Development of a scoring system for predicting adjacent vertebral fracture after balloon kyphoplasty.

Background Context: The incidence of adjacent vertebral fracture (AVFs) is reported to be 10%-38% after balloon kyphoplasty. However, no reports have established a system for prediction of AVF occurrence.

Purpose: To establish a scoring system for predicting AVF occurrence after balloon kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs).

Diffractive Imaging of C_{60} Structural Deformations Induced by Intense Femtosecond Midinfrared Laser Fields.

Theoretical studies indicated that C_{60} exposed to linearly polarized intense infrared pulses undergoes periodic cage structural distortions with typical periods around 100 fs (1  fs=10^{-15}  s). Here, we use the laser-driven self-imaging electron diffraction technique, previously developed for atoms and small molecules, to measure laser-induced deformation of C_{60} in an intense 3.6  μm laser field.

Inhibition of apoptosis by miR‑122‑5p in α‑fetoprotein‑producing gastric cancer.

α‑Fetoprotein (AFP)‑producing gastric cancer (AFPGC) is recognized as one of the most aggressive tumors with subsequent poor prognosis compared with common gastric cancer (GC) subtypes. However, the molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated. We previously identified that miR‑122‑5p could be a useful biomarker in AFPGC patients.

Structural investigation of α-l-fucosidase from the pancreas of Patiria pectinifera, based on molecular cloning.

An α-l-fucosidase (Pap-Alf) was purified from the pancreas of a starfish Patiria pectinifera by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by several column chromatographies. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 52.6 kDa by SDS-PAGE, although gel filtration analysis of the native enzyme suggests it exists as a homodimer in solution.

Association between MRI findings and back pain after osteoporotic vertebral fractures: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background Context: Osteoprotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) are common in elderly people. The association between back pain due to OVF with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal change is unclear. In this study we hypothesized that MRI findings would be a predictive factor for back pain measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 months follow-up.

Zeolitic intralayer microchannels of magadiite, a natural layered silicate, to boost green organic synthesis.

Despite the considerable attention given to the applications of magadiite in previous research, the properties of this natural layered silicate have remained mysterious due to the lack of crystal structure information. On the other hand, no one has doubted the intercalation capability the layers. Here we succeed in determining the structure of magadiite using X-ray pair distribution functions and synchrotron powder diffractometry.

Stride length of elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: Multi-center study using the Two-Step test.

Background: Short stride length is one of clinical symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Short stride is a risk factor for falls; therefore, identification of factors associated with short stride is critical for fall prevention in LSS patients. Although the Two-Step test can conveniently assess maximal stride length, it has not become widely used; therefore, its data are limited.

Pre-donation BMI and preserved kidney volume can predict the cohort with unfavorable renal functional compensation at 1-year after kidney donation.

Background: The magnitude of renal function recovery after kidney donation differs in donors with a heterogeneous background. Preoperative assessment of candidates with potentially unfavorable renal functional compensation is critical when baseline kidney function is marginal. We explored the significance of preserved kidney volume (PKV) and known preoperative risk factors for the prediction of unfavorable renal function compensation.

Thermochromism of restorative composite resins.

The aim of this study was to clarify the temperature dependence of color, i.e. the thermochromism of restorative composite resins at typical intraoral temperatures.

Use of a Reinforced Triple-row Stapler Following Distal Pancreatectomy Reduces the Incidence of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula in Patients With a High BMI.

Background/aim: Although perioperative management and operative techniques for pancreatic surgery have improved, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality following distal pancreatectomy (DP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the superiority of the reinforced stapler compared to the bare triple row stapler.

Patients And Methods: A total of 93 patients who underwent DP at the First Department of Surgery at Yamanashi University were examined.

High miR-3687 Expression Affects Migratory and Invasive Ability of Oesophageal Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus (BSCCE) is a variant of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), that has a more aggressive biological behaviour than that of typical ESCC. miR-3687 has been previously identified to be highly expressed in BSCCE. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of miR-3687 in ESCC and determine the role of miR-3687 in ESCC motility.

Efficacies of atovaquone, pentamidine, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for the prevention of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with connective tissue diseases.

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection in patients on steroid therapy for connective tissue diseases. The standard agent for primary PCP prophylaxis is trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), although this agent can cause common adverse reactions, including myelosuppression and renal toxicity, that result in cessation. Aerosolized pentamidine and oral atovaquone are alternatives for PCP prophylaxis.

Visible photodissociation of the CO dimer cation: fast and slow dissociation dynamics in the excited state.

Velocity and angular distributions of photofragment CO2+ ions produced from mass-selected (CO2)2+ at 532 nm excitation were observed in an ion imaging experiment. The velocity distribution was assigned to two components, fast and slow velocity components, which was consistent with the previous study by Bowers et al. The anisotropy parameters of the angular distributions for the fast and slow velocity components were experimentally determined to be βfast = 1.

An efficient approximate algorithm for nonadiabatic molecular dynamics.

We propose a modification to the nonadiabatic surface hopping calculation method formulated in a paper by Yu [Phys. Chem. Chem.

Unbiased Rotational Motions of an Ellipsoidal Guest in a Tight Yet Pliable Host.

