Publications by authors named "Kawabata S"

Flower color is an important character of ornamental plants and one of the main target traits for variety innovation. We previously identified a CmMYB6 epigenetic allele that affects the flower color in chrysanthemum, and changes in flower color are caused by the DNA methylation level of this gene. However, it is still unknown which DNA methyltransferases are involved in modifying the DNA methylation levels of this gene.

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Background: C5 palsy is a frequent complication following cervical spine surgery, particularly after posterior approaches. Although several risk factors have been proposed, the incidence of C5 palsy after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) remains less well understood. This study aims to elucidate the risk factors and neurological recovery associated with C5 palsy following ACDF.

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Accumulation of senescent neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is an important tissue phenotype that causes age-related degeneration of peripheral sensory nerves. Senescent neurons are neurons with arrested cell cycle that have undergone cellular senescence but remain in the tissue and play various biological roles. To understand the accumulation of senescent neurons in the DRG during aging, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism that induces cellular senescence in DRG neurons and the role of senescent DRG neurons.

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Background: Postoperative osteolysis may be observed around poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) pins in osteochondral fragments fixation for an osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT). Hydroxyapatite (HA) improves biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and mechanical strength when added to PLLA. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of osteolysis and clinical outcomes of fixation for OLT with PLLA pins vs PLLA/HA pins.

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Background/aim: Few studies have examined the association between programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in small cell lung cancer and the effect of chemoimmunotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients diagnosed with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer at our hospital between September 2019 and August 2023, who were treated with atezolizumab plus carboplatin and etoposide and had pathological tissue immunostained with SP142, were retrospectively examined to determine whether treatment efficacy differed depending on the expression of PD-L1.

Results: Twenty-nine patients were analyzed.

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Objectives: The right posterior segment graft can be selected in cases where neither the right nor left lobe graft satisfies the selection criteria for adult living donor liver transplant. However, vascular and biliary anatomy may cause technical difficulties in procurement of posterior segments in donors of living donor liver transplant and may require specific attention in vascular and biliary reconstruction in the recipient. In this study, we examined the feasibility of right posterior segment grafts in adult living donor liver transplants through donor safety and recipient outcomes and clarified the anatomic points of the surgical technique.

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Aim: Older patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) have a higher incidence of polypharmacy attributed to comorbidities and the use of pain relief medications. This study aimed to explore the effect of polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy on surgical outcomes in older patients with LSS based on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and locomotive syndrome.

Methods: Consecutive patients aged ≥65 years who underwent lumbar spinal surgery for LSS were retrospectively reviewed.

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Purpose: To compare image quality and visibility of anatomical structures on contrast-enhanced thin-slice abdominal CT images reconstructed using super-resolution deep learning reconstruction (SR-DLR), deep learning-based reconstruction (DLR), and hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) algorithms.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 54 consecutive patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT. Thin-slice images (0.

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  • Chronic stress on the second metatarsal head in patients with hallux valgus can lead to osteoarthritis and dislocation of the second metatarsophalangeal joint.
  • A study analyzed 115 HV feet, separating them into two groups based on dislocation presence and further categorizing those without dislocation by osteoarthritis status.
  • Results indicated that greater protrusion of the second metatarsal and specific angles were linked to higher risks of dislocation and osteoarthritis in the joint.
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Background: A previous Phase II clinical trial, conducted from 1995 to 2003, evaluated CNS germ cell tumors (GCTs) using a three-group treatment stratification based on histopathology. The primary objective of the study was to assess the long-term efficacy of standardized treatment regimens, while the secondary objective focused on identifying associated long-term complications.

Methods: Total 228 patients were classified into three groups for treatment: germinoma (n=161), intermediate prognosis (n=38), and poor prognosis (n=28), excluding one mature teratoma case.

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Objective: To develop a magnetic field measurement method in the carpal tunnel area in response to electrical median nerve stimulation at the elbow and evaluate its usefulness.

Methods: Five healthy subjects participated. The magnetic field recording evoked by median nerve electrical stimulation at the elbow with electrical intensity that minimized the pronator quadratus and flexor carpi radialis muscle response was measured with 132-channel superconducting quantum interference device magnetoneurography.

