Association Between the Development of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Blood NAD Levels.

Background: Hearing loss prevalence increases with age, affecting over 25% of the global population aged 60 years or older. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the development of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and the blood levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).

Methods: A single-center, observational study was conducted at Kawagoe Otology Institute in Japan.

The Effects of Imeglimin on Muscle Strength in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: A bidirectional relationship has been observed between type 2 diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia, especially among older adults. While previous studies have reported that imeglimin improves mitochondrial function, they have not assessed its effects on muscle strength in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of imeglimin on muscle strength in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Oral administration of 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate extracted from wasabi is safe and improves the fatigue and sleep of healthy volunteers.

Background: This study aimed to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the effects of 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC) contained in wasabi rhizomes on fatigue and sleep and to examine its safety through overdose study.

Methods: A total of 20 healthy volunteers who were experiencing daily fatigue were given powder containing 6-MSITC (4.8 mg/day of 6-MSITC) extracted from wasabi for 4 weeks.

Comparison of Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Pulverized and Unutilized Portions of Waxy Barley.

To promote the use of waxy barley bran, an underutilized resource, samples of waxy barley were divided into three parts: polished waxy barley powder (PWBP), inner bran layer powder (IBLP), and outer bran layer powder (OBLP). The color and appearance, general properties, minerals, vitamins, β-glucan, antioxidant properties, and aroma of each part were compared. In terms of appearance and color, IBLP and OBLP appeared more yellow than PWBP; general components that were more abundant in IBLP and OBLP compared with PWBP were protein, fat, and ash.

Effects of Steam Treatment Time and Drying Temperature on Properties of Sweet Basil's Antioxidants, Aroma Compounds, Color, and Tissue Structure.

This study has developed a production method for high-quality Genova tea with excellent antioxidant properties. The antioxidant properties of each part of the Genova basil plant (i.e.

Clinical effects of wasabi extract containing 6-MSITC on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an open-label trial.

Background: Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) is a common pungent spice used in Japan. 6-Methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC) found in the rhizome of wasabi has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as improve neuroinflammation and memory. Therefore, we hypothesized that these effects would be beneficial for treating myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Stabilization and quantitative measurement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in human whole blood using dried blood spot sampling.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme essential for energy production. Recently, associations between NAD and aging-related diseases have been reported, and NAD precursors that increase NAD concentration in the body have been acknowledged as anti-aging supplements. However, there have been only a few studies on the link between aging or aging-related diseases and human blood NAD concentration because NAD and its precursors are unstable in blood and difficult to measure.

Effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide on older patients with diabetes and impaired physical performance: A prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Objective: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide regulates various biological processes. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) increases its intracellular levels and counteracts age-associated changes in animal models. We investigated the safety and efficacy of oral nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation in older patients with diabetes and impaired physical performance.

Removal of astringency from persimmon paste via polysaccharide treatment.

Non-astringent persimmon ( Thunb.) paste is typically produced by treating astringent persimmon fruit with alcohol or dry ice (to remove tannins) followed by abrasion. However, considering the large yield of astringent persimmons harvested in a short time, this long, laborious method has hindered the use of persimmon paste in food processing.

Microfluidic Preparation of Nanoparticles Using Poly(ethylene Glycol)-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine for Solubilizing Poorly Soluble Drugs.

Microfluidic systems have shown promise for the production of nanoparticles from mixtures of aqueous and organic solutions, including liposomes, oil-in-water nanoemulsions, and lipid nanoparticles. They offer important practical advantages, including low reagent consumption, parallelization, and automation, and are ideally suited to high-throughput optimization and scale-up. In this study, we developed a new method for the formulation of nanoparticles of poorly soluble drug compounds.

Herpes Zoster Radiculomyelitis With Aquaporin-4 Antibodies: A Case Report and Literature Review.

The relationship between varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-associated myelitis and aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin-G (AQP4-IgG) remains unknown. We report a case of acute radiculomyelitis with longitudinal extensive hyperintensity signals traversing the brainstem until the upper thoracic cord in a 55-year-old healthy woman following herpes zoster infection in the left C4-T3 dermatome. VZV-specific IgG in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and AQP4-IgG positivity on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were undetectable.

Ruptured anomalous hyperplastic anterior choroidal artery aneurysm: a case report.

A 48-year-old man hospitalized for subarachnoid hemorrhage harbored a ruptured aneurysm arising from an anomalous hyperplastic anterior choroidal artery. Endovascular treatment was performed and the aneurysm was successfully embolized with neck remnant. The anterior choroidal artery is a very important artery supplying critical brain structures in the treatment of intracranial vascular disease.

Successful surgical management of non-perforating acute appendicitis with septic disseminated intravascular coagulation: A case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Perforating appendicitis and abscess-forming appendicitis may cause septic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). However, non-perforating acute appendicitis with septic DIC is extremely rare.

Presentation Of Case: A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital one day after starting oral antibiotic treatment for acute appendicitis.

Appendiceal neurofibroma with low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm in neurofibromatosis type 1 patient: A case report.

