Quality of Life in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis in Relation to Disease Severity: Nationwide Data in Japan.

Introduction: The impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on daily life and different levels of quality of life (QOL) according to AD severity has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to assess QOL in relation to the AD severity in Japan.

Methods: This observational study used anonymized data of health insurance association members and their families registered to a mobile health app.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy can reduce acute toxicities in long-course neoadjuvant radiation therapy combined with S-1 for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes and adverse events between three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients undergoing long-course neoadjuvant radiation therapy (NA-RT) for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 47 consecutive patients who received NA-RT for LARC between January 2011 and September 2022. Seven and 40 patients were diagnosed with clinical stages II and III, respectively.

C-metabolic flux analysis of respiratory chain disrupted strain ΔndhF1 of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Cyanobacteria are advantageous hosts for industrial applications toward achieving sustainable society due to their unique and superior properties such as atmospheric CO fixation via photosynthesis. However, cyanobacterial productivities tend to be weak compared to heterotrophic microbes. To enhance them, it is necessary to understand the fundamental metabolic mechanisms unique to cyanobacteria.

Phase I/II Study of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Consisting of S-1 and Cisplatin for Patients with Clinically Resectable Type 4 or Large Type 3 Gastric Cancer (OGSG1205).

Background: To improve the prognosis of clinically resectable type 4 or large type 3 gastric cancer (GC), we performed a phase I/II study of neoadjuvant-radiotherapy combined with S-1 plus cisplatin.

Patients And Methods: Phase I, with a standard 3 + 3 dose-escalation design, was performed to define the recommended phase II dose. Efficacy and safety were evaluated in phase II.

A three-dimensional kinematic analysis of bipedal walking in a white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) on a horizontal pole and flat surface.

Gibbons, a type of lesser ape, are brachiators but also walk bipedally and without forelimb assistance, not only on the ground but also on tree branches. The arboreal bipedal walking strategy of the gibbons has been studied in previous studies in relation to two-dimensional (2D) kinematic analysis. However, because tree branches and the ground differ greatly in width, leading to a constrained foot contact point on the tree branches, gibbons must adjust their 3D joint motions of trunk and hindlimb on the tree branches.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists outperform basal insulin in cardiovascular and renal outcomes for type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) and basal insulin are currently used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as long-acting injectables. In this study, we aimed to compare the cardiovascular (CV) and renal outcomes of GLP-1 RAs and basal insulin treatment in patients with T2DM.

Method: We conducted a propensity score-matched cohort study of patients from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital institutions between 2013 and 2021.

Open-Door Cervical Laminoplasty Using Instrumentation of Every Level Versus Alternate Levels: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: In the setting of cervical open-door laminoplasty, the question of whether or not every opened laminar level should be instrumented has not been sufficiently investigated. We postulated that the surgical outcomes of open-door laminoplasty with instrumentation of every second opened level (skip-fixation) might not be inferior to those of laminoplasty with instrumentation of every opened level (all-fixation). The purpose of the present study was to test the noninferiority of laminoplasty with skip-fixation in improving myelopathy at 2 years postoperatively compared with all-fixation.

Photoperiodic plasticity of pigment-dispersing factor immunoreactive fibers projecting toward prothoracicotropic hormone neurons in flesh fly Sarcophaga similis larvae.

Larvae of the flesh fly, Sarcophaga similis exhibit photoperiodic responses to control pupal diapause. Although the external coincidence model is applicable to S. similis photoperiodism, it remains unknown how the circadian clock system integrates day-length information.

Development of a Framework for the Hemodynamic Impact of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in Normal and Heart Failure Conditions.

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) improves respiratory conditions. However, the complex interaction between PEEP and hemodynamics in heart failure patients makes it challenging to determine appropriate PEEP settings. In this study, we developed a framework for the impact of PEEP on hemodynamics considering cardiac function, by integrating the impact of PEEP in the generalized circulatory equilibrium framework, and validated the framework by assessing its ability to accurately predict PEEP-induced hemodynamics.

Broad-spectrum efficacy of CEACAM6-targeted antibody-drug conjugate with BET protein degrader in colorectal, lung, and breast cancer mouse models.

Despite remarkable advances in cancer treatment, most solid cancers remain difficult to cure. We recently developed an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC, 84-EBET) for pancreatic cancer by using the carcinoembryonic-antigen-related cell-adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) antibody #84.7 and the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) protein degrader EBET.

Flexible framework of computing binding free energy using the energy representation theory of solution.

Host-guest binding plays a crucial role in the functionality of various systems, and its efficiency is often quantified using the binding free energy, which represents the free-energy difference between the bound and dissociated states. Here, we propose a methodology to compute the binding free energy based on the energy representation (ER) theory of solution, which enables us to evaluate the free-energy difference between the systems of interest with the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Unlike the other free-energy methods, such as the Bennett acceptance ratio (BAR), the ER theory does not require the MD simulations for hypothetical intermediate states connecting the systems of interest, leading to reduced computational costs.

Eldecalcitol Add-On to Risedronate Reduces Bone Loss from Aromatase Inhibitors in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients.

Context: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) cause bone loss and increase fracture risk in women with hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer (HR+EBC). Bone antiresorptive agents are recommended for patients at risk of fragility fractures. Eldecalcitol, combined with bisphosphonate, increases bone mineral density (BMD) in primary osteoporosis.

