Evaluation of Soil Antagonism against the White Root Rot Fungus Rosellinia necatrix and Pathogen Mycosphere Communities in Biochar-amended Soil.

White root rot disease caused by Rosellinia necatrix is a growing issue in orchards, and biochar pyrolyzed from the pruned branch residues of fruit trees has potential as a soil amendment agent with a number of benefits, such as long-term carbon sequestration. However, the effects of pruned branch biochar on white root rot disease remain unclear. Therefore, we compared direct antagonism against R.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Mycelium Powder on Alcohol-Induced Liver Damage.

Background/objectives: , also known as "Niuchangchih" in Taiwan, is a unique medicinal mushroom native to Taiwan. It is used in traditional medicine to treat various health conditions. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of mycelia on alcohol-induced liver damage, both in vitro and in vivo, in a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) facility.

Raman Hyperspectral Analysis of Microbial Colonies for Secondary Metabolites Screening.

Since the discovery of penicillin, a vast array of microbial antibiotics has been identified and applied in the medical field. Globally, the search for drug candidates microbial screening is ongoing. Traditional screening methods, however, are time-consuming and require labor-intensive sample processing, significantly reducing throughput.

Predicting the O'Kelly-Marotta scale score after flow-diverter stent placement using silent MRA.

Purpose: Flow-diverter (FD) stents were developed to treat aneurysms that are difficult to treat with conventional coiling or surgery. This study aimed to compare usefulness of Silent MRA and TOF (time of flight) -MRA in patients with aneurysms after FD placement.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected images from 22 patients with 23 internal carotid artery aneurysms treated with FD.

Feasibility of initiating robotic surgery during the early stages of gastrointestinal surgery education.

Purpose: Minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal cancers is rapidly advancing; therefore, surgical education must be changed. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of early initiation of robotic surgery education for surgical residents.

Methods: The ability of staff physicians and residents to handle robotic surgical instruments was assessed using the da Vinci skills simulator (DVSS).

Trans men can achieve adequate muscular development through low-dose testosterone therapy: A long-term study on body composition changes.

Background: Transgender individuals undergo the gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) to achieve physical changes consistent with their gender identity. Few studies are available on the long-term safety and efficacy of GAHT.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term physical effects and the safety of the testosterone therapy for trans men and to assess the impact of differential hormone dose.

A feasibility study of provider-level implementation strategies to improve access to colorectal cancer screening for patients with schizophrenia: ACCESS2 (N-EQUITY 2104) trial.

Background: People with schizophrenia have a lower colorectal screening rate than the general population. A previous study reported an intervention using case management to encourage colorectal cancer screening for patients with schizophrenia in psychiatric outpatient settings. In this feasibility study, we developed provider-level implementation strategies and evaluated the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial in terms of the penetration of the intervention assessed at the patient level.

Prognostic impact of radiological tumor burden in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab.

Purpose: Radiological tumor burden has been reported to be prognostic in many malignancies in the immunotherapy era, yet whether it is prognostic in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) treated with pembrolizumab remains uninvestigated. We sought to assess the predictive and prognostic value of radiological tumor burden in patients with mUC.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 308 patients with mUC treated with pembrolizumab.

Ideal water temperature environment for giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan.

Aegagropila linnaei is a filamentous green algal species that often forms beautiful spherical shapes called "lake balls" or "Marimo". A. linnaei were once globally distributed around the world, but the population has been declining for several decades.

The Paradoxical Clinical Course of Persons with Gambling Disorder and Comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The co-occurrence of gambling disorder (GD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been widely reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the social background, clinical characteristics, and clinical course of initial-visit GD patients with and without ADHD in a Japanese psychiatric hospital. We recruited 40 initial-visit GD patients and collected comprehensive information by self-report questionnaires, direct interviews, and medical records.

Single-Cell Level Raman Molecular Profiling Reveals the Classification of Growth Phases of .

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a natural phenomenon caused by outbreaks of algae, resulting in serious problems for aquatic ecosystems and the coastal environment. () is one of the diatoms responsible for HABs. The growth curve of can be observed from beginning to end of HABs: therefore, detailed analysis is necessary to characterize each growth phase of .

Perceptions toward issues in cancer care for people with mental illness among psychiatric care providers: A questionnaire study.

Objectives: To reduce cancer care disparities in people with mental illness, this study aimed to quantify psychiatric care providers' perceptions regarding issues that are insufficiently addressed or difficult to address.

Methods: Psychiatric care providers at 23 psychiatric hospitals in Japan were surveyed using mail questionnaires. Respondents were asked to rate 15 items with four categories related to insufficiencies/difficulties in cancer care for patients with mental illness on a five-point Likert scale.

Reactive Oxygen Species in the Aorta and Perivascular Adipose Tissue Precedes Endothelial Dysfunction in the Aorta of Mice with a High-Fat High-Sucrose Diet and Additional Factors.

Metabolic syndrome (Mets) is the major contributor to the onset of metabolic complications, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, resulting in cardiovascular diseases. C57BL/6 mice on a high-fat and high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) are a well-established model of Mets but have minor endothelial dysfunction in isolated aortas without perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of additional factors such as DM, dyslipidemia, and steatohepatitis on endothelial dysfunction in aortas without PVAT.

5-Aminolevrinic Acid Exhibits Dual Effects on Stemness in Human Sarcoma Cell Lines under Dark Conditions.

5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is used for tumor-targeting phototherapy because it is converted to protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) upon excitation and induces phototoxicity. However, the effect of ALA on malignant cells under unexcited conditions is unclear. This information is essential when administering ALA systemically.

Anticoagulation Therapy for Pregnancy-Associated Thrombosis: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Pregnancy-associated deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a rare disease, and data on anticoagulation therapy are lacking. The present study examined the treatment outcome with unfractionated heparin (UFH) subcutaneous injection in patients with pregnancy-associated DVT. This single-center, retrospective, observational study enrolled 15 patients with pregnancy-associated DVT treated from January 2014 to April 2021.

Mycelial differentiation linked avermectin production in Streptomyces avermitilis studied with Raman imaging.

Streptomyces avermitilis is a gram-positive bacterium that undergoes complex physiological and morphological differentiation during its life cycle, which has implications in secondary metabolite production. Avermectin, produced by S. avermitilis, is widely used as an anthelmintic and insecticidal agent.

Issues of cancer care in people with mental disorders as perceived by cancer care providers: A quantitative questionnaire survey.

Objectives: To reduce cancer care disparities, this study aimed to clarify the difficulties in cancer care for people with mental disorders as perceived by cancer care providers.

Methods: Cancer care providers at 17 designated cancer hospitals in Japan were surveyed using mail questionnaires. Respondents were asked to rate 29 items related to difficulties or insufficiencies in cancer care for patients with mental disorders on a five-point Likert scale.