Regulation of nociception by long-term potentiation of inhibitory postsynaptic currents from insular cortical parvalbumin-immunopositive neurons to pyramidal neurons.

The insular cortex (IC) processes various sensory information, including nociception, from the trigeminal region. Repetitive nociceptive inputs from the orofacial area induce plastic changes in the IC. Parvalbumin-immunopositive neurons (PVNs) project to excitatory neurons (pyramidal neurons [PNs]), whose inputs strongly suppress the activities of PNs.

Transcriptome Concordance Between Borderline Tumors and Endometrioid Carcinoma: An Integrative Genomic Analysis.

Background: Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) differ from ovarian carcinomas in their clinical presentation and behavior, yet their molecular characteristics remain poorly understood. This study aims to address this gap by integrating whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to compare BOTs with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), endometrioid carcinoma (EC), and clear-cell carcinoma (CCC).

Objective: To elucidate the molecular features of BOTs and evaluate their similarities and differences in comparison to HGSC, EC, and CCC.

One-Pot, Telescoped Aryl Nitrile Synthesis from Benzylic Silyl Ethers.

A one-pot, telescoped transformation of silyl ethers into cyanides that proceeds via silyl-ether oxidation mediated by nitroxyl-radical catalyst and [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene followed by an imine formation-oxidation sequence using iodine and aqueous ammonia is reported. This transformation is effective for the site-selective transformation of benzylic and allylic silyl ethers in the presence of other silyl ethers. Using an -protected oxime and a catalytic amount of triflic acid instead of iodine/aqueous ammonia is also effective for cyanation.

Elective Treatment Strategy for Knee Prosthetic Joint Infection.

Introduction: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a complication, rarely encountered in daily clinical practice, but its treatment is frequently unsuccessful. In this report, we describe the treatment strategy used at our hospital, which has provided stable therapeutic results.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of infections following knee arthroplasty at our hospital between April 2005 and December 2022.

A Reliable and Robust Method of Measuring Male Pelvic Floor Muscle Volume Using Three-dimensional Computed Tomography.

Objectives: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) plays a major role in sexual and urinary functions. No objective method exists to measure the PFM in male. This study evaluated the reliability of male PFM volume using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT).

Synthesis of fully fused tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine polymers bearing three-dimensional structures controlled by steric repulsion.

The synthesis and characterization of fused aromatic networks composed of zinc tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines are reported. The steric repulsion of bulky substituents induced the formation of three-dimensional structures. Thus-obtained insoluble polymers adsorbed CO and had near-infrared absorption indicating their porosity and extended π-conjugation.

Engineering of acyl ligase domain in non-ribosomal peptide synthetases to change fatty acid moieties of lipopeptides.

Cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) produced by the genus Bacillus are amphiphiles composed of hydrophilic amino acid and hydrophobic fatty acid moieties and are biosynthesised by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). CLPs are produced as a mixture of homologues with different fatty acid moieties, whose length affects CLP activity. Iturin family lipopeptides are a family of CLPs comprising cyclic heptapeptides and β-amino fatty acids and have antimicrobial activity.

BMI gain and dietary characteristics are risk factors of MASLD in non-obese individuals.

This longitudinal observational study aimed to evaluate whether cardiometabolic factors and dietary characteristics are determinants of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in non-obese individuals (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/m²). The study was conducted at the Japanese Red Cross Society Kyoto Daiichi Hospital. Clinical data were longitudinally recorded at annual health checks.

Crucial role of early addition of Wickerhamiella versatilis in enhancing aroma formation during soy sauce fermentation.

In modern Japanese soy sauce production, sealed outdoor fermentation tanks are used to ferment moromi with halotolerant starter cultures: the lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus and yeasts Wickerhamiella versatilis and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. T. halophilus and W.

Potential of low apolipoprotein A-I as a surrogate marker of vulnerable carotid artery plaques.

Objective: Recent studies suggested that the medical control of atherogenic lipoproteins is not sufficient for stroke prevention. A low apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) level may play a crucial role in the anti-atherogenic effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and may also be associated with symptomatic vulnerable plaques in carotid artery stenosis. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between apoA-I levels and the status of carotid artery stenosis.