Introduction: Neurofibromas are a characteristic of the autosomal dominant disorder Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), also known as von Recklinghausen's disease. Appendiceal neurofibromas are extremely rare, and low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) have not previously been reported in NF1.

Presentation Of Case: A 62-year-old man with NF1 was scheduled for elective surgical treatment of an asymptomatic, enlarged and diffusely thickened appendix that remained after curative antimicrobial treatment of acute appendicitis.

Intestinal obstruction caused by low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm: A case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Intestinal obstructions due to appendiceal pathology are rare. Obstructions caused by low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) are rarer still.

Presentation Of Case: A 79-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for mechanical small intestinal obstruction.

Pancreatobiliary fistula associated with intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma accompanying obstructive jaundice: A case report.

Introduction: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) occasionally involve formation of fistulas with other adjacent organs. Pancreatobiliary fistulas associated with IPMNs are rare, but affected patients often develop obstructive jaundice and cholangitis.

Presentation Of Case: A 79-year-old man was referred to our hospital for evaluation of abnormal biliary enzymes.

Splenic hamartoma associated with thrombocytopenia: A case report.

Introduction: Hamartomas are rare, benign tumors of the spleen. Few cases of splenic hamartomas associated with thrombocytopenia have been reported.

Presentation Of Case: An asymptomatic 64-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome was found to have a splenic tumor.

Mid-infrared spectroscopic analysis of saccharides in aqueous solutions with sodium chloride.

The infrared spectral characteristics of three different types of disaccharides (trehalose, maltose, and sucrose) and four different types of monosaccharides (glucose, mannose, galactose, and fructose) in aqueous solutions with sodium chloride (NaCl) were determined. The infrared spectra were obtained using the FT-IR/ATR method and the absorption intensities respected the interaction between the saccharide and water with NaCl were determined. This study also focused on not only the glycosidic linkage position and the constituent monosaccharides, but also the concentration of the saccharides and NaCl and found that they have a significant influence on the infrared spectroscopic characterization of the disaccharides in an aqueous solution with NaCl.

TMG-123, a novel glucokinase activator, exerts durable effects on hyperglycemia without increasing triglyceride in diabetic animal models.

Glucokinase (GK) plays a critical role for maintaining glucose homeostasis with regulating glucose uptake in liver and insulin secretion in pancreas. GK activators have been reported to decrease blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, clinical development of GK activators has failed due to the loss of glucose-lowering effects and increased plasma triglyceride levels after chronic treatment.

Angiotensin receptor blockers and the risk of cancer: data mining of a spontaneous reporting database and a claims database .

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and the risk of 10 major cancers by employing different pharmacoepidemiological assessments.

Materials And Methods: Data from the first quarter of 2004 through 2012 were downloaded from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC) were used to detect the signals.

CSF Pulsation Artifacts on ADC Maps Obtained with Readout-segmented EPI.

Purpose: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using readout-segmented EPI (rs-EPI) can minimize distortion and blurring artifacts; however, we sometimes encounter cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation artifacts on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, especially when the number of readout segments (NRS) is increased. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the NRS on the CSF pulsation artifacts in the ADC maps of healthy volunteers.

Methods: In 10 healthy volunteers, we obtained DWI from rs-EPI with a b-value of 0 and 1000 s/mm.

Simple Estimation of the Endolymphatic Volume Ratio after Intravenous Administration of a Single-dose of Gadolinium Contrast.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of a simple estimation for the endolymphatic volume ratio (endolymph volume/total lymph volume = %EL) from an area ratio obtained from only one slice (%EL) or from three slices (%EL). The %EL calculated from a time-consuming measurement on all magnetic resonance (MR) slices, was compared to the %EL and the %EL.

Methods: In 40 ears of 20 patients with a clinical suspicion of endolymphatic hydrops, MR imaging was performed 4 hours after intravenous administration of a single dose of gadolinium-based contrast material (IV-SD-GBCM).

Topologically protected surface states in a centrosymmetric superconductor β-PdBi2.

The topological aspects of electrons in solids can emerge in real materials, as represented by topological insulators. In theory, they show a variety of new magneto-electric phenomena, and especially the ones hosting superconductivity are strongly desired as candidates for topological superconductors. While efforts have been made to develop possible topological superconductors by introducing carriers into topological insulators, those exhibiting indisputable superconductivity free from inhomogeneity are very few.

Rapid and Easy Histological Evaluation of Alveolar Human Bone Quality at Dental Implant Sites Using a Nondecalcified Frozen Cryofilm Section Technique: A Technical Report.

Introduction: The evaluation of bone quality at the site of the alveolar bone for a dental implant is very important. This study presents an easy technique for direct evaluation of alveolar bone quality using nondecalcified cryofilm frozen sections on human alveolar bone core samples.

Materials And Methods: Core samples harvested from alveolar bone were immediately frozen in cooled hexanen and slowly cut using a disposable tungsten carbide blade; the sliced sections were collected with adhesive cryofilms.