Effectiveness of electric toothbrushing in patients with neuromuscular disability: A randomized observer-blind crossover trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an electric toothbrush for oral care in patients with neuromuscular disability.

Methods: In this randomized observer-blind crossover trial, 30 patients with neuromuscular disease performed either electric or manual toothbrushing each for 4 weeks. Plaque status (plaque control record), periodontal pocket depth, oral status (oral assessment guide), salivary bacterial count, and toothbrushing time were assessed after each period and compared between the two groups by Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) current inhibition selectively prolongs action potential of midmyocardial cells to augment transmural dispersion.

The majority of drug induced arrhythmias are related to the prolongation of action potential duration following inhibition of rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Kr)) mediated by the hERG channel. However, for arrhythmias to develop and be sustained, not only the prolongation of action potential duration but also its transmural dispersion are required. Herein, we evaluated the effect of hERG inhibition on transmural dispersion of action potential duration using the action potential clamp technique that combined an in silico myocyte model with the actual I(Kr) measurement.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with renal urothelial cancer: A case report and literature review.

Background: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is hemolytic anemia characterized by autoantibodies directed against red blood cells. AIHA can be induced by hematological neoplasms such as malignant lymphoma, but is rarely observed in the urological field. We report a case of renal urothelial cancer inducing Coombs-positive warm AIHA and severe thrombocytopenia that was responsive to nephroureterectomy.

Sun exposure inversely related to food sensitization during infancy.

Background: Autumn and winter birth (AWB) has been reported to be a risk factor for the development of food allergies. However, the association between seasonal factors and allergic sensitization during early infancy remains unclear.

Methods: We collected data from 732 patients regarding the total and specific immunoglobulin E (tIgE, sIgE) levels in infants younger than 6 months old from November 2001 to October 2012 from the institutional clinical database system.

The relationship between the season of birth and early-onset food allergies in children.

Background: This study examined the relationship between the season of birth (SoB) and other factors with the development of FA.

Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional pilot study recruited 1197 patients with FA. The main study recruited 440 incident cases (FA group) definitively diagnosed as FA at 0-1 year of age.

Prevalence of Sinusitis Detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Subjects with Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: It has been reported that periodontitis is associated with Alzheimer's disease. However, the association between paranasal sinusitis and Alzheimer's disease has not been studied, although olfactory dysfunction frequently precedes the progress of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: We studied 783 patients (283 men, 500 women; mean age 77.

Changes in endolymphatic hydrops in patients with Ménière's disease treated conservatively for more than 1 year.

Conclusion: This study revealed that endolymphatic hydrops (EH) reduced in some cases with Ménière's disease (MD) treated conservatively. It appears that the EH reduction was associated with improvement of the clinical symptoms.

Objectives: The relationship between the degree of EH and clinical symptoms is not clear at present.

Distinct functional roles of cardiac mitochondrial subpopulations revealed by a 3D simulation model.

Experimental characterization of two cardiac mitochondrial subpopulations, namely, subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM) and interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM), has been hampered by technical difficulties, and an alternative approach is eagerly awaited. We previously developed a three-dimensional computational cardiomyocyte model that integrates electrophysiology, metabolism, and mechanics with subcellular structure. In this study, we further developed our model to include intracellular oxygen diffusion, and determined whether mitochondrial localization or intrinsic properties cause functional variations.

Cerumen impaction shown by brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cognitive impairment.

Aim: Hearing loss is a risk factor for the progression of dementia. Cognitive improvement is occasionally found after removal of cerumen impaction. Because patients with dementia do not usually complain about cerumen impaction, detection methods are important.

Keratin subsidies promote feather decomposition via an increase in keratin-consuming arthropods and microorganisms in bird breeding colonies.

Resource subsidies are well known to increase population densities of consumers. The decomposition process of these subsidised resources can be influenced by increasing consumer abundance. However, few studies have assessed whether resource subsidies can promote resource decomposition via a population increase in consumers.

A workshop with practical training for anaphylaxis management improves the self-efficacy of school personnel.

Background: School personnel are required to guarantee a secure school environment for children suffering from severe food allergies. We organized a workshop for school personnel to learn the appropriate management of anaphylaxis that included practical training with an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI). The objective of this study was to evaluate the workshop in terms of the improvement of self-efficacy (SE) of participants to deal with anaphylaxis.

Maintenance monotherapy with gemcitabine after standard platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the outcomes of gemcitabine maintenance monotherapy treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer.

Methods: Gemcitabine maintenance monotherapy was used for metastatic urothelial cancer patients after standard platinum-based chemotherapy. A standard dose of 1000 mg/m(2)/month was given.

Replication of IMR-32-adapted JC virus clones in human embryonic kidney cells.

