Integrin β2 Plays a Significant Role in Therapeutic Angiogenesis Through Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

The efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapy for cerebral infarction has been previously demonstrated. However, the lack of response in some patients has hindered its widespread use. To establish HSC therapy as a standard treatment, it is important to examine the causes of non-responsiveness.

Development of human growth hormone-treated chimeric mice with humanized livers for an evaluation model of drug-induced fatty liver disease.

Chimeric mice with humanized livers were used to evaluate drug-induced liver injury (DILI). However, lipid accumulation is observed in the human hepatocytes of chimeric mice because of human growth hormone deficiency (GHD), which is an obstacle in the evaluation of drug-induced fatty liver disease (DIFLD), a common type of DILI. Previously, we showed that lipid droplets were reduced by the administration of human growth hormone (h-GH) to chimeric mice.

Distinguishing two distinct types of salivary extracellular vesicles: a potential tool for understanding their pathophysiological roles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are found in almost all cells and human body fluids, are currently being studied as a source of pathophysiological information. Previously, we demonstrated that at least two types of EVs can be isolated from human whole saliva (WS) using enzymatic activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) as a marker for differentiating the EV subsets. In the present study, EV fractions, termed EV-I 20 k-ppt and EV-II 100 k-ppt, were prepared by a combination of size-exclusion chromatography of improved condition and sequential centrifugation.

Preliminary Effectiveness of an In-Hospital Peer Support Program, Adolescent and Young Adult Hiroba, on Anxiety in Adolescent and Young Adult Patients with Cancer.

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer have few opportunities to connect with patients of the same generation while hospitalized. Although anxiety is frequently reported by them, there are no reports on the psychological effectiveness of an in-hospital patient support program based on peer support. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a program, termed Adolescent and Young Adult Hiroba (AYA Hiroba), for anxiety in AYA patients with cancer.

Feasibility and Preliminary Effectiveness of Behavioral Activation for Patients with Cancer and Depression in Japan.

Background: Though the effectiveness of behavioral activation (BA) for patients with cancer and depression were reported, there is no evidence in Japan.

Objectives: This study aimed at examining the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of BA for patients with cancer and depression in Japan.

Methods: This pre-post study without a control group was conducted in patients with cancer and depression in Japan.

A multi-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ramelteon for the prevention of postoperative delirium in elderly cancer patients: a study protocol for JORTC-PON2/J-SUPPORT2103/NCCH2103.

Postoperative delirium is an important issue in cancer patients, affecting surgical outcomes and the quality of life. Ramelteon is a melatonin receptor agonist with high affinity for MT1 and MT2 receptors. Clinical trials and observational studies in Japan, including in surgical cancer patients, have shown efficacy of ramelteon in delirium prevention, with no serious safety concerns.

Behavioral activation for depression in patients with advanced cancer: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Though behavioral activation (BA) has been shown to be effective for depression, evidence in patients with advanced cancer has not been established. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a BA program on depression in this population.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial with a wait-list control group (waiting group) of 38 patients with advanced cancer and depression will be conducted at three sites in Japan.

An Attempt to Identify the Medaka Receptor for Somatolactin Alpha Using a Reverse Genetics Approach.

Somatolactin alpha (SLα) is a fish-specific hormone involved in body color regulation. The growth hormone (GH) is another hormone that is expressed in all vertebrates and promotes growth. These peptide hormones act by binding to receptors (SLα receptor (SLR) and GH receptor (GHR)); however, the relationships between these ligands and their receptors vary among species.

Gap Junction-Mediated Transport of Metabolites Between Stem Cells and Vascular Endothelial Cells.

We have previously demonstrated that small molecular transfer, such as glucose, between hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and vascular endothelial cells via gap junctions constitutes an important mechanism of stem cell therapy. Cell metabolites are high-potential small-molecule candidates that can be transferred to small molecules between stem cells and vascular endothelial cells. Here, we investigated the differences in metabolite levels between stem cells (HSCs and MSCs), vascular endothelial cells, and the levels of circulating non-hematopoietic white blood cells (WBCs).

Effect of Surface Pre-Reacted Glass Ionomer Containing Dental Sealant on the Inhibition of Enamel Demineralization.

The effect of a surface pre-reacted glass ionomer (S-PRG)-containing sealant on the demineralization inhibition and remineralization of intact enamel adjacent to the sealant material was investigated. BeautiSealant (BTS, S-PRG sealant, Shofu), Teeth Mate F-12.0 (TMF, fluoride-releasing sealant, Kuraray Noritake Dental), and an experimental silica-filler sealant were investigated.

Pre-Clinical Proof of Concept: Intra-Carotid Injection of Autologous CD34-Positive Cells for Chronic Ischemic Stroke.

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of human peripheral blood CD34 positive (CD34) cells transplanted into a murine chronic stroke model to obtain pre-clinical proof of concept, prior to clinical testing. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized human CD34 cells [1 × 10 cells in 50 μl phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)] were intravenously (iv) or intra-carotid arterially (ia) transplanted 4 weeks after the induction of stroke (chronic stage), and neurological function was evaluated. In this study, severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice were used to prevent excessive immune response after cell therapy.