In the design of machinery such as steel bearings, a fundamental understanding of material characteristics provides an indispensable basis for the design. Although hydrocarbon cycloarylenes have started to be used for providing unique supramolecular bearings with anomalous dynamic behaviors, their fundamental understanding is immature. A unique property of the cycloarylene host is now reported: the cyclic host is so pliable that it tracks the orientational changes of the ellipsoidal guest, that is, C fullerene.

Histopathological and Molecular Signatures of a Mouse Model of Acute-on-Chronic Alcoholic Liver Injury Demonstrate Concordance With Human Alcoholic Hepatitis.

Human alcoholic hepatitis (AH) carries a high mortality rate. AH is an acute-on-chronic form of liver injury characterized by hepatic steatosis, ballooned hepatocytes, neutrophil infiltration, and pericellular fibrosis. We aimed to study the pathogenesis of AH in an animal model which combines chronic hepatic fibrosis with intragastric alcohol administration.

Feasibility of Combination Therapy with Nab-paclitaxel Plus Gemcitabine in Patients with Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer.

Background/aim: Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (nab-P+Gem) is one of most reliable and effective regimens for borderline or unresectable pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the feasibility and clinical benefits of this regimen have never been evaluated for patients with recurrent PC after pancreatectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of combination therapy with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (nab-P+Gem) for patients with recurrent PC.

as a novel biomarker for alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer.

Aim: To investigate the clinical utility of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer (AFPGC)-specific microRNA (miRNA) for monitoring and prognostic prediction of patients.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive miRNA array-based approach to compare miRNA expression levels between AFP-positive and AFP-negative cells in three patients with primary AFPGC. We next examined the expression levels of the selected miRNAs in five AFPGC and ten non-AFPGC tissue samples by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to validate their utility.

Interleukin-18 is associated with the presence of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels are increased in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In addition, IL-18 levels are increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are associated with arthritis activity. We determined whether increased IL-18 levels are associated with ILD in RA.

Investigating the Influence of Arginine Dimethylation on Nucleosome Dynamics Using All-Atom Simulations and Kinetic Analysis.

The dimethylation of Arg at the 42nd position (R42me2) of H3 histone, a post-translational modification (PTM) in nucleosomes close to the DNA entry/exit region, showed controversial gene regulations. To address this discrepancy, we performed comprehensive all-atom replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations with and without a single PTM, either symmetric (R42me2s) or asymmetric (R42me2a) dimethylation. Together with a kinetics analysis, our simulations showed that DNA at the entry/exit region in the R42me2a nucleosome adopts a relatively more open conformation than that in the unmodified nucleosome, whereas R42me2s exhibits significantly weaker or even negligible effects on DNA dynamics and structures, which may provide clues of the discrepancy of gene regulation by R42me2.

Lumbar spinal canal stenosis leads to locomotive syndrome in elderly patients.

Background: Locomotive syndrome is a condition in which the ability to lead a normal life is restricted owing to a dysfunction in one or more of the parts of the musculoskeletal system. Although lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) is considered to cause locomotive syndrome, a detailed assessment of the association between two pathologies has not yet been reported.

Methods: The clinical data of patients aged > 65 years old who planned to undergo surgery for LSS at multiple institutions were prospectively collected from April 2016 to August 2017.

Laparoscopic high anterior resection for triple colorectal cancers with persistent ascending and descending mesocolons: A case report.

Persistent mesocolon is an embryological anomaly of the colon resulting from failure of the primitive dorsal mesocolon to fuse with the parietal peritoneum. We herein present a case of laparoscopic high anterior resection for triple colorectal cancers with persistent ascending and descending mesocolons and a right-bound inferior mesenteric artery. Preoperative 3-D CT demonstrated that the sigmoid colon had shifted to the right abdomen and was located under the ascending colon.

Molecular Design and Synthesis of a Novel Substrate for Assaying Lysozyme Activity.

A novel substrate {Galβ1,4GlcNAcβ1,4GlcNAc-β-NP [Gal(GlcNAc)-β-NP]} for assaying lysozyme activity has been designed using docking simulations and enzymatic synthesis via β-1,4-galactosyltransferase-mediated transglycosylation from UDP-Gal as the donor to (GlcNAc)-β-NP as the acceptor. Hydrolysis of the synthesized Gal(GlcNAc)-β-NP and related compounds using hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) demonstrated that the substrate was specifically cleaved to Gal(GlcNAc) and -nitrophenol (NP). A combination of kinetic studies and docking simulation was further conducted to elucidate the mode of substrate binding.

Cost-effectiveness of Balloon Kyphoplasty for Patients With Acute/Subacute Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures in the Super-Aging Japanese Society.

Study Design: A propensity score matching study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) in Japan.

Summary Of Background Data: Osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) is a common disease in elderly people.

Clinical Impact of Histological Heterogeneity in the Metastatic Lymph Nodes of Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of histological heterogeneity in patients with node-positive colorectal cancer (CRC).

Patients And Methods: One hundred and twenty-nine patients who underwent curative surgical resection for histological node-positive CRC were enrolled. Patients were divided according to the histological heterogeneity in the primary lesion into p-hetero and p-homo groups.