Daily life habits associated with eveningness lead to a higher prevalence of dental caries in children.

Background/purpose: Circadian rhythm is an endogenous daily variation observed in most physiological functions including salivary secretion. Irregular lifestyle causes many diseases such as obesity and sleep disorders. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of the timings of sleep and meal on the prevalence of dental caries.

Kanechlor 500-mediated changes in serum and hepatic thyroxine levels primarily occur in a transthyretin-unrelated manner.

The effects of Kanechlor-500 (KC500) on the levels of serum total thyroxine (T ) and hepatic T in wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) and its transthyretin (TTR)-deficient (TTR-null) mice were comparatively examined. Four days after a single intraperitoneal injection with KC500 (100 mg/kg body weight), serum total T levels were significantly decreased in both WT and TTR-null mice. The KC500 pretreatment also promoted serum [ I]T clearance in both strains of mice administrated with [ I]T , and the promotion of serum [ I]T clearance in WT mice occurred without inhibition of the [ I]T -TTR complex formation.

Translocation breakpoint disrupting the host SNHG14 gene but not coding genes or snoRNAs in typical Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a well-known imprinting disorder arising from a loss of paternally imprinted gene(s) at 15q11.2-q13. We report a typical PWS patient with a balanced reciprocal translocation, 46, XY, t(15;19)(q11.

Effects of Carbazole Derivatives on Neurite Outgrowth and Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cytotoxicity in Neuro2a Cells.

Many studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress plays an important role in several ailments including neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemic injury. Previously we synthesized some carbazole compounds that have anti-oxidant ability in vitro. In this present study, we found that one of these 22 carbazole compounds, compound (3-ethoxy-1-hydroxy-8- methoxy-2-methylcarbazole-5-carbaldehyde), had the ability to protect neuro2a cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death.

Use of dried urine spots for screening of inborn errors of bile acid synthesis.

Background: In pediatric patients with cholestasis of unknown cause, inborn errors of bile acid (BA) synthesis (IEBAS) may be considered. For the initial screening for IEBAS, clarification of the urine BA profile is essential. The transportation of urine in a frozen state via air delivery, however, is laborious and costly.

Assessment of the Passive Tension of the First Dorsal Interosseous and First Lumbrical Muscles Using Shear Wave Elastography.

Purpose: Quantitative evaluation of passive tension of the intrinsic muscles of the hand is necessary to assess contracture of the intrinsic muscles accurately. The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear modulus, which is related to passive muscle tension, of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and first lumbrical (FL) muscles using shear wave elastography.

Methods: Subjects were 18 healthy males.

Shoulder and elbow pain in junior high school baseball players: Results of a nationwide survey.

Background: Despite proposals and guidelines to prevent baseball injuries in young players by societies and organizations, many shoulder and elbow injuries continue to occur among junior high school baseball players. In order to investigate the training conditions of junior high school baseball players and the risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain in the players, we conducted a questionnaire survey among junior high school baseball players throughout the country.

Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted among junior high school baseball players in September 2016.

A Comparative Evaluation of Removal of Intracanal Calcium Hydroxide with Endoactivator System and Mechanical Instrumentation with K File, Using Two Irrigating Solutions: an in Vitro Study.

Background Calcium Hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] is widely used intracanal medicament in endodontics due to its antimicrobial activity against persistent microorganisms. Although routine use of calcium hydroxide is highly recommended, its removal at the time of canal obturation is equally important and challenging because its remnant might prevent the sealer penetration into dentinal tubules, potentially interact with zinc oxide eugenol sealers making them brittle and granular, and adversely affect the bonding of resin sealer adhesion thus significantly increasing the apical leakage of root canal treated teeth. Removal of intracanal calcium hydroxide is performed usually with different irrigants in combinations with ultrasonic, sonic, hand or rotary instruments.

Controversies in the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guidelines: Who Can Be Eligible for Treatments Under the New Guidelines? - An Asian Perspective.

