Multiple myeloma-associated non-crystalline proximal tubulopathy and crystalline cast nephropathy: Biochemical and structural features of disease-causing monoclonal kappa light chains.

Various tubular diseases in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are caused by monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (LCs). However, the physicochemical characteristics of the disease-causing LCs contributing to the onset of MM-associated tubular diseases remain unclear. We herein report a rare case of MM-associated combined tubulopathies: non-crystalline light chain proximal tubulopathy (LCPT) and crystalline light chain cast nephropathy (LCCN).

The COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions and their impact on child and adolescent psychiatric units-Infection control or freedom.

Aim: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions on child psychiatric inpatients in Japan, particularly focusing on limitations placed on outings and overnight stays as infection-control measures.

Methods: Data were collected from inpatients from the children's mental health registry between January 2016 and December 2022. The clinical data, such as age, gender, diagnosis, result of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, frequency of outings and overnight stays before and after the pandemic, were compared.

Surgical treatment for pulmonary metastasis from ovarian cancer: a retrospective case series.

Background: Distant metastases of ovarian cancer are rarely detected alone. The effectiveness of surgical intervention for pulmonary metastases from ovarian cancer remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing resection for pulmonary metastasis from ovarian cancer.

Primary care clinic visits in formerly evacuated areas due to radiation disaster following the Great East Japan Earthquake: A retrospective descriptive study.

Radiation disasters pose distinctive medical challenges, requiring diverse care approaches. Beyond radiation exposure assessment, addressing health impacts due to lifestyle changes, especially among vulnerable populations, is vital. Evacuation orders issued in radiation-affected areas introduce unique healthcare dynamics, with their duration significantly influencing the recovery process.

Prognostic factors in pulmonary metastases resection from colorectal cancer: impact of right-sided colon cancer and early recurrence.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore the surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of resection of pulmonary metastases (PM) from colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Overall, 60 patients who underwent resection of PM from CRC between 2015 and 2021 at two institutions were reviewed. The primary outcome were overall survival (OS) and early recurrence after PM resection.

Reduction in drain-related adverse events using the barbed suture method for chest tube wound closure.

Objective: A chest tube is usually placed in patients undergoing general thoracic surgery. Although the barbed suture method has been introduced for chest tube wound closure, its superiority to the conventional suture methods for drain management remains unclear. The study aimed to determine whether the barbed suture method could reduce drain-related adverse events compared to the conventional method.

Gene network inference from single-cell omics data and domain knowledge for constructing COVID-19-specific -associated pathways.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is a critical molecule responsible for interactions between cells. Previous studies have suggested that ICAM-1 triggers cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 or HTLV-1, that SARS-CoV-2 shares several features with these viruses via interactions between cells, and that SARS-CoV-2 cell-to-cell transmission is associated with COVID-19 severity. From these previous arguments, it is assumed that ICAM-1 can be related to SARS-CoV-2 cell-to-cell transmission in COVID-19 patients.

Cinnamtannin A2, (-)-epicatechin tetramer, attenuates skeletal muscle wasting in disuse atrophy model mice induced by hindlimb suspension.

The impact of repeated administration of cinntamtannin A2 (A2, 25 μg/kg) on skeletal muscle disuse atrophy model mice induced by hindlimb suspension for 14 days was examined. In soleus, weight loss and a reduction in the average myofibre size with shifting to the smaller side of the peak were observed in the suspension-vehicle group, but A2 reduced these changes. Average myofibre size significantly increased in ground-A2 compared to ground-vehicle.

Case report: Evolution of catatonic mutism and psychotic symptoms in an adolescent with Down syndrome: transition from Down syndrome disintegrative disorder to anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

During her first year of junior high school, a 12-year-old Japanese girl with Down syndrome experienced dizziness, gait disruption, paroxysmal weakness in her hands, and sluggish speaking. Regular blood tests and a brain MRI revealed no abnormalities, and she was tentatively diagnosed with adjustment disorder. Nine months later, the patient experienced a subacute sickness of chest pain, nausea, sleep problem with night terrors, and delusion of observation.

Thoracoscopic and Transmanubrial Approach for Mediastinal Tumor Extending to the Neck.

The combination of thoracoscopic and transmanubrial approaches provides good visualization and maneuverability of the cervicothoracic junction area. Here we report the case of a young woman with a mediastinal tumor extending to the neck who first underwent a thoracoscopic approach followed by a transmanubrial approach. This procedure was superior in terms of technical advantages and preserved function as well as minimally invasive and cosmetically pleasing.

Comparative proteomic analysis of glomerular proteins in IgA nephropathy and IgA vasculitis with nephritis.

