Publications by authors named "Amano H"

Background: ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6ω3), are widely regarded as cardioprotective. EPA, but not DHA, has been reported to prevent fibrosis in heart failure. The relationship between the ω-3 PUFA fraction in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and vascular inflammation in patients with cardiovascular disease remains unclear.

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Purpose: Tracheomalacia (TM) is commonly associated with esophageal atresia (EA) and compression by the brachiocephalic artery is a factor for TM. Previous research has focused on the lateral-to-anteroposterior tracheal diameter ratio (LAR). This study aimed to assess the LAR and postoperative outcomes of EA patients.

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  • Acetaminophen (APAP) can cause significant liver damage, and macrophages are critical for healing this injury; however, the role of thromboxane A (TXA) and its receptor in this process is not well understood.
  • Research involved both TP knockout mice and wild-type mice treated with APAP to examine liver inflammation and repair.
  • Results showed that lack of TP signaling in macrophages worsened liver injury and delayed repair, highlighting the importance of TP in supporting macrophage function and promoting recovery from APAP-induced liver damage.
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  • The study examined whether a standard dose of bilastine (20 mg) is as effective as a double dose of second-generation H1-antihistamines for treating patients with refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).
  • Conducted as a phase IV, multicenter trial, it involved 128 patients and measured treatment efficacy through the mean total symptom score (TSS) after 5-7 days of administration.
  • Results showed that bilastine was non-inferior in effectiveness to double-dose H1AH and had a similar safety profile, with no serious adverse effects reported in either treatment group.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung injury that induces cytokine hypersecretion. Receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) 1, a subunit of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor, regulates the production of cytokines. This study examined the role of RAMP1 signaling during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

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During skeletal muscle adaptation to physiological or pathophysiological signals, contractile apparatus and mitochondrial function are coordinated to alter muscle fiber type. Although recent studies have identified various factors involved in modifying contractile proteins and mitochondrial function, the molecular mechanisms coordinating contractile and metabolic functions during muscle fiber transition are not fully understood. Using a gene-deficient mouse approach, our previous studies uncovered that vestigial-like family member 2 (Vgll2), a skeletal muscle-specific transcription cofactor activated by exercise, is essential for fast-to-slow adaptation of skeletal muscle.

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Royal sun medicinal mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 has various beneficial pharmacological effects; however, these effects are influenced by its cultivation conditions. A. brasiliensis KA21 is rich in β-glucan, which promotes wound healing.

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Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by hyperinflammation followed by vascular leakage and respiratory failure. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A is critical for capillary permeability; however, the role of VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1) signaling in ALI progression remains unclear. Here, we show that deletion of VEGFR1 tyrosine kinase (TK) signaling in mice exacerbates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI as evidenced by excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine production and interleukin(IL)-1β-producing neutrophil recruitment to inflamed lung tissues.

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Background/aim: The liver effectively restores both size and function following partial hepatectomy (PHx). Angiogenesis is crucial for the repair and regeneration of liver tissue post-PHx. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from sensory nerves and its receptor-receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) are involved in angiogenesis.

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Objective: Dietary sodium restriction is important in the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The association between saltiness perception and sodium intake among CKD patients is unclear, and the factors that influence saltiness are also not fully understood. We evaluated saltiness perception in CKD patients employing a cost-effective saltiness perception test using sodium solutions and evaluated the association between saltiness perception, sodium intake, and the influencing factors.

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  • The Senhance robotic system is a new surgical robot that shows promise as a safe and effective alternative to the da Vinci system, especially for pediatric surgeries.
  • A case series involving three children underwent anorectoplasties and rectal surgery using this robotic system, with no complications reported during or after the procedures.
  • The advantages of Senhance include high-quality 3D imaging, reduced tremor in tool movements, and the use of smaller 3-mm instruments, making it particularly suitable for delicate surgeries in children.
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  • Biliary atresia (BA) leads to ongoing liver inflammation and fibrosis even after jaundice is cleared, prompting a study on the benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) for post-treatment recovery.
  • The study involved BA patients who received EPA after a surgical procedure, comparing their outcomes with those who did not receive EPA over two years.
  • Results indicated that while EPA did not enhance jaundice clearance, it significantly reduced liver fibrosis progression in patients who were jaundice-free two years post-surgery.
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Background: Craniosynostosis, a common congenital anomaly, results from premature fusion of the cranial sutures. One of the forms of craniosynostosis is premature fusion of the metopic suture, referred to as trigonocephaly, but the diagnosis of metopic suture synostosis remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to clarify, using geometric morphometric analysis, if a metopic ridge alone observed in cases of mild trigonocephaly represents a pathological phenomenon.

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Background: Pediatric minimally invasive surgery requires advanced technical skills. Off-the-job training (OJT), especially when using disease-specific models, is an effective method of acquiring surgical skills. To achieve effective OJT, it is necessary to provide objective and appropriate skill assessment feedback to trainees.

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Introduction The global shift toward working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to concerns about increased sedentary behavior and its potential impact on work engagement, a critical factor for employee well-being and organizational productivity. This study aims to explore the association between sedentary time and work engagement among workers in Japan in the post-pandemic work environment. Methods This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), conducted from September to November 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic period.

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  • - This study focused on understanding portal hypertension (PHT) and its predictors in patients who survived biliary atresia (BA) after undergoing a surgical procedure called Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE).
  • - Researchers analyzed data from 320 patients across six centers in East Asia, finding that 37.8% developed PHT by five years post-KPE, particularly those who had the surgery later in life.
  • - Key findings revealed that higher bilirubin levels at one year post-KPE are linked to increased PHT risk, highlighting the importance of early surgery and ongoing monitoring for patients showing persistent jaundice.
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Left atrial strain (LAS) measured by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) is considered to be a marker of LA structural remodeling, but it remains unsettled. We investigated the potential usefulness and clinical relevance of LAS to detect atrial remodeling including fibrosis by analyzing gene expression in cardiovascular surgery patients. Preoperative 2DSTE was performed in 131 patients (92 patients with sinus rhythm [SR] patients including paroxysmal AF [PAF], 39 atrial fibrillation [AF]) undergoing cardiovascular surgery.

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Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become key agents in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer worldwide. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) must be addressed to maximize the efficacy of ICIs. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is considered as a type of irAE associated with ICIs, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood.

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Since the demonstration of p-type gallium nitride (GaN) through doping with substitutional magnesium (Mg) atoms, rapid and comprehensive developments, such as blue light-emitting diodes, have considerably shaped our modern lives and contributed to a more carbon-neutral society. However, the details of the interplay between GaN and Mg have remained largely unknown. Here we observe that Mg-intercalated GaN superlattices can form spontaneously by annealing a metallic Mg film on GaN at atmospheric pressure.

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Objective: To determine the long-term survival of patients receiving home hemodialysis (HHD) through self-punctured arteriovenous access.

Methods: We conducted an observational study of all patients receiving HHD at our facility between 2001 and 2020. The primary outcome was treatment survival, and it was defined as the duration from HHD initiation to the first event of death or technique failure.

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