Drug-induced megacolon in schizophrenia: a pharmacovigilance study of antipsychotic medications from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event database: a disproportionality analysis.

Background: Megacolon, characterized by colon dilation due to a nerve plexus disorder, can be fatal if untreated. Antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia have anticholinergic effects that may cause chronic constipation and impaired gastrointestinal motility, potentially leading to megacolon. However, the megacolon risk associated with each antipsychotic drug has not been thoroughly evaluated.

MicroRNA‑21‑5p expression in extracellular vesicles is increased in the blood of aging mice and in vascular endothelial cells induced by ionizing radiation.

In recent years, the Japanese population has been aging and the risk of contracting various age-related diseases has increased. Thus, there is a need to analyze components that are characteristic of aging and examine their association with diseases to detect age-related diseases at an early stage. In the present study, microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) of 82-102-week-old mice were analyzed to identify miRNAs characteristic of aging.

Three new tubificine species (Annelida: Clitellata: Naididae) from Japan.

Three new species of Tubificinae (Oligochaeta: Naididae), Aulodrilus penicillatus sp. nov., Haber subnivalis sp.

Snailfishes of the genus Careproctus (Perciformes: Liparidae) with a reduced pelvic disk: three new species and new records from the western North Pacific with comments on their phenotypic diversity.

A taxonomic review of the snailfish genus Careproctus (Liparidae) with a reduced pelvic disk-the Careproctus gilberti species group-from the western North Pacific recognized three new species from the southern Sea of Okhotsk, and confirmed the validity of Careproctus gilberti, Careproctus mederi, Careproctus ostentum, and Careproctus parvidiscus. One of the newly described species, Careproctus longibarbatus sp. nov.

Discovery of the fossil true bug species Urochela (Urochela) cf. melaina Zhang, 1989 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Urostylididae) from Japan, suggesting a wide distribution of the U. (U.) quadrinotata (Reuter, 1881) species group in East Asia in the past.

The Early Miocene lacustrine deposit (24.1 ± 2.4 Ma) of Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, has preserved the fossil fauna of the time when the Palaearctic realm of Japan was a part of the Eurasian Continent.

Are Amphibian Eggs a Precious Food Resource for (Amphibia: Urodela) in Spring?

Most true predators are generalists, and it is difficult to examine their actual diets in the wild. In many cases, the prey that experience a large impact are also not well known. Amphibians are generalist predators that prey mainly on insects, and amphibian species active beginning in spring are considered to prey on food resources other than insects in this season due to the low number of insects.

A Latitudinal Variation in Growth Rate Caused by the Differences in the Length of the Period Suitable for Larval Growth in the Japanese Black Salamander, .

In ectotherms, body size differences between latitudes resulting from shorter activity periods at higher latitudes may disappear due to higher growth rates. Although such latitudinal variations have been examined for various taxa, only a few studies have examined such variations in Japanese vertebrates. is widely distributed in the northern part of Honshu, Japan, and although their larval period in the wild is shorter at high latitudes, there is no latitudinal variation in the body size of juveniles in the wild.

Relationship between evaluation factors and star ratings for Japanese community healthcare institutions in electronic word-of-mouth reviews: an observational study.

Background: Internet reviews have become increasingly crucial for both healthcare providers and patients. Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) reviews on internet sites often comprise textual content with numerical ratings. In this study, we aimed to identify the evaluation factors of community healthcare institutions regarding eWOM reviews and the impact of each evaluation factor on the institution's ratings.

[Two Cases of Metanephric Adenoma Operated on for Preoperative Diagnosis of Renal Malignancy].

Metanephric adenoma is an extremely rare disease. We describe two cases of metanephric adenoma. Case 1 : A 17-year-old male adolescent developed gross hematuria, and urinalysis revealed positive protein and occult blood.

Examination of the effect of physical therapy combined with kinesiology taping on pain and muscle weakness in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

[Purpose] Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include pain, limited range of motion, and muscle weakness. Conservative treatment for knee osteoarthritis includes exercise therapy, physical therapy, and taping therapy. Kinesiology taping has gained traction in clinical practice for knee osteoarthritis treatment owing to its therapeutic benefits.

Potential radiosensitive germline biomarkers in the testes of wild mice after the Fukushima accident.

We investigated potential germline-specific radiosensitive biomarkers in the testes of large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) exposed to low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation after the Fukushima accident. Fukushima wild mice testes were analysed via RNA-sequencing to identify genes differentially expressed in the breeding and non-breeding seasons when compared to controls. Results revealed significant changes during the breeding season, with Lsp1 showing a considerable upregulation, while Ptprk and Tspear exhibited significant reductions.

How much progress has been made toward a smoke-free environment in the restaurants and bars of Japan? Limitations of partial bans and their enforcement.

Background: In April 2020, the revised Health Promotion Act and Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance to prevent second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure was fully enforced. The government has provided an exemption for small-scale, existing establishments by allowing them 'unregulated' status, and it is unclear to what extent indoor smoking bans have been applied in these small bars and restaurants. In this study, we report on indoor smoking status before/after the enforcement of the current legislation both regulated and unregulated restaurants and bars.

