Alginate vs. Hyaluronic Acid as Carriers for Nucleus Pulposus Cells: A Study on Regenerative Outcomes in Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a leading cause of chronic low back pain, affecting millions globally. Regenerative medicine, particularly cell-based therapies, presents a promising therapeutic strategy. This study evaluates the comparative efficacy of two biomaterials-hyaluronic acid (HA) and alginate-as carriers for nucleus pulposus (NP) cell transplantation in a beagle model of induced disc degeneration.

Quantitative analysis of sterol balance in a mouse model of hepatic lipid accumulation induced by cholesterol and cholic acid supplementation.

The cholesterol balance and bile acid metabolism in a mouse model of hepatic lipid accumulation induced by a diet supplemented with cholesterol and cholic acid (CA) were quantitatively evaluated. The mice were fed diets supplemented with different levels of cholesterol (0, 3, or 6 g/kg diet) and CA (0.5 g/kg diet) for six weeks.

Genetic and histological analysis intraplacental choriocarcinoma: a case report.

We report on single case of intraplacental choriocarcinoma (IC) coexisting with feto-maternal hemorrhage from our hospital, a rare malignant tumor that occurs in the chorionic villous trophoblast. To investigate genetic and epigenetic changes to the carcinogenesis of IC, we employed cancer gene panel analysis and whole methylation analysis from a recent case of IC. By Short Tandem Repeats analysis, we confirmed that the tumor of present IC was derived from concurrent normal chorionic villous trophoblast cells.

ISSLS PRIZE in Basic Science 2024: superiority of nucleus pulposus cell- versus mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles in attenuating disc degeneration and alleviating pain.

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), with a specific emphasis on Tie2-enhanced NPCs, compared to EVs derived from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) in a coccygeal intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) rat model.

Methods: EVs were isolated from healthy human NPCs cultured under standard (NPC-EVs) and Tie2-enhancing (NPC-EVs) conditions. EVs were characterized, and their potential was assessed in vitro on degenerative NPCs in terms of cell proliferation and senescence, with or without 10 ng/mL interleukin (IL)-1β.

SOD2 orchestrates redox homeostasis in intervertebral discs: A novel insight into oxidative stress-mediated degeneration and therapeutic potential.

Low back pain (LBP) is a pervasive global health concern, primarily associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Although oxidative stress has been shown to contribute to IVD degeneration, the underlying mechanisms remain undetermined. This study aimed to unravel the role of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in IVD pathogenesis and target oxidative stress to limit IVD degeneration.

Recombinant Laminin-511 Fragment (iMatrix-511) Coating Supports Maintenance of Human Nucleus Pulposus Progenitor Cells In Vitro.

The angiopoietin-1 receptor (Tie2) marks specific nucleus pulposus (NP) progenitor cells, shows a rapid decline during aging and intervertebral disc degeneration, and has thus sparked interest in its utilization as a regenerative agent against disc degeneration. However, the challenge of maintaining and expanding these progenitor cells in vitro has been a significant hurdle. In this study, we investigated the potential of laminin-511 to sustain Tie2 NP progenitor cells in vitro.

Motor imagery ability in baseball players with throwing yips.

The motor imagery ability is closely related to an individual's motor performance in sports. However, whether motor imagery ability is diminished in athletes with yips, in whom motor performance is impaired, is unclear. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether general motor imagery ability or vividness of motor imagery specific to throwing motion is impaired in baseball players with throwing yips.

Use of finer needles for venipuncture increases haemolysis despite reducing persistent pain and nerve injury: A retrospective study.

Background: Although venipuncture is minimally invasive, and is the most frequently performed medical procedure, it carries the small risk of causing persistent pain, including nerve damage. Recently, our hospital stopped using 22-gauge needles for venipuncture in outpatients and switched to using only 23- and 25-gauge needles. We investigated the impact of using only the finer needles on the incidence of persistent or neuropathic pain and the prevalence of haemolysis, as well as the impact of haemolysis associated with the needle change on other laboratory data.

Thromboembolism Early After Glucocorticoid Administration in Patients with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis (PE/DVT) are well-known lethal complications in autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). However, the impact of their treatment is unclear. Here, we describe three elderly Japanese patients with AIHA who developed PE/DVT early after glucocorticoid administration.

Cat Scratch Disease-associated Encephalitis Followed by Parkinsonism.

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a zoonotic infection caused by Bartonella henselae typically resulting in self-limited regional lymphadenopathy. Encephalitis is a complication with a supposedly benign prognosis, but we encountered an exceptional case. A 19-year-old Japanese woman presented with status epilepticus.

Effects of Pparγ1 deletion on late-stage murine embryogenesis and cells that undergo endocycle.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ1, a nuclear receptor, is abundant in the murine placenta during the late stage of pregnancy (E15-E16), although its functional roles remain unclear. PPARγ1 is encoded by two splicing isoforms, namely Pparγ1 and Pparγ1sv, and its embryonic loss leads to early (E10) embryonic lethality. Thus, we generated knockout (KO) mice that carried only one of the isoforms to obtain a milder phenotype.

Linked color imaging versus white light imaging colonoscopy for colorectal adenoma detection: A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aim: The adenoma detection rate is an important indicator of colonoscopy quality and colorectal cancer incidence. We compared the adenoma detection rates between white light imaging (WLI) and linked color imaging (LCI) colonoscopy.

