Age-disproportionate atrophy in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease spectra.

Introduction: Brain age gap (BAG), defined as the difference between MRI-predicted 'brain age' and chronological age, can capture information underlying various neurological disorders. We investigated the pathophysiological significance of the BAG across neurodegenerative disorders.

Methods: We developed a brain age estimator using structural MRIs of healthy-aged individuals from one cohort study.

Toxic natural pollution at Ijen crater volcano: Environmental characteristics and health risk assessment.

The Ijen crater volcano (ICV) is one of the active volcanoes with unique environmental conditions; it is the largest lake in the world with the most extreme acidity and a blue fire phenomenon and releases toxic volcanic gases, including dangerous sulfur dioxide (SO₂). It has an impact on the environment and ecosystem. This research aimed to investigate the blue fire phenomena and toxic gas SO and characterize the environmental conditions and health effects of the ICV.

Destruction of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctadecanoic acid (PFOcDA) by incineration: Analysis of the by-products and their characteristics.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are considered an international problem due to their persistence in the environment, need to be properly treated in the end. In the destruction method by incineration, basic data are required to quantify the destruction characteristics of the target substance and the temperature-dependent behavior of its by-products. In this study, we conducted incineration tests targeting perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctadecanoic acid (PFOcDA).

Influence of sewage effluent discharge on putative pathogen community in drinking water sources: insights from full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

The discharge of sewage effluent is a major source of microbial contamination in drinking water sources, necessitating a comprehensive investigation of its impact on pathogenic bacterial communities. This study utilized full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to identify putative pathogenic bacteria and analyze their community structures in drinking water sources subjected to different levels of fecal pollution: urban rivers with low, moderate, and high sewage effluent mixing ratios, and mountain streams with minimal human impact. The sewage effluent itself was also analyzed.

Chemical etching of silicon assisted by graphene oxide under negative electric bias.

Chemical etching of silicon assisted by graphene oxide (GO) has been attracting attention as a new method to fabricate micro- or nano-structures. GO promotes the reduction of an oxidant, and holes are injected into silicon, resulting in the preferential dissolution of the silicon under GO. In the conventional etching method with GO, the selectivity of the etching was low due to the stain etching caused by nitric acid.

Factors Affecting the Prognosis after Primary Tumor Resection for Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer with Synchronous Peritoneal Metastasis: A Multi-center, Prospective, Observational Study.

Objectives: To clarify the risk factors affecting prognosis after primary tumor resection (PTR) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastasis (mCRC-SPM).

Methods: Patients were enrolled prospectively in the JSCCR project "Grading of Peritoneal Seeding in Colorectal Cancer." Factors that may influence overall survival-age, sex, location of the primary tumor, lymph node metastasis, presence of liver metastasis, degree of peritoneal metastasis, peritoneal cancer index (PCI), cancer cure, and postoperative chemotherapy-in the PTR group were examined using multivariate analysis.

Self-Assembly of V-Shaped Polyaromatic Amphiphiles Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

V-shaped polyaromatic amphiphiles (s) form micelle-like nonbonded self-assemblies in aqueous solution and feature prominent properties of encapsulation and solubilization for various types of hydrophobic molecules. To understand microscopic molecular characteristics underlying the wide capability of solubilization, the atomic-level molecular structures of the self-assemblies of s were investigated by microsecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The MD simulations showed that s spontaneously formed quasi-stable self-assemblies, in close agreement with experimental observations.

Effect of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with clinical outcomes following spinal surgery for lumbar spinal disorders.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were comprehensively searched for observational studies comparing clinical outcomes after lumbar spine surgery in patients with and without RA (>18 years).

Identification of unmet information needs among families of critically ill patients and their association with post-intensive care syndrome-family: protocol for a single-center cross-sectional study.

Background: Families of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) need a variety of information about the patient. Meeting these information needs improves the quality of communication between the family and ICU staff, as well as reduces the risk of post-intensive care syndrome-family (PICS-F). However, information needs continue to be unmet, and information regarding which specific information needs are met or unmet is insufficient.

Sucrose-preferring gut microbes prevent host obesity by producing exopolysaccharides.

Commensal bacteria affect host health by producing various metabolites from dietary carbohydrates via bacterial glycometabolism; however, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we identified Streptococcus salivarius as a unique anti-obesity commensal bacterium. We found that S.

Trajectory of the arterial-alveolar oxygen gradient in COPD for a decade.

Background: Chronic respiratory failure (CRF) is a critical complication in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is characterized by an increase in the arterial-alveolar oxygen gradient (A-aDO2). The long-term trajectory and prognostic significance remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the prognostic impact of A-aDO2 and elucidate its trajectory over ten years.

Targeted insertion of heterogenous DNA using Cas9-gRNA ribonucleoprotein-mediated gene editing in .

Gene editing is emerging as a powerful tool for introducing novel functionalities in mushrooms. While CRISPR/Cas9-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) typically rely on non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) for gene disruption, precise insertion of heterologous DNA in mushrooms is less explored. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of inserting donor DNAs (8-1008 bp) with or without homologous arms at Cas9-gRNA RNP-induced DSBs.

