Pyoderma Gangrenosum With Severe Ankle Ankylosis Complicated by Rheumatoid Arthritis Successfully Treated Using Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor: A Case Report.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare dermatosis characterised by necrotic ulcers with a predilection mainly for the lower legs. We report a case of a 67-year-old man with PG and severe ankle ankylosis complicated by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor, adalimumab (ADA). He was referred to our hospital because his right ankle showed severe ulcers and blackening.

Valosin-containing protein (VCP), a component of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles, impairs the barrier integrity of brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Metastases are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, and their origin is not fully elucidated. Recently, studies have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly small extracellular vesicles (sEV), can disrupt the homeostasis of organs, promoting the development of a secondary tumor. However, the role of sEV in brain endothelium and their association with metastasis related to breast cancer is unknown.

Predicting Sensory and Affective Tactile Perception from Physical Parameters Obtained by Using a Biomimetic Multimodal Tactile Sensor.

Tactile perception plays a crucial role in the perception of products and consumer preferences. This perception process is structured in hierarchical layers comprising a sensory layer (soft and smooth) and an affective layer (comfort and luxury). In this study, we attempted to predict the evaluation score of sensory and affective tactile perceptions of materials using a biomimetic multimodal tactile sensor that mimics the active touch behavior of humans and measures physical parameters such as force, vibration, and temperature.

Primary Roles of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) and Their Metabolism in Physiology and Metabolic Disorders.

Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are collectively known as branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and are often discussed in the same physiological and pathological situations. The two consecutive initial reactions of BCAA catabolism are catalyzed by the common enzymes referred to as branched chain aminotransferase (BCAT) and branched chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH). BCAT transfers the amino group of BCAAs to 2-ketoglutarate, which results in corresponding branched chain 2-keto acids (BCKAs) and glutamate.

Clinical effect of ventricular entry during resection of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma: A multi-institutional analysis.

Purpose: Glioblastomas contacting the subventricular zone (SVZ) are associated with poor prognosis and the impact of ventricular entry (VE) during resection remains controversial. Since glioblastomas with SVZ involvement often require VE, both SVZ involvement and VE are confounding factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of VE during glioblastoma resection by comparing patients with and without SVZ involvement.

Treatment outcomes of primary salivary gland squamous cell carcinoma: A multi-institutional retrospective study in Japan.

Objective: Primary salivary gland squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is extremely rare, accounting for 0.3-10.4 % of all salivary gland malignancies.

Health Literacy and Internet Use Among Japanese Older Adults: A Gender-Stratified Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Moderating Effects of Neighborhood Relationships.

: Internet use positively impacts mental health in older adults, with health literacy (HL) playing a key role. While social networks may complement individual HL, the role of neighborhood relationships in this association, particularly by gender, remains unclear. This study examined how the association between HL and Internet use among older adults was modified by neighborhood relationships.

Morphology-Based Risk Analysis of Catheter-related Thrombus After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Understanding the development of central venous catheter-related thrombus (CVCRT) is vital for the prevention of adverse events caused by thrombi after cardiac surgery in children. However, the risks associated with CVCRT remain controversial. This study analyzed the risk factors of CVCRT based on a detailed evaluation of its morphometric features and severity.

Thoracoscopic Anatomic Segmentectomy Techniques for Rare Medial-Basal Segment (S7) Variants.

The medial-basal segment (S7) is the smallest of all the pulmonary segments and exhibits significant anatomic complexities. The procedures adopted to perform anatomic S7 segmentectomy differ according to branching pattern as the B7 may show 3 types. Although some studies have reported surgical procedures for thoracoscopic segmentectomy of the S7 and its anatomic variants, this type of segmentectomy remains challenging.

Rupture of the staple suture site after stapling the right inferior pulmonary vein with double rows of staples: a case report.

Background: With advancements in minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and robotic surgery, the design of vascular staplers has evolved to meet the requirements of these procedures. Consequently, newer generations of automatic staplers with improved handling and reduced size have been introduced, such as two-row staplers, which are more maneuverable and less bulky than their three-row counterparts.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old man with lung cancer underwent a right middle and lower lobectomy due to tumor invasion into the central middle bronchial trunk, rendering the preservation of the middle lobe impossible.

An item response theory analysis of the Dissociative Experiences Scale II: examining psychometric properties and longitudinal stability among Japanese adults.

Background: The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) is widely used globally. However, psychometric properties of the scale have not been adequately examined. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and longitudinal stability of the DES-II.

Pipeline esophageal varices: Insights from clinical cases and models.

