In vitro neuraminidase inhibitory concentrations (IC) of four neuraminidase inhibitors in the Japanese 2023-24 season: Comparison with the 2010-11 to 2022-23 seasons.

Introduction: To assess the susceptibility of epidemic influenza viruses to the four most used neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) during the 2023-24 influenza season in Japan, we measured the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC) of oseltamivir, peramivir, zanamivir, and laninamivir in virus isolates from the sample of 100 patients.

Methods: Viral isolation was done using specimens obtained before and after treatment, with the type/subtype determined by RT-PCR using type- and subtype-specific primers. IC values were determined by a neuraminidase inhibition assay using a fluorescent substrate.

Beta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling of scalp electroencephalography during walking preparation in Parkinson's disease differs depending on the freezing of gait.

Introduction: Despite using beta oscillations within the subthalamic nucleus as a biomarker of akinesia or rigidity in Parkinson's disease, a specific biomarker for freezing of gait (FOG) remains unclear. Recently, scalp phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) measured through scalp electroencephalography (EEG) has emerged as a promising tool for analyzing brain function. In this study, we examined whether PAC could be a biomarker for FOG.

Meioc-Piwil1 complexes regulate rRNA transcription for differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells.

Ribosome biogenesis is vital for sustaining stem cell properties, yet its regulatory mechanisms are obscure. Herein, we show unique properties of zebrafish mutants in which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) do not differentiate or upregulate rRNAs. Meioc colocalized with Piwil1 in perinuclear germ granules, but Meioc depletion resulted in Piwil1 accumulation in nucleoli.

Virological and Clinical Outcomes of Influenza Outpatients Treated With Baloxavir, Oseltamivir, or Laninamivir in the 2023-2024 Season.

Background: Clinical data on patients infected with influenza B Victoria (BV) after the approval of baloxavir is lacking.

Methods: This observational study of the Japanese 2023-2024 influenza season analyzed data from 25 outpatients with A(H1N1)pdm09, 36 with A(H3N2), and 65 with BV. Viral samples were collected before and after administering an antiviral (70 patients received baloxavir and 56 received a neuraminidase inhibitor), on days 1, 5, and 10.

M/EEG source localization for both subcortical and cortical sources using a convolutional neural network with a realistic head conductivity model.

While electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) are well-established noninvasive methods in neuroscience and clinical medicine, they suffer from low spatial resolution. Electrophysiological source imaging (ESI) addresses this by noninvasively exploring the neuronal origins of M/EEG signals. Although subcortical structures are crucial to many brain functions and neuronal diseases, accurately localizing subcortical sources of M/EEG remains particularly challenging, and the feasibility is still a subject of debate.

Somatic mutation rates scale with time not growth rate in long-lived tropical trees.

The rates of appearance of new mutations play a central role in evolution. However, mutational processes in natural environments and their relationship with growth rates are largely unknown, particular in tropical ecosystems with high biodiversity. Here, we examined the somatic mutation landscapes of two tropical trees, (slow-growing) and (fast-growing), in central Borneo, Indonesia.

Mettl1-dependent mG tRNA modification is essential for maintaining spermatogenesis and fertility in Drosophila melanogaster.

Modification of guanosine to N-methylguanosine (mG) in the variable loop region of tRNA is catalyzed by the METTL1/WDR4 heterodimer and stabilizes target tRNA. Here, we reveal essential functions of Mettl1 in Drosophila fertility. Knockout of Mettl1 (Mettl1-KO) causes no major effect on the development of non-gonadal tissues, but abolishes the production of elongated spermatids and mature sperm, which is fully rescued by expression of a Mettl1-transgene, but not a catalytic-dead Mettl1 transgene.

Is organizational intervention using Layered Voice Analysis effective in addressing operator mental health in call centers? A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To verify the effects of organizational interventions on mental health using Layered Voice Analysis (LVA).

Methods: A 12-week single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with call center operators. Sixty-six participants were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 26), an LVA intervention group (n = 20), or a one-on-one intervention group (n = 20).

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).

Accuracy of Boltless Frame-Based Stereo-Electroencephalography Electrode Implantation.

Background And Objectives: Boltless implantation of stereo-electroencephalography electrode is a useful alternative especially when anchor bolt is not available such as in country with limited resources or is less appropriate such as placement in patients with thin skull or at the occiput area, despite some drawbacks including potential dislodgement. While the accuracy of implantation using anchor bolt is well-studied, data on boltless implantation remain scarce. This study aimed to reveal the accuracy, permissible error for actual placement of electrodes within the grey matter, and delayed electrode dislodgement in boltless implantation.

