Starvation changes the pre-rRNA accumulations in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The precursor rRNA (pre-rRNA) processing pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans remains unidentified. We have determined the cleavage site within the internal transcribed spacer 2, which generates pre-rRNA f of 5.8S rRNA and pre-rRNA g of 26S rRNA.

A New Breast Density Assessment Method Using Portable Document Format.

Purpose: Breast density assessment is an essential component of risk-stratified and supplemental breast cancer screenings for the future generation. International collaborative research and cooperation are required to determine global trends and differences in mammographic breast density. Due to the cost and energy associated with the use of film or digital mammograms, international breast density assessment studies tend to be challenging.

Spectrally Narrow Blue-Light Emission from Nonstoichiometric AgGaS Quantum Dots for Application to Light-Emitting Diodes.

Luminescence color tuning of less toxic I-III-VI-based quantum dots (QDs) has been intensively investigated for application in wide-color-gamut displays. However, the emission peaks of these multinary QDs are relatively broad in the blue-light region compared to those in the green and red regions. Here, we report the synthesis of AgGaS (AGS) QDs that show a narrow blue emission peak through nonstoichiometry control and surface defect engineering.

SARS-CoV-2 propagation to the TPH2-positive neurons in the ventral tegmental area induces cell death via GSK3β-dependent accumulation of phosphorylated tau.

COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, was declared a pandemic by the WHO in 2020. Psychiatric symptoms including sleep disturbance, memory impairment, and depression are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. These symptoms are causes long-term mental and physical distress in recovering patients; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear.

Antistress Effects of Terpinen-4-ol and Compounds of Mimicked Yuzu Synthetic Fragrance in Humans and Mice.

This study investigated the antistress effects of yuzu synthetic fragrances by employing three experiments on humans and mice using two yuzu synthetic fragrances and five single compounds. We prepared two synthetic fragrances based on the component analysis of two natural yuzu essential oils extracted by cold-pressed and steam-distilled extraction methods. Chromogranin A (CgA) and heart rate (HR) were used as stress indices in human experiments.

Pharmacological effect of cepharanthine on SARS-CoV-2-induced disease in a Syrian hamster model.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global public health threat. Although several effective vaccines and therapeutics have been developed, continuous emergence of new variants necessitates development of drugs with different mechanisms of action. Recent studies indicate that cepharanthine, a chemical derivative purified from Stephania cepharantha, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro.

Plasma biomarkers of neurodegeneration in patients and high risk subjects with Lewy body disease.

Comorbid Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology is common in Lewy body disease (LBD); however, AD comorbidity in the prodromal phase of LBD remains unclear. This study investigated AD comorbidity in the prodromal and symptomatic phases of LBD by analyzing plasma biomarkers in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and individuals at risk of LBD (NaT-PROBE cohort). Patients with PD (PD group, n = 84) and DLB (DLB group, n = 16) and individuals with LBD with ≥ 2 (high-risk group, n = 82) and without (low-risk group, n = 37) prodromal symptoms were enrolled.

Non-contrast-enhanced breast MRI for evaluation of tumor volume change after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (3D-Ce-MRI) is a most powerful tool for evaluation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). However, the use of contrast agent is invasive, expensive, and time consuming, Thus, contrast agent-free imaging is preferable. We aimed to investigate the tumor volume change after NAC using maximum intensity projection diffusion-weighted image (MIP-DWI) and 3D-Ce-MRI.

Association between Central Nervous System Drugs and Femoral Fracture Risk in Japanese Individuals ≥80 Years Old: A Case-crossover Study.

Objective To assess the association between concomitant use of central nervous system drugs and femoral fracture risk in individuals ≥80 years old in Japan. Methods A case-crossover design was used, defining the case period as 3 days before the fracture diagnosis and the control period as 31-33, 34-36, and 37-39 days prior. The association between the daily intake of central nervous system drugs (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes) and fracture risk was analyzed using conditional logistic regression.

Preliminary study of standardized semiquantitative method for ultrasonographic breast composition assessment.

Purpose: To develop a classification tree via semiquantitative analysis for ultrasonographic breast composition assessment using routine breast ultrasonography examination images.

Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 100 consecutive normal women who underwent screening mammography and supplemental ultrasonography. Based on sonographic breast composition, the patients' breasts were classified as nondense or dense, which were correlated with mammographic breast composition.

Inter- and intra-observer variability of qualitative visual breast-composition assessment in mammography among Japanese physicians: a first multi-institutional observer performance study in Japan.

Background: Visual assessment of mammographic breast composition remains the most common worldwide, although subjective variability limits its reproducibility. This study aimed to investigate the inter- and intra-observer variability in qualitative visual assessment of mammographic breast composition through a multi-institutional observer performance study for the first time in Japan.

Methods: This study enrolled 10 Japanese physicians from five different institutions.

Association between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease in elderly in Japan: an administrative claims database analysis.

Objective: To investigate whether osteoarthritis (OA) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD); whether there are differences concerning ischaemic heart disease (IHD), congestive heart failure (CHF) and stroke; and whether there are differences between OA sites (hips, knees and hand) in predicting CVD onset.

Design: Population-based matched case-control study.

Setting: Health insurance claims data among Japanese patients.

Correction: Water-dispersible donor-acceptor-donor π-conjugated bolaamphiphiles enabling a humidity-responsive luminescence color change.

Correction for 'Water-dispersible donor-acceptor-donor π-conjugated bolaamphiphiles enabling a humidity-responsive luminescence color change' by Tomoya Enjou , , 2024, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cc05749f.

Investigation of imaging features in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of benign and malignant breast lesions.

Purpose: This study aimed to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using gadobutrol for differentiating benign breast lesions from malignant ones. Moreover, this study sought to address the limitations of current imaging techniques and criteria based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS).

Materials And Methods: In a multicenter retrospective study conducted in Japan, 200 women were included, comprising 100 with benign lesions and 100 with malignant lesions, all classified under BI-RADS categories 3 and 4.

Increased expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters in enfortumab vedotin-resistant urothelial cancer.

Introduction: In addition to reduced nectin-4 expression, the upregulation of ATP-binding cassette transporters has been suggested as a potential mechanism of resistance to enfortumab vedotin.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old man previously treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy and pembrolizumab for metastatic bladder cancer was administered enfortumab vedotin because of disease progression. Subsequently, metastasectomy was performed for oligometastatic lesions (in the lung and adrenal gland) that exhibited growth during enfortumab vedotin therapy.

A patient with oligometastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer who achieved long-term progression-free survival following cytoreductive radical prostatectomy and metastasectomy.

Introduction: Oligometastatic prostate cancer can be well-controlled through combined local and metastasis-directed therapies. However, the effects of cytoreductive radical prostatectomy and metastasectomy remain unclear.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old man presented with prostate cancer and isolated bone metastasis to the thoracic spine.