Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor promotes regeneration of severed facial nerve in rats.

Background And Aim: The administration of growth and neurotrophic factors has been attempted experimentally as a new therapeutic strategy for severe facial paralysis. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has an effect on the treatment of central nervous system injuries, such as cerebral infarction and spinal cord injury. This study aimed at examining the effects of G-CSF on facial nerve regeneration in rats.

Predicting synkinesis caused by Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome using machine learning-based logistic regression.

Objective: To investigate whether machine learning (ML)-based algorithms, namely logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), and gradient-boosting decision tree (GBDT), utilizing early post-onset parameters can predict facial synkinesis resulting from Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome more accurately than the conventional statistics-based LR.

Methods: This retrospective study included 362 patients who presented to a facial palsy outpatient clinic. Median follow-up of synkinesis-positive and -negative patients was 388 (range, 177-1922) and 198 (range, 190-3021) days, respectively.

Merging the Norrish type I reaction and transition metal catalysis: photo- and Rh-promoted borylation of C-C σ-bonds of aryl ketones.

Synthesis of arylboronates borylation of C-C σ-bonds of aryl ketones was achieved by the combined use of photoenergy and a Rh catalyst. The cooperative system enables α-cleavage of photoexcited ketones to generate aroyl radicals the Norrish type I reaction, which are successively decarbonylated and borylated with the rhodium catalyst. This work establishes a new catalytic cycle merging the Norrish type I reaction and Rh catalysis and demonstrates the new synthetic utility of aryl ketones as aryl sources for intermolecular arylation reactions.

Direct Fluorescence Evaluation of d-Amino Acid Oxidase Activity Using a Synthetic d-Kynurenine Derivative.

d-Amino acid oxidase (DAO) has been suggested to be associated with the central nervous system diseases, such as schizophrenia. We newly synthesized a nonfluorescent 5-methylthio-d-kynurenine (MeS-d-KYN), which was converted to blue-fluorescent 6-MeS-kynurenic acid (MeS-KYNA, λ = 364 nm, λ = 450 nm) through a one-step reaction by incubation with DAO. It was revealed that fluorescence intensity increased accompanied by commercial porcine kidney DAO activity (unit) with a good correlation ( = 0.

Associations between diabetes duration and self-stigma development in Japanese people with type 2 diabetes: a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data.

Objectives: To examine the associations between self-stigma and diabetes duration in a sample of Japanese people with type 2 diabetes.

Design: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study.

Setting: Two university hospitals, one general hospital and one clinic in Tokyo, Japan.

Clinical and electrophysiological findings of facial palsy in a case of hereditary gelsolin amyloidosis.

Hereditary gelsolin amyloidosis (HGA) is an autosomal dominant systemic amyloidosis, characterized by cranial and sensory peripheral neuropathy, corneal lattice dystrophy, and cutis laxa. We report a case of HGA presenting with bilateral facial palsy. A 70-year-old Japanese man presented with slowly progressive bilateral facial palsy and facial twitching, which had started in his 40s.

Emergence of practical fluorescence in a confined space of nanoporous silica: significantly enhanced quantum yields of a conjugated molecule.

The fluorescence of benzanthrone, which is a conjugated molecule bearing a carbonyl group, is activated by confinement in a pore with a diameter close to the molecular size. An intense emission originating from the aromatic character π-π* transition is achieved through suppression of the nonradiative n-π* transition by strong hydrogen bonding between carbonyl groups and silanol groups with a micropore-filling effect in the nanospace.

Delayed Union of Stress Fracture of the First Rib in a Yoga Instructor: A Case Report.

Case: We describe the case of a 38-year-old woman, a yoga instructor, who had pain in the right shoulder and scapular region of 4 months' duration while performing yoga. Radiography and computed tomography diagnosed delayed union of a first rib stress fracture. The delayed union of stress fracture of the first rib was successfully treated with the limiting of yoga activity and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS).

Understanding the experiences of long-term maintenance of self-worth in persons with type 2 diabetes in Japan: a qualitative study.

Objective: Persons with type 2 diabetes are often stigmatised for having what is considered a lifestyle-related disease. Accordingly, some blame themselves for their condition, resulting in feelings of low self-worth that ultimately impact their self-management behaviours. However, there are no studies examining why some do not blame themselves for their condition and manage to maintain their self-worth in relation to their illness.

Discovery of a Potent Anticancer Agent PVHD303 with Activity.

As a part of our continuous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on 1-(quinazolin-4-yl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-ols, the synthesis of derivatives and their cytotoxicity against the human lung cancer cell line A549 were explored. This led to the discovery of 1-(2-(furan-3-yl)quinazolin-4-yl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-ol (PVHD303) with potent antiproliferative activity. PVHD303 disturbed microtubule formation at the centrosomes and inhibited the growth of tumors dose-dependently in the HCT116 human colon cancer xenograft model .

