Data-Efficient Bone Segmentation Using Feature Pyramid- Based SegFormer.

The semantic segmentation of bone structures demands pixel-level classification accuracy to create reliable bone models for diagnosis. While Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are commonly used for segmentation, they often struggle with complex shapes due to their focus on texture features and limited ability to incorporate positional information. As orthopedic surgery increasingly requires precise automatic diagnosis, we explored SegFormer, an enhanced Vision Transformer model that better handles spatial awareness in segmentation tasks.

Cockpit-Llama: Driver Intent Prediction in Intelligent Cockpit via Large Language Model.

The cockpit is evolving from passive, reactive interaction toward proactive, cognitive interaction, making precise predictions of driver intent a key factor in enhancing proactive interaction experiences. This paper introduces Cockpit-Llama, a novel language model specifically designed for predicting driver behavior intent. Cockpit-Llama predicts driver intent based on the relationship between current driver actions, historical interactions, and the states of the driver and cockpit environment, thereby supporting further proactive interaction decisions.

Challenges and Prospects of Sensing Technology for the Promotion of Tele-Physiotherapy: A Narrative Review.

Significant developments in sensing technology have had many impacts, enhancing monitoring and assessment accuracy across diverse fields. In the field of physical therapy, sensing, which plays a pivotal role in tele-physiotherapy, rapidly expanded amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Its primary objective is to monitor biological signals and patient movements at remote locations.

Radiological Assessment and Therapeutic Evaluation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Differentiation and Treatment Response with Japanese Guidelines.

The liver is supplied by a dual blood flow system consisting of the portal vein and hepatic artery. Imaging techniques for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been developed along with blood flow imaging, which visualizes the amount of arterial and portal blood flow. The diagnosis of HCC differentiation is important for early-stage liver cancer screening and determination of treatment strategies.

The Efficacy of FOLFIRI Plus Ramucirumab in Recurrent Colorectal Cancer Refractory to Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin/Fluoropyrimidine-Including Biomarker Analyses.

Background: FOLFIRI (5-FU + leucovorin + irinotecan) plus ramucirumab is one of the standards in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients progressing after treatment with oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine with bevacizumab, but there is no evidence on its efficacy without prior bevacizumab. Moreover, VEGF-D has not been confirmed as a predictive biomarker for ramucirumab's efficacy, either.

Methods: The RAINCLOUD study was a multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial conducted in Japan.

Preoperative Vascular and Cranial Nerve Imaging in Skull Base Tumors.

Skull base tumors such as meningiomas and schwannomas are often pathologically benign. However, surgery for these tumors poses significant challenges because of their proximity to critical structures such as the brainstem, cerebral arteries, veins, and cranial nerves. These structures are compressed or encased by the tumor as they grow, increasing the risk of unintended injury to these structures, which can potentially lead to severe neurological deficits.

The Three-Class Annotation Method Improves the AI Detection of Early-Stage Osteosarcoma on Plain Radiographs: A Novel Approach for Rare Cancer Diagnosis.

: Developing high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) models for rare diseases is challenging owing to limited data availability. This study aimed to evaluate whether a novel three-class annotation method for preparing training data could enhance AI model performance in detecting osteosarcoma on plain radiographs compared to conventional single-class annotation. : We developed two annotation methods for the same dataset of 468 osteosarcoma X-rays and 378 normal radiographs: a conventional single-class annotation (1C model) and a novel three-class annotation method (3C model) that separately labeled intramedullary, cortical, and extramedullary tumor components.

Prospects for Narrow Band Imaging Magnification Endoscopy in Oral Lesions: Recommendations from Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and a Gastroenterologist.

Narrow band imaging (NBI) magnification endoscopy for the diagnosis of early-stage oral cavity-related cancer and precancerous lesions can recognize oral lesions as brownish areas, and can observe intraepithelial papillary capillary loops (IPCLs) in the mucosa and submucosa to make a qualitative diagnosis of the lesion and highlight the mucosal surface microstructure to facilitate appropriate diagnosis and early treatment. IPCLs are classified from Type 0 to IV: Type 0 is normal mucosa or no blood vessels observed, e.g.

Targeting Asparagine Metabolism in Solid Tumors.

