Impact of stem cell source on secondary steroid for chronic GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Inappropriate discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs (ISD) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can lead to the development of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and necessitate the reintroduction of ISD. However, only a few studies have compared the discontinuation rates of secondary steroid for cGVHD between different stem cell sources. We retrospectively evaluated 191 patients who underwent HCT at our institution to determine the discontinuation rates of secondary steroids for cGVHD.

Persistently Low IgG2 Levels in a Subset of Patients Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Background: Infectious diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia is a risk factor for infectious diseases. Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and the history of infectious diseases are an integral part of determining the indication for immunoglobulin replacement therapy.

Oxidative Remote Aryl Rearrangement of -Cinnamyl--alkoxybenzyl Sulfonamides Using Hypervalent Iodine(III).

An oxidative remote aryl rearrangement of -cinnamyl--alkoxybenzyl sulfonamides with a hypervalent iodine(III) compound was developed to furnish 5,6-disubstituted 1,3-oxazinanes in high yields. This reaction proceeded through the dearomatization of the alkoxybenzene ring on the benzyl group, which acts as a good aryl donor, inducing the regioselective installation of the aryl group and the oxygen atom via cascade transformation. An enantioselective oxidative remote aryl rearrangement using C2-symmetrical chiral iodoarene gave enantioenriched products with high enantioselectivity.

Investigation of physiological roles of UDP-glycosyltransferase UGT76F2 in auxin homeostasis through the TAA-YUCCA auxin biosynthesis pathway.

Cellular auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) levels are coordinately regulated by IAA biosynthesis and inactivation. IAA is synthesized through sequential reactions by two enzymes, TAA1 and YUCCA, in a linear indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA) pathway. TAA1 converts tryptophan to IPA, and YUCCA catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of IPA into IAA.

Investigating the biosynthesis and roles of the auxin phenylacetic acid during - pathogenesis.

Several plant-associated microbes synthesize the auxinic plant growth regulator phenylacetic acid (PAA) in culture; however, the role of PAA in plant-pathogen interactions is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of PAA during interactions between the phytopathogenic bacterium strain DC3000 (DC3000) and the model plant host, . Previous work demonstrated that indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase A (AldA) of DC3000 converts indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld) to the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).

Precise Spectroscopy of the 3n and 3p Systems via the ^{3}H(t, ^{3}He)3n and ^{3}He(^{3}He, t)3p Reactions at Intermediate Energies.

To search for low-energy resonant structures in isospin T=3/2 three-body systems, we have performed the experiments ^{3}H(t,^{3}He)3n and ^{3}He(^{3}He,t)3p at intermediate energies. For the 3n experiment, we have newly developed a thick Ti-^{3}H target that has the largest tritium thickness among targets of this type ever made. The 3n experiment for the first time covered the momentum-transfer region as low as 15  MeV/c, which provides ideal conditions for producing fragile systems.

High levels of plasma neurofilament light chain correlated with brainstem and peripheral nerve damage.

Background And Objectives: Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a minimally invasive, but highly sensitive biomarker of neurological diseases. However, diseases and neurological damage associated with increased NfL remain unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated factors associated with increased plasma NfL levels in various neurological diseases, focal lesions and pathological processes.

Decreased oral function in Japanese inpatients with schizophrenia.

Aim: Oral function in patients with schizophrenia has not been well-characterized. To address this, we performed a cross-sectional study of oral function in Japanese inpatients with schizophrenia.

Methods: We measured oral function, including occlusal force, tongue-lip motor function, tongue pressure, and masticatory function in 130 Japanese inpatients with schizophrenia.

Alexander disease with a novel GFAP insertion-deletion mutation mimicking progressive supranuclear palsy.

This report presents a case of Alexander disease showing clinical characteristics mimicking progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). A 67-year-old woman complaining of motor disturbance exhibited severe atrophy of medulla, spinal cord, and midbrain tegmentum, as well as periventricular hyperintensity on cerebral MRI. Genetic analysis identified a novel in-frame deletion/insertion mutation in the exon 3 of the GFAP gene.

