Legume content estimation from UAV image in grass-legume meadows: comparison methods based on the UAV coverage vs. field biomass.

Legume content (LC) in grass-legume mixtures is important for assessing forage quality and optimizing fertilizer application in meadow fields. This study focuses on differences in LC measurements obtained from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images and ground surveys based on dry matter assessments in seven meadow fields in Hokkaido, Japan. We propose a UAV-based LC (LC) estimation and mapping method using a land cover map from a simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) algorithm and a random forest (RF) classifier.

Intestinal barrier function declines during polycystic kidney disease progression.

Most patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) develop kidney cysts due to germline mutations. In the kidney, loss impairs epithelial cell integrity and increases macrophage infiltration, contributing to cyst growth. Despite its role as the body's largest inflammatory cell reservoir, it has yet to be elucidated whether a similar phenotype presents in the intestines.

A remarkable new genus of Sciomyzoidea from Japan, with discussion of its taxonomic position (Diptera, Acalyptratae).

An acalyptrate fly, Babakintaromyia albitarsis gen. et sp. nov.

Impact of multiple ballooning on coronary lesions as assessed by optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Optimal lesion preparation for coronary lesions has been reappraised in the interventional community, given the increasing use of drug-coated balloons for de novo lesions; however, whether multiple ballooning could achieve more favorable angiographic results compared with single ballooning remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the incremental effect of multiple ballooning on de novo coronary lesions over single ballooning as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) undergoing PCI were enrolled.

Outcome of transvenous lead extraction in nonagenarians: A single-center retrospective study.

Background: Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) for cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED)-related infections has increased. The incidence of TLE in nonagenarians is low, with limited reports outlining the outcomes of this procedure. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to clarify the outcomes of TLE in nonagenarians.

Impact of Antiplatelet Therapy on 5-Year Outcomes After Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Deferral of Revascularization in Nonsignificant Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Because the clinical benefit of antiplatelet therapy (APT) for patients with nonsignificant coronary artery disease (CAD) remains poorly understood, we evaluated it in patients after fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided deferral of revascularization.

Methods And Results: From the J-CONFIRM (Long-Term Outcomes of Japanese Patients with Deferral of Coronary Intervention Based on Fractional Flow Reserve in Multicenter Registry), we investigated 265 patients with deferred lesions who did not require APT for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. A 2-year landmark analysis assessed the relationship between APT at 2 years and 5-year major cardiac adverse events (MACE: composite of all-cause death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, clinically driven target vessel revascularization).

Impact of hyper-polypharmacy due to non-cardiovascular medications on long-term clinical outcomes following endovascular treatment for lower limb artery disease: A sub-analysis of the I-PAD Nagano registry.

Background: Lower limb artery disease (LEAD) is accompanied by multiple comorbidities; however, the effect of hyperpolypharmacy on patients with LEAD has not been established. This study investigated the associations between hyperpolypharmacy, medication class, and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with LEAD.

Methods: This study used data from a prospective multicenter observational Japanese registry.

Rapamycin-encapsulated nanoparticle delivery in polycystic kidney disease mice.

Rapamycin slows cystogenesis in murine models of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) but failed in clinical trials, potentially due to insufficient drug dosing. To improve drug efficiency without increasing dose, kidney-specific drug delivery may be used. Mesoscale nanoparticles (MNP) selectively target the proximal tubules in rodents.

Sex Differences in 5-Year Outcomes After Deferral of Revascularization Following Physiological Coronary Assessment.

The relationship between sex differences and long-term outcomes after fractional flow reserve (FFR)- and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR)-guided deferral of revascularization has yet to be elucidated. From the J-CONFIRM registry (long-term outcomes of Japanese patients with deferral of coronary intervention based on FFR in a multicenter registry), this study included 432 lesions from 385 patients (men, 323 lesions in 286 patients; women, 109 lesions in 99 patients) with paired data of FFR and iFR. The primary endpoint was the cumulative 5-year incidence of target vessel failure (TVF), including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization.

Prognostic Impact of Renal Function on 5-Year Outcomes After Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Deferral of Revascularization.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) might influence fractional flow reserve (FFR) value, potentially attenuating its prognostic utility. However, few large-scale data are available regarding clinical outcomes after FFR-guided deferral of revascularization in patients with CKD. Methods and Results From the J-CONFIRM registry (Long-Term Outcomes of Japanese Patients With Deferral of Coronary Intervention Based on Fractional Flow Reserve in Multicenter Registry), 1218 patients were divided into 3 groups according to renal function: (1) non-CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min per 1.

