1,5-anhydro-D-fructose induces anti-aging effects on aging-associated brain diseases by increasing 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activity via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator-1α/brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathway.

5'-Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a metabolic sensor that serves as a cellular housekeeper; it also controls energy homeostasis and stress resistance. Thus, correct regulation of this factor can enhance health and survival. AMPK signaling may have a critical role in aging-associated brain diseases.

Inverse Versus Normal Behavior of Interactions, Elucidated Based on the Dynamic Nature with QTAIM Dual-Functional Analysis.

In QTAIM dual-functional analysis, () is plotted versus () - ()/2 for the interactions, where () and () are the total electron energy densities and potential energy densities, respectively, at the bond critical points (BCPs) on the interactions in question. The plots are analyzed by the polar (, ) coordinate representation for the data from the fully optimized structures, while those from the perturbed structures around the fully optimized structures are analyzed by (, ). corresponds to the tangent line of the plot, and is the curvature; and are measured from the -axis and -direction, respectively.

Robotic ankle control can provide appropriate assistance throughout the gait cycle in healthy adults.

Ankle foot orthoses are mainly applied to provide stability in the stance phase and adequate foot clearance in the swing phase; however, they do not sufficiently assist during the entire gait cycle. On the other hand, robotic-controlled orthoses can provide mechanical assistance throughout the phases of the gait cycle. This study investigated the effect of ankle control throughout the gait cycle using an ankle joint walking assistive device under five different robotic assistance conditions: uncontrolled, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion controlled at high and low speeds in the initial loading phase.

E8002 Reduces Adhesion Formation and Improves Joint Mobility in a Rat Model of Knee Arthrofibrosis.

Knee arthrofibrosis is a common complication of knee surgery, caused by excessive scar tissue, which results in functional disability. However, no curative treatment has been established. E8002 is an anti-adhesion material that contains L-ascorbic acid, an antioxidant.

Intramuscular Coherence of the Lower Flexor Muscles during Robotic Ankle-Assisted Gait.

A close-fitting assisted walking device (RE-Gait) designed to assist ankle movements might be a novel approach for acquiring the forefoot rocker function in the gait cycle. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of using RE-Gait by evaluating the intramuscular coherence (IMC) of the two parts of the tibialis anterior muscles (TA), which could indicate whether a common synaptic drive is present. Seventeen healthy volunteers walked on a treadmill at a comfortable speed before, during, and immediately after 15-minute RE-Gait intervention.

Current Awareness and Status of Venous Ultrasonography in Kumamoto Prefecture - A Report of the Kumamoto Cardiovascular Echocardiography Standardization Project.

There are few reports on the current awareness and status of venous ultrasonography, including the number of specialists who perform this procedure, in a specific regional area in Japan. This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Kumamoto Prefecture from October 2018 to March 2019. Of the 366 medical institutions providing cardiology services in Kumamoto Prefecture, 259 (101 general hospitals, 158 small clinics) responded to our questionnaire.

Preconditioning Exercise in Rats Attenuates Early Brain Injury Resulting from Subarachnoid Hemorrhage by Reducing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Neuronal Apoptosis.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a catastrophic form of stroke responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal apoptosis are important in the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) following SAH. Preconditioning exercise confers neuroprotective effects, mitigating EBI; however, the basis for such protection is unknown.

Intrinsic Dynamic and Static Nature of Halogen Bonding in Neutral Polybromine Clusters, with the Structural Feature Elucidated by QTAIM Dual-Functional Analysis and MO Calculations.

The intrinsic dynamic and static nature of noncovalent Br-∗-Br interactions in neutral polybromine clusters is elucidated for Br-Br, applying QTAIM dual-functional analysis (QTAIM-DFA). The asterisk (∗) emphasizes the existence of the bond critical point (BCP) on the interaction in question. Data from the fully optimized structures correspond to the static nature of the interactions.

Current Awareness and Status of Transthoracic Echocardiography in Kumamoto Prefecture - A Report of the Kumamoto Cardiovascular Echocardiography Standardization Project.

There are few reports on current awareness and status of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), including the actual performance rate according to echocardiographic guidelines, in a specific area or region. This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Kumamoto Prefecture from October 2018 to March 2019. There are 366 medical institutions advocating cardiology in Kumamoto Prefecture.

The inhibition of evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials produced by ammonium chloride in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons.

The depression of evoked fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) following superfusion with various concentrations (3 μM-5 mM) of ammonium chloride (NHCl) were investigated in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons. The amplitude of the evoked fast EPSPs decreased by NHCl in a concentration-dependent manner. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration for the inhibition of evoked fast EPSPs was 198 ± 125 μM (n = 8).

E8002 Inhibits Peripheral Nerve Adhesion by Enhancing Fibrinolysis of l-Ascorbic Acid in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Model.

Perineural adhesions leading to neuropathy are one of the most undesirable consequences of peripheral nerve surgery. However, there are currently no widely used compounds with anti-adhesive effects in the field of peripheral nerve surgery. E8002 is a novel, anti-adhesive, multi-layer membrane that contains L-ascorbic acid (AA).

