Factors and their age differences associated with low back pain among Japanese workers: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to examine the factors and their age differences associated with low back pain (LBP), including lifestyle and psychosocial factors, among Japanese workers at a large company. The study population consisted of 25,610 workers (mean ± SD age, 44.7 ± 9.

High-Recovery Desalting Tip Columns for a Wide Variety of Peptides in Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics.

In mass spectrometry-based proteomics, loss-minimized peptide purification techniques play a key role in improving sensitivity and coverage. We have developed a desalting tip column packed with thermoplastic polymer-coated chromatographic particles, named ChocoTip, to achieve high recoveries in peptide purification by pipet-tip-based LC with centrifugation (tipLC). ChocoTip identified more than twice as many peptides from 20 ng of tryptic peptides from Hela cell lysate compared to a typical StageTip packed with chromatographic particles entangled in a Teflon mesh in tipLC.

The efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in vulnerable patients with metastatic or recurrent endometrial cancer: a single institution experience.

Background: Effective management with second-line therapy with the lenvatinib + pembrolizumab regimen for patients with advanced endometrial cancer is necessary.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with endometrial cancer treated with the lenvatinib + pembrolizumab regimen. We evaluated progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety for patients non-eligible for the KEYNOTE775 trial, aged ≥65 years, or with ECOG performance status 1-2.

Association between iron intake and excessive daytime sleepiness in the community-dwelling Japanese: the Toon Health Study.

Purpose: Brain iron deficiency is known to cause dopaminergic dysfunction in people with restless legs syndrome. Considering the role that dopamine plays in the wake-promoting system, we speculated that iron deficiency may contribute to the development of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Therefore, we conducted the present study to examine the association between iron intake and EDS in the general population.

Modeling NK-cell lymphoma in mice reveals its cell-of-origin and microenvironmental changes and identifies therapeutic targets.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related neoplasm preferentially involving the upper aerodigestive tract. Here we show that NK-cell-specific Trp53 disruption in mice leads to the development of NK-cell lymphomas after long latency, which involve not only the hematopoietic system but also the salivary glands. Before tumor onset, Trp53 knockout causes extensive gene expression changes, resulting in immature NK-cell expansion, exclusively in the salivary glands.

Influence of COVID-19 on the clinical characteristics of patients with uterine cervical cancer in Japan: A single-center retrospective study.

Aim: This study investigated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the clinical characteristics and interregional movement of patients with uterine cervical cancer.

Methods: This study included 1189 patients who underwent treatment for cervical cancer, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasm and adenocarcinoma in situ, at our hospital in Tokyo, Japan, in 2017-2018 and in 2021, before and after the pandemic, respectively. The patients' clinical information was compared during both periods.

A tetravalent peptide efficiently inhibits the intestinal toxicity of heat-labile enterotoxin by targeting the receptor-binding region of the B-subunit pentamer.

Infection by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causes severe watery diarrhea and dehydration in humans. Heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) is a major virulence factor produced by ETEC. LT is one of AB-type toxins, such as Shiga toxin (Stx) and cholera toxin (Ctx), and the B-subunit pentamer is responsible for high affinity binding to the LT-receptor, ganglioside GM1, through multivalent interaction.

Relationship between Ikigai and longitudinal changes in serum HDL cholesterol levels: the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Background: Having positive psychological well-being has been associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), but no longitudinal study to date has examined the association between Ikigai and serum HDLC. Therefore, we examined the association between Ikigai and change in serum HDLC over time using a cohort dataset spanning 2010-2018.

Methods: The study included 471 men and 776 women aged 40-74 years who underwent a cardiovascular examination in 2010 and were asked their levels of Ikigai.

Evaluation of fluorous affinity using fluoroalkyl-modified silica gel and selective separation of poly-fluoroalkyl substances in organic solvents.

In this study, we focused on the fluorous affinity acting among fluorine compounds, and then developed a new separation medium and evaluated their performance. We prepared the stationary phases for a column using silica gel-modified alkyl fluoride and investigated the characteristics of fluorous affinity by comparing them with a typical stationary phase, which does not contain fluorine, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In HPLC measurements, we confirmed that while all non-fluorine compounds were not retained, retention of fluorine compounds increased as the number of fluorine increased with the stationary phase.

Preoperative diagnosis of cervical cystic lesions using magnetic resonance imaging: a retrospective study.

Background: We conducted this study to clarify the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH) and Nabothian cysts.

Methods: This study included 48 patients who underwent hysterectomy at our institution between 2016 and 2020 for suspected LEGH. Histopathological studies confirmed the presence of 25 Nabothian cysts and 23 cases of LEGH.

Objective alertness, rather than sleep duration, is associated with burnout and depression: A national survey of Japanese physicians.

Approximately 40% of Japanese physicians report working more than 960 hr of overtime annually, with 10% exceeding 1860 hr. To protect their health, annual overtime limits went into effect in 2024. The objective of this study was to investigate associations of self-reported sleep duration with psychological health and objective alertness.

Risk factors for resignation from work during pregnancy among Japanese women: a cross-sectional, multicenter questionnaire survey.

This study was to investigate the employment status of pregnant women in Japan and identify risk factors associated with resigning from work during pregnancy. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 975 postpartum women in Tokyo and its suburbs, focusing on those who were employed during pregnancy. Women who were employed when they became pregnant were selected and divided into two groups: those who did not resign and those who resigned; the groups were analyzed separately.

The association of long working hours and short sleep duration on mental health among Japanese physicians.

This cross-sectional study investigates the association between long working hours, short sleep duration, and mental health among Japanese physicians. We enrolled 232 Japanese physicians. We used the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire to assess high-stress status, and the Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale to assess depressive status.

Enhanced molecular recognition with longer chain crosslinkers in molecularly imprinted polymers for an efficient separation of TR active substances.

Molecular imprinting technology has been widely studied as a technique to obtain molecular recognition by artificial means. Selecting functional monomers or polymerization conditions plays a key role to optimize molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) synthesis. To date, there have been few reports well exploiting the effect of crosslinkers.

Association between habitual snoring and vigilant attention in elementary school children.

Objectives: Vigilant attention (VA) is a fundamental neurocognitive function. However, the association between habitual snoring (HS) and VA in community-based children remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the association.