Liver fibrosis stage classification in stacked microvascular images based on deep learning.

Background: Monitoring fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is an important management strategy. We have already reported a novel stacked microvascular imaging (SMVI) technique and an examiner scoring evaluation method to improve fibrosis assessment accuracy and demonstrate its high sensitivity. In the present study, we analyzed the effectiveness and objectivity of SMVI in diagnosing the liver fibrosis stage based on artificial intelligence (AI).

Lattice-guided growth of dense arrays of aligned transition metal dichalcogenide nanoribbons with high catalytic reactivity.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit unique properties and potential applications when reduced to one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons (NRs), owing to quantum confinement and high edge densities. However, effective growth methods for self-aligned TMD NRs are still lacking. We demonstrate a versatile approach for lattice-guided growth of dense, aligned MoS NR arrays via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on anisotropic sapphire substrates, without tailored surface steps.

Synthesis of Nanosheets from Layered Bismuth Oxide BiSrCaFeO without Using Organic Exfoliation Agents.

Bismuth oxide nanosheets were synthesized through the exfoliation of layered compounds without any organic exfoliation agents. The layered compound BiSrCaFeO, comprising Bi-O layers and Sr-Ca-Fe-O layers, was synthesized as the starting material. The Sr-Ca-Fe-O layers were selectively dissolved by shaking the compound in 0.

Calibration and Performance Evaluation of Cost-Effective Capacitive Moisture Sensor in Slope Model Experiments.

Understanding the factors that contribute to slope failures, such as soil saturation, is essential for mitigating rainfall-induced landslides. Cost-effective capacitive soil moisture sensors have the potential to be widely implemented across multiple sites for landslide early warning systems. However, these sensors need to be calibrated for specific applications to ensure high accuracy in readings.

Machine Learning Techniques for Sensor-Based Human Activity Recognition with Data Heterogeneity-A Review.

Sensor-based Human Activity Recognition (HAR) is crucial in ubiquitous computing, analyzing behaviors through multi-dimensional observations. Despite research progress, HAR confronts challenges, particularly in data distribution assumptions. Most studies assume uniform data distributions across datasets, contrasting with the varied nature of practical sensor data in human activities.

Structure of Ni(II) Inclusion Complex in Solid/Solution States and the Enhancement of Catalytic Behavior in Electrochemical Hydrogen Production.

In this article, we investigate the encapsulation of K[Ni(maleonitriledithiolate)] () within a host molecule, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), via single-crystal X-ray analysis. An inclusion complex, K{[Ni(maleonitriledithiolate)]@(β-CD)} (), was constructed from and two β-CDs. The anion guest Ni complex included a host cavity, constructed using two β-CDs, and the Ni atom of the anion was located between the two hydrophilic primary rims.

Dislocation Density in Ceramics Processed by Severe Plastic Deformation via High-Pressure Torsion.

This study investigates the dislocation density in ceramics processed by severe plastic deformation at room and elevated temperatures via high-pressure torsion (HPT) for various numbers of turns and shear strains. Ceramics, characterized by ionic or covalent bonding, typically exhibit brittleness due to limited dislocation activity. However, HPT enables significant microstructural transformations in ceramics including dislocation nucleation and accumulation.

Exercise-Induced Oxygen Desaturation and Outcomes After Nintedanib Therapy for Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients Without Dyspnea.

The degree of exercise-induced oxygen desaturation and outcomes following antifibrotic drug therapy in asymptomatic patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease (FILD) remain unclear. We compared clinical data, incidence of annual FILD progression, overall survival, and tolerability after initiating nintedanib between 58 patients with dyspnea and 18 patients without. Annual FILD progression was defined as >10% decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC), >15% decrease in diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (D), developing acute exacerbations, or FILD-related death within 1 year of starting nintedanib.

