MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 1422-0067 27 5 2026 Aerobic Exercise Attenuates Epidermal Hyperplasia in an Obesity-Associated Psoriasiform Dermatitis Model 2308 EN Yoshihiro Matsuda Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shin Morizane Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Daiki Takezaki Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuma Sakamoto Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School Nobuyasu Baba Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School Masanori Iseki Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School Yoshio Kawakami Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tatsushi Shiomi Department of Pathology, Kawasaki Medical School Tomoyuki Mukai Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School Obesity is an important risk factor for psoriasis, and clinical studies indicate that exercise interventions can improve disease severity. However, the mechanisms by which exercise influences psoriatic pathogenesis remain insufficiently understood. To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on obesity-associated psoriasis, wild-type mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 7 weeks to induce obesity and subsequently underwent moderate-intensity treadmill running for 3 weeks. Psoriasiform dermatitis was induced by daily topical application of imiquimod (IMQ) to the skin for five consecutive days. HFD increased body weight, epididymal fat mass, and serum cholesterol. HFD-fed mice developed more severe IMQ-induced psoriatic skin changes compared with normal diet-fed mice. Treadmill exercise modestly reduced body weight gain and attenuated epidermal hyperplasia in HFD-fed mice. In contrast, inflammatory cytokine expression, including Tnfa, Il17a, and Il23a, showed modest increases in the skin of HFD-fed exercised mice, which did not parallel the improvement in epidermal hyperplasia. Overall, these findings indicate that while obesity exacerbates psoriasiform dermatitis, aerobic exercise ameliorates epidermal hyperplasia in obese mice without corresponding changes in inflammatory cytokine expression in the skin, suggesting that exercise may influence psoriatic skin changes through multiple metabolic and immunological pathways. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 1043-1802 37 3 2026 A Cysteine-Specific Cationization Strategy for Versatile Antibody Production against Intrinsically Disordered Proteins 580 589 EN Ryui Sakaguchi Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Ai Miyamoto Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Rikako Kutsuma Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Takeru Mori Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Daichi Nakashima Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Mirei Masui Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Tomoko Honjo Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Midori Futami Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Life Science, Okayama University of Science Mariko Morii Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Toshiyuki Oshiki Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Junichiro Futami Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Several autoantigens relevant to the immune system, especially those targeted by autoantibodies induced by antitumor responses, tend to be rich in disordered regions and are prone to aggregation. This inherent instability presents significant challenges for the production, purification, and analysis of autoantigens in laboratory settings. Cysteine-specific cationization can effectively solubilize and purify these challenging proteins, allowing the isolation of full-length water-soluble antigens in their denatured state. The purified antigens enable accurate multiplex autoantibody assays using a suspension Luminex bead array platform. However, well-validated positive control antibodies are essential to ensuring precise clinical diagnosis. In this study, we prepared and characterized a panel of control antibodies by immunizing rabbits with cysteine-specific S-cationized antigens. The resulting antibodies predominantly recognized linear epitopes and were highly effective as quality control reagents in autoantibody array assays. Additionally, these antibodies maintained their ability to bind to their native, unmodified intracellular counterparts, highlighting the usefulness of this approach for producing antibodies against intrinsically disordered proteins. Although a modest immune response against the S-cationized modification site was observed, it remained minimal and did not affect the usefulness of the antibodies for assay validation. We propose this versatile cysteine-specific cationization platform for managing unstable proteins rich in disordered regions, supporting antigen production for diagnostics, and antibody development for research and validation purposes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院ヘルスシステム統合科学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 2436-3227 6 2026 The effects of cold compresses on itching in patients with atopic dermatitis: A cross-over controlled pilot trial 1 6 EN Yuki HIRAMI Former Department of Nursing, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Nahoko HARADA Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Miho ONO Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences Masahide KODA Co-learning Community Healthcare Re-innovation Office, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kiyoko FUKAI Professor Emeritus, Okayama University, Graduate School of Nursing, The Jikei University School of Medicine 10.18926/interdisciplinary/70325 This cross-over controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two types of cold compresses (towels and ice packs) in alleviating itching among patients with atopic dermatitis. The study recruited 19 participants diagnosed with atopic dermatitis and suffering from chronic itching for over 6 months. Each participant received both types of cold compress interventions. Itching sensations were assessed repeatedly using a visual analogue scale before and after the application of the cold compress. The mean and standard deviation of itching scores for the towel intervention were 16.9 ± 19.1 (baseline) and 11.4 ± 16.1 (post-application). For the ice pack intervention, the scores were 13.6 ± 14.7 (baseline) and 6.2 ± 9.8 (post-application). Although there was a reduction in mean itching scores following the application of cold compresses, the differences were not statistically significant for either intervention. Despite the lack of statistical significance, this study suggests that cold compresses, which are user-friendly and inexpensive, may safely reduce subjective itching in patients with atopic dermatitis without causing pain or discomfort. However, further research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1613-6810 21 50 2025 Collagen Signaling via DDR1 Exacerbates Barriers to Macromolecular Drug Delivery in a 3D Model of Pancreatic Cancer Fibrosis e06926 EN Mayu Ohira Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Moe Kitamura Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroyo Iwasaki Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Haruko Ohta‐Okano Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiyori Tsujii Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Reika Nakamura Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takuya Nakazawa Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Akihiro Nishiguchi Biomaterials Field, Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science Masaya Yamamoto Department of Materials Processing, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University Kensuke Osada Department of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST) Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Horacio Cabral Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo Atsushi Masamune Division of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University Mitsunobu R. Kano Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Hiroyoshi Y. Tanaka Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Fibrosis is a significant barrier to drug delivery in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and contributes to its dismal prognosis. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) drive fibrosis by excessively secreting extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen I. Collagen I is thought to physically obstruct the delivery of macromolecules, such as albumin, antibodies, and nanomedicines. Apart from its structural role, collagen signals through dedicated cell surface receptors, such as the discoidin domain receptors (DDR) 1/2. However, whether and how collagen signaling contributes to fibrotic barrier generation remains uncharacterized. Here, a 3D culture model of PDAC fibrosis constructed from patient PSCs is used to assess the contribution of DDR1/2-mediated collagen signaling. DDR1/2 inhibition diminishes collagen I expression in PSCs to enhance macromolecular delivery. Moreover, MEK inhibitors exacerbate the fibrotic barrier by up-regulating collagen I, an effect reversed by inhibiting DDR1/2. Through isoform-specific targeting, inhibiting DDR1, but not DDR2, is shown to be effective. Downstream of DDR, the involvement of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is demonstrated, particularly alternative mTOR complexes involving MEAK7 and GIT1. Altogether, the results show in vitro that DDR1-mediated collagen signaling exacerbates the fibrotic barrier and may be targeted to enhance macromolecular drug delivery in PDAC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院社会文化科学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 1881-1671 60 2025 ライプニッツの「人間学」―『定義集』の叙述を中心に― 31 50 EN Tsuyoshi