Transcatheter arterial steroid injection therapy improves the prognosis of patients with acute liver failure.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a disorder defined by coagulopathy and encephalopathy with a poor prognosis. No effective therapies have been established except for liver transplantation. We previously reported a subgroup of patients with acute liver injury who developed microcirculatory disturbance.

Effects of substitute allowance on match activity characteristics in Japanese professional football across 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons.

This study aimed to examine the effects of substitute player allowance per match on running performance in Japanese professional football over three consecutive seasons with different numbers of maximum substitutes. Match running performance was obtained from all outfield players in the official matches of the 1st Division of the Japan Professional Football League over three seasons (2019/2020/2021; 22291 player files) by a 4th generation TRACAB® system which provided the total distance covered (TD) and the number of sprinting runs (SP; ≥24.0 km/h for≥1.

Pentacyclic triterpene acids, rotungenic acid and barbinervic acid, from fresh leaves of Thunberg and their glutaminase inhibitory activities.

Glutaminase is an important target that is often over-expressed in neurodegenerative and lifestyle-related diseases but few effective inhibitors of this enzyme have yet reached clinical trials. Three compounds isolated from fresh leaves of Thunberg, ursolic acid (), rotungenic acid () and barbinervic acid (), were identified by analyzing their NMR and MS spectral data and comparison of these with reported data. The IC values of - and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) as control were 775, 13, 14, and 434 μM, respectively.

Profiles and determinants of dicofol, endosulfans, mirex, and toxaphenes in breast milk samples from 10 prefectures in Japan.

Human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is reflected by POP concentrations in breast milk. Many studies of POPs in breast milk have been performed in Japan, but insufficient information is available about some legacy POPs (e.g.

Domain Structure of the Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b DNA Methyltransferases.

In mammals, three major DNA methyltransferases, Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b, have been identified. Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b are responsible for establishing DNA methylation patterns produced through their de novo-type DNA methylation activity in implantation stage embryos and during germ cell differentiation. Dnmt3-like (Dnmt3l), which is a member of the Dnmt3 family but does not possess DNA methylation activity, was reported to be indispensable for global methylation in germ cells.

Factors associated with the improvement of body image dissatisfaction of female patients with overweight and obesity during cognitive behavioral therapy.

Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has become one of the most commonly used psychotherapeutic treatments for obesity. It stems from CBT for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, which focuses on amelioration of the eating behavior and body image dissatisfaction (BID), but usually does not focus on weight loss. In contrast, CBT for obesity focuses on weight loss, as well as eating behavior and BID.

Immunomodulatory Cell Therapy Using αGalCer-Pulsed Dendritic Cells Ameliorates Heart Failure in a Murine Dilated Cardiomyopathy Model.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a life-threatening disease, resulting in refractory heart failure. An immune disorder underlies the pathophysiology associated with heart failure progression. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell activation is a prospective therapeutic strategy for ischemic heart disease.

Metabolic Fate and Expectation of Health Benefits of [U-C]-Sucrose Inhibited from Digestion Using Morus alba Leaf Extract.

Morus alba leaf extract (MLE), a strong inhibitor of sucrase, suppresses blood glucose elevation following sucrose ingestion. To investigate that sucrose inhibited from digestion using MLE is utilized through gut microbiota, [U-C]-sucrose solutions with or without MLE were administered orally to conventional and antibiotic-treated rats, and the excretion of CO and H produced by gut microbiota was measured for 24 h. After an administration of [U-C]-sucrose to conventional rats, the unit excreted CO peaked at 4 h, and the cumulative CO excreted over 24 h was approximately 60% of the radioactivity administered.

Population persistence under two conservation measures: Paradox of habitat protection in a patchy environment.

Anthropogenic modification of natural habitats is a growing threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. The protection of biospecies has become increasingly important. Here, we pay attention to a single species as a conservation target.

Switching to tenofovir alafenamide for nucleos(t)ide analogue-experienced patients with chronic hepatitis B: week 144 results from a real-world, multi-centre cohort study.

Background: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) may be preferable to other nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) regarding outcomes against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Aims: To evaluate the longer term virological/biochemical effectiveness of TAF and the renal safety of sequential therapy to TAF in real-world settings METHODS: This multi-centre, retrospective cohort study included consecutive adult patients who were switched from other NAs to TAF. We assessed the virological and biochemical responses up to 144 weeks.

Suppression of HCT116 Human Colon Cancer Cell Motility by Polymethoxyflavones is Associated with Inhibition of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling.

