Physical activity during summer and recognition of heatstroke prevention among patients with cardiovascular disease in an urban area of Japan: a descriptive study.

Objective: Patients with cardiovascular disease are considered a high-risk population for heat-related illnesses. This study aimed to describe the difference in physical activity between summer and fall among patients with cardiovascular disease and their recognition of heatstroke prevention in an urban area with high temperature conditions.

Results: We enrolled 56 outpatients who participated in cardiac rehabilitation in the summer of 2022 (median age, 75 years [interquartile range, 68-80]).

Impact of hospital formulary intervention on carbapenem use: a segmented time-series analysis of consumption and a propensity score-matched non-inferiority study of treatment efficacy.

Background: Pharmaceutical formularies play a crucial role in guiding medication use by balancing clinical effectiveness and cost efficiency. Although formulary implementation has been increasing in Japan, comprehensive evaluations of its impact on both clinical and economic outcomes are limited. This study aimed to assess the effect of introducing an antimicrobial formulary at Yokohama City University Hospital on antibiotic usage and treatment outcomes in intra-abdominal infections.

Synergetic effect of fungal pretreatment and lignin modification on delignification and saccharification: a case study of a natural lignin mutant in mulberry.

Background: Fungal pretreatment for partial separation of lignocellulosic components may reduce lignocellulose recalcitrance during the production of biofuels and biochemicals. Quantitative and qualitative modification of plant lignin through genetic engineering or traditional breeding may also reduce the recalcitrance. This study was conducted to examine the effects of combining these two approaches using three white rot fungi and mulberry wood with an altered lignin structure.

Predictive factors of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormality on high-resolution computed tomography scans: a prospective observational study.

Background: Fibrotic types of interstitial lung abnormalities seen on high-resolution computed tomography scans, characterised by traction bronchiolectasis/bronchiectasis with or without honeycombing, are predictors of progression and poor prognostic factors of interstitial lung abnormalities. There are no reports on the clinical characteristics of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography scans. Therefore, we aimed to examine these clinical characteristics and clarify the predictive factors of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography scans.

Enhancing furcation involvement classification on panoramic radiographs with vision transformers.

Background: The severity of furcation involvement (FI) directly affected tooth prognosis and influenced treatment approaches. However, assessing, diagnosing, and treating molars with FI was complicated by anatomical and morphological variations. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enhanced diagnostic accuracy for detecting FI and measuring furcation defects.

Identification of unmet information needs among families of critically ill patients and their association with post-intensive care syndrome-family: protocol for a single-center cross-sectional study.

Background: Families of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) need a variety of information about the patient. Meeting these information needs improves the quality of communication between the family and ICU staff, as well as reduces the risk of post-intensive care syndrome-family (PICS-F). However, information needs continue to be unmet, and information regarding which specific information needs are met or unmet is insufficient.

Response to initial treatment with glucocorticoids in TAFRO syndrome and implications for secondary treatment.

The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of various initial treatments incorporating glucocorticoid (GC) in TAFRO syndrome (thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin fibrosis, and organomegaly). Cases of TAFRO syndrome up to November 2023 were retrospectively collected. Overall survival (OS) and resistance to GC therapy were assessed, with resistance analyzed based on the time to the next treatment or death (TTNTD).

Comparison of the incidence of proteinuria and changes in eGFR among febuxostat and topiroxostat users.

Background: Febuxostat and topiroxostat are non-purine selective xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitors commonly used for hyperuricaemia treatment in Japan. However, comparative data on the effects of febuxostat and topiroxostat on renal function and proteinuria are limited. This study compared proteinuria incidence and changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among prevalent febuxostat and topiroxostat users.

An evaporite sequence from ancient brine recorded in Bennu samples.

Evaporation or freezing of water-rich fluids with dilute concentrations of dissolved salts can produce brines, as observed in closed basins on Earth and detected by remote sensing on icy bodies in the outer Solar System. The mineralogical evolution of these brines is well understood in regard to terrestrial environments, but poorly constrained for extraterrestrial systems owing to a lack of direct sampling. Here we report the occurrence of salt minerals in samples of the asteroid (101955) Bennu returned by the OSIRIS-REx mission.

Pivotal roles of Plasmodium falciparum lysophospholipid acyltransferase 1 in cell cycle progression and cytostome internalization.

The rapid intraerythrocytic replication of Plasmodium falciparum, a deadly species of malaria parasite, requires a quick but constant supply of phospholipids to support marked cell membrane expansion. In the malarial parasite, many enzymes functioning in phospholipid synthesis pathway have not been identified or characterized. Here, we identify P.

Sucrose-preferring gut microbes prevent host obesity by producing exopolysaccharides.

Commensal bacteria affect host health by producing various metabolites from dietary carbohydrates via bacterial glycometabolism; however, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we identified Streptococcus salivarius as a unique anti-obesity commensal bacterium. We found that S.

Crescents and CKD progression in diabetic nephropathy.

Objectives: Crescents play important roles in the pathophysiology of patients with biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, their relationship to disease severity and progression has not been fully clarified.

Methods: We assessed 142 participants in a retrospective cohort study of biopsy-proven DN.

Current Status and Prospects of Regional Collaborative Pathways for Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Japan - A Nationwide Survey.

Background: Comprehensive management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) requires seamless treatment across institutions, including intensive care centers and local clinics. However, maintaining guideline-directed medical therapy remains challenging. One promising option to improve the situation may be the implementation of regional collaborative clinical pathways.

An Underlying Mechanism for the Altered Hypoglycemic Effects of Nateglinide in Rats with Acute Peripheral Inflammation.