Papillary fibroelastoma originating from the atrial septum touching the mitral valve leading to infective endocarditis: a case report.

Background: Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is a rare benign tumor, which is often mistaken for a vegetation. Predominantly asymptomatic, it can cause life-threatening complications. Although rare, mobile papillary fibroelastoma movement between affected valves may hamper valve closure and damage the valve, leading to valvular regurgitation.

Role of complement activation and disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the pathogenesis of multiple system atrophy.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive and sporadic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the histological appearance of glial cytoplasmic inclusions primarily composed of α-synuclein. Recently, complement-mediated neuroinflammation has been proposed as a key factor in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders. We conducted immunohistochemical/immunofluorescent assays targeting a number of complements to explore the role of complements in MSA pathogenesis using brain samples from deceased patients and controls.

Pacemaker Relocation for Radiation Against Overlapping Lung Cancer.

We experienced a patient after pacemaker (PM) implantation who had lung cancer of the left upper lobe that developed just behind the PM. The patient was an 81-year-old man with many complications. Radiation was the only treatment option.

The Association between Sleep and Bone Mineral Density: Cross-Sectional Study Using Health Check-up Data in a Local Hospital in Japan.

This study aimed to investigate the association between daily sleep duration of <7 hours and lower bone mineral density (BMD) using data from annual health check-ups conducted in Japan between 2020 and 2022. Multivariate regression models were used, where BMD was the objective variable and daily sleep duration (<5 hours, 5 to <7 hours, 7 to <9 hours [reference], ≥9 hours) was the exposure variable adjusted for age, body mass index, physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol intake for men and women and further adjusted for menopausal status for women. The association between insomnia and BMD was also investigated.

Clinical Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid p217tau and Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease or Other Neurological Diseases.

Background: The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p217tau) or 181 (p181tau), and neurofilament light chain (NfL) are definite biomarkers of tauopathy and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: To validate their utility in excluding other neurological diseases and age-related changes in clinical settings.

Methods: We developed monoclonal antibodies against p217tau and NfL, established novel ELISAs, and analyzed 170 CSF samples from patients with AD or other neurological diseases.

Accumulation of Phosphorylated SnRK2 Substrate 1 Promotes Drought Escape in Arabidopsis.

Plants adopt optimal tolerance strategies depending on the intensity and duration of stress. Retaining water is a priority under short-term drought conditions, whereas maintaining growth and reproduction processes takes precedence over survival under conditions of prolonged drought. However, the mechanism underlying changes in the stress response depending on the degree of drought is unclear.

Usefulness of the autism spectrum quotient (AQ) in screening for autism spectrum disorder and social communication disorder.

Background: In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) were described as a new category of psychiatry nosography. SCD involves impairments in social communication and social interaction but not restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The autism spectrum quotient (AQ) was developed to screen for autism tendencies in adults with normal intelligence.

The Impact of Pretransplant Use of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors on Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia - A Single-institution Retrospective Study.

Objective Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant hematological disorder, and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) was its only curative treatment until the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Allo-SCT is still considered for CML patients who are resistant to TKIs and in an advanced phase. Currently, second- and third-generation (2/3G TKIs are typically incorporated into the first-line treatment of CML.

Striatal dopamine transporter binding differs between dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease with dementia.

I-ioflupane single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a highly sensitive and established neuroimaging technique for parkinsonian syndromes (PS). However, differentiating PS by visual inspection or analysis of regions of interest is challenging. To date, image analysis has not been able to differentiate dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD).

The efficacy of a novel integrated outside biliary stent and nasobiliary drainage catheter system for acute cholangitis: a single center pilot study.

Background/aims: Endoscopic biliary drainage is the gold standard treatment for cholangitis. The two methods of biliary drainage are endoscopic biliary stenting and nasobiliary drainage. A novel integrated outside biliary stent and nasobiliary drainage catheter system (UMIDAS NB stent; Olympus Medical Systems) was recently developed.