Blood DNA virome associates with autoimmune diseases and COVID-19.

Aberrant immune responses to viral pathogens contribute to pathogenesis, but our understanding of pathological immune responses caused by viruses within the human virome, especially at a population scale, remains limited. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing datasets of 6,321 Japanese individuals, including patients with autoimmune diseases (psoriasis vulgaris, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) or multiple sclerosis) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or healthy controls. We systematically quantified two constituents of the blood DNA virome, endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and anellovirus.

How many cases do young pediatric surgeons need to experience to achieve autonomy in performing pediatric endoscopic surgery? A nationwide survey to establish an ideal curriculum for pediatric endoscopic surgery in Japan.

Purpose: To ensure the safe prevalence of pediatric endoscopic surgery in Japan, a training curriculum should be established. In addition, the number of pediatric surgical cases is decreasing due to the decreasing birth rate in Japan, and it is necessary to clarify the number of surgical cases required for young pediatric surgeons to achieve autonomy in pediatric endoscopic surgery.

Methods: An online nationwide survey was conducted among young pediatric surgeons with 3-15 years of clinical experience in Japan.

Effect of heart rate on B-type natriuretic peptide in sinus rhythm.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels accurately reflect the degree of cardiac overload in heart failure. Considering cardiac morphology and intracardiac pressure, including the left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), is essential for cardiac overload assessment. These indexes influence plasma BNP levels, and high heart rate is likely associated with cardiac morphology.

Interventions for expectant and new parents designed to prevent child abuse and neglect in at-risk families: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Early intervention may prevent maltreatment during infancy. This study examined the effectiveness of interventions initiated during the perinatal period to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for articles published before February 2023.

Ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) carbon ion irradiation inhibited immune suppressive protein expression on Pan02 cell line.

Recently, ultra-high dose rate (> 40 Gy/s, uHDR; FLASH) radiation therapy (RT) has attracted interest, because the FLASH effect that is, while a cell-killing effect on cancer cells remains, the damage to normal tissue could be spared has been reported. This study aimed to compare the immune-related protein expression on cancer cells after γ-ray, conventionally used dose rate (Conv) carbon ion (C-ion), and uHDR C-ion. B16F10 murine melanoma and Pan02 murine pancreas cancer were irradiated with γ-ray at Osaka University and with C-ion at Osaka HIMAK.