Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pneumonia trends in Japan: Insights from diagnosis procedure combination data.

This study analyzed changes in pneumonia hospitalizations in Japan before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using Diagnosis Procedure Combination data. The proportion of inpatients with non-aspiration pneumonia (non-AP) decreased by 48.8%, whereas that of inpatients with aspiration pneumonia (AP) decreased by only 8.

Randomized, multicenter, active-controlled open-label study of NPC-25, zinc histidine hydrate, (non-inferiority to NOBELZIN™, zinc acetate dihydrate) for patients with hypozincemia.

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of NPC-25, zinc histidine hydrate, in patients with hypozincemia. This randomized multicenter active-controlled open-label trial aimed to verify the non-inferiority of NPC-25 to NOBELZIN™, zinc acetate dihydrate.

Methods: Participants whose serum zinc concentrations were <70 μg/dL at two points within 8 weeks before the start of treatment were randomized 1:1 into the NPC-25 (active drug) administration group and the NOBELZIN™ (control drug) administration group, using dynamic allocation.

Quality Assessment of Functional Claims of Salacia-Derived Salacinol-Containing Foods.

Background Functional claim-associated foods contain raw materials that contribute to enhancing health in Japan. However, certain foods with functional claims fail to meet the disintegration test (DT) criteria of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP). Objective This study assessed the quality of tablet-type, functional claim-associated foods containing Salacia-derived salacinol, using DT and weight variation (WV) tests.

Development of a perceived nutrition care competencies scale for Japanese dietetic students: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: There are currently few appropriate instruments for assessing nutrition care competencies in clinical practice. This study aimed to develop a perceived nutrition care competencies (PNCC) scale for dietetic students and test its validity. Factors that influence PNCC scores were examined through a cross-sectional study.

Development of the Japanese Anticholinergic Risk Scale: English translation of the Japanese article.

Background: Anticholinergic burden, reflecting the cumulative impact of medications with anticholinergic properties, significantly predicts adverse drug reactions and geriatric syndromes in older adults. Although anticholinergic risk scales (ARS) have been developed and validated in various countries, none have been tailored specifically for Japan. The Japanese Anticholinergic Risk Scale (JARS) was developed to adapt the existing ARS frameworks to the Japanese context, considering unique medication profiles and cultural factors.

Exploring feasibility of fNIRS to assess delayed inhibition effect of prefrontal cortex for acute stress by acupuncture on GV20: a pilot study.

Introduction: Acupuncture on the acupuncture point GV20 has been considered effective for managing psychoneurological disorders since ancient times, and GV20 is now regularly used to treat stress-related diseases (SRDs), including psychoneurological disorders. Although reports indicating that acupuncture stimulation of GV20 alone regulates cerebral blood flow (CBF) in brain regions associated with SRDs have been scattered, from the perspective of the need for earlier action, the effects on subjective stress as self-reported in the stress state of healthy individuals and CBF changes in related prefrontal cortex (PFC) subregions, which is based as underlying mechanism, remain unclear. Therefore, there is a need to explore effective methods for analyzing such effects.

Effectiveness of a Video-Conference Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients with Schizophrenia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp) is not widespread enough in clinical practice, although evidence has been presented.

Objective: Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore whether one-on-one CBTp using video-conference (vCBTp) was more effective than usual care (UC) treatment alone in improving psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia attending outpatient clinics.

Methods: Methods: In this exploratory randomized controlled trial, patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders who were still taking medication in an outpatient clinic were randomly assigned to either the vCBTp plus UC group (n=12) or the UC group (n=12).

Increased structural covariance of cortical measures in individuals with an at-risk mental state.

An anomalous pattern of structural covariance has been reported in schizophrenia, which has been suggested to represent connectome changes during brain maturation and neuroprogressive processes. It remains unclear whether similar differences exist in a clinical high-risk state for psychosis, and if they are associated with a prodromal phenotype and/or later psychosis onset. This multicenter magnetic resonance imaging study cross-sectionally examined structural covariance in a large at-risk mental state (ARMS) sample with different outcomes.

Identification and characterisation of colistin-resistant co-producing IMP-1 and OXA-58 carbapenemases.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant is of increasing global concern because infections are challenging to treat with standard antibiotics. Here, we identified a previously uncharacterised sp. clinical isolate as co-producing IMP-1 and OXA-58.

Computed tomography findings of 50 patients diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia: A case series.

The effect of neglecting imaging in aspiration pneumonia diagnosis is not well understood. In this study, the computed tomography images of 50 patients diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed by three radiologists at a different hospital. Among these cases, 32%-42% were not classified as aspiration pneumonia based on imaging.

Scales in a dog after levothyroxine sodium treatment: A case report.

Background: Scales are composed of exfoliated keratinocytes and are frequently a secondary change, requiring the determination of the underlying cause. Consequently, making an appropriate differential diagnosis of scales and determining treatment necessity based on the results is crucial in dermatological practice.

Case Description: We present a 7-year-old, neutered male Toy Poodle examined at Myogadani Animal Hospital with chief complaints of exercise intolerance, unexplained weight gain, and dermatological signs, including symmetrical alopecia of the trunk.

Effects of platelet-rich plasma combined with exercise therapy for one year on knee osteoarthritis: retrospective cohort study.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, exercise therapy and activities of daily living (ADL) guidance are recommended as core treatments in the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) guidelines. However, the effects of PRP combined with exercise therapy are not fully understood.

Observation and Analysis of In Vitro Digestibility of Different Breads Using a Human Gastric Digestion Simulator.

The digestion behavior of a food bolus comprising bread particles in the presence of gastric peristalsis remains poorly understood. This study systematically investigated the effect of bread type on in vitro gastric digestion behavior using a human gastric digestion simulator (GDS) that is capable of quantitatively simulating gastric peristalsis. A food bolus consisting of 60 g of bread (white bread, bagel, German bread, French bread, or croissant), 15 mL of a simulated salivary fluid, and 240 mL of a simulated gastric fluid was used for gastric digestion in vitro using the GDS for 3 h at 37 °C.

Evaluation of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity using progesterone and androgen receptors-mediated transactivation.

3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3β-HSDs) catalyze the oxidative conversion of delta (5)-ene-3-beta-hydroxy steroids and ketosteroids. Human 3β-HSD type 2 (HSD3B2) is predominantly expressed in gonadal and adrenal steroidogenic cells for producing all classes of active steroid hormones. Mutations in HSD3B2 gene cause a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia with varying degree of salt wasting and incomplete masculinization, resulting from reduced production of corticoids and androgens.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Medium-Chain Triacylglycerol Structured Lipid Supplementation Improves Muscular Endurance Exercise Performance and Reduces Muscle Fatigue in Young Healthy Male.

Objective: Structured lipids containing medium-chain fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil (EPA/MCT) and it improve overall endurance. However, their effects on local muscle endurance remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EPA/MCT intake on muscle endurance during leg extension exercises and subsequent muscle fatigue.

Instrumental activities of daily living in neuro-oncology: International validation of the EORTC IADL-BN32 questionnaire.

Background: Neurocognitive impairments are common in patients with a brain tumour, and may negatively impact on functioning in daily life, particularly on instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The EORTC IADL-BN32 questionnaire was developed to measure IADL in this patient population.

Methods: In this international validation study, we evaluated the EORTC IADL-BN32 questionnaire on several psychometric properties in a large sample of patients with a primary or metastatic brain tumour.