Spectral study of COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: The dependence of spectral gradient on the population size of the community.

We have carried out spectral analysis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) notifications in all 47 prefectures in Japan. The results confirm that the power spectral densities (PSDs) of the data from each prefecture show exponential characteristics, which are universally observed in the PSDs of time series generated by nonlinear dynamical systems, such as the susceptible/exposed/infectious/recovered (SEIR) epidemic model. The exponential gradient increases with the population size.

Recycling of Uridylated mRNAs in Starfish Embryos.

In eukaryotes, mRNAs with long poly(A) tails are translationally active, but deadenylation and uridylation of these tails generally cause mRNA degradation. However, the fate of uridylated mRNAs that are not degraded quickly remains obscure. Here, using tail-seq and microinjection of the 3' region of mRNA, we report that some mRNAs in starfish are re-polyadenylated to be translationally active after deadenylation and uridylation.

Correction: Ogawa et al. Micronutrient Antioxidants for Men (Menevit) Improve Sperm Function by Reducing Oxidative Stress, Resulting in Improved Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes. 2024, , 635.

In the originally published article [...

Vaccine Therapy for Heart Failure Targeting the Inflammatory Cytokine Igfbp7.

Background: The heart comprises many types of cells such as cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells (ECs), fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and blood cells. Every cell type responds to various stressors (eg, hemodynamic overload and ischemia) and changes its properties and interrelationships among cells. To date, heart failure research has focused mainly on cardiomyocytes; however, other types of cells and their cell-to-cell interactions might also be important in the pathogenesis of heart failure.

Micronutrient Antioxidants for Men (Menevit) Improve Sperm Function by Reducing Oxidative Stress, Resulting in Improved Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes.

Oxidative stress (OS) affects men's health and impairs spermatogenesis. Micronutrient antioxidants are available for male infertility as complemental support; however, their efficacy remains debatable. This study aimed to investigate whether antioxidants can help to reduce sperm OS and improve semen analysis and quality.

Differential changes in blood flow and oxygen utilization in active muscles between voluntary exercise and electrical muscle stimulation in young adults.

The physiological effects on blood flow and oxygen utilization in active muscles during and after involuntary contraction triggered by electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) remain unclear, particularly compared with those elicited by voluntary (VOL) contractions. Therefore, we used diffuse correlation and near-infrared spectroscopy (DCS-NIRS) to compare changes in local muscle blood flow and oxygen consumption during and after these two types of muscle contractions in humans. Overall, 24 healthy young adults participated in the study, and data were successfully obtained from 17 of them.

Sniff and reverse-sniff nasal respiratory pressures after exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A single-center prospective study.

Background: and objective: This study examined the validity of sniff nasal inspiratory (SNIP) and reverse-sniff nasal expiratory pressures (RSNEP) for estimating respiratory muscle strength and for predicting poor life expectancy following exacerbation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This prospective study included patients who were admitted for COPD exacerbation and underwent rehabilitation. At hospital discharge, SNIP, RSNEP, and maximum mouth inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP) were measured, and the body mass index, degree of airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index was calculated by evaluating body mass index, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV), the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, and 6-min walk distance.

Development of an Algorithm to Predict Recurrences After Resection of Liver Metastases in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background/aim: Hepatic recurrences after resection of metastatic lesions in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) have an enormous impact on patient prognosis. Response evaluation criteria in solid tumor (RECIST) or morphologic response on computed tomography (CT) have been reported as surrogate prognostication markers. This study assessed a novel algorithm for the prognostication of liver metastasis treatment.

Rapid identification of bacteria using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction system for acute abdominal infections.

Purpose: Acute abdominal infections can be fatal if the causative organism (s) are misidentified. The spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria has become a serious problem worldwide, making antibiotic selection extremely difficult. Using quantitative metagenomic analysis, we evaluated a commercial multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system (FilmArray™, bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France) for the rapid identification of causative bacteria.

Recent Advances in Translational Research for Heart Failure in Japan.

Despite decades of intensive research and therapeutic development, heart failure remains a leading cause of death worldwide. However, recent advances in several basic and translational research fields, such as genomic analysis and single-cell analysis, have increased the possibility of developing novel diagnostic approaches to heart failure. Most cardiovascular diseases that predispose individuals to heart failure are caused by genetic and environmental factors.

Efficacy and safety of single-dose ivermectin in mild-to-moderate COVID-19: the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled CORVETTE-01 trial.

Background: To investigate whether ivermectin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 proliferation in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 using time to a negative COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Methods: CORVETTE-01 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (August 2020-October 2021) conducted in Japan. Overall, 248 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using RT-PCR were assessed for eligibility.

A rose flavor compound activating the NRF2 pathway in dendritic cells ameliorates contact hypersensitivity in mice.

Dendritic cells (DCs), which are typical antigen-presenting cells, localize to various sites in the body, particularly the front line of infection as sentinels, and are involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. Although the functions of DCs, such as pathogen-induced cytokine production and antigen-specific T cell activation, are important for host defenses against infection and tumorigenesis, the hyper- and/or extended activation of DCs leads to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In the present study, β-damascone, a major ingredient of rose fragrance, was selected from an aroma library as a candidate compound that suppresses antigen-induced immune responses.

Hippocampal volumetry to determine the resection side in patients with intractable non-lesional bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy.

Bilateral Temporal lobe epilepsy (BTLE) cases may result in poor surgical outcomes due to the difficulty in determining/localizing the epileptogenic zone. In this study, we investigated whether hippocampal volume (HV) would be useful for the determination of the best resection side in BTLE. Eighteen cases of BTLE determined by a scalp video electroencephalogram (SVEEG) underwent resection via intracranial electroencephalography (IVEEG).