Until the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guidelines were released, the target blood pressure (BP) for adults with hypertension (HTN) was 140/90 mmHg in most of the guidelines. The new 2018 ESC/ESH, Canadian, Korean, Japan, and Latin American hypertension guidelines have maintained the <140/90 mmHg for the primary target in the general population and encourage reduction to <130/80 if higher risk. This is more in keeping with the 2018 American Diabetes Association guidelines.

Two coupled circadian oscillations regulate Bmal1-ELuc and Per2-SLR2 expression in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Circadian rhythms in clock genes, Bmal1 and Per2 expression were monitored simultaneously in the cultured slice of mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) by dual bioluminescent reporters. In the neonatal SCN, the phase-relation between the Bmal1 and Per2 rhythms were significantly changed during culture. Medium exchange produced phase-dependent phase shifts (PRCm) in the Bmal1 rhythms, but not in the Per2 rhythms.

Inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms underlying the calcific aortic valve disease.

Although calcific aortic stenosis is a very common disease with major adverse cardiovascular events and healthcare costs, there are no effective medical interventions to delay or halt its progression. Cardiometabolic risk factors, including smoking and male sex, are linked to aortic stenosis. Emerging studies have identified important regulatory roles for immunological and inflammatory responses, including oxidized lipids, various cytokines, and biomineralization.

Oxytocin receptor signaling contributes to olfactory avoidance behavior induced by an unpleasant odorant.

Oxytocin (OXT) and its receptor (OXTR) regulate reproductive physiology (i.e. parturition and lactation), sociosexual behavior, learned patterns of behavior and olfactory behavior in social contexts.

A survey of the effects of ramelteon on benzodiazepine-dependence: Comparison between a ramelteon add-on group and a continuous benzodiazepine administration group.

In general, long-term benzodiazepine hypnotics are prescribed for patients in whom it is difficult to reduce benzodiazepine hypnotics. Unlike benzodiazepine receptor (BZ)-mediated sleep agents, ramelteon induces quasi-natural physiological sleep owing to its mechanism of action. We conducted a survey of ramelteon and BZ-dependence in patients with insomnia.

Best Treatment Strategies With Statins to Maximize the Cardiometabolic Benefits.

Statins are important for preventing adverse cardiovascular events in patients with both high and low risk of vascular disease, by reducing the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, statins dose-dependently increase adverse effects and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Previously, it was hypothesized this was caused by to off-target effects, but recent studies demonstrate it is caused by on-target effects.

Possible mechanism for the polychlorinated bipheny-linduced liver-selective accumulation of thyroxine in rats.

We have previously reported that decrease in level of serum thyroxine T by Kanechor 500 (KC500) in rats would occur through the increase in hepatic T accumulation rather than the increase in hepatic T-glucuronyl transferase activity. In the present study, to understand the mechanism underlying the KC500-mediated increase in hepatic T accumulation, we examined the relationship between the KC500-mediated changes in hepatic T accumulation and the expression levels of mRNAs of hepatic transporters including T transporters. [I]T was intravenously injected into KC500-pretreated and control (KC500-untreated) Wistar rats, and [I]T uptake levels of liver parenchymal cells were comparatively examined.

Shoulder and elbow pain in elementary school baseball players: The results from a nation-wide survey in Japan.

Background: Despite recommendations on how to prevent baseball injuries in youths by the Japanese Society of Clinical Sports Medicine, shoulder and elbow pain still frequently occurs in young baseball players. We conducted a questionnaire survey among baseball players at elementary schools across the country to understand the practice conditions of players, examining the risk factors of shoulder and elbow pain in baseball players.

Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted among elementary school baseball players as members of the Baseball Federation of Japan in September 2015.

Ni-Pd Catalyzed Cyclization of Sulfanyl 1,6-Diynes: Synthesis of 1'-Homonucleoside Analogues.

