Radiation Exposure to the Brains of Interventional Radiology Staff: A Phantom Study.

Numerous papers report the occurrence of head and neck tumors in interventional radiology (IR) physicians. Recently, appropriate dosimetry and protection have become much more important. To accomplish these, first, we should accurately understand how the brain is exposed.

Impact of changes in recommendation of optimal gestational weight gain in Japan: A retrospective study in a single tertiary center.

Aim: In March 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revised the optimal gestational weight gain standards. In this study, we examined whether this revision affected gestational weight gain and low birth weight rates.

Methods: We analyzed the records of singleton pregnant women who underwent checkups from their 1st trimester and delivered at our institute after 37 weeks between 2020 and 2021 (before the revision) and between 2022 and 2023 (after the revision).

Effect of backscatter radiation on the occupational eye-lens dose.

We quantified the level of backscatter radiation generated from physicians' heads using a phantom. We also evaluated the shielding rate of the protective eyewear and optimal placement of the eye-dedicated dosimeter (skin surface or behind the Pb-eyewear). We performed diagnostic X-rays of two head phantoms: Styrofoam (negligible backscatter radiation) and anthropomorphic (included backscatter radiation).

Basic Performance Evaluation of a Radiation Survey Meter That Uses a Plastic-Scintillation Sensor.

After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011, many types of survey meters were used, including Geiger-Müller (GM) survey meters, which have long been used to measure β-rays. Recently, however, a novel radiation survey meter that uses a plastic-scintillation sensor has been developed. Although manufacturers' catalog data are available for these survey meters, there have been no user reports on performance.

Comparison of shielding effects of over-glasses-type and regular eyewear in terms of occupational eye dose reduction.

Given the new recommendations for occupational eye lens doses, various lead glasses have been used to reduce irradiation of interventional radiologists. However, the protection afforded by lead glasses over prescription glasses (thus over-glasses-type eyewear) has not been considered in detail. We used a phantom to compare the protective effects of such eyewear and regular eyewear of 0.

Accelerated epigenetic aging in alcohol dependence.

Alcohol dependence poses a global health threat associated with aging and reduced life expectancy. Recently, aging research through deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation has gained attention. New epigenetic clocks have been developed; however, no study has investigated GrimAge components, GrimAge2 components and DunedinPACE in patients with alcohol dependence.

Complete genome sequence of sp. strain 22B1P capable of utilizing 3-chlorobenzoate as a carbon source.

sp. strain 22B1P utilizes 3-chlorobenzoate as a carbon source. Complete genome sequencing of strain 22B1P revealed two chromosomes and two plasmids.

A deletion variant in LMX1B causing nail-patella syndrome in Japanese twins.

Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is a hereditary disease caused by pathogenic variants in LMX1B and characterized by nail, limb, and renal symptoms. This study revealed a likely pathogenic LMX1B variant, NM_002316.4: c.

Impact of Introducing a Controlled-Release Dinoprostone Vaginal Insert for Labor Induction: A Retrospective Single-Center Study in Japan.

Aim: Cervical ripening is commonly performed before oxytocin administration during labor induction in pregnant women with an unfavorable cervix. In Japan, a controlled-release Dinoprostone vaginal insert (CR-DVI) was approved in 2020. Although many studies have compared the mechanical methods of ripening and prostaglandins, few have examined the impact of additional options for labor induction.

[Temperature Dependence of Scintillation Survey Meter with and without Temperature Compensation Function].

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the temperature dependence of a scintillation survey meter with and without the temperature compensation function. Investigation of temperature dependence is important to make precise measurements in various environments.

Method: The experiment was conducted using the NaI (Tl) scintillation survey meter with the temperature compensation function (TCS-1172) and the NaI (Tl) and CsI (Tl) scintillation survey meters without the temperature compensation function (TCS-171, PDR-111).

Women with elevated blood pressure and stage 1 hypertension are at high risk for preeclampsia. A retrospective study at a tertiary facility in Japan.

