A noninvasive urinary microRNA-based assay for the detection of pancreatic cancer from early to late stages: a case control study.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive and has a low survival rate primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and the lack of effective early detection methods. We introduce here a novel, noninvasive urinary extracellular vesicle miRNA-based assay for the detection of pancreatic cancer from early to late stages.

Methods: From September 2019 to July 2023, Urine samples were collected from patients with pancreatic cancer (n = 153) from five distinct sites (Hokuto Hospital, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, National Cancer Center Hospital, Kagoshima University Hospital, and Kumagaya General Hospital) and non-cancer participants (n = 309) from two separate sites (Hokuto Hospital and Omiya City Clinic).

Through the cleared aorta: three-dimensional characterization of mechanical behaviors of rat thoracic aorta under intraluminal pressurization using optical clearing method.

The media of aortic wall is characterized by altering layers of elastin and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), along with collagen fibers in both layers, and plays a central role in functional and pathological remodeling such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Because the arterial function is linked closely to the arterial wall internal structure, it is essential to investigate the alteration of the arterial microstructure during macroscopic deformation to understand cardiovascular pathologies. The present study adopted a tissue clearing method in three-dimensional mechanical characterization of rat thoracic aorta, and successfully observed changes in the structure of each of the three primary components of the aorta under intraluminal pressurization while maintaining tissue mechanical integrity and flexibility.

Clinical utility of botulinum toxin type A local injection therapy for head and forehead hyperhidrosis.

Head and forehead hyperhidrosis (HFH) is a disease that causes a large amount of sweating from the head region, and it significantly reduces patients' quality of life. Only a few reports have shown the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) local injection therapy (BTX-A therapy) for HFH. To clarify the benefits of BTX-A for HFH, BTX-A therapy was performed in 15 patients, and its efficacy was evaluated.

Immediate response to apremilast in patients with palmoplantar pustulosis: a retrospective pilot study.

Background: Recent case reports have shown the efficacy of apremilast for the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). However, no study has statistically analyzed the clinical efficacy of oral apremilast in patients with PPP.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of apremilast, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, for PPP.

Annular Sarcoidosis with Geographic Appearance in a Patient with Systemic Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin, with variable clinical manifestations and various types of cutaneous manifestations (1). Plaque sarcoidosis that presents as an annular pattern is called annular sarcoidosis. Here, we report an unusual case of annular sarcoidosis with a geographic pattern containing () acnes ().

Effects of Substrate Stiffness on Morphology and MMP-1 Gene Expression in Tenocytes Stimulated With Interleukin-1β.

Tendon cells, tenocytes, are constantly subjected to mechanical stress in vivo, which maintains a level of cellular tension. When a tendon is subjected to overloading, local rupture of collagen fibers are induced, which deprives tenocytes of mechanical stress, lowers their cellular tension level and upregulates their catabolism. In addition, leukocytes are attracted to the rupture sites and produce interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and this exogenous IL-1β also stimulates tenocyte catabolism.

A semi-automatic and quantitative method to evaluate behavioral photosensitivity in animals based on the optomotor response (OMR).

The optomotor response (OMR) is a locomotor behavior of animals that is induced by moving repetitive visual stimuli. This characteristic helps animals particularly when stabilizing and maintaining position in schools and herds. Here, we developed a simple but sensitive method for quantifying the OMR using medaka () as a model.

Fiber bundle endomicroscopy with multi-illumination for three-dimensional reflectance image reconstruction.

Bundled fiber optics allow in vivo imaging at deep sites in a body. The intrinsic optical contrast detects detailed structures in blood vessels and organs. We developed a bundled-fiber-coupled endomicroscope, enabling stereoscopic three-dimensional (3-D) reflectance imaging with a multipositional illumination scheme.

Measurement of surface topography and stiffness distribution on cross-section of Xenopus laevis tailbud for estimation of mechanical environment in embryo.

The stress distribution inside a Xenopus laevis tailbud embryo was estimated to examine the cause of the straightening and elongation. The embryos were cut in the middle, yielding a cross-section perpendicular to the body axis. The section was not flat, owing to the residual stress relief.

In vivo bioluminescence and reflectance imaging of multiple organs in bioluminescence reporter mice by bundled-fiber-coupled microscopy.

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is used in biomedical research to monitor biological processes within living organisms. Recently, fiber bundles with high transmittance and density have been developed to detect low light with high resolution. Therefore, we have developed a bundled-fiber-coupled microscope with a highly sensitive cooled-CCD camera that enables the BLI of organs within the mouse body.

Nanoscale-Tipped High-Aspect-Ratio Vertical Microneedle Electrodes for Intracellular Recordings.

Intracellular recording nanoscale electrode devices provide the advantages of a high spatial resolution and high sensitivity. However, the length of nanowire/nanotube-based nanoelectrodes is currently limited to <10 μm long due to fabrication issues for high-aspect-ratio nanoelectrodes. The concept reported here can address the technological limitations by fabricating >100 μm long nanoscale-tipped electrodes, which show intracellular recording capability.

Development of a quantitative bio/chemiluminescence spectrometer determining quantum yields: re-examination of the aqueous luminol chemiluminescence standard.

We have developed a bio/chemiluminescence spectrometer with a cooled charge-coupled-device (CCD) detector to obtain a quantitative luminescence spectrum as the absolute number of all emitted photons at each wavelength. The integrated area of the spectrum divided by the number of reacted substrate molecules gives the quantum yield. Calibration of the absolute sensitivity of the CCD-spectrometer system was performed by using lasers and a tungsten lamp with calibrated powers as primary light standards, and calibration of the light-collection efficiency of the spectrometer with several kinds of cells for liquid samples was achieved by introducing a simple reference double-plate cell.