Fluorescence microscopy of parathyroid and thyroid tissues for localization of autofluorescent substances using near-infrared wavelengths.

Objective: The parathyroid gland emits autofluorescence with a peak at 822 nm when excited using near-infrared light at 785 nm; this observation of autofluorescence using a near-infrared detection device is useful for identifying the parathyroid gland during surgery. We aimed to clarify the localization of autofluorescent substances in parathyroid and thyroid tissues by observing them under a fluorescence microscope through filters that selectively pass specific near-infrared wavelengths.

Methods: Four cases of parathyroid and three cases of thyroid were examined under a fluorescence microscope.

Neuronal substance P-driven MRGPRX2-dependent mast cell degranulation products differentially promote vascular permeability.

Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor b2 (Mrgprb2) binding to its cationic endogenous and exogenous ligands induces mast cell degranulation and promotes inflammation in mice. However, the physiological roles of its human homologue MRGPRX2 remain unclear. Here we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which MRGPRX2 regulates vascular permeability, and generated MRGPRX2 knock-in (MRGPRX2-KI) and Mrgprb2 knockout (Mrgprb2-KO) mice.

Increase in Adult Patients with Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Central Nervous System Infections, Japan.

An increase in the number of herpes zoster patients has been reported since universal varicella immunization was introduced, perhaps because of reduced opportunities for varicella patients to experience the natural booster effect caused by reexposure. We investigated recent trends of varicella zoster virus (VZV)-related central nervous system (CNS) infections at a university hospital in Japan. We enrolled patients with suspected CNS infection during 2013-2022 and tested cerebrospinal fluid samples by real-time PCR for DNA from 7 human herpesviruses.

Patient-Initiated Nationwide Survey on Testing for Actionable Oncogenic Drivers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Japan.

Background: Previous reports indicated still low implementation rates of multigene testing for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Japan.

Methods: This is a retrospective study launched at the initiative of lung cancer patients. Patients with stage IV NSCLC from January 2019 to December 2022 were investigated for testing of 8 actionable oncogenic drivers with targeted therapies available as of 2022.

Development of a GAGG gamma camera for the imaging of prompt gammas during proton beam irradiation.

Prompt gammas imaging (PGI) is a promising method for observing a beam's shape and estimating the range of the beam from outside a subject. However 2-dimensional images of prompt gammas (PGs) during irradiation of protons were still difficult to measure. To achieve PGI, we developed a new gamma camera and imaged PGs while irradiating a phantom by proton beams.

The Therapeutic Efficacy of Abatacept for Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Insights from a 12-Month Trial Using Semi-Quantitative Chest High-Resolution Computed Tomography Imaging.

Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is a major complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but effective treatment remains an unmet need in its management. Our aim was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of abatacept for RA-ILD. This observational retrospective study included patients with RA-ILD treated with abatacept between 2012 and 2021.

Development and validation of RT-LAMP for detecting yellow fever virus in non-human primates samples from Brazil.

Monitoring yellow fever in non-human primates (NHPs) is an early warning system for sylvatic yellow fever outbreaks, aiding in preventing human cases. However, current diagnostic tests for this disease, primarily relying on RT-qPCR, are complex and costly. Therefore, there is a critical need for simpler and more cost-effective methods to detect yellow fever virus (YFV) infection in NHPs, enabling early identification of viral circulation.

Possible determinants of physical fitness in Japanese school children: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Physical fitness is one of the most important health indicators in children. Although appropriate body composition or certain lifestyle factors such as frequent physical activity are thought to improve physical fitness, results of previous studies are inconsistent, and most studies were from Western countries.

Objectives: We investigated associations of body composition and modifiable lifestyle factors such as physical activity, screen time, diet and sleep duration with physical fitness in Japanese primary school children.

Case series of patients with early psychosis presenting hypoperfusion in angular gyrus and self-disturbance: Implication for the sense of agency and schizophrenia.

