Naldemedine for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients With Cancer: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Opioid-induced constipation is the most frequent and non-self-limiting adverse effect of opioid analgesia, reducing adherence and interfering with pain relief. This clinical trial aimed to clarify the preventive effect of naldemedine versus placebo for constipation in patients with cancer starting regularly dosed strong opioids therapy.

Methods: This multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, confirmatory trial was conducted between July 2021 and May 2023 at four academic hospitals in Japan (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: jRCTs031200397).

Effects of monaural sound stimulation on subjective visual vertical.

Background: Sound stimulation can influence electrophysiological vestibular reflexes. However, the effects of sound stimulation on space perception remain unknown.

Objective: To know the effects of monaural sound stimulation on subjective visual vertical (SVV).

A Handheld Ultrasound Device Can Predict Constipation with Rectal Fecal Retention in a Palliative Care Setting.

Although handheld ultrasound devices (HUDs) are commonplace, their ability to diagnose fecal retention (FR) remains unclear. This prospective observational study examined HUDs' usefulness in diagnosing FR in patients with constipation in a palliative care setting. Between 10 December 2020 and 30 June 2022, we compared rectal ultrasonographic findings obtained using HUDs with clinical manifestations in 64 males and 70 females (48%, 52%, 68 ± 11 years old) with constipation who had undergone computed tomography (CT).

The Prevalence and Characteristics of Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease Among Asian Patients With Unexplained Abdominal Symptoms.

Background/aims: The precise incidence of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) and its effects on the quality of life (QOL) remain unclear, particularly in Asian patients with right-sided SUDD. We assess the prevalence of SUDD and its impact on QOL in a real-world population.

Methods: Five institutional cohorts of patients who received outpatient treatment for unexplained abdominal symptoms from January 15, 2020 to March 31, 2022, were included.

[A case of primary central nervous system lymphoma with marked cauda equina enlargement].

An 80-year-old woman presented with subacute right lower limb pain and bilateral lower limb weakness. MRI of the spine showed marked cauda equina enlargement with contrast enhancement. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed elevated cell count, decreased glucose, and elevated protein.

Ocular flutter as the presenting manifestation of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy.

A 39-year-old man exhibited ocular flutter and cerebellar ataxia following a subacute disturbance of consciousness and partial seizure. He was diagnosed with autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy by tissue- and cell-based antibody assays. Brain single-photon emission computed tomography detected a significant increase in blood flow in the fastigial nucleus, a critical region for eye saccade control.

Late-manifestation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in older adults: an observational study.

Background: The age of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder onset is usually during the first 12 years of life; however, there have been recent reports of late-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. These reports have been limited to that of young adults, and details in older adults remain unknown. As such, we had previously presented the first case report of "very" late-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, wherein the symptoms presented in senile age.

Characterization of a Water-Dispersed Biodegradable Polyurethane-Silk Composite Sponge Using C Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance as Coating Material for Silk Vascular Grafts with Small Diameters.

Recently, silk fibroin (SF) has been shown to be a suitable material for vascular prostheses for small arteries. In this study, we developed a softer SF graft by coating water-dispersed biodegradable polyurethane (PU) based on polycaprolactone and an SF composite sponge on the knitted SF vascular graft. Three kinds of C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), namely carbon-13 (C) cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (MAS), C dipolar decoupled MAS, and C refocused insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer (r-INEPT) NMR, were used to characterize the PU-SF coating sponge.

Late-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as a differential diagnosis of dementia: a case report.

Background: Although adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has recently gained increased attention, few reports on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the pre-elderly or elderly have been published. Here, we present the case of a patient with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder who gradually developed dementia-like symptoms as she aged, which initially made her condition difficult to distinguish from early onset Alzheimer's disease. This report illustrates that some types of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may be misdiagnosed as dementia.

Dramatic dietary shift maintains sequestered toxins in chemically defended snakes.

Unlike other snakes, most species of possess glands in their dorsal skin, sometimes limited to the neck, known as nucho-dorsal and nuchal glands, respectively. Those glands contain powerful cardiotonic steroids known as bufadienolides, which can be deployed as a defense against predators. Bufadienolides otherwise occur only in toads (Bufonidae) and some fireflies (Lampyrinae), which are known or believed to synthesize the toxins.

Delusional parasitosis in dementia with Lewy bodies: a case report.

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by fluctuating cognitive impairments, recurrent visual hallucinations, the motor symptoms of parkinsonism and REM sleep behavior disorder. Various neuropsychiatric symptoms including hallucination and delusions occur frequently; however, delusional parasitosis is rare in DLB. Here, we report a case of DLB patient with delusional parasitosis.

Novel cooperative antipredator tactics of an ant specialized against a snake.