Short-term effect of a close-fitting type of walking assistive device on spinal cord reciprocal inhibition.

One of the major problems with walking encountered by patients with spastic hemiplegia is diminished toe clearance due to spasticity of their leg muscles. To improve their walking, a specialized robot assist for ankle movements (RE-Gait) has been utilized. The present study examined the neurophysiological effects whether spinal cord reciprocal Ia inhibition (RI) in the leg was altered by using RE-Gait.

Evaluation of the Walking-Emotion Relationship for Applying to an Assistive Walking Device.

In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between walking and emotion. We utilized the two-dimension (2D) walking condition map and the 2D emotion map to confirm the tendency and correlation. From the results, we defined each walking gait corresponding to each emotional state.

Endobronchial Manifestation of Methotrexate-induced Lymphoproliferative Disorder.

Lymphoproliferative disorders can occur in patients with autoimmune disorders who undergo long-term methotrexate therapy (MTX-LPD). Although the manifestations of MTX-LPD are diverse, little attention is paid to endobronchial involvement. We herein describe two patients with MTX-LPD who presented with parenchymal pulmonary tumors and endobronchial involvement of LPD; one had lymphomatoid gramulomatosis and the other LPD.

Uric acid enhances alteplase-mediated thrombolysis as an antioxidant.

Uric acid (UA) therapy may prevent early ischemic worsening after acute stroke in thrombolysis patients. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of UA on the thrombolytic efficacy of alteplase in human blood samples by measuring thrombolysis under flow conditions using a newly developed microchip-based flow-chamber assay. Human blood samples from healthy volunteers were exposed to UA, alteplase, or a combination of UA and alteplase.

Application of a Novel Anti-Adhesive Membrane, E8002, in a Rat Laminectomy Model.

Neuropathic pain after spinal surgery, so-called failed back surgery syndrome, is a frequently observed common complication. One cause of the pain is scar tissue formation, observed as post-surgical epidural adhesions. These adhesions may compress surrounding spinal nerves, resulting in pain, even after successful spinal surgery.

Edaravone, a Synthetic Free Radical Scavenger, Enhances Alteplase-Mediated Thrombolysis.

The combination of alteplase, a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, and edaravone, an antioxidant, reportedly enhances recanalization after acute ischemic stroke. We examined the influence of edaravone on the thrombolytic efficacy of alteplase by measuring thrombolysis using a newly developed microchip-based flow-chamber assay. Rat models of embolic cerebral ischemia were treated with either alteplase or alteplase-edaravone combination therapy.

Pleuritis Caused by Mycobacterium kyorinense without Pulmonary Involvement.

We herein describe the first known case of pleuritis caused by Mycobacterium kyorinense without pulmonary involvement. A 48-year-old man undergoing immunosuppressant therapy presented with cough and dyspnea. An accumulation of pleural fluid was noted; however, computed tomography revealed no pulmonary lesions.

Activation of cathepsin L contributes to the irreversible depolarization induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) elicits a rapid and irreversible depolarization with a latency of ∼5min in intracellular recordings of hippocampal CA1 neurons in rat slice preparations. In the present study, we examined the role of cathepsin L in the OGD-induced depolarization. OGD-induced depolarizations were irreversible as no recovery of membrane potential was observed.

Disturbance of cardiac gene expression and cardiomyocyte structure predisposes Mecp2-null mice to arrhythmias.

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is an epigenetic regulator of gene expression that is essential for normal brain development. Mutations in MeCP2 lead to disrupted neuronal function and can cause Rett syndrome (RTT), a neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous studies reported cardiac dysfunction, including arrhythmias in both RTT patients and animal models of RTT.

Changes in the nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase system and natriuretic peptide receptor system in placentas of pregnant Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Aim: Diminished vasodilator activity during pregnancy, which augments vascular responses to vasoconstrictors, is one reason for the onset of pre-eclampsia and superimposed pre-eclampsia. It is known that Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) rats develop salt-sensitive hypertension like African-Americans. The present study attempted to assess the changes and the interactions of the NOS-NO-sGC-cGMP and NP-NPR-cGMP systems in the hypertensive placenta using Dahl-S rats as an animal model of superimposed pre-eclampsia.

Three patients with familial Mediterranean fever: a possible underdiagnosed entity in Japan.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by periodic fever and serosal inflammation. FMF is mostly reported in the Mediterranean region and is considered to be rare in Japan with estimated 292 cases. We treated three unrelated FMF patients in one year in a city with 144,000 residents.

Clinical trials in acute ischemic stroke.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a major cause of mortality and disability and remains a serious and significant global health problem. The development of neurovascular protectants to treat AIS successfully has been beset by disappointments and setbacks. Many promising candidates have lacked significant pleiotropic protective activity for brain tissue and cerebral blood vessels in clinical trials, while those with protective activity have had poor bioavailability or high toxicity.

Potential of the angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) telmisartan, irbesartan, and candesartan for inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE axis in prevention and acute treatment of stroke.

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide. The main cause of stroke is atherosclerosis, and the most common risk factor for atherosclerosis is hypertension. Therefore, antihypertensive treatments are recommended for the prevention of stroke.