Benefits and challenges of the integration of haptics-enhanced virtual reality training within dental curricula.

Background: Haptics-enhanced virtual reality (VR-haptic) simulation in dental education has evolved considerably during the past decade, representing a promising resource of simulation-based training opportunities to support conventional practice. We aim to summarize current literature on the applications of VR-haptics in learning, practicing, and teaching dental education.

Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, focusing on research articles published between January 2010 and January 2024.

Observational Study on the Clinical Reality of Community-Acquired Respiratory Virus Infections in Adults and Older Individuals.

The impact of common respiratory virus infections on adults and older individuals in the community is unclear, excluding seasonal influenza viruses. We examined FilmArray® tests performed on 1828 children aged <10 years and 10,803 adults, including cases with few respiratory symptoms, between January 2021 and June 2024. Approximately 80% of the children tested positive for ≥1 viruses, while 9.

Pemafibrate for treating MASLD complicated by hypertriglyceridaemia: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial study protocol.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a phenotype of the metabolic syndrome in the liver and is clearly associated with metabolic abnormalities such as hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Although the prevalence of MASLD is increasing worldwide, there is currently no consensus on the efficacy and safety of the drugs used to treat MASLD/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, was designed to have higher peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alfa (PPARα) agonist activity and selectivity than existing PPARα agonists, and in development trials, without increasing creatinine levels, lipid parameters and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly improved.

Antibacterial effects of Kampo products against pneumonia causative bacteria.

Community-acquired pneumonia is caused primarily by bacterial infection. For years, antibiotic treatment has been the standard of care for patients with bacterial pneumonia, although the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains is recognized as a global health issue. The traditional herbal medicine Kampo has a long history of clinical use and is relatively safe in treating various diseases.

Behavioral and emotional co-modulation during dog-owner interaction measured by heart rate variability and activity.

Behavioral and physiological synchrony facilitate emotional closeness in attachment relationships. The aim of this pseudorandomized cross-over study was to investigate the emotional and physiological link, designated as co-modulation, between dogs and their owners. We measured the heart rate variability (HRV) and physical activity of dogs belonging to co-operative breeds (n = 29) and their owners during resting baselines and positive interaction tasks (Stroking, Training, Sniffing, Playing) and collected survey data on owner temperament and dog-owner relationship.

Comparative analysis based on shared amplicon sequence variants reveals that cohabitation influences gut microbiota sharing between humans and dogs.

Introduction: The One Health concept is a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between humans, animals, and the environment. The cohabitation of humans and pets positively affects their physical, mental, and social well-being. It is recognized as an essential factor from the One Health perspective.

Rapid formation of picture-word association in cats.

It is well known that dogs are capable of following human verbal instructions. However, very little is known about the equivalent ability in cats. In this study, we used a switched stimuli task to examine whether cats rapidly form picture-word association, which is a fundamental ability for word learning.

Establishment of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program to Spare the Use of Oral Fluoroquinolones for Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis in Outpatients.

The increase in fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant (EC) is a serious global problem. In addition, much of acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) cases are caused by EC. FQs have been selected for the treatment of cystitis in outpatients, and there is concern about treatment failure.

Smartphone-Based Digital Peer Support for a Walking Intervention Among Public Officers in Kanagawa Prefecture: Single-Arm Pre- and Postintervention Evaluation.

Background: Digital peer support, defined as peer support delivered through technology such as smartphone apps, may be promising to promote activity in the form of step counts. Interactions among users have a positive impact on retention rates, and apps with social elements show significant improvements in daily step count. However, the feasibility of digital peer support in promoting physical activity (PA) is unknown; therefore, its effectiveness on step count and the clinical implications remain unconfirmed.

A case of adrenal cavernous hemangioma resected due to tumor growth accompanied by intratumoral hemorrhage.

Introduction: We describe a case of an adrenal cavernous hemangioma that was surgically resected because of tumor growth and intratumoral hemorrhage.

Case Presentation: A 73-year-old woman presented with an enlarged adrenal tumor and intratumoral hemorrhage during the follow-up of an incidental adrenal tumor. A computed tomography showed that the left adrenal tumor had grown from 23 to 44 mm over 1 year.

Efficacy of exercise with the hybrid assistive limb lumbar type on physical function in mobility-limited older adults: A 5-week randomized controlled trial.

Background: Sarcopenia and frailty often worsen in older adults because of declines in activities of daily living and social connections that are associated with chronic diseases and traumatic injuries such as falls and fractures. Exercise intervention for sarcopenia can take >3 months to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and walking speed. Thus, a specialized intervention system for shorter periods of time is needed.

Association between gender and self-assessment skills amongst Japanese dental students.

Background/purpose: Self-assessment in dental education is considered a fundamental skill for proficient oral healthcare providers. While previous studies looked at self-assessment in education, few have done so at Japanese institutions. This study aimed to assess potential associations between gender and self-assessment skills in Japanese dental students.

Single-Facility Analysis of COVID-19 Status of Healthcare Employees during the Eighth and Ninth Pandemic Waves in Japan after Introducing Regular Rapid Antigen Testing.

Background: Community infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have increased rapidly since the emergence of the Omicron strain. During the eighth and ninth pandemic waves-when movement restrictions in the community were eased-the all-case registration system was changed, and the actual status of infection became uncertain.

