Publications by authors named "Aya Yamada"

Solitary median maxillary central incisor (SMMCI) syndrome, the mildest form of the holoprosencephaly spectrum, is a rare anomaly characterized by the presence of a single midline central incisor in both the deciduous and permanent dentitions. Affected individuals can present with additional midline defects beyond dental findings. The 22q11.

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Malassezia species are lipophilic yeasts recognized for causing skin manifestations, such as pityriasis versicolor. In addition, Malassezia can lead to invasive infection, mostly intravascular catheter-associated sepsis-related lipid-containing total parenteral nutrition in neonates and immunocompromised hosts. We experienced a case of invasive pulmonary Malassezia infection in a patient with refractory ulcerative colitis undergoing immunosuppressive treatment without lipid-containing total parenteral nutrition.

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Background: Although pulmonary metastasectomy is a commonly-performed procedure, data are lacking on the feasibility and oncological efficacy of removal of pulmonary metastases from pancreatic cancer. In this study, we retrospectively compared features of pulmonary metastases from pancreatic cancer versus colorectal cancer (CRC, patients with CRC being common candidates for pulmonary metastasectomy) and outcomes of removing such metastases, with our aim being to identify specific features of the former.

Methods: Data on removal of 182 pulmonary metastases (29 from pancreatic and 153 from CRC) performed from January 2013 to April 2024 were included in this analysis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Spontaneous regression of cancer is a rare phenomenon, poorly understood, with limited reports on the changes in morphology and metabolism during this process.
  • An 80-year-old man diagnosed with stage IVA lung cancer experienced a complete regression of rib metastasis after 4 months without treatment, while his mediastinal lymph node metastasis only partially regressed before growing again after 10 months.
  • Analysis via CT and FDG-PET/CT revealed that the rib metastasis had a higher presence of immune cells, indicating immune activation, whereas the mediastinal lymph node metastasis showed fewer immune cells, indicating tumor activation.
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Introduction: This study aimed to determine the association between cumulative maternal physical activity level and their children's physical activity in early childhood. We also compared the influence of each maternal physical activity on children's physical activity in early childhood.

Methods: We analyzed the data from 1,067 Japanese mother-child pairs.

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Keratins are typical intermediate filament proteins of the epithelium that exhibit highly specific expression patterns related to the epithelial type and stage of cellular differentiation. They are important for cytoplasmic stability and epithelial integrity and are involved in various intracellular signaling pathways. Several keratins are associated with enamel formation.

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Background: This study aimed to examine whether the coefficient of variation (CV) in the hepatobiliary-phase (HBP) of Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI could be an independent predictive factor for tumor progression.

Methods: Patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI before Atezolizumab/bevacizumab therapy at six affiliated institutions between 2018 and 2022 were included. CV for each patient was calculated as the mean value for up to five tumors larger than 10 mm, and CV of the whole tumor was calculated using LIFEx software.

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Tooth development is a complex process involving various signaling pathways and genes. Recent findings suggest that ion channels and transporters, including the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, may be involved in tooth formation. However, our knowledge in this regard is limited.

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The pleura is a thin, smooth, soft-tissue structure that lines the pleural cavity and separates the lungs from the chest wall, consisting of the visceral and parietal pleurae and physiologic pleural fluid. There is a broad spectrum of normal variations and abnormalities in the pleura, including pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and pleural thickening. Pneumothorax is associated with pulmonary diseases and is caused by iatrogenic or traumatic factors.

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Enamel is formed by the repetitive secretion of a tooth-specific extracellular matrix and its decomposition. Calcification of the enamel matrix via hydroxyapatite (HAP) maturation requires pH cycling to be tightly regulated through the neutralization of protons released during HAP synthesis. We found that Gpr115, which responds to changes in extracellular pH, plays an important role in enamel formation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Adequate physical activity during pregnancy is important for both maternal and fetal health, but it is often limited; social support can positively affect this activity.
  • This study focuses on the connection between cognitive social capital (like trust and networks) and prenatal physical activity among 3,055 Japanese pregnant women in their second trimester.
  • Findings show that emotional support is linked to higher levels of adequate physical activity during pregnancy and continues to influence physical activity levels 1.5 years postpartum.
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Objectives: Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are extremely important in tooth development and essential for ameloblast differentiation, especially during tooth formation. We aimed to identify the type of mesenchymal cells important in ameloblast differentiation.

Methods: We used two types of cell culture systems with chambers and found that a subset of debtal mesenchimal cells is important for the differentiatiuon of dental spithelial cells into ameloblasts.

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Recently, the development of dental materials has increased the availability of various hyperesthesia desensitizers. However, there are no studies on the duration of retreatment in terms of adherence rates. Thus, the adhesion rates of resin-based desensitizers were investigated.

