Seasonal and sex differences in instrumental activities of daily living and objective physical activity among older adults residing in rural areas with snow and cold regions.

Objective: To determine the seasonal differences in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and objective physical activity among older adults residing in non-urban areas in snowy and cold regions according to sex.

Patients And Methods: Fifty older adults aged ≥65 years were included in the present study. IADL was assessed using the revised Frenchay Activities Index (FAI), and physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer.

Comparative study on gene expression profiles in the liver of male neonatal mice prenatally exposed to PFOA and its alternative HFPO-DA.

Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), which belongs to the class of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid (PFECA), is a new alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, whether HFPO-DA is a safer alternative to PFOA in neonates remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated neonatal hepatic toxicity on postnatal days 9-10 by orally exposing pregnant CD-1 mice to 0.

Dysphagia development in heart failure patients: A scoping review.

Objective: Dysphagia significantly affects older adults, particularly those with heart failure (HF). This scoping review aimed to delineate the development of dysphagia and its contributing factors in patients with HF.

Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and CENTRAL databases up to September 2023, focusing on studies involving HF patients aged 60 and above, particularly those assessing post-hospitalization dysphagia.

Molecular characterization of methicillin-susceptible/resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA/MRSA) from bloodstream infections in northern Japan : the dominance of CC1-MRSA-IV, the emergence of human-associated ST398 and livestock-associated CC20 and CC97 MSSA.

Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of bloodstream infections. The recent epidemiological features and antimicrobial resistance trend were analyzed for methicillin-resistant and susceptible S. aureus (MRSA/MSSA) isolates from blood samples in northern Japan.

Keyboarding Instruction for a Japanese Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dysgraphia Reduced Frustration in Handwriting: A Case Report.

Dysgraphia often goes unnoticed in schools, leading to delayed academic development and diminished self-esteem for affected students. This case report provides keyboarding instruction to a nine-year-old Japanese boy diagnosed with dysgraphia and observes its impact on his writing performance, including speed, accuracy, and composition, and mental burden. The patient was diagnosed with dysgraphia and refusal to write at school.

A novel floating adsorbent for cesium based on Shirasu balloon modified with magnetite and Prussian blue.

Shirasu balloon (SB) is a hollow glassy sphere produced from volcanic deposits by heating that can float up on water owing to its hollow structure. In this study, a novel adsorbent for the removal of cesium ion in water was developed by the modification of the surface of the SBs with magnetite (Mag) and Prussian blue (PB). The developed adsorbent (PB-Mag-SB) was characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and the magnetism of the adsorbent.

Chicks make stochastic decisions based on gain rates of different time constants.

The marginal value theorem (MVT) predicts that optimal foragers leave a patch when the instantaneous gain rate decreases to the average long-term gain rate. However, various animals systematically deviate from this optimum by staying too long or overharvesting relative to this optimum. We hypothesised that animals do not represent their optimal stay time but instead determine their departure point probabilistically.

Triadenosides A-F, benzophenone rhamnosides from Triadenum japonicum and their anti-ferroptosis activity.

Previously undescribed benzophenone rhamnosides, triadenosides A-F (1-6), were isolated from the aerial parts of Triadenum japonicum (Blume) Makino (Hypericaceae), where known compounds including benzophenone rhamnosides (7 and 8), benzophenone C-glucoside (9), flavonols and their glycosides (10-17), and biflavone (18) were also isolated and identified. Detailed spectroscopic analysis revealed that triadenoside A (1) was 2,3',5'-trihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxybenzophenone 2-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, while the absolute configuration of the rhamnosyl moiety was confirmed by HPLC analysis. Triadenosides B-E (2-5) were assigned as acetyl derivatives of 1 in their rhamnosyl moieties.

Ultrasensitive protein-level detection for respiratory infectious viruses.

Influenza virus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus cause major respiratory infections. These infections have similar initial symptoms making it difficult to differentiate them based on symptoms alone. PCR is currently used as the standard diagnostic test for these infections, however, it has its limitations such as non-specific and false-negative amplifications, high cost, and the inability to distinguish between a live or dead virus.

Light-exercise-induced dopaminergic and noradrenergic stimulation in the dorsal hippocampus: Using a rat physiological exercise model.