Association between serum catecholamine levels and VNTR polymorphism in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene in forensic autopsy cases.

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) catalyzes oxidative deamination of catecholamines. A functional variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the promoter region of the MAOA gene has been previously reported. In the present study, we measured serum adrenaline (Adr), noradrenaline (Nad), and dopamine (DA) levels in 90 male and 34 female Japanese autopsy cases in which amphetamines or psychotropic drugs were not detected.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation focusing on patients with neuropathic pain in the upper limb: a randomized sham-controlled parallel trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of navigation-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the primary motor cortex in patients with neuropathic pain in the upper limb. This randomized, blinded, sham-controlled, parallel trial included a rTMS protocol (10-Hz, 2000 pulses/session) consisting of five daily sessions, followed by one session per week for the next seven weeks. Pain intensity, as well as pain-related disability, quality of life, and psychological status, were assessed.

A rat-based preclinical platform facilitating transcatheter hepatic arterial infusion in immunodeficient rats with liver xenografts of patient-derived pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Liver metastases from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are highly fatal. A rat-based patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) model is available for transcatheter therapy. This study aimed to create an immunodeficient rat model with liver xenografts of patient-derived primary PDAC and evaluate efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin in this model.

Reduction of adverse reactions and correlation between post-vaccination fever and specific antibody response across successive SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, recognized for high immunogenicity, frequently induces adverse reactions, especially fever. We previously reported a correlation between post-vaccination fever and specific antibody responses to the primary series and first booster. We herein report changes in adverse reactions and the correlation between post-vaccination fever and antibody responses across successive vaccinations, from monovalent to bivalent mRNA vaccines.

Atypical heat shock transcription factor HSF5 is critical for male meiotic prophase under non-stress conditions.

Meiotic prophase progression is differently regulated in males and females. In males, pachytene transition during meiotic prophase is accompanied by robust alteration in gene expression. However, how gene expression is regulated differently to ensure meiotic prophase completion in males remains elusive.

Text and image generation from intracranial electroencephalography using an embedding space for text and images.

Invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are promising communication devices for severely paralyzed patients. Recent advances in intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) coupled with natural language processing have enhanced communication speed and accuracy. It should be noted that such a speech BCI uses signals from the motor cortex.

Validity and reliability of Japanese version of the MAPO index for assessing manual patient handling in nursing homes.

Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) among caregivers in Japanese nursing homes has long been considered an occupational health issue. This study aimed to verify the reliability and validity of our developed Japanese version of the Movement and Assistance for Hospitalized Patients (J-MAPO) index, a risk assessment tool for LBP, in nursing homes.

Methods: Two inspectors assessed 15 nursing homes using J-MAPO, and deduced 3 LBP risk levels as follows: low, moderate, and high risk.

Virological and clinical outcomes in outpatients treated with baloxavir or neuraminidase inhibitors for A(H3N2) influenza: A multicenter study of the 2022-2023 season.

While clinical trials have illuminated both the virological and clinical efficacy of baloxavir for influenza and post-treatment viral resistance, these aspects warrant further study in real-world settings. In response, we executed a prospective, observational study of the Japanese 2022-2023 influenza season. A cohort of 73 A(H3N2)-diagnosed outpatients-36 treated with baloxavir, 20 with oseltamivir, and 17 with other neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs)-were analyzed.

Safety of First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Very Old (≥ 80 Years) Patients With Unresectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Retrospective Single-Center Case Series.

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab as the first-line treatment results in superior survival outcomes in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). However, its safety in old (≥ 80 years) patients with MPM has not been elucidated yet. Three male patients with MPM, aged 80-90 years, were treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab as the first-line treatment in our hospital.

Peritumoral Fat Content Identified Using Iterative Decomposition of Water and Fat with Echo Asymmetry and Least-squares Estimation (IDEAL) Correlates with Breast Cancer Prognosis.

Purpose: Adipocytes around aggressive breast cancer (BC) are less lipid different from naive adipocytes (cancer-associated adipocytes, CAAs), and peritumoral edema caused by the release of cytokines from CAAs can conduce to decrease the peritumoral fat proportion. The purpose of this study was to correlate peritumoral fat content identified by using iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in BC patients and to compare with T2-weighted (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI) analyses.

Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 85 patients who were diagnosed with invasive carcinoma of breast and underwent breast MRI, including IDEAL before surgery.