Relationship between oral hypofunction and medical expenditure in older adults in Japan.

This study aimed to analyze the impact of poor oral function on medical expenditures among older adults. We diagnosed oral hypofunction based on dental data obtained from oral health examinations and examined its association with several annual medical expenditures. Compared to individuals without oral hypofunction, those with oral hypofunction incurred higher total, outpatient medical, inpatient medical, dental, dispensing medical, and lifestyle-related medical expenditures.

A case of third trimester uterine prolapse resulting in vaginal delivery by placement of an intravaginal balloon.

Pregnancies complicated by uterine prolapse are rare, occurring in 1 in 10 000 to 15 000 deliveries. We report a case of uterine prolapse at 36 weeks of gestation that resulted in vaginal delivery by placement of a colpeurynter (intravaginal balloon). The patient was a 33-year-old pregnant woman with a history of uterine prolapse during her previous pregnancy.

Palmitic acid induces insulin resistance and oxidative stress-mediated cell injury through accumulation of lipid rafts in murine hepatocytes.

Lipid rafts are subdomains of the cell membrane that are rich in cholesterol and glycolipids, and they are involved in various cellular processes and pathophysiological mechanisms. However, the specific role of lipid rafts in hepatocyte dysfunction during the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of lipid rafts on insulin sensitivity and hepatocyte injury induced by saturated free fatty acids (sFFAs) using primary-cultured mouse hepatocytes.

Carbon nanotube growth catalyzed by metal nanoparticles formed the seed effect of metal clusters.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are useful nanomaterials owing to their distinct functions that depend on their structure and diameter; therefore, CNTs have recently attracted much attention. Catalytic chemical vapor deposition using metal nanoparticles as catalysts is one of the most useful methods for synthesizing CNTs. However, fine control of the CNT diameter has been technically difficult at the 1 nanometer level owing to the size distribution of metal nanoparticles and the difficulty in suppressing their aggregation during the CNT growth reaction.

Factors correlated to oral frailty and number of remaining teeth among 80-year-old population in Japan.

Background: Oral frailty is proposed as a new concept defined as an age-related gradual loss of oral functions accompanied by a decline in cognitive and physical functions in older adults. Additionally, the participants with ≥ 20 remaining teeth are associated with a lower risk of cognitive frailty in older adults. Herein, we aimed to examine the correlations between the high risk of oral frailty and oral conditions or health behavior in community-dwelling 80-year-old adults in Japan.