Oxidative stress on the male reproductive organs of wild mice collected from an area contaminated by radioactive materials in Fukushima.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident caused the release of large amounts of radioactive material into the environment. Radiation from radionuclides cause DNA lesions, mainly via oxidation, which adversely affect wild organisms by damaging their germ cells. Here, we investigated the effects of radiation on the reproductive organs of Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) by estimating the dose rate of radiation exposure, the accumulation of DNA lesions, and the expression of DNA repair enzymes.

Th1 adjuvant ARNAX, in combination with radiation therapy, enhances tumor regression in mouse tumor-implant models.

Radiation therapy (RT) rarely induces tumor regression at untreated metastatic sites, the so-called abscopal effect. A syngeneic tumor (EG7) transplanted into a Th1-dominant mouse strain (C57BL/6) regressed significantly on the treated side and less on the contralateral side after RT. Additional subcutaneous administration of ARNAX, a non-inflammatory adjuvant, further accelerated tumor regression on the untreated side.

Structure shielding of school and gymnasium buildings against fallout gamma radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

The radiation dose reduction factor represents a building's shielding capability against radiation in scenarios of potential nuclear accidents. Notably, the radiation dose reduction for school buildings and gymnasiums have not yet been determined, even though the building types are planned to be used as evaluation shelters in Japan. This study evaluated dose reduction factors in relation to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP).

Chirality generation on carbon nanosheets by chemical modification.

Chirality is an intriguing property of molecules, and an exciting area of study involves the generation of chirality in nanographenes (NGs), also known as graphene quantum dots. Unlike those synthesized through stepwise carbon-carbon bond formation by organic reactions (bottom-up method), NGs obtained by cutting parent carbons (top-down method) pose challenges in precisely regulating their three-dimensional structures by post-synthesis. This includes the incorporation of non-hexagonal rings and helicene-like structures in carbon frameworks.

Impact of resistance training and chicken intake on vascular and muscle health in elderly women.

Background: Resistance training is a well-known exercise therapy for preventing and improving lacks of muscle mass, strength, and quality with advances in age; however, its effects on arterial stiffness are not beneficial. Additionally, a higher intake of protein, which is an effective nutrient for muscle health, results in lower arterial stiffness. Whether the combination of moderate to high-intensity resistance training and high-protein intake would improve muscle mass, strength, and quality and cancel the resistance training-induced increase in arterial stiffness in elderly women remains unclear.

Survival of Fragmented BO Units in Highly Modified Rare-Earth-Rich Borate Glasses.

Highly modified LaO-YO-BO ternary glasses were fabricated by using a levitation technique. The thermal and structural properties of (50 - )LaO-YO-50BO glasses and (60 - )LaO-YO-40BO glasses were investigated. Raman scattering spectra indicated that B atoms mainly formed isolated planar BO triangles similar to those of crystalline LaBO.

Modular Display of Circumsporozoite Surface Protein and Merozoite Surface Protein-1 on Norovirus-like Particles.

Recently, virus-like particles have been regarded as a promising platform for displaying foreign peptides or proteins on their surface. In this study, a dual-protein-displaying platform based on the norovirus-like particle (NoV-LP) was developed using SpyTag (SpT)/SpyCatcher (SpC) protein bioconjugation. A short 14-amino-acid SpT peptide was added to the C-terminus of VP1, with a rigid "EAAAK" spacer in between.

Engineering a vanillate-producing strain of Pseudomonas sp. NGC7 corresponding to aromatic compounds derived from the continuous catalytic alkaline oxidation of sulfite lignin.

Introduction: Lignin is a promising resource for obtaining aromatic materials, however, its heterogeneous structure poses a challenge for effective utilization. One approach to produce homogeneous aromatic materials from lignin involves the application of microbial catabolism, which is gaining attention. This current study focused on constructing a catabolic pathway in Pseudomonas sp.

Effectiveness and safety of low-energy shock wave therapy for digital ulcers associated with systemic sclerosis: a phase 3 pivotal clinical trial.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis is characterised by ischaemic skin ulcers on the fingertips, and low-energy shock wave therapy is suggested as a novel treatment for ischaemic lesions with angiogenic effects. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of shock wave therapy for skin ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methods: In this phase 3 pivotal study, we analysed 60 systemic sclerosis patients with digital ulcers that did not disappear after >4 weeks of existing treatment: 30 patients were treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy and 30 with conventional treatment.

Validation of British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding from 8,956 cases in Japan.

Background And Aims: We sought to validate the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (ALGIB).

Methods: We analyzed 8,956 patients with ALGIB in CODE BLUE-J study and categorized them into four groups based on BSG guidelines. Outcomes included 30-day rebleeding, 30-day mortality, blood transfusion, therapeutic intervention, and severe bleeding.

The potential effectiveness of tolvaptan in critically ill patients including cardiac and noncardiac populations: a retrospective observational study.

We investigated the potential diuretic effectiveness of the selective arginine vasopressin 2 receptor antagonist tolvaptan in critically ill patients including cardiac and noncardiac populations. This was a single-center retrospective observational study. We analyzed the data of our hospital's critically ill adult patients (n = 473) including noncardiac as well as cardiac populations who had an ICU stay ≥ 4 days in 2019-2020 and who did not undergo renal transplantation or permanent renal replacement therapy before their ICU admission.