Petals Ameliorate Depressive-like Symptom and Cognitive Deficit in Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Mouse Model.

Chronic stress exposure has been widely recognized as a significant contributor to numerous central nervous system (CNS) disorders, leading to debilitating behavioral changes such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments. The prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during chronic stress disrupts the neuroendocrine balance and has detrimental effects on neuronal function and survival. () Gaertn.

Evaluation of gravity effect on liver and spleen volumes using multiposture MRI.

Liver and spleen volume measurements are important for early detection and monitoring of liver disease. However, alterations in liver and spleen volumes with postural changes, i.e.

Stage-specific efficacy of osimertinib in treatment-naïve EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer according to baseline genetic alterations in circulating tumor DNA.

The impact of clinical stage on the effectiveness of osimertinib for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unexamined. We investigated osimertinib therapeutic efficacy variation between stage IVA or lower and stage IVB EGFR mutation-positive lung cancers, focusing on differences in pretreatment co-occurring genetic alterations in circulating tumor DNA. This was a secondary analysis of the ELUCIDATOR study, a multicenter prospective observational study in Japan that assessed the mechanisms underlying resistance to osimertinib as a first-line treatment for advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutations.

evoke and evoke+: design of two large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 studies evaluating efficacy, safety, and tolerability of semaglutide in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Disease-modifying therapies targeting the diverse pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including neuroinflammation, represent potentially important and novel approaches. The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity and has an established safety profile. Semaglutide may have a disease-modifying, neuroprotective effect in AD through multimodal mechanisms including neuroinflammatory, vascular, and other AD-related processes.

Association Between Antibiotic Exposure During Pregnancy and Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) are a common mental health condition among women after delivery. Although various causative factors have been reported, PDS remains a challenging condition to predict and prevent. The disruption of the gut microbiota due to antibiotic exposure has been reported to affect psychiatric conditions.

Multivalent S2 subunit vaccines provide broad protection against Clade 1 sarbecoviruses in female mice.

The continuing emergence of immune evasive SARS-CoV-2 variants and the previous SARS-CoV-1 outbreak collectively underscore the need for broadly protective sarbecovirus vaccines. Targeting the conserved S2 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 is a particularly promising approach to elicit broad protection. Here, we describe a nanoparticle vaccine displaying multiple copies of the SARS-CoV-1 S2 subunit.

Association between equivalized annual household income and regular medical visits for hypertensive patients since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previous studies have shown an increase in blood pressure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic even among patients receiving antihypertensive treatment. This study aims to evaluate the association between equivalized annual household income and refraining from regular medical visits for hypertensive patients since the COVID-19 outbreak. We analyzed data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), including 2832 hypertensive patients aged 20-79 years from the 2020 survey and at least one survey between 2021 and 2023.

Development of broadly protective influenza B vaccines.

Influenza B viruses pose a significant threat to global public health, leading to severe respiratory infections in humans and, in some cases, death. During the last 50 years, influenza B viruses of two antigenically distinct lineages (termed 'Victoria' and 'Yamagata') have circulated in humans, necessitating two different influenza B vaccine strains. In this study, we devised a novel vaccine strategy involving reciprocal amino acid substitutions at sites where Victoria- and Yamagata-lineage viruses differ, leading to the generation of 'hybrid' vaccine viruses with the potential to protect against both lineages.

Hydroxylated-Benz[a]anthracenes Induce Two Apoptosis-Related Gene Expressions in the Liver of the Nibbler Fish .

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known to have toxic effects on fish. In this study, we examined the effects of benz[a]anthracene (BaA), a type of PAH, on fish liver metabolism. Nibbler fish () were intraperitoneally injected with BaA (10 ng/g body weight) four times over a 10-day period.

Reliable Performance of mALBI Grade-Based Risk Models for Predicting the Prognosis of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab as First-Line Treatment: Comparative Analysis of 13 Risk Models.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the prognostic performance of the risk models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) as first-line treatment.

Methods: Among 449 patients included in this retrospective multicenter study, we compared the prognostic performance of 13 risk models for the 12-month and 18-month survival status using area under the curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and relative integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) analysis. We also constructed a calibration plot to assess the fitness of each model.

Characteristics of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Cannulation in Older Japanese Inpatients.

Age-related physiological changes affect various aspects of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) cannulation. However, the characteristics of PIVCs, especially in older patients, have been poorly investigated. In the current cross-sectional observational study, PIVC sizes, PIVC sites, the number of attempts until successful insertion, and the degree of venodilation upon insertion among hospital inpatients aged ≥65 years were investigated, along with measurements of the vessel diameter and depth using ultrasound.

Geriatric nutritional risk index and newly developed scoring system as prognosis prediction for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with lenvatinib.