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  • - The study investigates the effects of posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) injury on outcomes after arthroscopic repair of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI).
  • - MRI findings showed that PTFL thickness and cross-sectional area were larger in people with CLAI, and PTFL injuries were associated with higher recurrence rates of ankle instability post-surgery.
  • - While PTFL injuries didn’t significantly affect clinical scores after surgery, the presence of these injuries correlated with a greater likelihood of instability recurrence and associated injuries to other ligaments.
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  • The study investigates how the pathogen responsible for bacterial meningitis, specifically a clinical strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae, can access brain tissue without causing bacteremia or pneumonia.
  • Researchers used mice to test this by intranasally inoculating them and found the bacteria in regions of the brain without causing systemic infection.
  • Key findings highlight that the pneumolysin gene (PLY) is crucial for this process, as its knockout prevented bacterial spread to the brain, indicating that PLY disrupts nasal epithelial barriers to facilitate infection.
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  • Scientists studied a gene in zebrafish that helped them understand changes in a body part called the neuromuscular junction, especially in mutant fish that couldn't move.
  • They discovered this gene is similar to other genes found in humans that help fight off bacteria and is part of a larger group of related genes in zebrafish.
  • The researchers found that this gene helps young zebrafish survive better against infections, especially when they live in clean environments without germs.
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In recent years, the association of the microbiome with various diseases has been reported. The oral and gut microbiomes have been linked to cerebral aneurysms and are involved in the systemic inflammatory response, which is mediated mainly via the immune system. Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis and rupture of cerebral aneurysms, and the microbiome is potentially involved in this process.

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  • This study investigates the relationship between Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements in subchondral bone and the condition of articular cartilage in ankle osteoarthritis (OA).
  • Researchers gathered talar articular surfaces from 14 ankles and assessed them histologically and via CT imaging, correlating HU values with cartilage degeneration.
  • The findings reveal that as OA worsens, both cartilage defects and subchondral bone thickness increase, with significant correlations between HU values and cartilage health observed, suggesting that HU measurement can help evaluate joint surface conditions.
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is responsible for a range of diseases in humans contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. Among more than 200 serotypes of , serotype M1 strains hold the greatest clinical relevance due to their high prevalence in severe human infections. To enhance our understanding of pathogenesis and discovery of potential therapeutic approaches, we have developed the first genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) for a serotype M1 strain, which we name iYH543.

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Background And Aims: Gut dysbiosis characterized by an imbalanced microbiota is closely involved in the pathogenesis of a widespread gastrointestinal inflammatory disorder, inflammatory bowel disease. However, it is unclear how the complex intestinal microbiota affects development or resistant of mucosal inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the impact of the gut microbiota on susceptibility in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis.

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Background: Managing medication use in older orthopedic patients is imperative to extend their healthy life expectancy in an aging society. However, the actual situation regarding polypharmacy, the intake of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) among older orthopedic patients is not well characterized. This study aimed to investigate the medication-based profiles of older orthopedic patients to highlight the critical points of concern.

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  • Compression of the carotid artery (CA) by the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage during swallowing can lead to stroke, though this specific mechanism was previously unreported.
  • A case study highlighted a man with left CA stenosis who experienced recurrent strokes due to mechanical compression by the pharynx during swallowing.
  • The successful surgical intervention involved repositioning the affected arteries, preventing future strokes, and underscoring the importance of understanding anatomical relationships in diagnosing CA-related conditions.
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  • This study investigates how the timing of early gait training affects frailty in in-hospital patients undergoing TAVI for aortic stenosis, using the Clinical Frailty Scale as a measure.
  • It involved 69 patients, with those starting gait training on postoperative days 0 or 1 categorized as early and those starting after day 1 as delayed; results showed early training led to faster recovery and shorter hospital stays.
  • Findings suggest that starting gait training sooner may improve physical function and reduce frailty, indicating its importance in patient recovery post-surgery.
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  • The debate about how effective radiotherapy is for treating meningiomas is ongoing and lacks strong evidence, but recent WHO classification updates and molecular diagnostics have improved how we assess the risks of recurrence.
  • While there's a growing understanding of when radiotherapy might be necessary, its effectiveness for high-risk meningiomas remains debated.
  • New techniques, like combining PET imaging with MRI and exploring boron neutron capture therapy, are being recognized as beneficial for targeting tumor cells, especially in cases where meningiomas invade surrounding brain tissue.
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Background: The management of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), which often impairs lower extremity function and increases the risk of falls, is gaining recognition for its importance in an aging society. Despite the significant overlap between frailty and locomotive syndrome (LS) in older adults, their interaction in older DCM patients remains unclear. We aimed to determine the characteristics of older DCM patients with frailty, focusing on the association between frailty and LS.

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Background: Limited healing potential of the meniscus remains a burden for the successful repair of meniscus injuries in the orthopaedic fields. Silk-elastin (SE) is a novel recombinant protein with favorable properties for wound healing. This proof-of-concept study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of silk-elastin in a rabbit meniscal defect model.

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  • The study investigates genetic factors related to meningiomas, a common type of brain tumor, specifically in a Japanese population, as previous research mainly focused on Europeans.
  • Researchers analyzed 401 meningioma patients and over 50,000 control participants, ultimately identifying over 8 million genetic variants but failing to find any significant variants associated with meningioma susceptibility.
  • This first genome-wide association study on meningiomas in East Asians aims to enrich future genetic research in this area, despite not yielding significant results.
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