Publications by authors named "Yu Shimizu"

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a therapeutic modality for treating neonatal calf diarrhea. Several practical barriers, including donor selection, fecal collection, and a limited timeframe for FMT, are the main constraints to using fresh feces for implementing on-farm FMT. We report the utility of FMT with pretreated ready-to-use frozen (F) or freeze-dried (FD) microorganisms for treating calf diarrhea.

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  • Mechanical thrombectomy is beneficial for treating acute ischemic stroke, but complications like subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can negatively affect recovery; this study explores how stent retrievers' frictional forces might contribute to such complications.
  • In an experiment using a silicone model of the middle cerebral artery, researchers tested different vessel sizes and angles to measure the frictional forces when deploying and retracting a stent retriever, noting various deployment positions.
  • Results showed that smaller vessel diameters, sharp curvatures, and distal stent placements significantly increased frictional forces, suggesting that careful selection of stent sizes and deployment strategies may help reduce the risk of vascular stress and SAH.
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  • The study compared two techniques for inserting cervical pedicle screws (CPS), using a navigation-linked high-speed drill (NAVI drill) versus conventional manual probing, focusing on the rates of CPS deviation and related complications.
  • In a sample of 104 patients, the deviation rates were found to be similar between the NAVI drill group and the manual probing group, but the NAVI drill significantly reduced lateral screw deviations, which are associated with more serious risks like vertebral artery injury.
  • Overall, while the NAVI drill showed no significant advantage in overall deviation rates, it proved to be a safer option for minimizing lateral deviations, which can prevent potential vascular injuries.
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  • * Researchers tested a target spectral camera to accurately measure blood pressure using images of 215 adults' palms and faces, analyzing pulse transit time (PTT) to estimate BP.
  • * The study found a machine learning model could classify hypertension with up to 95% accuracy using just one second of video footage, highlighting the potential for more accessible and cuffless blood pressure monitoring methods.
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Introduction Surgical treatments for retro-odontoid pseudotumors (ROPs) include C1 laminectomies and C1-2 and occipitocervical (OC) fusions. When a C1 laminectomy is combined with a C1-2 fusion, concerns arise regarding an increased risk of pseudarthrosis due to decreased bone grafting space. Extension of the fusion area to the OC region may be considered to ensure an adequate bone graft bed.

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  • - The study explored how body fat distribution affects left atrial (LA) size and its potential to reverse in nonobese atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, revealing a link between central fat and LA remodeling.
  • - A total of 116 nonobese AF patients underwent catheter ablation, and measures like body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip (W/H) ratio were analyzed alongside fat percentages to see their impact on LA volume changes over six months.
  • - Results showed that higher W/H ratios and central fat percentages were associated with ongoing LA enlargement post-ablation, emphasizing the need to evaluate body fat distribution, even in patients who are not obese.
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  • * This study discusses a case where a leadless pacemaker was successfully implanted in a patient on VAD support, addressing safety concerns and showing no complications during a year of follow-up.
  • * The findings suggest that combining a leadless pacemaker with a VAD could be a viable treatment option for complex cases of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), although careful monitoring is essential.
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Background: The influence of pelvic incidence (PI) on spinopelvic and hip alignment and mobility has not been well investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of PI on spinopelvic and hip alignment and mobility, including the pelvic-femoral angle (PFA) and motion (ΔPFA), in functional positions in a cohort of asymptomatic volunteers.

Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study.

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The internal jugular vein (IJV) is occasionally used for blood access during catheter ablation. Additionally, accidental injury of the vertebral artery during an IJV puncture is a rare complication that can result in catastrophic events, such as death. However, vascular access complications cannot be completely prevented despite the introduction of ultrasound-guided punctures.

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  • This study investigated risk factors for pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) and aimed to create a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to predict its development based on clinical data before pacemaker implantation (PMI).
  • A total of 561 patients were considered, with 165 enrolled who had echocardiograms done before and after PMI, revealing that 47 patients developed PICM during a follow-up period of about 1.7 years.
  • The CNN model demonstrated a prediction accuracy of 75.8%, highlighting its potential for effectively screening patients at risk of developing PICM using clinical findings from before PMI.
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Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) progression is closely related to heart failure occurrence, and catheter ablation carries a beneficial effect for heart failure prevention. Recently, particular attention has been given to left atrial (LA) function and functional reserve in the pathogenesis linking AF and heart failure, although its significance and reversibility is not well studied.