MATSUDA 10.18926/70019 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 第19回日本臨床検査学教育学会学術大会 149 149 EN Satoshi Hirohata Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 流死産をあきらめない：不育症の治療とケア―第７回日本不育症学会学術集会を岡山で開催― 147 148 EN Mikiya Nakatsuka Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University, The Reproduction Center, Okayama University Hospital, OKAYAMA Infertility Consultation Center No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 第77回日本産科婦人科学会学術講演会開催報告 144 146 EN Hisashi Masuyama Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 ポストコロナの感染症 140 143 EN Kazuhiro Uda Department of Pediatric Regional Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hirokazu Tsukahara Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 薬物相互作用（64―抗サイトメガロウイルス薬の薬物相互作用） 137 139 EN Yoshikazu Teramoto Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Hirofumi Hamano Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Yoshito Zamami Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 呼吸器外科領域におけるロボット支援手術の進化と展望 132 136 EN Mikio Okazaki Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 遺伝性腫瘍に関する大学生の知識と意識調査 126 131 EN Reimi Sogawa Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Kagawa University Hospital Takahito Wada Department of Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine Akira Hirasawa Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kensuke Kumamoto Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Kagawa University Hospital Iori Ohmori Special Needs Education, Faculty of Education, Okayama University 　Genomic information plays a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, as well as in the management of asymptomatic individuals. This study assessed the knowledge and understanding of genetics and hereditary cancer among college students who received cancer education in Japan. The study subjects were students from fields such as education, medicine, law, and economics who participated during the period from February to December 2023. The students attended in-person lectures on genomic medicine, and they were then asked to complete an anonymous survey via Google Forms. Over 90％ of the participants reported understanding the content of the lectures, and >80％ indicated that they found the lecture's content understandable at a junior high school level. Over 60％ felt that the appropriate time to begin such education would be in late elementary or junior high school. These results indicate a high level of acceptance of hereditary cancer education among young people. However, challenges remain in their understanding of the roles of genetic factors in cancer development and the mechanisms by which inheritance and phenotype are manifested. The relevant educational programs need to be further refined and strengthened. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 備前市における新型コロナウイルス感染症の抗体検査に関する研究の成果報告 118 125 EN Takashi Yorifuji Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Ayako Sasaki Kurashiki City Public Health Center Naomi Matsumoto Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Tomoka Kadowaki Center for Public Health Action in Applied Epidemiology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Toshiharu Mitsuhashi Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Soshi Takao Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University 　We conducted two prospective cohort studies (June 2022–March 2023 and Nov 2023–Jan 2024) of 1,899 and 445 residents and other individuals who are affiliated with institutions in the city of Bizen in Japan's Okayama prefecture (population 32,320 as of 2020). We measured the subjects' titers of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, evaluated changes in their antibody titers, and assessed the associations of the titers with the subjects' vaccination status, infection, and COVID-19 status/severity. This report summarizes the two studies' findings. These prospective studies based on a wide age range in a general population provide information that can be used to determine the appropriate timing of vaccination during a pandemic. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 岡山大学小児医科学教室における最近の研究成果 108 117 EN Hirokazu Tsukahara Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 がん治療用ウイルス製剤の創薬研究―遺伝子治療からウイルス療法への展開― 98 107 EN Toshiyoshi Fujiwara Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 令和６年度岡山医学会賞　胸部・循環研究奨励賞（砂田賞） 95 97 EN Shinichi Kawana Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 令和６年度岡山医学会賞　総合研究奨励賞（結城賞） 92 94 EN Tetsuya Yumoto Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 3 2025 令和６年度岡山医学会賞　がん研究奨励賞（林原賞・山田賞） 89 91 EN Shota Takihira Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0969-806X 237 2025 Impact of different X-ray tube positions on actual dose measurements during CT examinations -An effect of patient physique- 113001 EN Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Tatsuya Maeda Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Kazuki Takegami Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital Sota Goto Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University Takashi Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Yuki Kanazawa Faculty of Life Science, Kumamoto University Kazuta Yamashita Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Tokushima University Takeshi Konishi MEDITEC JAPAN Co., Ltd. Motochika Maki MEDITEC JAPAN Co., Ltd. Dose management of patients is very important during X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) examinations, but because the patient's surface dose is inhomogeneous, it is difficult to measure the most probable value using a small passive-type dosimeter, lent to the patient. To solve this problem, our research group developed a precise dose analysis procedure in which a systematic uncertainty related to the X-ray incident direction (θin) is reduced. θin information was analyzed from CT images. However, the applicability of our procedure to actual patients with various physiques has not been examined. This study aims to propose a dose analysis procedure that can be applied to patients with various physiques, and to show its impact on dose measurement. Clinical data of 198 patients with Body Mass Index (BMI) values between 15 and 40 kg/m2 (mean value: 23.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2) who underwent chest CT scans were analyzed after dividing them into three groups based on BMI values. The absorbed dose was measured with a small-type Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dosimeter. To derive correction factors related to θin, the dependence of the actually-measured dose values of various patients on θin was analyzed. The correction coefficients were determined independently for the three groups classified by BMI values. By correcting the effect of θin, the systematic uncertainty element could be reduced, resulting in 30 % reduction of the uncertainty. Furthermore, it was found that our analysis procedure makes it possible to visualize outliers. In comparison with the expected dose values based on Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) values, most of the data fell within the range of ±1.34 mGy (=1σ). However, 7 % of the data showed large deviations larger than 2σ. In conclusion, our research group has developed a procedure for measuring patient surface doses that can be applied to patients having various physiques, in which the effects of X-ray incident direction were accurately corrected. The procedure could be one solution to the problems with actual dose measurements during CT examinations, and will be useful for dose management based on the small-type dosimeter. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3921 14 9 2025 Clinical Evaluation of Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Long COVID During the Omicron Phase in Japan 1068 EN Osamu Mese Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuki Otsuka Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasue Sakurada Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuki Tokumasu Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshiaki Soejima Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Satoru Morita Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasuhiro Nakano Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiroyuki Honda Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Akiko Eguchi Biobank Center, Mie University Hospital Sanae Fukuda Department of Health Welfare Sciences, Kansai University of Welfare Sciences Junzo Nojima Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Fumio Otsuka Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences To characterize changes in markers of oxidative stress for the clinical evaluation of patients with long COVID, we assessed oxidative stress and antioxidant activity based on serum samples from patients who visited our clinic between May and November 2024. Seventy-seven patients with long COVID (41 [53%] females and 36 [47%] males; median age, 44 years) were included. Median [interquartile range] serum levels of diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM; CARR Unit), biological antioxidant potential (BAP; μmol/L), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were 533.8 [454.9–627.6], 2385.8 [2169.2–2558.1] and 2.0 [1.7–2.5], respectively. Levels of d-ROMs (579.8 vs. 462.2) and OSI (2.3 vs. 1.8), but not BAP (2403.4 vs. 2352.6), were significantly higher in females than in males. OSI levels positively correlated with age and body mass index, whereas BAP levels negatively correlated with these parameters. d-ROM and OSI levels were significantly associated with inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen, whereas BAP levels were inversely correlated with CRP and ferritin levels. Notably, serum free thyroxine levels were negatively correlated with d-ROMs and OSI, whereas cortisol levels were positively correlated with d-ROMs. Among long COVID symptoms, patients reporting brain fog exhibited significantly higher OSI levels (2.2 vs. 1.8), particularly among females (d-ROMs: 625.6 vs. 513.0; OSI: 2.4 vs. 2.0). The optimal OSI cut-off values were determined to be 1.32 for distinguishing long COVID from healthy controls and 1.92 for identifying brain fog among patients with long COVID. These findings suggest that oxidative stress markers may serve as indicators for the presence or prediction of psycho-neurological symptoms associated with long COVID in a gender-dependent manner. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2077-0383 14 14 2025 Symptomatic Trends and Time to Recovery for Long COVID Patients Infected During the Omicron Phase 4918 EN Hiroshi Akiyama Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yasue Sakurada Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroyuki Honda Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yui Matsuda Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yuki Otsuka Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kazuki Tokumasu Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yasuhiro Nakano Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ryosuke Takase Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Daisuke Omura Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Keigo Ueda Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Fumio Otsuka Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Background: Since the pathophysiology of long COVID is not yet fully understood, there are no specific methods for its treatment; however, its individual symptoms can currently be treated. Long COVID is characterized by symptoms that persist at least 2 to 3 months after contracting COVID-19, although it is difficult to predict how long such symptoms may persist. Methods: In the present study, 774 patients who first visited our outpatient clinic during the Omicron period from February 2022 to October 2024 were divided into two groups: the early recovery (ER) group (370 cases; 47.8%), who recovered in less than 180 days (median 33 days), and the persistent-symptom (PS) group (404 cases; 52.2%), who had symptoms that persisted for more than 180 days (median 437 days). The differences in clinical characteristics between these two groups were evaluated. Results: Although the median age of the two groups did not significantly differ (40 and 42 in ER and PS groups, respectively), the ratio of female patients was significantly higher in the PS group than the ER group (59.4% vs. 47.3%). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the period after infection, habits, BMI, severity of COVID-19, and vaccination history. Notably, at the first visit, female patients in the PS group had a significantly higher rate of complaints of fatigue, insomnia, memory disturbance, and paresthesia, while male patients in the PS group showed significantly higher rates of fatigue and headache complaints. Patients with more than three symptoms at the first visit were predominant in the PS groups in both genders. Notably, one to two symptoms were predominant in the male ER group, while two to three symptoms were mostly reported in the female PS group. Moreover, the patients in the PS group had significantly higher scores for physical and mental fatigue and for depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Collectively, these results suggest that long-lasting long COVID is related to the number of symptoms and presents gender-dependent differences. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1350-4487 191 2026 A novel wearable dosimeter system that can analyze the incident direction of X-rays for medical dosimetry – Improvements to the detector arrangements and analysis algorithm – 107592 EN Takashi Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Sota Goto Faculty of Health Science, Kobe Tokiwa University Kazuki Takegami Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital Rin Ishii College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Mana Mitani Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital Mitsugi Honda Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital Toshihiro Iguchi Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University When performing real-time dosimetry using an active-type dosimeter during clinical fluoroscopic procedures, angular dependence of dosimeter response should be taken into account. Our research group addressed this issue and proposed a triple-type dosimeter that can determine the incident angle of scattered X-rays. The triple-type detector consists of three active dosimeters. The two side dosimeters have slope filters to enhance the angular dependence and are intentionally tilted. The central dosimeter faces forward. The incident angle of X-rays (θin) is estimated using the signal differences between the central dosimeter and the left and/or right dosimeters. Then, the absolute dose is determined by correcting the angular dependence of the central dosimeter based on the estimated θin. In order to verify the concept of the triple-type dosimeter, we conducted a proof-of-concept experiment using clinical X-ray fluoroscopic equipment. Scattered X-rays were generated by irradiating an elliptical cylindrical water phantom. The response of the triple-type dosimeter was evaluated by rotating it to vary the incident angle of scattered X-rays generated by the water phantom. The proposed dosimetry system could estimate the θin over an angular range of ±80° (with uncertainty of 1.35°), which is 30° wider than the previous version, and successfully determined the absolute doses after correction for the angular dependence of the dosimeter. Although the active-type dosimeter had a systematic uncertainty related to the angular dependence of ±15.2 %, our system succeeded in reducing the systematic uncertainty to ±3.2 %. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 1078-8174 32 2 2026 Optimization of the reconstruction kernel for temporal bone imaging using photon-counting detector CT: A combined physical and visual evaluation 103274 EN S. Nishii Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University T. Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Y. Morimitsu Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital S. Kajisaki Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital N. Akagi Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital M. Honda Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital H. Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University A. Sugaya Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University K. Munetomo Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University F. Higaki Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University T. Hiraki Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University T. Iguchi Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Introduction: Photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) offers superior spatial resolution and noise characteristics compared to conventional CT. However, optimal reconstruction parameters for temporal bone imaging, especially kernel selection, remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the optimal reconstruction kernel using both objective physical image quality metrics and subjective expert assessments.<br> Methods: In phantom experiments, the system performance function (SPF) based on the task-based transfer function (TTF) and noise power spectrum (NPS) was calculated across 11 reconstruction kernels (Hr60–Hr98). Based on the results of the physical evaluation and clinical considerations from clinical practice, a subset of kernels was selected for visual assessment. For clinical images, two diagnostic radiologists evaluated three fine anatomical structures (i.e., stapes footplate, incudomalleolar joint, and cochlea) and overall image quality using both a ranking method and a 5-point Likert scale.<br> Results: TTF analysis indicated that Hr96 had the highest spatial resolution, while Hr60 showed the lowest noise in the NPS. SPF analysis identified Hr72 as providing the optimal balance between resolution and noise. Visual assessment using four reconstruction kernels (Hr60, Hr72, Hr76, and Hr84) showed that Hr76 consistently received the highest preference for overall image quality and visualization of fine structures. Statistically significant differences were observed among the kernels, with Hr60 consistently rated the lowest (p < 0.05).<br> Conclusion: The kernel Hr76 was found suitable for middle and inner ear diagnoses using PCD-CT, providing a good balance between spatial resolution and image noise. This finding provides a foundation for standardized reconstruction protocols in high-resolution temporal bone imaging.<br> Implications for practice: These findings support the use of Hr76 as a standard kernel for high-resolution temporal bone imaging and may contribute to protocol optimization in clinical PCD-CT practice. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 3 Is Involved in Glutamatergic Signalling in Podocytes EN Naoko NISHII Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Importance of Blood Glucose Measurement for Predicting the Prognosis of Long COVID：A Retrospective Study in Japan EN Sho YOKOYAMA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Trends in childhood obesity in Japan: A nationwide observational study from 2012 to 2021 EN Shintaro FUJIWARA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Manifestation of Headache Affecting Quality of Life in Long COVID Patients EN Kana SASAI (FUJITA) Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Impact of Lifestyle Changes on Body Weight Gain During Nationwide Lockdown Due to COVID-19 Pandemic EN Chisa NISHIDA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Examination of yield, bacteriolytic activity and cold storage of linker deletion mutants based on endolysin S6_ORF93 derived from Staphylococcus giant bacteriophage S6 EN Sosuke MUNETOMO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 High Antigenicity for Treg Cells Confers Resistance to PD-1 Blockade Therapy via High PD-1 Expression in Treg Cells EN Hiroaki MATSUURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Somatic mutations in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes impact on antitumor immunity  EN Fumiaki MUKOHARA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Supplement-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Reproduced in Kidney Organoids EN Hiroyuki NAKANOH Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Genomic landscape and clinical impact of homologous recombination repair gene mutation in small bowel adenocarcinoma EN Toshiki OZATO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Assessment of Listening Effort by Eye Blinks and Head Tilt Angle Using a Glasses-Type Wearable Device EN Masahito MINAGI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 High Prevalence of MYD88 and CD79B Mutations in Primary Sinonasal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Identification of an MCD-like Subtype EN FANGLI PENG Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Tumor microvessels with specific morphology as a prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma EN HNIN THIDA TUN Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Alteration of perineuronal nets and parvalbumin interneurons in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and correlation with blood corticosterone in activity-based anorexia model mice EN NGUYEN DUY HOANG Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 TRPV2 mediates stress resilience in mouse cardiomyocytes EN YUBING DONG Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Novel extracellular role of REIC/Dkk-3 protein in PD-L1 regulation in cancer cells EN Yuma GOHARA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Cancer‑associated fibroblasts promote pro‑tumor functions of neutrophils in pancreatic cancer via IL‑8: potential suppression by pirfenidon EN Tomohiko YAGI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 ADAR1-high tumor-associated macrophages induce drug resistance and are therapeutic targets in colorectal cancer EN Hibiki OTSUKI (UMEDA) Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Outcomes of ultra-high-pressure balloon angioplasty for congenital heart disease in single-center experience EN Maiko KONDO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Efficacy of amivantamab, a bi-specific antibody targeting EGFR and MET, in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines EN Tatsuya NISHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 HIF‐PH inhibitors induce pseudohypoxia in T cells and suppress the growth of microsatellite stable colorectal cancer by enhancing antitumor immune responses EN YUEHUA CHEN Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Application of intratympanic steroid injection as salvage therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss EN Yasutoshi KOMATSUBARA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Novel treatment strategy targeting interleukin-6 induced by cancer associated fibroblasts for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer EN Ema MITSUI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Single-cell and spatial characterization of plasmablast-like lymphoma cells in primary central nervous system lymphoma EN Hiroki KOBAYASHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor inhibitor augments osimertinib-induced anti-tumor immunity via suppression of macrophages in lung cancer harboring EGFR mutation EN Sachi OKAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 The Association of Postprandial Triglyceride Variability with Renal Dysfunction and Microalbuminuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetic Mellitus: A Retrospective and Observational Study EN Natsumi UCHIYAMA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Role of galectin-9 in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus EN ALBUAYJAN HAYA HAMED H Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Evaluation and processing of physical properties of anti-calcified glutaraldehyde-treated three-dimensional cultured cartilage tissues EN Yohei KITAGUCHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Efficient diagnosis for endoscopic remission in Crohn’s diseases by the combination of three non-invasive markers EN Kensuke TAKEI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Induction Therapy With Oral Tacrolimus Provides Long-Term Benefit in Thiopurine-Naïve Refractory Ulcerative Colitis Patients Despite Low Serum Albumin Levels EN Shoko IGAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Mechanical Subpulmonary Support in Fontan Circulation: A Juvenile Porcine Experimental Model EN Naoya SAKODA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Osteosarcoma cell–derived CCL2 facilitates lung metastasis via accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages EN Hiroya KONDO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Changes in body mass index during early childhood on school-age asthma prevalence classified by phenotypes and sex EN Toshihiko YABUUCHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Grafting Islets to a Prevascularized Subcutaneous Site to Improve Transplant Survival and Function: A Mouse Model EN Tsuyoshi OKADA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Exploring factors influencing the hearing test and hearing aid adoption among Japanese older adults: Implications of recognizing the hearing loss–dementia relationship EN Ichiro FUKUMASU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 LRP4 and Agrin Are Modulated by Cartilage Degeneration and Involved in β-Catenin Signaling in Human Articular Chondrocytes EN Shuichi NANIWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Maternal smoking during infancy increases the risk of allergic disease in children: a nationwide longitudinal survey in Japan EN Kenji SHIGEHARA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Impact of Birth Order on Paediatric Allergic Diseases: A National Birth Cohort in Japan EN Mitsuro KOBAYASHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Therapeutic effects of intracerebral transplantation of human modified bone marrow-derived stromal cells (SB623) with voluntary and forced exercise in a rat model of ischemic stroke EN Takayuki NAGASE Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Changes of leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein could be a marker of changes of endoscopic and histologic activity of ulcerative colitis EN Yuki AOYAMA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Repeated non-hemorrhagic and non-contusional mild traumatic brain injury in rats elicits behavioral impairment with microglial activation, astrogliosis, and tauopathy: Reproducible and quantitative model of chronic traumatic encephalopathy EN Chiaki SUGAHARA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder prognosis and its relation with autism spectrum disorder in Japanese children EN Chie TANAKA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Spatiotemporal expression pattern of dyslexia susceptibility 1 candidate 1 (DYX1C1) during rat cerebral cortex development EN Kazumasa ZENSHO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 15 1 2025 Hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia induced by phenolic uremic toxins in CKD and DKD patients 5762 EN Yoshiyasu Tongu Tohoku University School of Medicine Tomoko Kasahara Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Yasutoshi Akiyama Laboratory of Oncology, Pharmacy Practice and Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Takehiro Suzuki Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Hsin-Jung Ho Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Yotaro Matsumoto Laboratory of Oncology, Pharmacy Practice and Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Ryota Kujirai Laboratory of Oncology, Pharmacy Practice and Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Koichi Kikuchi Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Koji Nata Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Iwate Medical University Makoto Kanzaki Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University Kenshin Suzuki Tohoku University School of Medicine Shun Watanabe Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Chiharu Kawabe Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Yui Miyata Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Shun Itai Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Takafumi Toyohara Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Chitose Suzuki Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Tetsuhiro Tanaka Division of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Vascular Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Jun Wada Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshihisa Tomioka Laboratory of Oncology, Pharmacy Practice and Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Takaaki Abe Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Patients with end-stage renal disease have lower fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels, with significantly higher insulin levels. For a long time, it has been believed that this higher insulin level in renal failure is due to decreased insulin clearance caused by reduced renal function. However, here we reported that accumulation of the gut microbiota-derived uremic toxin, phenyl sulfate (PS) in the renal failure, increased insulin secretion from the pancreas by enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Other endogenous sulfides compounds which accumulated as in the renal failure also increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from β-cell. With RNA-seq analyses and gene knock down, we demonstrated that insulin secretion evoked by PS was mediated by Ddah2. In addition, we also found that PS increased insulin resistance through lncRNA expression and Erk phosphorylation in the adipocytes. To confirm the relationship between PS and glucose metabolism in human, we recruited 2 clinical cohort studies (DKD and CKD) including 462 patients, and found that there was a weak negative correlation between PS and HbA1c. Because these trials did not measure fasting insulin level, we alternatively used the urinary C-peptide/creatinine ratio (UCPCR) as an indicator of insulin resistance. We found that PS may induce insulin resistance in patients with eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. These data suggest that the accumulation of uremic toxins modulates glucose metabolism and induced insulin resistance in CKD and DKD patients. Considering HbA1c as a reflection of chronic hyperglycemia and UCPCR as a reflection of chronic hyperinsulinemia, our findings indicate that PS is negatively associated with hyperglycemia independent of CKD, and positively associated with hyperinsulinemia in DKD patients. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2051-5960 13 1 2025 Rotenone targets midbrain astrocytes to produce glial dysfunction-mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration 234 EN Ikuko Miyazaki Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nami Isooka Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ryo Kikuoka Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fuminori Imafuku Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kaori Masai Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kana Tomimoto Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masakiyo Sakaguchi Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Chiharu Sogawa Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Hiroshima Institute of Technology Norio Sogawa Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshihisa Kitamura Department of Pharmacotherapy, School of Pharmacy, Shujitsu University Masato Asanuma Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Exposure to pesticides, such as rotenone or paraquat, is an environmental factor that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Rotenone induces PD-like pathology and is therefore used to develop parkinsonian animal models. Dopaminergic neurotoxicity caused by rotenone has been attributed to the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation; however, the mechanisms underlying selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration by rotenone remain unclear. To resolve this, we focused on glial diversity and examined whether the brain region-specific glial response to rotenone could determine the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons using primary cultured neurons, astrocytes and microglia from the midbrain and striatum of rat embryos and rotenone-injected PD model mice. Direct neuronal treatment with low-dose rotenone failed to damage dopaminergic neurons. Conversely, rotenone exposure in the presence of midbrain astrocyte and microglia or conditioned media from rotenone-treated midbrain glial cultures containing astrocytes and microglia produced dopaminergic neurotoxicity, but striatal glia did not. Surprisingly, conditioned media from rotenone-treated midbrain astrocytes or microglia monocultures did not affect neuronal survival. We also demonstrated that rotenone targeted midbrain astrocytes prior to microglia to induce dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Rotenone-treated astrocytes produced secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) extracellularly, which induced microglial proliferation, increase in IL-1β and TNF-α, and NF-κB (p65) nuclear translocation in microglia, resulting in dopaminergic neurodegeneration. In addition, rotenone exposure caused the secretion of NFAT-related inflammatory cytokines and a reduction in the level of an antioxidant metallothionein (MT)-1 from midbrain glia. Furthermore, we observed microglial proliferation and a decrease in the number of MT-positive astrocytes in the substantia nigra, but not the striatum, of low-dose rotenone-injected PD model mice. Our data highlight that rotenone targets midbrain astrocytes, leading to SPARC secretion, which promotes the neurotoxic conversion of microglia and leads to glial dysfunction-mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Acta Medica Okayama 2164-2591 13 12 2024 Disruption of the Enterococcus faecalis–Induced Biofilm on the Intraocular Lens Using Bacteriophages 25 EN Tatsuma Kishimoto Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University Ken Fukuda Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University Waka Ishida Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University Aozora Kuwana Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University Daisuke Todokoro Department of Ophthalmology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Jumpei Uchiyama Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Shigenobu Matsuzaki Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kochi Gakuen University Kenji Yamashiro Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University Purpose: To compare the effects of bacteriophages (phages) and vancomycin on Enterococcus faecalis–induced biofilms on the intraocular lens.<br> Methods: E. faecalis strains EF24, GU02, GU03, and phiEF14H1 were used. The expression of the enterococcus surface protein (esp) gene was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. Phages or vancomycin was added to the biofilms formed on culture plates or acrylic intraocular lenses. The biofilms were quantified after staining with crystal violet. The structure of the biofilms was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.<br> Results: E. faecalis strains EF24, GU02, and GU03 formed biofilms on cell culture plates; however, the esp-negative GU03 strain had a significantly lower biofilm-forming ability than the esp-positive strains EF24 and GU02. The addition of phiEF14H1 resulted in a significant reduction in biofilm mass produced by both EF24 and GU02 compared with the untreated control. However, the addition of vancomycin did not degrade the biofilms. Phages significantly degraded biofilms and reduced the viable EF24 and GU02 bacteria on the intraocular lens.<br> Conclusions: Phages can degrade biofilms formed on the intraocular lens and destroy the bacteria within it. Thus, phage therapy may be a new treatment option for refractory and recurrent endophthalmitis caused by biofilm-forming bacteria.<br> Translational Relevance: Phage therapy, a novel treatment option for refractory and recurrent endophthalmitis caused by biofilm-forming bacteria, effectively lyses E. faecalis–induced biofilms. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2731-0590 4 9 2025 Heart failure-specific cardiac fibroblasts contribute to cardiac dysfunction via the MYC–CXCL1–CXCR2 axis 1135 1151 EN Jin Komuro Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Hisayuki Hashimoto Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Toshiomi Katsuki Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Dai Kusumoto Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Manami Katoh Department of Frontier Cardiovascular Science, Graduate School of Medicine Toshiyuki Ko Department of Frontier Cardiovascular Science, Graduate School of Medicine Masamichi Ito Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Mikako Katagiri Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Masayuki Kubota Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Shintaro Yamada Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Takahiro Nakamura Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Yohei Akiba Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Thukaa Kouka Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Kaoruko Komuro Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Mai Kimura Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Shogo Ito Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Seitaro Nomura Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Issei Komuro Department of Frontier Cardiovascular Science, Graduate School of Medicine Keiichi Fukuda Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Shinsuke Yuasa Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masaki Ieda Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine Heart failure (HF) is a growing global health issue. While most studies focus on cardiomyocytes, here we highlight the role of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in HF. Single-cell RNA sequencing of mouse hearts under pressure overload identified six CF subclusters, with one specific to the HF stage. This HF-specific CF population highly expresses the transcription factor Myc. Deleting Myc in CFs improves cardiac function without reducing fibrosis. MYC directly regulates the expression of the chemokine CXCL1, which is elevated in HF-specific CFs and downregulated in Myc-deficient CFs. The CXCL1 receptor, CXCR2, is expressed in cardiomyocytes, and blocking the CXCL1–CXCR2 axis mitigates HF. CXCL1 impairs contractility in neonatal rat and human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Human CFs from failing hearts also express MYC and CXCL1, unlike those from controls. These findings reveal that HF-specific CFs contribute to HF via the MYC–CXCL1–CXCR2 pathway, offering a promising therapeutic target beyond cardiomyocytes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) Acta Medica Okayama 2226-7190 2025 Double-blind randomized noninferiority study of the effect of pharyngeal lidocaine anesthesia on EUS EN Yuki Fujii Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Kazuyuki Matsumoto Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Kei Harada Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Nao Hattori Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Ryosuke Sato Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Taisuke Obata Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Akihiro Matsumi Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Kazuya Miyamoto Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Daisuke Uchida Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Shigeru Horiguchi Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Koichiro Tsutsumi Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Toshiharu Mitsuhashi Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Motoyuki Otsuka Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital Background and objectives: EUS is typically performed under sedation, often with concomitant analgesics to reduce pain. Traditionally used pharyngeal anesthesia, commonly with lidocaine, may cause pharyngeal discomfort and allergic reactions. This study investigated whether lidocaine-based pharyngeal anesthesia is necessary for EUS under sedation with analgesics.