Ofatumumab for multiple sclerosis with disability accumulation.

Background: The ASCLEPIOS/APLIOS/APOLITOS/ALITHIOS trials highlighted the benefits of ofatumumab in reducing relapse rates and disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, its effects on patients with severe disability status remains uncertain. This study aimed to clarify the outcomes of ofatumumab in MS patients with high Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores and prolonged disease durations.

[Factors associated with cancer risk perception among high school sophomores: an analysis of national survey data based on a cancer education logic model to promote cancer control].

Objective　Using a nationwide survey of cancer education outcomes that contribute to cancer control, this study aimed to determine the short-term outcomes of cancer education associated with students' perceptions of cancer risk.Methods　An online survey was administered to second-year high school students between September and December 2022. The participants were asked about two basic attributes and 33 short-term outcome measures, as shown in the cancer education logic model.

Future spinal reflex is embedded in primary motor cortex output.

Mammals can execute intended limb movements despite the fact that spinal reflexes involuntarily modulate muscle activity. To generate appropriate muscle activity, the cortical descending motor output must coordinate with spinal reflexes, yet the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. We simultaneously recorded activities in motor-related cortical areas, afferent neurons, and forelimb muscles of monkeys performing reaching movements.

Recent trends in multiple metrics and multimodal analysis for neural activity and pupillometry.

Recent studies focusing on neural activity captured by neuroimaging modalities have provided various metrics for elucidating the functional networks and dynamics of the entire brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can depict spatiotemporal functional neural networks and dynamic characteristics due to its excellent spatial resolution. However, its temporal resolution is limited.

Electroconvulsive therapy-specific volume changes in nuclei of the amygdala and their relationship to long-term anxiety improvement in depression.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for depression. ECT induces volume changes in the amygdala, a key center of anxiety. However, the clinical relevance of ECT-induced changes in amygdala volume remains uncertain.

Identification of ZNF850 as a novel CTG repeat expansion-related gene in myotonic dystrophy type 1 patient-derived iPSCs.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a dominantly inherited multi-system disease caused by expanded CTG repeats in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. Similar to other repeat disorders, the expanded trinucleotide repeat is unstable and demonstrates a tendency to increase repeat size with age in affected tissues. DNA mismatch repair system is implicated in somatic instability.

Paroxysmal delta waves of awake EEG in childhood adrenoleukodystrophy: Possible indicator of the hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT).

Background: Childhood cerebral type of Adrenoleukodystrophy (CC-ALD) is fatal without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We consider whether EEGs showing focal paroxysmal delta waves can be a candidate of early detector of the apparent ALD and HSCT therapy.

Methods: Twenty-two male children with ALD (5-16 years; 10.

Parallel labeled-line organization of sympathetic outflow for selective organ regulation in mice.

The sympathetic nervous system is crucial for responding to environmental changes. This regulation is coordinated by the spinal sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs), innervating both postganglionic neurons and the adrenal gland. Despite decades of research supporting the concept of selective control within this system, the neural circuit organization responsible for the output specificity remains poorly understood.

Visual and olfactory signals of conspecifics induce emotional contagion in mice.

Emotional contagion occurs in many animals, including rodents. To determine the social signals of emotional state-matching between individuals in mice, we conducted an empirical laboratory experiment using visual, olfactory and auditory stimuli. The Japanese wild-derived mouse strain MSM/Ms (MSM) was tested as observers, since our initial experiments indicated that MSM mice showed higher sensitivity to others' pain compared with the laboratory strain C57BL/6J (B6).

The role of psychotropics on the associations between extreme temperature and heat-related outcomes among people with mental health conditions: population-based study.

Background: The association between heatwave and heat-related outcomes in people with mental health conditions with and without psychotropics was unclear.

Methods: We identified people with severe mental illness (SMI) and depression, respectively, using Japanese claim data of Ibaraki prefecture during 1/1/2014-31/12/2021. We conducted self-controlled case series to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of heat-related illness, myocardial infarction and delirium, respectively, during 5-day pre-heatwave, heatwave, and 5-day post-heatwave periods all other periods (baseline) within an individual, stratified by periods prescribed psychotropics and periods not prescribed psychotropics, respectively.

