Arg-73 of the RNA endonuclease MazF in Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae contributes to guanine and uracil recognition in the cleavage sequence.

The sequence-specific endoribonuclease MazF is widely conserved among prokaryotes. Approximately 20 different MazF cleavage sequences have been discovered, varying from three to seven nucleotides in length. Although MazFs from various prokaryotes were found, the cleavage sequences of most MazFs are unknown.

Self-Efficacy of Parents of Boys in Sports Clubs on Meal Preparation and Boys' Dietary Intake: A Cross-Sectional Study of Soccer Clubs.

This study examined the relationship between parents' self-efficacy for preparing meals combining the five food groups (grains, fish and meat, vegetables, milk, and fruits) and the dietary intake of their children who were elementary and junior high school students belonging to a sports club. A total of 365 children completed a self-reported dietary intake form, and their parents completed a questionnaire on self-efficacy for preparing meals combining the five food groups. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between the children's intake of the combined five food groups and parents' self-efficacy score, with frequency of meals combining the five food groups as the dependent variable and the self-efficacy score as the independent variable.

Survey of Japanese nephrologists' use of clinical practice guidelines for rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Background: The guidelines in Japan for the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) have been revised; the latest update was released in 2020. We investigated the actual usage of the new guidelines in Japan.

Methods: We distributed a survey electronically to board-certified nephrologists throughout Japan from December 15, 2021 to January 31, 2022.

A nationwide multicenter study of the cost effectiveness of five leading drugs for pharmacological management of cervicobrachial symptoms.

Background: Cervicobrachial pain frequently affects the quality of life (QOL) of the general public and has a significant economic impact on the health care systems of various countries. There are a number of treatment options for this disease, including widely-used drug therapy, but the effectiveness of each option is indeterminate, and there have been no published cost-effectiveness analysis studies so far. This prospective observational study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of drug treatment for cervicobrachial symptoms.

Cannabinoid CB2 receptors and hypersensitivity to methamphetamine: Vulnerability to schizophrenia.

The human cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) gene CNR2 has been associated with schizophrenia development. Inbred mice treated with the CB2R inverse agonist AM630 and challenged with methamphetamine (MAP) showed reduced prepulse inhibition (%PPI) response and locomotor hyperactivity, both behavioral measures in rodents that correlate with psychosis. Mice lacking CB2R on striatal dopaminergic neurons exhibit a hyperdopaminergic tone and a hyperactivity phenotype.

Relationship between Acceleration in a Sit-To-Stand Movement and Physical Function in Older Adults.

Acceleration parameters in sit-to-stand (STS) movements are useful for measuring lower-limb function in older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acceleration in STS movements and physical function and the test-retest reliability of acceleration parameters in older adults. We performed cross-sectional analyses on 244 older adults including 107 men (mean age: 77.

Transcranial direct current stimulation improves motor function in rats with 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonism.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly being used for Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the evaluation of its clinical impact remains complex owing to the heterogeneity of patients and treatments. Therefore, we used a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-induced PD rat model to investigate whether anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex (M1) alleviates PD motor deficits. Before tDCS treatment, unilateral PD rats preferentially used the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesion in the exploratory cylinder test and showed reduced locomotor activity in the open field test.

Impact of HBcrAg levels on HBsAg seroconversion after HBV rebound: a case report.

Background: Nucleoside analogues (NAs) such as entecavir are required for at least 12 months when patients with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection develop HBV reactivation. Entecavir treatment does not always achieve hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion. The cessation of NA for HBV reactivation sometimes causes HBV rebound.

Natto consumption suppresses atherosclerotic plaque progression in LDL receptor-deficient mice transplanted with iRFP-expressing hematopoietic cells.

Natto, known for its high vitamin K content, has been demonstrated to suppress atherosclerosis in large-scale clinical trials through a yet-unknown mechanism. In this study, we used a previously reported mouse model, transplanting the bone marrow of mice expressing infra-red fluorescent protein (iRFP) into LDLR-deficient mice, allowing unique and non-invasive observation of foam cells expressing iRFP in atherosclerotic lesions. Using 3 natto strains, we meticulously examined the effects of varying vitamin K levels on atherosclerosis in these mice.

Impact of COVID-19 on pediatric surgery cancellations: A retrospective study.

Background: Prevalence trends and reasons for pediatric surgery cancellation in Japan during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have not previously been reported. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and reasons for cancellation of pediatric surgeries in Japan before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study reviewed the reasons for surgery cancellations scheduled for patients aged <18 years between the prepandemic period (September 2017-December 2019) and the COVID-19 pandemic period (January 2020-April 2022).

Effects of a Comic Booklet Intervention Aimed at Preventing Second-Hand Smoke Exposure for Pregnant Women in Indonesia: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Second-hand smoke (SHS) has adverse effects for pregnant women and foetuses. This controlled and randomized clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of a comic booklet intervention in promoting SHS avoidance among pregnant women and appropriate smoking behaviours among their male partners. We allocated 140 couples to the experimental group (EG), who received the comic booklet and a reminder sticker, and 146 couples to the control group (CG), who received usual care.

