The COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions and their impact on child and adolescent psychiatric units-Infection control or freedom.

Aim: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions on child psychiatric inpatients in Japan, particularly focusing on limitations placed on outings and overnight stays as infection-control measures.

Methods: Data were collected from inpatients from the children's mental health registry between January 2016 and December 2022. The clinical data, such as age, gender, diagnosis, result of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, frequency of outings and overnight stays before and after the pandemic, were compared.

Conditions for late gadolinium enhancement MRI in myocardial infarction model rats that better reflect microscopic tissue staining.

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is a widely used magnetic resonance imaging method for assessing cardiac disease. However, the relationship between different LGE signal thresholds and microscopic tissue staining images is unclear. In this study, we performed cardiovascular MRI on myocardial infarction (MI) model rats and evaluated the relationship between LGE with different signal thresholding methods and tissue staining images.

Removal of circulating mitochondrial N-formyl peptides via immobilized antibody therapy restores sepsis-induced neutrophil dysfunction.

During recovery from septic shock, circulating mitochondrial N-formyl peptides predispose to secondary infection by occupying formyl peptide receptor 1 on the neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte) membrane, suppressing cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i)-dependent responses to secondarily encountered bacteria. However, no study has yet investigated therapeutic clearance of circulating mitochondrial N-formyl peptides in clinical settings. Thus, we studied how to remove mitochondrial N-formyl peptides from septic-shock plasma and whether such removal could preserve cell-surface formyl peptide receptor 1 and restore sepsis-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte dysfunction by normalizing [Ca2+]i flux.

One-year outcomes and safety assessment of faricimab in treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Japan.

This multicentre retrospective study evaluated the 1-year outcomes and safety profile of faricimab in treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Fifty-five patients (57 eyes) underwent loading therapy comprising three monthly faricimab injections. If dryness was achieved by the third month, subsequent treat-and-extend (TAE) follow-up continued at a minimum 8-week interval thereafter.

Intraocular pressure changes during intravitreal aflibercept injection based on treat-and-extend regimen in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Purpose: To assess the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal aflibercept injections in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) complicated by glaucoma.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 27 eyes of 25 Japanese patients diagnosed with nAMD complicated by glaucoma.

INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF INTRAOCULAR INFLAMMATION AFTER BROLUCIZUMAB TREATMENT IN JAPAN: A Multicenter Age-Related Macular Degeneration Study.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI) and its risk factors following intravitreal injections of brolucizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Japan.

Methods: A total of 1,351 Japanese consecutive patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were treated with brolucizumab from May 2020 to May 2022 at 14 institutions were examined. The variables analyzed were the number of brolucizumab injections, time to onset of IOI, and risk factors.

Wheat Germ-Derived Peptide Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice.

This study explores the protective properties and potential mechanisms of wheat-germ-derived peptide APEPEPAF (APE) against ulcerative colitis. Colitis mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) were used as the animal model. The results showed that the APE peptide could alleviate colitis symptoms including weight loss, colon shortening, and histopathological changes.

Six-month outcomes of switching from aflibercept to faricimab in refractory cases of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To assess 6-month outcomes of switching from aflibercept to faricimab in eyes with refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) previously requiring monthly injections.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study examined nAMD eyes receiving monthly aflibercept injections switched to faricimab administered monthly up to 4 injections followed by injections at a minimum of 2-month intervals as per drug labeling. Data regarding age, sex, number of previous injections, treatment intervals, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were collected.

Cytomegalovirus durably primes neutrophil oxidative burst.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus that infects most humans, thereafter persisting lifelong in tissues of the host. It is a known pathogen in immunosuppressed patients, but its impact on immunocompetent hosts remains less understood. Recent data have shown that CMV leaves a significant and long-lasting imprint in host immunity that may confer some protection against subsequent bacterial infection.

Development of modified laser Doppler flowmetry device for real-time monitoring of esophageal mucosal blood flow: a preclinical assessment with an animal model.

