Preclinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of AAV8-TNAP-D10 in Alpl-/- and AlplPrx1/Prx1 mouse models for the treatment of early and late-onset hypophosphatasia.

We previously documented successful resolution of skeletal and dental disease in the infantile and late-onset murine models of hypophosphatasia (HPP), with a single injection of an adeno-associated serotype 8 vector encoding mineral-targeted TNAP (AAV8-TNAP-D10). Here, we conducted dosing studies in both HPP mouse models. A single escalating dose from 4x108 up to 4x1010 (vg/b) was intramuscularly injected into 4-day-old Alpl-/- mice (an infantile HPP model) and a single dose from 4x106 up to 4x109 (vg/b) was administered to 8-week-old AlplPrx1/Prx1 mice (a late-onset HPP model).

Factors associated with preventive health services use by older war-displaced Japanese returning from China and by older Korean residents of Japan: a descriptive correlational study.

Background: Among the people with diverse backgrounds and cultural customs living in Japan, two important groups, namely, war-displaced Japanese returning from China and South and North Korean nationals who are naturalized citizens residing in Japan, will experience population aging in the same way as the general Japanese population. In old age, physical function generally declines, multiple diseases are more likely to occur, and health issues that need to be addressed increase in number. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the use of preventive health services in Japan by older Korean residents and war-displaced Japanese returning from China.

Optimal outpatient training for resident physicians' general medicine in-training examination score: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Outpatient training for resident physicians has been attracting attention in recent years. However, to our knowledge, there have only been a few surveys on outpatient training, particularly in Japan. This study evaluates outpatient care among Japanese resident physicians by determining how the volume of outpatient encounters and length of outpatient training correlate with residents' clinical competence.

A Native LH1-RC-HiPIP Supercomplex from an Extremophilic Phototroph.

Halorhodospira (Hlr.) halophila strain BN9622 is an extremely halophilic and alkaliphilic purple phototrophic bacterium and has been widely used as a model for exploring the osmoadaptive and photosynthetic strategies employed by phototrophic extreme halophiles that enable them to thrive in hypersaline environments. Here we present the cryo-EM structures of (1) a unique native Hlr.

Factors involved in maintaining Karnofsky Performance Status (≥ 50%) in glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype patients treated with temozolomide and radiotherapy.

Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) is a widely used scale to assess performance status. KPS ≥ 50% implies that patients can live at home. Therefore, maintaining KPS ≥ 50% is important to improve the quality of life of patients with glioblastoma, whose median survival is less than 2 years.

A pilot study on the effects of olfactory stimulation with white musk aromatic oil on psychophysiological activity: a crossover study.

Studies on the compounds of aromatic oils and their effects on psychophysiological changes in humans are often conducted separately. To obtain better validation, a suitable protocol is needed that can be extrapolated to large-scale olfactory stimulation experiments. Unfortunately, this type of study is still rarely performed.

Photocatalytic production and biological activity of D-arabino-1,4-lactone from D-fructose.

Lactones play crucial roles in various fields, such as pharmaceuticals, food, and materials science, due to their unique structures and diverse biological activities. However, certain lactones are difficult to obtain in large quantities from natural sources, necessitating their synthesis to study their properties and potential. In this study, we investigated the photocatalytic conversion of D-fructose, a biomass-derived and naturally abundant sugar, using a TiO photocatalyst under light irradiation in ambient conditions.

Passion fruit seed extract protects hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage in human retinal pigment epithelium ARPE-19 cells.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision loss among adults. We investigated the protective effects of passion fruit seed extract (PFSE) and its rich polyphenol piceatannol in an AMD cell model in which human retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (HO). Using a cell viability WST-8 assay, we revealed that PFSE and piceatannol increased the cellular viability of ARPE-19 cells by 130% and 133%, respectively.

Specific recognition mechanism of an antibody to sulfated tyrosine and its potential use in biological research.

Post-translational modification of proteins is a crucial biological reaction that regulates protein functions by altering molecular properties. The specific detection of such modifications in proteins has made significant contributions to molecular biology research and holds potential for future drug development applications. In HIV research, for example, tyrosine sulfation at the N-terminus of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is considered to significantly enhance HIV infection efficiency.

Durvalumab with or without bevacizumab with transarterial chemoembolisation in hepatocellular carcinoma (EMERALD-1): a multiregional, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is standard of care for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma that is amenable to embolisation; however, median progression-free survival is still approximately 7 months. We aimed to assess whether adding durvalumab, with or without bevacizumab, might improve progression-free survival.

