Emergency department and hospital-based programs responding to elder mistreatment: developing consensus about an idea whose time has come.

Elder mistreatment is common, serious, and under-recognized, with Emergency Department and hospital clinical encounters offering a potential but currently unrealized opportunity to identify and help older adults experiencing mistreatment. Interdisciplinary emergency department and hospital-based response teams represent a promising care model to address this. This manuscript describes two such teams and introduces a special issue dedicated to this work.

Elder abuse geriatrics: describing an important new medical specialist.

Elder mistreatment, including elder abuse and neglect, is a difficult diagnosis to make and manage for most providers. To address this, two elder abuse consultation teams were developed for patients in the hospital and emergency department settings. As these teams have developed, the providers involved have obtained specialized training and experience that we believe contributes to a new field of elder abuse geriatrics, a corollary to the well-established field of child abuse pediatrics.

Stereotactic radiotherapy for ventricular tachycardia: A study protocol.

Background: Currently, the standard curative treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) is radiofrequency catheter ablation. However, when the VT circuit is deep in the myocardium, the catheter may not be delivered, and a new, minimally invasive treatment using different energies is desired.

Methods: This is a protocol paper for a feasibility study designed to provide stereotactic radiotherapy for refractory VT not cured by catheter ablation after at least one catheter ablation.

Phage single-stranded DNA-binding protein or host DNA damage triggers the activation of the AbpAB phage defense system.

Although numerous phage defense systems have recently been discovered in bacteria, how these systems defend against phage propagation or sense phage infections remains unclear. The AbpAB defense system targets several lytic and lysogenic phages harboring DNA genomes. A phage-encoded single-stranded DNA-binding protein, Gp32, activates this system similar to other phage defense systems such as Retron-Eco8, Hachiman, ShosTA, Nhi, and Hna.

Evaluation of a Novel Hospice-Specific Patient Decision Aid.

We tested a novel hospice-specific patient decision aid to determine whether the decision aid could improve hospice knowledge, opinions of hospice, and decision self-efficacy in making decisions about hospice. Two patient-level randomized studies were conducted using two different cohorts. Recruitment was completed from March 2019 through May 2020.

The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves cardiac energy status via mitochondrial ATP production in diabetic mice.

Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor developed, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Several studies have suggested that empagliflozin improves the cardiac energy state which is a partial cause of its potency. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear.

RGB camera-based simultaneous measurements of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation, tissue oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiratory rate.

We propose a method to perform simultaneous measurements of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation ( ), tissue oxygen saturation ( ), pulse rate (), and respiratory rate () in real-time, using a digital red-green-blue (RGB) camera. Concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin ( ), deoxygenated hemoglobin ( ), total hemoglobin ( ), and were estimated from videos of the human face using a method based on a tissue-like light transport model of the skin. The photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals are extracted from the temporal fluctuations in , , and using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (low and high cut-off frequencies of 0.

Tropomyosin micelles are the major components contributing to the white colour of boiled shellfish soups.

Basket clam soup, a popular Asian dish, is prepared by boiling clams in hot water. The soup is generally cloudy, and it is considered that increased cloudiness enhances taste. However, the composition of the whitening ingredients and their association with taste enhancement remains unclear.

Stress-dependent cell stiffening by tardigrade tolerance proteins that reversibly form a filamentous network and gel.

Tardigrades are able to tolerate almost complete dehydration by entering a reversible ametabolic state called anhydrobiosis and resume their animation upon rehydration. Dehydrated tardigrades are exceptionally stable and withstand various physical extremes. Although trehalose and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins have been extensively studied as potent protectants against dehydration in other anhydrobiotic organisms, tardigrades produce high amounts of tardigrade-unique protective proteins.

Highly Sensitive Detection of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.

For safe regenerative medicines, contaminated or remaining tumorigenic undifferentiated cells in cell-derived products must be rigorously assessed through sensitive assays. Although in vitro nucleic acid tests offer particularly sensitive tumorigenicity-associated assays, the human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) detectability is partly constrained by the small input amount of RNA per test. To overcome this limitation, we developed reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assays that are highly gene specific and robust against interfering materials.

Large Enhancement of the Single-Molecular Conductance of a Molecular Wire through a Radical Substituent.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Ryuto Yasui, Daiki Shimizu, and Kenji Matsuda at Kyoto University. The image depicts a comparison of the molecular conductance of radical-substituted and non-radical-substituted molecular wires evaluated by STM. Read the full text of the article at 10.

High temporal resolution proteome and phosphoproteome profiling of stem cell-derived hepatocyte development.

Primary human hepatocytes are widely used to evaluate liver toxicity of drugs, but they are scarce and demanding to culture. Stem cell-derived hepatocytes are increasingly discussed as alternatives. To obtain a better appreciation of the molecular processes during the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into hepatocytes, we employ a quantitative proteomic approach to follow the expression of 9,000 proteins, 12,000 phosphorylation sites, and 800 acetylation sites over time.

Large Enhancement of the Single-Molecular Conductance of a Molecular Wire through a Radical Substituent.

The single-molecular conductance between two π-conjugated wires with and without a radical substituent has been compared. Specifically, methyl- and iminonitroxide-substituted 4-(biphenyl-4-yl)pyridine wires bound onto a porphyrin template were subjected to scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) apparent-height measurement at the interface between highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and octan-1-oic acid. Statistical analysis of the STM images revealed that the radical-substituted wire has 3.

