Engineering hirudin encapsulation in pH-responsive antioxidant nanoparticles for therapeutic efficacy in ischemic stroke model mice.

This study introduces a novel pH-sensitive, hirudin-loaded antioxidant nanoparticle (HD@iNano) aimed at addressing the challenges of hirudin's short half-life and hemorrhagic transformation. HD@iNano was engineered to safeguard and prolong hirudin's bioactivity by encapsulating it within antioxidative nanoparticles, facilitating its gradual release in acidic environments. The efficacy of this approach was validated through both ex vivo and in vivo experiments.

Clemastine enhances exercise-induced motor improvement in hypoxic ischemic rats.

Neonatal hypoxic ischemia (HI) occurs owing to reduced cerebral oxygen levels and perfusion during the perinatal period. Brain injury after HI triggers neurological manifestations such as motor impairment, and the improvement of impaired brain function remains challenging. Recent studies suggest that cortical myelination plays a role in motor learning, but its involvement in motor improvement after HI injury is not well understood.

Virtual Reality Technology for Physical and Cognitive Function Rehabilitation in People With Multiple Sclerosis.

Virtual reality (VR) has significantly expanded the possibilities of medical treatment, particularly in the realm of rehabilitation. VR utilizes advanced technologies to create simulated environments that users perceive as analogous to the real world. Researchers have demonstrated that VR can effectively train motor, sensory, and cognitive functions.

Role of gaze behaviors, body movements, and bicycle movements during cycling on a straight and narrow path.

Cycling requires the integration of gaze behaviors, body movements, and bicycle movements. However, whether these movements contribute to skilled cycling performance, such as cycling on straight and narrow paths are uncertain. The present study aimed to differentiate optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) from vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) that characterize the relationship between eye and head movements during cycling on straight and narrow path, and to identify gaze behaviors, body movements, and bicycle movements that contribute to cycling performance.

Risk of postoperative pneumonia after extubation with the positive pressure versus normal pressure technique: a single-center retrospective observational study.

Purpose: A normal pressure extubation technique (no lung inflation before extubation), proposed by the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists to prevent droplet infection during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, could theoretically increase postoperative pneumonia incidence compared with a positive pressure extubation technique (lung inflation before extubation). However, the normal pressure extubation technique has not been adequately evaluated. This study compared postoperative pneumonia incidence between positive and normal pressure extubation techniques using a dataset from the University of Tsukuba Hospital.

Associations between income/employment status and diabetes care processes, health behaviors, and health outcomes in Japan: A cross-sectional study using claims data linked to a questionnaire survey.

Aims/introduction: We aimed to explore the associations between income/employment status and diabetes care processes, health behaviors and health outcomes.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study used health insurance claims data between April 2021 and March 2022, and a questionnaire survey between December 2022 and January 2023 in Tsukuba City. The study analyzed the participants with diabetes (other than type 1) from those selected by stratified random sampling.

Impact of interplay effects on spot scanning proton therapy with motion mitigation techniques for lung cancer: SFUD versus robustly optimized IMPT plans utilizing a four-dimensional dynamic dose simulation tool.

Background: The interaction between breathing motion and scanning beams causes interplay effects in spot-scanning proton therapy for lung cancer, resulting in compromised treatment quality. This study investigated the effects and clinical robustness of two types of spot-scanning proton therapy with motion-mitigation techniques for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a new simulation tool (4DCT-based dose reconstruction).

Methods: Three-field single-field uniform dose (SFUD) and robustly optimized intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans combined with gating and re-scanning techniques were created using a VQA treatment planning system for 15 patients with locally advanced NSCLC (70 GyRBE/35 fractions).

The impact of changes in physical activity on functional recovery for older inpatients in post-acute rehabilitation units.

Purpose: The effect of increased physical activity duration on functional recovery in older inpatients in subacute settings is not well established. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and functional recovery in older patients receiving post-acute and subacute care.

Methods: We analyzed cohort data of hospitalized older patients (age ≥ 65 years) in the post-acute rehabilitation units.

Traumatic arteriovenous fistula of the superficial temporal artery caused by massive subcutaneous hematoma prompting surgical removal and endovascular treatment in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is often characterized by vascular disorders related to vessel vulnerability that can lead to unfavorable outcomes. Here, we describe a case of NF-1 complicated with a massive subcutaneous hematoma posing a risk of visual impairment for which rapid decompression and a subsequent less invasive approach result in a favorable outcome.

