Cynaropicrin Increases [Ca] and Ciliary Beat Frequency in Human Airway Epithelial Cells by Inhibiting SERCA.

Mucociliary clearance (MCC) is a host defense mechanism of the respiratory system. Beating cilia plays a crucial role in the MCC process and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is activated by several factors including elevations of the intracellular cAMP concentration ([cAMP]), intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]), and intracellular pH (pH). In this study, we investigated whether an artichoke-extracted component cynaropicrin could be a beneficial compound for improving MCC.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Predicting Transarterial Chemoembolization Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Background: Major society guidelines recommend transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as the standard of care for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, predicting treatment response remains challenging.

Aims: As artificial intelligence (AI) may predict therapeutic responses, this systematic review aims to assess the performance and effectiveness of radiomics and AI-based models in predicting TACE outcomes in patients with HCC.

The Impact of Migraine on the Whole Life Course of Patients: Results from the OVERCOME (Japan) 2nd Study.

Introduction: The impact of migraine on patients' lives, including challenges they face before getting access to appropriate medical management, is not well understood. The ObserVational survey of the Epidemiology, tReatment, and Care Of MigrainE [OVERCOME (Japan)] 2nd study was conducted to provide information regarding burden and experience with migraine throughout the life course.

Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based, nationwide online survey was conducted in adults with or without migraine.

Association of the interaction between daily step counts and frailty with disability in older adults.

The differences in the association of objectively measured physical activity with disability between frail and non-frail older adults remain unclear. We (1) evaluated the dose-dependent relationship between daily steps and disability in older adults with and without frailty and (2) examined the interaction between steps and frailty status in relation to the risk of disability. This prospective study used data from 4065 adults aged ≥ 65 years from the Kyoto-Kameoka Study, Japan.

English version of clinical practice guidelines for the management of atopic dermatitis 2024.

This is the English version of the 2024 clinical practice guidelines for the management of atopic dermatitis (AD). AD is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion. A crucial aspect of AD treatment is the prompt induction of remission via the suppression of existing skin inflammation and pruritus.

Association between gut microbiota and ultra-processed foods consumption among the patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 362 participants with T2D. UPFs consumption was assessed using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, quantified as the density of UPFs intake (g/1000 kcal).

Silicone oil, an intraocular surgical adjuvant, induces retinal ferroptosis.

Vitrectomy with silicone oil (SO) endotamponade is an effective treatment for vision-threatening retinal diseases. However, unexplained vision impairment has been reportedly critical side effects. Previously, we reported that the eyes with ocular toxoplasmosis showed retinal ferroptosis with the clinical sign of reduced intravitreal iron (Fe).

Multidisciplinary therapeutic strategy with appropriate timing and modalities for treating cervicofacial lymphatic malformations in children.

Purpose: The study reviewed a multidisciplinary approach to treating cervicofacial lymphatic malformations (CFLMs) in children.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2023, 53 children with CFLMs were treated with the median on-set age of 5 months (0-165) at our institute. For infants, airway management, including possible tracheotomy was prioritized, and a "wait-and-see" policy was adopted to expect spontaneous regression.

Prenatal diagnosis of achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia using three-dimensional computed tomography: a case series at a single institution.

Background: Fetal skeletal dysplasia (FSD) is a group of systemic bone and cartilage disorders that develop prenatally and can be detected using fetal ultrasonography. However, it is unsuitable for skeletal analysis because it is reflected by supersonic waves in the bone cortex. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) is a suitable alternative and has improved the differential diagnosis of FSD during pregnancy.

Prevalence of gastric cancer following colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection for lesions more than 20 mm: A retrospective analysis.

Objectives: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for large tumors is spreading worldwide. Gastric cancer (GC) sometimes occurs after colorectal ESD. However, its status including frequency and risk factors have not been examined well.

Prediagnostic Phase of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in a Longitudinal Epidemiological Study of Dementia and Aging: A Case Report.

A 63-year-old previously healthy man participated in a longitudinal epidemiologic study of dementia and aging. Although he initially showed no subjective symptoms and a normal motor function, verbal fluency test scores gradually declined, and progressive atrophy of the frontal lobes was observed on magnetic resonance imaging of the head. At 71 years old, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) was diagnosed after supranuclear gaze palsy, and gait disturbance developed.

Prophylactic Clip Closure in Preventing Delayed Bleeding After Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection on anticoagulants: A multicenter retrospective cohort study in Japan.

Background And Study Aims: Prophylactic clip closure after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) among patients on anticoagulants is of uncertain effectiveness in reducing delayed bleeding (DB) risk. We aimed to assess the effect of prophylactic clip closure in preventing DB after colorectal ESD among patients on anticoagulants.

Patients And Methods: We used the ABCD-J study database, a large-scale multicenter study analyzing DB among 34,455 colorectal ESD cases from 47 Japanese institutions.

Use of a mouse-human chimeric anti-α-galactosidase A monoclonal antibody as a reference for measuring serum antidrug antibody titers in patients with Fabry disease.

The detection of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) is important for monitoring patients with Fabry disease who are undergoing enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant α-galactosidase A (GLA) drugs, as ADAs can cause allergic reactions and reduce therapeutic efficacy. Various immunological methods, particularly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are widely used to measure serum ADA titers in patients with Fabry disease. However, estimating and comparing results of ELISA is challenging because of the absence of a reference antibody.

