Frontal pole-precuneus connectivity is associated with a discrepancy between self-rated and observer-rated depression severity in mood disorders: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Discrepancies in self-rated and observer-rated depression severity may underlie the basis for biological heterogeneity in depressive disorders and be an important predictor of outcomes and indicators to optimize intervention strategies. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this discrepancy have been understudied. This study aimed to examine the brain networks that represent the neural basis of the discrepancy between self-rated and observer-rated depression severity using resting-state functional MRI.

Time-resolved measurement of acoustic density fluctuations using a phase-shifting Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

Phase-shifting interferometry is one of the optical measurement techniques that improves accuracy and resolution by incorporating a controlled phase shift into conventional optical interferometry. In this study, a four-step phase-shifting interferometer is developed to measure the spatiotemporal distribution of acoustic density oscillations of the gas next to a rigid plate. The experimental apparatus consists of a polarizing Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a polarization camera capable of capturing four polarization directions in one shot image and it is used to measure the magnitude and the phase of density fluctuations through a duct of rectangular cross section connected to a loudspeaker.

Rapid, simple, and effective strategy to produce monoclonal antibodies targeting protein structures using hybridoma technology.

Background: Monoclonal antibodies are essential in life science research and developing antibody drugs and test drugs. Various methods have been developed to obtain monoclonal antibodies, among which hybridoma technology continues to be widely used. However, developing a rapid and efficient method for obtaining conformation-specific antibodies using hybridoma technology remains challenging.

Perception of Adherence to Daily Human Growth Hormone Treatments Among Pediatric and Adolescent Patients in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Physicians and Caregivers.

Background: Poor adherence to daily human growth hormone (hGH) treatment has been shown to be associated with poor clinical outcomes for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) patients. However, few studies have examined the perception of adherence to hGH treatment among both physicians and caregivers in Japan.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the perception of adherence for daily hGH treatment among physicians and caregivers of pediatric and adolescent patients treated with GH in Japan.

Thermoacoustic modeling of Fluidyne engine with a gas-coupled water pumping line.

A Fluidyne engine is a Stirling engine with liquid pistons that automatically start to oscillate when the engine's regenerator is differentially heated to a certain level. This study investigates the thermally induced oscillations of the working gas and liquid in the Fluidyne engine using the results of the thermoacoustic theory. Further, the water pump performance of the Fluidyne engine is evaluated when it is coupled to the pumping line.

Development of the Japanese version of the Depression Literacy Scale.

Background: Depression is a major social concern in Japan. It is therefore necessary to develop a scale in Japanese that can assess depression literacy.

Aims: The present study aimed to develop the Japanese version of the Depression Literacy Scale (D-Lit-J), and examined its validity and reliability.

Analysis of the linear oscillation dynamics of Fluidyne engines.

A Fluidyne engine is a liquid piston Stirling engine that uses thermally induced self-sustained oscillations of water and air that are filled in a looped tube and tuning column. It presents high potential for use as a low-temperature-difference Stirling engine with a simple structure. This study analyzes the linear oscillation dynamics of the Fluidyne from a thermoacoustic point of view, with particular emphasis on the local specific acoustic impedance of the working gas, which is given by the ratio of the complex amplitudes of the pressure and velocity oscillations in the regenerator of the Fluidyne.

Control of the temperature responsiveness of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymer using ultrasonic irradiation.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(NIPAM-co-HEMA)) is a temperature-responsive copolymer that is expected to be applicable as an advanced functional polymeric material in various fields. In this study, a novel method was developed to control the responsive temperature of poly(NIPAM-co-HEMA) using an ultrasonic polymerization technique. Initially, the behavior of the reaction was investigated using NIPAM and HEMA monomers under ultrasonic irradiation.

Evaluation of the work of adhesion at the interface between a surface-modified metal oxide and an organic solvent using molecular dynamics simulations.

Advancing the practical applications of surface-modified nanoparticles requires that their dispersion in solvents can be controlled. The degree of dispersion depends on the affinity between surface-modified nanoparticles and solvents, which can be quantified using the work of adhesion at the interface. Herein, the affinity between a surface-modified inorganic solid and an organic solvent was evaluated by calculating the work of adhesion at the interface.

Disease-Modifying Therapies During the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Narrative Review of International and National Recommendations.

