Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors may lower body temperature: A case-control study.

Aims: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) enhance GABAergic transmission via the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/GLP-1 receptor pathway. Oral γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration reduces body temperature in humans; thus, DPP4i may reduce body temperature in humans. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of DPP4i administration on the body temperature of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The Life-Space Mobility of Community-Dwelling Older Adults is Associated With Personality Traits.

Life-space mobility (LSM) in older adults is influenced by physical, cognitive, and psychological states. However, the relationship between LSM and personality traits remains unclear. Thus, our cross-sectional study investigated this correlation, which included 144 participants aged ≥60 years.

FLASH Effect Is Not Always Induced by Ultra-high Dose-rate Proton Irradiation Under Hypoxic Conditions.

Background/aim: Pre-clinical studies have shown that irradiation with electrons at an ultra-high dose-rate (FLASH) spares normal tissue while maintaining tumor control. However, most in vitro experiments with protons have been conducted using a non-clinical irradiation system in normoxia alone. This study evaluated the biological response of non-tumor and tumor cells at different oxygen concentrations irradiated with ultra-high dose-rate protons using a clinical system and compared it with the conventional dose rate (CONV).

Female sex and age-based advantage of simulated electric field in TMS to the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and mood disorders.

This study investigates computational models of electric field strength for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) based on individual MRI data of patients with schizophrenia (SZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BP), and healthy controls (HC). In addition, it explores the association of electric field intensities with age, gender and intracranial volume. The subjects were 23 SZ (12 male, mean age = 45.

Impact of individual factors and personality trait on psychological problems of family members living with staff of a COVID-19 frontline hospital: A cross-sectional self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the association between individual factors/personality traits and depression and anxiety in family members living with staff working on the frontline of COVID-19 care.

Methods: The subjects were family members over the age of 15 years living with staff members of a COVID-19 frontline hospital. Between March 27 and April 11, 2021, 204 self-administered anonymous questionnaires were distributed, and 149 responses were received.

Comparison of Early Postoperative Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings After Resection of Gliomas and Meningiomas.

Objective: Glioma and meningioma require vastly different surgical approaches, even if only involving a simple craniotomy procedure. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is useful for the postoperative evaluation of ischemic damage. The present study evaluated the expected but unproven differences in DWI findings.

Excess mortality in COVID-19-affected solid organ transplant recipients across the pandemic.

The excess mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) throughout the pandemic remains unclear. This prospective cohort study based on the Japanese nationwide registry included 1632 SOTRs diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022, categorized based on dominant phases of variants of concern (VOCs): Waves 1 to 3 (Beta), 4 (Alpha), 5 (Delta), 6 (Omicron BA.1/BA.

Comparison of sexual function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and carbon-ion radiotherapy for Japanese prostate cancer patients using propensity score matching.

Background: The quality of life of patients is an important consideration when selecting treatments for localized prostate cancer (PCa). We retrospectively compared sexual function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) using propensity score matching.

Methods: In total, 127 Japanese PCa patients treated with RARP and 190 treated with CIRT monotherapy were evaluated.

Post-hip-fracture knee pain in older adults prolongs their hospital stays: A retrospective analysis using propensity score matching.

Background And Purpose: Post-hip-fracture knee pain (PHFKP) occurs in ∼28%-37% of patients and contributes to a prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS). Analyses of LOS prolongation due to PHFKP have been limited to univariate analyses that do not consider important confounding factors. After adjusting for important confounding factors, we investigated whether the presence or absence of PHFKP makes a difference in LOS in patients with hip fractures.

Aberrant brain dynamics of large-scale functional networks across schizophrenia and mood disorder.

Introduction: The dynamics of large-scale networks, which are known as distributed sets of functionally synchronized brain regions and include the visual network (VIN), somatomotor network (SMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), salience network (SAN), limbic network (LIN), frontoparietal network (FPN), and default mode network (DMN), play important roles in emotional and cognitive processes in humans. Although disruptions in these large-scale networks are considered critical for the pathophysiological mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, their role in psychiatric disorders remains unknown. We aimed to elucidate the aberrant dynamics across large-scale networks in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and mood disorders.