Surface Oxygen Vacancies on Copper-Doped Titanium Dioxide for Photocatalytic Nitrate-to-Ammonia Reduction.

Photocatalytic transformation of nitrate (NO) in wastewater into ammonia (NH) is a challenge in the detoxification and recycling of limited nitrogen resources. In particular, previously reported photocatalysts cannot promote the reaction using water as an electron donor. Herein, we report that copper-doped titanium dioxide (Cu-TiO) powders, prepared via the sol-gel method and subsequent calcination, promote NO-to-NH reduction in water.

Transcriptomic landscape of hyperthyroidism in mice overexpressing thyroid-Stimulating hormone.

Activation of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) fundamentally leads to hyperthyroidism. To elucidate TSHR signaling, we conducted transcriptome analyses for hyperthyroid mice that we generated by overexpressing TSH. TSH overexpression drastically changed their thyroid transcriptome.

variant may affect the response to type 2 biologics in patients with severe asthma.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with variable response to treatment. Genetic backgrounds are involved in the severity of type 2 asthma, but their effects on responses to biologics remain unknown. This study aimed to clarify the role of genetic factors in response to biologics in patients with severe asthma.

Imaging characteristics of hypervascular focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesions in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease.

Background: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)-like lesions are hyperplastic formations in patients with micronodular cirrhosis and a history of alcohol abuse. Although pathologically similar to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions, they are benign. As such, it is important to develop methods to distinguish between FNH-like lesions and HCC.

Coping flexibility and associated factors after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer: A cross-sectional multisite study.

Objective: To elucidate the current state of coping flexibility and associated factors in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy.

Methods: A cross-sectional multisite study was conducted with 142 patients with gastric cancer who completed questionnaires on coping flexibility, postgastrectomy dysfunction, health literacy, and perceived social support. Coping flexibility was measured using the Coping Flexibility Scale-Revised, which includes three subscales: Abandonment Coping (i.

Asymmetric Synthesis, Structure Determination, and Biologic Evaluation of Isomers of TLAM as PFK1 Inhibitors.

Inhibiting phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) is a promising approach for treating lactic acidosis and mitochondrial dysfunction by activating oxidative phosphorylation. Tryptolinamide (TLAM) has been shown as a PFK1 inhibitor, but its complex stereochemistry, with 16 possible isomers complicates further development. We conducted an asymmetric synthesis, determined the absolute configurations, and evaluated the PFK1 inhibitory activity of the TLAM isomers.

Discovery of a Phosphodiesterase 7A Inhibitor of High Isozyme Selectivity Exhibiting Anti-Osteoporotic Effects.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) have drawn attention due to their critical roles in physiological and pathological conditions. Many research groups have studied these hydrolytic enzymes to develop new drugs, including apremilast as a PDE4 inhibitor and sildenafil as a PDE5 inhibitor. Targeting PDE7 has also been deemed a rational strategy to ameliorate autoimmune conditions.

Glucose transporter 1 in vascular smooth muscle cells is dispensable for abdominal aortic aneurysm induced by angiotensin II.

Treatment with an inhibitor of glucose use via glucose transporters (GLUT) has been shown to attenuate experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development in mice. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) signaling seems to be essential for angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced AAA in mice. Accordingly, we have tested a hypothesis that VSMC silencing of the major GLUT, GLUT1, prevents AAA development and rupture in mice treated with Ang II plus β-aminopropionitrile.

Radical trifluoromethoxylation of fluorinated alkenes for accessing difluoro(trifluoromethoxy)methyl groups.

In this study, we explore the potential of the difluoro(trifluoromethoxy)methyl group, CF-O-CF, an underexplored but promising structural analog of the trifluoromethoxy group (OCF). This moiety offers unique electronic properties and enhanced chemical stability due to its multiple C-F bonds, along with the added advantage of C-O bond cleavage, making it an attractive option in fluorine chemistry. We have succeeded in synthesizing difluoro(trifluoromethoxy)methyl compounds radical amino- and hydroxy-trifluoromethoxylations of β,β-difluorostyrenes.

Aortic valve repair with sinus plication for a regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve: a case report.

Background: Repair of the regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve is an attractive alternative to valve replacement. Although good long-term outcomes have been reported, postoperative aortic stenosis remains a major late cause of repair failure in bicuspid aortic valves. Sinus plication is effective for creating a more symmetrical commissural angle, leading to a decrease in the mean transvalvular pressure gradient.

Changes in swallowing response on patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) often causes dysphagia. The risk of dysphagia increases during CRT tends to become more severe after finishing CRT, and persists for a few weeks thereafter. Thus, understanding the changes in swallowing physiology during and immediately after CRT is essential.

Association of falls with risk of dementia and all-cause mortality: a cohort study of Japanese older adults with a 9-year follow-up.

Objective: Many risk factors affect dementia and all-cause mortality. However, whether falls are a risk factor for dementia and all-cause mortality is unclear. The study examines the association of falls with the risk of dementia and all-cause mortality, and whether dementia mediates the association of falls with all-cause mortality.

Local structure of amorphous sulfur in carbon-sulfur composites for all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries.

All-solid-state (ASS) batteries are a promising solution to achieve carbon neutrality. ASS lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries stand out due to their improved safety, achieved by replacing organic solvents, which are prone to leakage and fire, with solid electrolytes. In addition, these batteries offer the benefits of higher capacity and the absence of rare metals.