Preventive effect of Tyr-Pro, a blood-brain barrier transportable dipeptide, on memory impairment in SAMP8 mice.

In a series of studies on blood-brain barrier transportable peptides, a soybean dipeptide, Tyr-Pro, penetrated the mouse brain parenchyma after oral intake and improved short and long memory impairment in acute Alzheimer's model mice. Here, we aimed to clarify the anti-dementia effects of this peptide administered to SAMP8 mice prior to dementia onset. At the end of the 25-week protocol in 16-week-old SAMP8 mice, Tyr-Pro (10 mg/kg/day) significantly improved the reduced spatial learning ability compared with that in the control and amino acid (Tyr + Pro) groups as indicated by the results of Morris water maze tests conducted for five consecutive days.

Image-based Re-evaluation of the JCOG0911 Study Focusing on Tumor Volume and Survival, Disease Progression Diagnosis, and Radiomic Prognostication for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma.

Purpose: To re-evaluate images recovered from JCOG0911, a randomized phase 2 trial for newly diagnosed glioblastoma (nGBM) conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) Brain Tumor Study Group.

Methods: The correlation between tumor volumes and survival was evaluated, followed by progression-free survival (PFS) analysis by independent central review based on Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria using MRI recovered from 118 nGBM patients enrolled in the JCOG0911 trial. A radiomic analysis was also performed to identify radiomic features predictive of nGBM prognosis.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring of visual evoked potentials in a pregnant patient with meningioma: a case report.

Background: Meningioma in the parasellar region may lead to visual impairment, so intraoperative neurological monitoring is essential for enucleation surgery. However, intraoperative neurological monitoring in pregnant women is challenging, as the anesthesia management must consider the effects and risks to the fetus. Remimazolam is a newly introduced intravenous anesthetic that has little effect on blood pressure.

Vaccination Status, Vaccine Awareness and Attitudes, and Infection Control Behaviors of Japanese College Students: A Comparison of 2021 and 2023.

: Now that the spread of COVID-19 has been controlled, it is important to investigate changes in young people's perceptions of the vaccine and their behavior toward infection. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to investigate the association between Omicron strain vaccination rates among college students, their perceptions of the vaccine, and past adverse reactions to the vaccine; (2) to compare 2021 (when COVID-19 was spreading) and 2023 (when COVID-19 was strained) to identify changes in attitudes toward vaccination and motivations for vaccination and changes in infection prevention behavior. : This cross-sectional survey was conducted via e-mail from 5 January to 30 January 2023.

Modified colored three-dimensional posterior and temporal cranial fossa model with mobility of the joint between C1 and occipital condyle.

Background: Skull base surgery requires anatomical knowledge and appropriate surgical technique in bone drilling. We developed a newly modified three-dimensional (3D) model of the posterior cranial fossa as a learning tool that improves knowledge of skull base anatomy and surgical approaches, including skull base drilling techniques.

Methods: This bone model of the posterior cranial fossa was created based on computed tomography data using a 3D printer, and incorporates artificial cranial nerves, cerebral vessels, bony structures, dura mater, and cerebellar tentorial dura.

Molecular hydrogen supplementation in mice ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced loss of interest.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of hydrogen in preventing and treating psychiatric symptoms, particularly depressed mood and loss of interest, and to explore its underlying mechanisms. A mouse model exhibiting inflammation-derived depressive symptoms was used for the investigation.

Methods: Institute of Cancer Research mice were subjected to a 7-day intervention of either 30% hydrogen or 40 g per day of air via jelly intake.

Use of a rigid curved laryngoscope for observation and debridement of degenerated cricoid cartilage in nasogastric tube syndrome: A case report.

Nasogastric tube syndrome (NGTS) is a complication of NGT placement that can cause sore throat, bilateral vocal cord paralysis, and airway constriction. Although rare, this condition should be known by all physicians because it is sometimes fatal. We report a case of NGTS that was successfully diagnosed and debrided with a rigid curved laryngoscope.

Effects of early surgery for cervical fracture dislocation on 30-day mortality using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database.

Study Design: Retrospective study of data abstracted from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of surgery in the early phase.

