A rare, asymptomatic case of an extrahepatic portocaval shunt between the posterior aspect of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava.

Purpose: We present the case of a rare extrahepatic portocaval shunt that resulted in communication of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava (IVC) at the level between two right renal veins that was incidentally diagnosed with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in an asymptomatic patient.

Methods: A woman in her sixties with abdominal pain and diarrhea of unclear origin underwent exploratory abdominal CECT.

Results: The CECT incidentally revealed an extrahepatic portocaval shunt, whereby a vessel arising from the portal vein superior to the confluence of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins drained into the posterior aspect of the IVC between two right renal veins.

Long-term safety and efficacy of fostamatinib in Japanese patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Fostamatinib had superior efficacy to a placebo and acceptable safety profiles for at least 1 year in a phase 3 study of Japanese patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia. Here, we report the 3-year safety and efficacy of fostamatinib in that study. Data from 33 patients who received at least one dose of fostamatinib were analyzed.

Morphological identification and phylogenetic analysis of Eimeria coypi and Eimeria fluviatilis (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) isolated from nutrias (Myocastor coypus [Rodentia]) in Japan.

The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a semiaquatic rodent that originally inhabited South America. However, the animals have spread to different continents as alien species, and their numbers are quickly increasing, especially in North America, Europe, and Eastern Asia including Japan. Although nutrias have been suggested to serve as reservoirs for pathogens, including parasites, there have been few reports on this subject.

Expert consensus statement for quantitative measurement and morphologic assessment of optical coherence tomography: update 2025.

In this updated expert consensus document, the methods for the quantitative measurement and morphologic assessment of optical coherence tomography (OCT) / optical frequency domain imaging images (OFDI) are briefly summarized. The focus is on the clinical application and the clinical evidence of OCT / OFDI to guide percutaneous coronary interventions.

Simultaneous site-directed mutagenesis for soybean ß-amyrin synthase genes via DNA-free CRISPR/Cas9 system using a single gRNA.

We generated soybean mutants related to two ß-amyrin synthase genes using DNA-free site-directed mutagenesis system. Our results suggested that one of the genes is predominant in the soyasaponin biosynthesis. Soyasaponins, which are triterpenoid saponins contained in soybean [Glycine max (L.

Longitudinal impact of extended-hours hemodialysis with a liberalized diet on nutritional status and survival outcomes: findings from the LIBERTY cohort.

Background: Protein-energy wasting (PEW), a unique weight loss linked to nutritional and metabolic abnormalities, is common in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and associated with adverse outcomes. This study investigated whether extended-hours HD combined with a liberalized diet could overcome PEW and improve survival.

Methods: The body mass index (BMI) and survival outcomes in patients undergoing extended-hours HD were evaluated for up to 8 years using data from the LIBeralized diet Extended-houRs hemodialysis Therapy (LIBERTY) cohort.

Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae for growth on xylose using an oxidative pathway.

The fermentative production of valuable chemicals from lignocellulosic feedstocks has attracted considerable attention. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a promising microbial host, it lacks the ability to efficiently metabolize xylose, a major component of lignocellulosic feedstocks. The xylose oxidative pathway offers advantages such as simplified metabolic regulation and fewer enzymatic steps.

A rare case of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome complicated by Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a severe neurological condition caused by the deficiency of thiamine, which is a vitamin B1 molecule. Herein, we present the case of a 3-year-old girl with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) who did not achieve remission despite steroid pulse therapy (MPT) and rituximab. She had frequent vomiting and decreased oral intake on the 61st day.

Identifying care gaps and referral patterns in acute dermatology at urgent care centers.

Limited urgent access to board-certified dermatologists drives patients to seek dermatologic care at urgent care centers (UCC). UCC are staffed by clinicians with comparatively limited dermatology training, often resulting in lower quality care for acute dermatology conditions. Using a retrospective cohort of 839 referrals, this study investigates health care referral outcomes for patients seeking dermatologic care at UCC.

Short common trunk of the occipital artery and ascending pharyngeal artery arising from the internal carotid artery diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography.

Purpose: To describe a case of short common trunk of the occipital artery (OA) and ascending pharyngeal artery (APA) arising from the internal carotid artery (ICA).

Methods: A 36-year-old woman with a history of surgical resection of a right lateral ventricular meningioma and atheromatous plaque of the right ICA underwent cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography of the head and neck region with a 3-Tesla scanner.

Results: MR angiography of the neck region showed a small atheromatous plaque at the origin of the right ICA and an anomalous artery arising from the posteromedial aspect of the right ICA at the distal end of the carotid bulb.

Genetic diversity of murine norovirus associated with ethanol sensitivity.