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Development of chemotherapy has led to a high survival rate of cancer patients; however, the severe side effects of anticancer drugs, including organ hypoplasia, persist. To assume the side effect of anticancer drugs, we established a new ex vivo screening model and described a method for suppressing side effects. Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is a commonly used anticancer drug and causes severe side effects in developing organs with intensive proliferation, including the teeth and hair.

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Cell- and tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) composition plays an important role in organ development, including teeth, by regulating cell behaviors, such as cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that von Willebrand factor D and epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains (Vwde), a previously uncharacterized ECM protein, is specifically expressed in teeth and regulates cell proliferation and differentiation in inner enamel epithelial cells (IEEs) and enamel formation. We identified the Vwde as a novel ECM protein through bioinformatics using the NCBI expressed sequence tag database for mice.

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Background: Recently, tooth deformities have been frequently encountered by pediatric dentists. Severe enamel hypomineralization sometimes induces pain such as hyperesthesia, but composite resin restoration is difficult because it often detaches without any cavity preparation. Resin-based hypersensitivity inhibitors for tooth physically seal the dentinal tubules.

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Tissue-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play an important role in cellular differentiation. We recently identified AmeloD as a tooth-specific bHLH transcription factor. However, the role of AmeloD in cellular differentiation has not been investigated.

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Article Synopsis
  • Esketamine nasal spray (Spravato) is used with oral antidepressants to treat treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and needs assessment in Japanese patients for efficacy and safety.
  • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted where Japanese adults with TRD were given a new oral anti-depressant followed by either esketamine or placebo for further evaluation over a period of 4 weeks.
  • Results showed a decrease in depression scores among patients using esketamine compared to placebo; however, the findings were not statistically significant, and some side effects were reported.
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Connexin 43 (Cx43) is an integral membrane protein that forms gap junction channels. These channels mediate intercellular transport and intracellular signaling to regulate organogenesis. The human disease oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is caused by mutations in Cx43 and is characterized by skeletal, ocular, and dental abnormalities including amelogenesis imperfecta.

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The epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are essential for the initiation and regulation of the development of teeth. Following the initiation of tooth development, numerous growth factors are secreted by the dental epithelium and mesenchyme that play critical roles in cellular differentiation. During tooth morphogenesis, the dental epithelial stem cells differentiate into several cell types, including inner enamel epithelial cells, which then differentiate into enamel matrix-secreting ameloblasts.

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A subpopulation of mesenchymal stem cells, developmentally derived from multipotent neural crest cells that form multiple facial tissues, resides within the dental pulp of human teeth. These stem cells show high proliferative capacity in vitro and are multipotent, including adipogenic, myogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic potential. Teeth containing viable cells are harvested via minimally invasive procedures, based on various clinical diagnoses, but then usually discarded as medical waste, indicating the relatively low ethical considerations to reuse these cells for medical applications.

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There is growing evidence showing that tight junctions play an important role in developing enamel. Claudins are one of the main components of tight junctions and may have pivotal functions in modulating various cellular events, such as regulating cell differentiation and proliferation. Mutations in of humans are associated with HELIX syndrome and cause enamel defects.

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Dental epithelial stem cells give rise to four types of dental epithelial cells: inner enamel epithelium (IEE), outer enamel epithelium (OEE), stratum intermedium (SI), and stellate reticulum (SR). IEE cells further differentiate into enamel-forming ameloblasts, which play distinct roles, and are essential for enamel formation. These are conventionally classified by their shape, although their transcriptome and biological roles are yet to be fully understood.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dental enamel, the hardest substance in the body, is formed by matrices secreted from ameloblasts, and its mineralization is closely linked to the maturation of these cells and ion balance.
  • Disruption in the processes regulating enamel can lead to hypomineralization, and the study highlights the importance of a specific G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in this process.
  • Research using knockout mice and dental cell lines shows that this GPCR is essential for proper ion transport and pH balance in enamel formation, indicating a significant role in both enamel mineralization and ectodermal organ development.
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Synopsis of recent research by authors named "Aya Yamada"

  • - Aya Yamada's recent research primarily focuses on the clinical aspects of pulmonary infections, metastatic cancer features, and the influence of maternal health on child physical activity, as evidenced by her diverse publications in journals such as J Thorac Imaging and Jpn J Clin Oncol.
  • - Notable findings include the case of invasive pulmonary Malassezia infection in an ulcerative colitis patient, highlighting complexities in immunocompromised patient care, and distinct clinico-radiological characteristics of pulmonary metastases from pancreatic cancer compared to colorectal cancer.
  • - Yamada's research also addresses broader health implications, such as the relationship between maternal physical activity and children's physical activity, promoting understanding of lifestyle factors that influence early childhood development in Japan.*