Motor cortex repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in fibromyalgia: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Despite affecting 2-4% of the population worldwide, fibromyalgia often remains refractory to treatment. Here we report the first international randomised double-blind, sham-controlled trial developed to assess the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as an add-on therapy for fibromyalgia.

Methods: Women aged ≥18 yr with fibromyalgia refractory to best available treatment were enrolled in Brazil, France, and Japan, and randomised to 10 Hz motor cortex (M1) rTMS, 3000 pulses day, or sham stimulation.

Effects of Malted Rice Amazake Consumption on Nutritional Status and Gut Microbiome in Older Patients and Residents of an Integrated Facility for Medical and Long-Term Care.

Malnutrition is observed in approximately 20-50% of hospitals and long-term care facilities. We examined the effects of malted rice amazake beverage on the nutritional status and gut microbiome of older patients and residents in an integrated long-term care facility; 13 older patients and residents (84.6 ± 9.

Non-invasive nanoscale imaging of protein micro- and nanocrystals for screening crystallization conditions.

Crystallography has been the routine technique for studying high-resolution structures of proteins for over five decades. A major bottleneck in structure determination of macromolecules is obtaining crystals of a size and quality suitable for single-crystal X-ray crystallography experiments. Many challenging proteins either fail to grow into crystals or fail to grow into crystals of a size suitable for obtaining high-resolution structures using conventional X-ray crystallography.

Beta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling of scalp electroencephalography during walking preparation in Parkinson's disease differs depending on the freezing of gait.

Introduction: Despite using beta oscillations within the subthalamic nucleus as a biomarker of akinesia or rigidity in Parkinson's disease, a specific biomarker for freezing of gait (FOG) remains unclear. Recently, scalp phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) measured through scalp electroencephalography (EEG) has emerged as a promising tool for analyzing brain function. In this study, we examined whether PAC could be a biomarker for FOG.

Clinical Phenotypes Associated with the Gut Microbiome in Older Japanese People with Care Needs in a Nursing Home.

Background: Frailty increases the risk of needing nursing care and significantly affects the life and functional prognosis of older individuals. Early detection and tailored interventions are crucial for maintaining and enhancing their life functions. Recognizing distinct clinical phenotypes is essential for devising appropriate interventions.

Neuromodulation for neuropathic pain.

The treatment of neuropathic pain (NeP) often leads to partial or incomplete pain relief, with up to 40 % of patients being pharmaco-resistant. In this chapter the efficacy of neuromodulation techniques in treating NeP is reviewed. It presents a detailed evaluation of the mechanisms of action and evidence supporting the clinical use of the most common approaches like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), invasive motor cortex stimulation (iMCS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S), and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS).

Evaluating the Associated Hyperuricemia Risk with Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: A Sequence Symmetry Analysis Using the Japanese Administrative Claims Database.

Hyperuricemia is defined as high uric acid levels within the bloodstream and is commonly associated with gout, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and kidney disease. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are novel drugs that prevent glucose reabsorption; additionally, this drug has shown promising results in patients at risk of developing cardiovascular or renal complications by lowering uric acid levels. This study aimed to investigate the association between SGLT2i and hyperuricemia.

Cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has no effect on contraction-induced facilitation of corticospinal excitability.

This study aimed to investigate whether the cerebellum contributes to contraction-induced facilitation (CIF) of contralateral corticospinal excitability. To this end, repetitive cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to test whether it modulates CIF. Overall, 20 healthy young individuals participated in the study.

Predictors of abemaciclib discontinuation in patients with breast cancer: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study explored the predictors of abemaciclib discontinuation, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor, in patients with breast cancer.

Material And Methods: Between November 2018 and March 2023, 147 patients with breast cancer treated with abemaciclib at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital and Kindai University Nara Hospital were included. The exclusion criteria were as follows: lack of blood testing within 2 weeks prior to starting abemaciclib therapy, transfer to another facility after the commencement of abemaciclib therapy, and discontinuation of abemaciclib therapy due to the diagnosis of another cancer.

Reasons and Predictors of Treatment Change in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) often experience treatment changes due to inefficacy or adverse events. The purpose of this study was to clarify the incidence and reasons for change of b/tsDMARDs in a cohort of Japanese patients with RA and to identify the predictors of treatment change. This was a retrospective observational study of RA patients prescribed b/tsDMARD between April 2011 and December 2020 at the Kindai University Nara Hospital.

Evaluation of tolvaptan-associated hepatic disorder using different national pharmacovigilance databases.

