Total serum bilirubin levels as mediators of anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms with consideration of smoking status.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs). Mildly elevated total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels can exert anti-atherosclerotic effects and may regulate inflammation. We explore the relationship between TSB levels, smoking, and inflammation.

Efficacy and safety of adrenomedullin for acute ischemic stroke (AMFIS): a phase 2, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

Background: Adrenomedullin has angiogenic and vasoprotective effects in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This investigator-initiated trial aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and optimal administration of adrenomedullin in treating AIS.

Methods: In this single-center, multi-cohort, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase II trial, patients with AIS received pulsed adrenomedullin (9 ng/kg/min for 8 h daily over 7 days) or placebo in the first-half cohort, and continuous-pulsed adrenomedullin (9 ng/kg/min for 72 h during the first 3 days and 8 h daily between Day 4-7) or placebo in the second-half cohort.

A Case of Pediatric Sjögren's Syndrome Diagnosed With Microcalcifications in Both Parotid Glands.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease primarily affecting the exocrine glands, particularly the lacrimal and salivary glands, typically manifests as sicca symptoms (dry mouth and dry eyes). However, these symptoms are uncommon in pediatric patients. We present a case of a 13-year-old boy diagnosed with SS following the detection of bilateral parotid gland microcalcifications during a computed tomography scan for headache evaluation.

Unilateral lattice corneal dystrophy with c.1501C>A (p.P501T) and c.1733T>C (p.L578P) variants in the transforming growth factor-beta induced gene: a case report.

Background: Corneal dystrophies (CDs) significantly affect quality of life. However, their progression and characteristics remain unclear. This study aimed to report a case of a unilateral variant of lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) with c.

[A Comparative Study of the Compressed SENSE Accelerated Fat-suppressed 3D-turbo Spin Echo Sequence Method and Conventional Fat-suppressed 3D-TSE Method for Lingual Neurovascular Bundle Visualization].

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the compressed SENSE (C-SENSE) accelerated fat-suppressed 3D-turbo spin echo (TSE) method and the conventional SENSE accelerated fat-suppressed 3D-TSE method to examine the usefulness of C-SENSE technology in reducing imaging time.

Methods: Fat-suppressed 3D-TSE using either C-SENSE or SENSE technology was utilized to capture consecutive preoperative images of 34 patients with tongue cancer. SNR, CNR, and visual evaluation were then used to compare both types of technology.

[Development of Image Database for Kiken-yochi Training (KYT) in Radiology Practice].

Kiken-yochi Training (KYT) has been introduced in many hospitals as medical safety education in many departments, with the exception of radiology. KYT is also not used in the contents of medical safety lectures in the education of students for radiological technologists. One of the reasons for this is that the images for KYT (KYT images) cannot be created at each hospital or easily obtained on the website.

[Changes in FDG-PET Images of Small Lung and Liver Masses Caused by the Deep Learning-based Time-of-flight Processing].

Purpose: The deep learning time-of-flight (DL-ToF) aims to replicate the ToF effects through post-processing, applying deep learning-based enhancement to PET images. This study evaluates the effectiveness of DL-ToF using a chest-abdomen phantom that simulates human anatomical structures.

Methods: The 3 DL-ToF intensities (Low-DL-ToF: LDL, Middle-DL-ToF: MDL, High-DL-ToF: HDL) were adopted for the PET image of the chest-abdomen phantom.

Shortage of antiseizure medication in Germany: How big is the problem?

Objectives: We determined the frequency of drug shortages of antiseizure medication (ASM) availability in Germany.

Methods: Retrospective and descriptive analysis of databases of 2 pharmaceutical wholesalers in Germany with a market share of about 45% of the German market in July 2023 (chosen arbitrarily) focusing on antiseizure drug shortages (i.e.

Novel Radiotheranostic Ligands Targeting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Based on Dual Linker Approach.

Radiotheranostics using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting radioligands offers precision medicine by performing radionuclide therapy based on results of diagnosis. Albumin binder (ALB) binds to albumin reversibly and contributes to effective radiotheranostics by enhancing tumor accumulation of PSMA-targeting radioligands. We newly developed two ALB-containing PSMA-targeting radioligands including dual functional linkers, a hydrophilic linker, d-glutamic acid, and a hydrophobic linker, 4-(aminomethyl)benzoic acid, with the opposite arrangement (PNT-DA6 and PNT-DA7).

