Effectiveness of non-invasive ultrasound-guided electrical stimulation of genicular nerves for chronic knee pain: A case report.

Rationale: Chronic knee pain is a common health issue that requires effective and noninvasive treatment. We devised a novel noninvasive approach using ultrasound-guided electrical nerve reactivation (ENR) in which ultrasound is used to identify the genicular nerve (GN). Then, transcutaneous low-frequency stimulation is applied for 10 seconds.

TDP-43 transports ferritin heavy chain mRNA to regulate oxidative stress in neuronal axons.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the mislocalization and abnormal deposition of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43). This protein plays important roles in RNA metabolism and transport in motor neurons and glial cells. In addition, abnormal iron accumulation and oxidative stress are observed in the brain and spinal cord of patients with ALS exhibiting TDP-43 pathology and in animal models of ALS.

Hydrogel coils in intracranial aneurysm treatment: a multicenter, prospective, randomized open-label trial.

Objective: Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of hydrogel-coated coils (HGCs) to achieve the composite endpoint of decreased recanalization rates and greater safety. Herein, the authors aimed to assess the true ability of second-generation HGCs to prevent recanalization.

Methods: This randomized controlled study, the HYBRID (Hydrocoil Versus Bare Platinum Coil in Recanalization Imaging Data) trial, comparing HGCs with bare platinum coils (BPCs), was conducted in 43 Japanese institutions.

Post-hoc analysis of the tofogliflozin post-marketing surveillance study (J-STEP/LT): Tofogliflozin improves liver function in type 2 diabetes patients regardless of BMI.

Aims/introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of developing steatotic liver disease (SLD). Weight loss has proven effective in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors showing promising results. However, lean MASLD is more prevalent in Japan, necessitating alternative approaches to body weight reduction.

Histone acetylation and BRD4 binding are associated with induction of TNF mRNA expression by temporal high-glucose exposure and subsequent low-glucose culture in juvenile macrophage-like THP-1 cells.

Background: Postprandial hyperglycemia induces expression of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which promotes the onset of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated whether a transient high-glucose culture enhanced sustained expression of TNF, or whether the induction is associated with histone acetylation, and bromodomain protein containing protein 4 (BRD4), which binds acetylated histone, in human juvenile macrophage-like THP-1 cells.

Methods: THP-1 cells were cultured in medium with high-glucose in the presence or absence of (+)-JQ1, an inhibitor of bromodomain and extra-terminal domain family, for 24 h (day 0).

Impact of skeletal muscle mass of the trunk and extremities on standing spine parameters before and after surgery for adult spinal deformity with a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Purpose: The effect of skeletal muscle mass of the trunk and extremities on sagittal imbalance of the spine before and after surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between reduced skeletal muscle mass of the trunk and extremities, as well as spinopelvic parameters, preoperatively, postoperatively and at least 2 years after surgery for ASD.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 140 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for ASD and were followed-up for at least 2 years and whose skeletal muscle mass could be measured preoperatively using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

-Linked Parkinson Syndrome in Female Heterozygotes Is Associated With PET-Detectable Tau Pathology.

Background And Objectives: A previous postmortem study of men with Christianson syndrome, a disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene , reported a mechanistic link between pathologic tau accumulation and progressive symptoms such as cerebellar atrophy and cognitive decline. This study aimed to characterize the relationships between neuropathologic manifestations and tau accumulation in heterozygous women with mutation.

Methods: We conducted a multimodal neuroimaging and plasma biomarker study on 3 middle-aged heterozygous women with mutations (proband 1: mid-50s; proband 2: early 50s; proband 3: mid-40s) presenting with progressive extrapyramidal symptoms.

Utility of Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Surgery for Retroperitoneal Tumors.

Introduction: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery for benign retroperitoneal tumors is often challenging because of variations in the tumor location and size. In this study, we present a retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection technique used at our institution to treat benign retroperitoneal tumors.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective case series included nine consecutive patients who underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic tumor resection between 2011 and 2023.