It has been difficult to study JCV replication because of its restricted host range. In this study, JCV replication was examined using different clones in 293 cells. RT-PCR assay revealed that large T antigen expression in cells transfected with IMR-32-adapted JCVs was significantly greater than in those transfected with Mad-1 or CY.

Guide for medical professionals (i.e., dermatologists) for the management of Rhododenol-induced leukoderma.

Because some users develop depigmentation after the use of melanogenesis-inhibiting products containing the quasi-drug ingredient Rhododenol, Japanese Dermatological Association (JDA) established a Special Committee on the Safety of Cosmetics Containing Rhododenol on July 17, 2013 and management guide for dermatologists has been updated on the website in order to delineate the diagnostic criteria for Rhododenol-induced leukoderma and provides a broad guide for standard treatment based on current knowledge. This guide is produced on the basis of the guide (version 7) updated on June 20, 2014 in the website. Rhododenol-induced leukoderma refers to depigmentation of varying severity that develops after the use of cosmetics containing Rhododenol, mainly at the site of use.

Feasibility of multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of cancer distribution: histopathological correlation with prostatectomy specimens.

Purpose: To prevent overtreatment, it is very important to diagnose the precise distribution and characteristics of all cancer lesions, including small daughter tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2W), diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS), and prostate biopsy (PBx) in the detection of intraprostatic cancer distribution.

Methods: All patients underwent T2W, DWI, (1)H-MRS, and PBx followed by radical prostatectomy (RP).

Partially photodegradable hybrid hydrogels with elasticity tunable by light irradiation.

This paper reports a simple technique to synthesize elasticity tunable hybrid hydrogels using photocleavable (N-hydroxysuccinimide terminated photocleavable tetra-arm poly(ethylene glycol); NHS-PC-4armPEG) and non-photocleavable (N-hydroxysuccinimide terminated tetra-arm poly(ethylene glycol); NHS-4armPEG) activated-ester type crosslinkers. Partially photodegradable hybrid hydrogels were synthesized by reacting the crosslinker mixture with amino-terminated tetra-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (amino-4armPEG). The photocleavable crosslinks are cleaved by irradiating light while the non-photocleavable crosslinks remain intact, resulting in decreased elasticity.

The association between hearing impairment and polymorphisms of genes encoding inflammatory mediators in Japanese aged population.

Background: Aging process is accompanied by a chronic sub-clinical systemic inflammation. This study aimed to assess the association between hearing impairment and polymorphisms of genes encoding cytokines deeply-committed to the inflammatory response and immune homeostasis in an elderly Japanese population. Data were collected in the Longitudinal Study of Aging surveyed biennially between 1997 and 2010.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of cardiovascular events in incident dialysis patients: a Japanese prospective cohort study.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios are related to worse outcome in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Patients with end-stage renal disease, especially those with inflammation, are at an increased risk of premature mortality, primarily because of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to clarify if high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio is associated with increasing cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with end-stage renal disease.

Characteristics of low back pain in adolescent patients with early-stage spondylolysis evaluated using a detailed visual analogue scale.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative cohort study.

Objective: To elucidate the characteristics of low back pain (LBP) in adolescent patients with early-stage spondylolysis (ESS).

Summary Of Background Data: ESS is a common cause of acute LBP in adolescents.

Effect of prolactin-induced protein on human skin: new insight into the digestive action of this aspartic peptidase on the stratum corneum and its induction of keratinocyte proliferation.

Human prolactin-induced protein (PIP) is a major protein found in exocrine fluids such as saliva and sweat. Intriguingly, PIP possesses residues (human PIP (hPIP): PIP (29-63)) that display similarity to the aspartic peptidase candidapepsin. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of PIP as a protease on normal skin structure.

[Decline of speech understanding in the hearing impaired elderly listeners who visited our hearing aid clinic].

The aim of this study was to investigate distinctive change in the hearing impaired elderly listeners, especially about speech recognition. Subjects were 525 patients (235 males, 290 females), from 60 to 98 years of age who had visited the Hearing Aid Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Hospital, between June 2001 and December 2012. Pure-tone air conduction threshold determination was administered to each subject.

TNF-α augmented Porphyromonas gingivalis invasion in human gingival epithelial cells through Rab5 and ICAM-1.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays a central role in the initiation and maintenance of immune responses to periodontopathic bacteria. However, excess TNF-α leads to dysregulated immune responses and progression of periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.

Progress and prospects in human genetic research into age-related hearing impairment.

Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) is a complex, multifactorial disorder that is attributable to confounding intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The degree of impairment shows substantial variation between individuals, as is also observed in the senescence of other functions. This individual variation would seem to refute the stereotypical view that hearing deterioration with age is inevitable and may indicate that there is ample scope for preventive intervention.