Case Description: A 40-year-old woman with NF-1 presented with a massive left subcutaneous temporal hematoma following a mild head contusion.

Pharmacokinetic profiles of methylcobalamin in rats after multiple administration routes by a simple LC-MS/MS assay with a small volume of plasma.

Methylcobalamin (MBL) is a vitamin B12 coenzyme and is effective for treating peripheral neuropathies. Little is known about pharmacokinetics (PK) of MBL in animals, we have developed a simple assay for MBL by using only 0.01 mL of plasma for PK of MBL in rats.

Bilateral rubber hand illusion induced by unilateral visuotactile stimulation.

The rubber hand illusion involves the sense of body ownership of a fake hand. We showed that concurrent visuotactile stimuli to rubber and real hands can induce the embodiment of rubber hands when both rubber hands are positioned on the table. This phenomenon indicates that the brain has an integrated representation of the sense of body ownership for both hands.

Effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention to promote physical activity among Japanese remote workers: a pilot open-label randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Remote work (ie, teleworking) may adversely affect physical activity (PA) among workers, but no strategies have been effectively implemented to address this issue. We aimed to test whether a multicomponent intervention program could promote the PA of remote workers.

Methods: This study was an 8-week pilot open-label randomized controlled trial.

Sense of coherence on the relationship between COVID-19-related stress and sleep quality among nurses.

Aim: We aimed to examine the mediating effects of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) on the relationship between stress and sleep in nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey targeting nurses in Chiba and Tokyo during the summer of 2021 was conducted using Google Forms. Responses were obtained using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the 13-item version of the SOC scale (SOC-13), and questions regarding COVID-19-related stress.

CD25FOXP3CD45RA regulatory T-cell infiltration as a prognostic biomarker for endometrial carcinoma.

Background: Regulatory T (Treg) cells reportedly play crucial roles in tumor angiogenesis as well as antitumor immunity. In order to explore their therapeutic potential, we investigated the precise prognostic impact of Treg markers in endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: We performed multiplexed immunofluorescence and quantitative image analyses of CD25, FOXP3, CTLA4, and CD45RA in tumor specimens from 176 consecutive patients treated at our institution for primary endometrial carcinomas.

Public attitudes toward stuttering and cluttering in Chinese and Japanese speech-language pathology students.

Purpose: This study utilized the Chinese and Japanese translations of the Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes-Stuttering (POSHA-S) and Cluttering (POSHA-Cl) to compare the differences in (a) attitudes towards stuttering versus cluttering in speech-language pathology (SLP) students in either China or Japan, (b) attitudes of SLP students in China versus Japan towards either stuttering or cluttering, and (c) attitudes of Chinese and Japanese students versus international databases for stuttering and cluttering.

Method: The POSHA-S and POSHA-Cl were both administered to 99 SLP students from six universities in China and 352 SLP students from two universities in Japan.

Results: Attitudes toward stuttering were markedly different for Chinese versus Japanese students.

Comparative Analysis of Muscle Activity and Circulatory Dynamics: A Crossover Study Using Leg Exercise Apparatus and Ergometer.

: Bedridden patients are at a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Passive devices such as elastic compression stockings and intermittent pneumatic compression are common. Leg exercise apparatus (LEX) is an active device designed to prevent VTE by effectively contracting the soleus muscle and is therefore expected to be effective in preventing disuse of the lower limbs.

A qualitative study of stressors faced by older stroke patients in a convalescent rehabilitation hospital.

This study aimed to explore the stressors experienced by older patients with stroke in convalescent rehabilitation wards in Japan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four stroke patients aged > 65 years who experienced a stroke for the first time in their lives. The interviews were analyzed using the Steps for Coding and Theorization method for qualitative data analysis.

Evaluating the relaxation effects of Shikuwasa (Citrus depressa Hayata) essential oil inhalation in young female adults: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: The essential oil of Shikuwasa ( Hayata) primarily contains limonene and γ-terpinene, which have potential applications in stress management and relaxation. However, the psychological or physiological relaxation effects of Shikuwasa essential oil on humans are still unknown. This study aims to investigate the short-term relaxation effects of Shikuwasa essential oil, one of the less-studied varieties, compared to inhaling odour-free air in young female adults.