High-throughput evaluation of half-metallicity of CoMnSi Heusler alloys using composition-spread films and spin-integrated hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

We demonstrate high-throughput evaluation of the half-metallicity of CoMnSi Heusler alloys by spin-integrated hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) of composition-spread films performed with high-brilliance synchrotron radiation at NanoTerasu, which identifies the optimum composition showing the best half-metallicity. Co Mn Si composition-spread thin films for  = 10-40% with a thickness of 30 nm are fabricated on MgO(100) substrates using combinatorial sputtering technique. The 2-ordering and (001)-oriented epitaxial growth of CoMnSi are confirmed by X-ray diffraction for  = 18-40%.

Applicability of TB-LAMP test for diagnosis of pulmonary TB among HIV-positive individuals.

Background: The loop-mediated isothermal amplification for TB (TB-LAMP) assay is more cost-effective and accessible than the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the TB-LAMP assay in individuals with and without HIV infection.

Methods: Patients aged ≥15 years presenting with symptoms of TB were included in the study.

Superiority illusion in older adults: Volume and functional connectivity of the precuneus.

Aim: Superiority illusion (SI), a cognitive bias where individuals perceive themselves as better than others, may serve as a psychological mechanism that contributes to well-being and resilience in older adults. However, the specific neural basis of SI in elderly populations remains underexplored. This study aims to identify brain regions partially associated with SI, exploring its potential role in adaptive psychological processes.

The association of agricultural and non-agricultural work on the healthy ageing of older adults in Japan: A 6-year longitudinal study from the Japan Gerontological evaluation study.

Objectives: Many studies have examined the impact of employment on health, but few large-scale longitudinal studies specifically investigate the impact of agricultural labor on the health of older adults. This study aims to identify the health effects of employment on older Japanese adults, focusing on agricultural workers.

Methods: This study uses longitudinal data collected by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) from 2013 to 2019.

Evaluation of the beneficial effects of pemafibrate in hypertriglyceridemia with or without alcohol drinking (PAR-CHAT: PARmodia-CHikushi Anti-dyslipidemia Trial).

Purpose: To examine the efficacy and safety of pemafibrate in outpatients with hypertriglyceridemia, including alcoholic hypertriglyceridemia.

Method: This multicenter, open-label, prospective observational study (C20-07-009) included outpatients with hypertriglyceridemia being treated with pemafibrate who were registered at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital or associated clinics. Endpoints were changes in serum triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hepatic biomarkers, and other blood values from baseline to 24 weeks and safety.

Supramolecular Ionic Gels for Stretchable Electronics and Future Directions.

Ionic gels (IGs), ionic liquids (ILs) dispersed in polymers, exhibit extremely low vapor pressure, electrochemical and thermal stability, and excellent mechanical characteristics; therefore, they are used for fabricating stretchable sensors, electrochemical transistors, and energy storage devices. Although such characteristics are promising for flexible and stretchable electronics, the mechanical stress-induced ruptured covalent bonds forming polymer networks cannot recover owing to the irreversible interaction between the bonds. Physical cross-linking via noncovalent bonds enables the interaction of polymers and ILs to form supramolecular IGs (SIGs), which exhibit favorable characteristics for wearable devices that conventional IGs with noncovalent bonds cannot achieve.

Cost-Effectiveness of the Self-Care Management System for Heart Failure.

Background: We recently reported that the self-care management system for heart failure (HF) decreased re-hospitalization for HF. In the present study we estimate the cost-effectiveness of this system.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively enrolled 569 consecutive patients who were admitted for HF treatment at Kitano Hospital.

Real-World Long-Term Effectiveness of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Elderly Patients.

Background: Because it is unclear whether implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are equally effective in patients of all ages, we investigated the association of age with long-term clinical outcomes of patients who underwent ICD implantation.

Methods And Results: A total of 416 consecutive patients (mean age: 69 years) from 4 tertiary hospitals who underwent ICD implantation or were upgraded from an existing permanent pacemaker between January 2011 and November 2022 were enrolled and divided into 3 groups based on age: <65 years (n=158), 65-74 years (n=138), and ≥75 years (n=120). We compared the incidence of all-cause death and adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiac death, appropriate ICD therapy, and heart failure hospitalization.

Evidence of Cardiac Rehabilitation for Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction in Recovery to Maintenance Phase.

Heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) is typically coupled with progressive left ventricular enlargement and detrimental cardiac remodeling. The management of HFrEF is comprehensive and primarily involves pharmacologic treatment using cardioprotective agents. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is also strongly recommended as a treatment for HFrEF.

Verification of the Impact of Changes in the Severity Classification of Proteinuria on the Prognosis of Hypertensive Patients Following the Initiation of Esaxerenone.

