Potential prevention of stillbirth caused by placental abruption: a regional population-based study in Japan.

Objective: Placental abruption is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes including intrauterine fetal demise, which subsequently results in stillbirth. However, few studies have demonstrated the preventability of stillbirth due to placental abruption. Therefore, we evaluated the possibility of preventing stillbirth caused by placental abruption by reviewing all stillbirths in our region.

Significant improvement in survival outcomes of trisomy 18 with neonatal intensive care compared to non-intensive care: a single-center study.

Background: Trisomy 18 syndrome, also known as Edwards syndrome, is a chromosomal trisomy. The syndrome has historically been considered lethal owing to its poor prognosis, and palliative care was primarily indicated for trisomy 18 neonates. Although there have been several reports on the improvement of survival outcomes in infants with trisomy 18 syndrome through neonatal intensive care, few studies have compared the impact of neonatal intensive care on survival outcomes with that of non-intensive care.

Nationwide Database Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Decreased Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Preserving activities of daily living (ADL) is the key issue for Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and their caregivers.

Objective: To clarify the ADL level of AD patients at diagnosis and the risk factors associated with decreased ADL during long-term care (≤3 years).

Methods: Medical records of AD patients in a Japanese health insurance claims database were analyzed retrospectively to determine ADL using the Barthel Index (BI) and identify the risk factors associated with decreased ADL.

Prevalence and risk factors of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis: a multicentre cohort study.

Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in a multicentre cohort of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: One hundred and eighty-six AAV patients who underwent radiographs and MRI screening of bilateral hip joints at more than 6 months after initial remission induction therapy (RIT) were retrospectively assessed for the presence of ONFH.

Results: Among 186 AAV patients, 33 (18%) were diagnosed with ONFH.

Insufficient antenatal identification of fetal growth restriction leading to intrauterine fetal death: a regional population-based study in Japan.

Objective: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with perinatal adverse outcomes including intrauterine fetal death. Antenatally unidentified FGR has a higher risk of intrauterine fetal death than that identified antenatally. We, therefore, investigated the antenatal identification of FGR among intrauterine fetal deaths, and assessed the perinatal factors associated with the identification of FGR.

Severity of Placental Abruption in Restrained Pregnant Vehicle Drivers: Correct Seat Belt Use Confirmed by Finite Element Model Analysis.

Despite wearing a seat belt, pregnant drivers often suffer from negative fetal outcomes in the event of motor accidents. In order to maintain the safety of pregnant drivers and their fetuses, we assessed the severity of placental abruption caused by motor vehicle collisions using computer simulations. We employed a validated pregnant finite element model to determine the area of placental abruption.

Effect of vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist tolvaptan on syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) after transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: recovery of measured osmolality.

Background: Delayed hyponatremia after pituitary surgery can be treated with the V2-receptor antagonist, oral tolvaptan. We investigated the pharmacological effect of oral tolvaptan against SIAD in patients with hyponatremia after pituitary surgery.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients with pituitary adenoma treated by endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery developed SIAD according to the major guidelines, and 7 patients (17.

An iPS-derived in vitro model of human atrial conduction.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the United States, affecting approximately 1 in 10 adults, and its prevalence is expected to rise as the population ages. Treatment options for AF are limited; moreover, the development of new treatments is hindered by limited (1) knowledge regarding human atrial electrophysiological endpoints (e.g.

Clinical and transcriptomic features of persistent exacerbation-prone severe asthma in U-BIOPRED cohort.

Background: Exacerbation-prone asthma is a feature of severe disease. However, the basis for its persistency remains unclear.

Objectives: To determine the clinical and transcriptomic features of frequent exacerbators (FEs) and persistent FEs (PFEs) in the U-BIOPRED cohort.

Increased Difficulties in Maternal Perception of Decreased Fetal Movement in Cases of Severe Fetal Growth Restriction: A Population-Based Study in Japan.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is defined as fetuses who have failed to achieve a normal weight for gestational age. FGR is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth. Pregnant women often perceive decreased fetal movements before intrauterine fetal death.

Factors Affecting the Severity of Placental Abruption in Pregnant Vehicle Drivers: Analysis with a Novel Finite Element Model.

We clarified factors affecting the severity of placental abruption in motor vehicle collisions by quantitively analyzing the area of placental abruption in a numerical simulation of an unrestrained pregnant vehicle driver at collision velocities of 3 and 6 m/s. For the simulation, we constructed a novel finite element model of a small 30-week pregnant woman, which was validated anthropometrically using computed tomography data and biomechanically using previous examinations of post-mortem human subjects. In the simulation, stress in the elements of the utero-placental interface was computed, and those elements exceeding a failure criterion were considered to be abrupted.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Wound Healing Response.

Emerging evidence has shown a link between the status of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and wound healing responses. Thus, better understanding HSCs will contribute to further advances in wound healing research. Myeloid cells such as neutrophils and monocyte-derived macrophages are critical players in the process of wound healing.

