensitivity and 78% specificity. All cords with transient VCP had positive VCM at both 3 weeks and 2 months. Additionally, 50% and 75% of cords with permanent VCP had negative VCM at 3 weeks and 2 months, respectively. DDR is promising for the diagnosis of postoperative VCP and early prediction of permanent postoperative VCP.

The Japan Association of Radiological Technologists (JART) and the Japan Medical Imaging and Radiological Systems Industries Association jointly conducted a nationwide survey to reveal the current situation of diagnostic displays in Japan using a questionnaire on the performance and quality control (QC) of diagnostic displays for mammography and common use. The questionnaire for radiological technologists (RTs) was distributed via email to 4519 medical facilities throughout Japan, where RTs affiliated with JART were employed; 613 (13.6%) facilities responded. Diagnostic displays with suitable maximal luminance (500cd/m2 or higher for mammography and 350cd/m2 or higher for common use) and resolution (5 megapixels for mammography) have been widely used. However, while 99% of the facilities recognized the necessity of QC, only approximately 60% implemented it. This situation arose due to several barriers to QC implementation, such as insufficient devices, time, staff, knowledge, and the recognition of QC as a duty. The implementation of QC can lead to the avoidance of incidents or accidents caused by a decrease in luminance, variation in luminance response, and the influence of ambient light. Moreover, the barriers discouraging the implementation of QC are mainly related to a lack of human resources and budgets. Therefore, to popularize the QC of diagnostic displays in all facilities, it is crucial to identify countermeasures to eliminate these barriers and to continue positive actions for popularization.

Hybrid molecules of π-conjugated carbon rings and BN-heterocyclic rings (h-CBNs) fused with each other have been a rare class of compounds due to the limited availability of their synthetic methods. Here we report the synthesis of new h-CBNs featuring a B4 N4 -heteropentalene core and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon wings. Using 1,2-azaborinine derivatives as a building block, we developed a rational synthetic protocol that allows the formation of a B4 N4 ring in a stepwise manner, resulting in the fully fused ABA-type triblock molecules. Thus, three derivatives of 1 bearing naphthalene (1Naph ), anthracene (1Anth ), or phenanthrene (1Phen ) wings fused with the B4 N4 core were synthesized and characterized. Among them, 1Phen , which displays the highest triplet-state energy, was found to serve a host material for phosphorescent OLED devices, for which a maximum external quantum efficiency of 13.7 % was recorded. These findings may promote the synthesis of various types of h-CBNs aiming at new properties arising from the synergy of two different π-electronic systems.