Anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract improves long-term memory impairment and emotional abnormality in senescence-accelerated mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with a progressive worsening in cognitive function, which is often accompanied by emotional disturbance. Recent studies revealed that anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract (BCE) can impart health benefits, but it is not known whether BCE is useful in the prevention and/or treatment of AD. Here, we examined the effects of BCE using a senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) model.

Exosomal MicroRNA as Biomarkers for Diagnosing or Monitoring the Progression of Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma: A Pilot Study.

Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of gynecological malignancy-related mortality since early-stage disease is difficult to diagnose. Advanced clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (CCCO) has dismal prognosis, and its incidence has been increasing in Japan, emphasizing the need for highly sensitive diagnostic and prognostic CCCO biomarkers. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) secreted by tumor cells are known to play a role in carcinogenesis; however, their involvement in ovarian cancer is unclear.

The Effect of Data Augmentation in Deep Learning Approach for Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Recognition.

Data augmentation is reported as a useful technique to generate a large amount of image datasets from a small image dataset. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of data augmentation for leukocyte recognition with deep learning. We performed three different data augmentation methods (rotation, scaling, and distortion) as pretreatment on the original images.

cGAS Regulates the Radioresistance of Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) plays an important role in biological responses to pathogens. The activation of the cGAS pathway in immune cells is known to induce antitumor effects, but the role of cGAS in cancer cells remains poorly understood. In silico analysis using public databases suggested that high cGAS expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is indicative of a poor prognosis for HNSCC patients.

Longitudinal Verification of Post-Nuclear Accident Food Regulations in Japan Focusing on Wild Vegetables.

Focusing on the importance of wild vegetables for local residents, this study aims to validate the effects of food regulations under the current criteria (e.g., 100 Bq/kg for general foods) established approximately a year after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Detection of biological responses to low-dose radiation in humans.

It has been considered difficult to detect the biological effects of low-dose radiation exposure below approximately 100 mSv in humans. Serum proteomic analysis and oxidative modification profiling were conducted with blood samples collected from residents of a newly discovered high-level natural background radiation area (annual effective dose approximately 50 mSv y) and normal-level area (1.22 mSv y) in Mamuju, Indonesia, where many people have been living for generations.

Training of Medical Responders to Nuclear Disaster: Hybrid Program in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The spread of COVID-19 has made it difficult to provide training in medical treatment in a radiation disaster. In this study, we will examine the effects and challenges of using a hybrid approach that combines online and face-to-face components.

Methods: A total of 5 face-to face and 25 online medical staff participated in the training program.

An Analysis of the Serum Metabolomic Profile for the Radiomitigative Effect of the Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonist Romiplostim in Lethally Whole-Body-Irradiated Mice.

The thrombopoietin receptor agonist romiplostim (RP) was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for improving survival in patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation. Our previous studies with mice have shown that RP administration after lethal irradiation not only completely rescues irradiated mice but also shows mitigative effects on their hematopoiesis and multiple organ injury, including that of the lung, bone marrow, small intestine, and liver. However, the mechanism by which RP functions as a radiomitigator remains unclear.

Impact of polymorphisms of pharmacokinetics-related genes and the inflammatory response on the metabolism of voriconazole.

The effects of inflammatory responses and polymorphisms of the genes encoding cytochrome P450 (CYP) (CYP2C19 and CYP3A5), flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3), pregnane X receptor (NR1I2), constitutive androstane receptor (NR1I3), and CYP oxidoreductase (POR) on the ratio of voriconazole (VRCZ) N-oxide to VRCZ (VNO/VRCZ) and steady-state trough concentrations (C ) of VRCZ were investigated. A total of 56 blood samples were collected from 36 Japanese patients. Results of multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that the presence of the extensive metabolizer CYP2C19 genotype, the dose per administration, and the presence of the NR1I2 rs3814057 C/C genotype were independent factors influencing the VNO/VRCZ ratio in patients with CRP levels of less than 40 mg/L (standardized regression coefficients (SRC) = 0.

Effects and Related Mechanisms of the Senolytic Agent ABT-263 on the Survival of Irradiated A549 and Ca9-22 Cancer Cells.

Senolytic agents eliminate senescent cells and are expected to reduce senescent cell-mediated adverse effects in cancer therapy. However, the effects of senolytic agents on the survival of irradiated cancer cells remain unknown. Here, the effects of the senolytic agent ABT-263 on the survival of irradiated A549 and Ca9-22 cancer cells were investigated.

The Effect of High-Dose-Rate Pulsed Radiation on the Survival of Clinically Relevant Radioresistant Cells.

We demonstrated that low dose pulsed radiation (0.25 Gy) at a high-dose-rate, even for very short intervals (10 s), decreases cell survival to a greater extent than single exposure to a similar total dose and dose rate. The objective of this study was to clarify whether high-dose-rate pulsed radiation is effective against SAS-R, a clinically relevant radioresistant cell line.

Expression of Zinc-Finger Antiviral Protein in hCMEC/D3 Human Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cells: Effect of a Toll-Like Receptor 3 Agonist.

Introduction: Invasion of viruses into the brain causes viral encephalitis, which can be fatal and causes permanent brain damage. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain by excluding harmful substances and microbes. Brain microvascular endothelial cells are important components of the BBB; however, the mechanisms of antiviral reactions in these cells have not been fully elucidated.

[The Method for Estimation of Radiation Dose of Eye Lens Covered by Radiation Protection Glasses Using Personal Dosimeter for Trunk of the Body and X-ray Shielding Material].

