Comparison of executive functions in Russian and Japanese preschoolers.

This study analyzed differences in level of main executive function (EF) components (such as inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) among Russian and Japanese preschoolers. The study involved 102 children of 5-6.9 years old: 51 child from Russia and 51 child from Japan.

Ingenuity for enabling the habituation of pelvic floor muscle training.

[Purpose] To clarify factors contributing to habituation of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for urinary incontinence. [Subjects and Methods] We included 13 healthy females and examined diurnal and nocturnal urination frequency at initial program participation and at 3 months. The survey used the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), a 10-level self-assessment of anxiety associated with urinary incontinence, and a 10-level self-evaluation of PFMT understanding and skill acquisition.

CSAHi study: Detection of drug-induced ion channel/receptor responses, QT prolongation, and arrhythmia using multi-electrode arrays in combination with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Introduction: The use of multi-electrode arrays (MEA) in combination with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) provides a promising method to predict comprehensive cardiotoxicity, including drug-induced QT prolongation and arrhythmia. We previously demonstrated that MEA in combination with hiPSC-CMs could provide a generalizable platform by using 7 reference drugs at 10 testing facilities. Using this approach, we evaluated responses to reference drugs that modulate a range of cardiac ion currents and have a range of arrhythmogenic effects.

Bite Force and Masticatory Performance Using Implant-supported Overdentures After Treatment of Mandibular Cancer.

Aim: To evaluate overdentures with regard to artificial restoration of oral function following mandibular cancer.

Materials And Methods: We examined 32 patients who had undergone mandibular bone resection as treatment for malignancy and were using implant-supported overdentures. The patients were aged 55-87 years (mean=68.

CSAHi study: Evaluation of multi-electrode array in combination with human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes to predict drug-induced QT prolongation and arrhythmia--effects of 7 reference compounds at 10 facilities.

Introduction: Drug-induced QT prolongation is a major safety issue during drug development because it may lead to lethal ventricular arrhythmias. In this study, we evaluated the utility of multi-electrode arrays (MEA) with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs) to predict drug-induced QT prolongation and arrhythmia.

Methods: Ten facilities evaluated the effects of 7 reference drugs (E-4031, moxifloxacin, flecainide, terfenadine, chromanol 293B, verapamil, and aspirin) using a MED64 MEA system with commercially available hiPS-CMs.

Light and electron microscopic detection of inflammation-targeting liposomes encapsulating high-density colloidal gold in arthritic mice.

Objective: We have previously demonstrated the efficient and time-dependent transvascular localization of Sialyl Lewis X (SLX)-liposomes to inflammatory sites, but the final target of the SLX-liposomes remained uncertain. The aim of this study was to identify the target cells of the liposomes within the inflamed joints of collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) model mice.

Methods: SLX-liposomes and unlabeled liposomes encapsulating high-density colloidal gold were administered intravenously into the caudal vein of CAIA mice on day 5 after induction of arthritis when the inflammatory score was maximal (n = 6 per group).

Tensile strain increases expression of CCN2 and COL2A1 by activating TGF-β-Smad2/3 pathway in chondrocytic cells.

Physiologic mechanical stress stimulates expression of chondrogenic genes, such as multifunctional growth factor CYR61/CTGF/NOV (CCN) 2 and α1(II) collagen (COL2A1), and maintains cartilage homeostasis. In our previous studies, cyclic tensile strain (CTS) induces nuclear translocation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β receptor-regulated Smad2/3 and the master chondrogenic transcription factor Sry-type HMG box (SOX) 9. However, the precise mechanism of stretch-mediated Smad activation remains unclear in transcriptional regulation of CCN2 and COL2A1.

Angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis are promoted in mice lacking Fgf16.

Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) are pleiotropic proteins involved in development, repair and metabolism. Fgf16 is predominantly expressed in the heart. However, as the heart function is essentially normal in Fgf16 knockout mice, its role has remained unclear.

Pharmacological modulation of histone demethylase activity by a small molecule isolated from subcritical water extracts of Sasa senanensis leaves prolongs the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster.

Background: Extracts of Sasa senanensis Rehder are used in traditional Japanese medicine; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of their potential health benefits.

Methods: S. senanensis leaves were extracted with subcritical water.

ROCK inhibitor prevents the dedifferentiation of human articular chondrocytes.

Chondrocytes lose their chondrocytic phenotypes in vitro. The Rho family GTPase ROCK, involved in organizing the actin cytoskeleton, modulates the differentiation status of chondrocytic cells. However, the optimum method to prepare a large number of un-dedifferentiated chondrocytes is still unclear.

Antenatally diagnosed congenital orbital teratoma in which rupture was associated with intrauterine fetal death.

We report a case of a fetus with a congenital orbital teratoma (COT), in which rupture of the tumor was associated with an intrauterine fetal demise. An ultrasound scan at 27 weeks' revealed a solid and cystic, complex mass in the orbital region with extensive vascularization suggestive of an orbital cystic teratoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) supported this diagnosis and clarified tumor localization.

trans-translation-mediated tight regulation of the expression of the alternative ribosome-rescue factor ArfA in Escherichia coli.

Ribosomes translating mRNA without an in-frame stop codon (non-stop mRNA) stall at its 3' end. In eubacteria, such ribosomes are rescued by SsrA-mediated trans-translation. Recently, we have shown that Escherichia coli ArfA (formerly YhdL) also rescues stalled ribosomes by a mechanism distinct from that of trans-translation.

The use of opioids in a pregnant woman with lumbar disc herniation: a case report.

It is not easy to diagnose lumbar disc herniation during pregnancy due to the limitation of the examinations and it is also difficult to control the severe pain during this time. A pregnant woman with lumbar disc herniation was transferred to our hospital at the 23rd week of gestation. The pain was successfully controlled with opioids and epidural anesthesia.

Stereoselective preparation, structures, and reactivities of phosphine-bridged mixed-metal trinuclear and pentanuclear complexes with tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine.

The phosphine-bridged linear trinuclear and pentanuclear complexes with Pd(II)-Pt(II)-Pd(II), Ni(II)-Pt(II)-Ni(II), and Rh(III)-Pd(II)-Pt(II)-Pd(II)-Rh(III) metal-ion sequences were almost quantitatively formed by the stepwise phosphine-bridging reaction of the terminal phosphino groups of tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine (pp3), which is the tetradentate bound ligand of the starting Pd(II) and Ni(II) complexes. The solid-state structures of the trinuclear complexes were determined by X-ray structural analyses, and the structures of the polynuclear complexes in solution were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The trans and cis isomers of the trinuclear and pentanuclear complexes, which arise from the geometry around the Pt(II) center, were selectively obtained simply by changing the counteranion of the starting complexes: the tetrafluoroborate salts, [MX(pp3)](BF4) [M = Pd(II) or Ni(II), X = Cl- or 4-chlorothiophenolate (4-Cltp-)], gave only the trans isomers, and the chloride salt, [PdCl(pp3)]Cl, gave only the cis isomers.