Methods: We conducted regular rapid antigen tests (R-RATs) once or twice a week as self-testing to examine the actual state of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) diagnosis among healthcare employees.

The Lreu_1276 protein from represents a third family of dihydroneopterin triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolases in bacteria.

Unlabelled: Tetrahydrofolate is a cofactor involved in C metabolism including biosynthesis pathways for adenine and serine. In the classical tetrahydrofolate biosynthesis pathway, the steps removing three phosphate groups from the precursor 7,8-dihydroneopterin triphosphate (DHNTP) remain unclear in many bacteria. DHNTP pyrophosphohydrolase hydrolyzes pyrophosphate from DHNTP and produces 7,8-dihydroneopterin monophosphate.

Impact of the Omicron Strain on Febrile Convulsions Requiring Hospitalization in Children: A Single-Center Observational Study.

Background: The emergence of the Omicron strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of December 2021 has drastically increased the number of infected children in Japan, along with the number of children with febrile convulsions, but its clinical impact is unclear.

Materials And Methods: We compared the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children hospitalized with febrile convulsions with the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with fever and respiratory symptoms without convulsions.

Results: In 2021 and 2022, 49 and 58 children required emergency hospitalization for febrile convulsions (FC group) with status epilepticus or cluster spasms, in which 24 and 38 children underwent a Filmarray respiratory panel test (FA test), respectively, and others received a quantitative antigen test for SARS-CoV-2.

Fabrication of 3D engineered intestinal tissue producing abundant mucus by air-liquid interface culture using paper-based dual-layer scaffold.

Fabrication of engineered intestinal tissues with the structures and functions as humans is crucial and promising as the tools for developing drugs and functional foods. The aim of this study is to fabricate an engineered intestinal tissue from Caco-2 cells by air-liquid interface culture using a paper-based dual-layer scaffold and analyze its structure and functions. Just by simply placing on a folded paper soaked in the medium, the electrospun gelatin microfiber mesh as the upper cell adhesion layer of the dual-layer scaffold was exposed to the air, while the lower paper layer worked to preserve and supply the cell culture medium to achieve stable culture over several weeks.

Discovery of Novel Bicyclic Pyrazoles as Potent PIP5K1C Inhibitors.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is generated by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinases (PIP5Ks) from phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P). Structurally diverse and selective inhibitors against PIP5Ks are required to further elucidate the therapeutic potential for PIP5K inhibition, although the effects of PIP5K inhibition on various diseases and their symptoms, such as cancer and chronic pain, have been reported. Our medicinal chemistry efforts led to novel and potent PIP5K1C inhibitors.

Serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 contributes to the proliferation of varicella-zoster virus and induction of cyclin B1 expression.

In this study, we investigated the role of serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) replication. VZV DNA replication and plaque formation were inhibited by SGK1 knockout and treatment with an SGK1 inhibitor. Furthermore, SGK1 inhibition suppressed the increase in cyclin B1 expression induced by VZV infection.

Beacon-based sleep-wake monitoring in dogs.

The sleep-wake cycle represents a crucial physiological process essential for maintaining homeostasis and promoting individual growth. In dogs, alterations in sleep patterns associated with age and dog's correlation with temperament factors, such as nervousness, have been reported, and there is an increasing demand for precise monitoring of sleep and physical activity in dogs. The present study aims to develop an analysis method for measuring sleep-wake patterns and physical activity in dogs by utilizing an accelerometer and a smartphone.

Attachment-like behavioral expressions to humans in puppies are related to oxytocin and cortisol: A comparative study of Akitas and Labrador Retrievers.

This study investigated the relationship between urinary hormone concentrations and attachment-related behaviors in two dog breeds, the Akitas and Labrador Retrievers, to elucidate the hormonal and behavioral mechanisms underlying domestication and interspecies attachment to humans. By measuring cortisol and oxytocin concentrations, and conducting the Strange Situation Test (SST), we aimed to investigate breed differences in endocrine secretions associated with domestication and how these differences influence dog behavior toward humans. Our results showed significant breed differences in urinary cortisol concentrations, with Akitas exhibiting higher levels than Labrador Retrievers.

Maternal diabetes and risk of offspring congenital heart diseases: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Background: Few prospective cohort studies have examined the association between maternal diabetes, including pre-pregnancy and gestational diabetes, and the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Asian offspring.

Methods: We examined the association between maternal diabetes and offspring CHD among 97,094 mother-singleton infant pairs in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) between January 2011 and March 2014. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of offspring CHD based on maternal diabetes (pre-pregnancy diabetes and gestational diabetes) were estimated using logistic regression after adjusting for maternal age at delivery, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), maternal smoking habits, alcohol consumption, annual household income, and maternal education.

Risk factors of failure results after double-bundle reconstruction with autogenous hamstring grafts for isolated posterior cruciate ligament rupture cases.

Posterior tibial translation (PTT) after double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction has sometimes occurred. Purpose of this study is to identify the risk factors for postoperative PTT after double-bundle PCL reconstruction with a hamstring autograft. Comparing the results of bilateral gravity sag view (GSV) at 12 months after surgery, over 5-mm PTT was defined as 'failure' in this study.