Clinical characteristics and predictive biomarkers of intensive care unit-acquired weakness in patients with cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical circulatory support.

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is recognized as newly-acquired bilateral muscle weakness, which is a complication of critical illness in the ICU; however, there are no reports on the pathogenesis and early predictors of ICU-AW specifically associated with cardiogenic shock (CS). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of ICU-AW in patients with CS requiring mechanical circulatory support (MCS). This study was a single-center, prospective, and observational study.

Usefulness of Myelin Quantification Using Synthetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Predicting Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an innovative MRI technology that enables the acquisition of multiple quantitative values, including T1 and T2 values, proton density, and myelin volume, in a single scan. Although the usefulness of myelin measurement with synthetic MRI has been reported for assessing several diseases, investigations in patients with stroke have not been reported. We aimed to explore the utility of myelin quantification using synthetic MRI in predicting outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness according to baseline blood pressure level: J-STARS Echo study.

Background And Aims: We aimed to investigate long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) based on baseline blood pressure (BP) levels in non-cardioembolic stroke patients.

Methods: Patients aged 45-80 years with dyslipidemia who were not on statins before enrollment and had experienced a non-cardioembolic stroke were assigned to either the pravastatin group or the control group in a randomized trial. Patients were classified into three groups according to BP levels: normal BP (N-group: systolic BP [sBP] <140 mmHg and diastolic BP [dBP] <90 mmHg), highly elevated BP (G2 group: sBP ≥160 mmHg or dBP ≥100 mmHg), and mildly elevated BP (G1 group: the remaining patients).

Fusobacterium nucleatum in the oral cavity is associated with cerebral small vessel disease in patients with ischemic stroke.

Objectives: Periodontal disease is reportedly associated with an increased risk of stroke. Recent evidence suggests that periodontal disease aggravates cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), including lacunar stroke. However, the periodontal pathogens associated with CSVD remain unclear.

Bioactive Self-Polymerizing Resin with Surface Pre-Reacted Glass Ionomer Fillers for Suppressed Enamel Demineralization.

The treatment of damaged enamel surfaces involves modification of the enamel surface with artificial materials or the development of a pseudo-enamel, with research focusing on bioactive and biomimetic materials. In this study, a bioactive auto-polymerizing resin (APR) was developed by adding surface-pre-reacted glass ionomer (S-PRG) fillers of different quantities to APR. Its bioactive effects were evaluated via pH neutralization, ion release, and inhibition of enamel demineralization studies.

Vagus nerve size determined via ultrasonography is associated with white matter lesions in patients with vascular risk factors.

Purpose: The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the cervical vagus nerve (VN), as assessed through ultrasonography, might be linked to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Hypertension is the primary factor associated with cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs), but there is also evidence of a connection with autonomic nervous system dysfunction. However, the associations between WMLs and VN size are unclear.

Oral condition at admission predicts functional outcomes and hospital-acquired pneumonia development among acute ischemic stroke patients.

Introduction: Oral care is crucial for the prevention of cardiovascular events and pneumonia. However, few studies have evaluated the associations between multidimensional assessments of oral status or functional outcomes and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).

Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were retrospectively analyzed.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances short-latency afferent inhibition via central cholinergic system activation.

The present study examined the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), as indirect biomarker of cholinergic system activation. 24 healthy adults underwent intermittent taVNS (30 s on/30 s off, 30 min) or continuous taVNS at a frequency of 25 Hz (15 min) along with earlobe temporary stimulation (15 min or 30 min) were performed in random order. The efficiency with which the motor evoked potential from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle by transcranial magnetic stimulation was attenuated by the preceding median nerve conditioning stimulus was compared before taVNS, immediately after taVNS, and 15 min after taVNS.

Emergency medical service response for cases of stroke-suspected seizure: A population-based study.

Objectives: We evaluated the on-scene time of emergency medical services (EMS) for cases where discrimination between acute stroke and epileptic seizures at the initial examination was difficult and identified factors linked to delays in such scenarios.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of cases with suspected seizure using the EMS database of fire departments across six Japanese cities between 2016 and 2021 was conducted. Patient classification was based on transport codes.

Liver fibrosis index is associated with functional outcome among acute ischemic stroke patients.

Introduction: The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and the fibrosis-5 (FIB-5) index are noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Although liver fibrosis a potential risk factor for stroke development, it is uncertain whether liver fibrosis influences stroke outcomes. We investigated the associations between these two indices and stroke patient outcomes and compared their predictive accuracy.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bioactive Glass and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Enamel Remineralization and Antimicrobial Capabilities.

Background: We investigated the effect of bioactive glass and zinc oxide nanoparticles on enamel remineralization, as well as their antimicrobial effect on cariogenic microbes. This is the first study that investigated the properties of bioactive glass and zinc oxide nanoparticles with mixed materials.