Fetal movement counting is associated with the reduction of delayed maternal reaction after perceiving decreased fetal movements: a prospective study.

Maternal perception of decreased fetal movement is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Although there have been several studies on interventions related to the fetal movements count, most focused on adverse perinatal outcomes, and little is known about the impact of the fetal movement count on maternal behavior after the perception of decreased fetal movement. We investigated the impact of the daily fetal movement count on maternal behavior after the perception of decreased fetal movement and on the stillbirth rate in this prospective population-based study.

Clinical efficacy and safety of second line and salvage aflibercept for advanced colorectal cancer in Akita prefecture.

Background: Angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs) combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy is a promising treatment for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Aflibercept (AFL) is an option for second-line treatment of CRC, according to the 'VELOUR' trial. Currently, we can choose from three AIs, including bevacizumab, ramucirumab, and AFL.

Sparsely methylated mitochondrial cell free DNA released from cardiomyocytes contributes to systemic inflammatory response accompanied by atrial fibrillation.

Systemic inflammation is assumed to be the consequence and the cause of atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the level of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with AF and AF mimicking models, and to illuminate its impact on inflammation. Peripheral blood was obtained from 54 patients with AF and 104 non-AF controls, and cfDNA was extracted.

A "ligand-targeting" peptide-drug conjugate: Targeted intracellular drug delivery by VEGF-binding helix-loop-helix peptides via receptor-mediated endocytosis.

As a new alternative to antibody-drug conjugates, we generated "ligand-targeting" peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs), which utilize receptor-mediated endocytosis for targeted intracellular drug delivery. The PDC makes a complex with an extracellular ligand and then binds to the receptor on the cell surface to stimulate intracellular uptake via the endocytic pathway. A helix-loop-helix (HLH) peptide was designed as the drug carrier and randomized to give a conformationally constrained peptide library.

Sequential estimation of the generated curing heat of composite materials by data assimilation: A numerical study.

The models and parameters related to the generated curing heat in the molding simulation of composite materials are dependent on the type of resin used and the experimental conditions. Therefore, in this study, we estimated the generated curing heat that changes with time by a data assimilation method, which combines the observation values with simulation values, so that the heat curing simulation of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) becomes closer to the experimental conditions. In the data assimilation method, the temperature distribution on the surface of the composite material was used as an observation value, and the generated curing heat was estimated using an ensemble Kalman filter.

In vitro generation of functional murine heart organoids via FGF4 and extracellular matrix.

Our understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation of cardiogenesis is hindered by the difficulties in modeling this complex organ currently by in vitro models. Here we develop a method to generate heart organoids from mouse embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies. Consecutive morphological changes proceed in a self-organizing manner in the presence of the laminin-entactin (LN/ET) complex and fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4), and the resulting in vitro heart organoid possesses atrium- and ventricle-like parts containing cardiac muscle, conducting tissues, smooth muscle and endothelial cells that exhibited myocardial contraction and action potentials.

Chamber-specific transcriptional responses in atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, yet the molecular signature of the vulnerable atrial substrate is not well understood. Here, we delineated a distinct transcriptional signature in right versus left atrial cardiomyocytes (CMs) at baseline and identified chamber-specific gene expression changes in patients with a history of AF in the setting of end-stage heart failure (AF+HF) that are not present in heart failure alone (HF). We observed that human left atrial (LA) CMs exhibited Notch pathway activation and increased ploidy in AF+HF but not in HF alone.

Impact of advanced maternal age on adverse infant outcomes: A Japanese population-based study.

Objective: The number of births among women of higher age has been rapidly increasing in many countries for several decades. While recent epidemiological studies on the impact of maternal age on infant outcomes in developed countries have evaluated the outcomes of singleton infants, few population-based studies have investigated all deliveries including multiple births. Thus, we aimed to assess the impact of maternal age on adverse infant outcomes using data from all birth certificates, including multiple births, in Shiga prefecture, Japan.

Impact of the recommendation for embryo transfer limitation on multiple pregnancy: A population-based study in Japan.

Objective: Limitations on the number of embryos transferred have been recommended worldwide to reduce the number of medically assisted multiple births. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of this recommendation for embryo transfer limitation on perinatal outcomes of multiple births.

Study Design: A retrospective and population-based study compared all multiple births in Shiga prefecture of Japan in 2014-2015 (2015 group) with those in 2007-2008 (2008 group).

Fetal movement frequency and the effect of associated perinatal factors: Multicenter study.

Background: Decreased fetal movements are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth. Delayed maternal visits to a health care provider after perceiving decreased fetal movements are frequently observed in stillbirths. Informing pregnant women of the normal range of fetal movement frequency is essential in their earlier visits in order to prevent stillbirth.