Distinct transcriptome architectures underlying lupus establishment and exacerbation.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease involving multiple immune cells. To elucidate SLE pathogenesis, it is essential to understand the dysregulated gene expression pattern linked to various clinical statuses with a high cellular resolution. Here, we conducted a large-scale transcriptome study with 6,386 RNA sequencing data covering 27 immune cell types from 136 SLE and 89 healthy donors.

Child phonological responses to variegation in adult words: A cross-linguistic study.

Variegation - the presence of more than one supraglottal consonant per word - is a key challenge for children as they increase their expressive vocabulary toward the end of the single-word period. Here we consider the prosodic structures of target words and child forms in English, Finnish, French, Japanese and Mandarin to determine whether children learning these languages respond similarly to the challenge or instead differ in ways related to the phonological structure of the adult language. Based on proportional occurrence of each structure, we find that the word forms of children learning Mandarin and Japanese show more variegation than do those of children learning the European languages, although their target words do not; proportions of reduplication, consonant harmony and single-consonant words also differ by language.

The blunted vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) response to high-altitude hypoxia and genetic variants in the promoter region of the gene in Sherpa highlanders.

Background: Sherpa highlanders demonstrate extraordinary tolerance to hypoxia at high altitudes, which may be achieved by mechanisms promoting microcirculatory blood flow and capillary density at high altitudes for restoring oxygen supply to tissues. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are important signaling proteins involved in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis which are stimulated by hypoxia. We hypothesize that the VEGF-A, the major member of the VEGF family, and the gene encoding VEGF-A () play a part in the adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in Sherpa highlanders.

Prolonging effects of Valeriana fauriei root extract on pentobarbital-induced sleep in caffeine-induced insomnia model mice and the pharmacokinetics of its active ingredients under conditions of glycerol fatty acid ester as emulsifiers.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Valeriana plant roots have traditionally been used to treat central nervous system-related disorders in European countries. Among this genus, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia registers the dried roots of V. fauriei Briq.

Transcriptome analysis of immune cells from Behçet's syndrome patients: the importance of IL-17-producing cells and antigen-presenting cells in the pathogenesis of Behçet's syndrome.

Background: Behçet's syndrome (BS) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin symptoms. HLA-B51, as well as other genetic polymorphisms, has been reported to be associated with BS; however, the pathogenesis of BS and its relationship to genetic risk factors still remain unclear. To address these points, we performed immunophenotyping and transcriptome analysis of immune cells from BS patients and healthy donors.

Acute dietary nitrate supplementation does not change venous volume and compliance in healthy young adults.

In this crossover study, we investigated the influence of inorganic nitrate ([Formula: see text]) supplementation on venous volume and compliance in the resting forearm and calf. Twenty healthy young adults were assigned to receive an [Formula: see text]-rich beverage [beetroot juice (BRJ): 140 mL; ∼8 mmol [Formula: see text]] or an [Formula: see text]-depleted control beverage [prune juice (CON): 166 mL; < 0.01 mmol [Formula: see text]).

Case of Wound Myiasis in a Squamous Cell Carcinoma Lesion of the Scalp.

Myiasis refers to the infestation of living humans and vertebrate animals by dipterous larvae. Many organs can be infested by fly larvae, but cutaneous and wound myiases are the most frequently encountered clinical forms. Persistent ulcer or non-healing wound is one of the symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma which is the second most common skin cancer in the world.

Reoperation for Misplaced Pedicle Screws: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Study Design: A multicenter retrospective analysis.

Objective: This study aims to investigate reoperation of misplaced pedicle screws (MPSs) after posterior spinal fusion (PSF), focusing on neurological complications.

Summary Of Background Data: The management strategy for MPSs and the clinical results after reoperation are poorly defined.

Historical Study for the Differences of Processing of Tuber Between China and Japan.

Pinellia Tuber (the dried tuber of (Thunb.) Makino [Araceae]) (PT) is a crude drug used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Japanese Kampo medicine. PT is subjected to additional processing before use in TCM because of its toxic, while the processing has not been used in Kampo medicine.

The levels of IL-1β and soluble IL-1 receptors in patients with IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis.

Purpose: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic fibrotic inflammatory and an immune-mediated disease characterized by high serum IgG4 concentration and IgG4-bearing plasma cell infiltration in affected organs. IgG4-related periaortitis/periarteritis is a recently identified disease entity in IgG4-RD that affects the cardiovascular system, and its pathogenesis and characteristics remain unclear. The inflammatory cytokine IL-1β is involved in a variety of cellular activities including inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis.

Development of informant-reported or self-reported MCI-J questionnaire.