Preventive Effect of Hydroxyzine on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Observational Cohort Study.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common and distressing complication after surgery. Hydroxyzine, an affordable histamine H1 receptor antagonist with anxiolytic, moderate sedative, and antiemetic properties, is often used perioperatively; however, few studies have investigated its effect on PONV. In this study, we examined the efficacy of hydroxyzine in preventing PONV.

Effect of Continuous Intake of WB21 on Tissues Surrounding Implants: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: This study aimed to improve the health of peri-implant tissues through continuous intake of WB21 (LSWB21) tablets.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 23 maintenance patients who had generally healthy oral peri-implant tissues. Participants were divided into a test group ( = 12) receiving LSWB21 tablets and a control group ( = 11) receiving placebos.

Bioactivity Evaluation and Phytochemical Characterization of (Thunb.) Siebold Leaf Extract.

Background: () has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes, and its leaves are considered edible. While is known for its diverse biological activities, the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects of its leaves extracted using different solvents have not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: This study examined the antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and life-prolonging effects of () leaf extract.

Retrospective Analysis of HLA Class II-Restricted Neoantigen Peptide-Pulsed Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Breast Cancer.

: Neoantigens have attracted attention as ideal therapeutic targets for anti-tumour immunotherapy because the T cells that respond to neoantigens are not affected by central immune tolerance. Recent findings have revealed that the activation of CD4-positive T cells plays a central role in antitumor immunity, and thus targeting human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted neoantigens, which are targets of CD4-positive T cells, is of significance. However, there are very few detailed reports of neoantigen vaccine therapies that use an HLA class II-restricted long peptide.

The Unique Roles of Ion Channels in Pluripotent Stem Cells in Response to Biological Stimuli.

Ion channels are essential for mineral ion homeostasis in mammalian cells, and these are activated or inhibited by environmental stimuli such as heat, cold, mechanical, acidic, or basic stresses. These expressions and functions are quite diverse between cell types. The function and importance of ion channels are well-studied in neurons and cardiac cells, while those functions in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) were not fully understood.

Efficacy of pembrolizumab in microsatellite-stable, tumor mutational burden-high metastatic colorectal cancer: genomic signatures and clinical outcomes.

Background: Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), shows significant survival benefits in patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but its efficacy in microsatellite-stable (MSS) mCRC is limited. Although ICIs are effective in tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) solid tumors, the impact on MSS-TMB-H mCRC, a rare subset within MSS mCRC, remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using clinical and genomic data from the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) repository in Japan.

The depth of arterial supply of forehead: a meta-analysis.

Background: The rapid growth of aesthetic medicine has led to an increased demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the frontal region of the face. However, alongside this rise in popularity, there is a growing awareness of the potential complications associated with these procedures especially connected with fillers. The intricate vascular anatomy of the forehead, specifically the supratrochlear (STA) and supraorbital (SOA) arteries, poses significant risks if not thoroughly understood.

Impact of container type on the microbiome of airag, a Mongolian fermented mare's milk.

Airag, a fermented mare's milk in Mongolia, exhibits diverse flavors and microbiota due to distinct production processes and environments in nomadic households. Recently, there has been a shift from the traditional cow skin container, 'khokhuur', to a plastic container for airag production, potentially impacting the microbiota and quality. To address this notion, we aimed to elucidate the differences in the microbiota between airag samples from a plastic container and those from a khokhuur.

Metyrapone single administration, as a possible predictive tool of its dosage and timing in Cushing's syndrome.

Metyrapone is commonly used in the initial management of Cushing's syndrome to reduce hypercortisolemia, but its optimal dosage and timing can vary significantly between patients. Currently, there are limited guidelines on adjustment methods for its administration to individual needs. This study aimed to evaluate responsiveness of each patient to metyrapone and identify the patient characteristics associated with the indices of cortisol responsiveness following a low-dose metyrapone.

