Quantitative analysis of I-iomazenil single-photon emission computed tomography findings from patients with infantile epileptic spasm syndrome.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of intracranial gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in patients with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) of normal brain MRI findings using I-iomazenil single-photon emission computed tomography (IMZ-SPECT).

Methods: This retrospective study compared IMZ-SPECT images from 20 patients with IESS of unknown etiology with normal brain MRI (unknown IESS group) and 23 patients with developmentally normal epilepsy of the same age (developmentally normal group). A three-dimensional stereotactic region of interest (ROI) template was used to divide the brain into 24 segments (left and right callosomarginal, precentral, central, parietal, angular, temporal, posterior cerebral, pericallosal, lenticular nucleus, thalamus, hippocampus, and cerebellum), and the mean accumulation of I-iomazenil in each ROI was calculated.

Simple preservation of schistosome eggs with high infectivity up to 12 weeks.

The lifecycle of schistosomes must be continuously maintained to clarify and understand this parasite in various aspects in laboratory settings. In the previous studies by other researchers, preservation of schistosome larvae or eggs was attempted by freezing with liquid nitrogen or organic chemicals, but frozen schistosomes were substantially impaired. The present study was conducted to determine whether schistosome eggs can be preserved under a non-frozen condition.

Elementary school enrollment after ACTH therapy for patients with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome.

Purpose: Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) often has a severe neurodevelopmental prognosis. However, few studies have examined the aspect of elementary school enrollment. This study evaluated elementary school enrollment after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy in patients with IESS.

Downregulation of IRF7-mediated type-I interferon response by LmCen parasites is necessary for protective immunity.

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites and currently has no licensed vaccines. We developed a dermotropic Leishmania major centrin gene-deleted strain (LmCen) as a live attenuated vaccine. Recent studies have shown that type I interferons (IFNs) play important roles in immunity to parasitic and viral pathogens.

Exosomes from Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Promote Differentiation of Osteoblast-like Cells and Bone Healing in Rat Calvarial Bone.

Deep caries and severe periodontitis cause bone resorption in periodontal tissue, and severe bone resorption leads to tooth loss. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are important for the healing of defective periodontal tissue. It is increasingly understood that healing of periodontal tissue is mediated through the secretion of trophic factors, particularly exosomes.

Labeling of miracidium using fluorescent agents to visualize infection of schistosome in intermediate host snails.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease affecting more than 250 million people worldwide. Schistosomes infect humans by cercariae penetrating the skin in a freshwater environment. Findings obtained more than 100 years prior showed that miracidium develops into cercaria in freshwater snails, though detailed development dynamics have not been elucidated.

Establishment of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell-like Cells Derived from Feeder-Free Cultured Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a fibrous connective tissue that connects the cementum of the root to the alveolar bone. PDL stem cells (PDLSCs) contained in the PDL can differentiate into cementoblasts, osteoblasts, and PDL fibroblasts, with essential roles in periodontal tissue regeneration. Therefore, PDLSCs are expected to be useful in periodontal tissue regeneration therapy.

Effectiveness of vigabatrin for infantile epileptic spasm syndrome categorized by etiologies.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of vigabatrin (VGB) in patients diagnosed with infantile epileptic spasm syndrome (IESS) and categorize these patients based on their etiologies.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with IESS who exhibited epileptic spasms before the age of 2 years between January 1, 2015, and October 31, 2023 at Saitama Children's Medical Center. Patients with tuberous sclerosis as the identified etiology were excluded.

Serum matrix metallopeptidase-9 levels in infantile epileptic spasms syndrome of unknown etiology.

Purpose: Epileptic spasms are the primary symptom of infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS); however, their direct impact on blood-brain barrier (BBB) function is unknown. Matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), degrades type IV collagen, a key component of the blood-brain barrier, while tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) suppresses its activity, protecting BBB integrity. This study aimed to assess serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in patients with IESS of unknown etiology.

Ultra-processed foods cause weight gain and increased energy intake associated with reduced chewing frequency: A randomized, open-label, crossover study.

Aim: To elucidate the effects of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on body weight and ad libitum energy intake compared with non-UPFs.

Materials And Methods: In this randomized, open-label crossover study conducted at the University of Tokyo Hospital, overweight/obese Japanese male participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to start the study with consumption of either UPFs or non-UPFs for 1 week, followed by a 2-week washout period, before crossing over to the alternate food diet for 1 week. Individuals with diabetes, hypertension or any other medical conditions who visited a hospital regularly were excluded.

Methodological assessment for efficient collection of Schistosoma mansoni environmental DNA and improved schistosomiasis surveillance in tropical wetlands.

Schistosomiasis, caused by trematodes of genus Schistosoma, is among the most seriously neglected tropical diseases. Although rapid surveillance of risk areas for Schistosoma transmission is vital to control schistosomiasis, the habitat and infection status of this parasite are difficult to assess. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, involving the detection of extra-organismal DNA in water samples, facilitates cost-efficient and sensitive biomonitoring of aquatic environments and is a promising tool to identify Schistosoma habitat and infection risk areas.

