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Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience more severe selective eating problems than their neurotypical peers. Identifying the causes of selective eating behavior poses a considerable challenge, even for caregivers. Accurate identification of the underlying causes of this behavior is essential for developing interventions aimed at overcoming dysfunctional, unbalanced diets. However, studies that meticulously identify the causes of selective eating behaviors are scarce. This investigation aims to explore the differences in preferences for sunny-side-up eggs between individuals with ASD and those with typical development (TD), focusing on the factors influencing their likes and dislikes through a systematic analysis of visual features. Thirty-nine individuals with ASD (mean age, 23.4 ± 4.7 years; 82% men) and fifty individuals with TD (mean age, 22.2 ± 1.3 years; 64% men) participated in this study. We used a total of 50 images of sunny-side-up eggs as visual stimuli. Using Non-negative Matrix Factorization and Decision Tree analysis, factors associated with visual preferences for sunny-side-up eggs were identified. We could identify factors associated with visual preferences for sunny-side-up eggs. Subsequent linear regression analysis provided insight into how these visual features delineate preference boundaries between liked and disliked foods, with noteworthy distinctions emerging between the ASD and TD groups. This study provides novel insights into the visual determinants of food preferences in individuals with ASD through systematic analysis of image features. Our findings indicated the potential to predict preferences while elucidating the causes of selective eating behaviors, thereby offering solutions for individuals with ASD.

We investigated nano-structural changes of cellulose dissolved in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate—an ionic liquid (IL)—using a small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique over the entire concentration range (0–100 mol %). Fibril structures of cellulose disappeared at 40 mol % of cellulose, which is a significantly higher concentration than the maximum concentration of dissolution (24–28 mol %) previously determined in this IL. This behavior is explained by the presence of the anion bridging, whereby an anion prefers to interact with multiple OH groups of different cellulose molecules at high concentrations, discovered in our recent work. Furthermore, we observed the emergence of two aggregated nano-structures in the concentration range of 30–80 mol %. The diameter of one structure was 12–20 nm, dependent on concentration, which is ascribed to cellulose chain entanglement. In contrast, the other with 4.1 nm diameter exhibited concentration independence and is reminiscent of a cellulose microfibril, reflecting the occurrence of nanofibrillation. These results contribute to an understanding of the dissolution mechanism of cellulose in ILs. Finally, we unexpectedly proposed a novel cellulose/IL composite: the cellulose/IL mixtures of 30–50 mol % that possess liquid crystallinity are sufficiently hard to be moldable.

ABSTRACT Menkes disease (MD) is an X‐linked copper metabolism disorder associated with bladder diverticula (BD). BD in MD may easily perforate more than common BD because of connective tissue damage. Since BD rupture can be fatal, large or multiple BD in MD require careful management, including prophylactic resection.

Saikosaponins are naturally occurring oleanane-type triterpenoids that are found in Bupleuri radix (root of Bupleurum falcatum ) and exhibit a broad biological activity spectrum. Saikosaponin b2 (SSb2) is the main saikosaponin in Kampo medicine extracts and is a designated quality control marker for the same in the Japanese Pharmacopeia. Although some monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against saikosaponins have been produced to evaluate the quality of Bupleuri radix and related products, anti-SSb2 mAbs have not been used to quantify SSb2 in Kampo medicines. To address this knowledge gap, we herein established a new hybridoma cell line secreting a highly specific anti-SSb2 mAb and developed an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) based on this mAb for the detection of SSb2 in Bupleuri radix -containing Kampo medicines. The generated SSb2-recognized mAb exhibited high specificity to SSb2 in icELISA. The developed assay featured high sensitivity (linearity range = 1.95–125 ng/ml), accuracy, precision and reproducibility (coefficient of variation < 5%), and the thus determined SSb2 contents were strongly correlated with those obtained using liquid chromatograph–mass spectrometer. These results suggest that the anti-SSb2 mAb-based icELISA method can be used for the quality control and standardization of Kampo medicines containing Bupleuri radix .

In this study, we present a review on a useful approach, namely, immunoaffinity column coupled with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), to separate natural compounds and its application for cell-based studies. The immunoaffinity column aids in separating the specific target compound from the crude extract. The column capacity was stable even after more than 10 purification cycles of use under the same conditions. After applying the crude extract to the column, the column was washed with washing buffer and eluted with elution buffer. The elution fraction contained the target compound bound to MAb, whereas the washing fraction was the crude extract, which contained all compounds except a group of target compounds; therefore, the washing fraction was referred to as a knockout (KO) crude extract. Cell-based studies using the KO extract revealed the actual effects of the natural compounds in the crude extract. One-step separation of natural compounds using the immunoaffinity column coupled with MAbs may help in determining the potential functions of natural compounds in crude extracts.

