Incomplete human reference genomes can drive false sex biases and expose patient-identifying information in metagenomic data.

As next-generation sequencing technologies produce deeper genome coverages at lower costs, there is a critical need for reliable computational host DNA removal in metagenomic data. We find that insufficient host filtration using prior human genome references can introduce false sex biases and inadvertently permit flow-through of host-specific DNA during bioinformatic analyses, which could be exploited for individual identification. To address these issues, we introduce and benchmark three host filtration methods of varying throughput, with concomitant applications across low biomass samples such as skin and high microbial biomass datasets including fecal samples.

The 2024 American Association for Thoracic Surgery expert consensus document: Current standards in donor lung procurement and preservation.

Background: Donor lung procurement and preservation is critical for lung transplantation success. Unfortunately, the large variability in techniques impacts organ utilization rates and transplantation outcomes. Compounding this variation, recent developments in cold static preservation and new technological advances with machine perfusion have increased the complexity of the procedure.

Racial disparities of type 2 diabetes through exercise: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Persistent racial and ethnic disparities exist for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the United States. Racial and ethnic minorities have higher T2D risk and studies suggest they engage in less exercise than Whites. This study examined whether, and to what degree, racial differences in T2D were explained by exercise.

Betagenin ameliorates diabetes by inducing insulin secretion and β-cell proliferation.

Recent success with the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor analogs and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors for the treatment of patients with diabetes has highlighted the role of the intestine as an endocrine organ. Gut-derived hormones, including GLP-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and ghrelin, have important roles in the control of energy metabolism and food intake, and are associated with the metabolic syndrome. In this study, we isolated and identified a new intestine-derived hormone, betagenin, and showed that it stimulates insulin secretion and β-cell proliferation and suppresses β-cell apoptosis.

Reduced PI3K(p110α) induces atrial myopathy, and PI3K-related lipids are dysregulated in athletes with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Elucidating mechanisms underlying atrial myopathy, which predisposes individuals to atrial fibrillation (AF), will be critical for preventing/treating AF. In a serendipitous discovery, we identified atrial enlargement, fibrosis, and thrombi in mice with reduced phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) in cardiomyocytes. PI3K(p110α) is elevated in the heart with exercise and is critical for exercise-induced ventricular enlargement and protection, but the role in the atria was unknown.

An autopsy case of encapsulated acute subdural hematoma presenting as an acute-on-chronic spontaneous subdural hematoma.

Subdural hematoma (SDH) is bleeding between the dura mater and the brain surface, often visualized as a crescent-shaped lesion on computed tomography (CT). However, some SDHs can appear as a biconvex hyperdense lesion mimicking an acute epidural hematoma. Encapsulated acute SDH (EASDH), a rare subtype characterized by a fresh hematoma within the subdural fibrous capsule, presents with similar CT findings.

Differences in health care expenditure due to the comorbidity status of periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus.

Background: To investigate the differences in health care expenditure (HCE) due to the comorbidity status of periodontal disease (PD) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This cohort study used health care claims and oral health screening data to identify participants with PD or DM and followed them for 1 year to assess their HCE. PD and DM were determined based on PD screening and medical claims data, respectively.

Magnetic resonance imaging safety in Asia-Oceania: call for action.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) safety is a critical concern in the Asia-Oceania region, as it is elsewhere in the world, due to the unique and complex MRI environment that demands attention. This call-for-action outlines ten critical steps to enhance MRI safety and promote a culture of responsibility and accountability in the Asia-Oceania region. Key focus areas include strengthening education and expertise, improving quality assurance, fostering collaboration, increasing public awareness, and establishing national safety boards.

Visualization of porcine and human aqueous humor outflow tract anatomies with transparency enhancement.

Purpose: There is no established method for visualizing the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the aqueous humor outflow tract. This study attempted to visualize the 3D structures of porcine and human ocular tissues, particularly the aqueous humor outflow tract using a transparency reagent composed of 2, 2-thiodiethanol.

Study Design: Clinical and experimental.

Non-canonical imprinting, manifesting as post-fertilization placenta-specific parent-of-origin dependent methylation, is not conserved in humans.

Genomic imprinting is the parent-of-origin dependent monoallelic expression of genes often associated with regions of germline-derived DNA methylation that are maintained as differentially methylated regions (gDMRs) in somatic tissues. This form of epigenetic regulation is highly conserved in mammals and is thought to have co-evolved with placentation. Tissue-specific gDMRs have been identified in human placenta, suggesting that species-specific imprinting dependent on unorthodox epigenetic establishment or maintenance may be more widespread than previously anticipated.

Maternal smoking during infancy increases the risk of allergic diseases in children: a nationwide longitudinal survey in Japan.

Background: The incidence of allergic diseases has been increasing in Japan. In particular, a serious decline in the age of onset of allergic rhinitis has been observed. Passive smoking from parental smoking has a significant impact on children's health; however, it is difficult to restrict smoking in the home.