Background: Managing multiple sclerosis (MS) during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a challenge due to the lack of evidence from clinical studies. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) may affect the immune response and subsequently alter the risk of COVID-19 infections.

Methods: A literature search was conducted on the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases.

Home use of a compact, 12‑lead ECG recording system for newborns.

Background: An easy-to-operate ECG recorder should be useful for newborn screening for heart conditions, by health care workers - or parents. We developed a one-piece electrode strip and a compact, 12‑lead ECG recorder for newborns.

Method: We enrolled 2582 newborns in a trial to assess abilities of parents to record a 12‑lead ECG on their infants (2-4 weeks-old).

In Vitro Evaluation of Exon Skipping in Disease-Specific iPSC-Derived Myocytes.

Patient-derived disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have opened the door to recreating pathological conditions in vitro using differentiation into diseased cells corresponding to each target tissue. To investigate muscular disease, we have established a myogenic differentiation protocol mediated by inducible MYOD1 expression that drives human iPSCs into myocytes. This highly reproducible differentiation protocol yields a homogenous skeletal muscle cell population, reaching efficiencies as high as 70-90%.

The Flux of Euglena gracilis Cells Depends on the Gradient of Light Intensity.

We have quantified the photomovement behavior of a suspension of Euglena gracilis representing a behavioral response to a light gradient. Despite recent measurements of phototaxis and photophobicity, the details of macroscopic behavior of cell photomovements under conditions of light intensity gradients, which are critical to understand recent experiments on spatially localized bioconvection patterns, have not been fully understood. In this paper, the flux of cell number density under a light intensity gradient was measured by the following two experiments.

Early pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy modelled in patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive and fatal muscle degenerating disease caused by a dystrophin deficiency. Effective suppression of the primary pathology observed in DMD is critical for treatment. Patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a promising tool for drug discovery.

High-speed phase-shifting interferometry using triangular prism for time-resolved temperature measurement.

This study proposes a high-speed phase-shifting interferometer with an original optical prism. This phase-shifting interferometer consists of a polarizing Mach-Zehnder interferometer, an original optical prism, a high-speed camera, and an image-processing unit for a three-step phase-shifting technique. The key aspect of the application of the phase-shifting technique to high-speed experiments is an original prism, which is designed and developed specifically for a high-speed phase-shifting technique.

Directed Myogenic Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have opened the door to recreating pathological conditions in vitro using differentiation into diseased cells corresponding to each target tissue. Yet for muscular diseases, a method for reproducible and efficient myogenic differentiation from human iPSCs is required for in vitro modeling. Here, we introduce a myogenic differentiation protocol mediated by inducible transcription factor expression that reproducibly and efficiently drives human iPSCs into myocytes.

Efficient and reproducible myogenic differentiation from human iPS cells: prospects for modeling Miyoshi Myopathy in vitro.

The establishment of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has enabled the production of in vitro, patient-specific cell models of human disease. In vitro recreation of disease pathology from patient-derived hiPSCs depends on efficient differentiation protocols producing relevant adult cell types. However, myogenic differentiation of hiPSCs has faced obstacles, namely, low efficiency and/or poor reproducibility.

In vitro modeling of paraxial mesodermal progenitors derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated from adult somatic cells by transduction of defined factors. Given their unlimited proliferation and differentiation potential, iPS cells represent promising sources for cell therapy and tools for research and drug discovery. However, systems for the directional differentiation of iPS cells toward paraxial mesodermal lineages have not been reported.

[Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for cesarean section in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy].

We report successful anesthetic management of elective cesarean section in a 31-year-old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA). After inserting an arterial catheter and central venous catheter, isobaric bupivacaine (0.5% ; 5 mg) with fentanyl 10 microg was injected intrathecally at the L4-5 interspace under administration of dopamine 3 microg kg(-1) min(-1).

[Acute pulmonary thromboembolism after multiple injuries, despite performing anticoagulant therapy].

We report here a patient with acute pulmonary thromboembolism after multiple injuries, despite performing an anticoagulant therapy precisely according to a guideline. A 56 year-old-woman with multiple fractures was transferred after a motor vehicle accident. She was diagnosed with a pelvic fracture, a left clavicular fracture, and a right radius fracture.