RNA viruses have high genetic diversity, allowing rapid adaptation to environmental pressures, such as disinfection. This diversity increases the likelihood of mutations influencing the viral sensitivity to disinfectants. Ethanol is widely used to control viral transmission; however, insufficient disinfection facilitates the survival of less-sensitive viruses.

Impact of lactate levels on admission in STEMI patients with cardiogenic shock treated with IMPELLA.

The concomitant use of IMPELLA and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) (ECPELLA) has been increasingly used to treat severe cardiogenic shock. However, the relationship between severity of heart failure on admission and prognosis based on differences in the mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is not fully understood. This study evaluated the association between lactate levels on admission and clinical outcomes based on differences in MCS.

Morphological and DNA analysis of pollen grains on butterfly individuals reveal their flower visitation history.

Many butterfly species are conspicuous flower visitors. However, understanding their flower visitation patterns in natural habitats remains challenging due to the difficulty of tracking individual butterflies. Therefore, we aimed at establishing a protocol to solve the problem using the Common five-ring butterfly, Ypthima argus (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

Metaphyseal comminution in distal radius fractures: a predictor of secondary fragility fractures and the role of osteoporosis treatment.

Unlabelled: Metaphyseal comminution in distal radius fracture (DRF) cases might indicate severe osteoporosis. The patients with DRFs and metaphyseal comminution showed 5.2-fold increased secondary fractures compared with those receiving combination osteoporosis therapy.

Tricuspid regurgitation and outcomes in mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Background And Aims: The association between periprocedural change in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and outcomes in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is unclear. This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of TR before and after M-TEER.

Methods: Patients in the OCEAN-Mitral registry were divided into four groups according to baseline and post-procedure echocardiographic assessments: no TR/no TR (no TR), no TR/significant TR (new-onset TR), significant TR/no TR (normalized TR), and significant TR/significant TR (residual TR) (all represents before/after M-TEER).

Association between response time and time from emergency medical service contact with the patient to hospital arrival as well as survival and neurological outcomes in pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objectives: In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), prehospital time is crucial and can be divided into response time, from emergency call to emergency medical service (EMS) contact, and time from EMS contact to hospital arrival. To improve prehospital strategies for pediatric OHCA, it is essential to understand the association between these time intervals and patient outcomes; however, detailed investigations are lacking. The current study aimed to examine the association between response time and time from EMS contact to hospital arrival as well as survival and neurological outcomes in pediatric OHCA.

Impact of charge distribution on the stability of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals.

This study explores the influence of charge distribution and molecular shape on the stability of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystalline phases through atomistic simulations of DIO molecules. We demonstrate the role of dipole-dipole interactions and molecular shape in achieving polar ordering by simulating charged and chargeless topologies, and analysing positional and orientational pair-distribution functions. The charged DIO molecules exhibit head-to-tail and side-by-side parallel alignments conducive to long-range polar order, whereas the chargeless molecules show no polar ordering.

Genetic diversity and virulence of group isolates from bloodstream infections.

catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are an increasing concern in Japanese hospitals. Although their clinical characteristics have been explored, the genetic relationships and virulence profiles of isolates from CRBSIs remain understudied. Here, using advanced genomic techniques, we investigated the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and virulence profiles of isolates from patients with bloodstream infections.

Outcome and Prognosis of Invasive Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Very Elderly Patients Over 90 Years Old.

Background/Aims: To evaluate invasive treatment outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients aged over 90 years. Materials and methods: Twenty-six patients were included. Information on backgrounds, course of treatment, outcomes, and changes in Child-Pugh (CP) score and performance status (PS), as well as a comparison of treatment-related complications and 2-year survival after treatment, were retrospectively examined and compared with 311 patients aged under 90 years who were matched under the same conditions.

Evaluation of AUTION EYE AI-4510 flow cell morphology analyzer for counting particles in urine.

Objectives: We evaluated the performance of a novel flow cell morphology analyzer AUTION EYE AI-4510 for counting particles in urine.

Methods: Analytical performance was assessed according to the EFLM European Urinalysis Guideline 2023. Trueness was compared by analyzing 1.

Respiratory complex I-mediated NAD regeneration regulates cancer cell proliferation through the transcriptional and translational control of p21 expression by SIRT3 and SIRT7.

The role of the electron transport chain (ETC) in cell proliferation control beyond its crucial function in supporting ATP generation has recently emerged. In this study, we found that, among the four ETC complexes, the complex I (CI)-mediated NAD regeneration is important for cancer cell proliferation. In cancer cells, a decrease in CI activity by RNA interference (RNAi) against NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit V1 (NDUFV1) arrested the cell cycle at the G/S phase, accompanying upregulation of p21 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor expression.