Hot Water Eliminates the Bitter Taste of Oral Semaglutide: A Report of Four Cases.

Semaglutide is a well-designed drug with a special coating that allows for oral administration to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, patients taking oral semaglutide complain of its bitter taste. We therefore considered suggesting that patients take oral semaglutide with hot water.

Simvastatin Induces Autophagy and Inhibits Proliferation in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Statin has recently been studied for its effects on inducing cell death and inhibiting metastasis. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism of its anti-tumor effect is not yet fully understood. We conducted research on statin as a novel treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Predictive significance of circulating tumor DNA against patients with T790M-positive EGFR-mutant NSCLC receiving osimertinib.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) provides molecular information on tumor heterogeneity. The prognostic usefulness of ctDNA after first-line epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are limited. Therefore, the present study evaluated ctDNA during osimertinib administration as a second-line or more setting to identify the relationship between EGFR mutation levels and outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Serum oxalate concentration is associated with coronary artery calcification and cardiovascular events in Japanese dialysis patients.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). CAC might contain calcium oxalate, and a high serum oxalate (S) concentration is associated with cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. We assessed the associations between S and CAC or CVD events in Japanese hemodialysis patients.

Distinct patterns of copy number alterations may predict poor outcome in central nervous system germ cell tumors.

We have previously reported that 12p gain may predict the presence of malignant components and poor prognosis for CNS germ cell tumor (GCT). Recently, 3p25.3 gain was identified as an independent predictor of poor prognosis for testicular GCT.

Clinical Prediction Models for Nonmortality Outcomes in Older Adults With Hip Fractures: A Systematic Review.

Background: Several hip fracture clinical prediction models have been developed. We conducted this study to (i) map outcomes used in clinical prediction models for hip fracture, (ii) identify the domains and instruments of predictors, and (iii) assess the risk of bias.

Methods: We performed systematic searches of studies published from June 2002 to June 2023 in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CiNii, and Ichushi databases.

Clinical prediction rules for multi surfaces walking independence using the Berg Balance Scale or Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test in persons with stroke.

Background: A Clinical prediction rule (CPR) for determining multi surfaces walking independence in persons with stroke has not been established.

Objectives: To develop a CPR for determining multi surfaces walking independence in persons with stroke.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of 419 persons with stroke.

Effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on glycated hemoglobin levels relies on dietary sodium intake.

Aims: Sodium load increases endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels in humans. Therefore, patients with an increased amount of dietary sodium intake are supposed to have higher endogenous GLP-1 levels compared to those with less dietary sodium intake. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with more dietary sodium intake show better dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) effect on glycemic control because of the expected higher GLP-1 level.

Impact of tumor markers on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in CNS germ cell tumors: correlations with clinical practice and histopathology.

Tumor markers in CNS germ cell tumors (GCTs) include human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP), which have significant diagnostic implications, as elevation of either one leads to clinical diagnosis of non-germinomatous GCTs without histopathological confirmation, justifying intensified chemotherapy and irradiation. The current study, based on an international cohort of histopathologically verified GCTs that underwent biopsy (n = 85) or resection (n = 76), sought to better define the clinical role and prognostic significance of tumor markers from serum and CSF in this challenging patient population. We found that HCG was elevated only in cases with a germinoma or choriocarcinoma component, and there existed a clear cut-off HCG value between the two.

A Retrospective Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Naldemedine for Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Cancer.

: Opioid analgesics, which are used for cancer-related pain management, cause opioid-induced constipation (OIC). Naldemedine, a peripheral opioid receptor antagonist, is an OIC-modifying agent, but no focused efficacy and safety analysis has been conducted for its use in hepatobiliary pancreatic cancers. We performed a multi-institutional study on the efficacy and safety of naldemedine in patients with hepatobiliary pancreatic cancer using opioids in clinical practice.

Efficacy and Safety of Naldemedine Administration for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Cancer Patients with Poor Performance Status.

Constipation is a concern among patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 3 and 4. To assess naldemedine's efficacy and safety in cancer patients on opioids with poor PS. Multicenter, retrospective study.