Changes Over Time in Masseter Muscle Activity, Symptoms of Discomfort, Stress Level and Salivary Flow Rate Following Intra-Oesophageal Acid Infusion.

Background: Intra-oesophageal acid stimulation increases masseter muscle activity. However, the infusion speeds used in previous studies are significantly slow, with minimal acid volume (30 mL over 30 min). Additionally, it is unclear how masseter muscle activity, symptoms of discomfort, stress levels and saliva quantity change over time.

Factors involved in gastroesophageal varix-related events in patients with hepatitis C virus-related compensated and decompensated cirrhosis after direct-acting antiviral therapy.

Aim: The incidence of and factors involved in gastroesophageal varix-related events in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis patients, including decompensated cirrhosis, after direct-acting antiviral therapy are unclear.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter study using prospective data from 478 hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis patients treated with direct-acting antiviral therapy from February 2019 to December 2021 at 33 Japanese hospitals. Gastroesophageal varices were classified as F1 (small-caliber), F2 (moderately enlarged), or F3 (markedly enlarged) according to the Japanese criteria.

Effect of sprayable, highly adhesive hydrophobized gelatin microparticles on esophageal stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection: an experimental study in a swine model.

Background: Esophageal mucosal resection for superficial esophageal cancer can lead to postoperative esophageal stricture, with current preventive measures being insufficient. Sprayable wound dressings containing hydrophobized microparticles exhibit strong adhesion. This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of hydrophobized microparticles on esophageal stenosis following endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Experimental Approaches Used to Investigate Voluntary Behavioral Thermoregulatory Responses.

A new behavioral test was developed to investigate the neural mechanisms of voluntary, behavioral thermoregulatory responses. The apparatus used in this test consisted of a thermostatic chamber that maintained the ambient temperature at a chosen level and two side-by-side floor plates that were placed in the thermostatic chamber and could be set to different temperatures. As the three temperatures, ambient temperature and two plate temperatures, can be controlled independently, we term this behavioral test the three-temperature (3 T) test.