Impact of the extent of resection on the survival of patients with grade II and III gliomas using awake brain mapping.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the extent of resection (EOR) of tumors on survival in a series of patients with grade II and III gliomas (GII/III-gliomas) who underwent awake brain mapping.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 126 patients with GII/III-gliomas in the dominant and non-dominant hemisphere who underwent awake brain surgery at the same institution between December 2012 and May 2020.

Results: EOR cut-off values for improved progression-free survival (PFS) were determined by a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis of 5-year PFS.

3D bioprinted human iPSC-derived somatosensory constructs with functional and highly purified sensory neuron networks.

Engineering three-dimensional (3D) sensible tissue constructs, along with the complex microarchitecture wiring of the sensory nervous system, has been an ongoing challenge in the tissue engineering field. By combining 3D bioprinting and human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technologies, sensible tissue constructs could be engineered in a rapid, precise, and controllable manner to replicate 3D microarchitectures and mechanosensory functionalities of the native sensory tissue (e.g.

Multiacquisition Variable-Resonance Image Combination Selective Can Improve Image Quality and Reproducibility for Metallic Implants in the Lumbar Spine.

The aim of this study is to evaluate how metallic artifacts in the lumbar spine can affect images obtained from magnetic resonance (MR) sequences. We performed a phantom experiment by scanning an agar containing an orthopedic metallic implant using 64-channel multidetector row computed tomography (CT) and a 3-tesla MR unit. We compared the reproducibility in each measurement, enlargement or reduction ratio of the CT and MR measurements, and signal deviation in each voxel from the control.

Effectiveness of disaster preparedness education in helping older people prevent isolation.

Objective: This study intends to clarify the effect of regional disaster preparedness education on efforts to prevent the isolation of older people in the event of a disaster.

Design And Sample: This quasi-experimental study involved participants aged 65 and above. The intervention group (n = 35) and the comparison group (n = 61) were compared in the first survey and another one month later.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI features correlate with invasive breast cancer angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is a critical component of breast cancer development, and identification of imaging-based angiogenesis assays has prognostic and treatment implications. We evaluated the association of semi-quantitative kinetic and radiomic breast cancer features on dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI with microvessel density (MVD), a marker for angiogenesis. Invasive breast cancer kinetic features (initial peak percent enhancement [PE], signal enhancement ratio [SER], functional tumor volume [FTV], and washout fraction [WF]), radiomics features (108 total features reflecting tumor morphology, signal intensity, and texture), and MVD (by histologic CD31 immunostaining) were measured in 27 patients (1/2016-7/2017).

Preseismic atmospheric radon anomaly associated with 2018 Northern Osaka earthquake.

Despite the challenges in identifying earthquake precursors in intraplate (inland) earthquakes, various hydrological and geochemical measurements have been conducted to establish a possible link to seismic activities. Anomalous increases in radon (Rn) concentration in soil, groundwater, and atmosphere have been reported prior to large earthquakes. Although the radon concentration in the atmosphere is lower than that in groundwater and soils, a recent statistical analysis has suggested that the average atmospheric concentration over a relatively wide area reflects crustal deformation.

Urinary MicroRNA-Based Diagnostic Model for Central Nervous System Tumors Using Nanowire Scaffolds.

There are no accurate mass screening methods for early detection of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Recently, liquid biopsy has received a lot of attention for less-invasive cancer screening. Unlike other cancers, CNS tumors require efforts to find biomarkers due to the blood-brain barrier, which restricts molecular exchange between the parenchyma and blood.

Two-Year Experience in "Tweeting the Meeting" During the Scientific Sessions - Rapid Report From the Japanese Circulation Society.

Twitter has become increasingly popular at annual medical congresses as a platform to communicate to attendees. The aim of this study is to reveal the twitter usage in the annual congress of the Japanese Cirsulation Society. We compared the total number of tweets during the Japanese Circulation Society's annual meetings in 2019 and 2020.

converts endogenous neural stem cells to neurons with synaptic formation after spinal cord injury.

The transcriptome analysis of injured tadpole and mice suggested that ., a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor, was the most promising transcription factor to exert neuroregeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mammals. We generated a pseudotyped retroviral vector with the neurotropic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) envelope to deliver murine to mice undergoing SCI.

Phenotypic and molecular diversities of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 in Japan.

Background: We intended to clarify the phenotypic and molecular diversities of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) in Japan.

Methods: DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 436 patients, including 126 patients with chronic neuropathy, 108 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and 202 with cerebellar ataxia. We then PCR-amplified and sequenced the ATXN2 gene.

Influence of Tooth Mold Materials in Composite Resin CAD/CAM Crown Destructive Test.

