Environmentally triggered variability in the genetic variance-covariance of herbivory resistance of an exotic plant .

The variability in the genetic variance-covariance (G-matrix) in plant resistance and its role in the evolution of invasive plants have been long overlooked. We conducted an additional analysis of the data of a reciprocal transplant experiment with tall goldenrod, , in multiple garden sites within its native range (USA) and introduced range (Japan). We explored the differences in G-matrix of resistance to two types of foliar herbivores: (a) a lace bug that is native to the USA and recently introduced to Japan, (b) and other herbivorous insects in response to plant origins and environments.

Effectiveness of an interprofessional education program using team-based learning for medical students: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: To respond to increasingly complicated healthcare needs in primary care settings, all health and medical welfare professionals are required to collaborate with multiprofessionals, namely via "interprofessional work" (IPW). Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential for effective IPW, especially for medical students. This study aimed to determine whether participation in IPE can increase medical students' readiness for interprofessional learning.

The relationship between sense of a life worth living and local self-governance: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Aging populations are facing increasing health problems, with social conditions often exacerbating such maladies. Although local self-governance might effectively solve these problems, such civic participation can increase citizens' mental and physical fatigue, which, in turn, may decrease their sense of leading productive lives.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between citizens' participation in and perceptions of local self-governance and their sense of life worth living.

A case of autism spectrum disorder with cleft lip and palate carrying a mutation in exon 8 of .

We report a patient with autism and cleft lip and palate carrying a de novo heterozygous mutation, c.1464_1467del ACTC (p.Tyr488*).

Assessment of the dynamics of sensory perception of Wagyu beef strip loin prepared with different cooking methods and fattening periods using the temporal dominance of sensations.

In this study, we assessed the relative sensory perception of Wagyu beef using temporal dominance of sensations (TDS), which is a dynamic sensory method that captures the "dominance of sensation" throughout food consumption. In addition, we checked the integrity of the TDS by comparing the TDS results with a physicochemical analysis. Strip loins were obtained from 24- and 28-month-old Japanese Black cattle ("Wagyu") and were cooked by grilling () or boiling ().

Direct Cardiac Reprogramming - Converting Cardiac Fibroblasts to Cardiomyocytes.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Despite advances in cardiovascular therapy, mortality in heart disease still remains high. Direct cardiac reprogramming is a promising approach for cardiac tissue repair involving in situ generation of new cardiomyocytes from endogenous cardiac fibroblasts.

A small number of residual teeth after the mandibular resection of oral cancer is associated with titanium reconstruction plate exposure.

Objective: Reconstruction plates are used to treat patients with a segmental mandibular defect after oral cancer surgery. Reconstruction plate failure analysis has rarely focused on occlusion, which conducts a mechanical force to the mandible and the plate. To determine the prognostic factors, we retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent reconstruction of a mandibular segmental defect with a reconstruction plate and assessed the number of residual paired teeth.

The Sensitivity of Euro-Atlantic Regimes to Model Horizontal Resolution.

There is growing evidence that the atmospheric dynamics of the Euro-Atlantic sector during winter is driven in part by the presence of quasi-persistent regimes. However, general circulation models typically struggle to simulate these with, for example, an overly weakly persistent blocking regime. Previous studies have showed that increased horizontal resolution can improve the regime structure of a model but have so far only considered a single model with only one ensemble member at each resolution, leaving open the possibility that this may be either coincidental or model dependent.

Trends in sepsis care in Japan: comparison of two sepsis cohort studies conducted by the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine.

Our analysis showed that improved compliance with sepsis bundles was associated with lower in-hospital mortality over a 7-year period in Japan, confirming that the SSC has been executed correctly in our country.

Association between p62 expression and clinicopathological characteristics in oral leukoplakia.

Objective: Oral leukoplakia is keratinized lesions in the buccal mucosa, tongue, and gingiva. It is the most common oral precancerous lesion; oxidative stresses and irrelevant autophagy have been reported to be the cause of oncogenesis. p62, a cytoplasmic protein induced by oxidative stress, is an adaptor protein involved in the formation of protein aggregates and induction and inhibition of autophagy.

Mexiletine infusion challenge test for neonatal long QT syndrome with 2:1 atrioventricular block.

For applying a genotype-based treatment in neonatal long QT syndrome (LQTS), early detection of the genotype becomes an important issue. We report a case of a neonate with LQTS type 3 that presented with 2:1 atrioventricular block and underwent a mexiletine infusion challenge test, and achieved shortening of the QTc and 1:1 atrioventricular conduction. The mexiletine infusion challenge test was helpful to make an early detection of the genotype of the LQTS and predicted the drug efficacy in a neonatal patient.

Discogenic Back Pain: Literature Review of Definition, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Discogenic back pain is multifactorial; hence, physicians often struggle to identify the underlying source of the pain. As a result, discogenic back pain is often hard to treat-even more so when clinical treatment strategies are of questionable efficacy. Based on a broad literature review, our aim was to define discogenic back pain into a series of more specific and interacting pathologies, and to highlight the need to develop novel approaches and treatment strategies for this challenging and unmet clinical need.