Nationwide Survey of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Japan.

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) presents some clinical overlap with Kawasaki disease (KD). Although KD is common in Japan, the clinical characteristics of MIS-C in Japan remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of MIS-C in Japan.

Differential vasoproliferative traits of strains associated with autotransporter BafA variants.

a Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium, is the etiological agent of cat-scratch disease and also causes bacillary angiomatosis in immunocompromised individuals. Although the ability to promote vascular endothelial cell proliferation differs among species, variations among strains within remain unclear. angiogenic factor A (BafA) and adhesin A (BadA) have been identified as autotransporters of that are involved in endothelial cell proliferation.

Nationwide Survey on Incidence and Management of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis in Japan.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence, laryngeal distribution, management, and postoperative clinical course of patients with newly diagnosed adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) in Japan.

Methods: An initial brief questionnaire was sent to 782 institutions, including all 101 core and 627 collaborating institutions providing board certification programs accredited by the Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. A detailed questionnaire regarding patient age, sex, Derkay's score, surgery, and postoperative clinical course was sent to 196 institutions caring for patients with either newly or previously diagnosed RRP.

Understanding the burden and influencing factors in family caregivers' medication assistance for patients with dementia: a survey study.

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the sense of burden and the factors that affect medication assistance among family caregivers who provide long-term care to elderly patients with dementia.

Methods: Survey method: A sample size of 96 was predetermined, and a web-based survey was conducted to caregivers who met the qualifying criteria. The survey encompassed following components: (1) assessment of burden, (2) determination of difficulty during medication assistance, (3) evaluation of comprehension of medication purposes, (4) evaluation of caregiver's ability to recall administration method, (5) measurement of satisfaction with current medication, (6) examination of harmony between medication and lifestyle habits, (7) cohabitation status with the patient, (8) quantification of oral medications, (9) determination of medication doses (doses) per day, and (10) estimation of time spent on medication assistance.

C-terminal tagging enhances the detection sensitivity of interlekin receptor type 1.

Substances released outside of the cells during cell necrosis are collectively called danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) or alarmins. A pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1α (IL-1α) is known as a typical alarmin. IL-1α transmits signals by binding to IL-1 receptor 1 (IL-1R1), type I protein, expressed on the cell membrane of target cells, but detection of IL-1R1 at the protein and mRNA levels is difficult.

Circularly Polarized Phosphorescence Properties of Binuclear Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes Bearing Axially Chiral Schiff-Base Ligands.

The synthesis, structure, and circularly polarized phosphorescence (CPP) properties of axially chiral cyclometalated binuclear platinum(II) complexes were described. A series of optically pure binuclear platinum(II) complexes were synthesized in five steps from commercially available ()- or ()-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) as starting materials. Their three-dimensional molecular structures and square-planar coordination geometries were elucidated from X-ray diffraction and 2D NMR analysis.

[National Survey on Procedure Dose of Endovascular Treatment for Lower Extremity Artery Disease].

Purpose: The objective of this study is to elucidate the current status of procedural radiation doses for endovascular treatment (EVT) of lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) in Japan and to validate the diagnostic reference level (DRL) quantity.

Methods: Survey requests were mailed to 493 facilities across Japan. The study targeted cases of EVT for LEAD performed between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022, with a maximum of 10 cases collected per facility.

Difference in efficacy of osimertinib between patients with EGFR-positive NSCLC with postoperative recurrence and those with de novo unresectable disease: A prospective, observational study.

Background: Although clinical trials of systemic chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have included both postoperative recurrence and de novo unresectable cases, postoperative recurrence is reported to have a better efficacy and prognosis. However, there are no efficacy data of first-line osimertinib for postoperative recurrence.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of a multicenter, prospective, observational study that evaluated the efficacy of first-line osimertinib in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive NSCLC.

CaMKII-dependent non-canonical RIG-I pathway promotes influenza virus propagation in the acute-phase of infection.

Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is one of hundreds of host-cell factors involved in the propagation of type A influenza virus (IAV), although its mechanism of action is unknown. Here, we identified CaMKII inhibitory peptide M3 by targeting its kinase domain using affinity-based screening of a tailored random peptide library. M3 inhibited IAV cytopathicity and propagation in cells by specifically inhibiting the acute-phase activation of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), which is uniquely regulated by CaMKII.