Improved genetic prediction of the risk of knee osteoarthritis using the risk factor-based polygenic score.

Background: Polygenic risk score (PRS) analysis is used to predict disease risk. Although PRS has been shown to have great potential in improving clinical care, PRS accuracy assessment has been mainly focused on European ancestry. This study aimed to develop an accurate genetic risk score for knee osteoarthritis (OA) using a multi-population PRS and leveraging a multi-trait PRS in the Japanese population.

Heart-derived collagen promotes maturation of engineered heart tissue.

Although the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays essential roles in heart tissue engineering, the optimal ECM components for heart tissue organization have not previously been elucidated. Here, we focused on the main ECM component, fibrillar collagen, and analyzed the effects of collagens on heart tissue engineering, by comparing the use of porcine heart-derived collagen and other organ-derived collagens in generating engineered heart tissue (EHT). We demonstrate that heart-derived collagen induces better contraction and relaxation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived EHT (hiPSC-EHT) and that hiPSC-EHT with heart-derived collagen exhibit more mature profiles than those with collagens from other organs.

Laparoscopically assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy performed for remnant stomach in patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case report.

Background: Although percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) offers better access to the gastrointestinal system, in patients with previous abdominal surgery, PEG can be unsuccessful. Laparoscopically assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) is indicated for such patients. However, patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be more susceptible to anesthesia-related complications than other patients, requiring the indications for LAPEG, along with perioperative management, to be considered carefully.

Transthyretin derived amyloid deposits in the atrium and the aortic valve: insights from multimodality evaluations and mid-term follow up.

Background: Recent studies have reported atrial involvement and coexistence of aortic stenosis in transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis (CA). However, pathological reports of extraventricular ATTR amyloid deposits in atrial structures or heart valves are limited, and the clinical implications of ATTR amyloid deposits outside the ventricles are not fully elucidated.

Case Presentation: We report 3 cases of extraventricular ATTR amyloid deposits confirmed in surgically resected aortic valves and left atrial structures, all of which were unlikely to have significant ATTR amyloidosis infiltrating the ventricles as determined by multimodality evaluation including technetium-pyrophosphate scintigraphy, cardiac magnetic resonance, endomyocardial biopsy and their mid-term clinical course up to 5 years.

Exploring the benefits of full-time hospital facility dogs working with nurse handlers in a children's hospital.

Objective: To examine the benefits of full-time hospital facility dogs (HFDs) working with qualified nurse handlers for inpatients in a pediatric medical facility.

Methods: A questionnaire survey on the evaluation of HFD activities was conducted in a hospital that had introduced HFDs for the first time in Japan and has been using them for 9 years. Of the 626 full-time medical staff, 431 responded, of which 270 who observed HFD activities were included in the analysis.

Clinical Outcomes Based on High Bleeding Risk in Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease Who Have Undergone Endovascular Therapy.

Purpose: Endovascular therapies (EVTs) for symptomatic lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) are efficient and minimally invasive. However, patients with PAD tend to have high bleeding risk (HBR), and there are limited data regarding the HBR for patients with PAD after EVT. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and severity of HBR, as well as its association with clinical outcomes in the patients with PAD who underwent EVT.

Retrograde Autologous Talar Osteocancellous Bone Grafting for the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: A Technical Note.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are common injuries in young athletes. Various kinds of surgical procedures are available for orthopaedic surgeons, but which surgical technique is the best remains controversial. Many surgical procedures require malleolar osteotomy to obtain appropriate surgical exposure to the OLT because of the anatomic characteristics of the ankle joint.

Prognostic impact of perioperative change in serum p53 antibody titers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The clinical effectiveness of tumor markers for estimating prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. We assessed the clinical impact of changes in perioperative serum p53 antibodies (s-p53-Abs) titers in ESCC.

Methods: From January 2011 to March 2021, 249 patients were enrolled in this study.

Lysosomal trapping of 4-dimethylamino-1-{3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)propanoyl}piperidine, a hydrophilic and weakly basic amine, in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells.

Some weakly basic compounds lead to cell death accompanied by cellular vacuolation. The novel analgesic agent, 4-dimethylamino-1-{3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)propanoyl}piperidine (DMIP), is a hydrophilic and weakly basic compound that induces vacuolation in the vascular smooth muscle cells in dogs. Here, we investigated the vacuolation mechanism and the potential cytotoxicity of DMIP using human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells.

Association Between Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness and Early Nutrition and Rehabilitation Intensity in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Muscle weakness in the intensive care unit (ICU), referred to as ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), is a common complication observed in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to investigate whether rehabilitation intensity and nutrition during ICU admission are associated with the incidence of ICUAW.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients aged ≥18 years who were admitted to the ICU between April 2019 and March 2020 and who received mechanical ventilation for >48 h were eligible.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia in a sheep: insulinoma, adrenocortical carcinoma with myxoid differentiation, and thyroid C-cell carcinoma.

