Role of trigeminal ganglion satellite glial cells in masseter muscle pain hypersensitivity.

Objectives: The underlying mechanism of masseter muscle pain hypersensitivity by sustained masseter muscle contraction (SMMC) is not well understood. This study aimed to examine whether the activation of satellite glial cells in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) contributes to masseter muscle pain hypersensitivity induced by SMMC.

Methods: Electrodes were placed on the masseter muscle fascia of rats to induce strong contractions, by daily electrical stimulation.

Fibroblast-derived IL-33 exacerbates orofacial neuropathic pain via the activation of TRPA1 in trigeminal ganglion neurons.

Damage to the peripheral nerves of trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons leads to intractable orofacial neuropathic pain through the induction of neuroinflammation. However, the details of this process are not yet fully understood. Here, we found that fibroblast-derived interleukin (IL)-33 was required for the development of mechanical allodynia in whisker pad skin following infraorbital nerve injury (IONI).

Diagnostic utility of pharyngeal follicular structures in COVID-19: A large-scale cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Pharyngeal follicles similar to those seen in influenza have been observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), suggesting their potential as early-stage diagnostic markers. In this study, we examined the diagnostic potential of pharyngeal follicles for COVID-19, particularly the Omicron variant and its subtypes, to obtain basic data for AI-based diagnostic imaging tools.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 21, 2022, to March 31, 2023, at the Tokyo Shinagawa Hospital's fever clinic.

Comparison of liver fibrosis scores and fatty liver on computed tomography as risk factors for severity of COVID-19.

Background And Aim: Increased liver fibrosis scores (LFS), such as fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), and fatty liver are known risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to identify the best scores, which predict the prognosis of COVID-19.

Methods: Participants comprised consecutive Japanese COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital between February 14, 2020, and April 14, 2021.

Effectiveness and duration of additional immune defense provided by SARS-CoV-2 infection before and after receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2.

Background: Our investigation focused whether infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) before or after receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can increase immune protection. And we also investigated relationship of infection acquired.

Methods: Three shots of the mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine BNT162b2 were administered to 736 healthcare workers at Tokyo Shinagawa Hospital.

Non-neuronal cells act as crucial players in neuropathic orofacial pain.

Background: Following peripheral nerve damage, various non-neuronal cells are activated, triggering accumulation in the peripheral and central nervous systems, and communicate with neurons. Evidence suggest that neuronal and non-neuronal cell communication is a critical mechanism of neuropathic pain; however, its detailed mechanisms in contributing to neuropathic orofacial pain development remain unclear.

Highlight: Neuronal and non-neuronal cell communication in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) is believed to cause neuronal hyperactivation following trigeminal nerve damage, resulting in neuropathic orofacial pain.

Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil and portal vein infusion chemotherapy followed by gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer.

Background: Although adjuvant gemcitabine (GEM) monotherapy improves the overall survival (OS) of patients with resected pancreatic cancer, its efficacy requires further improvement. This multicenter, phase II study investigated the efficacy of adjuvant portal vein infusion (PVI) chemotherapy followed by GEM therapy in patients with resected pancreatic cancer.

Methods: 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/day) and heparin (2000 IU/day) PVI chemotherapy were combined with systemic administration of mitomycin C (4 mg; days 6, 13, 20, and 27) and cisplatin (10 mg; days 7, 14, 21, and 28) for 4 weeks (PI4W), followed by GEM (1000 mg/m2; days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks for 6 months).

Clinical clues for suspecting wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: a case report.

Background: Myeloproliferative disorders, including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), are often associated with amyloid light-chain (AL)-type cardiac amyloidosis (CA) but occasionally with wild-type transthyretin (ATTR) CA. In recent years, ATTR amyloidosis has attracted necessity for its reliable diagnosis with the addition of new treatments. Usually, both wild-type ATTR CA and AL-type CA present with marked cardiac hypertrophy, but renal dysfunction is milder in wild-type ATTR amyloidosis than in AL-type amyloidosis.

Health Status Progression Measured Using Weekly Telemonitoring of COPD Assessment Test Scores Over 1 Year and Its Association With COPD Exacerbations.