Exercise activates the dorsal hippocampus that triggers synaptic and cellar plasticity and ultimately promotes memory formation. For decades, these benefits have been explored using demanding and stress-response-inducing exercise at moderate-to-vigorous intensities. In contrast, our translational research with animals and humans has focused on light-intensity exercise (light exercise) below the lactate threshold (LT), which almost anyone can safely perform with minimal stress.

Ankle-hip joint trade-off in normal gait: Exploring the kinematic influence of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.

Background: In human gait, leg progression into the swing phase involves two primary strategies: ankle plantar flexion and hip flexion. These strategies are believed to exhibit a trade-off relationship; however, it is unclear whether this relationship holds for normal gait and the role of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) in shaping these strategies.

Research Questions: Does a trade-off relationship exist between ankle plantar flexion and hip flexion strategies during normal gait in young healthy adults? Do the kinematics of MLA during gait influence the strategies during leg progression into the swing phase?

Methods: Data from 36 young healthy adults were analyzed.

Polycomb protein Bmi1 promotes odontoblast differentiation by accelerating Wnt and BMP signaling pathways.

Bmi1 is a polycomb protein localized in stem cells and maintains their stemness. This protein is also reported to regulate the expression of various differentiation genes. In this study, to analyze the role of Bmi1 during dentinogenesis, we examined the immunohistochemical localization of Bmi1 during rat tooth development as well as after cavity preparation.

Fecal fatty acid-linked bile acid profiles in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis.

Objective: Effect of gut dysbiosis on fatty acid (FA) linked 3β-hydroxy-bile acid esters (FA-isoBAs) formation is currently unknown. This study aimed to investigate the profile of FA-isoBAs in fecal samples from pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from seven pediatric patients diagnosed with UC and seven age-matched healthy controls.

Localization of α-smooth muscle actin in osteoblast differentiation during periodontal development.

α-Smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) is an actin isoform commonly found within vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, α-SMA-positive cells are localized in the dental follicle (DF). DF is derived from alveolar bone (AB), cementum, and periodontal ligament (PDL).

Performance of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4o in the Japanese National Dental Examination.

Objectives: In this study, we compared the performance of ChatGPT-3.5 to that of ChatGPT-4o in the context of the Japanese National Dental Examination, which assesses clinical reasoning skills and dental knowledge, to determine their potential usefulness in dental education.

Methods: ChatGPT's performance was assessed using 1399 (55% of the exam) of 2520 questions from the Japanese National Dental Examinations (111-117).

Reliability and utility of blood glucose levels in the periodontal pockets of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Several studies have measured gingival blood glucose (GBG) levels, but few have confirmed systematic bias using Bland-Altman analysis. This study compared the effectiveness of GBG levels with that of fingertip blood glucose (FTBG) levels using Bland-Altman and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses.

Methods: A total of 15 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Development and evaluation of a nursing educational program: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are transmitted through the hands of healthcare workers who touch the environments of patients with MDROs. Patients identified as being infected with MDROs are subjected to contact precautions and isolated in a single room. Nurses need to have the correct knowledge of infection prevention and be interested in the psychological conditions of isolated patients with MDROs.

Apoptotic cell death during regressive changes in salivary glands: a morphological perspective.

Background: Apoptosis was initially identified through transmission electron microscopy. Subsequent advances in morphological techniques for apoptosis detection have revealed its involvement in multiple pathological conditions in various tissues. This review summarizes previous experimental studies on apoptotic cell death during regressive changes in the salivary glands, with a focus on morphological observations.

Bioactive Self-Polymerizing Resin with Surface Pre-Reacted Glass Ionomer Fillers for Suppressed Enamel Demineralization.

The treatment of damaged enamel surfaces involves modification of the enamel surface with artificial materials or the development of a pseudo-enamel, with research focusing on bioactive and biomimetic materials. In this study, a bioactive auto-polymerizing resin (APR) was developed by adding surface-pre-reacted glass ionomer (S-PRG) fillers of different quantities to APR. Its bioactive effects were evaluated via pH neutralization, ion release, and inhibition of enamel demineralization studies.

Exploring sex differences in auditory saliency: the role of acoustic characteristics in bottom-up attention.

Background: Several cognitive functions are related to sex. However, the relationship between auditory attention and sex remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore sex differences in auditory saliency judgments, with a particular focus on bottom-up type auditory attention.