Aberrant regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the major causes of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we examined the effect of polymethoxyflavones present in citrus peels on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the HCT116 CRC cell line. We found that 5,7,3',4'-tetra-methoxyflavone (TMF) and 7,8,3',4'-TMF inhibited the expression of target genes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and the transcriptional activities of β-catenin/Tcf and suppressed the motility of HCT116 cells.

Long-term association of vegetable and fruit intake with risk of dementia in Japanese older adults: the Hisayama study.

Background: Several prospective Western studies have reported an inverse association of vegetable and fruit intake with dementia risk. However, there is limited epidemiologic evidence in Asians. This study investigated the association of intakes of vegetables, fruits, and their nutrients on the risk of incident dementia and its subtypes in a Japanese community.

Corticosteroid suppresses urea-cycle-related gene expressions in ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Background: Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is most common among urea cycle disorders (UCDs), defined by defects in enzymes associated with ureagenesis. Corticosteroid administration to UCD patients, including OTCD patients, is suggested to be avoided, as it may induce life-threatening hyperammonemia. The mechanism has been considered nitrogen overload due to the catabolic effect of corticosteroids; however, the pathophysiological process is unclear.

Development of a predictive model for vitamin D deficiency based on the vitamin D status in young Japanese women: A study protocol.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with an increased risk for lifestyle-related diseases. In Japan, VDD is quite prevalent in all age groups, with its high risk in young women. Furthermore, its association during pregnancy with gestational hypertension and low birth weight has also been reported.

Sequential HBV treatment with tenofovir alafenamide for patients with chronic hepatitis B: week 96 results from a real-world, multicenter cohort study.

Background And Aims: Outcome data of sequential hepatitis B virus treatment with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) are limited. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and renal safety of TAF in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who were previously treated with entecavir (ETV), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), or a nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) combination.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study included 458 consecutive CHB patients who switched to TAF monotherapy after at least 2 years of treatment with another NA.

Serious role of non-quarantined COVID-19 patients for random walk simulations.

The infectious disease (COVID-19) causes serious damages and outbreaks. A large number of infected people have been reported in the world. However, such a number only represents those who have been tested; e.

DNMT1 regulates the timing of DNA methylation by DNMT3 in an enzymatic activity-dependent manner in mouse embryonic stem cells.

DNA methylation (DNAme; 5-methylcytosine, 5mC) plays an essential role in mammalian development, and the 5mC profile is regulated by a balance of opposing enzymatic activities: DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and Ten-eleven translocation dioxygenases (TETs). In mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), de novo DNAme by DNMT3 family enzymes, demethylation by the TET-mediated conversion of 5mC to 5-hydroxymethylation (5hmC), and maintenance of the remaining DNAme by DNMT1 are actively repeated throughout cell cycles, dynamically forming a constant 5mC profile. Nevertheless, the detailed mechanism and physiological significance of this active cyclic DNA modification in mouse ESCs remain unclear.

Pirfenidone attenuates acetaminophen-induced liver injury via suppressing c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation.

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury is the most frequent cause of acute liver failure in Western countries. Pirfenidone (PFD), an orally bioavailable pyridone derivative, is clinically used for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment and has antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Here we examined the PFD effect on APAP-induced liver injury.

The effectiveness of Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) for the assessment of the suffering and quality of interpersonal relationships of patients with chronic pain.

Background: Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) is a tool that can be used to visualize and evaluate the burden of suffering caused by an illness. The aim of this study was to identify which aspects of the burden of chronic pain patients are associated with Self/illness separation (SIS), an indicator of the magnitude of suffering. We also examined the effectiveness of PRISM for evaluating changes in the relationships between patients and their medical care and significant others due to our inpatient treatment.

Characterization and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from chicken and pork.

The prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile were investigated in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in chicken and pork in Fukuoka, Japan in 2019. Their AMR profiles were compared with those of C. jejuni and C.

Long-term hepatic function of patients with compensated cirrhosis following successful direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus infection.

Background And Aim: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have contributed to the improvement of outcomes for all patients with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term hepatic benefits of hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure by DAAs in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study consisted of consecutive patients with compensated cirrhosis who initiated interferon-free DAA treatment before September 2016.

Inhibition of phage-resistant bacterial pathogen re-growth with the combined use of bacteriophages and EDTA.

The combined effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and bacteriophage (phage) treatment of foodborne pathogens were investigated. Although viable counts for Campylobacter jejuni decreased by 1.5 log after incubation for 8 h in the presence of phage PC10, re-growth was observed thereafter.