Background: A previous longitudinal study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT) score changes suggested patients fall into 3 patterns: stable, improving, and worsening. This study assessed the evolution of CAT scores over time and its relationship to exacerbations.

Methods: In total, 84 participants used a telemedicine platform to complete CAT weekly for 52 weeks.

Role of macrophages in trigeminal ganglia in ectopic orofacial pain associated with pulpitis.

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the role of macrophages in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) in developing pulpitis-associated ectopic orofacial pain.

Methods: Rats underwent maxillary pulp exposure, and Fluoro-Gold (FG) was administered in the ipsilateral whisker pad (WP). Head withdrawal threshold (HWT) upon mechanical stimulation of the WP was recorded, and liposomal clodronate clophosome-A (LCCA; macrophage depletion agent) was administered to the TG at three and four days after pulp exposure.

[A Case of Two-Stage Radical Resection with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Cecal Cancer with Synchronous Peritoneal Metastasis(P3)].

A 63-year-old female patient was diagnosed with cecal cancer(cT3, N2a, M0)and underwent surgery for the first time. Only laparoscopic ileocecal resection(D3 dissection)was performed because intraperitoneal observation revealed peritoneal metastasis around the tumor and uterus. We decided to perform a radical resection because the peritoneal metastasis was localized by FDG-PET/CT.

Surveillance of seasonal influenza viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan, 2018-2023, a single-center study.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic led to significant reductions in influenza detection worldwide, fueling debates on whether influenza truly ceased circulating in communities. The number of influenza cases decreased significantly in Japan, raising concerns about the potential risk of decreased immunity to influenza in the population. Our single-center study aimed to investigate influenza trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan.

Involvement of oxidative stress in orofacial mechanical pain hypersensitivity following neonatal maternal separation in rats.

Patients with persistent pain have sometimes history of physical abuse or neglect during infancy. However, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying orofacial pain hypersensitivity associated with early-life stress remain unclear. The present study focused on oxidative stress and investigated its role in pain hypersensitivity in adulthood following early-life stress.

Analgesic effect of linalool odor on oral ulcerative mucositis-induced pain in rats.

Oral ulcerative mucositis (OUM) induces severe pain, leading to a low quality of life. Linalool odor exposure has recently been reported to suppress inflammatory pain in the hind paws. However, the analgesic effect of linalool odor on orofacial pain remains unclear.

Involvement of interferon gamma signaling in spinal trigeminal caudal subnucleus astrocyte in orofacial neuropathic pain in rats with infraorbital nerve injury.

: Trigeminal nerve injury causes orofacial pain that can interfere with activities of daily life. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown, and the appropriate treatment has not been established yet. This study aimed to examine the involvement of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) signaling in the spinal trigeminal caudal subnucleus (Vc) in orofacial neuropathic pain.

Early-onset hepatic veno-occlusive disease after liver transplantation: an institutional experience and analysis of a literature-based cohort.

Purpose: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) after liver transplantation (LT) is almost always a fatal complication. We assessed the outcomes of HVOD in a single institute and analyzed a literature-based cohort.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of recipients of LT performed between 1995 and 2020 at our institute and the literature on HVOD after LT.

M2 macrophage-derived cathepsin S promotes peripheral nerve regeneration via fibroblast-Schwann cell-signaling relay.

Background: Although peripheral nerves have an intrinsic self-repair capacity following damage, functional recovery is limited in patients. It is a well-established fact that macrophages accumulate at the site of injury. Numerous studies indicate that the phenotypic shift from M1 macrophage to M2 macrophage plays a crucial role in the process of axon regeneration.

Noninvasive graft monitoring using donor-derived cell-free DNA in Japanese liver transplantation.

Aim: To evaluate the use of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in diagnosing graft injuries in Japanese liver transplantation (LTx), including family-related living donors.

Methods: A total of 321 samples from 10 newly operated LTx recipients were collected to monitor the early dynamics of dd-cfDNA levels after LTx. Fifty-five samples from 55 recipients were collected during protocol biopsies (PB), whereas 36 samples from 27 recipients were collected during event biopsies, consisting of 11 biopsy-proven acute rejection (AR), 20 acute dysfunctions without rejection (ADWR), and 5 chronic rejections.