Methods And Results: We prospectively investigated 164 patients with AF with normal left ventricular systolic function and free from heart failure who underwent first catheter ablation and pre-/postprocedural echocardiography.

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  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder and can negatively impact lung function; catheter ablation (CA) is a key treatment, with cryoballoon ablation (CBA) gaining popularity over traditional radiofrequency methods.
  • A study involving 26 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) showed significant improvements in pulmonary function six months after CA, particularly with CBA, which enhanced vital capacity and forced vital capacity.
  • The results suggest that CBA may be preferable for PAF patients, especially if they have existing lung issues, while hot balloon ablation was associated with a decrease in one pulmonary measurement.
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Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) can significantly improve quality of life (QOL) in patients with hip osteoarthritis. A relationship exists between activity levels and postoperative QOL, but its determinants are not well known. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between hip, pelvis and lumbar spine mobility and alignment before and after THA with QOL.

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  • * A study analyzed 113 patients undergoing dual-chamber pacemaker implantation and found that 33 developed PICM; risk factors identified were an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73 m² and a history of coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • * Both low eGFR and CAD history were confirmed as independent risk factors for PICM in patients with preserved LVEF, suggesting the need for careful follow-up and potential upgrade
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Mulberry leaves contain α-glucosidase inhibitors, which have hypoglycemic effects and are considered functional foods. However, few reports have covered the effects of mulberry leaf components on normal gut microbiota and gut metabolites. Herein, gut microbiota analysis and NMR-based metabolomics were performed on the feces of mulberry leaf powder (MLP)-treated mice to determine the effects of long-term MLP consumption.

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  • This study examined 183 AF patients undergoing CA, finding that 18% had LA hypertension, which was associated with larger LA volume, reduced reservoir strain, and increased stiffness.
  • Factors like waist circumference, C-reactive protein levels, and LA stiffness were independently linked to LA hypertension, indicating that LA stiffness derived from echocardiography could help detect LA hypertension prior to CA.
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  • The study aimed to examine how common glucose metabolism disorders are and how they affect left atrial (LA) remodeling in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
  • Researchers tested 204 patients undergoing catheter ablation, finding that about 65% had abnormal glucose metabolism, with diabetes patients showing the worst LA function.
  • Conclusions highlight that impaired glucose metabolism, especially diabetes, significantly affects LA remodeling and suggests the need for targeted strategies for managing AF in patients with these metabolic issues.
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Sleep is essential for our health. Short sleep is known to increase disease risks via imbalance of intestinal microbiota, dysbiosis. However, mechanisms by which short sleep induces dysbiosis remain unknown.

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Purpose: Lumbar endplate morphology varies in individuals; thus, custom-made implants are sometimes more useful than standardized implants. This study aimed to analyze endplate morphology and factors associated with endplate depth using computed tomography (CT) in a non-symptomatic population.

Methods: In total, 118 lumbar CT images of non-symptomatic individuals without severe degenerative change (aged 20-79 years) were retrospectively reviewed.

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Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease characterized by fibrosis that develops from fatty liver. Disruption of intestinal microbiota homeostasis, dysbiosis, is associated with fibrosis development in NASH. An antimicrobial peptide α-defensin secreted by Paneth cells in the small intestine is known to regulate composition of the intestinal microbiota.

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Sulfonation and applications of amorphous calcium phosphate are known to make polyetheretherketone (PEEK) bioactive. Sulfonation followed by precipitation of amorphous calcium phosphate (AN-treatment) may provide PEEK with further bone-bonding strength. Herein, we prepared a carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK (CPEEK) with similar tensile strength to cortical bone and a CPEEK subjected to AN-treatment (CPEEK-AN).

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Hip arthrosis and total hip arthroplasty (THA) can alter a patient's balance and spinopelvic mobility. In this study, we hypothesized that lumbar, pelvic, and hip mobility and their inter-relations are affected by THA and that their study could give an insight in our understanding of postoperative balance and mobility. 165 patients with hip arthrosis and with an indication for THA were included in this single-center prospective cohort.

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Granulopoiesis in the bone marrow adjusts cellular output as demand for neutrophils changes. Reactive granulopoiesis is induced by profound neutropenia, but its mechanism remains to be clarified. We herein explored its mechanisms using mouse models of syngeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) and 5-fluorouracil-induced neutropenia.

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