Reprogramming of energy metabolism to support cellular growth is a "hallmark" of cancer, allowing cancer cells to balance the catabolic demands with the anabolic needs of producing the nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids necessary for tumor growth. Metabolic alterations, or "addiction", are promising therapeutic targets and the focus of many drug discovery programs. Asparagine metabolism has gained much attention in recent years as a novel target for cancer therapy.

The Association of Sodium or Potassium Intake Timing with Athens Insomnia Scale Scores: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background/objectives: Insomnia is a significant public health problem affecting a large population. Although previous research has explored the relationship between specific nutrients and insomnia, comprehensive analyses of daily eating patterns of macro- and micronutrients remain limited. Since nocturnal hypertension is related to sodium/potassium intake and sleep disturbances, the present cross-sectional study hypothesized that daily eating patterns of potassium and sodium would be associated with Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores.

DAG-MAG-ΒHB: A Novel Ketone Diester Modulates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Microglial Cells in Response to Beta-Amyloid and Low Glucose AD-like Conditions.

Background: A neuroinflammatory disease such as Alzheimer's disease, presents a significant challenge in neurotherapeutics, particularly due to the complex etiology and allostatic factors, referred to as CNS stressors, that accelerate the development and progression of the disease. These CNS stressors include cerebral hypo-glucose metabolism, hyperinsulinemia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, impairment of neuronal autophagy, hypoxic insults and neuroinflammation. This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of DAG-MAG-ΒHB, a novel ketone diester, in mitigating these risk factors by sustaining therapeutic ketosis, independent of conventional metabolic pathways.

Ghrelin Promotes Lipid Uptake into White Adipose Tissue via Endothelial Growth Hormone Secretagogue-Receptor in Mice.

: Endothelial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) regulates adipose tissue by facilitating lipid uptake into white adipocytes, but the role of endothelial lipid transport in systemic energy balance remains unclear. Ghrelin conveys nutritional information through the central nervous system and increases adiposity, while deficiency in its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue-receptor (GHSR), suppresses adiposity on a high-fat diet. This study aims to examine the effect of ghrelin/GHSR signaling in the endothelium on lipid metabolism.

Body Mass Index and Weight Change as Predictors of Hypertension Development: A Sex-Specific Analysis.

/: Obesity is associated with food intake, drinking, and nutrition. It is necessary to examine the association between body mass index (BMI), body weight changes, and the incidence of hypertension, focusing on potential sex differences. : A retrospective two-point cohort study was conducted using data from the Japanese Specific Health Checkup program from 2011 to 2013.

Induces Two Types of Dendritic Cell Activation and Effectively Suppresses Onset of the Common Cold: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background/objectives: GCL1815 is a lactic acid bacterium thought to activate dendritic cells. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study aimed to evaluate the effects of GCL1815 on human dendritic cells and the onset of the common cold.

Methods: Two hundred participants were divided into two groups and took capsules containing either six billion GCL1815 cells or placebo for 8 weeks.

Petals Ameliorate Depressive-like Symptom and Cognitive Deficit in Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Mouse Model.

Chronic stress exposure has been widely recognized as a significant contributor to numerous central nervous system (CNS) disorders, leading to debilitating behavioral changes such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments. The prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during chronic stress disrupts the neuroendocrine balance and has detrimental effects on neuronal function and survival. () Gaertn.

The Association of Dining Companionship with Energy and Nutrient Intake Among Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults.

Background: Community-dwelling older adults are at risk of malnutrition due to age-related declines in energy and nutrient intake. While the positive effect of dining companions on energy and nutrient intake has been suggested, evidence remains inconclusive. This study investigated the association between the number of dining companions and energy and nutrient intake, as well as the contribution of specific food groups to higher intake in the presence of dining companions.

Effects of Different Dietary Supplements on Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Nutritional supplements are widely used by swimmers, but the effectiveness of various supplements and the identification of the most effective intervention require further investigation.

Purpose: This paper evaluated and compared the effectiveness of various nutrition-based interventions on swimming performance through both direct and indirect comparisons.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus databases were thoroughly searched up to 4 April 2024.

Urolithin A Modulates PER2 Degradation via SIRT1 and Enhances the Amplitude of Circadian Clocks in Human Senescent Cells.