Early introduction of oral feeding and its impact on full oral feeding and discharge in preterm infants: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: This review aims to examine the impact of early introduction of oral feeding, compared with standard care, on the duration of achieving full oral feeding, postmenstrual ages at full oral feeding and discharge, and weight gain in preterm infants.

Introduction: Because of their immature oral function, preterm infants are prone to feeding difficulties during hospitalization and after hospital discharge. Early introduction of oral feeding helps infants to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and respiration, thereby improving their oral feeding skills.

Topical Delivery of Artificial Lipidated Antifungal Proteins for the Treatment of Subcutaneous Fungal Infections Using a Biocompatible Ionic Liquid-Based Microemulsion.

The rising incidence of fungal infections, compounded by the emergence of severe antifungal resistance, has resulted in an urgent need for innovative antifungal therapies. We developed an antifungal protein-based formulation as a topical antifungal agent by combining an artificial lipidated chitin-binding domain of antifungal chitinase (LysM-lipid) with recently developed ionic liquid-in-oil microemulsion formulations (MEFs). Our findings demonstrated that the lipid moieties attached to LysM and the MEFs effectively disrupted the integrity of the stratum corneum in a mouse skin model, thereby enhancing the skin permeability of the LysM-lipids.

Access Program for Unapproved and Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatric BRAF V600E-Mutated Brain Tumors in Japan.

Programs allowing access to investigational drugs and off-label drug use for serious diseases have often been applied to pediatric cancers. A clinical study conducted under the Japanese "Patient-Proposed Healthcare Services" evaluated the efficacy and safety of dabrafenib plus trametinib in children with BRAF V600 mutant glioma (jRCTs071210071). This study successfully provided unapproved and off-label medications to four enrolled patients, two with low-grade glioma and two with high-grade glioma (median age: 10.

Development and validation of an algorithm for identifying patients undergoing dialysis from patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: Identifying patients on dialysis among those with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 15 mL/min/1.73 m remains challenging. To facilitate clinical research in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) using electronic health records, we aimed to develop algorithms to identify dialysis patients using laboratory data obtained in routine practice.

Prediction of ECG signals from ballistocardiography using deep learning for the unconstrained measurement of heartbeat intervals.

We developed a deep learning-based extraction of electrocardiographic (ECG) waves from ballistocardiographic (BCG) signals and explored their use in R-R interval (RRI) estimation. Preprocessed BCG and reference ECG signals were inputted into the bidirectional long short-term memory network to train the model to minimize the loss function of the mean squared error between the predicted ECG (pECG) and genuine ECG signals. Using a dataset acquired with polyvinylidene fluoride and ECG sensors in different recumbent positions from 18 participants, we generated pECG signals from preprocessed BCG signals using the learned model and evaluated the RRI estimation performance by comparing the predicted RRI with the reference RRI obtained from the ECG signal using a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation scheme.

Dynamin-Related Protein 1 Orchestrates Inflammatory Responses in Periodontal Macrophages via Interaction With Hexokinase 1.

Aim: To explore the potential roles of mitochondrial dysfunction in the initiation of inflammation in periodontal macrophages and to determine the mechanism underlying the involvement of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in macrophage inflammatory responses through its interaction with hexokinase 1 (HK1).

Materials And Methods: Gingival tissues were collected from patients diagnosed with periodontitis or from healthy volunteers. Drp1 tetramer formation and phosphorylation were analysed using western blot.

Tele-robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy using a double-surgeon cockpit on a cadaver.

We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) on cadavers in the prone position, utilizing telesurgical support through the double-surgeon cockpit (double SC) of the novel Japanese-made surgical robot system, hinotori (Medicaroid, Kobe, Japan). The Cadaveric Anatomy and Surgical Training Laboratory (CAST Lab) at Hokkaido University and Kushiro City General Hospital (KCGH) are interconnected by a dedicated 1 Gbps internet line, spanning 300 km. An operation unit and double SC were installed at CAST Lab, whereas the double SC proctor was installed at KCGH.