Association of air purifier usage during pregnancy with adverse birth outcomes: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Objective: Previous studies have reported that ambient air pollutants such as PM2.5 can increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether air purifier usage during pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of adverse birth outcomes in a large Japanese birth cohort.

Characterization of anti-asialo-GM1 monoclonal antibody.

Asialo-GM1 (ASGM1) has been identified as a cell surface marker of murine NK cells. Although polyclonal anti-asialo-GM1 antibodies (anti-ASGM1 pAb) have been widely used for studying natural killer (NK) cell functions in vivo, the technical challenges have existed in their specificity for NK cell depletion. Furthermore, the exact expression of ASGM1 on the NK cell lineage and other immune cells has not been characterized due to the lack of appropriate reagents.

Feasibility/clinical utility of half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo imaging combined with deep learning reconstruction in gynecologic magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: When antispasmodics are unavailable, the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER; called BLADE by Siemens Healthineers) or half Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) is clinically used in gynecologic MRI. However, their imaging qualities are limited compared to Turbo Spin Echo (TSE) with antispasmodics. Even with antispasmodics, TSE can be artifact-affected, necessitating a rapid backup sequence.

Association of Baseline Mitral Valve Area With Procedural and Clinical Outcomes of Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Insights From the OCEAN-Mitral Registry.

Background: A small mitral valve area (MVA) is one of the challenging anatomies for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation, but the relationship between baseline MVA and clinical outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association of baseline MVA with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TEER with MitraClip from the OCEAN-Mitral registry (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention-Mitral).

Methods: A total of 1768 patients undergoing TEER were divided into 3 groups according to baseline MVA: group 1: <4.

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.

Recent trends in multiple metrics and multimodal analysis for neural activity and pupillometry.

Recent studies focusing on neural activity captured by neuroimaging modalities have provided various metrics for elucidating the functional networks and dynamics of the entire brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can depict spatiotemporal functional neural networks and dynamic characteristics due to its excellent spatial resolution. However, its temporal resolution is limited.

Increased CSN5 expression enhances the sensitivity to lenalidomide in multiple myeloma cells.

Lenalidomide (LEN) is commonly used as an effective therapeutic agent for multiple myeloma (MM). However, in some patients, primary resistance to LEN is observed, the mechanisms of which remain poorly understood. In this study, we combined a LEN sensitivity assay with proteomics data from 15 MM cell lines to identify protein expression profiles associated with primary LEN resistance.

A Novel Technique for Monitoring Carbonate and Scale Precipitation Using a Batch-Process-Based Hetero-Core Fiber Optic Sensor.

Techniques for monitoring calcium carbonate and silica deposits (scale) in geothermal power plants and hot spring facilities using fiber optic sensors have already been reported. These sensors continuously measure changes in light transmittance with a detector and, when applied to field tests, require the installation of a power supply and sensor monitoring equipment. However, on some sites, a power supply may not be available, or a specialist skilled in handling scale sensors is required.

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Subunit A Strengthens the Neurovascular Unit and Inhibits Retinal Vascular Regression Under Hyperoxic Conditions.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is primarily caused by the exposure of preterm infants with underdeveloped blood vessels to high oxygen concentrations. This damages the astrocytes that promote normal vascular development, leading to avascularity, pathological neovascularization, and retinal detachment, and even blindness as the disease progresses. In this study, the aim was to investigate the differences in the characteristics of astrocytes and blood vessels between wild-type (WT) and genetically modified mice overexpressing platelet-derived growth factor subunit A (PDGF-A) in the retina immediately after high oxygen exposure, a protocol in the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model of ROP.

Sarcomere gene variants did not improve cardiac function in pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy from Japanese cohorts.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by impaired cardiac contraction and ventricular dilation. However, some patients with DCM improve when experiencing left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR). Currently, the detailed association between genotypes and clinical outcomes, including LVRR, particularly among children, remains uncertain.

Estimation of foveal avascular zone area from a B-scan OCT image using machine learning algorithms.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to estimate the area of the Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) from B-scan OCT images using machine learning algorithms.

Methods: We developed machine learning models to predict the FAZ area from OCT B-scan images of eyes without retinal vascular diseases. The study involved three models: Model 1 predicted the FAZ length from B-scan images; Model 2 estimated the FAZ area from the predicted length using 1, 3, or 5 horizontal measurements; and Model 3 converted the FAZ area from pixels to mm2.

Surgical outcomes and learning curve of complex versus simple segmentectomy for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: an initial experience of 100 cases of a single experienced surgeon.

Background: Complex segmentectomy for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) remains controversial due to procedural complexity and the risk of increased complications, unlike multiportal VATS. Demonstrating the perioperative results and proficiency of individual surgeon is believed to influence future dissemination for uniportal VATS. In this study, we aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes and learning curves of complex versus simple segmentectomy for uniportal VATS.

Embedding treatment in stronger care systems.

A key lesson from the west Africa (2014-16) Ebola disease epidemic was that outbreak responses fail when they respond to patients through a narrow clinical lens without considering the broader community and social context of care. Here, in the second of two Series papers on the modern landscape of Ebola disease, we review progress made in the last decade to improve patient-centred care. Although the biosafety imperatives of treating Ebola disease remain, recent advances show how to mitigate these so that patients are cared for in a safe and dignified manner that encourages early treatment-seeking behaviour and provides support after the return of patients to their communities.

IL-5-producing group 2 innate lymphoid cells promote T cell-independent IgA production in cooperation with eosinophils.

Intestinal bacteria play a critical role in the regulation of the host immune system and an imbalance in intestinal bacterial composition induces various host diseases. Therefore, maintaining a balance in the intestinal bacterial composition is crucial for health. Immunoglobulin A (IgA), produced through T cell-dependent and T cell-independent (TI) pathways, is essential for host defense against pathogen invasion and maintaining the balance of intestinal symbiotic bacteria.

Outcome of osimertinib-treated patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive nonsmall cell lung cancer requiring dose reduction: a secondary analysis of the Reiwa study.

Background: Osimertinib is effective in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, some patients require osimertinib dose reduction because of adverse events. This study assessed the characteristics of osimertinib dose reduction and compared the efficacies of reduced-dose and regular-dose osimertinib.

De novo sequencing allows genome-wide identification of genes involved in galactomannan synthesis in locust bean (Ceratonia siliqua).

Locust bean (Ceratonia siliqua) accumulates the galactomannan (GM) locust bean gum (LBG) in its seeds. LBG is a major industrial raw material used as a food thickener and gelling agent, whose unique properties mean that it cannot be readily replaced by other GMs. Whereas much is known about GM accumulation and the genes associated with GM biosynthesis in legumes, the genes involved in GM biosynthesis in C.