Effects of preoperative beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, arginine, and glutamine supplementation on cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: In older patients undergoing cardiac surgery, physical function is a critical determinant of postoperative outcomes. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation has been shown to promote muscle protein anabolism and inhibit catabolism, thereby preventing muscle weakness. However, its efficacy in older patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains unknown.

Development and validation of an algorithm for identifying patients undergoing dialysis from patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: Identifying patients on dialysis among those with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 15 mL/min/1.73 m remains challenging. To facilitate clinical research in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) using electronic health records, we aimed to develop algorithms to identify dialysis patients using laboratory data obtained in routine practice.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium malmoense Infection in a Patient with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Systemic Sclerosis, and Interstitial Pneumonia: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature.

A 69-year-old man with systemic sclerosis and interstitial pneumonia presented with an abnormal shadow in the right upper lung lobe. A thoracoscopic needle biopsy was performed on the right upper lobe lesion, and Mycobacterium malmoense was identified by 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing. Surgical treatment was performed to obtain a radical cure, and lung squamous cell carcinoma and M.

Blood DNA virome associates with autoimmune diseases and COVID-19.

Aberrant immune responses to viral pathogens contribute to pathogenesis, but our understanding of pathological immune responses caused by viruses within the human virome, especially at a population scale, remains limited. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing datasets of 6,321 Japanese individuals, including patients with autoimmune diseases (psoriasis vulgaris, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) or multiple sclerosis) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or healthy controls. We systematically quantified two constituents of the blood DNA virome, endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and anellovirus.

Persistent body-weight change on achalasia and peroral endoscopic myotomy: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: The distribution of body weight in patients with achalasia and after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has not been investigated. The role of body weight assessment after treatment remains unclear.

Methods: Using the multicenter achalasia cohort, the frequency of underweight (body mass index [BMI] < 18.

HINODE study: haemophilia A in infancy and newborns - protocol for a prospective, multicentre, observational study evaluating the coagulation potential and safety of emicizumab prophylaxis.

Introduction: Emicizumab prophylaxis is approved for people of all ages with haemophilia A (HA) including infants and children. Although previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of emicizumab in infants with HA, real-world data on emicizumab use in infants are limited. The Haemophilia A in Infancy and NewbOrns: multi-instituional prospective observational study to assess the efficacy anD safety of Emicizumab (HINODE) study aims to evaluate the coagulation potential and safety of emicizumab prophylaxis in infants with congenital HA from birth to <12 months of age.

Revealing an origin of temperature-dependent structural change in intrinsically disordered protein.

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) show structural changes stimulated by changes in external conditions. This study aims to reveal the temperature dependence of the structure and dynamics of the intrinsically disordered region of Hef, one of the typical IDPs, using an integrative approach. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and circular dichroism (CD) studies revealed that the radius of gyration and ellipticity at 222 nm remained constant up to 313-323 K, followed by a decline above this temperature range.

Valve-sparing procedure for acute aortic regurgitation due to intimal intussusception in a minimally localized aortic root dissection.

Background: Acute heart failure due to aortic regurgitation (AR) is a severe comorbidity of type A acute aortic dissection (AAD). Valve-sparing aortic root replacement is typically performed when the aortic valve remains intact.

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old male presented to our hospital with chest pain.

Association between gut microbiota and ultra-processed foods consumption among the patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 362 participants with T2D. UPFs consumption was assessed using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, quantified as the density of UPFs intake (g/1000 kcal).

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 gene-deficiency attenuates the inhibitory effect of 5,6-dihydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatetraenoic acid on vascular permeability in mice.

We investigated whether an anti-inflammatory lipid metabolite named 5,6-DiHETE reduces vascular permeability by inhibiting TRPV4 channels in vivo. In wild-type (WT) mice, histamine-induced dye extravasation was reduced by pre-administration of 5,6-DiHETE. In TRPV4-deficient mice, extravasation and histamine-induced edema were already reduced, and 5,6-DiHETE had no additional effect.

Discordance between MR enterography and endoscopic detection of Crohn's disease ileal strictures: evidence to inform recommendations.

Purpose: To evaluate correlation between terminal ileal (TI) stricture diagnosis at MR enterography (MRE) and ileocolonoscopy (IC) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: One hundred and four patients with CD (51% females; 41 ± 15 years) underwent IC and MRE within 3 months in this retrospective case-control study. Positive cases had TI strictures diagnosed by endoscopy (n = 35); or MRE (threshold small bowel dilation ≥ 3cm; n = 34).

Excessive supraventricular ectopic activity is a simple cutoff for predicting late recurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation.

