A new method to evaluate staircase phenomenon in skeletal muscle using piezoelectric sensor.

Objective: The staircase phenomenon, which refers to the increases in the force of contraction with repetitive stimulation of the muscle, has been studied for many years, but the method is difficult and not widely used. Our objective was to evaluate the staircase phenomenon in skeletal muscle using a piezoelectric sensor.

Methods: Thirty-five subjects without neuromuscular diseases (normal controls), 11 patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), and 19 patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MyD) were studied.

A novel prediction model for survival in individual patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator: Analysis of the new Japan cardiac device treatment registry database.

Background: Accurate prediction for survival in individualized patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) is difficult.

Methods: We analyzed the New Japan cardiac device treatment registry (JCDTR) database to develop a survival prediction model for CRT-D recipients.

Results: Four hundred and eighty-two CRT-D recipients, at the implantation year 2018-2021, with a QRS width ≥120 ms and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% at baseline, were analyzed.

Chemical structure of lipoteichoic acid in the probiotic strain Latilactobacillus curvatus CP2998.

Latilactobacillus curvatus, found in various fermented foods, is a promising probiotic with unique health benefits. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a characteristic amphiphilic surface polymer of gram-positive bacteria and exhibits immunomodulatory activities. Despite the structural diversity of LTA among different bacterial species and strains, no information is available on the chemical structure of LTA in L.

Baicalin attenuates the immune escape of oral squamous cell carcinoma by reducing lactate accumulation in tumor microenvironment.

Introduction: The acidic microenvironment caused by excessive lactate accumulation could inhibit immune lymphocytes antitumor activity and promote the immune escape of tumor cells. Baicalin is an active flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Objectives: The present study aims to investigate whether and how baicalin inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) acidic microenvironment and attenuates immune escape.

The change of detrusor contractility at 5 years after transurethral resection of the prostate: a single center prospective observational study.

Objective: To prospectively assess the impact of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on detrusor function using pressure flow study (PFS) at 5 years after surgery in a single center prospective non-randomized observational study.

Methods: Sixty consecutive male patients were prospectively enrolled and underwent TURP from November 2014 to November 2018. A questionnaire survey, free uroflowmetry and PFS were performed at baseline, and 6, 24 and 60 months after surgery.

Three-dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Implant Prosthesis After Mandibular Reconstruction by Upper Distal Free Double-Barrel Fibula.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the biomechanics of implant prostheses and peri-implant bone among 6 different mandibular reconstruction models based on patient data involving the use of an upper free-end double-barrel fibula.

Methods: This study was an observational study. Five models were reconstructed using fibular-supported and implant-supported partial dentures.

Opioidergic activation of the descending pain inhibitory system underlies placebo analgesia.

Placebo analgesia is caused by inactive treatment, implicating endogenous brain function involvement. However, the neurobiological basis remains unclear. In this study, we found that μ-opioid signals in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activate the descending pain inhibitory system to initiate placebo analgesia in neuropathic pain rats.

Treatment strategies for advanced and recurrent endometrial cancer using immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Doxorubicin + cisplatin and paclitaxel + carboplatin are standard chemotherapy regimens for endometrial cancer. The development of PD-1 and PDL-1 antibody drugs has led to the use of these agents for endometrial cancer in other countries. The KEYNOTE-775 trial for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer demonstrated the benefits of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib combination therapy, and the results of this trial led to the approval of its coverage for recurrent cancer by the Japanese health insurance system.

Layer-by-layer coated probiotics with tannic acid-Ca and casein phosphopeptide complexes for caries prevention and enamel remineralization.

Dental caries is a common disease resulting from tooth demineralization caused by bacterial plaque. Probiotics have shown great potential against caries by regulating the balance of oral flora. However, obstacles such as poor colonization and lysozyme sensitivity in oral cavity hinder their further application.

Triple mosaic variants of PURA in a patient with multiple congenital anomalies.

In monogenic diseases, double mosaic variants of the same gene have rarely been identified. Here, we report the case of triple mosaic variants in PURA, a gene responsible for a neurodevelopmental syndrome (OMIM# 616158). Whole-exome sequencing identified three somatic PURA variants in our case with a similar neurodevelopmental syndrome: NM_005859.