Background: Self-disturbance has been considered as a core symptomatology of schizophrenia and its emergence from the prodromal phase makes it a crucial target for early detection and intervention in schizophrenia. Currently, the clinical assessment of self-disturbance relies on the self-report of patients, and clinicians have no diagnostic tools in clinical practice. Identifying the neural substrate of self-disturbance would be of great clinical value by shedding light on the core dimension of schizophrenia.

The anti-inflammatory properties of green tea extract protect against gentamicin-induced kidney injury.

We assessed in vivo the protective effects and underlying antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of dry green tee extract (GTE) on glomerular and tubular kidney function and structure in an experimental model of gentamicin (GEN)-induced nephrotoxicity. Wistar rats were divided into four groups and treated daily for 10 days. The control group received distilled water; the GTE group received 20 μg/g body weight (BW) GTE by gavage; the GEN group received 100 mg/g BW GEN intraperitoneally; and the GEN+GTE group received GTE and GEN simultaneously, as described above.

A multicenter, prospective, phase II trial of second-line aflibercept plus FOLFIRI in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to an anti-EGFR antibody: HGCSG1801.

Aflibercept (AFL) plus FOLFIRI prolongs overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, there is limited evidence on the efficacy and safety of AFL plus FOLFIRI previously treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents. Therefore, we conducted a prospective open-label phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of AFL plus FOLFIRI in Japanese patients with mCRC failing a prior oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy plus an anti-EGFR agent.

Pain Medication Frequency and Fall Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Arthritis.

Pain medication is commonly used among older adults with arthritis, elevating the risk of falling. We examined fall risks related to the frequency of taking pain medication among community-dwelling older adults with arthritis by analyzing a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged >65 with self-reported arthritis ( = 4,225) in the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study. The survey-weighted logistic regression revealed that after controlling for confounding factors, recent falls were associated with taking pain medication daily compared to never (OR = 1.

Near-infrared imaging via upconversion in Er:CaF crystal with dual wavelength excitation.

We propose a system for imaging 1510 nm near-infrared (NIR) wavelength via upconversion (UC) luminescence in an Er-doped CaF crystal. Er ions are excited from the ground to the excited state levels by an 800-nm pre-excitation wavelength, followed by the promotion of these ions to a higher energy level by the NIR excitation wavelength. Relaxation of these excited ions gives rise to 540 nm UC luminescence in the visible region, enabling the detection of the 1510 nm NIR wavelength.

Growth of bulk β-GaO crystals from melt without precious-metal crucible by pulling from a cold container.

We report the growth of bulk β-GaO crystals based on crystal pulling from a melt using a cold container without employing a precious-metal crucible. Our approach, named oxide crystal growth from cold crucible (OCCC), is a fusion between the skull-melting and Czochralski methods. The absence of an expensive precious-metal crucible makes this a cost-effective crystal growth method, which is a critical factor in the semiconductor industry.

In-Plane Sliding Ferroelectricity Realized in Penta-PdSe/Penta-PtSe van der Waals Heterostructure.

Different from conventional 2D sliding ferroelectrics with polarization switchable in the out-of-plane via interlayer sliding, we show the existence of in-plane sliding ferroelectricity in a bilayer of a pentagon-based van der Waals heterostructure formed by vertically stacking an experimentally synthesized penta-PdSe sheet and a crystal lattice well-matched penta-PtSe sheet. From the 128 sliding patterns, four stable configurations are found that exhibit in-plane sliding ferroelectricity with an ultralow polarization switching barrier of 1.91 meV/atom and a high ferroelectric polarization of ±17.

Micro-Inclusion Engineering via Sc Incompatibility for Luminescence and Photoconversion Control in Ce-Doped TbAlScO Garnet.

Aluminum garnets display exceptional adaptability in incorporating mismatching elements, thereby facilitating the synthesis of novel materials with tailored properties. This study explored Ce-doped TbAlScO crystals (where x ranges from 0.5 to 3.