Relationship Between Cardiovascular Events and Serum Lipid and Plasma Fatty Acid Profile in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients With Diabetic Mellitus.

Background/aim: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a frequent complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients, especially when the underlying disease is diabetes mellitus (DM). In this study, we investigated cardiovascular events and lipid and fatty acid profile in maintenance HD patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Patients And Methods: The subjects were 123 patients undergoing HD at Oyokyo Kidney Research Institute Hirosaki Hospital, who were considered to have DKD as the underlying cause of dialysis induction.

Newly diagnosed extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, at the injected left arm after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were developed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine is effective, adverse effects have been reported. Here, we report a case of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL), of the left arm following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination.

Cytotoxic Activity of Unique Synthesized Five-membered Heterocyclic Compounds Coordinated with Tiopronin Monovalent.

Background: We recently synthesized a compound in which 5-mercapto-1-methyltetrazole (MM4) was coordinated to tiopronin monovalent (TPN-Au(I)) and reported its cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cells in vitro.

Objective: We further synthesized other heterocyclic compounds coordinated with TPN-Au(I) and assessed their cytotoxic activity against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and lung cancer cell line H1299 in vitro.

Methods: Seven kinds of compounds were synthesized by introducing a five-membered heterocyclic compound into TPN-Au(I).

DAP3-mediated cell cycle regulation and its association with radioresistance in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Mitochondria play important roles in the cellular response to various types of stress, including that triggered by ionizing radiation. We have previously reported that the mitochondrial ribosomal protein death-associated protein 3 (DAP3) regulates the radioresistance of human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell lines A549 and H1299. However, the underlying mechanism of this regulation remains to be elucidated.

Translational study for stereotactic body radiotherapy against non-small cell lung cancer, including oligometastases, considering cancer stem-like cells enable predicting clinical outcome from in vitro data.

Background: Curative effects of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been evaluated using various biophysical models. Because such model parameters are empirically determined based on clinical experience, there is a large gap between in vitro and clinical studies. In this study, considering the heterogeneous cell population, we performed a translational study to realize the possible linkage based on a modeling approach.

Long-Term Analysis of Internal Exposure Dose-Reduction Effects by Food Regulation and Food Item Contribution to Dose after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident.

Over 10 years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. This study verifies the efficacy of longitudinal regulation on internal exposure doses and analyzes food group contributions to radiation doses using accumulated monitoring test results. The committed effective doses in 10,000 virtual persons from fiscal year (FY) 2012 to 2021, with and without regulation, were estimated as products of radioactivity concentrations randomly sampled from the test results, food intake, and dose coefficient.

Feasibility of using counts-per-volume approach with a new SPECT phantom to optimize the relationship between administered dose and acquisition time.

We developed a phantom for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), with the objective of assessing image quality to optimize administered dose and acquisition time. We investigated whether the concept of counts-per-volume (CPV), which is used as a predictor of visual image quality in positron emission tomography, can be used to estimate the acquisition time required for each SPECT image. QIRE phantoms for the head (QIRE-h) and torso (QIRE-t) were developed to measure four physical indicators of image quality in a single scan: uniformity, contrast of both hot and defective lesions with respect to the background, and linearity between radioactivity concentration and count density.

Manual Scoring with Shortened 48 h Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus Assay Feasible for Triage in the Event of a Mass-Casualty Radiation Accident.

The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in cytogenetic biodosimetry uses micronucleus (MN) frequency scored in binucleated cells (BNCs) to estimate ionizing radiation dose exposed. Despite the faster and simpler MN scoring, CBMN assay is not commonly recommended in radiation mass-casualty triage as human peripheral blood is typically cultured for 72 h. Furthermore, CBMN assay evaluation in triage often uses high-throughput scoring with expensive and specialized equipment.

Rehabilitation intervention safety in patients with malignant lymphoma with low blood cell counts.

[Purpose] We established criteria for patients with malignant lymphoma with low blood counts, who did not meet the criteria to discontinue rehabilitation or the blood transfusion criteria even though they were borderline for discontinuing rehabilitation. We investigated physical symptoms, activities of daily living, and adverse events in patients who were permitted to undergo rehabilitation intervention using the new criteria. [Participants and Methods] Forty-two patients met the criteria to discontinue rehabilitation based on blood data, and the new-criteria group included 153 patients who received permission for rehabilitation from a hematologist despite not meeting the criteria to discontinue rehabilitation.

Machine learning-based prediction of conversion coefficients for I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine heart-to-mediastinum ratio.

Purpose: We developed a method of standardizing the heart-to-mediastinal ratio in I-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) images using a conversion coefficient derived from a dedicated phantom. This study aimed to create a machine-learning (ML) model to estimate conversion coefficients without using a phantom.

Methods: 210 Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of I-MIBG images to obtain conversion coefficients using collimators that differed in terms of hole diameter, septal thickness, and length.

Modified signal-to-noise ratio in the liver using the background-to-lung activity ratio to assess image quality of whole-body F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

The signal-to-noise ratio in the liver (SNR liver) is commonly used to assess the quality of positron emission tomography (PET) images; however, it is weakly correlated with visual assessments. Conversely, the noise equivalent count (NEC) density showed a strong correlation with visual assessment but did not consider the effects of image reconstruction conditions. Therefore, we propose a new indicator, the modified SNR liver, and plan to verify its usefulness by comparing it with conventional indicators.

Exosome-like vesicles released from ob/ob mouse adipose tissue enhance cell survival of cells with radiation-induced genomic instability.

Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is a serious risk factor for cancer development. While the underlying mechanisms between obesity and cancer are still unknown, obesity disrupts the role of adipocytes in energy homeostasis, and the alteration of adipokine, insulin and sex steroid signaling. Recently, it has been identified that adipose tissue-derived exosome-like vesicles (ELVs) regulate metabolic homeostasis.

The double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR negatively regulates the protein expression of IFN-β induced by RIG-I signaling.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is a cytoplasmic RNA sensor that plays an important role in innate immune responses to viral RNAs. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is a eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) kinase that is initially involved in the responses of the translational machinery to dsRNA. PKR is also thought to play an essential role in antiviral innate immunity.

Chondroitin sulfate is not digested at all in the mouse small intestine but may suppress interleukin 6 expression induced by tumor necrosis factor-α.

Salmon nasal cartilage proteoglycan (PG) was orally administered to mice. The PG digest was recovered from the small intestine, and its sugar chain size and unsaturated disaccharide content were examined. The elution position of the PG digest following Sepharose CL-4B chromatography was consistent with that of actinase-digested PG prior to administration.

Construction of a Phantom for Image Quality Evaluation in PET/MRI System.

: There is no phantom for image quality test in magnetic resonance imaging combined with positron emission tomography systems (PET/MRI systems). In MRI, radioactive water phantom containing 2-deoxy-2-[F-18] fluoro-D-glucose (F-FDG) cannot be used due to the dielectric effect. Even for phantoms filled with MR-available solutions, the source current of the RF coil is strongly disturbed as the diameter of the phantom increases.

ER export signals mediate plasma membrane localization of transmembrane protein TMEM72.

Transmembrane protein 72 (TMEM72) is involved in normal kidney development and tumorigenesis in renal cell carcinoma. However, the function of TMEM72 has not been experimentally examined; therefore, the role of TMEM72 is incompletely understood. In this study, we initially demonstrated that TMEM72 has four transmembrane domains (TMDs) and a long C-terminal tail.

RAGE activation in macrophages and development of experimental diabetic polyneuropathy.

It is suggested that activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) induces proinflammatory response in diabetic nerve tissues. Macrophage infiltration is invoked in the pathogenesis of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), while the association between macrophage and RAGE activation and the downstream effects of macrophages remain to be fully clarified in DPN. This study explored the role of RAGE in the pathogenesis of DPN through the modified macrophages.

Multiomics and artificial intelligence enabled peripheral blood-based prediction of amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Background: Since dementia is preventable with early interventions, biomarkers that assist in diagnosing early stages of dementia, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), are urgently needed.

Methods: Multiomics analysis of amnestic MCI (aMCI) peripheral blood (n = 25) was performed covering the transcriptome, microRNA, proteome, and metabolome. Validation analysis for microRNAs was conducted in an independent cohort (n = 12).

Physical performance and maximum tongue pressure associated with oral intake independence: a retrospective study on hospitalized patients with heart failure.

Dysphagia in patients with heart failure leads to poorer outcomes during hospitalization and after discharge. Therefore, addressing dysphagia is critical for improving patient prognosis. This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate associations between improvements in swallowing dysfunction at the time of hospital discharge and the physical function, cognitive function, nutritional status, and maximum tongue pressure (MTP).

Mitotic index maximization with no effect on radiation-induced dicentric chromosome frequency.

Purpose: The dicentric chromosome (Dic) assay, which is the gold standard for biological dose assessment in radiation emergency medicine, requires an analysis of at least 500 lymphocyte metaphases or 100 Dic aberrations. Therefore, peripheral blood culture conditions able to obtain a high frequency of metaphases for efficient dose evaluation should be optimized. However, the type of blood cultures [i.

Characterization of the Emerging Enteropathogen Isolated from Urine Samples of Patients Attending Sapporo Area Hospitals, Japan.

Recently, has been identified as a causative agent of diarrhea in humans and is often misidentified as diarrheagenic (DEC), a lactose-nondegrading bacterium. In this study, we performed biochemical characterization, gene possession status, drug susceptibility testing, and sequencing analysis of the strains detected in urine samples. One urea-degrading strain was detected in terms of biochemical characteristics, but was found to be nonurea-degrading by another method, leading to conflicting results.

Serum Proteomic and Oxidative Modification Profiling in Mice Exposed to Total Body X-Irradiation.

The details of the dose-dependent response of serum proteins exposed to ionizing radiation, especially the oxidative modification response in amino acid sequences of albumin, the most abundant protein, are unknown. Thus, a proteomic analysis of the serum components from mice exposed to total body X-irradiation (TBI) ranging from 0.5 Gy to 3.

Morphometrical Differences among Endometrial Endometrioid Carcinoma Grade 1, Grade 3, and Serous Carcinoma in Endometrial Liquid-Based Cytology Preparations.

Introduction: In Japan, the direct smearing preparation (conventional preparation) has been widely used for cytological examination of the endometrium. Problems with the conventional preparation can be dissolved by liquid-based cytology (LBC) preparation. The Yokohama System is a method for reporting endometrial cytology, but the system lumps cancers together and does not distinguish between histological types.

Service-Learning Experiences Related to Health Support Activities for Residents Who Have Returned Home after Evacuation Due to a Radiation Disaster.

Hirosaki University has regularly offered health support activities to residents of X town in Fukushima, and thus, some interactive benefits are expected as a service-learning experience for nursing students. This study aimed to clarify the experiences of students who participated in service-learning and consider which methods and content were effective. In total, 52 nursing students were recruited into the program, which was held from 2018 to 2021.