Purpose: Radiation protection glasses is a useful tool for dose reduction of eye lens. However, the method to evaluate the dose of eye lens, which is covered with radiation protection glasses in actual radiation management situation, has not been established. We invented the easy-to-use procedure to estimate the dose of eye lens inside of radiation protection glasses for occupationally exposed person using an X-ray shielding material and an additional personal dosimeter for trunk of the body.

Dose-dependent expression of extracellular microRNAs in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells exposed to high-dose-rate ionising radiation.

Biomarkers of tumour response to radiotherapy may help optimise cancer treatment. The aim of the present study was to identify changes in extracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) as a biomarker of radiation-induced damage to human colorectal cancer cells. HCT116 cells were exposed to increasing doses of X-rays, and extracellular miRNAs were analysed by microarray.

The difference in attentional focus during exercise affects attention resources.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the difference in attentional focus, including the external focus (EF) or internal focus (IF) during exercise on attention resources from the viewpoint of the brain activity. [Participants and Methods] The study included 20 healthy adult participants randomly assigned to two groups: the EF and IF groups. The participants in each group received different verbal instructions before performing a tennis ball task, in which they threw a tennis ball on the floor at a target with their non-dominant hands as accurately as possible while sitting on a chair.

Potential Vasculoprotective Effects of Blackcurrant () Extract in Diabetic KK-A Mice.

Polyphenols are bioactive compounds found naturally in fruits and vegetables; they are widely used in disease prevention and health maintenance. Polyphenol-rich blackcurrant extract (BCE) exerts beneficial effects on vascular health in menopausal model animals. However, the vasculoprotective effects in diabetes mellitus (DM) and atherosclerotic vascular disease secondary to DM are unknown.

Usefulness of Fractal Analysis of Kirsch Edge Images for the Tissue Fragment Inner Structure in Breast FNAB.

Objective: Recent advances in high-precision mammography and ultrasound screening have led to an increase in the detection of early lesions (ductal carcinoma in situ and small cancers) appearing as microcalcified lesions or microcystic images, and there needs to be an improvement in the accuracy of breast fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) assessing these lesions. The objective of this study was to investigate whether fractal analysis of Kirsch edge images for the tissue fragment inner structure (FKT) is useful in breast FNAB. FKT measures tissue fragment chromasia of hyperchromatic crowded tissue fragments (HCG), tissue fragment shape unevenness, and tissue fragment inner structure complexity.

Cytotoxic Activity of a Unique Monomeric Heterogeneous Two-Coordinate Ligand Monovalent Gold Complex with Tiopronin and a Heterocyclic Mercapto-Tetrazole Compound.

Background: The importance of the role of NF-κB is recognized in situations such as malignant transformation and metastasis of cancer, and it has been suggested that inhibiting this role can be one of the cancer treatment strategies. Gold preparations such as auranofin are known to have an indirect NF-κB inhibitory effect.

Objective: We synthesized a novel gold complex [tiopronin monovalent gold-5-mercapto- 1-methyl tetrazole, abbreviated as TPN-Au(I)-MM4], with different physical properties and chemical structure from auranofin, and evaluated its cytotoxic activity and radiation sensitizing effect on human THP1 cells.

Safety of rehabilitation interventions for patients with hematologic diseases associated with low blood counts-verification focusing on blood cancer.

[Purpose] This study aimed to establish unique criteria for hematologic patients with low blood counts in the borderline region of or below the threshold for discontinuing cancer rehabilitation without meeting the criteria for blood transfusion, and to investigate the physical symptoms and activities of daily living. [Participants and Methods] Among the 251 participants, 128 had blood test results below the discontinuation criteria. They were permitted to engage in rehabilitation interventions by a hematologist based on the new criteria.

Effects of different baggage carrying methods on walking while wearing an arm sling in simulated hemiplegic stroke patients.

[Purpose] We aimed to clarify the effects of different baggage carrying methods on the movement of the trunk and pelvis while walking with an arm sling in simulated hemiplegic stroke patients. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 14 healthy young adults. Measurements were obtained using a three-dimensional motion analysis device in the following order: normal walking, walking with an arm sling on the upper left limb, walking with baggage on the right side, vertical walking, and diagonal walking.

Not Only Hypoxia- but Radiation-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Is Modulated by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 in A549 Lung Cancer Cells.

Hypoxia leads to post-treatment metastasis and recurrences of cancer via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Radiotherapy itself may also contribute to the acquisition of EMT phenotypes. Despite extensive studies on the EMT driven by either hypoxia or radiation stimuli, the molecular mechanisms characterizing these EMT events remain unclear.

Changing Methods of Education During a Pandemic: Questionnaire Survey about Examinations for Nuclear Medicine Technology at Educational Institutions in Japan.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the world. Its effects go far beyond health care: education has to be conducted so as to prevent infection among students and faculty. Accordingly, changes have occurred in Japan's educational institutions, including methods of preparing students for examinations for nuclear medicine.

Cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay performed in 0 and 2 Gy irradiated whole blood and isolated PBMCs in a six-well transwell co-culture system.

Purpose: Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in cytogenetic biodosimetry uses micronucleus (MN) frequency scored in binucleated cells (BNC) for dose estimation. Cell-cycle progression parameters of nuclear division index (NDI) and percentage of BNC (% BNC) are also evaluated. Whole blood (WB) or peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from WB can be used for lymphocyte culture.