The perfusion index as a method of assessing epidural anaesthesia efficacy in healthy dogs.

Introduction: Perfusion index (PI) is used as assessment of epidural anaesthesia efficacy in human medicine, but its usefulness in dogs is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of PI in determining epidural anaesthesia effectiveness.

Material And Methods: This is prospective cross-over experimental study.

Multilayered Gel-Spotting Device for Reconstruction of Hair Follicle-like Microstructure.

Hair follicles play an important role in hair development. This study aimed to develop a microgel-spotting device to fabricate a multilayered gel bead culture model and to mimic the early development of skin appendages to regenerate hair follicles . The model consists of an alginate gel layer containing cytokines as the core layer, a collagen gel layer containing mouse embryonic stem cells as the middle layer, and a collagen gel layer containing fetus-derived epidermal cells as the outer layer.

Outcome of unlinked total elbow arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis in patients younger than 50 years old.

Aims: There are concerns regarding complications and longevity of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) in young patients, and the few previous publications are mainly limited to reports on linked elbow devices. We investigated the clinical outcome of unlinked TEA for patients aged less than 50 years with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 26 elbows of 21 patients with RA who were aged less than 50 years who underwent primary TEA with an unlinked elbow prosthesis.

Off-flavors generated during long-term ambient storage of pasteurized drinking yogurt from skim milk.

Few studies have examined sensory quality changes during the storage of pasteurized drinking yogurt (PDY), and the cause of off-flavor development is unclear. Off-flavors generated during 90-d ambient storage (25 °C) of PDY from reconstituted skim milk were investigated by sensory evaluation, volatile component analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-olfactometry. Rancid off-flavor was induced by increased fatty acid concentration due to fat decomposition by heat-stable lipase.

Japanese strategy to COVID-19: How does it work?

Despite substantial inflow of infected cases at the early stage of the pandemic, as of the end of April, Japan manages the outbreak of COVID-19 without systematic breakdown of health care. This Japanese paradox - limited fatality despite loose restriction - may have multiple contributing factors, including general hygiene practice of the population, customs such as not shaking hands or hugging, lower prevalence of obesity and other risk factors. Along with these societal and epidemiological conditions, health policy options, which are characteristic to Japan, would be considered as one of the contribution factors.

Strategic approach for combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

During the past 70 years, there has been a continued incremental worsening of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by a combination of abusing antimicrobials in humans and animals as well as insufficient research and investment for new antimicrobial agents. The current trend of worsening AMR is likely to result in increased mortality and morbidity, longer stays in hospitals and accelerated health care costs. It is estimated that the global mortality attributed by AMR could reach 10 million per year by 2050, which is a massive increase from the current estimated mortality of 700, 000 per year.

Minoxidil Cannot Be Used To Target Lysyl Hydroxylases during Postnatal Mouse Lung Development: A Cautionary Note.

The lysyl hydroxylases (procollagen-lysine 5-dioxygenases) PLOD1, PLOD2, and PLOD3 have been proposed as pathogenic mediators of stunted lung development in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a common complication of preterm birth. In affected infants, pulmonary oxygen toxicity stunts lung development. Mice lacking exhibit 15% mortality, and mice lacking or exhibit embryonic lethality.

Global Governance Mechanisms to Address Antimicrobial Resistance.

Since their discovery, antibiotics, and more broadly, antimicrobials, have been a cornerstone of modern medicine. But the overuse and misuse of these drugs have led to rising rates of antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria adapt in ways that render antibiotics ineffective. A world without effective antibiotics can have drastic impacts on population health, global development, and the global economy.

Hitomi X-ray studies of Giant Radio Pulses from the Crab pulsar.

To search for giant X-ray pulses correlated with the giant radio pulses (GRPs) from the Crab pulsar, we performed a simultaneous observation of the Crab pulsar with the X-ray satellite Hitomi in the 2 - 300 keV band and the Kashima NICT radio observatory in the 1.4 - 1.7 GHz band with a net exposure of about 2 ks on 25 March 2016, just before the loss of the Hitomi mission.

Formation of [2]- and [3]Rotaxanes through Bridging under Kinetic and Thermodynamic Control.

An efficient synthesis of a doubly stranded [3]rotaxane has been developed through bridging of a pseudo[3]rotaxane featuring two axle components. Reversible azine formation was effective as the bridging reaction. Kinetic and thermodynamic conditions provided the [2]- and [3]rotaxanes, respectively.