Eusocial insects can express surprisingly complex cooperative defence of the colony. Brood and reproductive castes typically remain in the nest and are protected by workers' various antipredator tactics against intruders. In Madagascar, a myrmicine ant, , occurs sympatrically with a large blindsnake, .

Evolution of nuchal glands, unusual defensive organs of Asian natricine snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae), inferred from a molecular phylogeny.

A large body of evidence indicates that evolutionary innovations of novel organs have facilitated the subsequent diversification of species. Investigation of the evolutionary history of such organs should provide important clues for understanding the basis for species diversification. An Asian natricine snake, , possesses a series of unusual organs, called nuchal glands, which contain cardiotonic steroid toxins known as bufadienolides.

Effect of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar depression with psychotic features: a case report.

Background: Major depressive episodes with psychotic features are more common in bipolar disorder than in major depressive disorder; however, there is little information on the optimal treatment for bipolar depression with psychotic features.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 69-year-old man. At the age of 66, he was admitted to the hospital for the treatment of bipolar depression with psychotic features.

Correction: The Acoustic Properties of Low Intensity Vocalizations Match Hearing Sensitivity in the Webbed-Toed Gecko, Gekko subpalmatus.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The Acoustic Properties of Low Intensity Vocalizations Match Hearing Sensitivity in the Webbed-Toed Gecko, Gekko subpalmatus.

The design of acoustic signals and hearing sensitivity in socially communicating species would normally be expected to closely match in order to minimize signal degradation and attenuation during signal propagation. Nevertheless, other factors such as sensory biases as well as morphological and physiological constraints may affect strict correspondence between signal features and hearing sensitivity. Thus study of the relationships between sender and receiver characteristics in species utilizing acoustic communication can provide information about how acoustic communication systems evolve.

New species of Blaesodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Tsingy karstic outcrops in Ankarana National Park, northern Madagascar.

We describe a new gecko of the genus Blaesodactylus from a karstic outcrop in deciduous dry forest of Ankarana National Park, northern Madagascar. Blaesodactylus microtuberculatus sp. nov.

Effects of testosterone therapy on bipolar disorder with Klinefelter syndrome.

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is widely associated with cognitive impairment and language problems. KS patients may also exhibit psychiatric symptoms. We present the case of an 18-year-old man with KS who experienced rapidly repeating relapses of manic episodes.

Sleep duration and its association with sleepiness and depression in "ronin-sei" preparatory school students.

Purposes: The Japanese word "ronin-sei" refers to a student who has failed their university entrance examination and is preparing to re-take the examination in the following year. We aimed to determine how sleep duration is associated with daytime sleepiness or depression in ronin-sei because impaired daytime performance is known to result from sleep deprivation.

Methods: The participants in this cross-sectional study were 1075 ronin-sei and 285 university students.

Association between depression, examination-related stressors, and sense of coherence: the Ronin-Sei study.

Aims: In the Japanese education system, students who fail university entrance exam often go to special preparatory schools to prepare for the following year's exam. These students are called ronin-sei. The purpose of this study was to clarify: (i) depression and somatic complaints in ronin-sei; and (ii) the association between depression, examination-related stressors, and sense of coherence (SOC).

Relationship among VEGF, VEGF receptor, AGEs, and macrophages in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: We studied the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its receptor (flt-1), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and macrophages in the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Ocular fluid and small specimens of iris and neovascular membrane were obtained from 30 patients who underwent vitreous surgery (19 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy [PDR], 11 eyes with non-diabetic ocular diseases). VEGF and AGE levels in ocular fluid were assayed by ELISA.

Association of advanced glycation end products with A549 cells, a human pulmonary epithelial cell line, is mediated by a receptor distinct from the scavenger receptor family and RAGE.

Cellular interactions with advanced glycation end products (AGE)-modified proteins are known to induce several biological responses, not only endocytic uptake and degradation, but also the induction of cytokines and growth factors, combined responses that may be linked to the development of diabetic vascular complications. In this study we demonstrate that A549 cells, a human pulmonary epithelial cell line, possess a specific binding site for AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) (K(d) = 27.8 nM), and additionally for EN-RAGE (extracellular newly identified RAGE binding protein) (K(d) = 118 nM).

Nepsilon-(Carboxymethyl)lysine and 3-DG-imidazolone are major AGE structures in protein modification by 3-deoxyglucosone.

The levels of plasma 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) increase under hyperglycemic conditions and are associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic complications because of the high reactivity of 3-DG with proteins to form advanced glycation end products (AGE). To investigate potential markers for 3-DG-mediated protein modification in vitro and in vivo, we compared the yield of several 3-DG-derived AGE structures by immunochemical analysis and HPLC and measured their localization in human atherosclerotic lesions. When BSA was incubated with 3-DG at 37 degrees C for up to 4 wk, the amounts of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and 3-DG-imidazolone steeply increased with incubation time, whereas the levels of pyrraline and pentosidine increased slightly by day 28.