Clever Experimental Designs: Shortcuts for Better iPSC Differentiation.

For practical use of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) for disease modelling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine, the cell differentiation process needs to be properly refined to generate end products with consistent and high quality. To construct and optimize a robust cell-induction process, a myriad of cell culture conditions should be considered. In contrast to inefficient brute-force screening, statistical design of experiments (DOE) approaches, such as factorial design, orthogonal array design, response surface methodology (RSM), definitive screening design (DSD), and mixture design, enable efficient and strategic screening of conditions in smaller experimental runs through multifactorial screening and/or quantitative modeling.

Robust parameter design of human induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation protocols defines lineage-specific induction of anterior-posterior gut tube endodermal cells.

Tissues and cells derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSC) are likely to become widely used in disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. For these applications, the in vitro PSC differentiation process must be elaborately investigated and controlled to reliably obtain the desired end products. However, because traditional experimental methods, such as one factor at a time or brute-force approaches, are impractical for detailed screening of complex PSC cultivation conditions, more strategic and effective screening based on statistical design of experiments (DOE) ought to be indispensable.

Robust detection of undifferentiated iPSC among differentiated cells.

Recent progress in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) technologies suggest that iPSC application in regenerative medicine is a closer reality. Numerous challenges prevent iPSC application in the development of numerous tissues and for the treatment of various diseases. A key concern in therapeutic applications is the safety of the cell products to be transplanted into patients.

Chemical screening of novel strigolactone agonists that specifically interact with DWARF14 protein.

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of plant hormones that regulate shoot branching as well as being known as root-derived signals for parasitic and symbiotic interactions. The physical interaction between SLs and the DWARF14 (D14) receptor family can be examined by differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) that monitors the changes in protein melting temperature (Tm). The Tm of D14 is lowered by bioactive SLs in DSF analysis.

Strigolactone perception and deactivation by a hydrolase receptor DWARF14.

The perception mechanism for the strigolactone (SL) class of plant hormones has been a subject of debate because their receptor, DWARF14 (D14), is an α/β-hydrolase that can cleave SLs. Here we show via time-course analyses of SL binding and hydrolysis by Arabidopsis thaliana D14, that the level of uncleaved SL strongly correlates with the induction of the active signaling state. In addition, we show that an AtD14 catalytic mutant that lacks enzymatic activity is still able to complement the atd14 mutant phenotype in an SL-dependent manner.

Novel artificial stool material for external quality assurance (EQA) on a fecal immunochemical test for hemoglobin (FIT): The confirmed utility of stable hemoglobin and an internal standard material.

The fecal immunochemical test for hemoglobin (FIT), which detects lower gastrointestinal bleeding, is widely accepted for population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs. However, the FIT screening process has not been standardized yet, and standardizing the pre-analytical phase and establishing an external quality assurance (EQA) program compliant with ISO requirements is urgently needed. Although there have been various attempts to establish EQA materials suitable for FIT, no materials have yet been reported to have sufficient uniformity and acceptable immunochemical stability of hemoglobin (Hb).

Characterization of an anti-varicella-zoster virus compound that targets the portal protein encoded by ORF54.

An anti-varicella-zoster virus compound, a 5-chlorobenzo[b]thiophen derivative (45B5), was characterized. Its 50% effective concentration against the cell-free vaccine Oka strain and 50% cytotoxic concentration in human fibroblasts were 16.9 µM and more than 100 µM, respectively.

Denosumab-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in a patient with bone metastases of prostate cancer: A case report and literature review.

Denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody directed against the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κβ ligand (RANKL), is used for the treatment of patients with metastatic cancer of the bone or osteoporosis. Recent reports have demonstrated that denosumab can induce osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), but reported cases of this are uncommon. The present study reports the case of an 86-year-old male with prostate cancer patient exhibiting bone metastases who developed ONJ whilst receiving denosumab.

Correlation between brain damage, associated biomarkers, and medication in psychiatric inpatients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: We clarified the correlation between brain damage, associated biomarkers and medication in psychiatric patients, because patients with schizophrenia have an increased risk of stroke.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed from January 2013 to December 2015. Study participants were 96 hospitalized patients (41 men and 55 women) in the Department of Psychiatry at Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan.

Parathyroid adenoma causing spontaneous cervical hematoma: two case reports.

Background: Although spontaneous rupture of a cervical parathyroid adenoma with extracapsular hemorrhage is rare, it may cause cervical and mediastinal hematoma, leading to potentially fatal consequences.

Case Presentation: The first case was a 76-year-old Asian female who presented with pharyngeal discomfort and anterior chest ecchymosis. Endoscopic investigation showed submucosal hemorrhage in the pharynx and larynx.

Increased Silent Brain Infarction Accompanied With High Prevalence of Diabetes and Dyslipidemia in Psychiatric Inpatients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Patients with schizophrenia have increased risk of atherosclerotic diseases. It is already known that lifestyle-related disorders and the use of antipsychotics are closely related with the progression of atherosclerosis in psychiatric patients. Stroke as well as coronary heart disease play an important role in the cause of death in Asia and Japan.

Egg Yolk Protein Delays Recovery while Ovalbumin Is Useful in Recovery from Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Protein is a main nutrient involved in overall iron metabolism in vivo. In order to assess the prevention of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) by diet, it is necessary to confirm the influence of dietary protein, which coexists with iron, on iron bioavailability. We investigated the usefulness of the egg structural protein in recovery from IDA.