This study aimed to modify a laser Doppler flowmeter designed and assembled at our institute. After measuring sensitivity evaluation in ex vivo experiments, we confirmed the efficacy of this new device for monitoring real-time esophageal mucosal blood flow changes after thoracic stent graft implantation by simulating various clinical situations in an animal model. Thoracic stent graft implantation was performed in a swine model (n = 8).

Serum levels of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and soluble receptors of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) in depressed patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy.

Aims: High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is one of the damage-associated molecular patterns produced by stress and induces inflammatory responses mediated by receptors of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) on the cell surface. Meanwhile, soluble RAGE (sRAGE) exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect by capturing HMGB1. Animal models have shown upregulation of HMGB1 and RAGE in the brain or blood, suggesting the involvement of these proteins in depression pathophysiology.

Feasibility of Dedicated Breast Positron Emission Tomography Image Denoising Using a Residual Neural Network.

Objectives: This study aimed to create a deep learning (DL)-based denoising model using a residual neural network (Res-Net) trained to reduce noise in ring-type dedicated breast positron emission tomography (dbPET) images acquired in about half the emission time, and to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the model in terms of its noise reduction performance and preservation of quantitative values compared to conventional post-image filtering techniques.

Methods: Low-count (LC) and full-count (FC) PET images with acquisition durations of 3 and 7 minutes, respectively, were reconstructed. A Res-Net was trained to create a noise reduction model using fifteen patients' data.

Three-month outcomes of faricimab loading therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration in Japan.

This multicenter study aimed to assess the short-term effectiveness and safety of faricimab in treatment-naïve patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) in Japan. We retrospectively reviewed 63 eyes of 61 patients with wAMD, including types 1, 2, and 3 macular neovascularization as well as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Patients received three consecutive monthly intravitreal injections of faricimab as loading therapy.

DANGER Signals Activate G -Protein Receptor Kinases Suppressing Neutrophil Function and Predisposing to Infection After Tissue Trauma.

Objective: Injured tissue predisposes the subject to local and systemic infection. We studied injury-induced immune dysfunction seeking novel means to reverse such predisposition.

Background: Injury mobilizes primitive "DANGER signals" [danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)] activating innate immunocyte (neutrophils, PMN) signaling and function.

Antimicrobial activities of lavandulylated flavonoids in Sophora flavences against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus via membrane disruption.

Introduction: The continuous emergence and rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria have accelerated the demand for the discovery of alternative antibiotics. Natural plants contain a variety of antibacterial components, which is an important source for the discovery of antimicrobial agents.

Objective: To explore the antimicrobial activities and related mechanisms of two lavandulylated flavonoids, sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone in Sophora flavescens against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Can Neutrophils Prevent Nosocomial Pneumonia after Serious Injury?

Nosocomial pneumonia is a leading cause of critical illness and mortality among seriously injured trauma patients. However, the link between injury and the development of nosocomial pneumonia is still not well recognized. Our work strongly suggests that mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs), especially mitochondrial formyl peptides (mtFPs) released by tissue injury, play a significant role in developing nosocomial pneumonia after a serious injury.

Report of Weil's disease with a fatal course triggered by Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction.

Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease characterized by a spectrum of influenza-like symptoms, can manifest as severe cases so called Weil's disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to avoid the potentially fatal course of the disease. Within 24 hours of the initial administration of antibiotics, patients may experience the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR), characterized by chills, fever, hypotension, and impaired consciousness.

Effect of Tumor-Pixel Positioning on the Variability of SUV Measurements in PET Images.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on standardized uptake value (SUV) measurement variability of the positional relationship between objects of different sizes and the pixel of a positron emission tomography (PET) image.

Methods: We used a NEMA IEC body phantom comprising six spheres with diameters of 10, 13, 17, 22, 28, and 37 mm. The phantom was filled with F solution and contained target-to-background ratios (TBRs) of 2, 4, and 8.