The Warmth of Sarudango: Modelling the Huddling Behaviour of Japanese Macaques ().

Huddling behaviour is observed across various mammalian and avian species. Huddling, a behaviour wherein animals maintain close physical contact with conspecifics for warmth and social bonding, is widely documented among species in cold environments as a crucial thermoregulatory mechanism. Interestingly, on Shodoshima, Japanese macaques form exceptionally large huddling clusters, often exceeding 50 individuals, a significant deviation from the smaller groups observed in other populations (Arashyama, Katsuyama, and Taksakiyama) and climates.

Development of a Water-Soluble Nanomicellar Formulation Loaded with Trans-Resveratrol Using Polyethylene Glycol Monostearate for the Treatment of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Trans-resveratrol (Res) has been reported to possess many biological activities, including neuroprotective effects, owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, Res has very low water solubility, which limits its therapeutic application. In this work, we formulated water-soluble micellar formulations incorporating Res using polyethylene glycol monostearate (stPEG).

Immunohistochemical Characterization of Spermatogenesis in the Ascidian .

Animals show diverse processes of gametogenesis in the evolutionary pathway. Here, we characterized the spermatogenic cells in the testis of the marine invertebrate sperm differentiate in a non-cystic type of testis, comprising many follicles with various sizes and stages of spermatogenic cells. In the space among follicles, we observed free cells that were recognized by antibody against Müllerian inhibiting substance, a marker for vertebrate Sertoli cells.

Fecal fatty acid-linked bile acid profiles in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis.

Objective: Effect of gut dysbiosis on fatty acid (FA) linked 3β-hydroxy-bile acid esters (FA-isoBAs) formation is currently unknown. This study aimed to investigate the profile of FA-isoBAs in fecal samples from pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from seven pediatric patients diagnosed with UC and seven age-matched healthy controls.

Carnosic acid inhibits integrin expression and prevents pulmonary metastasis of melanoma.

Carnosic acid is a naturally occurring, plant-derived polyphenolic abietane diterpene with anti-tumor properties. However, its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of carnosic acid on lung metastasis in a murine melanoma model.

Antinociceptive effect of Equisetum arvense extract on the stomatitis hamster model.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis leads to ulcers that cause severe pain, which is a substantial burden on patients. Equisetum arvense extract (EA) is a crude drug that promotes wound healing of mucous membranes caused by perineal incision during childbirth and alleviates pain. Here, we elucidated the effects of EA on wound healing and pain in a stomatitis hamster model.

Long-term estrogen-deprived estrogen receptor α-positive breast cancer cell migration assisted by fatty acid 2-hydroxylase.

The risk of breast cancer (BC) recurrence is high in postmenopausal women, though the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet fully understood. We developed a long-term estrogen-deprived (LTED) cell line from MCF-7 cells, which we used as an in vitro model for aromatase inhibitor (AI)-resistant estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive postmenopausal BC. We also describe the involvement of fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (FA2H) in the modulation of LTED cell migration.

Exploring the Mental Health of Japanese Graduate Trainees in Psychology:Comparison with Non-Trainees in Other Departments.

This study investigated the mental states, such as depression and anxiety, of Japanese psychology graduate trainees (N = 57) who aspired to become psychologists, compared with non-trainees (N = 80) in other departments. The results showed that, among trainees, 25% exhibited mild depression, 26% exhibited moderate depression, 9% exhibited moderately severe depression, and 5% exhibited severe depression. Among non-trainees, the corresponding figures were 31%, 10%, 6%, and 4%, respectively.

A Glycyrrhizin Derivative with a More Potent Inhibitory Activity against High-Mobility Group Box 1 Efficiently Discovered by Chemical Synthesis Inspired by the Bioconversion Products of an Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Licorice.

Glycyrrhizin (GL) from licorice alleviates intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) injuries by interacting with high-mobility group box (HMGB) 1, an inflammatory factor. We found that GL is bioconverted by endophyte coexisting with licorice and succeeded in isolating two derivatives. The aim of this study was to identify the compound with more potent HMGB1 inhibitory activity inspired by these GL derivatives.

Adherence to national guidelines for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in Japanese workplaces: a survey-based classification of enterprises' practices into "overscreening," "underscreening," and "guideline-adherence screening".

Background: Workplace cancer screening programs are determined as part of an employee's benefits package and health checkups are perceived positively. However, the current status of workplace cancer screening programs in Japan is unavailable. This study aimed to assess the adherence to national guidelines for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in the workplace among Japanese enterprises and identify factors associated with excessive or inadequate screenings.