Predictive modeling based on functional connectivity of interictal scalp EEG for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome.

Objective: This study aims to delineate the electrophysiological variances between patients with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) and healthy controls and to devise a predictive model for long-term seizure outcomes.

Methods: The cohort consisted of 30 individuals in the seizure-free group, 23 in the seizure-residual group, and 20 in the control group. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of pretreatment electroencephalography, including the relative power spectrum (rPS), weighted phase-lag index (wPLI), and network metrics.

Dynamic remodeling of TRPC5 channel-caveolin-1-eNOS protein assembly potentiates the positive feedback interaction between Ca and NO signals.

The cell signaling molecules nitric oxide (NO) and Ca regulate diverse biological processes through their closely coordinated activities directed by signaling protein complexes. However, it remains unclear how dynamically the multicomponent protein assemblies behave within the signaling complexes upon the interplay between NO and Ca signals. Here we demonstrate that TRPC5 channels activated by the stimulation of G-protein-coupled ATP receptors mediate Ca influx, that triggers NO production from endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), inducing secondary activation of TRPC5 via cysteine S-nitrosylation and eNOS in vascular endothelial cells.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy alters Q-albumin ratios in patients with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome of unknown etiology.

Purpose: Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) with epileptic spasms as the main seizure type, is treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This study, for the first time, examines the effects of epileptic spasms and ACTH on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in patients with IESS of unknown etiology.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the changes in BBB permeability in patients with IESS of unknown etiology at the Saitama Children's Medical Center between February 2012 and February 2024.

Inflammatory uterine microenvironment in long-term infertility repeat breeder cows compared with normal fertile cows.

The reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows is gradually declining, and one of the causes of this problem is the presence of long-term infertility repeat breeder cows (RBCs). The causes of RBCs are largely thought to be maternal factors, including the uterine environment. This study aimed to accurately investigate the uterine environment of RBCs using uterine tissue and fluid.

Early Response, Long-Term Seizure Outcome, and Very-Low-Dose Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone Therapy for Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome With Down Syndrome.

Background: Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) with Down syndrome has good treatment response and good seizure outcomes with high-dose adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) therapy. We investigated the early treatment response of epileptic spasms (ES), long-term seizure outcome, and efficacy of very-low-dose ACTH therapy for IESS with Down syndrome.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with Down syndrome and IESS between April 1983 and January 2023.

4-META/MMA-TBB resin containing nano hydroxyapatite induces the healing of periodontal tissue repair in perforations at the pulp chamber floor.

We aimed to evaluate the materials based on 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate tri-n-butylborane (Super-bond [SB]) and nano hydroxyapatite (naHAp) for the repair of perforation at pulp chamber floor (PPF) in vitro and in vivo models. SB and naHAp were mixed in the mass ratio of 10% or 30% to produce naHAp/SB. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (HPDLSCs) were cultured on resin discs of SB or naHAp/SB to analyze the effects of naHAp/SB on cell adhesion, proliferation, and cementoblastic differentiation.

Barriers and misconceptions hindering reduction of intestinal schistosomiasis in Mbita Sub-County, Western Kenya.

Background: Community and individual participation are crucial for the success of schistosomiasis control. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the importance of enhanced sanitation, health education, and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) in the fight against schistosomiasis. These approaches rely on the knowledge and practices of the community to be successful; however, where the community knowledge is low and inappropriate, it hinders intervention efforts.

Effect of Fibrillin-2 on Differentiation into Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell-Like Cells Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Periodontal tissue regeneration is important for preserving teeth. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are useful in periodontal tissue regeneration; however, tooth extraction is required to obtain these cells. Therefore, we focused on induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and established a method to obtain PDLSC-like cells from iPS cells.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome shows different clinical pictures at different times during the perinatal period: Two case reports.

Objective: With the development of diagnostic imaging, a new clinical entity called reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), which is considered to be a cause of secondary headache, has emerged. We herein present two cases of RCVS with different patterns of clinical progression.

Case Report: Case 1 occurred during labor, whereas case 2 occurred after delivery.

Aggregability of the SQSTM1/p62-based aggresome-like induced structures determines the sensitivity to parthanatos.

Overactivation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) triggers a noncanonical form of programmed cell death (PCD) called parthanatos, yet the mechanisms of its induction are not fully understood. We have recently demonstrated that the aggresome-like induced structures (ALIS) composed of the autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62 and K48-linked polyubiquitinated proteins (p62-based ALIS) mediate parthanatos. In this study, we identified the D1 dopamine receptor agonist YM435 as a unique parthanatos inhibitor that acts as the disaggregating agent for the p62-based ALIS.

Characterization of pathological stages in a mouse model of progressive multiple sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to analyze and elucidate the mechanisms of non-obese diabetes-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (NOD-EAE), an animal model of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), and to compare the pathological features with those observed in human progressive MS. Pathological analysis, flow cytometry analysis, immunohistochemical staining, and transcriptome analysis were performed at each pathological stage of the NOD-EAE mice to characterize each pathological stage in the lesion. The NOD-EAE mice showed a biphasic pattern of disease progression once in remission.