Approaches for difficult-to-induce-seizures electroconvulsive therapy cases (DEC): a Japanese expert consensus.

Background: Seizure threshold increases with age and the frequency of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Therefore, therapeutic seizures can be difficult to induce, even at maximum stimulus charge with available ECT devices. Such cases are known as difficult-to-induce-seizures electroconvulsive therapy cases (DECs).

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.

Enhancing the Resilience of Agroecosystems Through Improved Rhizosphere Processes: A Strategic Review.

As farming practices evolve and climate conditions shift, achieving sustainable food production for a growing global population requires innovative strategies to optimize environmentally friendly practices and minimize ecological impacts. Agroecosystems, which integrate agricultural practices with the surrounding environment, play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and ensuring food security. Rhizosphere management has emerged as a pivotal approach to enhancing crop yields, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and supporting sustainable agriculture.

Indolent Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma Mimicking a Benign Cystic Tumor.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare intermediate tumor that is often difficult to diagnose radiologically and pathologically. Herein, we report a case of AFH in the knee that was initially misdiagnosed as a cystic lesion. The tumor was first identified eight years earlier during the patient's initial visit, when plain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, leading to a diagnosis of a cystic lesion.

Extracting and analyzing micronuclei from mouse two-cell embryos fertilized with freeze-dried spermatozoa.

Abnormal chromosome segregation (ACS) in preimplantation embryos causes miscarriages. For a normal pregnancy, it is necessary to reduce ACS occurrences in embryos. However, the causes of such abnormalities are unclear because no method to extract the segregated chromosomes from the blastomeres for detailed analysis.

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.

Risk Factors for Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis 1 Month After Non-Cuffed Hemodialysis Catheter Removal.

: Complications, namely, catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) and venous stenosis, are associated with non-cuffed hemodialysis catheters used for emergency vascular access. However, only a few reports have demonstrated changes in the venous lumen and intravenous thrombosis after catheter removal. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the risk factors for residual thrombus 1 month after hemodialysis catheter removal.

Hemodynamic Analysis Using 4D Flow MRI in a Case of Aortic Dissection With Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery.

Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) was utilized to analyze an aortic dissection with an aberrant right subclavian artery, revealing vortex formation and an increased oscillatory shear index (OSI), both indicative of variations in wall shear stress. An elevated OSI has been associated with an elevated risk of aortic dissection.

Unraveling the Origin of Unusual Cs Atom Disorder in Cesium Octahedral Molybdenum Halide Cluster Compounds, Cs[{MoX}X] (X = Cl and Br).

In this study, we investigate structural disorder and its implications in metal cluster (MC)-based compounds, specifically focusing on Cs[{MoX}X] (X = Cl and Br). Utilizing synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and luminescence measurements, we examined the incorporation of water molecules into these compounds and their effects on the crystal structure and optical properties. Our findings reveal that the presence of water molecules induces the lattice disorder, particularly the displacement of Cs atoms.

Cryptoic acids A and B, benzene-containing polyketides, and cyclocryptamide, a modified diketopiperazine, from an actinomycete of the genus Cryptosporangium.

Two new benzene-containing polyketides, cryptoic acids A (1) and B (2), along with a new acylated diketopiperazine designated cyclocryptamide (3), were isolated from the culture extract of Cryptosporangium sp. YDKA-T02. The absolute configuration of amino acid components in 3 was determined by Marfey's method.

Intraluminal washout in rectal and sigmoid colon cancer surgeries with double-stapling technique anastomosis: A single-institution prospective study.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the necessity of intraluminal washout through cytological assessment to prevent implantation of exfoliated cancer cells (ECCs) in patients with rectal and sigmoid cancers.

Methods: We studied 140 patients with either sigmoid or rectal cancer who underwent anastomosis surgery using a double-stapling technique. An intraluminal washout sample was collected before and after irrigation with 1000, 1500, or 2000 mL of physiological saline or distilled water.