Morphological and Chemical Diversity within Japanese Laurencia Complex (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales, Rhodophyta).

Seaweeds of the red algal genus Laurencia are distributed worldwide in tropical, subtropical to temperate zones, growing in Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Laurencia is highly difficult to classify morphologically because of a high degree of morphological variation within individual species. Nevertheless, Laurencia investigation is favored by organic chemists as it produces uniquely structured compounds.

[Investigation of Mechanism of Creming-down Phenomenon and Development of High-order Functions Using Tea Catechins].

An aqueous solution of 2,3-cis gallate type catechin (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg) and caffeine afforded a precipitate of Creaming-down Phenomenon, which crystallized slowly for about three months to give a colorless block crystal. By X-ray crystallographic analysis, the crystal was determined to be a 2 : 2 complex of EGCg and caffeine, in which caffeine molecules were captured in a hydrophobic space formed with three aromatic A, B, and B' rings of EGCg. It was considered that the solubility of the 2 : 2 complex in water rapidly decreased and the 2 : 2 complex precipitated from aqueous solution.

Reliability and validation of the Japanese version of the cognitive distortion scale.

The cognitive distortion scale (CDS) is a self-rated measure to assess the degree of cognitive distortion which is 10 thinking errors commonly seen in depression. However, there is no scale to measure 10 types cognitive distortions specific to depression in Japan. Therefore, this study translated the CDS into Japanese (CDS-J), and examined its factor structure, validity, and reliability in a Japanese population.

Comparative analysis of treatment decision-making in patients with localized prostate and cervical cancer: what influences receiving surgery or radiotherapy?

Purpose: This study focused on identifying the factors influencing the decision-making process in patients with localized prostate and cervical cancer in Japan and specifically examining the choice between surgery and radiotherapy.

Methods: Patients with specific cancer stages registered with a healthcare research company for whom radical surgery or radiotherapy was equally effective and recommended participated in this cross-sectional online survey.

Results: The responses of 206 and 231 patients with prostate and cervical cancer, respectively, revealed that both groups relied heavily on the physicians' recommendations (prostate: odds ratio (OR) = 40.

Progress on the Synthesis of the Aromathecin Family of Compounds: An Overview.

We present a systematic review of the methods developed for the synthesis of the aromathecin family of compounds (benz[6,7]indolizino[1,2-]quinolin-11(13)-ones) and their derivatives. These methods can be broadly classified into four categories based on the construction of pentacyclic structures: Category 1: by constructing a pyridone moiety (D-ring) on the pyrroloquinoline ring (A/B/C-ring), Category 2: by constructing a pyridine moiety (B-ring) on the pyrroloisoquinolone ring (C/D/E-ring), Category 3: by constructing an indolizidinone moiety (C/D-ring) in a tandem reaction, and Category 4: by constructing a pyrrolidine moiety (C-ring) on the isoquinolone ring (D/E-ring).

Imeglimin modulates mitochondria biology and facilitates mitokine secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Aims: Imeglimin, a novel antidiabetic drug, has recently been reported to affect pancreatic β-cells and hepatocytes. Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in systemic metabolism. However, its effect on adipocytes remains unexplored.

Presenteeism and sleep duration on workdays and days off.

Background: Presenteeism refers to being present at work but experiencing reduced productivity due to health problems, and has been known to be related to sleep loss. Workers commonly sleep longer on days off than on workdays, and presenteeism may be reduced with extended sleep on days off.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the association between sleep duration both on workdays and days off and presenteeism.

Possible Involvement of Protein Binding Inhibition in Changes in Dexmedetomidine Concentration in Extracorporeal Circuits during Midazolam Use.

It was recently reported that the dexmedetomidine concentration within the extracorporeal circuit decreases with co-administration of midazolam. In this study, we investigated whether displacement of dexmedetomidine by midazolam from the binding site of major plasma proteins, human serum albumin (HSA) and α-acid glycoprotein (AAG), would increase levels of free dexmedetomidine that could be adsorbed to the circuit. Equilibrium dialysis experiments indicated that dexmedetomidine binds to a single site on both HSA and AAG with four times greater affinity than midazolam.

Associations of rumination, behavioral activation, and perceived reward with mothers' postpartum depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased social isolation for mothers, and rumination exacerbates postpartum depression in mothers with poor social support. Although behavioral activation can help to decrease their depressive symptoms, the mechanism by which behavioral activation reduces postpartum depression remains unclear.

Methods: We examined the effects of rumination and behavioral activation on depression in postpartum women by examining a model mediated by subjective reward perception.