Background: The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) or urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) has been reported as predictors of cardiovascular and renal events. We aimed to evaluate the impact of changes in proteinuria severity on the prognosis of hypertensive patients post-esaxerenone initiation.

Methods And Results: Hypertensive patients who commenced esaxerenone (n=164) were classified into 3 groups according to baseline UACR or UPCR, based on the modified proteinuria severity classification: A1 (normal; n=35); A2 (microalbuminuria/mild proteinuria; n=49); and A3 (macroalbuminuria/severe proteinuria; n=80).

Clinical Importance of Protein Intake in Hospitalized Elderly Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: The relationship between protein intake and the long-term prognosis of elderly patients with heart failure remains poorly understood. We investigated the association between predischarge protein intake and long-term prognosis in hospitalized elderly patients with heart failure.

Methods And Results: A single-center, retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction was conducted.

Association of In-Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation on Hospital-Associated Disability for Octogenarian Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction - An Insight From the JROAD-DPC Database.

Background: This study aimed to determine the status of in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and hospital-associated disability (HAD) for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aged >80 years.

Methods And Results: This study involved the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and the Diagnosis Procedure Combination databases, and included patients who were hospitalized with AMI from April 2014 to March 2021. Patients were categorized by the daily amount of CR: NA, not applicable; Low, 20-30 min; Moderate, 30-40 min; and High, >40 min.

Clinical Review of Cardiogenic Shock After Acute Myocardial Infarction - Revascularization, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Beyond.

Owing to recent advances in early reperfusion and pharmacological therapies, the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has considerably improved over the past decades. However, the mortality rate remains high at ~40-50% after AMI when complicated by cardiogenic shock. Although immediate coronary revascularization of the infarct-related artery has been the only evidence-based treatment, temporary mechanical circulatory support with a microaxial flow pump (Impella) has become another therapeutic option supported by randomized trial data in highly selected patients.

A stuck leaflet after balloon post-dilatation in transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a SAPIEN-3 ultra RESILIA valve: a case report.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a safe and effective therapy for patients with severe aortic stenosis. A Stuck leaflet and severe intraprosthetic regurgitation after valve implantation occur rarely but can lead to sudden haemodynamic deterioration. We encountered a case of a stuck leaflet following post-dilatation with the Edwards Sapien 3 Ultra RESILIA valve.

A very rare phenotype of immunoglobulin G4-related disease that was manifested as constrictive pericarditis: a case report.

Background: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) can arise from various causes, including post-operative degeneration, tuberculosis, and sequelae of pericarditis. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related disease is a rare but recognized cause of CP. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these aetiologies and pathologies remain unclear.

Delayed manifestation of severe coronary artery injury/stenosis associated with cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation: a case report.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures including cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation have proven to be safe and effective therapies for the treatment of many cardiac tachyarrhythmias. The incidence of coronary arterial injury (CAI) associated with RFA including CTI ablation is estimated to occur in <0.1% of patients.

Wnt3a Enhances Mesenchymal Stem Cell Engraftment and Differentiation in a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Rat Model.

Background: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) therapy is a novel approach for treating COPD. However, the difficulty in engraftment and easy clearance of BMSCs in vivo has hindered their clinical application. Hence, exploring effective methods to improve the engraftment and differentiation rates of BMSCs in vivo is urgent.

Therapeutic potential of seaweeds and their biofabricated nanoparticles in treating urolithiasis: A review.

Urolithiasis affects a significant portion of the global population, causing discomfort and pain. Unfortunately, effective drugs to treat this disorder are currently unavailable due to multiple mechanisms and an incomplete understanding of its causes. Consequently, drugs with multiple targets could be a safer and more effective remedy for treating urolithiasis.

Functional conservation and divergence of arabidopsis VENOSA4 and human SAMHD1 in DNA repair.

The human deoxyribonucleoside triphosphatase (dNTPase) Sterile alpha motif and histidine-aspartate domain containing protein 1 (SAMHD1) has a dNTPase-independent role in repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination (HR). Here, we show that VENOSA4 (VEN4), the probable ortholog of SAMHD1, also functions in DSB repair by HR. The loss-of-function mutants showed increased DNA ploidy and deregulated DNA repair genes, suggesting DNA damage accumulation.

Acute Effects of Unplanned and Planned Hop-Landing Training on Neurocognitive Function and Knee Biomechanics.

Background: Athletes with decreased baseline neurocognitive function may experience noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in unanticipated athletic situations. Many ACL injury prevention programs (IPPs) focus on improving closed-skill movements (eg, planned landing). However, the more open-skill movements (eg, unplanned reactive movements) required in unpredictable sports scenarios are commonly absent from ACL IPPs, and the acute effects of open-skill training on neurocognitive function remain unclear.