Unlabelled: Several studies have reported a high prevalence of missed and delayed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia diagnosis, which could lead to delayed treatment and increased patient and caregiver burden.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a new questionnaire for nonprofessionals to help detect early signs of MCI and dementia. Respondents included patients, family caregivers, or health professionals.

Direct observations of pure electron outflow in magnetic reconnection.

Magnetic reconnection is a universal process in space, astrophysical, and laboratory plasmas. It alters magnetic field topology and results in energy release to the plasma. Here we report the experimental results of a pure electron outflow in magnetic reconnection, which is not accompanied with ion flows.

Relationship between Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure score and clinical symptoms in patients with major psychiatric disorders and healthy individuals.

Aim: We compared the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM) scores between diagnostic groups and examined the relationship between IPSM scores and clinical variables.

Methods: This study included 166 patients with schizophrenia, 47 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) Ⅰ, 110 patients with BD Ⅱ, 380 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 558 healthy individuals. Symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Young Mania Rating Scale, 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-21), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Transcranial Doppler for stratification of high-risk morphology of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Microbubble testing using transcranial Doppler (TCD) is an important screening tool for diagnosing paradoxical cerebral embolism with high-risk PFO. However, little is known about the association between the microbubble test by TCD and the features of high-risk PFO evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We studied 101 consecutive patients at Showa University, from April 2019 to October 2020, who underwent both TCD and TEE with a sufficient Valsalva maneuver and who were strongly suspected by neurologists as cryptogenic stroke.

Clinicopathological and Genomic Features of Pediatric Intracranial Myxoid Mesenchymal Tumor with both of Gene Fusion and Mutation: A Case Report and Comparison with Adult Cases in the Literature.

Intracranial myxoid mesenchymal tumors (IMMTs) with family gene fusion are rare brain neoplasms characterized by gene fusion between the gene and one of the cyclic AMP response element-binding (CREB) family transcription factor (, , or ) genes. Although half of reported cases are pediatric, the clinical, histologic, and genomic features of IMMTs with rearrangement in pediatric populations are not yet well clarified. Here we describe the case of a 7-year-old girl who presented with seizures due to an extra-axial tumor in the left parietal convexity.

Combined plasma metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis identify histidine as a biomarker and potential contributor in SLE pathogenesis.

Objectives: To investigate metabolite alterations in the plasma of SLE patients to identify novel biomarkers and provide insight into SLE pathogenesis.

Methods: Patients with SLE (n = 41, discovery cohort and n = 37, replication cohort), healthy controls (n = 30 and n = 29) and patients with RA (n = 19, disease control) were recruited. Metabolic profiles of the plasma samples were analysed using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Mental Health of Caregivers Working in Nursing Homes during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: There have been numerous reports of cluster outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitals and nursing homes. Healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 experience mental health issues. Caregivers in nursing homes experienced increased psychological distress and concern about deterioration of their mental health.

Does repeat laparoscopic hepatectomy without extracorporeal Pringle manoeuvre worsen treatment outcomes?

Introduction: The Pringle manoeuvre is used in most hospitals to counteract intraoperative haemorrhage in laparoscopic hepatectomy by occluding the flow of blood to the liver. However, in laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy (LRH), outcomes of previous surgery and the influence of other factors frequently make it difficult to occlude the inflow of blood.

Aim: To discuss the value of inflow occlusion during LRH and provide tips for its performance.

Factors Associated With Smoking Relapse Among Women in Japan From Pregnancy to Early Parenthood.

Objective: To identify factors, including mental health, associated with smoking relapse among women in Japan from pregnancy to early parenthood.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from an ongoing cross-sectional study conducted between 2013 and 2016.

Setting: We mailed questionnaires to all women who received a maternal and child health handbook from a municipality in Fukushima Prefecture or who underwent a maternal health checkup and gave birth in Fukushima Prefecture.

Tele-assessment of bandwidth limitation for remote robotics surgery.

Purpose: We investigated the communication bandwidth (CB) limitation for remote robotics surgery (RRS) using hinotori™ (Medicaroid, Kobe, Japan).

Methods: The operating rooms of the Hokkaido University Hospital and Kyushu University Hospital were connected using the Science Information NETwork (SINET). The minimum required CB for the RRS was verified by decreasing the CB from 500 to 100 Mbps.

Effects of a multicomponent day-care program on cerebral blood flow in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal phase of dementia and is considered an important period for intervention to prevent conversion to dementia. It has been well established that multicomponent day-care programs including exercise training, cognitive intervention and music therapy have beneficial effects on cognition, but the effects on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in MCI remain unknown. This study examined whether a multicomponent day-care program would have beneficial effects on the longitudinal changes of CBF in MCI patients.