The Splice Index as a prognostic biomarker of strength and function in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic, CTG repeat expansion disorder characterized by a slow, progressive decline in skeletal muscle function. A biomarker correlating RNA mis-splicing, the core pathogenic disease mechanism, and muscle performance is crucial for assessing response to disease-modifying interventions. We evaluated the Myotonic Dystrophy Splice Index (SI), a composite RNA splicing biomarker incorporating 22 disease-specific events, as a potential biomarker of DM1 muscle weakness.

Delirium prevention in hospices: Opportunities and limitations - A focused ethnography.

Background: Delirium is common and distressing for hospice in-patients. Hospital-based research shows delirium may be prevented by targeting its risk factors. Many preventative strategies address patients' fundamental care needs.

Genetic variability in strains isolated in a Japanese hospital.

Objectives: is a significant pathogen causing invasive meningococcal disease, posing clinical and public health concerns worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the genetic characteristics of clinical isolates at Okayama University Hospital in Japan.

Methods: Between 2018 and 2023, five clinical strains were isolated, of which three were subjected to the antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genetic analysis using MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA).

Dentigerous Cyst and Glandular Odontogenic Cyst: A Rare Combination of Coexisting Pathologies.

A dentigerous cyst (DC) is the most common developmental cystic lesion of the jaws. Histologically, these cysts derive from the odontogenic epithelium that includes the reduced enamel epithelium, epithelial cell rests of Serres, and epithelial cell rests of Malassez. Radiographically, DCs are usually presented as well-defined radiolucencies associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth at the level of the cementoenamel junction (CEJ).

Long term health outcomes in people with diabetes 12 months after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK: a prospective cohort study.

Background: People with diabetes are at increased risk of hospitalisation, morbidity, and mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long-term outcomes for people with diabetes previously hospitalised with COVID-19 are, however, unknown. This study aimed to determine the longer-term physical and mental health effects of COVID-19 in people with and without diabetes.

Improving Communication and Teamwork Between Resident Doctor Teams Using a Group Messaging Application: A Quality Improvement Project.

Background Communication and teamwork are essential in medicine. Established standards emphasise the importance of collaboration and access to support. Some departments divide doctors into teams; however, inter-team communication is not always efficient.

Palovarotene in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: review and perspective.

Introduction: Palovarotene is a retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist that was studied in phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trials for the inhibition of new heterotopic ossification (HO) in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Despite numerous setbacks and regulatory delays, palovarotene is now the first approved FOP treatment in the U.S.

Assessing Human Ribosomal DNA Variation and Its Association With Phenotypic Outcomes.

Although genome-scale analyses have provided insights into the connection between genetic variability and complex human phenotypes, much trait variation is still not fully understood. Genetic variation within repetitive elements, such as the multi-copy, multi-locus ribosomal DNA (rDNA), has emerged as a potential contributor to trait variation. Whereas rDNA was long believed to be largely uniform within a species, recent studies have revealed substantial variability in the locus, both within and across individuals.

Associations of time to the operating room on outcomes in odontogenic infection.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were correlations between the length of time from hospital admission to surgical intervention and the frequency of complications in patients with odontogenic infections. While odontogenic infection is well studied in terms of interventions and outcomes, less is known about hospital utilization and resource burden of odontogenic infection with respect to timeliness to intervention. A retrospective cohort analysis was used to examine correlations between time from admission to surgical intervention and clinical outcomes.

Correlation between preoperative aqueous cytokine levels and mid-term corneal endothelial cell loss following penetrating keratoplasty.

Objective: To investigate the association between preoperative aqueous humour (AqH) cytokines and mid-term endothelial cell density (ECD) following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).

Methods: This study analysed a total of 87 eyes of which 54 underwent PKP and 33 eyes underwent cataract surgery. AqH samples were collected at the beginning of surgery.

Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies.

The current opioid crisis has had an unprecedented public health impact. Approved medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) exist, yet their limitations indicate a need for innovative treatments. Limited preliminary clinical studies suggest specific psychedelics might aid OUD treatment, though most clinical evidence remains observational, with few controlled trials.

A study on the compressive strength of three-dimensional direct printing aligner material for specific designing of clear aligners.

Background: The demand for orthodontic treatment using clear aligners has been gradually increasing because of their superior esthetics compared with conventional fixed orthodontic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the compressive strength of three-dimensional direct printing aligners (3DPA) with that of conventional thermo-forming aligners (TFA) to determine their clinical applicability. In the experimental group, the 3DPA material TC-85 (TC-85 full) was used to create angular protrusions called rectangular pressure areas (RPA).