Objectives: While esophageal varices (EVs) are typically treated endoscopically, other options such as interventional radiology or surgical treatment are considered when endoscopic treatment is challenging. Pipeline EVs are difficult to treat endoscopically due to their large diameter, and currently, no specific treatment guidelines have been established.

Methods: We reviewed cases of pipeline EVs treated at our hospital and analyzed previously reported cases to collect evidence for the formulation of treatment guidelines.

Insights into the MOF-Based Classic Configuration for the Differences in Effective Dye Adsorption, Magnetic Properties, and Computational Analyses.

Two 3D/2D anionic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), [Cu(HL)] () and [Mn(L)(DMF)] ( (DMF = ,-dimethylformamide), were synthesized by the solvothermal reaction of metal salts and 5'-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2',4',6'-triethyl-[1,1':3',1″-terphenyl]-4,4″-dicarboxylic acid (HL). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that complex shows three-dimensional (3D) frameworks with a (3,6)-connected 3-fold interpenetrated topology with the Schläfli symbols of {4.6}{4.

Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia with a variant triggered by vitamin D supplementation in fortified milk: A case report.

Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH) is characterized by hypercalcemia, nephrocalcinosis, vomiting, dehydration, and failure to thrive. It is caused by the presence of biallelic loss-of-function variants in the locus. Although hypercalcemia has been linked to the consumption of vitamin D-fortified milk, no reports have documented its role in triggering IIH in patients with variants.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Violaceae), an endemic species of the snowy region in Japan.

, a perennial herb in subsection , is endemic to the snowy mountainous regions on the Sea of Japan side of Japan. Its complete chloroplast genome was 156,056 bp in length, comprising one large single-copy region (86,407 bp), one small single-copy region (17,301 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (27,174 bp each). It contained 111 unique genes, including 77 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes.

Noise-related inaccuracies in the quantitative evaluation of CT artifacts.

Accuracies of measuring the artifact index (AI), a quantitative artifact evaluation index in X-ray CT images, were investigated. The AI is calculated based not only on the standard deviation (SD) of the artifact area in the image, but also on the SD of noise components for considering the noise influence. However, conventional measurement methods may not follow this consideration, for example the non-uniformity of the noise distribution is not taken into account, resulting in reducing the accuracy of AI.

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.

Thermal Resistance Enhancement and Wettability Amelioration of Poly(benzimidazole-aramid) Film by Silica Nanocomposites.

Polybenzimidazole (PBI) is a high-performance polymer known for its excellent thermal stability, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance, attributes that are derived from its unique structure comprising repeated benzene and imidazole rings. However, limitations such as relatively low thermal stability and moisture sensitivity restrict its application as a super engineering plastic. In this study, amide groups are incorporated into the PBI backbone to synthesize the copolymer poly(BI--A), effecting a structural modification at the molecular level.

Polyvinyl Butyral Addition Effects on Notched Charpy Impact Strength of Injection-Molded Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene.

Glass short fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (GSFRTPs) are a cost-effective alternative to other short fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (SFRTPs). Their excellent mechanical properties make them a suitable material for components that require rigidity and light weight in widely diverse fields, including transportation and office automation equipment. The melt-mixing process is used to shorten glass fibers.

Lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels as a predictive factor of future exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a pulmonary and systemic inflammatory disease, and the management of systemic comorbidities is important. We previously reported that a lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) at admission was an independent prognostic factor for death in patients with COPD exacerbation. This study aimed to determine the association between MCHC levels and prognosis in patients with stable COPD.

α-Cyclodextrin supplementation improves endurance exercise performance and reduces post-exercise fatigue in human males: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.

α-Cyclodextrin (αCD), a cyclic hexasaccharide composed of six glucose units, is not digested in the small intestine but is completely fermented by gut microbes. Recently, we have reported that αCD supplementation for nonathlete men improved their 10 km biking times. However, the beneficial effects of αCD on exercise are not yet fully understood.

An examination of the intra-rater reliability of the Y Balance test for high school female athletes.

[Purpose] The Y Balance test is a dynamic balance assessment tool widely used in sports. Although its reliability has been established in professional male athletes, its suitability for female high-school athletes remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the Y Balance test in this population.

Solution biophysics identifies lipid nanoparticle non-sphericity, polydispersity, and dependence on internal ordering for efficacious mRNA delivery.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most advanced delivery system currently available for RNA therapeutics. Their development has accelerated since the success of Patisiran, the first siRNA-LNP therapeutic, and the mRNA vaccines that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Designing LNPs with specific targeting, high potency, and minimal side effects is crucial for their successful clinical use.