Aim: In 2017, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) re-defined hypertension (HT) as follows: elevated blood pressure (EBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) 120-129 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <80 mmHg; stage 1 HT, SBP 130-139 mmHg or DBP 80-89 mmHg; and stage 2 HT: SBP ≥140 mmHg or DBP ≥90 mmHg. It is well known that women with stage 2 HT are at higher risk of preeclampsia and have poorer pregnancy and delivery outcomes. While there are few reports on the risk in women with EBP and stage 1 HT, and none from Japan.

Accelerated epigenetic aging and decreased natural killer cells based on DNA methylation in patients with untreated major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is known to cause significant disability. Genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles can be used to estimate biological aging and as epigenetic clocks. However, information on epigenetic clocks reported in MDD patients is inconsistent.

Real-world efficacy of belimumab in achieving remission or low-disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: A retrospective study.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of belimumab (BEL) on achieving low disease activity (LDA) and remission as an additive molecular-targeting agent to standard of care (SoC) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Clinical information was retrospectively collected from patients with SLE who received BEL additive to SoC (BEL + SoC), and from patients treated with SoC alone as a control arm. Disease activity was measured by SLE-disease activity score (SLE-DAS).

Non-efficacy of early intervention strategy for non-obese patients with early-onset gestational diabetes mellitus: solely based on the short-term outcomes.

Introduction: To verify the effectiveness of intervention in early pregnancy for women with early-onset gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Research Design And Methods: This study included women with a singleton pregnancy who were diagnosed with early-onset GDM by 20 weeks of gestation according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) threshold. We retrospectively evaluated the pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with early-onset GDM.

Involvement of the complement system in immune thrombocytopenia: review of the literature.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a thrombocytopenic condition induced by autoimmune mechanisms and includes secondary ITP with underlying diseases such as connective tissue diseases (CTD). In recent years, it has been elucidated that the subsets of the ITP are associated with complement abnormalities but much remains unclear. To perform a literature review and identify the characteristics of complement abnormalities in ITP.

Successful fertility preservation by expectant management of a cervico-isthmic pregnancy with fetal death in the second trimester: A case report.

In a cervico-isthmic pregnancy, the risk of placenta accreta increases with advancing gestational age. Previous reports have detailed cases that required hysterectomy at delivery or artificial abortion at an early gestational age. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports on the management of a cervico-isthmic pregnancy with fetal death during the second trimester.

STING signalling is terminated through ESCRT-dependent microautophagy of vesicles originating from recycling endosomes.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is essential for the type I interferon response against a variety of DNA pathogens. Upon emergence of cytosolic DNA, STING translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi where STING activates the downstream kinase TBK1, then to lysosome through recycling endosomes (REs) for its degradation. Although the molecular machinery of STING activation is extensively studied and defined, the one underlying STING degradation and inactivation has not yet been fully elucidated.

A case of immature teratoma with nephroblastic components in the oral cavity of a cat.

A 2-month-old female mixed cat was emaciated due to dysphagia, and inspection of the mouth revealed a 2 cm pedunculated mass elongated from the palate, which occupied the oral cavity. The mass was surgically removed, and histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was composed of three germ cell layers: ectodermal (skin and skin appendages), mesodermal (cartilaginous and osseous structures), and endodermal (glandular and respiratory mucosa) tissues. An immature teratoma was diagnosed because of the presence of immature neuroectodermal tissues, and the presence of nephroblastic components was a characteristic finding in this case.

Epigenetic clock analysis reveals increased plasma cystatin C levels based on DNA methylation in major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness and a major public health concern worldwide. Depression is associated with epigenetic changes that regulate gene expression, and analyzing these changes may help elucidate the pathophysiology of MDD. Genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles can function as 'epigenetic clocks' that can help estimate biological aging.

The activity of disease-causative STING variants can be suppressed by wild-type STING through heterocomplex formation.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is essential for the type I interferon response induced by microbial DNA from viruses or self-DNA from mitochondria/nuclei. Recently, gain-of-function mutations in STING have been identified in patients with STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI). The SAVI patients exhibit complex systemic vascular inflammation and interstitial lung disease, resulting in pulmonary fibrosis and respiratory failure.