Overview Of Literature: The optimal timing of surgery for cervical fracture dislocation (CFD) remains unclear because only a few clinical studies with approximately 100 patients have been published.

Unraveling pain experience and catastrophizing after cognitive behavioral therapy.

Pain experiences are often complex with catastrophic cognitions, emotions, and behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapists share the work of unraveling these complex experiences with their patients. However, the change process underlying the unraveling of the pain experience have not yet been quantified.

Discordant Phenotypes of Nephritis in Patients with X-linked Agammaglobulinemia.

Purpose: To define the clinical and histological characteristics of nephritis in patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) and their immunological profiles.

Methods: The clinical, immunological, and histological findings of nine patients with XLA and nephritis were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Based on kidney histological findings, patients with XLA and nephritis could be divided into two groups, viz.

Assay for okadaic acid O-acyl transferase using HPLC-FLD.

Dinophysistoxin 1 (DTX1, 1) and okadaic acid (OA, 2), produced by the dinoflagellates Dinophysis spp. and Prorocentrum spp., are primary diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSTs), which may cause gastric illness in people consuming such as bivalves.

Clinical effects of online cognitive behavioral group therapy for chronic pain patients and developing a therapeutic alliance: A pre-post pilot trial.

Background And Aims: Research suggests that various psychosocial factors influence chronic pain, with psychotherapies like cognitive behavioral therapy  proving effective. However, the limited availability and accessibility have prolonged suffering among patients with chronic pain. This challenge has led to a growing demand for accessible online interventions.

Consideration of Brain CT Imaging Standard for Mild Head Injuries.

It has been reported that various clinical criteria indicate computed tomography (CT) examination for mild head injury (MHI). However, the decision to perform CT for MHI largely depends on the physician. Data on severe head injuries is available in sources such as the Japan Neurotrauma Data Bank, but only a few data has been collected on MHI.

Magnetoencephalographic detection of synchronized epileptic activity between the hippocampus and insular cortex.

Most magnetoencephalographic signals are derived from synchronized activity in the brain surface cortex. By contrast, the contribution of synchronized activity in the deep brain to magnetoencephalography (MEG) has remained unclear. We compared stereotactic electroencephalography (sEEG) with simultaneous MEG findings in a patient with temporal lobe epilepsy to determine the conditions under which MEG could also detect sEEG findings.

Using the Hilbert Transform to Evaluate the Effects of Functional Foods on Autonomic Nervous System Activity: A Comparison with the Fast Fourier Transform.

Evaluating the autonomic nervous system (ANS) via heart rate variability (HRV) to investigate the effects of food on human health has attracted attention. However, using a conventional HRV analysis via the fast Fourier transform (FFT), it is difficult to remove artifacts such as body movements and/or abnormal physiological responses (unexpected events) from the HRV analysis results. In this study, an analysis combining bandpass filters and the Hilbert transform was applied to HRV data on functional food intake to compare with FFT analysis.

Morphology Observation of Two-Dimensional Monolayers of Model Proteins on Water Surface as Revealed by Dropping Method.

We have investigated the morphology of two-dimensional monolayers of gramicidin-D (GD) and alamethicin (Al) formed on the water surface by the dropping method (DM) using surface tension measurement (STm), Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that GD in alcoholic solutions formed a dimeric helical structure. According to the CD and NMR spectroscopies, GD molecules existed in dimer form in methanol and lipid membrane environments.

A Nationwide survey of safety protocols and chemosensory assessments by Japanese clinicians pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: There has been an increase of attention and awareness of smell and taste loss due to the impact of COVID-19. However, little is known about the influence of COVID-19 on the number of psychophysical tests performed, the timing of these tests, or the protection protocols employed to protect against virus transmission. This study aimed to explore the changes in examination approaches, types of tests employed, and safety measures adopted by clinicians before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes in Resting-State Brain Activity After Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Magnetoencephalography Study.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is believed to be an effective treatment for chronic pain due to its association with cognitive and emotional factors. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of magnetoencephalography (MEG) investigations elucidating its underlying mechanisms. This study investigated the neurophysiological effects of CBT employing MEG and analytical techniques.