Background/objectives: Circadian clocks are endogenous systems that regulate numerous biological, physiological, and behavioral events in living organisms. Aging attenuates the precision and robustness of circadian clocks, leading to prolonged and dampened circadian gene oscillation rhythms and amplitudes. This study investigated the effects of food-derived polyphenols such as ellagic acid and its metabolites (urolithin A, B, and C) on the aging clock at the cellular level using senescent human fibroblast cells, TIG-3 cells.

Oral Frailty and Its Relationship with Physical Frailty in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study Using the Oral Frailty Five-Item Checklist.

Background/objectives: Oral frailty, first identified in Japan in 2014, refers to a state between healthy oral function and severe decline, marked by minor issues, such as tooth loss and chewing difficulties. The oral frailty five-item checklist (OF-5) enables non-dental professionals to evaluate oral frailty using five key indicators: remaining teeth count, chewing difficulties, swallowing difficulties, dry mouth, and articulatory oral skills. Limited studies exist.

Stress-Relieving Effects of Japanese Green Tea: Evaluation Using the Molar Ratio of Caffeine and Epigallocatechin Gallate to Theanine and Arginine as an Indicator.

The major components of tea leaves and their infusions were analyzed for various types of green tea available in Japan in 2022. Almost all the green teas used were from the first crop, known for their high amino acid content. The amino acids theanine and arginine in green tea have been shown to reduce stress.

Effect of Geographic Regions on the Flavor Quality and Non-Volatile Compounds of Chinese Matcha.

Matcha is a very popular tea food around the world, being widely used in the food, beverage, health food, and cosmetic industries, among others. At present, matcha shade covering methods, matcha superfine powder processing technology, and digital evaluations of matcha flavor quality are receiving research attention. However, research on the differences in flavor and quality characteristics of matcha from the same tea tree variety from different typical regions in China is relatively weak and urgently required.

High-Pressure Treatment in Combination with Reduced Sodium for Improving the Physicochemical Properties and Sensory Qualities of Pork Gels.

High-pressure treatment was utilized in this study to produce high-quality, reduced-sodium pork gels with desirable texture and sensory properties, addressing the challenge of maintaining quality in low-sodium meat products to meet health-conscious consumer demands. High-pressure treatment applied within the range of 150-200 MPa significantly reduced cooking loss while maintaining moisture content and provided an ideal network structure for reduced-sodium pork gels. High-pressure treatment at up to 100-200 MPa, in combination with added sodium chloride and sodium polyphosphate, was evaluated for its effects on gel texture, with results indicating that high-pressure treatment significantly improved breaking stress (increased by 10.

The Fetal Environment and the Development of Hypertension-The Epigenetic Modification by Glucocorticoids.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a risk factor for postnatal cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychiatric disorders. In most IUGR models, placental dysfunction that causes reduced 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11βHSD2) activity, which degrades glucocorticoids (GCs) in the placenta, resulting in fetal GC overexposure. This overexposure to GCs continues to affect not only intrauterine fetal development itself, but also the metabolic status and neural activity in adulthood through epigenetic changes such as microRNA change, histone modification, and DNA methylation.

Ligand-Independent Vitamin D Receptor Actions Essential for Keratinocyte Homeostasis in the Skin.

Recently, we demonstrated that the alopecia observed in vitamin D receptor gene-deficient (-KO) rats is not seen in rats with a mutant VDR(R270L/H301Q), which lacks ligand-binding ability, suggesting that the ligand-independent action of VDR plays a crucial role in maintaining the hair cycle. Since -KO rats also showed abnormalities in the skin, the relationship between alopecia and skin abnormalities was examined. To clarify the mechanism of actions of vitamin D and VDR in the skin, protein composition, and gene expression patterns in the skin were compared among -KO, -R270L/H301Q, and wild-type (WT) rats.

Impact of Ultraviolet C Radiation on Male Fertility in Rats: Suppression of Autophagy, Stimulation of Gonadotropin-Inhibiting Hormone, and Alteration of miRNAs.

While ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation has beneficial applications, it can also pose risks to living organisms. Nevertheless, a detailed assessment of UVC radiation's effects on mammalian male reproductive physiology, including the underlying mechanisms and potential protective strategies, has not yet been accomplished. This study aimed to examine the critical roles of oxidative stress, autophagy, reproductive hormonal axis, and microRNAs in UVC-induced reproductive challenges in male rats.