In the current era of immune therapy, lenvatinib (LEN) continues to be vital for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) patients. This study investigates the importance of nutritional status in the prognosis of uHCC patients receiving LEN and evaluates a new prognostic scoring system that combines the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and systemic inflammatory response. From 2018 to 2022, 484 uHCC patients treated with LEN (384 males, median age 73).

Treatment of Unruptured Large and Giant Carotid Cavernous Aneurysms in Japan at the Time of Flow Diverter Introduction: A Nationwide, Multicenter Survey by the Japanese Society on Surgery for Cerebral Stroke.

Background: Flow diverters (FDs) have been introduced for the management of large or giant cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs) in addition to conventional modalities, dramatically changing treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to examine the management of unruptured large/giant CCAs in Japan when FDs were being introduced using a nationwide survey.

Methods: 540 unruptured large/giant CCAs treated at neurosurgical teaching departments in Japan between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively studied.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Accuracy of Super-Flexible Three-Dimensional Heart Models of Congenital Heart Disease Made via Stereolithography Printing and Vacuum Casting: A Multicenter Clinical Trial.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an advanced technology for accurately understanding anatomy and supporting the successful surgical management of complex congenital heart disease (CHD). We aimed to evaluate whether our super-flexible 3D heart models could facilitate preoperative decision-making and surgical simulation for complex CHD. The super-flexible heart models were fabricated by stereolithography 3D printing of the internal and external contours of the heart from cardiac computed tomography (CT) data, followed by vacuum casting with a polyurethane material similar in elasticity to a child's heart.

Assessment of factors associated with antipsychotic-induced weight gain: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: The incidence of antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) is difficult to predict in real-world practice because various factors influence it. This study aimed to explore background and medication-related factors associated with weight gain in patients newly prescribed with antipsychotic medication.

Methods: This nationwide, multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted in Japan.

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer, 2023.

The Japanese Society of Oral Oncology and Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have jointly developed clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma) to improve and standardize the quality of oral cancer treatment in Japan. The first, second, and third editions were published in 2009, 2013, and 2019, respectively, and the 2023 edition was recently developed. In the development of the 2023 edition, 60 clinical questions (CQs) were listed.

Effect of D-amino acid metabolic enzyme deficiency on cancer development-diffuse large B-cell lymphoma onset and gene expression analyses in DASPO-knockout mice.

The relationship between D-AA metabolic enzymes and cancer development remains unclear. We aimed to investigate this relationship using mice deficient in D-AA-related metabolic enzymes. We examined mice lacking these enzymes for approximately 900 days and the effects of altered D-AA metabolism on cancer development based on lifespan, pathological findings, and gene expression.

Gross anatomical features of the insular cortex in affective disorders.

Introduction: The number of insular gyri is elevated in patients with schizophrenia. Thus, it has potential as a marker of early neurodevelopmental abnormalities. However, currently it remains unclear whether patients with other neuropsychiatric disorders, such as affective disorders, also have this gross brain anatomical feature.

A prospective study comparing highly qualified Molecular Tumor Boards with AI-powered software as a medical device.

Background: The implementation of cancer precision medicine in Japan is deeply intertwined with insurance reimbursement policies and requires case-by-case reviews by Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs), which impose considerable operational burdens on healthcare facilities. The extensive preparation and review times required by MTBs hinder their ability to efficiently assess comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) test results. Despite attempts to optimize MTB operations, significant challenges remain.

Modified Centralization Technique of Tibial Side Capsulodesis for Radial Tear of Incomplete Discoid Lateral Meniscus.

An incomplete discoid lateral meniscus is often associated with radial tears, which cause meniscal extrusion and result in poor healing outcomes. Centralization has recently been used as a surgical method to reduce extrusion. However, various repair techniques use single point of fixation sutures exclusively on the femoral side, potentially hindering healing.

Co-pathologies modify hippocampal protein accumulation patterns in neurodegenerative diseases.

Introduction: Limited research has extensively analyzed neurodegenerative disease-related protein deposition patterns in the hippocampus.

Methods: This study examined the distribution of proteins in hippocampal subregions across major neurodegenerative diseases and explored their relation to each other. The area density of phosphorylated tau (p-tau), amyloid beta (Aβ), α-synuclein, and phosphorylated TDP-43 protein deposits together with pyramidal cell density in each hippocampal subregion, including CA1-4, prosubiculum (ProS), and subiculum was assessed in 166 cases encompassing various neurodegenerative diseases.

Improved prognosis of de novo metastatic prostate cancer after an introduction of life-prolonging agents for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: In Japan, since 2014, new treatments such as androgen receptor signaling inhibitors and cabazitaxel have become applicable for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), leading to dramatic changes in treatment options.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of recent advancements in treatment options on the overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2450 Japanese men diagnosed with de novo mCSPC between 2008 and 2018.