Superficial oesophageal mucosal innervation may contribute to severity of symptoms in oesophageal motility disorders.

Background: Mechanisms underlying perception of dysphagia and chest pain have not been completely elucidated, although oesophageal mucosal afferent nerves might play an important role.

Aims: To evaluate the relationship between oesophageal mucosal afferent nerves and the severity of dysphagia and chest pain in oesophageal motility disorders.

Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with oesophageal motility disorders having dysphagia and/or chest pain from whom oesophageal biopsies were obtained.

Esophageal mast cells may be associated with the perception of symptoms in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type 2 helper T-cell (Th2)-mediated allergic disease that involves mast cells. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between perception of symptoms and mast cell levels in patients with EoE.

Methods: We enrolled patients with asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE) and those with symptomatic EoE.

Lifestyle changes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic impact metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Background And Aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic precipitated lifestyle changes. We aimed to clarify whether COVID-19-induced lifestyle changes affected the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study included 973 participants who underwent health check-ups between 2018 and 2020.

A mask-based infection control method for screening endoscopy may prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission and relieve staff anxiety.

Objectives: Endoscopy confers high risk for acquiring coronavirus disease 2019. Although guidelines recommend that medical staff use personal protective equipment, no infection control equipment have been established for patients. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of two face masks we had designed for transnasal and transoral endoscopy.

Validation of a two-step approach combining serum biomarkers and liver stiffness measurement to predict advanced fibrosis.

Background And Aim: The Gut and Obesity in Asia Workgroup recently reported that a two-step approach using fibrosis scores followed by liver stiffness measurement (LSM) could accurately detect patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) having advanced fibrosis in low-risk fibrosis populations. This study aimed to validate the utility of this approach using a Japanese health checkup registry.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included subjects who underwent a health checkup from 2014 to 2019.

The FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase score can stratify the disease severity in a Japanese cohort with fatty liver diseases.

This study aimed to prove that the FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) scores can be used to stratify disease severity in a Japanese cohort with fatty liver diseases [metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)]. All the participants (n = 2254) underwent liver stiffness measurements and controlled attenuation parameter assessments. We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients with MAFLD and NAFLD using the FAST scores and explored the independent determinants of FAST scores ≥ 0.

[A case of excessive supragastric belching treated with cognitive behavioral therapy].

A 52-year-old woman had a 6-month history of frequent belching;however, esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed no abnormal findings. She presented to our department with belching refractory to several medications. Abdominal radiography revealed no massive gas in the stomach and intestine.

Supragastric belching in Japan: lower prevalence and relevance for management of gastroesophageal reflux disease compared to United Kingdom.

Background: Supragastric belching (SGB) may play a role in the pathophysiology of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)-refractoriness in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). SGB may be present in up to 40% of reflux symptoms in PPI-refractory GERD. Most reports on SGB have come from Western countries, and little is known about the prevalence and relevance of SGB in Asian refractory GERD patients.

Proton pump inhibitors enhance intestinal permeability via dysbiosis of gut microbiota under stressed conditions in mice.

Background: Intestinal permeability and psychological stress are considered the key mechanism(s) in functional dyspepsia (FD). Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used for the treatment of FD, the effect of PPIs on intestinal permeability has not been elucidated. This study investigated the effect of PPI on intestinal permeability under stressed conditions.

Exosomal hsa-miR-933 in Gastric Juice as a Potential Biomarker for Functional Dyspepsia.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes represent disease-specific profiles and are applied as biomarkers in oncology. However, in functional dyspepsia (FD), the role of exosomal miRNAs has not been fully elucidated.

Aims: To investigate exosomal miRNAs as potential biomarkers of FD using liquid biopsy.

Barrett's esophagus is negatively associated with eosinophilic esophagitis in Japanese subjects.

Background: Although both eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and Barrett's esophagus (BE) are considered to be associated with T helper (Th) 2-mediated immune responses, the association between EoE and BE is unclear. We investigated the clinical relationship between EoE and BE.

Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective observational study.

Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Profiles of Polyubiquitin Fibrils.

Ubiquitin and its polymeric forms are conjugated to intracellular proteins to regulate diverse intracellular processes. Intriguingly, polyubiquitin has also been identified as a component of pathological protein aggregates associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. We recently found that polyubiquitin can form amyloid-like fibrils, and that these fibrillar aggregates can be degraded by macroautophagy.

2,3-Butanediol production from cellobiose using exogenous beta-glucosidase-expressing Bacillus subtilis.

We engineered efficient 2,3-butanediol (23BD) production from cellobiose using Bacillus subtilis. First, we found that B. subtilis harboring an empty vector could produce 23BD from cellobiose.

Kinematic characteristics of the scapula and clavicle during military press exercise and shoulder flexion.

Background: The military press is an exercise frequently prescribed for scapular and shoulder rehabilitation. Although this exercise has previously been analyzed by electromyography, its kinematic features remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to clarify these features of the military press and suggest relevant clinical applications.

Effects of trunk rotation on scapular kinematics and muscle activity during humeral elevation.

Trunk rotation often accompanies humeral elevation, during daily activities as well as sports activities. Earlier studies have demonstrated that changes in spinal posture contribute to scapular motion during humeral elevation. However, the effect of trunk rotation on scapular kinematics during humeral elevation has received scant attention.

Global aphasia without hemiparesis: the underlying mechanism examined by transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Introduction: Global aphasia without hemiparesis (GAWH) is a rare stroke syndrome. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we evaluated 2 possible pathogenic mechanisms for GAWH: sparing of the decussated pyramidal tract, or alternatively, compensation by the ipsilateral pyramidal tract.

Methods: Six patients were diagnosed to have GAWH by the Standard Language Test of Aphasia for Japanese.

[A case of superficial siderosis with repeated episodes of epilepsy].

We report a patient with superficial siderosis that repeated episodes of epilepsy. The patient was a 62-year-old male, and underwent an operation for the tumor of the spinal cord at 22 years of age. He had become deaf at 50 years of age, and repeated loss of consciousness at 59 years of age and later.