A range of experimental designs have been used in destructive testing of composite resin CAD/CAM crowns. Various materials have been adopted for the abutment in such tests, including human or bovine dentin, stainless steel, PMMA, and composite resin, the selection of which is made in accordance with study objective or preference of the researcher. The purpose of this study was to determine how the material selected for the abutment material affected fracture load and maximum displacement.

Helical Antimicrobial Peptide Foldamers Containing Non-proteinogenic Amino Acids.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential novel therapeutic drugs against microbial infections. Most AMPs function by disrupting microbial membranes because of their amphipathic properties and ordered secondary structures. In this minireview, we describe recent efforts to develop helical AMP foldamers containing non-proteinogenic amino acids, such as α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids, β-amino acids, γ-amino acids, side-chain stapling and N-alkyl glycines.

Environmental pH stress influences cellular secretion and uptake of extracellular vesicles.

Exosomes (extracellular vesicles/EVs) participate in cell-cell communication and contain bioactive molecules, such as microRNAs. However, the detailed characteristics of secreted EVs produced by cells grown under low pH conditions are still unknown. Here, we report that low pH in the cell culture medium significantly affected the secretion of EVs with increased protein content and zeta potential.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of pyrimidine derivatives as potent and orally active FGFR3 inhibitors with both increased systemic exposure and enhanced in vitro potency.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with bladder cancer harboring genetic alterations in FGFR3. We identified pyrimidine derivative 20b, which induced tumor regression following oral administration to a bladder cancer xenograft mouse model. Compound 20b was discovered by optimizing lead compound 1, which we reported previously.

Intraoperative seizure outcome of levetiracetam combined with perampanel therapy in patients with glioma undergoing awake brain surgery.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) combined with perampanel (PER) therapy for intraoperative seizure treatment to determine whether a combination of LEV and PER can aid in the prevention of intraoperative intractable seizures during awake surgery.

Methods: The authors performed a retrospective cohort study in 78 consecutive patients with glioma who underwent awake surgery using intraoperative direct electrical stimulation mapping. To prevent intraoperative seizures, 50 patients were treated with the antiepileptic drug LEV only (LEV group) from January 2017 to January 2019, while the remaining 28 patients were treated with LEV plus PER (LEV + PER group) between March 2019 and January 2020.

Development of Antimicrobial Stapled Peptides Based on Magainin 2 Sequence.

Magainin 2 (), which was isolated from the skin of the African clawed frog, is a representative antimicrobial peptide (AMP) that exerts antimicrobial activity via microbial membrane disruption. It has been reported that the helicity and amphipathicity of play important roles in its antimicrobial activity. We investigated and recently reported that 17 amino acid residues of are required for its antimicrobial activity, and accordingly developed antimicrobial foldamers containing α,α-disubstituted amino acid residues.

Circulating markers of NADH-reductive stress correlate with mitochondrial disease severity.

Mitochondrial disorders represent a large collection of rare syndromes that are difficult to manage both because we do not fully understand biochemical pathogenesis and because we currently lack facile markers of severity. The m.3243A>G variant is the most common heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA mutation and underlies a spectrum of diseases, notably mitochondrial encephalomyopathy lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS).

In vivo and in silico analyses of estrogenic potential of equine estrogens in medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Equine estrogens (EEs) are widely used in hormone replacement therapy pharmaceuticals for postmenopausal women. Previous studies have shown that EEs occur in the aquatic environment; however, the potential estrogenicity and risk of EEs in aquatic organisms, including fish, have yet to be studied in detail. Therefore, we evaluated the estrogenic potential of major EEs, namely equilin (Eq), 17α-dihydroequilin (17α-Eq), 17β-dihydroequilin (17β-Eq), equilenin (Eqn), 17α-dihydroequilenin (17α-Eqn), and 17β-dihydroequilenin (17β-Eqn), on medaka (Oryzias latipes) using in vivo and in silico assays.

Effect of Hepatitis C Drugs on Blood Coagulability in Patients on Warfarin Using the Medical Information Database Network (MID-NET) in Japan.

Background: Previous studies suggested that direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) against hepatitis C increased the blood coagulability of patients on warfarin. This study aims to descriptively investigate the effects of DAAs on the blood coagulability and liver function of patients on warfarin in Japan.

Methods: The Medical Information Database Network (MID-NET) was used as data source.

Rational Design of Helix-Stabilized Antimicrobial Peptide Foldamers Containing α,α-Disubstituted Amino Acids or Side-Chain Stapling.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are expected to be good candidate molecules for novel antimicrobial therapies. Most AMPs exert their antimicrobial activity through disruption of microbial membranes due to their amphipathic properties. Recently, the helical peptide 'Stripe' was reported by our group, a rationally designed amphipathic AMP focused on distribution of natural cationic and hydrophobic amino acid residues.