The efficacy of open transanal drainage tube against anastomotic leakage in left-sided colorectal cancer surgery: a propensity score matching study.

Background/aim: The effectiveness of a transanal drainage tube (TAT) for the prevention of anastomotic leakage after double stapling technique (DST) anastomosis in colorectal cancer has been reported. Previously, TATs had been placed and connected to drainage bags. It was considered that a higher decompression effect could be expected by inserting an open-type TAT, without connection to a drainage bag.

Association of clinical knowledge with patient care ownership among resident physicians: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan.

Purpose: Both clinical knowledge and patient care ownership (PCO) are crucial to the provision of quality patient care and should be acquired during training. However, the association between these two concepts is under-examined. Here, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study to investigate the association between clinical knowledge and PCO among resident physicians in Japan.

Propagation of neuronal micronuclei regulates microglial characteristics.

Microglia-resident immune cells in the central nervous system-undergo morphological and functional changes in response to signals from the local environment and mature into various homeostatic states. However, niche signals underlying microglial differentiation and maturation remain unknown. Here, we show that neuronal micronuclei (MN) transfer to microglia, which is followed by changing microglial characteristics during the postnatal period.

Association between salt intake and blood pressure among community-dwelling older adults based on their physical frailty status.

The effects of salt reduction and adequate nutrition intake among older adults with physical frailty remain controversial. Therefore, the present study investigated whether the association between daily salt intake and blood pressure among community-dwelling older adults, including the very old people, based on their physical frailty status. This cross-sectional study used data from the SONIC study, a cohort study on older adults, collected between 2010 and 2012.

Returning genetic risk information for hereditary cancers to participants in a population-based cohort study in Japan.

Large-scale population cohort studies that collect genomic information are tasked with returning an assessment of genetic risk for hereditary cancers to participants. While several studies have applied to return identified genetic risks to participants, comprehensive surveys of participants' understanding, feelings, and behaviors toward cancer risk remain to be conducted. Here, we report our experience and surveys of returning genetic risks to 100 carriers of pathogenic variants for hereditary cancers identified through whole genome sequencing of 50 000 individuals from the Tohoku Medical Megabank project, a population cohort study.

Prenatal inflammation impairs early CD11c-positive microglia induction and delays myelination in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a form of maternal immune activation (MIA) linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Our previous study identified neurodevelopmental impairments in an MIA mouse model mimicking HCA. Thus, this study investigated the role of CD11c microglia, key contributors to myelination through IGF-1 production, in this pathology.

Nr4a1 and Nr4a3 redundantly control clonal deletion and contribute to an anergy-like transcriptome in auto-reactive thymocytes to impose tolerance in mice.

The Nr4a nuclear hormone receptors are transcriptionally upregulated in response to antigen recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR) in the thymus and are implicated in clonal deletion, but the mechanisms by which they operate are not clear. Moreover, their role in central tolerance is obscured by redundancy among the Nr4a family members and by their reported functions in Treg generation and maintenance. Here we take advantage of competitive bone marrow chimeras and the OT-II/RIPmOVA model to show that Nr4a1 and Nr4a3 are essential for the upregulation of Bcl2l11/BIM and thymic clonal deletion by self-antigen.

Clinical characteristics affecting weight loss in an East Asian population receiving semaglutide: A STEP 6 subgroup analysis.

Objective: To explore the effects of semaglutide versus placebo on body weight (BW) by subgroups of baseline characteristics.

Methods: In STEP 6, Japanese and Korean adults with overweight or obesity were randomized to subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg, semaglutide 1.

Prognostic Analysis of Pathological Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring Major EGFR Mutations.

Background: While Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has favorable outcomes with targeted therapy, early-stage prognosis remains influenced by pathological factors and central nervous system (CNS) recurrence. The study aimed to clarify prognostic factors in pathological stage (pStage) I EGFR mutation-positive LUAD.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, 2,191 pStage I LUAD cases with known EGFR status (excluding EGFR testing after recurrence) who received anatomical resection were included from multiple institutions in Japan.

AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR GENETIC STUDY OF 60 COLORECTAL CARCINOMA BRAIN METASTASES IN PURSUIT OF PREDICTIVE BIOMARKERS FOR CANCER THERAPY.

Colorectal carcinoma brain metastases (n=60) were studied using next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry. RAS and BRAF mutations were detected in 58.2% and 7.

A Five-Year Longitudinal Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients Who Have Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Study.

Background: The effects of surgical treatment on the quality of life (QOL) of patients who have osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) have been rarely reported. This multicenter study aimed to elucidate the longitudinal QOL in patients who have ONFH undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: Self-assessment QOL questionnaires, including the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ), Oxford Hip Score (OHS), and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-12v2), were administered to 124 patients at six months, one year, two and five years postoperatively.