Plasma S100A8/A9 level predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Blood-based predictive markers for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have not yet been established. We investigated the association of the plasma level of S100A8/A9 with the efficacy of immunotherapy. We evaluated patients with unresectable stage III/IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with ICIs at Okayama University Hospital.

Cesarean delivery on child health and development in Japanese nationwide birth cohort.

The long-term effects of cesarean delivery (CD) on child health and development remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate these effects using an outcome-wide approach in a Japanese context, where perinatal mortality rates are among the world's lowest. We analyzed data from 2,114 children in a nationwide Japanese birth cohort, linking the 21st Century Longitudinal Survey of Newborns with the Perinatal Research Network database.

Digitized thermo-responsive shape memory matrix band for tooth restorations.

Direct resin restoration has been widely used to restore the tooth defect for its convenience and minimal invasion. However, the accuracy of the final contour of class II restoration is often unpredictable and quite technique-sensitive due to the limitation of traditional matrix band system. In this study, the authors developed a novel matrix band system using shape memory polymer (SMP), which possessed two reversible shapes including digitized permanent shape to reproduce anatomical proximal contour and programmable temporary shape for clinical practice and reservation.

Rigour of Development of European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines over a 12-year period (2013-2024): a systematic review of guidelines.

Introduction: The ESC and ACC/AHA regularly publish guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease. By definition, a guideline should follow strict methodological criteria, and have a transparent, traceable and reproducible development process. We aimed to assess the overall strength of the recommendations and rigour of methodological development in ESC and ACC/AHA guidelines.

Comparative analysis of axial length measurement method for eyes with submacular hemorrhage.

Purpose: To identify a method for comparing preoperative axial length (AL) measurements with postoperative AL in submacular hemorrhage (SMH).

Study Design: Retrospective.

Methods: This study included 30 patients who underwent vitrectomy for SMH (January 2016-January 2023) with preoperative and postoperative AL data.

A Case of an Oral Elastofibromatous Lesion: A Clinicopathological Analysis With a Literature Review.

Elastofibromatous changes of the oral mucosa, such as an elastofibroma (EF) or an elastofibromatous lesion (EFL), are not well recognized, and the second such case in Japan is reported. A 72-year-old man wearing a complete maxillary denture presented with a small nodule on the hard palate. Histopathological examination showed abundant fibrous tissue with numerous elastic fibers on Elastica van Gieson (EvG) staining.

Integrative co-registration of elemental imaging and histopathology for enhanced spatial multimodal analysis of tissue sections through TRACE.

Summary: Elemental imaging provides detailed profiling of metal bioaccumulation, offering more precision than bulk analysis by targeting specific tissue areas. However, accurately identifying comparable tissue regions from elemental maps is challenging, requiring the integration of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides for effective comparison. Facilitating the streamlined co-registration of whole slide images (WSI) and elemental maps, TRACE enhances the analysis of tissue regions and elemental abundance in various pathological conditions.

Nanostructural Modulation of G-Quadruplex DNA in Neurodegeneration: Orotate Interaction Revealed Through Experimental and Computational Approaches.

The natural compound orotic acid and its anionic form, orotate, play a pivotal role in various biological processes, serving as essential intermediates in pyrimidine de novo synthesis, with demonstrated connections to dietary, supplement, and neurodrug applications. A novel perspective on biomolecular aggregation at the nanoscale, particularly pertinent to neurodegeneration, challenges the established paradigm positing that peptide (amyloid beta) and protein (tau) aggregation mainly govern the molecular events underlying prevalent neuropathologies. Emerging biological evidence indicates a notable role for G-quadruplex (G4) DNA aggregation in neurodegenerative processes affecting neuronal cells, particularly in the presence of extended (GC) repeats in nuclear DNA sequences.

Update to the PRISMA guidelines for network meta-analyses and scoping reviews and development of guidelines for rapid reviews: a scoping review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to develop a list of items for potential inclusion in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines for network meta-analysis (NMA), scoping reviews (ScRs), and rapid reviews (RRs).

Introduction: The PRISMA extensions for NMA and ScRs were published in 2015 and 2018. However, since then, their methodologies and innovations, including automation, have evolved.

Variation in lipoprotein(a) response to potent lipid lowering: The role of apolipoprotein (a) isoform size.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a driver of residual cardiovascular risk. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) decrease Lp(a) with significant heterogeneity in response. We investigated contributors to the heterogeneous response.

Protocol of a decisional intervention for older adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia and their caregivers: UR-GOAL 3.

Introduction: Therapeutic advances have allowed more adults aged ≥60 years with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to receive life-prolonging treatments, with improvement in overall survival. In contrast to other cancers, the onset of AML is often sudden, high-risk treatment decisions must be made quickly, and survival is often compromised due to aging-related conditions (e.g.