Plasma amyloid-β precursor protein /amyloid-β ratio is associated with cognition in Alzheimer's disease.

Plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) markers are significant predictors of Aβ pathology. However, their prognostic value for cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is unknown. We compared plasma amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) and Aβ levels between cognitively unimpaired participants (CU) and those with MCI due to AD and AD dementia.

Globular-shaped Aβ oligomers have diverse mechanisms for promoting Aβ aggregations with the facilitation of fibril elongation.

The accumulation of amyloid β-proteins (Aβ) in the extracellular space, forming insoluble plaques, is a primary pathological process underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among the various Aβ species that appear during Aβ aggregation, Aβ oligomers are considered the most neurotoxic form. However, the precise mechanisms of their molecular functions within the Aβ aggregation cascade have not been clarified so far.

Respiratory Effects of Benzodiazepine in Patients with Advanced-Stage Cancer Receiving Opioid Analgesics: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Despite the risk of respiratory depression, benzodiazepines are often prescribed to patients receiving palliative care owing to their efficacy in symptom control. Opioids, which also cause respiratory depression, are often administered to patients with advanced-stage cancer. However, the additive effect of the two drugs has not been systematically analyzed.

MS785-MS27 Reactive Misfolded/Non-Native Zn-Deficient SOD1 Species Exhibit Cytotoxicity and Adopt Heterozygous Conformations in Motor Neurons.

Misfolding of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) is a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with mutations. The development of antibodies specific for misfolded SOD1 deepens our understanding of how the protein participates in ALS pathogenesis. Since the term "misfolding" refers to various disordered conformers other than the natively folded one, which misfolded species are recognized by specific antibodies should be determined.

Possible Roles of Carbohydrate Management and Cytokinin in the Process of Defoliation-Regrowth Cycles in Rice.

Defoliation is an inevitable abiotic stress for forage and turf grasses because harvesting, grazing, and mowing are general processes for their production and management. Vegetative regrowth occurs upon defoliation, a crucial trait determining the productivity and persistence of these grasses. However, the information about the molecular regulation of this trait is limited because it is still challenging to perform molecular analyses in forage and turf grasses.

Safe suprapancreatic lymph node dissection for gastric cancer with ectopic common hepatic artery.

Suprapancreatic lymph node dissection for patients with gastric cancer in whom the common hepatic artery is located neither at the suprapancreatic margin nor in front of the portal vein is a more difficult procedure than when the common hepatic artery is in a more typical position. There is an increased risk of injury to the vessels that need to be preserved and inadequate lymph node dissection. Measures that have been reported for use in this situation are preoperative diagnosis with three-dimensional computed tomography angiography, dissection using the portal vain as a guide, and safe exposure of the portal vein with dissection to preserve the nerves at the suprapancreatic margin and in front of the portal vein.

Role of modified Glasgow Prognostic Score in patients with achalasia who underwent laparoscopic Heller-myotomy with Dor-fundoplication.

Background: Systemic inflammatory response is significant prognostic indicator in patients with various diseases. The relationship between prognostic scoring systems based on the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) and achalasia in patients treated with laparoscopic Heller‑myotomy with Dor‑fundoplication (LHD) remains uninvestigated. This study aimed to examine the role of mGPS in patients with achalasia.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients undergoing esophagectomy following neoadjuvant DCF therapy.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that expression levels of tumor-infiltrating (TI) cells may play a prognostic role in patients with esophageal cancer who have undergone esophagectomy. However, its effect on patients undergoing neoadjuvant docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) therapy followed by esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the prognostic impact of TI cells in patients who underwent esophagectomy following neoadjuvant DCF therapy.

Is it meaningful to add mesh reinforcement to laparoscopic fundoplication for esophageal hiatal hernias in the patients with high risk of hiatal hernia recurrence?

Background: While laparoscopic fundoplication is a standard surgical procedure for patients with esophageal hiatal hernias, the postoperative recurrence of esophageal hiatal hernias is a problem for patients with giant hernias, elderly patients, or obese patients. Although there are some reports indicating that reinforcement with mesh is effective, there are differing opinions regarding the use thereof. The aim of this study is to investigate whether mesh reinforcement is effective for laparoscopic fundoplication in patients with esophageal hiatus hernias.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with extensive intraductal extension of high-grade biliary intraepithelial neoplasia: a case report.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is frequently associated with precursor lesions, and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) may play a significant role in the development of ICC. However, the exact sequence and progression of these lesions remain to be elucidated. We report a rare case of ICC that exhibited extensive longitudinal intraductal extension of high-grade BilIN in the posterior bile ducts and involved the hepatic hilum and the peripheral hepatic parenchyma.

Web-Based Post-Bereavement Survey System in Specialized Palliative Care: A Feasibility Pilot Study.

Web-based post-bereavement survey systems for specialized palliative care will enable obtaining timely results on the care quality from more participants at a lower cost. The primary aim of the study was to develop a web-based post-bereavement survey system and to compare response rates for different number of items. The secondary aim was to examine response bias between web-based and mail survey in post-bereavement surveys.

Morphological study of the phrenic nerve to determine a reference value for the myelinated fiber density in elderly individuals.