Results of Total Elbow Arthroplasty with Cementless Implantation of an Alumina Ceramic Elbow Prosthesis for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

We investigated the long-term clinical results of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) by cementless fixation of alumina ceramic unlinked elbow prostheses (J-alumina ceramic elbows: JACE) for the reconstruction of elbow joints with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Seventeen elbows in 17 patients (aged 44-72 years, average 54.8) replaced by JACE TEA without bone cement were investigated.

A repeat unit of Vibrio diarrheal T3S effector subverts cytoskeletal actin homeostasis via binding to interstrand region of actin filaments.

A novel bacterial type III secretion effector, VopV, from the enteric pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus has been identified as a key factor in pathogenicity due to its interaction with cytoskeletal actin. One of the repeat units in the long repetitive region of VopV, named VopV(rep1), functions as an actin-binding module. Despite its importance in pathogenesis, the manner in which the effector binds to actin and the subsequent effects on actin dynamics remain unclear.

Short-term results of the PROSNAP linked elbow prosthesis with a snap-in structure and modular flange for the reconstruction of severely damaged rheumatoid elbows.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the early clinical results of the reconstruction of problematic elbow joints due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a PROSNAP linked elbow prosthesis (Kyocera Medical, Osaka, Japan) for total elbow arthroplasty.

Methods: Seventeen elbows in 14 RA patients were replaced with a PROSNAP elbow with cement fixation. The patients comprised 1 man and 13 women, with a mean age of 63.

Japanese Cancer Association Meeting UICC International session--what is cost-effectiveness in cancer treatment?

The Japan National Committee for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and UICC-Asia Regional Office (ARO) organized an international session as part of the official program of the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association to discuss the topic "What is cost-effectiveness in cancer treatment? " Healthcare economics are an international concern and a key issue for the UICC. The presenters and participants discussed the question of how limited medical resources can be best used to support life, which is a question that applies to both developing and industrialized countries, given that cancer treatment is putting medical systems under increasing strain. The emergence of advanced yet hugely expensive drugs has prompted discussion on methodologies for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) that seek to quantify cost and effect.

A 5-22-year follow-up study of stemmed alumina ceramic total elbow arthroplasties with cement fixation for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: We determined mid to long-term results of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) by use of unlinked elbow prostheses with solid alumina ceramic trochleae, and ceramic ulnar stems (stemmed Kyocera type I; SKC-I) for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-four elbows of 39 patients were available for detailed clinical and radiographic review after a follow-up period of at least 5 years. The mean follow-up period was 12.

The clock gene brain and muscle Arnt-like protein-1 (BMAL1) is involved in hair growth.

It is known that baldness caused by androgenetic alopecia is involved with androgen and the androgen receptor. Furthermore, it has been reported that testosterone secretion follows a circadian rhythm. Therefore, we hypothesized that a relationship exists between androgen-induced alopecia and biological rhythm.

Specific enhancement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in ischemic region by alprostadil--potential therapeutic application in pharmaceutical regenerative medicine.

Alprostadil (lipo-PGE1) is a drug delivery system preparation. This preparation is applied to treat refractory skin ulcers and arteriosclerosis obliterans. We investigated the effects of alprostadil by using the earflap ischemic model.

The eighth Asia cancer forum: seeking to advance the outcomes of the UN summit: 'global health as the key to a new paradigm in cancer research'.

To date, the Asia Cancer Forum has focused its efforts on creating a common concept for collaborative efforts in international cancer research with a focus on Asia, where cancer incidence is rising dramatically, and also sharing information and knowledge among cancer specialists about the importance of cancer as a global health agenda issue. The Eighth Asia Cancer Forum was held following the historic outcome of the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases held in New York in September 2011, at which cancer was duly recognized as a global health agenda issue. Despite this significant development, however, the issue of cancer, one of the most intractable of all non-communicable diseases, still faces a variety of challenges if it is to be addressed on the global level.

Improvement of hind-limb paralysis following traumatic spinal cord injury in rats by grafting normal human keratinocytes: new cell-therapy strategy for nerve regeneration.

Somatic (adult) stem cells are thought to have pluripotency, just as do embryotic stem (ES) cells. We investigated the possibility that grafted epithelial keratinocytes could induce spinal cord regeneration in an animal model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Normal human keratinocytes were cultured by the routine technique, and normal human dermal fibroblasts were cultured by a similar method as a control group.