Use of computed tomography angiography has potential in planning surgical treatment of an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of intrahepatic portal vein branching (IHPB)-grade assessment using preoperative CT angiography (CTA) on the surgical procedure and prognosis prediction for dogs with an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS).

Methods: This study involved 146 client-owned dogs with EHPSS. The shunt morphology of EHPSS and IHPB grades was determined using CTA.

Dogs with severe tracheal flattening exhibit lower degrees of left lateralization of the cervical esophagus.

Herein, we investigated the positional relationship between the cervical esophagus and trachea using computed tomography (CT) images in dogs with tracheal flattening. From these CT images, the ratio of the tracheal diameters in the short (vertical) and long (horizontal) axes of the tracheal ring (S/L ratio) and the vertebra-trachea-esophagus (VTE) angle were measured at the point from the 3rd cervical (C3) to the 3rd thoracic vertebra (T3) levels. The VTE angle in dogs with tracheal flattening with an S/L ratio under 0.

Bending Angle Sensor Based on Double-Layer Capacitance Suitable for Human Joint.

: To develop bending angle sensors based on double-layer capacitance for monitoring joint angles during cycling exercises. : We develop a bending angle sensor based on double-layer capacitive and conducted three stretching, bending, and cycling tests to evaluate its validity. : We demonstrate that the bending angle sensor based on double-layer capacitance minimizes the change in the capacitance difference in the stretching test.

Postural sway reduction by weak electrical noise into the wrist median nerve using portable stimulator.

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a weak noise stimulation that improves the function of standing balance by increasing sensitivity to somatosensory information. SR implemented in the lower limbs may increase the standing balance function, but the effect of noise stimulation on upper limbs has not been investigated to date. This study aims to investigate the effect of weak electrical noise stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist on the balance control system function using a portable stimulator.

Effects of subthreshold electrical stimulation with white noise, pink noise, and chaotic signals on postural control during quiet standing.

Background: The stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon has been used to improve postural control through the application of imperceptible noise to the somatosensory system. White noise signals have been applied in numerous SR studies on postural control. However, because the SR effect depends on the noise structure, the stimulation effects of signals with different structures, such as pink noise and chaotic signals, on postural control, must be determined to achieve better clinical applications of SR technology.

Movement Coordination during Forward and Backward Rope Jumping: A Relative Phase Study.

Rope jumping is a popular training method in athletic programs, fitness, and physical education. Forward and backward rope jumping has been used for evaluating athlete's performance. Both of these two jumps require coordination in the upper and lower limbs.

Design and Evaluation of an Online Squat Fitness System: Lessons Learned During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

COVID-19 has changed our lives and limited our ability to have adequate physical activity (PA). It is necessary to replace outdoor PA with home-based fitness. However, people lack access, skills, and even motivation for home-based fitness.

Cross-correlated fractal components of H-wave amplitude fluctuations in medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.

The time series of the H-wave amplitude in soleus muscle (SOL) shows fractal (long-range) correlation, which is attributed to input from supraspinal centers. However, whether such long-range power-law correlated input also contributes to the synergistic muscles remains unclear. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the correlation in the fractal components of H-wave amplitude fluctuations between the synergistic muscles used for plantar flexion, i.

Attenuated spontaneous postural sway enhances diastolic blood pressure during quiet standing.

Purpose: Spontaneous postural sway during quiet standing has been considered a simple output error of postural control. However, as postural sway and inherent body orientation evoke compensatory activity of the plantar flexors, they might contribute to blood circulation under gravitational stress via the muscle pump. Hence, the present study employed an external support device to attenuate the plantar flexor activity in supported standing (SS), to experimentally identify its physiological impact on blood circulation.

The Estimation of Circadian Rhythm Using Smart Wear.

In this study, we have developed a new practical system for estimating circadian rhythm by using smart wear that can measure electrocardiogram (ECG) during sleep. This system can estimate the time and heart rate (HR) value to reach the lowest point in circadian rhythm. We show the system in detail.

Gold-catalyzed dual C-C bond cleavage of biphenylenes bearing a pendant alkyne at ambient temperature.

We report a catalytic skeletal rearrangement of biphenylenes with a pendant alkyne moiety at room temperature by a cationic gold catalyst, which involves the cleavage of two bonds: the C-C bond of biphenylene and the C(sp)-C(sp2 or sp3) bond. Experimental and theoretical studies revealed that the reaction mechanism included π-activation of the alkyne, ring expansion and 1,2-carbon shift.