Phrenic nerves (PNs) play an important role in respiration; however, very few morphological studies have assessed them. This study aimed to provide control reference values, including the density of large and small myelinated PN fibers, for future pathological studies. We assessed a total of nine nerves from eight cases among consecutive autopsy cases registered to the Brain Bank for Aging Research between 2018 and 2019 (five men and three women, mean age 77.

Concentrated Nonaqueous Polyelectrolyte Solutions: High Na-Ion Transference Number and Surface-Tethered Polyanion Layer for Sodium-Metal Batteries.

Na metal is a promising anode material for the preparation of next-generation high-energy-density sodium-ion batteries; however, the high reactivity of Na metal severely limits the choice of electrolyte. In addition, rapid charge-discharge battery systems require electrolytes with high Na-ion transport properties. Herein, we demonstrate a stable and high-rate sodium-metal battery enabled by a nonaqueous polyelectrolyte solution composed of a weakly coordinating polyanion-type Na salt, poly[(4-styrenesulfonyl)-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] (poly(NaSTFSI)) copolymerized with butyl acrylate, in a propylene carbonate solution.

The pathological conditions and surgical outcomes depending on the degree of hernia in the intra-thoracic stomach.

Background: In recent years, the number of patients requiring surgery for intra-thoracic stomach (ITS) has been increasing due to the effects of obesity and gibbus due to aging. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of the degree of hernia on the pathological conditions and surgical outcomes in ITS patients.

Methods: ITS was defined as cases in which over 50% of the stomach had deviated into the mediastinum by esophagogastric fluoroscopy and/or computed tomography, with 65 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery as the initial surgery included.

Effect of Maillard reaction on the quality of clarified butter, ghee.

In Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medicine system, clarified butter is called ghee and is used for food and medicinal purposes. Since butter is subjected to heat to prepare ghee, the heating process affects the ghee quality, such as oxidation, flavor, nutritional value, and biological activity. Therefore, this study focused on the Maillard reaction progress and free-radical scavenging activity with temperature and time during ghee preparation.

A novel patch-sparing technique for reconstruction of the aortomitral curtain.

Our goal was to describe a novel technique for reconstructing the aortomitral curtain using autologous tissue. This technique was performed on a patient who required replacement of both the aortic and mitral valves and the aortic root due to recurrent prosthetic valve infection and aortic root abscess. The aortomitral curtain was reconstructed without using any artificial patches.

A case of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy presenting with magnetic resonance imaging mimics of multiple sclerosis.

Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. On magnetic resonance imaging, the neuroradiological signature is a linear radial enhancement pattern of cerebral white matter (MRI). Dawson's fingers, on the other hand, and ovoid lesions with open-ring enhancement have long been recognized as distinct features of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Correlation between our symptom-based scoring system and the Eckardt score for assessing patients with esophageal achalasia.

Purpose: The Eckardt score (ES) is a famous scoring system used for assessing achalasia patients. We studied the correlation between our scoring system and the ES and examined the relationship between each score and the pathophysiology of achalasia.

Methods: The subjects were 143 patients with diagnosed achalasia.

Li-Ion Transport and Solvation of a Li Salt of Weakly Coordinating Polyanions in Ethylene Carbonate/Dimethyl Carbonate Mixtures.

Electrolytes with a high Li-ion transference number () have attracted significant attention for the improvement of the rapid charge-discharge performance of Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Nonaqueous polyelectrolyte solutions exhibit high upon immobilization of the anion on a polymer backbone. However, the transport properties and Li-ion solvation in these media are not fully understood.

Nutritional Status Indicators Affecting the Tolerability of Postoperative Chemotherapy After Total Gastrectomy in Patients With Gastric Cancer.

Purpose: Nutritional problems after gastrectomy affect continuation of postoperative chemotherapy. There have been no studies limited to total gastrectomy, which is particularly prone to nutritional problems. In this study, we aimed to investigate the factors that predict the continuation of postoperative chemotherapy.

Relationship between esophageal achalasia subtypes and esophageal clearance.

Background: The diagnosis and pathological evaluation of esophageal achalasia have been improved dramatically by the development of high-resolution manometry. It is currently known to be divided into three subtypes. However, the differences between subtypes in terms of esophageal clearance remain unclear.

Lewy pathology of the submandibular gland in Lewy body disease: A report of autopsy cases.

Accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein in the central and peripheral nervous systems is a histological hallmark of Lewy body disease (LBD), including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and LB-related pure autonomic failure. The submandibular gland is employed as a biopsy site for detecting Lewy pathology; however, the incidence of Lewy pathology in this region in autopsy-proven LBD cases at all stages from an aged Japanese cohort remains unclear. To validate the utility of Lewy pathology of the submandibular gland as a diagnostic biomarker for LBD, we investigated the submandibular gland Lewy pathology in autopsied patients.

"Burnt-out" progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a fatal disease caused by John Cunningham virus (JCV) infection; however, a growing number of PML patients now survive longer and achieve remission, largely due to the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy. Several reports have suggested that the pathology in such patients presents only chronic demyelination without characteristic cellular changes, being referred to as "burnt-out" PML. On the other hand, our knowledge of "burnt-out" PML is still substantially limited, especially in patients with non-human immunodeficiency virus infection.