The Ni-Pd catalyzed addition-cyclization of sulfanyl 1,6-diynes 2-9 with nucleobases is described. The reactions of N-tethered 1,6-diynes with N-benzoylthymine, N,N-bis(Boc)cytosine, N-benzoyluracil and N,N-bis(Boc)adenine exclusively afforded the pyrrolylmethyl and furylmethyl nucleotides in good yields. Deprotection of nucleobases was completed by treatment with acids or bases.

Significance of fully automated tests for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) can vary both immunologically and functionally, thus it is important to effectively and correctly identify their presence when diagnosing antiphospholipid syndrome. Furthermore, since many immunological/functional tests are necessary to measure aPLs, complete examinations are often not performed in many cases due to significant burden on the testing departments. To address this issue, we measured aPLs defined according to the classification criteria (anticardiolipin antibody: aCL) IgG/IgM and anti-β glycoprotein I antibody (aβGPI) (IgG/IgM) as well as non-criteria antibodies (aCL IgA, aβGPI IgA and aβGPI domain I), in a cohort of 211 patients (61 APS, 140 disease controls and 10 healthy individuals).

Efficacy of a new filler-containing root coating material for dentin remineralization.

Purpose: To evaluate a new root coating material containing surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler for remineralization of demineralized dentin.

Methods: The dentin was exposed on root surfaces of human third molars and demineralized by immersion in demineralization solution for 4 days. The demineralized dentin surface was divided into three areas.

Effect of simultaneous stretching of the wrist and finger extensors for lateral epicondylitis: a gross anatomical study of the tendinous origins of the extensor carpi radialis brevis and extensor digitorum communis.

Background: Pulling the wrist into flexion with the elbow in extension and forearm in pronation has been used as the stretching technique of wrist extensors for lateral epicondylitis. Simultaneous stretching of the fingers in addition to the wrist flexion has also been applied. However, the mechanism of this simultaneous stretching has not been clarified.

Delineation of clinical features in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome caused by KMT2A mutations.

Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is an autosomal dominant congenital anomaly syndrome characterized by hairy elbows, dysmorphic facial appearances (hypertelorism, thick eyebrows, downslanted and vertically narrow palpebral fissures), pre- and post-natal growth deficiency, and psychomotor delay. WSS is caused by heterozygous mutations in KMT2A (also known as MLL), a gene encoding a histone methyltransferase. Here, we identify six novel KMT2A mutations in six WSS patients, with four mutations occurring de novo.

Efficient, effective, safe procedure to identify nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery.

Background: The nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) is always associated with the aberrant subclavian artery. CT images can detect this vascular anomaly, which predicts an NRILN. The purpose of this study was to report our procedure to identify the NRILN in patients with the aberrant subclavian artery.

Sesamol suppresses cyclooxygenase-2 transcriptional activity in colon cancer cells and modifies intestinal polyp development in Apc (Min/+) mice.

Excessive prostaglandin production by cyclooxygenase-2 in stromal and epithelial cells is a causative factor of colorectal carcinogenesis. Thus, compounds which inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 transcriptional activity in colon epithelial cells could be candidates for anti-carcinogenic agents. A cyclooxygenase-2 transcriptional activity in the human colon cancer cell line DLD-1 has been measured using a β-galactosidase reporter gene system.

[Synthesis of indole compounds using multifunctional synthons].

This review describes a synthesis of indole compounds using multifunctional synthons. The multifunctional synthons, trienes and gramines, were respectively synthesized using Pd-catalyzed tandem cyclization/cross-coupling reaction of indolylborate with vinyl bromide, and reaction of indolylcuprate with iminium chloride. As an application of the multifunctional synthons to the indole alkaloids synthesis, we accomplished the total synthesis of ellipticine, 9-methoxyellipticine, 9-hydroxyellipticine, tetrahydroellipticine, μ-alkaloid B, μ-alkaloid D, calothrixin A, calothrixin B, tubifoline, and yuehchukene.