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and IgA vasculitis with nephritis (IgAVN) are related glomerular diseases characterized by marked similarities in immunological and histological findings. We herein performed a comparative proteomic analysis of glomerular proteins in IgAN and IgAVN.

Methods: We used renal biopsy specimens from 6 IgAN patients without nephrotic syndrome (NS) (IgAN-I subgroup), 6 IgAN patients with NS (IgAN-II subgroup), 6 IgAVN patients with 0-8.

Difference in endocrine and behavior between short-term single- and paired-housing mice in metabolic cage.

Metabolic cage housing which is exposed to a number of environmental stressors is often used in pharmacokinetic studies. In this study, we compared the difference in stress response between single- and paired-housing in metabolic cages by evaluating the alteration of urinary stress hormones and behavior. Mice were randomly divided into single- or paired-housing groups and placed in a metabolic cage with wire mesh.

Effect of ukemi practice in judo on fear of falling and mobility skills in healthy older adults.

[Purpose] To examine whether fear of falling and mobility skills improved after judo ukemi practice in healthy older adults, and whether a relationship exists between improvements in fear of falling and changes in mobility skills. [Participants and Methods] Ten healthy older adults who participated in exercise classes for middle-aged and elderly people to promote health performed ukemi practice three times in total, increasing the degree of difficulty every week. [Results] No significant differences in fear of falling or 10-m walking times were noted in Steps 1, 2, and 3.

Comparative study of local versus general anesthesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for empyema.

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility of performing non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with local anesthesia for parapneumonic effusion and empyema resistant to conservative treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 80 patients who underwent surgery for parapneumonic effusions and empyema between 2015 and 2021. Patients were divided into those who received non-intubated local anesthesia and general anesthesia during surgery.

Neurological prognostic factors for human herpes virus 6/7-associated acute encephalopathy in children: A single-center study.

Aim: To identify prognostic factors for severe neurological sequelae and epileptic seizures in children with human herpes virus (HHV) 6/7-associated acute encephalopathy (AE).

Methods: We retrospectively studied pediatric cases of HHV6/7-associated AE between April 2011 and March 2021. Neurological sequelae were assessed using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scale (PCPC) and the presence of epileptic seizures 1 year after onset.

Gastric Tube Ulcer that Could Be Saved by Early Conservative Treatment.

The patient was an 81-year-old man who had received subtotal esophagectomy for esophageal cancer reconstructed by a gastric tube via a posterior mediastinal route. He presented to our emergency room with a complaint of epigastric pain and a small amount of hematemesis. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography showed that the reconstructed gastric tube was filled fluid and had irregular wall thickening.

Comparative proteomic analysis of glomerular proteins in primary and bucillamine-induced membranous nephropathy.

Background: Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor autoantibody (PLA2R Ab)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common form of primary MN (pMN). On the other hand, bucillamine (BCL), an antirheumatic drug developed in Japan, was reported to cause a rare form of secondary MN (sMN). Between these MN forms, comparative proteomic analysis of glomerular proteins has not been performed.

Repeated Oral Administration of Flavan-3-ols Induces Browning in Mice Adipose Tissues through Sympathetic Nerve Activation.

We previously found increases in uncoupling protein (Ucp)-1 transcription in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of mice following a single oral dose of flavan 3-ol (FL)s, a fraction of catechins and procyanidins. It was confirmed that these changes were totally reduced by co-treatment of adrenaline blockers. According to these previous results, FLs possibly activate sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

Modeling viral dynamics in SARS-CoV-2 infection based on differential equations and numerical analysis.

Computational modeling and simulation of viral dynamics would explain the pathogenesis for any virus. Such computational attempts have been successfully made to predict and control HIV-1 or hepatitis B virus. However, the dynamics for SARS-CoV-2 has not been adequately investigated.

Comparative proteomic analysis of renal proteins from IgA nephropathy model mice and control mice.

Background: High-IgA ddY (HIGA) mice, an animal model of human IgA nephropathy (IgAN), spontaneously develop nephropathy with glomerular IgA deposition and markedly elevated serum IgA levels from 25 weeks of age.

Methods: We performed a comparative proteomic analysis of the renal proteins collected from HIGA mice and control C57BL/6 mice at 5 or 38 weeks of age (the H5, H38, C5, and C38 groups) (n = 4 in each group). Proteins were extracted from the left whole kidney of each mouse and analyzed using nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Risk factors and cancer recurrence associated with postoperative complications after thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Minimally invasive thoracoscopic lobectomy is the recommended surgery for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors, including sarcopenia, for postoperative complications in patients undergoing a complete single-lobe thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical stage I NSCLC, as well as the impact of complications on disease-free survival.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 173 patients with pathologically-diagnosed NSCLC who underwent curative thoracoscopic lobectomies between April 2013 and March 2018.