Rinsing of oropharynx and storage place of respiratory medicine inhaler: A cross-sectional audit.

Background: In patients with bronchial asthma and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inhalation therapy and rinsing of the mouth and the oropharynx by gargling ("RMOG") after inhalation are recommended. We performed a cross-sectional audit aimed at investigating (a) the proportion of patients performing "RMOG" after inhalation and (b) storage place of patients' inhaler.

Methods: Patients with bronchial asthma and those with COPD were asked by medical aids at outpatient visits whether they did "RMOG every time," "RMOG sometimes," or "no RMOG" after inhalation, and where they stored their inhaler.

Associated factors for discussing advance directives with family physicians by noncancer outpatients in Japan.

Background: Advance directives (ADs) are seldom discussed between primary care physicians (PCPs) and their patients, especially those with noncancer diseases. The aim was to identify the factors associated with discussing AD by noncancer patients with their physicians.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital or clinic from October to December 2017.

Study design of nationwide Japanese Catheter Ablation Registry: Protocol for a prospective, multicenter, open registry.

Background: Catheter ablation has become a popular interventional treatment for cardiac tachyarrhythmias and the number has been on the rise year by year. However, little is known about its efficacy and safety in the real-world settings.

Method: Japanese Catheter Ablation (J-AB) Registry is a nationwide, multicenter, observational registry, performed by Japanese Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS), collaborated with National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.

Critical aspects and challenges for intervertebral disc repair and regeneration-Harnessing advances in tissue engineering.

Low back pain represents the highest burden of musculoskeletal diseases worldwide and intervertebral disc degeneration is frequently associated with this painful condition. Even though it remains challenging to clearly recognize generators of discogenic pain, tissue regeneration has been accepted as an effective treatment option with significant potential. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine offer a plethora of exploratory pathways for functional repair or prevention of tissue breakdown.

Midterm outcomes of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with cardiac tamponade.

Background: Cardiac tamponade is a serious complication of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the outcomes of catheter ablation in patients of cardiac tamponade are unknown.

Methods: We performed catheter ablation in 2467 sessions of AF or a recurrence of AF between January 2007 and January 2016.

The golden (Syrian) hamster as a model for the study of reproductive biology: Past, present, and future.

Background: The golden (Syrian) hamster () is a small rodent that belongs to the family. It has several unique features that are advantageous for the study of reproductive and developmental biology, including a consistent estrous cycle (4 days), high responsiveness to conventional superovulation regimens, and the short gestation period (16 days).

Methods: Based on the published reports, the development in assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the golden hamsters was summarized.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in primary care patients with hypertension.

Background: As the number of patients with hypertension who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) might be underestimated, this study aimed to explore the prevalence of OSA and develop a diagnostic algorithm for moderate or severe OSA among primary care (PC) patients with hypertension.

Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study enrolled patients diagnosed with hypertension aged 18 years or older in Japan from October 2012 to September 2014.

Results: Forty-nine patients (64.

Atypical Fast-Slow Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia Utilizing a Slow Pathway Extending to the Inferolateral Right Atrium.

The existence of atypical fast-slow (F/S) atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardias (NRT) using slow pathway (SP) variants connected to the right atrial (RA) inferolateral (inf) free wall (FW) along the tricuspid annulus (TA), has been neither confirmed nor precisely characterized. We studied 7 patients (mean age, 48±16 years; 5 men) with F/S-AVNRT with long RP intervals and an earliest atrial activation at the RA inf-FW along the TA (inf-F/S-AVNRT). AV reentrant tachycardia was excluded on observation of the transition zone criteria in all 7 patients.

Influence of substrate modification in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation on the incidence of acute complications: Analysis of 10 795 procedures in J-CARAF Study 2011-2016.

Background And Purpose: In expectation of better outcome of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), several strategies of extra-PV (pulmonary vein) substrate modification have been utilized. We assessed whether substrate modification or ablation of extra-PV source is a predictor of complications.

Methods: Japanese Heart Rhythm Society requested electrophysiology centers to register the data of patients who underwent AF ablation.

Adherence to blood pressure measurement guidelines in long-term care facilities: A cross sectional study.

Objective: To assess the extent to which long-term care facilities in Japan adhere to blood pressure (BP) measurement guidelines.

Design: Cross-sectional, observational survey.

Setting: Japan (nationwide).

Do consumer-mediated negative effects on plant establishment outweigh the positive effects of a nurse plant?

Many studies demonstrated the importance of facilitative effect by nurse plant on seedling establishment. Few studies evaluated the negative effects of consumers on plant establishment under nurse plants by dealing with them during multiple demographic processes. We investigated the balance between the facilitative effect and negative effects of consumers during multiple demographic processes in Malawi in southeastern Africa.

Prognostic significance of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy for primary prevention: Analysis of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry database.

Background: Whether nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is a marker of increased risk of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs) remains to be established in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) for primary prevention.

Methods: Among the follow-up data of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry (JCDTR) with an implantation date between January 2011 and August 2015, information regarding a history of NSVT before the CRT-D implantation for primary prevention had been registered in 269 patients. Outcomes were compared between two groups with and without NSVT: NSVT group (n = 179) and No NSVT group (n = 90).