External Focus Affects Drop Jump Performance: Focusing on Different Aims and Words of Instruction.

Attentional focus strategies eliciting external focus of attention effectively enhance drop jump (DJ) performance, however, their effects vary depending on the words used for the instructions. We aimed to examine the effects of different words on DJ performance using instructions eliciting external focus to minimize contact time (CT) or maximize jump height (JH). Twenty collegiate athletes performed DJs from a 30-cm platform after receiving one of the four instructions: two instructions (COND 1 and 2) about minimizing CT, and two instructions (COND 3 and 4) about maximizing JH.

Hydrogen sulfide production in the medullary respiratory center modulates the neural circuit for respiratory pattern and rhythm generations.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), which is synthesized in the brain, modulates the neural network. Recently, the importance of HS in respiratory central pattern generation has been recognized, yet the function of HS in the medullary respiratory network remains poorly understood. Here, to evaluate the functional roles of HS in the medullary respiratory network, the Bötzinger complex (BötC), the pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC), and the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG), we observed the effects of inhibition of HS synthesis at each region on the respiratory pattern by using an in situ arterially perfused preparation of decerebrated male rats.

Analysis of source dwell position during treatment in brachytherapy using CT scout images.

Purpose: Several cases of inaccurate irradiation in brachytherapy have been reported, occurring similarly to external radiation. Due to a large dose per fraction in brachytherapy, inaccurate irradiation can seriously harm a patient. Although various studies have been conducted, systems that detect inaccurate irradiation in brachytherapy are not as developed as those for external irradiation.

ERP evidence of attentional somatosensory processing and stimulus-response coupling under different hand and arm postures.

We investigated (1) the effects of divided and focused attention on event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited by somatosensory stimulation under different response modes, (2) the effects of hand position (closely-placed vs. separated hands) and arm posture (crossed vs. uncrossed forearms) on the attentional modulation of somatosensory ERPs, and (3) changes in the coupling of stimulus- and response-related processes by somatosensory attention using a single-trial analysis of P300 latency and reaction times.

Prevalence of iron-deficient but non-anemic university athletes in Japan: an observational cohort study.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are long-standing health problems in athletes, affecting both performance and health. ID prevalence in young athletes remains high and a matter of concern. ID and IDA can lead to fatigue, reduced endurance, and decreased oxygen transport, potentially compromising athletic performance.

Female and preserved platelet count subgroups of myelodysplastic syndrome patients benefit from standard-dose azacitidine.

Background: Hypomethylating agents, including azacytidine (AZA), are standard therapeutics for patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of myeloid neoplasms. However, treatment schedules are not unified in real-world practice; in addition to the standard 7-day (standard-dose) schedule, shortened (reduced-dose) schedules are also used.

Aims: The aim of this study was to discover the patient group(s) which show differential efficacy between standard-and reduced-dose AZA to MDS.

Development of adolescent childhood cancer survivors' psychosocial issues scale.

Background: Follow-up care for adolescent childhood cancer survivors (ACCS) after they return to school requires an understanding of their psychosocial issues. Therefore, this study developed the adolescent childhood cancer survivors' psychosocial issues scale (ACCSPIS) and evaluated its reliability and validity.

Methods: In the development phase, pediatric oncology clinical professionals created the 24 item questionnaire of ACCS's psychosocial issues.

A sensitive assay for the determination of E7090, a novel selective inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptors, and its metabolite in human plasma by UPLC-MS/MS with at-column dilution.

E7090, a novel fibroblast growth factor receptors inhibitor, is currently under clinical development for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. The previous assay was insufficient in detection sensitivity for E7090 and high exposure of a dealkylated metabolite, M2, was noted in a clinical trial at low doses. Thus, a sensitive assay for the simultaneous determination of E7090 and M2 in human plasma has been developed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS).

Effect of Exercise Therapy on Incident Admission in Patients with Type 2Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Inpatient Diabetes Self-manageme ntEducation and Support.

Background: Exercise therapy is the key to preventing admission of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, a few studies have examined the effects of exercise therapy on patients with T2DM undergoing inpatient diabetes self-management education and support (IDSMES).

Objective: This study investigated whether exercise therapy influenced the incidence of admission after discharge in patients with T2DM undergoing IDSMES.

The effect of eccentricity on visual motion prediction in peripheral vision.

The purpose of the current study was to clarify the effect of eccentricity on visual motion prediction using a time-to-contact (TTC) task. TTC indicates the predictive ability to accurately estimate the time-to-contact of a moving object based on visual motion perception. We also measured motion reaction time (motion RT) as an indicator of the speed of visual motion perception.

Longitudinal Changes in Natriuretic Peptides and Reverse Cardiac Remodeling in Patients with Heart Failure Treated with Sacubitril/Valsartan Across the Left Ventricular Ejection Traction Spectrum.

Sacubitril/valsartan improves outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. However, the relationship between longitudinal changes in natriuretic peptides and echocardiographic parameters in patients with HF treated with sacubitril/valsartan across the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) range is not fully understood.In patients with HF treated with sacubitril/valsartan, comprehensive data on natriuretic peptides, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), BNP, and echocardiography, were measured after 6 months of treatment.