Association between psychological distress and schizotypy in adults: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Schizotypy refers to a personality type characterized by behavioral and cognitive abnormalities similar in nature but less severe than those of schizophrenia. Schizotypy often progresses to schizophrenia, so identifying risk factors may facilitate early schizophrenia diagnosis and improve treatment. Psychological distress may be associated with schizotypy, highlighting its importance.

Study on Efficient Operating Conditions for Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis Using Different Ion Species and Anion-Exchange Membranes.

To investigate efficient operating conditions for bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED), a comparison of current efficiency () and power intensity () was conducted using different anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) and salt solutions (NaCl and NaSO) as feed solutions in BMED. The results indicated that was higher and was lower for a commercial proton-blocking AEM (ACM) than for a standard AEM (ASE) when NaCl was used. This is because ASE has a higher water content than ACM, leading to greater H permeability, which reduces .

Utility of external fixation for traumatic periprosthetic fracture after total ankle arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A report of two cases.

This report describes two cases of implant-stable traumatic periprosthetic fractures after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One case with low body mass index (BMI) [14 kg/m2] achieved complete bone union with the use of an external fixator, while the other case with a high BMI [32.83 kg/m2] failed to achieve bone union with the external fixator; however, complete union was achieved utilizing secondary internal plate fixation.

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis found in an 85-year-old woman during preoperative investigations for knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis.

This report describes the case of an 85-year-old woman who was found to have seronegative rheumatoid arthritis during preoperative investigations for knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis. Follow-up for knee osteoarthritis was continued for many years without any symptoms involving other joints. Before total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis, preoperative investigations revealed a highly inflammatory state.

During the breeding season, lymphocytes assemble into ellipse-shaped clusters in the uropygial gland of the jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos.

Background: Recent studies indicate that the uropygial gland produces intraspecific chemosensory cues. The jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos, which is a type of passerine, exhibits extreme morphological variation in the gonadal gland during the breeding season. Because the uropygial gland of the jungle crow sometimes exhibits morphological changes during the breeding season, we attempted to clarify the morphological changes in the uropygial gland of the jungle crow according to development and season.

Ivermectin Enhances Paclitaxel Efficacy by Overcoming Resistance Through Modulation of in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: Chemoresistance to paclitaxel (PTX) significantly ameliorates therapeutic efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially in advanced stages, deteriorating the progression free and overall survival rates. One of the critical mechanisms contributing to drug resistance is the excretion of PTX from target cells via efflux pumps. Ivermectin was developed as a bactericidal agent against parasites; however, it has recently been shown to inhibit the proliferation of human cancer cells.

A transphyletic study of metazoan β-catenin protein complexes.

Beta-catenin is essential for diverse biological processes, such as body axis determination and cell differentiation, during metazoan embryonic development. Beta-catenin is thought to exert such functions through complexes formed with various proteins. Although β-catenin complex proteins have been identified in several bilaterians, little is known about the structural and functional properties of β-catenin complexes in early metazoan evolution.

A Case of Invasive Rhinosinusitis Caused by Penicillium brasilianum.

Penicillium brasilianum is an environmental filamentous fungus with useful applications in biotechnology. However, human infections caused by P. brasilianum are rare and not well understood.

Modified scarf osteotomy has a possible capability to be indicated against very severe hallux valgus deformity.

Background: Generally, scarf osteotomy is recommended for moderate-severe hallux valgus (HV) deformity. Although severe HV deformity is defined to be more than 40 degree (°), this definition of angular setting includes broad range of HV angle (HVA). Actually, very severe HV deformity such as more than 60° of the HVA is often seen.

Hospitalized Patients, Treatments, and Quality of Care for Cardiovascular Diseases in Japan - Outline of the Nationwide JROAD Investigation.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have imposed a substantial burden on population health and society. In Japan, the National Plan for the Promotion of Measures Against Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Disease, grounded in national legislation, seeks to improve the quality of care and standardize treatment for cerebrovascular disease and CVD. The plan emphasizes the need to develop standardized systems for collecting and disseminating medical information, as well as promoting data-driven research.

Harnessing Free Sulfate Groups in Glycosylation Reactions.

General strategies for synthesizing sulfated oligosaccharides employ the protection of sulfate groups for glycosylation or post-sulfation after the synthesis of oligosaccharides. However, the chemical behavior of free sulfate groups in glycosylation reactions has not been thoroughly studied. We examined several glycosyl donors with free sulfate groups, but neither glycosyl imidates nor thioglycosides achieved products.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding with n-butyl cyanoacrylate or coils: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This report is of a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) or coils as the primary embolic agent. The primary outcome was the clinical success rate. The secondary outcomes were technical success rates, 30-day rebleeding rates, major complication rates, and 30-day overall mortality rates.