Effects of ambient atmospheric pressure on intraocular pressure measured using a Goldman applanation tonometer in normal eyes under ordinary conditions.

Purpose: Little is known about the effects of ambient atmospheric pressure (AP) on intraocular pressure (IOP) under ordinary conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AP on Goldmann applanation tonometer-measured IOP (GAT-IOP) in normal eyes under everyday atmospheric conditions adjusting for effects of possible confounding factors including other climatic factors.

Methods: Data obtained from 2,431 normal healthy eyes of 2,431 subjects (mean age: 56.

Detection of antibodies against H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in multiple raccoons in Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan, from 2022 to 2023.

In recent years, infection cases of H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) in wild mammals have increased globally. To obtain recent epidemiological information regarding influenza A virus (IAV) infection in raccoons (Procyon lotor), the prevalence of anti-IAV antibodies in sera was analyzed among raccoons captured in Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan, from 2019 to 2023. Screening of serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and agar gel precipitation test detected anti-IAV antibodies in 5 of 114 (4.

Management of ERCP-related perforation: a large multicenter study.

Background And Aims: Perforation is a rare but serious adverse event associated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). There is no consensus to guide clinicians in the management of ERCP-related duodenal perforations, making it difficult to determine whether surgical or endoscopic treatment is optimal. The present study retrospectively evaluated the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who experienced ERCP-related duodenal perforations according to the mechanism of injury.

Lignin Isolated by Microwave-Assisted Acid-Catalyzed Solvolysis Induced Cell Death in Mammalian Tumor Cells by Modulating Apoptotic Pathways.

Lignin, the most abundant renewable aromatic polymer, has been shown to suppress the growth of mammalian tumor cells. Despite extensive studies on lignin structure and its engineering, there is little information on the biological activity of lignin in relation to its molecular structure or the molecular mechanisms by which lignin suppresses tumor cells in mammalian species. Here, we prepared microwave-assisted acid-catalyzed solvolysis lignin (MASL) from Japanese cedar and and assessed its effects on human and mouse tumor cells.

Development and Validation of Quality Indicators for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Management in Japan: A Modified Delphi Consensus Study.

Background: Quality indicators (QIs) are used to standardize care and improve outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It is important that QIs are validated within specific healthcare contexts. Therefore, this study aimed to validate QIs for PAH management in Japan using a modified Delphi consensus method.

The Novel HDAC Inhibitor OBP-801 Promotes MHC Class I Presentation Through LMP2 Upregulation, Enhancing the PD-1-Targeting Therapy in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been reported to exhibit immunomodulatory activities, including the upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I). Although the immunoproteasome plays a pivotal role in MHC class I antigen presentation, its effect on immunotherapy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear.

Methods: This study assessed whether OBP-801, a novel HDAC inhibitor, affects the expression of immunoproteasome subunits and subsequently the MHC class-I-mediated anti-cancer immunity in ccRCC.

Development of a perceived nutrition care competencies scale for Japanese dietetic students: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: There are currently few appropriate instruments for assessing nutrition care competencies in clinical practice. This study aimed to develop a perceived nutrition care competencies (PNCC) scale for dietetic students and test its validity. Factors that influence PNCC scores were examined through a cross-sectional study.

Clinical impact of cancer cachexia on the outcome of patients with non-small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 tumor proportion scores of ≥50% receiving pembrolizumab monotherapy versus immune checkpoint inhibitor with chemotherapy.

This retrospective, multicenter cohort study aimed to determine whether cancer cachexia serves as a biomarker for determining the most effective treatment for patients having non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone or combined with chemotherapy (ICI/chemotherapy). We included 411 patients with advanced NSCLC with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score of ≥50%. The patients were treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy or ICI/chemotherapy.

Dosimetric study of synchrotron rapid beam off control and skip spot function for high beam intensity proton therapy.

Background: All Hitachi proton pencil beam scanning facilities currently use discrete spot scanning (DSS). Mayo Clinic Florida (MCF) is installing a Hitachi particle therapy system with advanced technologies, including fast scan speeds, high beam intensity, rapid beam off control (RBOC), a skip spot function, and proton pencil beam scanning using dose driven continuous scanning (DDCS). A potential concern of RBOC is the generation of a shoulder at the end of the normal spot delivery due to a flap spot (FS) with a flap dose (FD), which has been investigated for carbon synchrotron but not for proton delivery.

High-Recovery Desalting Tip Columns for a Wide Variety of Peptides in Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics.

In mass spectrometry-based proteomics, loss-minimized peptide purification techniques play a key role in improving sensitivity and coverage. We have developed a desalting tip column packed with thermoplastic polymer-coated chromatographic particles, named ChocoTip, to achieve high recoveries in peptide purification by pipet-tip-based LC with centrifugation (tipLC). ChocoTip identified more than twice as many peptides from 20 ng of tryptic peptides from Hela cell lysate compared to a typical StageTip packed with chromatographic particles entangled in a Teflon mesh in tipLC.

Second home blood pressure measurements per occasion predict incident cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes: KAMOGAWA-HBP study.

Home blood pressure (HBP) monitoring is a better prognostic predictor than clinical BP monitoring. However, the suggested number of HBP measurements in each occasion varies across guidelines. The study aimed to identify which HBP measurements in each occasion are more closely associated with new cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.