Development of a Cable-Driven Bionic Spherical Joint for a Robot Wrist.

Wrist movements play a crucial role in upper-limb motor tasks. As prosthetic and robotic hand technologies have evolved, increasing attention has been focused on replicating the anatomy and functionality of the wrist. Closely imitating the biomechanics and movement mechanisms of human limbs is expected to enhance the overall performance of bionic robotic hands.

Recovery from Atrophic Autoimmune Thyroiditis in a Child: Thyroid Stimulation Blocking Antibody as a Prognostic Marker.

Introduction: Atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis (AAT) is a form of autoimmune hypothyroidism characterized by the absence of a goiter. Thyroid stimulation blocking antibody (TSBAb) has been detected in a subset of pediatric AAT cases. Although the disappearance of TSBAb has been linked to the recovery of thyroid function in adult AAT cases, similar outcomes have not been documented in pediatric cases.

The Impact on Patient Prognosis of Changes to the Method of Notifying Staff About Accepting Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Our hospital is a designated emergency hospital and accepts many patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Previously, after receiving a direct call from emergency services to request acceptance of an OHCA patient, the emergency room (ER) chief nurse notified medical staff. However, this method delayed ER preparations, so a Code Blue system (CB) was introduced in which the pending arrival of an OHCA patient was broadcast throughout the hospital.

Effect of hypofibrinolysis on clinical outcomes of patients with septic disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Background: This study investigated the utility of thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in assessing hypofibrinolysis among septic patients, specifically the association of hypofibrinolysis, as determined by ROTEM, with septic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), organ dysfunction, and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective analysis included adult septic patients admitted to Saga University Hospital from 2013 to 2017, with available ROTEM data. Hypofibrinolysis was assessed using the lysis index at 60 min (LI60) in extrinsic thromboelastometry (EXTEM).

Impact of COVID-19 on paediatric care in Japan: Analysis of national health insurance claims data.

Aim: To quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric care use compared to adult care and identify affected subdomains.

Methods: Data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) for six fiscal years (FY2016-2021) were analysed. Pre-pandemic (FY2016-FY2019) and pandemic years (FY2020, FY2021) were compared to delineate changes in medical services for paediatric and adult patients.

Which is more important for predicting de novo DSA production in donor-sensitized kidney transplant recipients, B-cell epitope or T-cell epitope analysis?

De novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA), particularly those against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, can cause kidney allograft rejection, resulting in poor prognosis. Recently, HLA matching at both B-cell and T-cell epitopes, assessed by eplet mismatches and predicted indirectly recognizable HLA epitopes (PIRCHE) score, respectively, has been reported to be associated with dnDSA production. It remains unclear how these epitopes are involved in transplant immunology and how the results of the analysis can be applied in clinical practice.

Deep vein thrombosis in response to stress induced by earthquakes in Japan: a meta-analysis of possible exacerbating factors.

The principal goal of this study was to assess factors associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the aftermath of earthquakes in Japan. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for articles published in English or Japanese regarding indicators for DVT associated with Japanese earthquakes. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) or mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for patients with DVT (the DVT group) as compared with the non-DVT group for potential predictors.

Deciphering the mystery of CHNG3.

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH), characterized by insufficient thyroid hormone production due to abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, is the most common congenital endocrine disorder. We previously conducted comprehensive genetic screening of 102 patients with permanent CH born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan and identified mutations in several genes in 19 CH patients, including defects in genes encoding dual oxidase 2, thyroglobulin, thyrotropin receptor, thyroid peroxidase, and paired-box 8. Despite these findings, approximately 80% of cases remain unexplained.

Comprehensive study on central precocious puberty: molecular and clinical analyses in 90 patients.

Context: Defects in MKRN3, DLK1, KISS1, and KISS1R and some disorders, such as Temple syndrome (TS14), cause central precocious puberty (CPP). Recently, pathogenic variants (PVs) in MECP2 have been reported to be associated with CPP.

Objective: We aimed to clarify the contribution of (epi)genetic abnormalities to CPP and clinical and hormonal features in each etiology.

Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in children during the 2023/24 season: The first season after relaxation of intensive COVID-19 measures.

Background: The annual administration of the influenza vaccine is the most effective method for preventing influenza. We have evaluated the effectiveness of the inactivated influenza vaccine in children aged 6 months to 15 years across the seasons from 2013/2014 to 2022/2023. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the inactivated influenza vaccine in the 2023/2024 season, the first year following the easing of strict COVID-19 measures, and possibly the last season when only the inactivated vaccine is available on the market.

Digital clubbing without hypoxia for lysinuric protein intolerance.

Digital clubbing is characterized by bulbous enlargement of the terminal segments of the fingers. Hypotheses including hypoxia have been proposed for the pathogenesis of digital clubbing, but the exact pathogenesis of digital clubbing is still uncertain. Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is caused by pathogenic variants in SLC7A7 and is often associated with interstitial lung disease.

Molecular and Clinical Features of Congenital Hypothyroidism Due to Multiple Variants.

is one of the major causative genes of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Still, the mutation spectrum and clinical outcomes of biallelic variants are not fully understood. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular features and long-term clinical manifestations of CH caused by multiple pathogenic variants.

Pre-Transplant Calcimimetic Use and Dose Information Improves the Accuracy of Prediction of Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism after Kidney Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT) is characterized by elevated parathyroid hormone and serum calcium levels after kidney transplantation (KTx). To ascertain whether pre-transplant calcimimetic use and dose information would improve THPT prediction accuracy, this retrospective cohort study evaluated patients who underwent KTx between 2010 and 2022. The primary outcome was the development of clinically relevant THPT.

Functional variants in a TTTG microsatellite on 15q26.1 cause familial nonautoimmune thyroid abnormalities.

Insufficient thyroid hormone production in newborns is referred to as congenital hypothyroidism. Multinodular goiter (MNG), characterized by an enlarged thyroid gland with multiple nodules, is usually seen in adults and is recognized as a separate disorder from congenital hypothyroidism. Here we performed a linkage analysis of a family with both nongoitrous congenital hypothyroidism and MNG and identified a signal at 15q26.

Impact of Age 70 years or Older on Donors for Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation (KT) involving elderly living kidney donors (LKDs) is becoming more frequent because of a profound organ shortage. The efficacy of KT involving grafts obtained from LKDs aged 70 years or older has been reported. However, the safety of donor nephrectomy in LKDs aged 70 years or older, including that associated with changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), has not been investigated.

Congenital Hypothyroidism with Thyroid in situ: A Case Report with NKX2-1 and DUOX2 Hypomorphic Variants.

Introduction: NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2-1) encodes a transcription factor, NKX2-1, that is expressed in the thyroid gland, lung, and brain. Dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) encodes an enzyme which generates hydrogen peroxide and is involved in the thyroid hormone synthesis. Cases of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) with dyshormonogenesis showing two or more genetic variants are increasingly reported.