The RNA ligands for mouse proline-rich RNA-binding protein (mouse Prrp) contain two consensus sequences in separate loop structure

Mouse proline-rich RNA-binding protein (mPrrp) is a mouse ortholog of Xenopus Prrp, which binds to a vegetal localization element (VLE) in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of Vg1 mRNA and is expected to be involved in the transport and/or localization of Vg1 mRNA to the vegetal cortex of oocytes. In mouse testis, mPrrp protein is abundantly expressed in the nuclei of pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, and shifts to the cytoplasm in elongating spermatids. To gain an insight into the function of mPrrp in male germ cells, we performed in vitro RNA selection (SELEX) to determine the RNA ligand sequence of mPrrp. This analysis revealed that many of the selected clones contained both of two conserved elements, AAAUAG and GU(1–3)AG. RNA-binding study on deletion mutants and secondary structure analyses of the selected RNA revealed that a two-loop structure containing the conserved elements is required for high-affinity binding to mPrrp. Furthermore, we found that the target mRNAs of Xenopus Prrp contain intact AAAUAG and GU(1–3)AG sequences in the 3′-UTR, suggesting that these binding sequences are shared by Prrps of Xenopus and mouse

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy on the Performance Degradation of LiFePO4/Graphite Lithium-Ion Battery Due to Charge-Discharge Cycling under Different C-Rates

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using a LiFePO4 cathode and graphite anode were assembled in　coin cell form and subjected to 1000 charge-discharge cycles at 1, 2, and 5 C at 25 C. The performance　degradation of the LIB cells under di erent C-rates was analyzed by electrochemical impedance　spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy. The most severe degradation occurred at 2 C　while degradation was mitigated at the highest C-rate of 5 C. EIS data of the equivalent circuit model　provided information on the changes in the internal resistance. The charge-transfer resistance within　all the cells increased after the cycle test, with the cell cycled at 2 C presenting the greatest increment　in the charge-transfer resistance. Agglomerates were observed on the graphite anodes of the cells　cycled at 2 and 5 C; these were more abundantly produced in the former cell. The lower degradation　of the cell cycled at 5 C was attributed to the lowered capacity utilization of the anode. The larger cell　voltage drop caused by the increased C-rate reduced the electrode potential variation allocated to the　net electrochemical reactions, contributing to the charge-discharge specific capacity of the cells

Cor Triatriatum in the Adult with Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Stenosis

Background：Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, in which the left atrium or right atrium is separated by an abnormal fibromuscular membrane with one or more restrictive orifices. This condition typically presents in infancy or early childhood and can be associated with other cardiac anomalies.Case presentation：A 75-year-old woman was admitted for exertional dyspnea with moderate aortic and mitral stenosis. As cor triatriatum was revealed by a computed tomography and echocardiography, she was referred to our department for surgery. Aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement and excision of the membranous septum in the left atrium was performed. This report presents an incidental findings of cor triatriatum with aortic stenosis, moderate mitral stenosis in septuagenarian.Conclusion：We encountered a rare case of cor triatriatum with aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis in septuagenarian. She was incidentally diagnosed by rheumatic aortic and mitral stenosis which had advanced to moderate level

筋層浸潤性膀胱癌における壁浸潤長は予後予測因子であり、血清cell-free DNAと関連する

Background: We investigated the potential of the depth of invasion (DOI) as a prognostic factor in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who underwent radical cystectomy (RC). Moreover, we examined the association between the preoperative levels of circulating cell-free DNA and DOI.博士（医学）・甲第876号・令和5年3月15