Neuropsychiatric symptoms and neuroimaging-based brain age in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia: A multicenter study.

Aim: Despite the clinical importance and significant social burden of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia, the underlying neurobiological mechanism remains poorly understood. Recently, neuroimaging-derived brain-age estimation by machine-learning analysis has shown promise as an individual-level biomarker. We investigated the relationship between NPS and brain-age in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia.

Two reductases complete steroidal glycoalkaloids biosynthesis in potato.

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are specialized metabolites primarily produced by Solanaceae plants such as potatoes and tomatoes. Notably, α-solanine and α-chaconine are recognized as toxic substances in potatoes. While the biosynthetic pathways of SGAs are largely understood, the final steps of α-solanine and α-chaconine biosynthesis remained elusive.

Evaluation of optimal timing and therapeutic efficacy of radium-223 therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a multicenter collaborative study.

Background: Despite its demonstrated efficacy in prolonging overall survival (OS) and delaying skeletal-related events in the ALSYMPCA trial, the optimal timing of radium-223 initiation remains unclear. This study investigated factors influencing radium-223 treatment outcomes, including completion rates and survival.

Methods: This retrospective, multi-institutional study included 164 patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who received radium-223 therapy.

Clinical outcomes and treatment patterns of maintenance avelumab in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma: a multicenter collaborative study.

Background: The JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) with maintenance avelumab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma UC (la/mUC) who achieved disease control following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (1 L-PBC). However, real-world data on eligibility, utilization, and outcomes of maintenance avelumab therapy remain limited.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with la/mUC who received 1 L-PBC.

Site-Specific Ventricular Tachycardia Inducibility.

Background: Programmed electrical stimulation (PES) is an essential part of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedures, but VT is not always inducible, usually for reasons that are not clear.

Objectives: This study sought to review pacing site-specific failure of PES to induce scar-related VT and to provide a potential mechanistic explanation of the phenomena using a computer simulation.

Methods: Six patients in whom aggressive PES from traditional RV pacing sites failed to induce VT, but VT was easily inducible from a nontraditional site, were reviewed.

Protocol for extracellular vesicle secretion-related gene screening via ExoScreen technique.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in cancer development and cellular homeostasis by transferring the biological cargo to recipient cells. Here, we describe steps for screening EV secretion-related genes by combining a microRNA (miRNA) library and ExoScreen, a highly sensitive EV detection technique. We also detail procedures for screening the direct target genes regulated by miRNAs.

Parietal Meningocele Under the Scalp of a Fetus Diagnosed Based on Volume Contrast Imaging of Prenatal Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Data.

Determining the differential diagnosis of small scalp cysts identified on a fetus is difficult. In particular, many physicians have difficulty differentiating small meningoceles from small scalp cysts during the prenatal period. Volume contrast imaging increases contrast between tissues, thereby allowing an enhanced view of target structures.

Effective Treatment With Oral Propranolol for Congenital Intracranial Hemangioma in a Neonate: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Congenital intracranial hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumors that develop before birth. Although various treatments, including surgery, steroids, interferon-α, thalidomide, bevacizumab, or propranolol, have been reported, no standard therapy has been established. We report the case of a neonate with congenital intracranial hemangioma and central nervous system symptoms requiring therapeutic intervention.

Haemodynamic management of septic shock.

Septic shock is a significant challenge in the management of patients with burns and traumatic injuries when complicated by infection, necessitating prompt and effective haemodynamic support. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current strategies for vasopressor and fluid management in septic shock, with the aim to optimize patient outcomes. With regard to vasopressor management, we elaborate on the pharmacologic profiles and clinical applications of catecholamines, vasopressin derivatives, angiotensin II, and other vasoactive agents.

Aortic valve repair with sinus plication for a regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve: a case report.