Methods: In this multiregional, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study (EMERALD-1), adults aged 18 years or older with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma amenable to embolisation, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 at enrolment, and at least one measurable intrahepatic lesion per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) were enrolled at 157 medical sites including research centres and general and specialist hospitals in 18 countries.

Transarterial chemoembolisation combined with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus dual placebo for unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (LEAP-012): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is standard care for unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to evaluate the addition of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab to TACE versus dual placebo plus TACE in patients with unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study (LEAP-012), patients were recruited from 137 global sites in 33 countries or regions.

Cemiplimab in recurrent cervical cancer: Final analysis of overall survival in the phase III EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9 trial.

Aim: Cemiplimab has demonstrated significantly longer survival than physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. We report the final survival analysis from the phase III randomized study (EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9).

Methods: Cemiplimab (n = 304) or chemotherapy (n = 304) were administered every 3 weeks.

Feasibility, trueness and precision of intraoral scanners in digitizing maxillectomy defects with exposed zygomatic implants in situ: An in vitro 3D comparative study.

Objectives: To in-vitro evaluate the feasibility and accuracy (trueness and precision) of various intraoral scanners (IOS) to digitize maxillectomy defect models with exposed zygomatic implants in situ.

Material And Methods: Six partially edentulous and edentulous maxillectomy defect models with 2 zygomatic implants each were obtained. References scans were obatined by using a laboratory scanner (inEos X5; Dentsply Sirona).

Combining therapeutic strategies with rehabilitation improves motor recovery in animal models of spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite the lack of clinically validated strategies for treating spinal cord injury (SCI), combining therapeutic strategies with rehabilitation is believed to promote recovery of motor function; however, current research findings are inconsistent.

Objectives: To explore whether combination therapy involving therapy and rehabilitative training (CIRT) has a synergistic effect on motor function recovery in animal models of SCI.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies identified in a keyword search of 6 databases and extracted open-field motor scores from the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) and the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale (BBB) for meta-analysis using a weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95 % CI.

Development of an image quality evaluation system for bedside chest X-ray images using scatter correction processing.

In plain radiography, scattered X-ray correction processing (Virtual Grid: VG) is used to estimate and correct scattered rays in images. We developed an objective evaluation system for bedside chest X-ray images using VG and investigated its usefulness. First, we trained the blind/referenceless image spatial quality evaluator (BRISQUE) on 200 images obtained by portable chest radiography.

Anatomical Characterization of the Motor Branch to the Fourth Lumbrical: A Cadaver Study.

Purpose: The branching pattern of the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve (DBUN) in the hand is complex. The anatomy of the motor branch innervating the fourth lumbrical (4L), where paralysis results in a claw hand deformity after ulnar nerve injury, is not well defined. This cadaver study focused on mapping and defining anatomical landmarks in relation to the motor branch to the 4L.

Incidence and Prognosis of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Evidence regarding the incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) and long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (AS) is scarce.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the incidence and prognostic impact of PPM after TAVR for bicuspid AS compared with that for tricuspid AS.

Methods: In total, 7,393 patients who underwent TAVR were prospectively enrolled in the OCEAN-TAVI (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) registry, an ongoing Japanese, multicenter registry.

Effectiveness for remission maintenance rate and safety of different rituximab regimens for treating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in Japan: a J-CANVAS study.

Rituximab (RTX) has been reported to effectively maintain remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). In this multicenter study involving 57 patients who achieved remission after 24 weeks, we evaluated the effectiveness of RTX in maintaining remission in patients with AAV. Patients were divided into three groups based on RTX administration: continuous, induction phase-only, and maintenance phase-only groups.

Optimal timing for epinephrine administration in adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective observational study.

Background: This study aimed to clarify the appropriate timing for epinephrine administration in adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), particularly those cases with nonshockable rhythms, by addressing resuscitation time bias.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study utilizing a multicenter OHCA registry involving 95 hospitals in Japan between June 2014 and December 2020. We included patients with OHCA and nonshockable rhythms who received epinephrine during resuscitation.

Predictors of cytomegalovirus corneal endotheliitis postcorneal transplantation.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate risk factors for the development of cytomegalovirus (CMV) corneal endotheliitis following corneal transplantation.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 1225 corneal transplants for bullous keratopathy between 2011 and 2021. 31 cases who were administered the treatment of CMV corneal endotheliitis preoperatively were excluded, and 1194 cases were analysed for risk factors for the development of CMV corneal endotheliitis following corneal transplantation.

Recent Advances in Ophthalmic Interventions: Exploring Innovations in Myopia, Cataract Surgery, and Visual Function.

As our understanding of ophthalmic optics and visual function advances, the intersection between clinical practice and technological innovation becomes increasingly significant in enhancing patient outcomes [...