Repeated surgical treatment and long-term outcome of a cat with vertebral vascular hamartoma.

A 30-month-old Maine Coon presented with progressive proprioceptive ataxia, paraparesis, thoracolumbar pain, and decreased appetite. An extradural mass was detected within the left side of the 13th thoracic vertebral canal that compressed the spinal cord on magnetic resonance (MR) and was considered to be mineralized on computed tomography (CT) images. The resected mass was diagnosed as a vertebral vascular hamartoma.

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Axially Chiral Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) via Regioselective C-C Bond Activation of Biphenylenes.

Chiral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are expected to have unusual physical properties due to their chirality and expanded π-conjugated system. Indeed, PAHs are promising compounds as chiral recognizers and organic semiconductors. Therefore, an efficient method for the synthesis of chiral PAHs is strongly desired.

Suppressive Effect of Delta-Tocotrienol on Hypoxia Adaptation of Prostate Cancer Stem-like Cells.

Background/aim: A hallmark of the progression of prostate cancer to advanced disease is the acquisition of androgen-independent growth. This malignant phenotype is characterized by resistance to conventional treatments and predisposes to formation of hypoxic regions containing stem-like cancer cells. Unfortunately, an effective therapy to target prostate cancer stem cells under hypoxia has not yet been established.

Preparation and functional analysis of gossypols having two carbohydrate appendages with enaminooxy linkages.

We developed new gossypol (Gos)-based glycoconjugates through dehydration condensation of native Gos and chemically modified glycosides having aminooxy groups. The resultant glycoconjugates (glycoGos) were resistant to hydrolysis, although they were light-sensitive and slowly decomposed even under indoor lighting. The glycoGos also exhibited improved water solubility compared with native Gos, but their saturated concentrations in water were still low (6.

Development of wearable muscle fatigue detection system using capacitance coupling electrodes.

Bio-information is important to confirm the body condition. Especially, the muscle fatigue is related to injury or decrease of concentration. Therefore, it is required to evaluate muscle fatigue to make subject enjoy sports.

Trogocytosis of peptide-MHC class II complexes from dendritic cells confers antigen-presenting ability on basophils.

Th2 immunity plays important roles in both protective and allergic responses. Nevertheless, the nature of antigen-presenting cells responsible for Th2 cell differentiation remains ill-defined compared with the nature of the cells responsible for Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation. Basophils have attracted attention as a producer of Th2-inducing cytokine IL-4, whereas their MHC class II (MHC-II) expression and function as antigen-presenting cells are matters of considerable controversy.

Inhibitory effect of a redox-silent analogue of tocotrienol on hypoxia adaptation in prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in Western countries and acquires a malignant phenotype, androgen-independent growth. PCa under hypoxia often has resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, an effective therapy against PCa under hypoxia has not yet been established.

Panaxatriol derived from ginseng augments resistance exercised-induced protein synthesis via mTORC1 signaling in rat skeletal muscle.

Resistance exercise activates muscle protein synthesis via the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway and subsequent muscle hypertrophy. Upstream components of the mTORC1 pathway are widely known to be involved in Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling. Previous studies have shown that ginseng stimulated Akt and ERK1/2 signaling.

Four-year sequential nerve conduction changes since first visit in Japanese patients with early type 2 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: Despite being the most common complication of diabetes, the pattern of clinical development of diabetic neuropathy is not well-known. In the present study, we retrospectively examined sequential changes in nerve conduction studies (NCS) for 4 years to characterize the way neuropathic changes develop in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: We randomly selected 158 patients with type 2 diabetes who newly visited Naka Memorial Clinic, Ibaraki, Japan, and underwent serial 4-year NCS.

Acute bout of resistance exercise increases vitamin D receptor protein expression in rat skeletal muscle.

What is the central question of this study? Does an acute bout of exercise alter vitamin D receptor expression in rat skeletal muscle? What is the main finding and its importance? Resistance exercise but not endurance exercise increased intramuscular vitamin D receptor expression. Thus, resistance exercise may be an effective way to increase muscle vitamin D receptor expression. Vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) are involved in the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass and function.

Effect of repeated Waon therapy on exercise tolerance and pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: Controlled clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of repeated Waon therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have yet to be conducted. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether repeated Waon therapy exhibits an adjuvant effect on conventional therapy for COPD patients.

Patients And Methods: This prospective trial comprised 20 consecutive COPD patients who satisfied the criteria of the Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, stages 1-4.