The hypoglycemic effects of nateglinide (NTG) were examined in rats with acute peripheral inflammation (API) induced by carrageenan treatment, and the mechanisms accounting for altered hypoglycemic effects were investigated. NTG was administered through the femoral vein in control and API rats, and its plasma concentration profile was characterized. The time courses of the changes in plasma glucose and insulin levels were also examined.

Efficacy of asfotase alfa in a patient with adult-onset hypophosphatasia without obvious bone lesions: a case report with review of literature.

The use of asfotase alfa, a bone-targeted recombinant alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme, for the treatment of adult-onset hypophosphatasia (HPP) remains controversial, particularly in patients without evident bone abnormalities. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman with a history of Graves' disease, who presented with progressive joint pain and severe fatigue. Despite the absence of bone lesions, the patient was diagnosed with HPP based on persistently low alkaline phosphatase levels, family history, and a novel heterozygous ALPL variant (p.

Lobectomy Increases Postoperative Pulmonary Artery Enlargement to a Greater Extent than Segmentectomy.

Purpose: The underlying mechanism why segmentectomy has demonstrated the non-inferiority to lobectomy in several randomized trials remains unclear. Computed tomography (CT)-measured pulmonary artery (PA) enlargement reflects PA pressure and predicts the prognosis of certain respiratory diseases. We compared the preoperative and postoperative PA diameter to the ascending aorta diameter (PA/A) ratio, investigating its impact on right ventricular function in lung resection.

Usefulness of Artificial Pneumothorax during Totally Endoscopic Off-Pump Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Surgical Ablation.

Purpose: In totally endoscopic off-pump left atrial appendage (LAA) closure and surgical ablation, securing the operative field is sometimes difficult in some patients because of a narrow working space caused by an elevated diaphragm or ventricles. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a method that facilitates securing the operative field using an artificial pneumothorax.

Methods: We analyzed 71 consecutive patients who underwent totally endoscopic off-pump LAA closure and bilateral pulmonary vein isolation.

Hans's algorithm and MYD88 mutation may affect prognosis of primary central nervous system B-cell lymphoma.

Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas account for 1.9-3% of all brain tumors, with the majority being histologically classified as primary large B-cell lymphoma of the CNS (PCNS-LBCL). PCNS-LBCL is characterized by mature germinal center-exit B cells, and most cases of this phenotype are classified as activated B-cell-like phenotype according to gene expression profiling, or as non-germinal center B-cell-like phenotype (non-GCB type) according to Hans's algorithm.

Patient Journey to Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis Diagnosis - A Japanese Claims Database Study.

Background: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an under-recognized cause of heart failure (HF) in older adults. Delayed ATTR-CM diagnosis may result in more advanced symptoms. This study describes the journey of Japanese patients with ATTR-CM.

Analytical and Clinical Validation of the Plasma-Based Guardant360 CDx Test for Assessing HER2 (ERBB2) Mutation Status in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer for Treatment with Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in DESTINY-Lung01/02.

This study demonstrates the analytical and clinical validity of the approved (United States and Japan) plasma-based Guardant360 companion diagnostic (CDx) test for selecting patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 [ERBB2])-mutated (HER2m) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) treatment. Concordance between the Guardant360 CDx test and the plasma-based AVENIO ctDNA Expanded Kit Assay (AVENIO), as well as the tissue-based clinical trial assays (CTAs) was investigated. Clinical utility was assessed by comparing T-DXd clinical efficacy results of patients in DESTINY-Lung01/02 who tested positive for HER2 mutations using the Guardant360 CDx test to benchmark efficacy results from DESTINY-Lung01/02.

Analytical approaches to evaluate risk factors of multimorbidity: a systematic scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Understanding causal risk factors that contribute to the development of multimorbidity is essential for designing and targeting effective preventive strategies. Despite a large body of research in this field, there has been little critical discussion about the appropriateness of the various analytical approaches used. This proposed scoping review aims to summarise and appraise the analytical approaches used in the published literature that evaluated risk factors of multimorbidity and to provide guidance for researchers conducting analyses in this field.

Long-term retention of the pedicled thymic flap after bronchial stump coverage.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and retention rates of pedicled thymic flaps to enhance understanding of bronchial stump coverage. A retrospective analysis of 22 consecutive patients who underwent anatomical lung resection followed by bronchial stump coverage with pedicled thymic flaps between January 2017 and December 2022 was conducted. The procedure was performed using a minimally invasive 3-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery technique for all patients with no complications related to graft harvest or fixation.

Anaphylaxis definition, overview, and clinical support tool: 2024 consensus report.

Background: The 2006 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (NIAID/FAAN) anaphylaxis criteria are widely used in clinical care and research. In 2020, the World Allergy Organization (WAO) published modified criteria that have not been uniformly adopted. Different criteria contribute to inconsistent care and research outcomes.

Molecular characterization of feline caliciviruses isolated from several adult cats with atypical infection showing severe flu-like symptoms on a remote island in Ehime, Japan.

In November 2020, a volunteer group reported an outbreak of an infectious disease with a high fatality rate and flu-like symptoms among stray cats in Aoshima, a remote island in Ehime, Japan. Nine adult cats with severe symptoms were hospitalized. Feline calicivirus (FCV) was isolated from pharyngeal swabs of six hospitalized cats.

Age bias in changes in finger dexterity based on brain activation and spinal motor nerve excitability induced by motor imagery practice.

Elderly adults may have poorer recall ability than young adults and may not fully enjoy the effects of motor imagery. To understand the age bias of the effect of motor imagery on hand dexterity, we evaluated brain activation and spinal motor nerve excitability. Brain activation was evaluated from changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration, while spinal motor nerve excitability was evaluated from F-waves in eight young (mean age 21.