Background: Repair of the regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve is an attractive alternative to valve replacement. Although good long-term outcomes have been reported, postoperative aortic stenosis remains a major late cause of repair failure in bicuspid aortic valves. Sinus plication is effective for creating a more symmetrical commissural angle, leading to a decrease in the mean transvalvular pressure gradient.

Machine learning validation of a simple prediction model for the correlation between advanced age and clinical outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Adverse effects of advanced age and poor initial neurological status on outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have been documented. While a predictive model of the non-linear correlation between advanced age and clinical outcome has been reported, no previous model has been validated. Therefore, we created a prediction model of the non-linear correlation between advanced age and clinical outcome by machine learning and validated it using a separate cohort.

Zero-echo time imaging achieves whole brain activity mapping without ventral signal loss in mice.

Functional MRI (fMRI) is an important tool for investigating functional networks. However, the widely used fMRI with T2*-weighted imaging in rodents has the problem of signal lack in the lateral ventral area of forebrain including the amygdala, which is essential for not only emotion but also noxious pain. Here, we scouted the zero-echo time (ZTE) sequence, which is robust to magnetic susceptibility and motion-derived artifacts, to image activation in the whole brain including the amygdala following the noxious stimulation to the hind paw.

Association Between Mortality and Time Spent Out of Bed in Older-Adult Nursing Home Residents.

Objectives: For older adults, spending time out of bed is important for preventing functional decline, but its relationship to mortality is not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between mortality and time spent out of bed in Japanese older-adult nursing home residents.

Design: We conducted a cohort study using data from the Long-term Care Information System for Evidence database.

A Quasi-experimental Study of Optimized Retractor Management on the Incidence of Femoral Nerve Injury Following Gynecological Surgery.

Background Femoral neuropathy is a significant postoperative complication in gynecological surgery that can severely impact patient mobility and quality of life. Among various mechanisms of nerve injury, retractor-induced compression against the pelvic sidewall has been identified as a particularly crucial causative factor. Despite this well-recognized mechanism and its clinical importance, few studies have investigated specific preventive strategies for this iatrogenic complication.

Induction of phospholipase A2 group 4C by HCV infection regulates lipid droplet formation.

Background & Aims: Hepatic steatosis, characterized by lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, is a key diagnostic feature in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study aimed to clarify the involvement of phospholipid metabolic pathways in the pathogenesis of HCV-induced steatosis.

Methods: The expression and distribution of lipid species in the livers of human liver chimeric mice were analyzed using imaging mass spectrometry.

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.

Counterregulatory roles of GLI2 and GLI3 in osteogenic differentiation via Gli1 expression.

The GLI1/GLI2/GLI3 transcription factors mediate Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, which is crucial for bone development. During intramembranous ossification, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are directly differentiated into osteoblasts. Under basal and Hh pathway-stimulated conditions, primary cilia play essential roles in proteolytic processing of GLI3 to its repressor form (GLI3R), and in activation of GLI2.

Health Literacy and Internet Use Among Japanese Older Adults: A Gender-Stratified Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Moderating Effects of Neighborhood Relationships.

: Internet use positively impacts mental health in older adults, with health literacy (HL) playing a key role. While social networks may complement individual HL, the role of neighborhood relationships in this association, particularly by gender, remains unclear. This study examined how the association between HL and Internet use among older adults was modified by neighborhood relationships.

Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Patients With Untreated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: Although several studies have reported the treatment prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, few studies exist on the prognosis and mortality-related risk factors in untreated cases. This study aimed to determine the outcomes of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who underwent no treatment and investigate the associated factors.

Methods: This retrospective, single-institution study initially included 718 patients with head and neck cancer who visited our hospital between January 2015 and December 2021; 43 untreated patients were included in the final analysis.

Impact of the Inflammatory Burden Index on Prognosis After Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of the inflammatory burden index (IBI), a novel inflammation-based biomarker, in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatic resection.

Patients And Methods: One hundred fifty patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The IBI was defined as C-reactive protein × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count.