Antiviral roles of eosinophils in asthma and respiratory viral infection.

Eosinophils are immune cells that are crucial for the pathogenesis of allergic diseases, such as asthma. These cells play multifunctional roles in various situations, including infection. They are activated during viral infections and exert antiviral activity.

Proposal for a Novel Classification of Patients With Enlarged Ventricles and Cognitive Impairment Based on Data-Driven Analysis of Neuroimaging Results in Patients With Psychiatric Disorders.

One of the challenges in diagnosing psychiatric disorders is that the results of biological and neuroscience research are not reflected in the diagnostic criteria. Thus, data-driven analyses incorporating biological and cross-disease perspectives, regardless of the diagnostic category, have recently been proposed. A data-driven clustering study based on subcortical volumes in 5604 subjects classified into four brain biotypes associated with cognitive/social functioning.

Left posterior superior temporal gyrus and its structural connectivity in schizophrenia.

The left posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology and core symptoms of schizophrenia, although its structural connectivity has not yet been systematically investigated. Here, we aimed to evaluate its white matter (WM) connectivity with Broca's area, the thalamus, and the right pSTG. Eighty-three patients with schizophrenia and 141 healthy controls underwent diffusion-weighted imaging and T1-weighted three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging.

The relationship between long COVID, labor productivity, and socioeconomic losses in Japan: A cohort study.

Objectives: We examined shifts in labor productivity and their economic ramifications among adult patients with long COVID in Japan.

Methods: A total of 396 patients were categorized into three groups based on symptom progression: non-long COVID, long COVID recovered, and long COVID persistent. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed at three time intervals: 3, 6, and 12 months after COVID-19 diagnosis.

Autism-spectrum quotient mediates the relationship between clinical symptoms and quality of life in schizophrenia.

Background: Social dysfunctions can affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients with schizophrenia. The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) is a widely used measure of innate autistic traits. However, in patients with schizophrenia, the score may represent the severity of autism-like social dysfunctions as a consequence of symptoms.

Electroconvulsive therapy-specific volume changes in nuclei of the amygdala and their relationship to long-term anxiety improvement in depression.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for depression. ECT induces volume changes in the amygdala, a key center of anxiety. However, the clinical relevance of ECT-induced changes in amygdala volume remains uncertain.

Impact of smoking on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in human and mice: Implications for COPD.

We aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by the gut microbiota following smoking exposure and their role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. SCFA concentrations were measured in human plasma, comparing non-smokers (n = 6) and smokers (n = 12). Using a mouse COPD model induced by cigarette smoke exposure or elastase-induced emphysema, we modulated SCFA levels through dietary interventions and antibiotics to evaluate their effects on inflammation and alveolar destruction.

Effectiveness of benralizumab in the Tokyo Asthma Study (TOAST): A real-world prospective interventional trial.

Background: Biologics are integral in the management of severe asthma. As the effectiveness of the anti-IL-5 receptor antibody benralizumab in Japan remains elusive, this study aimed to assess its real-world effectiveness in Japanese patients with severe asthma.

Methods: This prospective, interventional, single-arm clinical trial was conducted across ten facilities in Japan between September 2020 and July 2022.

Frontal neurodegeneration associated with Frontal Assessment Battery in early Alzheimer's disease.

Background: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is widely used to assess executive dysfunction in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer's disease (aMCI-AD), but its neurobiological meaning is unclear. To elucidate this, we examined the relationship between the FAB score and three key imaging biomarkers: gray matter volume, amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition, and glucose metabolism.

Methods: Twenty Aβ- and tau-positive aMCI-AD patients and age-matched controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography with [C]PiB and [F]FDG.

Acidic oral environment's potential contribution to palladium-induced systemic contact dermatitis: Case report.

Acidic oral environments may trigger systemic contact dermatitis via ionization of metals, including palladium. A patch test revealed a late delayed positive response to palladium, emphasizing the need for nuanced diagnostic approaches for allergy management.

Aspergillus fumigatus extract modulates human eosinophils via NOD2 and oxidative stress.

Background: Aspergillus fumigatus is a pathogenic fungus known to be associated with severe asthma and allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis. However, the precise mechanisms underlying airway inflammation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the direct modulation of human eosinophils by A.

Multiomics analysis identified IL-4-induced IL1RL1 eosinophils characterized by prominent cysteinyl leukotriene metabolism.

Background: Clinical studies have demonstrated that IL-4, a type 2 cytokine, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis and eosinophilic asthma. However, the direct effect of IL-4 on eosinophils remains unclear.

Objective: We aimed to elucidate the inflammatory effects of IL-4 on the functions of human eosinophils.

Segmentation and Volume Estimation of the Habenula Using Deep Learning in Patients With Depression.

Background: The habenula is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. However, its small structure limits the accuracy of segmentation methods, and the findings regarding its volume have been inconsistent. This study aimed to create a highly accurate habenula segmentation model using deep learning, test its generalizability to clinical magnetic resonance imaging, and examine differences between healthy participants and patients with depression.

Period prevalence of uveitis in human T-lymphotropic virus 1 carriers versus noncarriers in a highly endemic area: The Nagasaki Islands Study.

The magnitude of the effect of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection on uveitis remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a highly endemic area of HTLV-1 in Japan. The study included 4265 residents (men, 39.

Association of homocysteine with white matter dysconnectivity in schizophrenia.

Several studies have shown white matter (WM) dysconnectivity in people with schizophrenia (SZ). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and WM microstructure in people with SZ using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy for Seasonal Influenza in Young and Middle-aged Adults: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Objective Seasonal influenza affects healthcare demand. However, the efficacy of anti-influenza drugs, particularly among young patients at a low risk of complications, has rarely been evaluated. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of anti-influenza drugs against seasonal influenza in healthy young and middle-aged adults.