An ~10-y-old male sheep had anorexia and progressive weight loss for ~1 mo. The sheep was emaciated, and 20 d later, became recumbent and lethargic, and was hypoglycemic (0.33 mmol/L; RI: 2.

Relationship between grip strength during hospitalisation and mental disorders after discharge in critically ill patients: a post-hoc analysis of a prospective observational study.

Objectives: Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a recognised sequela after critical care. The development of an index that predicts PICS mental disorders will be of significance for the selection of subsequent interventions. The purpose of this study was to find factors associated with PICS mental disorders.

Voltammetric and Spectroscopic Investigations on the Redox Processes of Trioxotriangulene Neutral Radicals on Graphite Electrodes.

To investigate the microscopic electrochemical dynamics of a stable trioxotriangulene (TOT) organic neutral π-radical on a graphite electrode surface, voltammetric and infrared (IR) spectroelectrochemical studies were conducted using electrolyte solutions containing TOT monoanions. Upright columnar crystals (face-on alignment) of the TOT neutral radical were preferentially formed and dissolved in a rather reversible manner in the electrolyte with a low concentration of TOT monoanion under electrochemical conditions; however, more flat-lying columnar crystals (edge-on alignment) were formed in a higher concentration electrolyte. The flat-lying crystals remained on the graphite surface even at a fully reduced potential, owing to the lack of direct π-π interactions between the molecules and the graphite electrode.

Relationship between the Selvester QRS Score and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Assessed by the Index of Microcirculatory Resistance.

Objective The index of microvascular resistance (IMR) is an invasive method for quantifying the coronary microvasculature independent of the presence and degree of epicardial stenosis during cardiac catheterization, whereas the Selvester QRS score, which is related to myocardial damage, is a relatively simple and non-invasive measurement procedure. We investigated the relationship between the QRS score and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) assessed via IMR. Methods Data from 74 patients who underwent invasive coronary physiological measurements were retrospectively reviewed.

Long-term effectiveness and safety of high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in daily practice in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

We retrospectively evaluated long-term outcomes of high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant (HDC/ASCT) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Between 2004 and 2020, 46 DLBCL patients received HDC/ASCT in our institution, including 12 patients (26.1%), who received as an upfront setting (UFS).

Utility of the frailty score for predicting prognosis and individualizing treatment intensity in elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

The optimal dose intensity of chemotherapy for elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains controversial because of concerns about adverse events and comorbidities related to the patients' frailty. This single-center study retrospectively analyzed patients aged ≥ 70 years who were newly diagnosed with DLBCL and received chemotherapy between 2004 and 2022. Survival outcomes and treatment-related mortality (TRM) were stratified according to geriatric assessment variables, and the influence of chemotherapy dose intensity on outcomes was assessed using the frailty score with a Cox hazards model with restricted cubic spline (RCS) in patients aged 70-79 years.

Anatomical Analysis of the Gonadal Veins and Spine in Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Background: The current study aimed to investigate the anatomical position of the gonadal veins (GVs) from the viewpoint of spine surgery and the risk factors associated with lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF).

Methods: This retrospective study included 99 consecutive patients. The GV locations were divided into the ventral (V), dorsal medial (DM), and dorsal lateral (DL) sides based on lumbar disk levels on axial contrast-enhanced computed tomography images.

Excessive flexed position of the femoral component causes abnormal kinematics and joint contact/ ligament forces in total knee arthroplasty.

Poor clinical outcomes are reported in excessive flexion of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but their mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical effect of flexion of the femoral component. Cruciate-substituting (CS) and posterior-stabilised (PS) TKA were reproduced in a computer simulation.

Cardiac Regenerative Therapy Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Heart Failure: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Heart transplantation (HT) is the only definitive treatment available for patients with end-stage heart failure who are refractory to medical and device therapies. However, HT as a therapeutic option, is limited by a significant shortage of donors. To overcome this shortage, regenerative medicine using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), such as human embryonic stem cells and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), has been considered an alternative to HT.

Surgery for acute abdomen in adult patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities.

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the characteristics, outcomes, and problems related to surgery for acute abdomen in adult patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (MID).

Methods: The clinical records of 35 adult patients with severe MID who received emergency surgery for acute abdomen between 2011 and 2020 were reviewed.

Results: The median duration from onset to surgery was 48 hours.

An artificial metallolyase with pliable 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad for stereoselective Michael addition.

We repurposed the metal-binding site of a cupin superfamily protein into the 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad, which is one of the common motifs in natural non-heme enzymes, to construct artificial metalloenzymes that can catalyze new-to-nature reactions. The Cu-H52A/H58E variant catalyzed the stereoselective Michael addition reaction and was found to bear a flexible metal-binding site in the high-resolution crystal structure. Furthermore, the H52A/H58E/F104W mutant accommodated a water molecule, which was supported by Glu58 and Trp104 residues hydrogen bonding, presumably leading to high stereoselectivity.