[Franz Joseph Haydn and Subcortical Vascular Encephalopathy].

Franz Joseph Haydn was a prominent musician in the late 1700s. Researchers have speculated that Haydn may have suffered from subcortical cerebrovascular disease. These interpretations, based on biographical and other sources, might be accurate.

Small-vessel vasculitis associated with cholesterol embolism: a case report.

Background: Cholesterol embolism causes various organ dysfunctions, including skin, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, as well as immunological abnormalities, such as hypocomplementemia and eosinophilia. However, only a few cases of vasculitis accompanied by cholesterol embolism have been reported.

Case Presentation: We present the case of an 82-year-old man with cholesterol embolism who also developed small-vessel vasculitis of the skin and muscles.

Characteristics of the drinking habits of people who overdose over-the-counter drugs: Insights from a nationwide Japanese survey.

Aim: To analyze the drinking habits of individuals who overdosed on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as cough suppressants, antitussives, antipyretic analgesics, and combination cold medications, in Japan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data collected from 2881 participants through a national survey conducted in Japan in 2023. Through a self-administered questionnaire, the participants were categorized into OTC (overdosed OTC drugs in the past year) and control (did not overdose OTC drugs) groups.

Surgical outcome and contributing presurgical evaluations in children with magnetic resonance imaging-negative epilepsy and periodic seizure cycles.

Background: The identification of surgical candidates is a critical issue in patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative drug-resistant focal epilepsy and latent accompanying resectable lesions, such as focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Recently, periodic seizure cycles have been associated with FCD in both patients with MRI-positive and MRI-negative epilepsy. We investigated the presurgical evaluation and postsurgical outcome of patients with MRI-negative epilepsy with FCD and a history of periodic seizure cycles.

Perspectives of people with schizophrenia on clinical outcome scales and patient-reported outcome measures: a qualitative study.

Background: Over the past half-century, numerous scales have been designed to quantify outcomes in people with severe mental health disorders. However, little is known about the views of people diagnosed with schizophrenia on individual outcome scales, particularly outside of European countries.

Aim: We conducted a qualitative study to examine the perspectives of people with schizophrenia on multiple scales in Japan.

Auditory agnosia progressing to cortical deafness. Long-term follow up of a one-year-old child to age 37.

Background: There are two types of central auditory disorders due to pathology of the bilateral auditory cortices in adult patients: with residual hearing; with total hearing loss. However, long-term changes of hearing acuity over physical development time are unknown.

Objective: The aim of this case report was to illustrate the pathophysiology of auditory changes in a 1 year-3 months old child who was diagnosed with auditory agnosia as a sequel of herpes encephalitis and later developed cortical deafness during a 36-year follow-up.

Psychometric property of the Japanese version of self-efficacy for managing chronic disease scale in individuals with chronic diseases.

Background: Although accurately assessing self-efficacy for self-management is crucial in chronic illness care, important, there is a scarcity of validated psychometric properties in Japan. This study aimed to validate a Japanese version of the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease (SEMCD-J) scale.

Methods: Individuals with self-reported chronic diseases, symptoms, or conditions for over one year were recruited online.

Inhibitory effects of the selective μ-opioid receptor antagonist UD-030 on methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference.

Although methamphetamine (METH) and other addictive substance use disorders are a major social problem worldwide, appropriate pharmacotherapies have not yet been discovered. Subtype-nonselective opioid receptor antagonists, such as naltrexone (NTX), have been reported to suppress METH addiction, but unclear are the opioid receptor subtypes that are involved in this beneficial effect. To clarify the role of μ-opioid receptors (MOPs), we examined effects of the novel nonpeptidic MOP-selective antagonist UD-030 on the acquisition and expression of METH-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) using behavioral tests in C57BL/6J mice.