Methods: Patients undergoing colonoscopy for positive fecal immunochemical tests, follow-up of colon polyps, and abdominal symptoms at three institutions were randomly assigned to the LCI or WLI groups.

Visual information of vehicle velocity acquired by pedestrians involved in road crossing accidents.

This paper describes a geometric optical relationship between the perceived visual information of approaching vehicles by pedestrians who intend to cross the road and the factors underlying pedestrian accidents in Japan. We create a model based on this visual information, wherein the retinal image corresponding to vehicle velocity perception is broken down into tangential components and normal components in a two-dimensional polar coordinate system that employs the nodal point of the eyeball as the origin. Our visual model uses the relationship between the tangential and normal components of the velocity to calculate the distance at which the velocity of the vehicle can be perceived by pedestrians.

Detection of early stage gastric cancers in screening laser endoscopy using linked color imaging for patients with atrophic gastritis.

Background And Aims: Laser endoscopy involves blue laser imaging in bright mode (BLI-bright). Linked color imaging (LCI) is superior to white light imaging (WLI) for detecting gastric cancers. This study aimed to detect gastric cancers on screening endoscopy using not only WLI but also BLI-bright and LCI in patients with atrophic gastritis.

Viviparity in the longest-living vertebrate, the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus).

Background: The Greenland shark is renowned for its great longevity, yet little is known about its reproduction.

Methods: We supplemented the sparse information on this species by extrapolation from observations on other members of the sleeper shark family and the order Squaliformes.

Results And Conclusion: The Greenland shark is viviparous and a single observation suggests a litter size of about ten.

Downfolding of the epiglottis into the laryngeal inlet after tracheal intubation using the McGRATH MAC videolaryngoscope: a case report.

Background: Downfolding of the epiglottis into the laryngeal inlet is considered to be a rare complication of tracheal intubation. We describe a case of epiglottic downfolding during tracheal intubation using a McGrath videolaryngoscope (McGRATH MAC).

Case Presentation: A 44-year-old female was scheduled for breast reconstruction surgery.

Messages from the placentae across multiple species: A 50 years exploration.

This review explores eight aspects of placentation in multiple mammalian. 1) Specialities of gestational trophoblastic disease. 2) Clinical significance of single umbilical artery (SUA) syndrome.

Randomized control trial of adenoma detection rate in Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy versus transparent hood-assisted colonoscopy.

Background And Aim: Transparent hood-assisted colonoscopy (TAC) has been reported to improve the cecal insertion rate and adenoma detection rate (ADR). An endoscopic cap (Endocuff) with two rows of soft wings was recently developed to improve ADR, by flattening the mucosal folds during withdrawal. This randomized prospective control study aimed to compare ADR between Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy (EAC) and TAC.

Vertebral fracture in elderly female patients after posterior fusion with pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar pathology: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: There have been only a few reports of subsequent postoperative vertebral fracture following posterior spinal instrumentation fusion, especially in elderly female patients. This study attempted to evaluate the long-term prevalence of subsequent postoperative vertebral fracture in female patients aged 70 years and older who underwent spine decompression and fusion surgery with pedicle screw fixation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from 125 patients who met our inclusion and exclusion criteria.

IFPA meeting 2018 workshop report I: Reproduction and placentation among ocean-living species; placental imaging; epigenetics and extracellular vesicles in pregnancy.

Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting as they allow for discussion of specialized topics. At IFPA meeting 2018 there were nine themed workshops, four of which are summarized in this report. These workshops discussed new knowledge and technological innovations in the following areas of research: 1) viviparity in ocean-living species; 2) placental imaging; 3) epigenetics; and 4) extracellular vesicles in pregnancy.

Clinical Results of Minimally Invasive Spine Stabilization for the Management of Metastatic Spinal Tumors Based on the Epidural Spinal Cord Compression Scale.

Purpose: Minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) using percutaneous pedicle screws plays a significant role in palliative surgery for metastatic spinal tumors. However, few studies have investigated surgical outcomes based on the epidural spinal cord compression scale (ESCCS). The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes of metastatic spinal tumors as evaluated by ESCCS in patients treated by MISt.

Generation of a Monoclonal Antibody Against Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 5 (SSL5) That Discriminates SSL5 from Other SSL Proteins.

Staphylococcus aureus secretes a family of exoproteins structurally homologous to bacterial superantigens, such as toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), and those exoproteins are thus called staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs). Recent studies have revealed that SSLs play roles in evasion of the host defense by disturbing host immune responses. We previously reported that staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 5 (SSL5; a member of the SSL family) inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which is crucial for leukocyte recruitment to sites of infection.

Surgical management of coincidental metastases to upper cervical spine and skull from hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

Metastases to the skull or upper cervical spine from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are very rare. We herein report a unique case of two-site surgery for both skull and upper cervical spine metastases from HCC. The patient was a 64-year-old man with cervical pain.

Executive dysfunction in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.

The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive functions of patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3(SCA3). We examined 15 patients with genetically confirmed SCA3 and 15 healthy control subjects matched for age, years of education, and intellectual ability. We administered verbal memory (word recall and word recognition) and executive function tasks (word fluency test, forward and backward digit and visual span tests, Kana Pick-out Test, Trail Making Test, and conflicting instructions and a Go/NoGo task from the Frontal Assessment Battery).