Association of high complement and low immunoglobulins with the clinical symptoms of patients with fibromyalgia.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease characterized by chronic widespread pain concomitant with various symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety. Although chronic inflammation has been implicated in the immunological abnormalities of FM, there are few human studies on complement and immunoglobulins. In this study, we investigated the immunological characteristics of FM patients and the association between their clinical symptoms and immunological indices, including complement and immunoglobulins.

Robust circulating microRNA signature for the diagnosis and early detection of pancreatobiliary cancer.

Background: A new circulating biomarker superior to carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is needed for diagnosing pancreatobiliary cancer (PBca). The aim of this study was to identify serum microRNA (miRNA) signatures comprising reproducible and disease-related miRNAs.

Methods: This multicenter study involved patients with treatment-naïve PBca and healthy participants.

Development of an artificial intelligence system to indicate intraoperative findings of scarring in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis.

Background: The surgical difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) and the risk of bile duct injury (BDI) depend on the degree of fibrosis and scarring caused by inflammation; therefore, understanding these intraoperative findings is crucial to preventing BDI. Scarring makes it particularly difficult to perform safely and increases the BDI risk. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system to indicate intraoperative findings of scarring in LC for AC.

Myeloablative conditioning in cord blood transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia patients is efficacious only until age 55.

Umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT) is accepted as an effective treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC), rather than myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimens allowed elderly patients to be treated safely. However, appropriate intensities of conditioning regimens are still unclear, especially for middle-aged patients. To compare outcomes after RIC and MAC regimens, we analyzed AML patients aged 16 years or older in the Japanese registry database, who underwent single cord unit CBT between 2010-2019.

Comprehensive genome annotation of Trilocha varians, a new model species of Lepidopteran insects.

Trilocha varians is a member of the bombycid moths. Since T. varians has a considerably shorter generation period than the prevailing model species, Bombyx mori, this species would be a novel model insect in Lepidoptera.

Superovulation treatment of immature female rabbits increases the number of ovulated oocytes that can in vitro develop into blastocytes.

To clarify the efficiency of superovulation in immature female rabbits, immature female rabbits were superovulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, and the number of recovered oocytes, their maturity, and their ability to develop into blastocysts under in vitro fertilization and culture were examined in this study. More than 80 oocytes were recovered from 12-14-week-old immature female rabbits. In particular, an average of more than 100 oocytes were recovered from 13-week-old immature female rabbits.

Taste Preference and Metabolic Rate of Trehalose in Chickens.

Trehalose (Tre) is composed of two molecules of D-glucose joined by an α,α-1,1 glucosidic linkage. Because Tre is utilized by the gut microbiome and enhances gut immunity in chickens, it is used as a feed ingredient. However, taste preference and metabolic dynamics of Tre in chickens are not fully understood.

Relationship Between One-Leg Standing and Foot Sole Sensation Following Short-Term Immobilization of a Unilateral Lower Extremity.

Background: Several studies have suggested that approximately 10 hours of inactivity can reduce motor performance. Specifically, restricted lower limb movement may impair postural stability, subsequently increasing the incidence of falls. However, the relationship between postural sway and its related factors remains unclear.

Comparative Study of Remimazolam and Midazolam During Sedated Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the use of remimazolam and midazolam in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Japan as a sub-analysis of data from an investigator-initiated clinical trial of remimazolam.

Methods And Results: Patients in two groups were matched using propensity score matching. We evaluated the time from the end of the gastrointestinal endoscopy until discharge, the time from the end of the procedure until awakening, and adverse events.

Angulation of the dural venous sinuses in the posterior cranial fossa: an anatomical study and its implications for venous circulation.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the angulation of the dural venous sinuses in soft tissue, to evaluate differences between types of tissue, and to discuss the potential influence of these angulations on intracranial venous hemodynamics and related pathologies. Angulations formed in different segments of the transverse, sigmoid, and superior sagittal sinuses were measured in 13 adult human cadaveric heads (26 sides). After the soft tissues were removed, measurements were also taken from the underlying bone.

The structure and function of the ghrelin receptor coding for drug actions.

Drugs targeting the ghrelin receptor hold therapeutic potential in anorexia, obesity and diabetes. However, developing effective drugs is challenging. To tackle this common issue across a broad drug target, this study aims to understand how anamorelin, the only approved drug targeting the ghrelin receptor, operates compared to other synthetic drugs.

Enhanced effect of the immunosuppressive soluble HLA-G2 homodimer by site-specific PEGylation.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is a nonclassical HLA class I molecule that has an immunosuppressive effect mediated by binding to immune inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILR) B1 and LILRB2. A conventional HLA-G isoform, HLA-G1, forms a heterotrimeric complex composed of a heavy chain (α1-α3 domains), β2-microglobulin (β2m) and a cognate peptide. One of the other isoforms, HLA-G2, lacks a α2 domain or β2m to form a nondisulfide-linked homodimer, and its ectodomain specifically binds to LILRB2 expressed in human monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells.