A high fraction of inspired oxygen does not mitigate atelectasis-induced lung tissue hypoxia or injury in experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Although alveolar hyperoxia exacerbates lung injury, clinical studies have failed to demonstrate the beneficial effects of lowering the fraction of inspired oxygen (FO) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Atelectasis, which is commonly observed in ARDS, not only leads to hypoxemia but also contributes to lung injury through hypoxia-induced alveolar tissue inflammation. Therefore, it is possible that excessively low FO may enhance hypoxia-induced inflammation in atelectasis, and raising FO to an appropriate level may be a reasonable strategy for its mitigation.

Association between body mass index at birth and neonatal health outcomes in preterm infants: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Studies on how birth body mass index (BMI) affects health outcomes in preterm infants are relatively limited.

Aim: To analyze the association between BMI at birth and neonatal health outcomes in extremely low and very low birth weight preterm infants in China.

Methods: Used data from the Chinese Premature Infant Informatization Platform (2022-2023).

Impacts of donor age and HLA mismatch on HCT outcomes differ according to the donor CMV serostatus in unrelated allo-HCT.

In unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), older and/or HLA-mismatched donors are known risk factors for survival outcomes. In healthy individuals, cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity is associated with impaired adaptive immune systems. We assessed whether the adverse effects of donor risk factors are influenced by the donor CMV serostatus.

Radiomics and dosiomics approaches to estimate lung function after stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with lung tumors.

Lung function assessment is essential for determining the optimal treatment strategy for radiation therapy in patients with lung tumors. This study aimed to develop radiomics and dosiomics approaches to estimate pulmonary function test (PFT) results in post-stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Sixty-four patients with lung tumors who underwent SBRT were included.

Spectral study of COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: The dependence of spectral gradient on the population size of the community.

We have carried out spectral analysis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) notifications in all 47 prefectures in Japan. The results confirm that the power spectral densities (PSDs) of the data from each prefecture show exponential characteristics, which are universally observed in the PSDs of time series generated by nonlinear dynamical systems, such as the susceptible/exposed/infectious/recovered (SEIR) epidemic model. The exponential gradient increases with the population size.

A comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of RNF187 in human tumors.

Purpose: RING Finger 187 (RNF187) has recently emerged as a potential contributor to tumorigenesis. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of RNF187 in human tumors has not been undertaken until now.

Methods: Our study aims to investigate RNF187 expression across 33 different types of human tumors, utilizing data from the TCGA and GTEx databases.

High-power short-duration setting prevents changes of periprocedural thrombotic markers and the onset of silent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: It remains unclear whether the newly adopted high-power, short-duration (HP-SD) setting in ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) impacts periprocedural thrombotic markers or silent stroke (SS) onset.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical impact of HP-SD setting ablation on changes in periprocedural thrombotic markers and the onset of SS.

Methods: We enrolled 101 AF patients: the HP-SD group (n = 67) using 50 W and the conventional ablation group (n = 34) using 30 to 40 W.

Microwave ablation single-needle radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of HCC up to 4 cm: A randomized-controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the standard treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), specifically for tumors <3 cm in size and numbering fewer than three, excluding surgical candidates. Microwave ablation (MWA) is an innovative approach believed to have theoretical benefits over RFA; however, these advantages are yet to be empirically verified. Therefore, we evaluated and compared the effectiveness of MWA and RFA in managing HCC tumors up to 4 cm in size.

Brachial Plexus Paralysis after Thoracotomy through Median Sternotomy: A New Case Report of Poor Prognosis Despite Lower Radiculopathy.

Introduction: Thoracotomy through a median sternotomy is considered a risk factor for brachial plexus paralysis. We report a new case of poor prognosis despite lower radiculopathy.

Case Report: A 53-year-old female (height 152 cm and weight 41 kg) complained of motor impairment in her left fingers, numbness in her left forearm, and paresthesia after left thoracotomy.

Tocilizumab alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by improving PI3K/AKT pathway.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe inflammatory condition of the respiratory system, associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of tocilizumab (TZ), an IL-6 receptor inhibitor, in mitigating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI by modulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway. An ALI model was established using LPS induction.

Effectiveness for remission maintenance rate and safety of different rituximab regimens for treating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in Japan: a J-CANVAS study.

Rituximab (RTX) has been reported to effectively maintain remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). In this multicenter study involving 57 patients who achieved remission after 24 weeks, we evaluated the effectiveness of RTX in maintaining remission in patients with AAV. Patients were divided into three groups based on RTX administration: continuous, induction phase-only, and maintenance phase-only groups.