The relationship between post-ablation excessive supraventricular ectopic activity (ESVEA), a new marker for new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), and late AF recurrence is uncertain. We enrolled 469 patients with AF who underwent initial radiofrequency catheter ablation and 24-h Holter monitoring the day after. Early AF recurrence (n = 57; 12%) and ESVEA (n = 242; 52%) were noted.

Causes of COVID-19 Outbreaks During Sports and Exercise: A Systematic Review.

Background: Physical activity is beneficial for preventing non-communicable and infectious diseases, such as pneumonia. Physical activity is also a potential protective factor for reducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. Conversely, outbreaks of respiratory viral infections are more likely to occur owing to group activities, opportunities for contact with individuals and vocalisations.

Clonal hematopoiesis-related mutant ASXL1 promotes atherosclerosis in mice via dysregulated innate immunity.

Certain somatic mutations provide a fitness advantage to hematopoietic stem cells and lead to clonal expansion of mutant blood cells, known as clonal hematopoiesis (CH). Among the most common CH mutations, ASXL1 mutations pose the highest risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), yet the mechanisms by which they contribute to CVDs are unclear. Here we show that hematopoietic cells harboring C-terminally truncated ASXL1 mutant (ASXL1-MT) accelerate the development of atherosclerosis in Ldlr mice.

Recanalization Does Not Always Equate to Reperfusion: No-Reflow Phenomenon After Successful Thrombectomy.

Background: Thrombectomy for acute large vessel occlusion is a well-established treatment for stroke prevention. However, futile recanalization cases, where no-reflow occurs despite successful recanalization, have been reported. This study aimed to assess cerebral hemodynamics immediately after thrombectomy and their relationship with clinical outcomes.

Sleep-related breathing disorder in a Japanese occupational population and its association with exercise-induced blood pressure elevation.

Sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) and exercise-induced blood pressure (BP) elevation are known risk factors for hypertension. However, the relation between them remains unknown. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between SRBD and exercise-induced BP elevation in a Japanese occupational population.

Comparison of Genetic Structures Among Sympatric, Red-Listed Salt-Marsh Snails in Mainland Japan (Gastropoda: Ellobiidae).

"," "", and are Red-Listed snail species of the family Ellobiidae that co-occur on salt marshes in mainland Japan. Here, we report the genetic diversity and population structures of the former two taxa in comparison with our previous data on for the evaluation of connectivity and conservation values of their local populations. Analyses of 655-bp or 652-bp sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene showed the highest genetic diversity and panmictic structure for sp.

Surgical treatment of pancreatic metastases: More appropriate surgical methods based on a clinicopathologic study of 43 patients.

Purpose: There is no established surgical method for metastatic lesion to the pancreas. In the case of relatively small lesion, we often hesitate to select which surgical method, that is, wedge/partial resection or Whipple/distal pancreatectomy. Moreover, it is debatable whether lymph node dissection is necessary or not.

Analgesic effect of Keishinieppiittokajutsubu on low barometric pressure-induced pain response in arthritic model rats.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that causes inflammation of joints, resulting in pain and swelling. Reduced barometric pressure induces painful symptom of RA, but there is no appropriate animal model and pharmacological evaluation. Keishinieppiittokajutsubu (KNEIJB), a Kampo medicine used to treat RA; however, its mechanism of action is not clear.

Two-year scale-up dissemination study of a multi-strategic community-wide intervention promoting physical activity: a single-arm pre-post hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.

Background: Intervention trials that have demonstrated significant effects may not always replicate those effects when scaled up. This study aimed to test whether scaling-up a successful cluster randomized trial (the COMMUNICATE study, 9 intervention communities), which promoted population-level physical activity (PA), could promote PA in a broader citywide setting (29 communities) after two years, as a mid-term evaluation of the six-year scaled-up trial.

Methods: This is a single-arm, pre-post comparison of a multi-strategic community-wide intervention covering the entire Unnan City, Japan.

Exploring flavonoids as potent SLC46A3 inhibitors: Insights from the structural characteristics of flavonoid-SLC46A3 interactions.

SLC46A3, a transporter for lysosomal steroid conjugates and bile acids, plays a pivotal role in the pharmacological effects of noncleavable antibody-drug conjugates using maytansine as a payload. SLC46A3 may exert negative effects on various phenomena, including copper homeostasis, mitochondrial function in the liver, and the uptake of lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) in tumor cells. Consequently, inhibiting SLC46A3 may be a promising strategy for treating hepatic disease or enhancing lipid NP delivery to tumor cells, although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.