Phase 1b/2 study of the liposomal formulation of eribulin (E7389-LF) in combination with nivolumab: Results from the phase 2 esophageal cancer cohort.

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Japan. Herein, we report the efficacy and safety of E7389-LF plus the immune checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab, from the esophageal cancer cohort of the phase 2 part of Study 120.

Methods: Eligible patients received E7389-LF 2.

Effects of structured positive feedback intervention on standing reach ability among older adults admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward: a small-sample pilot randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Interventions to improve the standing reach ability of older adults are essential for full functional independence, and structured positive feedback (PF) may be an effective intervention strategy. The purposes of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) are to investigate the preliminary efficacy of structured PF for improving the standing reach ability of older patients admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward and evaluate the feasibility of a future full-scale RCT.

Methods: Thirty-two eligible older adults (83.

Assessing the variability of tissue-free water tritium and non-exchangeable organically bound tritium in pine needles in Fukushima using atmospheric titrated water vapor.

When conducting environmental tritium monitoring at nuclear and fusion facilities, it is important to understand how tritium concentrations vary within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Past measurements of organically bound tritium (OBT) concentrations have been conducted from the standpoint of ascertaining the persistence of tritium in terrestrial vegetation, and it has been reported that OBT concentrations fluctuate depending on the influence of atmospheric sources and meteorological conditions. The present study provides information on the variability of tritium concentrations in vegetation growing close to atmospheric sources of tritiated water (HTO) in Japan.

Chiral Induction of a Tetrakis(porphyrin) in Various Chiral Solvents.

Non-covalent interactions offer an alternative way for developing stimulus-responsive materials such as sensors, machines, and drug-delivery systems. We recently reported that a urethane-equipped tetrakis(porphyrin) forms one-handed helical supramolecular polymers in solution in response to chirality of chiral solvents. Conformational changes in helical sense were detected using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, which showed that the tetrakis(porphyrin) can possibly be used as a sensor for determining the enantiomeric excess of a chiral analyte.

[A Retrospective Study on the Current Status of Adjustment of Transition to the Place of Care for Patients with Terminal Cancer and Factors Leading to the Discontinuation of Such Adjustment].

Background: Transitioning patients with cancer to end-of-life care settings poses psychological and operational challenges for patients, families, medical personnel, and collaborating medical institutions. However, such transitions may not always occur due to patient's deteriorating condition or death. Predicting the feasibility of these transitions is crucial for effective use of medical resources and effectuating end-of-life wishes.

Prospective single-arm multicenter interventional study of surgical resection for liver metastasis from gastric cancer; 3-year overall and recurrence-free survival.

Objective: Potential benefit of surgical resection for liver metastasis from gastric cancer (LMGC) remains controversial because most previous studies were retrospective. We evaluated the outcomes of surgical resection following chemotherapy for LMGC in a prospective single-arm multicenter interventional study.

Methods: Patients with synchronous or metachronous LMGC received 2-4 cycles of standard chemotherapy and proceeded to surgical resection if restaging showed a non-progressive disease with a chance of R0 resection.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement failure: surgical valve explantation after more than a decade.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an established alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis. However, the long-term outcomes and need for surgical reintervention following TAVR remain uncertain. This case report describes a 76-year-old woman who underwent surgical explantation of a SAPIEN-XT valve more than a decade after initial TAVR implantation due to late valve failure.

Association between Polypharmacy and Adverse Events in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: An Analysis of the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report Database (JADER).

: Alzheimer's disease is a global health concern, with a rising prevalence among the elderly. Current pharmacological treatments, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and N-Methyl D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, are associated with adverse events (AEs), particularly in the context of polypharmacy. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Alzheimer's disease treatment combinations, the number of concomitant medications, and the occurrence of AEs.

Mid-term outcomes of distal tibial oblique osteotomy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a report of three cases.

Although distal tibial oblique osteotomy (DTOO) has usually been indicated for non-inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis, we encountered three patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who underwent DTOO. We evaluated radiographic parameters and clinical scores, including self-reported scores for the foot and ankle (SAFE-Q) and the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) ankle/hindfoot scale. In all three cases, radiographic improvements were achieved along with improvements in SAFE-Q and JSSF scores after mid-term follow-up.