Methods: Fluoride gel (F), bioactive glass microparticles (µB), bioactive glass nanoparticles (nB), zinc oxide nanoparticles (Z), and a mixed suspension of nB and Z (nBZ) were prepared and characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, zeta potential measurement, X-ray diffraction, and acid buffering capacity testing.

Masseter and digastric muscle activity evaluation using a novel electromyogram that utilizes elastic sheet electrodes.

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility and reliability of a novel electromyogram (EMG) device with a flexible sheet sensor for measuring muscle activity related to mastication and swallowing.

Methods: We developed a new EMG device made of elastic sheet electrodes to measure the masseter and digastric muscle activities for evaluating mastication and swallowing. To examine the measurement reproducibility of the new EMG device, masseter muscle activity was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Paradoxical effects of levetiracetam in people with epilepsy with rhythmic epileptiform discharges.

Objective: To elucidate the incidence and risk factors for paradoxical effects (i.e., increased seizure frequency, increased seizure severity, or onset of new seizure types) of levetiracetam (LEV) in people with epilepsy (PWE) and identify the usefulness of electroencephalography (EEG) in predicting these effects.

A case of ischemic stroke associated with protein-losing gastroenteropathy and protein S deficiency.

Protein-losing gastroenteropathies are characterized by an excessive loss of serum proteins into the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in hypoalbuminemia. Some rare cases are complicated with ischemic stroke. We report a 24-year-old woman who developed acute dysarthria and right hemiplegia 4 months after delivering her first baby by cesarean section.

Propensity-Matched Study of Early Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: The impact of early implementation of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in heart failure (HF) patients remains to be elucidated. This study sought to determine whether CR during HF hospitalization could improve prognostic outcomes in patients with acute decompensated HF.

Methods: We analyzed patients with HF enrolled in the JROADHF (Japanese Registry of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure) registry, a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide registry of patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF.

Novel partial deletions, frameshift and missense mutations of CSF1R in patents with CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy.

Background And Purpose: Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy is an adult-onset leukoencephalopathy caused by mutations in CSF1R. The present study aimed to explore the broader genetic spectrum of CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy in association with clinical and imaging features.

Methods: Mutational analysis of CSF1R was performed for 100 consecutive patients with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy.

Peak expiratory flow, but not tongue pressure, can predict pneumonia development in older adults.

Purpose: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in aging populations. Major causes of pneumonia in older adults are swallowing dysfunction and decreased airway clearance capacity, including an impaired cough reflex. Maximal tongue pressure is useful for evaluating swallowing function, and peak expiratory flow indirectly reflects cough strength.

Regaining enamel color quality using enamel matrix derivative.

This study aimed to demonstrate and compare the accuracy of tooth shade selection due to the remineralized enamel crystal with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in vitro. Etched enamel slices were immersed in four types of mineralization buffers for 16 h. Sodium fluoride (NaF) was added to final concentrations of 1-100 ppm with the mineralization buffer that demonstrated the highest mineralization efficiency.

Are patients with Parkinson's disease at a lower risk of catching the common cold? Propensity score matching.

Introduction: Accumulating evidence indicating that inflammatory responses play crucial roles in Parkinson's disease (PD) development provided a hypothesis that physiological alpha-synuclein may contribute to inflammatory responses against infections during non-advanced stages of PD. Thus, we examined the risk of catching a common cold in patients with PD as compared to other common brain diseases.

Methods: We extracted PD (non-advanced; without dementia) and control (AD: Alzheimer's disease, migraine, epilepsy, and ischemic stroke) patient data from insurance claim data available between 2010 and 2021.

Human dentin materials for minimally invasive bone regeneration: Animal studies and clinical cases.

Objectives: Bone, platelet concentrate, and tooth-derived dentin/cementum have been used as autologous materials in regenerative medicine Dentin materials were first recycled in 2002 for bone regeneration in humans, although bone autografts were noted in the 19th century, and auto-platelet concentrates were developed in 1998. Dentin/cementum-based material therapy has been applied as an innovative technique for minimally invasive bone surgery, while bone autografts are associated with donor site morbidity.

Methods: In October 2021, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases from 1980 to 2020 were screened.

Association between Carotid Wall Shear Stress-Based Vascular Vector Flow Mapping and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Aim: Wall shear stress (WSS) is the frictional force caused by viscous blood flowing along the vessel wall. Decreased WSS is associated with local vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. The vector flow mapping (VFM) technique detects the direction of intracardiac blood flow and WSS on the vessel wall with echocardiography.

The association between nutritional intake one week after admission and outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Objectives: Although associations between malnutrition status at stroke admission and poor stroke outcomes have been established, the effect of nutritional intake during the acute phase remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the associations between nutritional intake one week after admission and the outcome at three months among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive AIS patients were investigated.