A Structural Model of Truncated Gaussia princeps Luciferase Elucidating the Crucial Catalytic Function of No.76 Arginine towards Coelenterazine Oxidation.

Gaussia Luciferase (GLuc) is a renowned reporter protein that can catalyze the oxidation of coelenterazine (CTZ) and emit a bright light signal. GLuc comprises two consecutive repeats that form the enzyme body and a central putative catalytic cavity. However, deleting the C-terminal repeat only limited reduces the activity (over 30% residual luminescence intensity detectable), despite being a key part of the cavity.

Characteristics of Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases Cases Among U.S. Children With Hematologic Malignancies Before and After Introduction of Thirteen-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, 2005-2019.

Background: Children with hematologic malignancies (HMs) are at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Data on long-term IPD trends in U.S.

Highly hypofractionated biaxially rotational dynamic radiation therapy (BROAD-RT) for high-risk prostate cancer.

To report clinical outcomes following highly hypofractionated biaxially rotational dynamic radiation therapy (BROAD-RT), a unique radiation therapy method that facilitates non-coplanar volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) without the need to rotate the couch or reposition the patient, for high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) for intra-prostatic dominant lesions (IPDLs), we performed a single-center prospective pilot study. In this study, patients with high-risk PCa according to the D'Amico classification or those with cT3aN0M0 PCa were eligible. VMAT was performed using BROAD-RT, and a dose of 54 Gy in 15 fractions was prescribed for the prostate in combination with SIB for IPDLs at a dose of 57 Gy in 15 fractions.

Association of nighttime very short-term blood pressure variability determined by pulse transit time with adverse prognosis in patients with heart failure.

Long-term blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) is associated with adverse prognosis in patients with heart failure. However, the clinical significance of very short-term (beat-to-beat) BPV is unclear. We collected data on nighttime pulse transit time-based continuous beat-to-beat BP measurement in patients with heart failure (n = 366, median age 72.

Enhancement of Differentiation and Mineralization of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells via TGF-β Signaling in Low-Level Laser Therapy Using Er:YAG Lasers.

Objectives: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) using an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser provides a non-invasive approach applicable to various dental treatments. Here, we investigated the effects of Er:YAG laser irradiation on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in an in vitro experiment.

Methods: The hDPSCs were categorized into four groups: laser-irradiated with activators (VLT: activated vitamin D, bone morphogenetic protein receptor inhibitor, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)) (LLLT(+)VLT), laser-irradiated without activators (LLLT(+)-only), non-irradiated with activators (LLLT(-)VLT), and non-irradiated without activators (control).

Intentional staged embolization via the "highway bypass" using a radial artery graft for a large posterior circulation aneurysm: illustrative case.

Background: The presence of significant tortuosity in access routes to aneurysms can interfere with catheter guidance and manipulation and significantly impact treatment strategies.

Observations: In this report, the authors combined intentional staged aneurysm embolization with the construction of a new direct access route, which they call a "highway bypass," for a symptomatic posterior circulation cerebral aneurysm that was difficult to access with a catheter. Notably, the highway bypass is used for catheter passage, and technical tips should be considered.

Treatment Patterns, Characteristics, and Probable Acute Medication Overprescription Among Patients With Migraine in Japan: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis of Health Insurance Claims Data.

Objective This study aimed to investigate prescription patterns for migraine patients aged 18 years and older using the REZULT database, managed by Japan System Techniques Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan.

Segment-specific promoter activity for RNA synthesis in the genome of Oz virus, genus Thogotovirus.

Oz virus (OZV), a tick-borne, six-segmented negative-strand RNA virus in the genus Thogotovirus, caused a fatal human infection in Japan in 2023. To study viral RNA synthesis, we developed an OZV minigenome assay using mammalian cells. This revealed variations in promoter activities among the six genome segments.

Impact of osteosarcopenia on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.

Backgrounds: Osteopenia and sarcopenia are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. This study investigated the impact of osteosarcopenia on short- and long-term outcomes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods: The present study included patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Segmental phase angle can predict incidence of severe exacerbation in male patients with COPD.

Objective: To investigate whether segmental phase angle (PhA) is a useful predictor of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation.

Research Methods And Procedures: This prospective cohort study enrolled consecutive patients with COPD with a follow-up period of 3 years. The primary outcome was incidence of severe exacerbation.