Impact of quality of life on overall work productivity impairment and activity impairment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: the PEONY study.

Objectives: Even in a lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS), many patients with SLE continue to face residual symptoms and disease burden. We aimed to evaluate the quality of life, activity impairment and overall work productivity impairment among patients in LLDAS. Residual disease burden was also evaluated for patients in LLDAS.

The cortical high-flow sign in oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted is correlated with histological cortical vascular density.

Background And Purpose: The cortical high-flow sign has been more commonly reported in oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted (ODG IDHm-codel) compared to diffuse glioma with IDH-wildtype or astrocytoma, IDH-mutant. Besides tumor types, higher grades of glioma might also contribute to the cortical high flow. Therefore, we investigated whether the histological cortical vascular density or CNS WHO grade was associated with the cortical high-flow sign in patients with ODG IDHm-codel.

The flow cytometric analysis of depression focusing on modern-type depression and hikikomori: Exploring the link between subtypes of depression and immunological imbalances.

Introduction: Depression includes different phenotypes. Modern-type depression (MTD) is a gateway disorder to pathological social withdrawal, known as hikikomori. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are also important aetiologies of depression.

Artificial Intelligence in Pancreatic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Imaging: A Systematic Review.

Background: Based on the Fukuoka and Kyoto international consensus guidelines, the current clinical management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) largely depends on imaging features. While these criteria are highly sensitive in detecting high-risk IPMN, they lack specificity, resulting in surgical overtreatment. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based medical image analysis has the potential to augment the clinical management of IPMNs by improving diagnostic accuracy.

Oral Administration of the Adiponectin Receptor 1 Agonistic Dipeptide Tyr-Pro Prevents Hyperglycemia in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii Rats.

The dipeptide Tyr-Pro, a novel natural agonist of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1), promotes glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. This study investigated the antidiabetic effect of orally administered Tyr-Pro in spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) rats. Oral administration of Tyr-Pro (1 mg/kg/day) improved glucose intolerance in SDT rats at 22 weeks of prediabetic age.

Exploring Integrin α5β1 as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Insights From Comprehensive Multicenter Preclinical Studies.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by obliterative vascular remodeling of the small pulmonary arteries (PAs) and progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure. Although several drugs are approved for the treatment of PAH, mortality rates remain high. Accumulating evidence supports a pathological function of integrins in vessel remodeling, which are gaining renewed interest as drug targets.

Systemic Circulation in Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiogenic Shock: State-of-the-Art Review.

The integrative physiology of the left ventricle and systemic circulation is fundamental to our understanding of advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock. In simplest terms, any increase in aortic stiffness increases the vascular afterload presented to the failing left ventricle. The net effect is increased myocardial oxygen demand and reduced coronary perfusion pressure, thereby further deteriorating contractile function.

A single-arm, phase II study of sotorasib plus carboplatin/pemetrexed in advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer patients with KRAS G12C mutation (WJOG14821L, SCARLET).

Background: The efficacy and safety of sotorasib plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy in KRAS G12C-mutated non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-Sq NSCLC) were previously reported with limited follow-up period.

Method: SCARLET was a single-arm phase II study of chemotherapy-naïve patients with KRAS G12C-mutated non-Sq NSCLC. Participants received sotorasib 960 mg daily plus four cycles of carboplatin (area under the curve, 5)/pemetrexed 500 mg/m, followed by sotorasib/pemetrexed until disease progression.

Low Survival Due to Higher Risk of Relapse and Nonrelapse Mortality After Allogeneic HSCT in ATL Compared with AML and ALL.

Background: Patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) are considered to have worse outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) than patients with other hematological malignancies, owing to high risk of relapse and immunocompromised status. However, no studies have compared transplant outcomes between patients with ATL and those with other hematological malignancies using a large-scale database.

Objectives: To compare transplant outcomes between patients with ATL and those with other leukemias and to identify factors contributing to worse transplant outcomes in ATL patients.

A pathway from fragmentation to interoperability through standards-based enterprise architecture to enhance patient safety.

Creating an ontology is the essential step in natural language processing (NLP). To improve patient safety in this era of generative AI, it is crucial to develop a standards-driven, ontology-based architecture for patient safety that can seamlessly integrate with health systems, thereby facilitating effective detection and monitoring potentially preventable harms in healthcare. This visionary, whole-system approach to patient safety addresses a significant gap in establishing resilient safety systems within the healthcare sector.