Tolvaptan-associated hepatic disorder is a rare, but lethal adverse event; however, the precise risk and time of onset remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize the severity, time‑to‑onset, and outcomes of hepatic disorder based on patient age and sex. Patient data were acquired from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database (JADER) and the JAPIC AERS database, which consists of the U.

Association Between Gut Microbiome Composition and Physical Characteristics in Patients with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities: Perspectives from Microbial Diversity.

Background: The human gut environment undergoes substantial changes as a host ages. This investigation centered on the gut microbiome diversity among patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID), examining the association between the gut microbiome composition and physical characteristics with varying levels of diversity.

Methods: Fourteen subjects were investigated, with physical and defecation status, blood biochemical test, gut microbiome profiling, and fecal metabolites used to divide the patients into a high-diversity group (HD, eight patients) and a low-diversity group (LD, six patients).

Development of a localized surface plasmon-enhanced electron beam-pumped nanoscale light source for electron beam excitation-assisted optical microscopy.

We have demonstrated localized surface plasmon (LSP)-enhanced cathodoluminescence (CL) from an atomic layer deposition-grown Al2O3/ZnO/Al2O3 heterostructure to develop a bright nanometer-scale light source for an electron beam excitation-assisted optical microscope. Three types of metals, Ag, Al and Au, were compared, and an 181-fold enhancement of CL emission was achieved with Ag nanoparticles, with the plasmon resonance wavelength close to the emission wavelength energy of ZnO. The enhanced emission is plausibly attributed to LSP/exciton coupling.

Cross-Species Convergence of Functional Connectivity Changes in Thalamic Pain Across Human Patients and Model Macaques.

Thalamic pain can be understood as a network reorganization disorder. This study aimed to investigate functional connectivity (FC) in human patients and a macaque model of thalamic pain. In humans, resting-state FC was compared between patients with thalamic pain and healthy individuals.

Immediate foot reconstruction and revascularization of toes using an interposition superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flow-through flap: A case report.

Foot injuries, particularly degloving injuries, can lead to segmental loss of neurovascular structures in the toes, making simultaneous reconstruction of both the foot and toes challenging. This case report presents a technique using the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap for immediate reconstruction of the dorsal foot and revascularization of multiple toes. A 28-year-old man suffered a degloving injury on the dorsum of his foot resulting in a 9 × 6cm skin defect, open fracture dislocations, exposure of tendons, and neurovascular injury, which included a 6-7.

QcrC is a potential target for antibody therapy and vaccination to control infection by suppressing its energy metabolism.

Introduction: spp. are a public health concern, yet there is still no effective vaccine or medicine available.

Methods: Here, we developed a -specific antibody and found that it targeted a menaquinol cytochrome reductase complex QcrC.

Usefulness of Mirogabalin in Central Neuropathic Pain After Stroke: Post Hoc Analysis of a Phase 3 Study by Stroke Type and Location.

Introduction: Central post-stroke pain (CPSP) is a common type of central neuropathic pain (CNeP) that can occur following the onset of stroke. The oral gabapentinoid mirogabalin besylate (mirogabalin) is a selective αδ ligand that is effective for the treatment of CNeP, including CPSP. However, it is unknown whether the analgesic effect of mirogabalin on CPSP varies in patients with different background factors.

Gut microbiota signatures of vulnerability to food addiction in mice and humans.

Objective: Food addiction is a multifactorial disorder characterised by a loss of control over food intake that may promote obesity and alter gut microbiota composition. We have investigated the potential involvement of the gut microbiota in the mechanisms underlying food addiction.

Design: We used the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) 2.

Accuracy of Boltless Frame-Based Stereo-Electroencephalography Electrode Implantation.

Background And Objectives: Boltless implantation of stereo-electroencephalography electrode is a useful alternative especially when anchor bolt is not available such as in country with limited resources or is less appropriate such as placement in patients with thin skull or at the occiput area, despite some drawbacks including potential dislodgement. While the accuracy of implantation using anchor bolt is well-studied, data on boltless implantation remain scarce. This study aimed to reveal the accuracy, permissible error for actual placement of electrodes within the grey matter, and delayed electrode dislodgement in boltless implantation.

Effect of resistance training and chicken meat on muscle strength and mass and the gut microbiome of older women: A randomized controlled trial.

This study investigated the effects of white meat, such as chicken, intake combined with resistance training on muscle mass and strength in the elderly women, and whether the underlying mechanism involves changes in the gut microbiota. Ninety-three volunteers (age 59-79 years) were randomly allocated to sedentary control with placebo (Sed + PL) or chicken meat (Sed + HP) and resistance training with placebo (RT + PL) or chicken meat (RT + HP). Resistance training sessions were performed 3 d/week for 12 weeks using leg extensions and curls.