Non-Hermitian Topology in Hermitian Topological Matter.

Non-Hermiticity gives rise to distinctive topological phenomena absent in Hermitian systems. However, connection between such intrinsic non-Hermitian topology and Hermitian topology has remained largely elusive. Here, considering the bulk and boundary as an environment and system, respectively, we demonstrate that anomalous boundary states in Hermitian topological insulators exhibit non-Hermitian topology.

Simultaneous Unbinned Differential Cross-Section Measurement of Twenty-Four Z+jets Kinematic Observables with the ATLAS Detector.

Z boson events at the Large Hadron Collider can be selected with high purity and are sensitive to a diverse range of QCD phenomena. As a result, these events are often used to probe the nature of the strong force, improve Monte Carlo event generators, and search for deviations from standard model predictions. All previous measurements of Z boson production characterize the event properties using a small number of observables and present the results as differential cross sections in predetermined bins.

Spontaneous adsorption of iridium chloride complex on oxychloride photocatalysts provides efficient and durable reaction site for water oxidation.

The visible-light-driven O evolution on oxychloride photocatalysts, such as BiNbOCl, was significantly enhanced by stirring in an aqueous solution containing IrCl in the dark. Various characterizations indicated that highly dispersed IrOHCl-like species spontaneously formed on the oxychloride surface, serving as effective and stable cocatalysts for enhancing O evolution.

Diuretics for preventing and treating acute kidney injury.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-known complication of critical illnesses, significantly affecting morbidity and the risk of death. Diuretics are widely used to ameliorate excess fluid accumulation and oliguria associated with AKI. Their popularity stems from their ability to reduce the energy demands of renal tubular cells by inhibiting transporters and flushing out intratubular casts.

Coping strategies and correlations with depressive symptoms among female nurses working in Japanese general hospitals.

Introduction: Preventing depression among nurses is a critical issue from the perspective of occupational welfare, but associations between depressive symptoms in nurses and stress-coping strategies remain unclear.

Methods: In the present study, an epidemiological study was conducted based on a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Data obtained from 2,534 female nurses working at three general hospitals in Tokyo, Japan, were analyzed.

A suitable solvent for adsorption of poorly water-soluble substances onto silica gel in a ready biodegradability test.

When a test substance is poorly water-soluble, it can be adsorbed onto silica gel to facilitate dispersibility in a ready biodegradability test. To uniformly adsorb the test substance onto silica gel, the substance is dissolved in a solvent and then mixed with the silica gel. It is desirable for the solvent to completely evaporate afterward.

Comparative evaluation of trimethylated α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins as optimal dispersants for ready biodegradability testing of poorly water-soluble substances.

We investigated whether various modified cyclodextrins (CDs) and emulsifiers could be applied as dispersing agents in ready biodegradability tests of poorly water-soluble substances. Trimethylated α-, β-, and γ-CDs and partially methylated β-CD were not biodegraded in the test period but accelerated the biodegradation of octabenzone and anthraquinone. The process by which trimethylated α-, β-, and γ-CDs enhance the biodegradation of test substances has been partially uncovered.

Flometoquin, a novel insecticide, acts on mitochondrial complex III as a Q inhibitor.

Flometoquin (FLO) is a novel quinoline-type insecticide that elicits a quick knock-down effect against target pests; however, its mode of action (MoA) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated its MoA systematically, using varying biochemical techniques. Since FLO-treated insects exhibited symptoms similar to those induced by respiratory inhibitors, we examined the effect of FLO on respiratory enzyme complexes using mitochondria isolated from different insects (housefly, diamondback moth, and western flower thrips).

Shifting paradigms in primary aldosteronism: reconsideration of screening strategy via integrating pathophysiological insights.

Several decades have passed since the description of the first patient with primary aldosteronism (PA). PA was initially classified in two main forms: aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). However, the pathogenesis of PA has now been shown to be far more complex.

Health utility value of overactive bladder in Japanese older adults.

Objectives: To determine the health utility values (HUVs) of overactive bladder (OAB), defined as urinary urgency, usually accompanied by urinary daytime or nocturnal frequency, with or without urinary incontinence, among adults aged ≥65 years and to assess the HUV decrements (disutilities) of OAB according to its severity.

Methods: This cross-sectional Internet-based study was conducted between 2 and 9 November 2023, with quota sampling with equal probability for each sex and age group (age 65-74 years and ≥75 years). OAB was defined as an urgency score of ≥2 points and a total score of ≥3 points based on the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score.

Clinical results of carpal tunnel Re-release revision surgery and synovial wrap for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a challenging condition when conventional carpal tunnel revision surgery fails to alleviate symptoms. This study aims to assess the outcomes of combining carpal tunnel revision surgery with a synovial wrap for cases of recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome in patients who had adhered median nerve, with a minimum 1-year follow-up.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 10 patients (mean age: 73.