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) are widely used in a variety of fields, including protein identification, life sciences, medicine, and natural product chemistry. This review focuses on Mabs against naturally occurring active compounds. The preparation of Mabs against various active compounds began in the 1980s, and now there are fewer than 50 types. Eastern blotting, which was developed as an antibody staining method for low-molecular-weight compounds, is useful for its ability to visually represent specific components. In this method, a mixture of lower-molecular-weight compounds, particularly glycosides, are separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The compounds are then transferred to a membrane by heating, followed by treatment with potassium periodate (KIO4) to open the sugar moiety of the glycoside on the membrane to form an aldehyde group. Proteins are then added to form Schiff base bonds to enable adsorption on the membrane. A Mab is bound to the glycoside moiety on the membrane and reacts with a secondary antibody to produce color. Double Eastern blotting, which enables the simultaneous coloration of two glycosides, can be used to evaluate quality and estimate pharmacological effects. An example of staining by Eastern blotting and a component search based on the results will also be presented. A Mab-associated affinity column is a method for isolating antigen molecules in a single step. However, the usefulness of the wash fractions that are not bound to the affinity column is unknown. Therefore, we designated the wash fraction the “knockout extract”. Comparing the nitric oxide (NO) production of a glycyrrhizin (GL)-knockout extract of licorice with a licorice extract revealed that the licorice extract is stronger. Therefore, the addition of GL to the GL-knockout extract of licorice increased NO production. This indicates that GL has synergic activity with the knockout extract. The GL-knockout extract of licorice inhibited high-glucose-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in NRK-52E cells, primarily by suppressing the Notch2 pathway. The real active constituent in licorice may be constituents other than GL, which is the causative agent of pseudohyperaldosteronism. This suggests that a GL-knockout extract of licorice may be useful for the treatment of diabetic nephritis.

Correspondence to Dr Kenichi Tetsuhara; ken-tetsuhara@mti.biglobe.ne.jp A 3-month-old female weighing 3.6 kg, with trisomy 21, who had undergone pulmonary artery banding for atrioventricular septal defect 2.5 months prior to the presentation was referred to our hospital because of nasal discharge and cough for 3 days and wheezing and decreased feeding for 1 day before admission. RSV infection can lead to severe illness in infants with congenital heart disease.1 With infection, cardiac function may deteriorate in children with congenital heart disease.2 Therefore, point-of-care echocardiography should be performed in patients suffering from respiratory distress or respiratory tract infection with an identified pathogenic microorganism, especially if they have a history of heart disease. Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection and its effect on children with heart disease in Hong Kong: a multicentre review.

Background Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a low-grade malignant tumor that occurs in 60% of all pediatric pancreas tumors. Radical tumor resection is essential; however, spleen preservation is also crucial to prevent overwhelming post-splenectomy infection. In contrast, spleen preservation is not always possible, because left-sided portal hypertension (LSPH) can cause splenic vein stenosis or occlusion induced by pancreatic tumor. We herein report on a pediatric patient of LSPH due to SPN in the pancreatic tail. Case presentation A 12-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with left upper quadrant abdominal pain. A solid mass was palpated in the left costal region. The patient showed slight anemia (Hb: 11.8 g/dL) and elevation of inflammatory reaction (CRP: 5.98 mg/dL) without positive tumor markers. A radiological examination revealed that a 9 cm-sized mass with hemorrhagic necrosis in the pancreatic tail. Splenic venous flow was not detected and collateral draining into the left gastric vein and left renal veins were developed with splenomegaly. LSPH was involved at the time of diagnosis. The tumor was diagnosed with SPN, hence tumor resection with spleen preservation was performed. Six months after surgery, the patient developed a left quadrant abdominal pain that worsened during exercise. There was no improvement of splenic venous flow and splenomegaly. LSPH remained with splenomegaly, which possibly triggered the patient’s abdominal pain. The patient underwent splenectomy 9 months after the tumor resection. After the splenectomy, the patient’s abdominal pain disappeared without any recurrence 8-year post-surgery. Conclusions LSPH has not been a major focus in previous SPN pediatric patients, although most symptomatic LSPH patients required splenectomy. Careful post-operative observation for LSPH is important for pediatric SPN patients.

Background Although infantile hepatic hemangioma and hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma are relatively common in benign pediatric liver tumors, coexistence of the two tumors is rare. Placental mesenchymal dysplasia is also a rare disorder. We report the case of a baby girl born after a pregnancy complicated by placental mesenchymal dysplasia, who developed both infantile hepatic hemangioma and hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma. Case presentation The patient was born at 32 weeks and 5 days of gestation for impending placental abruption, weighing 1450 g. Liver tumors, composed of both hypervascular solid and large cystic lesions, were detected after birth and markedly increased to create abdominal distention within 9 months. Diagnostic imaging suspected the coexistence of infantile hepatic hemangioma and cystic hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma. Following propranolol therapy for infantile hepatic hemangioma and needle puncture of a large cyst, the cystic lesions and adjacent hypervascular lesions were partially resected via laparotomy. Pathological findings confirmed the coexistence of hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma and infantile hepatic hemangioma, which had no association with androgenetic/biparental mosaicism. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the tumor had not regrown after 3 years. Conclusions Although the coexistence of infantile hepatic hemangioma and hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma associated with placental mesenchymal dysplasia is extremely rare, the pathological and pathogenetic similarities between these disorders suggest that they could have derived from similar embryologic origins rather than being a mere coincidence. Further follow-up is required, with careful attention to the potential for malignant hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma transformation.

Mitochondrial rescue drugs, such as vitamin B2, are a treatment modality which can be considered in unexplained cases of cardiac arrest or impaired consciousness in which mitochondrial diseases are considered in the differential. Although case reports exist of children developing a drop in their blood pressure following administration of intravenous flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) sodium as vitamin B2, we present the first reported case of a child requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) following FAD sodium infusion for severe bradycardia and hypotension. Intravenous infusion of FAD sodium should be administered as slowly as possible, with careful monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate.