Involvement of metformin and aging in salivary expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2.

SARS-CoV-2-related proteins, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, are determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although these proteins are expressed in oral-related tissues, their expression patterns and modulatory mechanisms in the salivary glands remain unknown. We herein showed that full-length ACE2, which has both a fully functional enzyme catalytic site and high-affinity SARS-CoV-2 spike S1-binding sites, was more highly expressed in salivary glands than in oral mucosal epithelial cells and the lungs.

Culturally-aligned clinical leadership competencies for effective teamwork in Japanese healthcare.

Background: Clinical leadership competencies for effective teamwork differ between Western cultures, where an independent self-construal prevails, and Japanese society, where the self-construal is rooted in interdependence. Although 27 out of 82 Japanese medical schools have 'leadership' as an educational outcome, specific competencies are poorly described, hindering the development of contextually-relevant leadership education. This study aimed to identify clinical leadership competencies and articulate the attributes and skills fundamental to leadership as perceived by Japanese physicians.

Longitudinal associations between dietary diversity and serum lipid markers in Japanese workers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal associations between dietary diversity score and serum lipid markers in a five-year follow-up period in Japanese workers.

Methods: This study included 745 participants aged 20-60 years in 2012-2013 without dyslipidemia at baseline who participated at least once from 2013 to 2017. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and dietary diversity score was determined using the Quantitative Index for Dietary Diversity.

General Anesthetic Management of a Patient With Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita Undergoing Palatoplasty Revision.

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDC) is a type of short-limbed dwarfism characterized by platyspondylia, delayed metaphyseal ossification, and irregularly shaped bones. Anesthetic issues in patients with SEDC have reportedly included airway stenosis caused by laryngotracheal hypoplasia, ventilation difficulty due to facial hypoplasia, and intubation difficulty attributed to microgenia. Furthermore, atlantoaxial instability can lead to cervical dislocation due to excessive or violent manipulation of the head and neck.

Correction: Yokoi et al. Erythritol Can Inhibit the Expression of Senescence Molecules in Mouse Gingival Tissues and Human Gingival Fibroblasts. 2023, , 4050.

Upon review, we have identified an error in the human TNF-α primer sequence reported in Table 1 of our paper titled "Erythritol can inhibit the expression of senescence molecules in mouse gingival tissues and human gingival fibroblasts" [...

Interventional Prospective Studies on Xerostomia in Patients Undergoing Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Scoping Review.

Patients undergoing palliative care often develop debilitating oral conditions, including xerostomia. These conditions may significantly impact patients' quality of life. Despite the high prevalence and adverse impact of xerostomia, effective management strategies remain unclear.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales isolated from hospital sinks: molecular relationships with isolates from patients and the change in contamination status after daily disinfection with sodium hypochlorite.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the contamination status of hospital sinks with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), the efficacy of daily cleaning with sodium hypochlorite, and the relationships between CPEs isolated from contaminated sinks and patients.

Design: Pre/postintervention surveys of the CPE-contaminated sinks.

Setting: Hospital wards including pediatric intensive care unit in a children's hospital.

Associations between dietary diversity and high sensitive C-reactive protein among Japanese workers: findings of a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Purpose: To clarify the association between dietary diversity and inflammatory status in Japanese workers.

Methods: Of 1,460 men and women aged 20-64 years in 2010 (baseline), those who were followed-up at least once between 2011 and 2018 were included in this study; 1,433 participants and 745 participants were included in the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, respectively. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline, and the dietary diversity score was determined using the Quantitative Index for Dietary Diversity (QUANTIDD).

Associations between dietary diversity and dyslipidemia among Japanese workers: cross-sectional study and longitudinal study findings.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the associations between dietary diversity and risk of dyslipidemia in Japanese workers.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 1399 participants aged 20-63 years and the longitudinal study included 751 participants aged 20-60 years in 2012-2013 (baseline) who participated at least once from 2013 to 2017 with cumulative participation times of 4.9 times.

Effects of tooth loss on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in app knock-in mice.

Objectives: Many patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which significantly affect their quality of life. It is known that 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) plays a crucial role in the development of BPSD. While the relationship between tooth loss and AD symptoms has been acknowledged, the aspect of aggression has not been focused on until now.

Long-term sorbitol consumption affects the hippocampus and alters cognitive function in aged mice.

The systemic effects of the artificial sweetener sorbitol on older adult individuals have not been elucidated. We assessed the effects of sorbitol consumption on cognitive and gingival health in a mouse model. Aged mice were fed 5% sorbitol for 3 months before their behavior was assessed, and brain and gingival tissues were collected.

Correction: Furukawa et al. Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior. 2023, , 2397.

In the original publication [...

[A case of Hashimoto's encephalopathy with acute onset of psychiatric symptoms and diffuse deep white matter lesions on brain MRI].

A 51-year-old man developed acute disturbances in consciousness and psychiatric symptoms one month prior to admission. He was referred and admitted to the Department of Psychiatry of our hospital and transferred to the neurology department because diffuse white matter lesions were found on his brain during MRI. I-IMP-SPECT showed extensive cerebral hypoperfusion mainly in the frontal lobes.

Premature gray hair development in the interbrow region owing to the loss of maxillary first molars in young mice.

The exact sites of premature hair graying and whether tooth loss causes this condition remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of reduced mastication on premature hair graying. Maxillary first molars were extracted from young mice, and the mice were observed for 3 months, along with non-extraction control group mice.

Case report: A case of anti-recoverin antibody-positive encephalitis exhibiting Cotard and Capgras delusions that was successfully treated with electroconvulsive therapy.

Recoverin is a neuron-specific calcium-binding protein that is mainly located in the retina and pineal gland. Few reports have described patients with anti-recoverin antibody-positive encephalitis, and no cases of psychosis associated with this encephalitis have been reported. We report a patient with anti-recoverin antibody-positive encephalitis with Cotard and Capgras delusions who was successfully treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Erythritol Can Inhibit the Expression of Senescence Molecules in Mouse Gingival Tissues and Human Gingival Fibroblasts.

Oral aging causes conditions including periodontal disease. We investigated how the sugar alcohol erythritol, which has anti-caries effects, impacts aging periodontal tissues and gingival fibroblasts in mice and humans in vivo and in vitro. Mice were classified into three groups: control groups of six-week-old (YC) and eighteen-month-old mice (AC) and a group receiving 5% / erythritol water for 6 months (AE).

Long-Term Capsaicin Administration Ameliorates the Dysfunction and Astrogliosis of the Brain in Aged Mice with Missing Maxillary Molars.

Tooth loss and decreased masticatory function reportedly affect cognitive function; tooth loss allegedly induces astrogliosis and aging of astrocytes in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, which is a response specific to the central nervous system owing to homeostasis in different brain regions. Capsaicin, a component of red peppers, has positive effects on brain disorders in mice. Decreased expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, a receptor of capsaicin, is associated with the development of dementia.

Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior.

The relationship between caloric and nutrient intake and overall health has been extensively studied. However, little research has focused on the impact of the hardness of staple foods on health. In this study, we investigated the effects of a soft diet on brain function and behavior in mice from an early age.

Surgical Resection to Treat a Japanese Patient with Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis.

Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic disease that is particularly prevalent in the United States. However, its geographic distribution is becoming widespread. Here, we present a Japanese male who resided in the United States for 1 year, where he was diagnosed with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis that was accompanied by cavity formation.

Pneumothorax with Eosinophilia is an Important Diagnostic Clue for Distinguishing Paragonimiasis from Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia: A Case Report.

The infection is a parasitic foodborne infection that induces systemic symptoms with eosinophilia in humans. Here, we described pneumothorax in addition to pulmonary opacities with eosinophilia in a man with a positive serology. He was misdiagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) during the initial phase.

Comparison of student self-assessment and teacher assessment of medical interview performance during bedside learning.

Accurate and efficient self-assessment is a critical skill for medical students to develop as part of their professional development. Along with clinical training reform at Fukushima Medical University, rubric-based student self-assessment and teacher assessment of students' performance using our proposed assessment tool, which includes several aspects of clinical skills and abilities, was initiated to improve the clinical clerkship process. To investigate how students identified their weaknesses and strengths, we analyzed the results of 119 fourth-year medical students' self-assessment and corresponding teacher assessment.

Respiratory rhythm affects recalibration of body ownership.

Change in body perception requires recalibration of various sensory inputs. However, it is less known how information other than sensations relates to the recalibration of body perception. Here, we focused on the relationship between respiration and cognition and investigated whether respiratory rhythms are related to the recalibration of hand perception.