Prognostic Impact of Hyperpolypharmacy Due to Noncardiovascular Medications in Patients After Acute Decompensated Heart Failure - Insights From the Clue of Risk Stratification in the Elderly Patients With Heart Failure (CURE-HF) Registry.

Background: Hyperpolypharmacy is associated with adverse outcomes in older adults, but because literature on its association with cardiovascular (CV) outcomes after acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is sparse, we investigated the relationships among hyperpolypharmacy, medication class, and death in patients with HF.

Methods and results: We evaluated the total number of medications prescribed to 884 patients at discharge following ADHF. Patients were categorized into nonpolypharmacy (<5 medications), polypharmacy (5-9 medications), and hyperpolypharmacy (≥10 medications) groups.

Accelerated cystogenesis by dietary protein load is dependent on, but not initiated by kidney macrophages.

Background: Disease severity of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is influenced by diet. Dietary protein, a recognized cyst-accelerating factor, is catabolized into amino acids (AA) and delivered to the kidney leading to renal hypertrophy. Injury-induced hypertrophic signaling in ADPKD results in increased macrophage (MФ) activation and inflammation followed by cyst growth.

Clinical Profile and Prognosis of Dementia in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure - From the CURE-HF Registry.

Background: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has a poor prognosis and common comorbidities may be contributory. However, evidence for the association between dementia and clinical outcomes in patients with is sparse and it requires further investigation into risk reduction.

Methods and results: We assessed the clinical profiles and outcomes of 1,026 patients (mean age 77.

Update on the pathological roles of prostaglandin E in neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. The pathogenesis of ALS remains largely unknown; however, inflammation of the spinal cord is a focus of ALS research and an important pathogenic process in ALS. Prostaglandin E (PGE) is a major lipid mediator generated by the arachidonic-acid cascade and is abundant at inflammatory sites.

The mitochondrial intermembrane space protein mitofissin drives mitochondrial fission required for mitophagy.

Mitophagy plays an important role in mitochondrial homeostasis by selective degradation of mitochondria. During mitophagy, mitochondria should be fragmented to allow engulfment within autophagosomes, whose capacity is exceeded by the typical mitochondria mass. However, the known mitochondrial fission factors, dynamin-related proteins Dnm1 in yeasts and DNM1L/Drp1 in mammals, are dispensable for mitophagy.

Hva22, a REEP family protein in fission yeast, promotes reticulophagy in collaboration with a receptor protein.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergoes selective autophagy called reticulophagy or ER-phagy. Multiple reticulon- and receptor expression enhancing protein (REEP)-like ER-shaping proteins, including budding yeast Atg40, serve as reticulophagy receptors that stabilize the phagophore on the ER by interacting with phagophore-conjugated Atg8. Additionally, they facilitate phagophore engulfment of the ER by remodeling ER morphology.

Five-Year Outcomes After Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Deferral of Revascularization in Infarct-Related Artery Lesions.

Background: Little evidence is available about the long-term safety of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided deferral of revascularization in infarct-related artery (IRA) lesions, especially when measuring FFR in the late setting after myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes after deferral of revascularization in IRA lesions based on FFR assessed in the late phase of post-MI.

Methods: From the J-CONFIRM registry (Long-Term Outcomes of Japanese Patients With Deferral of Coronary Intervention Based on Fractional Flow Reserve in Multicenter Registry), data on 1447 lesions (1263 patients) were divided into 2 groups: the IRA and non-IRA groups.

Revision of the types of the genus Rhamphomyia species (Diptera, Empididae) described by R. Frey from the collection of the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.

Type material for 36 species of the genus Rhamphomyia Meigen described by R. Frey from the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg is discussed.

Utility of a multipurpose catheter for transvenous extraction of old broken leads: A novel technique for fragile leads.

Background: Transvenous lead extraction has been possible since the 1980s. However, complications during lead extraction, such as the distal end fragment of the lead remaining in the myocardium or venous system and injury to the veins or heart, have been reported.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine our method for complete removal of a separated lead, as extraction of long-term implanted devices is difficult using standard methods and may require additional procedures.

Validation and Comparison of the Prognosis Predicting Ability of Inflammation-Based Scores Following Endovascular Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease.

We assessed the prognostic ability of several inflammation-based scores and compared their long-term outcomes in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) following endovascular treatment (EVT). We included 278 patients with PAD who underwent EVT and classified them according to their inflammation-based scores (Glasgow prognostic score [GPS], modified GPS [mGPS], platelet to lymphocyte ratio [PLR], prognostic index [PI], and prognostic nutritional index [PNI]). Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 5 years were examined, and C-statistics in each measure were calculated to compare their MACE predictive ability.