How self-stigma affects patient activation in persons with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Self-stigma is associated with lower patient activation levels for self-care in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the causal pathway linking self-stigma with patient activation for self-care has not been shown. In order to determine how self-stigma affects patient activation for self-care, we tested a two-path hypothetical model both directly and as mediated by self-esteem and self-efficacy.

A new training method for velopharyngeal dysfunction: Self-inhalation for hypernasality.

Objective: There are various methods to treat velopharyngeal dysfunction including　surgery and rehabilitation therapy. Even if a rehabilitation program is effective, the evaluation of its efficacy remains subjective. In this paper, we propose a new method of rehabilitation training for velopharyngeal dysfunction focusing on the objective peak inspiratory flow (PIF) rate.

[Usual Relationship to Support Sudden Discharge-Coordination Starting from Pre-Discharge Support Considered through a Case Report of Supporting a Patient with ALS].

Due to promotion of home medical care, the number of patients who highly depend on medical care is increasing. Therefore, the role of pre-discharge conferences where a care manager is involved starting from pre-discharge support has become more important. In addition, in a usual relationship, cooperation between the hospital staff and the home care support team is crucial.

Single, high-dose local injection of bFGF improves thyroarytenoid muscle atrophy after paralysis.

Objectives/hypothesis: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) induces hoarseness due to progressive atrophy of the denervated thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle. Therefore, treatments aimed at regenerating the atrophied TA muscle are required. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is involved in muscle development and regeneration.

Fluorescence Enhancement of Ethanolic Solution of Nitroarenes and Its Analytical Application.

When ethanolic solutions of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) and 3-nitrobenzanthorone (3-NBA) were irradiated with intense light, which they absorb, for several minutes, the fluorescence characteristics of the solutions were significantly changed. After such preliminary irradiation, the fluorescence intensity of 1-NP increased immediately by a factor of 10 with a blue shift of 100 nm and that of 3-NBA 700 with a red shift of 10 nm. The findings were applied to high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector so that the two nitroarenes could be quantitatively analyzed by preliminary irradiation of their solutions before measurements.

Vocal Hygiene Education Program Reduces Surgical Interventions for Benign Vocal Fold Lesions: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives/hypothesis: Vocal fold polyps and nodules are common benign laryngeal lesions. Currently, the Japanese health insurance system covers surgical interventions. However, the establishment of more cost-effective conservative methods is required, because healthcare costs are viewed as a major concern, and the government and taxpayers are demanding more economical, effective treatments.

[Team Collaboration in Home Medical Care to Support Patients at the End-of-Life - Review of Service Personnel Meeting on Discharge Day].

Due to the rising number of patients at the terminal stage or with high dependence on medical care, the cooperation of 2 teams, the hospital discharge support team and the home support team, has become very important. The recent spread of the Internet has enabled both patients and their families who have chosen home care to obtain a wide range of information about home services, as well as diseases, and form a picture of what will happen. However, there are actually many cases in which patients and families find that things are not as they imagined, and they are uneasy and unsure of what to do.

Live-attenuated vaccines in a cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome patient receiving canakinumab treatment during infancy.

We successfully immunized the neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID) patient with live-attenuated vaccines for measles, rubella, varicella, and mumps and achieved sufficient antibody titer under canakinumab therapy without complications.

Detectable voice change with the edrophonium test in laryngeal myasthenia gravis.

A case of laryngeal myasthenia gravis in a 65-year-old woman presenting with hoarseness as the sole symptom is reported. Voice spectrography was performed before and after injection of intravenous edrophonium. There was a marked improvement in the patient's voice after the administration of edrophonium, which was confirmed by the changes seen on the sound spectrogram.

Psychological and behavioural patterns of stigma among patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the psychological and behavioural patterns of stigma (self-esteem and social participation) and their relationship to self-stigma, patient activation for engaging in self-care and glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: 2 tertiary-level hospitals and 2 secondary-level hospitals in Japan.

[Supporting Patients with Disease Living at Home].

In daily life, many are not familiar with progressive intractable disease. It is often the case that the patient's family confronts a rare progressive disease only once a diagnosis is made. In recent years, the internet has made it possible for families to learn about diseases in detail, and they can more or less predict the likely course of nursing care required by the patient in the days to come.

A qualitative study on the impact of internalized stigma on type 2 diabetes self-management.

Objective: To explore how patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) psychologically and behaviorally respond to internalized stigma through social stigma.

Methods: A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was recorded on audiotapes, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Participants were adults aged 30-64 years and diagnosed with T2DM.

Role of lifestyle modifications for patients with laryngeal granuloma caused by gastro-esophageal reflux: comparison between conservative treatment and the surgical approach.

Conclusions: It is considered that a regimen combining pharmacologic management and lifestyle modifications is the most effective treatment for laryngeal granulomas caused by GER.

Objectives: This study compared the results of the combination therapy and surgery to determine the best treatment of laryngeal granuloma caused by gastro-esophageal reflux in 51 patients.

Methods: Prospective study.