Angiotensin IV Receptors in the Rat Prefrontal Cortex: Neuronal Expression and NMDA Inhibition.

Background: N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) are fundamental to neuronal physiology and pathophysiology. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), a key region for cognitive function, is heavily implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders, positioning the modulation of its glutamatergic neurotransmission as a promising therapeutic target. Our recently published findings indicate that AT receptor activation enhances NMDAR activity in layer V pyramidal neurons of the rat PFC.

Potentiation of NMDA Receptors by AT1 Angiotensin Receptor Activation in Layer V Pyramidal Neurons of the Rat Prefrontal Cortex.

NMDA receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) play a crucial role in cognitive functions. Previous research has indicated that angiotensin II (Ang II) affects learning and memory. This study aimed to examine how Ang II impacts NMDA receptor activity in layer V pyramidal cells of the rat PFC.

Anisotropic patterns of nanospikes induces anti-biofouling and mechano-bactericidal effects of titanium nanosurfaces with electrical cue.

Anti-microbial nanopatterns have attracted considerable attention; however, its principle is not yet fully understood, particularly for inorganic nanopatterns. Titanium nanosurfaces with dense and anisotropically patterned nanospikes regulate biological functions with multiple physical stimulations, which may be because of the nanopattern-induced alternation of surface physical properties. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial capability of titanium nanosurfaces and their mechanisms.

Disseminated proliferative mesocestoidosis caused by Mesocestoides vogae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidae) in a French bulldog in Japan.

This report describes a case of disseminated proliferative mesocestoidosis in a French bulldog from Aichi, Japan. In July 2023, the dog presented with chronic enteritis, and histological examination of the endoscopic biopsy specimen revealed parasites with suckers. Three months later, numerous tetrathyridia were detected in the inguinal mass.

A Consideration on Infinite and Finite Dosing in Skin Permeation Using Reconstructed Models.

Introduction: When vitamin derivatives penetrate the epidermis, they release active compound such as ascorbic acids (AsA) and tocopherols via enzymatic digestion of chemical modifiers. To determine the transdermal penetration of the derivatives, the total permeation of both the derivatives and their active compounds that released from the derivatives should be considered. In this study, we established a skin penetration test method using a cultured, reconstructed skin model with active epidermal enzymes.

Top-down brain circuits for operant bradycardia.

Heart rate (HR) can be voluntarily regulated when individuals receive real-time feedback. In a rat model of HR biofeedback, the neocortex and medial forebrain bundle were stimulated as feedback and reward, respectively. The rats reduced their HR within 30 minutes, achieving a reduction of approximately 50% after 5 days of 3-hour feedback.

Growth differentiation factor-15 and metabolic features in chronic heart failure: Insights from the SUPPORT Trial -GDF15 across the BMI spectrum.

Background: GDF15 plays pivotal metabolic roles in nutritional stress and serves as a physiological regulator of energy balance. However, the patterns of GDF15 levels in underweight or obese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are not well-understood.

Methods: We assessed serum GDF15 levels at baseline and 3 years and the temporal changes in 940 Japanese patients (642 paired samples), as a sub-analysis of the SUPPORT trial (age 65.

Flavan-3-ols, flavonoids, anthocyanidins and triterpenoids induces TIE2 phosphorylation -a candidate target for the vascular protective effects.

Vascular system is essential for the body to maintain health. Dysregulated vascular system leads to cardiovascular diseases and are observed in ischaemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and diabetes. TIE2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor expressed on vascular endothelial cells and contributes to the maintenance of a vascular system.

Association of decreased frequency of conversation with depression, oral function and eating alone: A cross-sectional study of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: This study examined the associations between geriatric factors and decreased opportunities for conversation among older adults amid a period of self-restraint during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out in October 2020. The participants were 204 residents aged ≥65 years staying at a private care home in Kyoto city, Japan.

A Pragmatic Approach to Identifying and Profiling Primary Care Clinicians and Primary Care Practices in the USA.

Background: There are no consistent data on US primary care clinicians and primary care practices owing to the lack of standard methods to identify them, hampering efforts in primary care improvement.

Methods: We develop a pragmatic framework that identifies primary care clinicians and practices in the context of the US healthcare system, and applied the framework to the IQVIA OneKey Healthcare Professional database to identify and profile primary care clinicians and practices in the USA.

Results: Our framework prescribes sequential steps to identify primary care clinicians by cross-examining clinician specialties and organizational affiliations, and then identify primary care practices based on organization types and presence of primary care clinicians.

Cerebellar injury in preterm infants less than 28 weeks gestational age.

Background: Cerebellar injury is one of the perinatal complications in preterm infants. Recent studies have highlighted the effect of perinatal complications on neurological morbidity. We investigated the perinatal risk factors and morbidity for cerebellar injury in extremely premature infants.

Correlation between Mechanical Properties and Collagen Degeneration in Fibrous Tissue.

Fibrosis is a disease that causes abnormal accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix components. It can lead to organ failure and is responsible for one-third of all deaths worldwide. However, there is no cure for this disease, and the development of minimally invasive therapies is urgently needed.

Total Hydrocortisone Dosage in the Neonatal Period May Be Related to Low Developmental Quotient in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: The effects of hydrocortisone (HDC) administration to extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants on later development remain unclear. This study examined the association between HDC dosage during neonatal period and neurodevelopmental outcomes in ELBW infants.

Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study conducted in eight centers in Japan.

Murine fecal microRNAs alter the composition of cultured gut microbiota.

Fecal microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from intestinal epithelial cells have been suggested to influence gut microbiota homeostasis. The present study examined whether fecal miRNAs alter the structure of cultured gut microbiota. Fecal bacteria isolated from murine cecal contents were cultured for 24 h under anaerobic conditions.

TAS0612, a Novel RSK, AKT, and S6K Inhibitor, Exhibits Antitumor Effects in Preclinical Tumor Models.

The MAPK and PI3K pathways are involved in cancer growth and survival; however, the clinical efficacy of single inhibitors of each pathway is limited or transient owing to resistance mechanisms, such as feedback signaling and/or reexpression of receptor-type tyrosine kinases (RTK). This study identified a potent and novel kinase inhibitor, TAS0612, and characterized its properties. We found that TAS0612 is a potent, orally available compound that can inhibit p90RSK (RSK), AKT, and p70S6K (S6K) as a single agent and showed a strong correlation with the growth inhibition of cancer cells with PTEN loss or mutations, regardless of the presence of KRAS and BRAF mutations.

α-Tocotrienol in rice bran enhances steroidogenesis in mouse Leydig cell via increased gene expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and induction of its mitochondrial translocation.

Rice is a staple food in the Asian region and one of the world's major energy sources. Testosterone is a steroid hormone that maintains physical, sexual, and cognitive ability, and its decline causes health problems like late-onset hypogonadism. Evaluation of various grain extracts showed rice bran to stimulate testosterone secretion from Leydig model cells.

Estimation of microplastic emission and transfer into Tokyo Bay, Japan, using material flow analysis.

To reduce microplastic (MP) discharge into the aquatic environment, it is necessary to properly identify its sources and amounts. Here, specific MP sources, i.e.

Sampling bag-based emission chamber for measuring volatile organic compounds from household materials using solid-phase extraction-type collection device.

A simple screening analytical method for determining the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from household materials was developed using a solid-phase extraction (SPE)-type collection device and a gas sampling bag. The VOCs emitted from the sample material placed in the gas sampling bag with a volume of 20 L were extracted on the SPE-type collection device. In this study, complete sampling mode was developed in addition to a conventional flow sampling mode.