Increased RNA Transcription of Energy Source Transporters in Circulating White Blood Cells of Aged Mice.

Circulating white blood cells (WBC) contribute toward maintenance of cerebral metabolism and brain function. Recently, we showed that during aging, transcription of metabolism related genes, including energy source transports, in the brain significantly decreased at the hippocampus resulting in impaired neurological functions. In this article, we investigated the changes in RNA transcription of metabolism related genes (glucose transporter 1 [Glut1], Glut3, monocarboxylate transporter 4 [MCT4], hypoxia inducible factor 1-α [Hif1-α], prolyl hydroxylase 3 [PHD3] and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 [PDK1]) in circulating WBC and correlated these with brain function in mice.

A Hospital-Based Online Patients Support Program, Online Adolescent and Young Adult Hiroba, for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients at a Designated Cancer Center in Japan.

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer have few opportunities to interact with peers in their lives. To meet peers safely during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a hospital-based online patients support program called Online AYA Hiroba was launched for AYA patients with cancer and held regularly by the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan. This retrospective study suggested the degree of satisfaction with this program and issues about facilitating the sessions that are unique to the online environment.

Effects of transdiagnostic group treatment for sleep disturbances in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and autistic spectrum disorder: a pilot study.

Although adult patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have sleep problems, few studies have verified the effect of a psychological approach specific to sleep-wake rhythms on these sleep disturbances. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to develop a trans-diagnostic approach with sleep scheduling and regularity of sleep duration as core modules, and to examine the effect of the intervention in adult ADHD and/or ASD subjects with sleep disturbances. This was a within-group pilot study.

A Questionnaire Survey on Adolescent and Young Adult Hiroba, a Peer Support System for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients at a Designated Cancer Center in Japan.

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients have few opportunities to interact with peers in the hospital. AYA Hiroba, a peer support system for AYA cancer patients, was launched and held regularly at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan. This questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the degree of satisfaction and opinions of AYA cancer patients regarding this program.

Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Transplantation and Training Increased Transplantation of Energy Source Transporters in Chronic Stroke.

Objectives: Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) show a significant therapeutic effect in combination with training even in the chronic phase of stroke. However, the mechanism of this combination therapy has not been investigated. Here, we examined its effects on brain metabolism in chronic stroke mice.

Stability of human salivary extracellular vesicles containing dipeptidyl peptidase IV under simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been isolated from various sources, including primary and cultured cell lines and body fluids. Previous studies, including those conducted in our laboratory, have reported the stability of EVs under various storage conditions.

Methods: EVs from human whole saliva were separated via size-exclusion chromatography.

Quality Assessment of the Literature on Quality Improvement in PICUs: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: To synthesize the literature describing quality improvement in PICUs and to appraise the quality of extant research.

Data Sources: We searched the PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases between May and June 2020.

Study Selection: Peer-reviewed articles in English that report quality improvement interventions in PICUs were included.

Gap junction-mediated cell-cell interaction between transplanted mesenchymal stem cells and vascular endothelium in stroke.

We have shown previously that transplanted bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC), which are a cell fraction rich in hematopoietic stem cells, can activate cerebral endothelial cells via gap junction-mediated cell-cell interaction. In the present study, we investigated such cell-cell interaction between mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and cerebral endothelial cells. In contrast to BM-MNC, for MSC we observed suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor uptake into endothelial cells and transfer of glucose from endothelial cells to MSC in vitro.

Validation of the Japanese version of the Sleep Hygiene Practice Scale.

Objective: This study sought to validate the Japanese version of the Sleep Hygiene Practices Scale (SHPS-J).

Patients/methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted via the internet. In total, 854 participants (435 men, 419 women; mean age, 42.

Early dark cortical band sign on CT for differentiating clear cell renal cell carcinoma from fat poor angiomyolipoma and detecting peritumoral pseudocapsule.

Objectives: To retrospectively evaluate whether the early dark cortical band (EDCB) on CT can be a predictor to differentiate clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) from fat poor angiomyolipoma (Fp-AML) and to detect peritumoral pseudocapsules in ccRCC.

Methods: The EDCBs, which are comprised of unenhanced thin lines at the tumor-renal cortex border in the corticomedullary phase, on the CT images of 342 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy were evaluated. Independent predictors among the clinical and CT findings for differentiating ccRCC from Fp-AML were identified using multivariate analyses.

A case of pulmonary tumor embolism diagnosed with respiratory distress immediately after FDG-PET/CT scan.

Acute distress immediately following an F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scan is an exceedingly rare event. We report a case whose condition was suddenly deteriorated in the nuclear medicine laboratory, and whose diagnosis was confirmed by FDG-PET/CT. A 67-year-old woman with left renal cell carcinoma (RCC) suddenly complained of dyspnea and tachycardia just after undergoing FDG-PET/CT.