<br> Methods: A double-blind, randomized, noninferiority study was conducted on EUS cases that met the selection criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 5 sprays of 8% lidocaine (lidocaine group: LG) or saline spray (placebo group: PG) as endoscopy pretreatment. The primary outcome was EUS tolerability, analyzed separately for endoscopists and patients, with a noninferiority margin set at 15%. Secondary outcomes included endoscopist and patient satisfaction, midazolam/pethidine doses, number of gag events, number of esophageal insertion attempts, use of sedative/analgesic antagonists, interruptions due to body movements, throat symptoms after endoscopy, and sedation-related adverse events.<br> Results: Favorable tolerance was 85% in LG and 88% for PG among endoscopists (percent difference: 3.0 [95% confidence interval, −6.6 to 12.6]) and 90% in LG and 91% in PG among patients (percent difference, 0.94 [95% confidence interval, −7.5 to 9.4]). Both groups exceeded the noninferiority margin (P = 0.0002 for endoscopists and patients). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in PG (P = 0.0080), but no intergroup differences were found in other secondary outcomes.<br> Conclusions: PG was noninferior to LG for pharyngeal anesthesia during EUS with sedation and analgesics. These results suggest that pharyngeal anesthesia with lidocaine can be omitted when performing EUS under sedation with concomitant analgesics. Omitting pharyngeal anesthesia with lidocaine may prevent discomfort and complications caused by pharyngeal anesthesia, shorten examination times, and reduce medical costs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0969-806X 239 2026 Helical X-ray tube trajectory estimation via image noise analysis for enhanced CT dosimetry 113260 EN Tatsuya Maeda Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Kazuki Takegami Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital Sota Goto Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University Takashi Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Kazuta Yamashita Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Tokushima University Kosaku Higashino Shikoku Medical Center for Children and Adults Shinichi Morimoto MEDITEC JAPAN Co., Ltd., Yamaguchi Kosan Bld. Takeshi Konishi MEDITEC JAPAN Co., Ltd., Yamaguchi Kosan Bld. Motochika Maki MEDITEC JAPAN Co., Ltd., Yamaguchi Kosan Bld. Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Information on the helical trajectory of the X-ray tube is necessary for accurate dose evaluation during computed tomography (CT). We aimed to propose a methodology for analyzing the trajectory of the X-ray tube. The novelty of this paper is that the incident direction of X-rays is estimated from the standard deviation (SD) distribution. The X-ray incident direction for each slice was analyzed using a distribution function of SD values, in which the analysis regions were placed in the air region. Then, the helical trajectory of the CT scan was estimated by fitting a three-dimensional helical function to the analyzed data. The robustness of our algorithm was verified through phantom studies: the analyzed X-ray incident directions were compared with instrumental log data, in which cylindrical polyoxymethylene resin phantoms and a whole-body phantom were scanned. Chest CT scanning was mimicked, in which the field of view (FOV) was set at the lung region. The procedure for analyzing the X-ray incident direction was applicable to cylindrical phantoms regardless of the phantom size. In contrast, in the case of the whole-body phantom, although it was possible to apply our procedure to the chest and abdomen regions, the shoulder slices were inappropriate to analyze. Therefore, the helical trajectory was determined based on chest and abdominal CT images. The accuracy in X-ray incident direction analysis was evaluated to be 7.5°. In conclusion, we have developed an algorithm to estimate a three-dimensional helical trajectory that can be used for dose measurements and simulations. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 第124回　岡山医学会総会 83 88 EN No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 第16回日本レックリングハウゼン病学会学術大会 82 82 EN Toshiki Takenouchi Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 第130回日本解剖学会／第102回日本生理学会／第98回日本薬理学会合同大会 80 81 EN Keiji Naruse Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 令和６年度診療報酬改定を踏まえ急性期病院に今求められること 76 79 EN Takahiro Inoue Okayama University Hospital No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 薬物相互作用（63―薬物相互作用の観点からみた抗真菌薬の使用上の注意点） 72 75 EN Ryo Kikuoka Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Tsukasa Higashionna Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Hirofumi Hamano Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Yoshito Zamami Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 消化器外科領域におけるロボット支援手術の現状と今後の展望 65 71 EN Shinji Kuroda Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Toshiyoshi Fujiwara Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 脳卒中右片麻痺者における左手書字の上達過程を捉える作業療法士の観察内容 58 64 EN Maki Daito Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University Michiko Morimoto Division of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University 　This study explored the observations of occupational therapists regarding the early stages of left-hand writing improvement in patients with right hemiplegic stroke. Semi-structured interviews using interview guides were conducted with 12 occupational therapists, and the qualitative data were analyzed inductively. From 79 descriptive codes, 33 interpretive codes were generated and grouped into 12 subcategories. These were further classified into five main categories : ‘letter neatness,’ ‘tool operability, postural optimization,’ ‘practical utility of writing,’ and ‘autonomy in writing.’ These results revealed that the occupational therapists observed improvements in handwriting from a multifaceted perspective, including not only the patients' motor skills but also psychological and behavioral aspects. The findings of this study capture the contents of occupational therapists' observations regarding the process of the early improvement of left-hand writing, and the insights suggest that, in supporting left-hand writing for stroke patients with right hemiplegia ― among whom it is necessary to grasp changes within a limited intervention period ― these observations are potentially useful for occupational therapists to assess handwriting improvement and provide support, regardless of their years of experience. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 再建外科の挑戦（頭頸部領域を中心に） 52 57 EN Keisuke Takanari Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 令和６年度岡山医学会賞　がん研究奨励賞（林原賞・山田賞） 49 51 EN Yuto Naoi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 令和６年度岡山医学会賞　総合研究奨励賞（結城賞） 46 48 EN Hitoshi Urakami Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 2 2025 令和６年度岡山医学会賞　胸部・循環研究奨励賞（砂田賞） 43 45 EN Takahiro Nishihara Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2041-1723 15 1 2024 Neurotransmitter recognition by human vesicular monoamine transporter 2 7661 EN Dohyun Im Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Mika Jormakka Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Narinobu Juge Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University Jun-ichi Kishikawa Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology Takayuki Kato Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University Yukihiko Sugita Laboratory of Ultrastructural Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University Takeshi Noda Laboratory of Ultrastructural Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University Tomoko Uemura Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Yuki Shiimura Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Takaaki Miyaji Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University Hidetsugu Asada Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University So Iwata Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Human vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), a member of the SLC18 family, plays a crucial role in regulating neurotransmitters in the brain by facilitating their uptake and storage within vesicles, preparing them for exocytotic release. Because of its central role in neurotransmitter signalling and neuroprotection, VMAT2 is a target for neurodegenerative diseases and movement disorders, with its inhibitor being used as therapeutics. Despite the importance of VMAT2 in pharmacophysiology, the molecular basis of VMAT2-mediated neurotransmitter transport and its inhibition remains unclear. Here we show the cryo-electron microscopy structure of VMAT2 in the substrate-free state, in complex with the neurotransmitter dopamine, and in complex with the inhibitor tetrabenazine. In addition to these structural determinations, monoamine uptake assays, mutational studies, and pKa value predictions were performed to characterize the dynamic changes in VMAT2 structure. These results provide a structural basis for understanding VMAT2-mediated vesicular transport of neurotransmitters and a platform for modulation of current inhibitor design. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2673-4087 6 2 2025 An Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical, Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE), Accelerates Neuritogenesis and Outgrowth of Cortical Neurons via the G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 53 EN Ikuko Miyazaki Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Chiharu Nishiyama Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Medical School Takeru Nagoshi Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Medical School Akane Miyako Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Medical School Suzuka Ono Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Medical School Ichika Misawa Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Medical School Aika Isse Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Medical School Kana Tomimoto Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kaori Masai Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazumasa Zensho Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masato Asanuma Department of Medical Neurobiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is the main component of epoxy resin and is used for the inner coating of canned foods and plastic food containers. BADGE can easily migrate from containers and result in food contamination; the compound is known as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. We previously reported that maternal exposure to bisphenol A bis (2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (BADGE·2H2O), which is the most detected BADGE derivative not only in canned foods but also in human specimens, during gestation and lactation, could accelerate neuronal differentiation in the cortex of fetuses and induce anxiety-like behavior in juvenile mice. In this study, we investigated the effects of low-dose BADGE·2H2O (1–100 pM) treatment on neurites and the mechanism of neurite outgrowth in cortical neurons. BADGE·2H2O exposure significantly increased the number of dendrites and neurite length in cortical neurons; these accelerating effects were inhibited by estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182,780 and G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) antagonist G15. BADGE·2H2O down-regulated Hes1 expression, which is a transcriptional repressor, and increased levels of neuritogenic factor neurogenin-3 (Ngn3) in the cortical neurons; the changes were significantly blocked by G15. These data suggest that direct BADGE·2H2O exposure can accelerate neuritogenesis and outgrowth in cortical neurons through down-regulation of Hes1 and by increasing Ngn3 levels through ERs, particularly GPER. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 2691-3704 5 2 2025 Mechanistic Insights Into Oxidative Response of Heat Shock Factor 1 Condensates 606 617 EN Soichiro Kawagoe Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University Motonori Matsusaki Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University Takuya Mabuchi Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University Yuto Ogasawara Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Kazunori Watanabe Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Koichiro Ishimori Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University Tomohide Saio Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University Heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1), a hub protein in the stress response and cell fate decisions, senses the strength, type, and duration of stress to balance cell survival and death through an unknown mechanism. Recently, changes in the physical property of Hsf1 condensates due to persistent stress have been suggested to trigger apoptosis, highlighting the importance of biological phase separation and transition in cell fate decisions. In this study, the mechanism underlying Hsf1 droplet formation and oxidative response was investigated through 3D refractive index imaging of the internal architecture, corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations and biophysical/biochemical experiments. We found that, in response to oxidative conditions, Hsf1 formed liquid condensates that suppressed its internal mobility. Furthermore, these conditions triggered the hyper-oligomerization of Hsf1, mediated by disulfide bonds and secondary structure stabilization, leading to the formation of dense core particles in the Hsf1 droplet. Collectively, these data demonstrate how the physical property of Hsf1 condensates undergoes an oxidative transition by sensing redox conditions to potentially drive cell fate decisions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0969-806X 238 2026 Bone-enhanced high contrast X-ray images derived from attenuation estimation related to ultra-low energy X-rays – An application of an energy-resolving photon-counting detector (ERPCD) 113243 EN Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Takashi Asahara Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Tatsuya Maeda Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Sota Goto Faculty of Health Sciences, Kobe Tokiwa University Tomonobu Haba Faculty of Radiological Technology, School of Medical Science, Fujita Health University Yuki Kanazawa Faculty of Life Science, Kumamoto University Shuichiro Yamamoto JOB CORPORATION Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University Purpose: X-ray diagnosis in medicine is often used for bone diagnosis based on qualitative observation analysis. However, there are often cases where the contrast of bones is reduced because of the existence of soft-tissues, making it difficult to accurately diagnose the bone conditions. Although the algorithm for bone extraction images was proposed using an energy-resolving photon-counting detector (ERPCD), this algorithm can depict “one” bone material (such as hydroxyapatite under the assumption), and it is difficult to adequately depict other components. The purpose of this study is to develop an algorithm for bone-enhanced high-contrast images that can be virtually represented by the attenuation of extremely low-energy X-rays without making any special assumptions.<br> Methods: High-contrast images were virtually generated based on the attenuation rate of ultra-low energy X-rays. It was determined by fitting the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) curve to the X-ray attenuation values (μt values) measured at middle (30–40 keV) and high (40–60 keV) energy windows, and extrapolating the μt values to those for the low energy region (E = 5–20 keV). When performing the extrapolation, the effective atomic number (Zeff ) of the object was taken into consideration. The methodology was validated by simulating X-ray projections using a digital human body phantom. The frequency of correspondence between the pixel values in the high-contrast image and the Zeff image was analyzed for each pixel.<br> Results: We succeeded in creating virtual high-contrast X-ray images that reflect the image contrast of monochromatic X-rays of 5–20 keV. It was confirmed that the pixel values in the high-contrast image corresponding to an Zeff = 7.5 (soft-tissue) were completely separated from those corresponding to an Zeff = 9 (bone). The optimization of the energy related to the high contrast images was performed based on the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) analysis. The high contrast image with 10 keV showed a good CNR value.<br> Conclusions: Based on the analysis of the attenuation information of middle and high-energy X-rays measured by ERPCDs, we succeeded in creating a novel algorithm that can generate a virtual monochromatic image with high contrast. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0969-806X 239 2026 Counting-loss correction procedure of X-ray imaging detectors with consideration for the effective atomic number of biological objects 113237 EN Natsumi Kimoto Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University Rina Nishigami Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Daiki Kobayashi Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Tatsuya Maeda Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University Takashi Asahara Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Sota Goto Faculty of Health Science, Kobe Tokiwa University Yuki Kanazawa Faculty of Life Science, Kumamoto University Akitoshi Katsumata Oral Radiology and Artificial Intelligence, Asahi University Shuichiro Yamamoto JOB CORPORATION Hiroaki Hayashi College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University It is necessary to correct counting loss caused by the pulse pile-up effect and dead time when using energy-resolving photon-counting detectors (ERPCDs) under “high-counting-rate” conditions in medical and/or industrial settings. We aimed to develop a novel counting-loss correction procedure in which biological objects having effective atomic numbers (Zeff values) of 6.5–13.0 are measured with polychromatic X-rays. To correct for counting loss, such a procedure must theoretically estimate the count value of an ideal X-ray spectrum without counting loss. In this study, we estimated the ideal X-ray spectrum by focusing on the following two points: (1) the X-ray attenuation in an object (Zeff values of 6.5–13.0) and (2) the detector response. Virtual materials having intermediate atomic numbers between 6.5 and 13.0 were generated by using a mixture of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA, Zeff = 6.5) and aluminum (Al, Zeff = 13.0). We then constructed an algorithm that can perform the counting-loss correction based on the object’s true Zeff value. To demonstrate the applicability of our procedure, we analyzed investigational objects consisting of PMMA and Al using a prototype ERPCD system. A fresh fish sample was also analyzed. The Zeff values agree with the theoretical values within an accuracy of Zeff ±1. In conclusion, we have developed a highly accurate procedure for correcting counting losses for the quantitative X-ray imaging of biological objects. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0028-0836 638 8049 2025 Immune evasion through mitochondrial transfer in the tumour microenvironment 225 236 EN Hideki Ikeda Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Katsushige Kawase Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Tatsuya Nishi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomofumi Watanabe Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Keizo Takenaga Division of Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Takashi Inozume Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Takamasa Ishino Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Sho Aki Division of Nutriomics and Oncology, RCAST, The University of Tokyo Jason Lin Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Shusuke Kawashima Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University Joji Nagasaki Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Youki Ueda Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Shinichiro Suzuki Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine Hideki Makinoshima Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer Center Makiko Itami Department of Surgical Pathology, Chiba Cancer Center Yuki Nakamura Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Yasutoshi Tatsumi Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Yusuke Suenaga Laboratory of Evolutionary Oncology, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Takao Morinaga Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Akiko Honobe-Tabuchi Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi Takehiro Ohnuma Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi Tatsuyoshi Kawamura Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi Yoshiyasu Umeda Department of Skin Oncology/Dermatology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center Yasuhiro Nakamura Department of Skin Oncology/Dermatology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center Yukiko Kiniwa Department of Dermatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine Eiki Ichihara Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hidetoshi Hayashi Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine Jun-ichiro Ikeda Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University Toyoyuki Hanazawa Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Endocrinological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroyuki Mano Division of Cellular Signalling, National Cancer Center Research Institute Takuji Suzuki Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University Tsuyoshi Osawa Division of Nutriomics and Oncology, RCAST, The University of Tokyo Masahito Kawazu Division of Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute Yosuke Togashi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Cancer cells in the tumour microenvironment use various mechanisms to evade the immune system, particularly T cell attack1. For example, metabolic reprogramming in the tumour microenvironment and mitochondrial dysfunction in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) impair antitumour immune responses2,3,4. However, detailed mechanisms of such processes remain unclear. Here we analyse clinical specimens and identify mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in TILs that are shared with cancer cells. Moreover, mitochondria with mtDNA mutations from cancer cells are able to transfer to TILs. Typically, mitochondria in TILs readily undergo mitophagy through reactive oxygen species. However, mitochondria transferred from cancer cells do not undergo mitophagy, which we find is due to mitophagy-inhibitory molecules. These molecules attach to mitochondria and together are transferred to TILs, which results in homoplasmic replacement. T cells that acquire mtDNA mutations from cancer cells exhibit metabolic abnormalities and senescence, with defects in effector functions and memory formation. This in turn leads to impaired antitumour immunity both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, the presence of an mtDNA mutation in tumour tissue is a poor prognostic factor for immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma or non-small-cell lung cancer. These findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism of cancer immune evasion through mitochondrial transfer and can contribute to the development of future cancer immunotherapies. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3921 14 7 2025 Carnosol, a Rosemary Ingredient Discovered in a Screen for Inhibitors of SARM1-NAD+ Cleavage Activity, Ameliorates Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy 808 EN Hitoshi Murata Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuki Ogawa Tama Biochemical Co., Ltd. Yu Yasui Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshiki Ochi Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nahoko Tomonobu Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ken-Ichi Yamamoto Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Rie Kinoshita Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoji Wada Tama Biochemical Co., Ltd. Hiromichi Nakamura Tama Biochemical Co., Ltd. Masahiro Nishibori Department of Translational Research and Drug Development, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masakiyo Sakaguchi Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sterile alpha and Toll/interleukin receptor motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) hydrolase involved in axonal degeneration and neuronal cell death. SARM1 plays a pivotal role in triggering the neurodegenerative processes that underlie peripheral neuropathies, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. Importantly, SARM1 knockdown or knockout prevents the degeneration; as a result, SARM1 has been attracting attention as a potent therapeutic target. In recent years, the development of several SARM1 inhibitors derived from synthetic chemical compounds has been reported; however, no dietary ingredients with SARM1 inhibitory activity have been identified. Therefore, we here focused on dietary ingredients and found that carnosol, an antioxidant contained in rosemary, inhibits the NAD+-cleavage activity of SARM1. Purified carnosol inhibited the enzymatic activity of SARM1 and suppressed neurite degeneration and cell death induced by the anti-cancer medicine vincristine (VCR). Carnosol also inhibited VCR-induced hyperalgesia symptoms, suppressed the loss of intra-epidermal nerve fibers in vivo, and reduced the blood fluid level of phosphorylated neurofilament-H caused by an axonal degeneration event. These results indicate that carnosol has a neuroprotective effect via SARM1 inhibition in addition to its previously known antioxidant effect via NF-E2-related factor 2 and thus suppresses neurotoxin-induced peripheral neuropathy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI AG Acta Medica Okayama 2072-6643 17 10 2025 Clinical Characteristics of Vitamin D Deficiency Detected in Long COVID Patients During the Omicron Phase 1692 EN Yui Matsuda Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasue Sakurada Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yasuhiro Nakano Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuki Otsuka Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuki Tokumasu Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiroyuki Honda Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshiaki Soejima Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuya Yokota Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ryosuke Takase Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Daisuke Omura Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Fumio Otsuka Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Background: To characterize the clinical significance of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) detected in long COVID, a retrospective observational study was performed for outpatients who visited our clinic during the period from May 2024 to November 2024. Methods: Clinical trends in long COVID patients diagnosed with VDD who showed serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) lower than 20 ng/mL were compared with those in long COVID patients in a non-deficient vitamin D (NDD) group. Results: Of 126 patients with long COVID, 97 patients (female: 50) who had been infected during the Omicron phase were included. Sixty-six patients (68%) were classified in the VDD group. The median serum concentrations of 25-OHD were 14.8 ng/mL in the VDD group and 22.9 ng/mL in the NDD group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, severity of COVID-19, period after infection and vaccination history. Although the levels of serum calcium and phosphate were not significantly different between the two groups, the percentages of patients in the VDD group who complained of dizziness, memory impairment, palpitation and appetite loss were larger than those in the NDD group. Of note, the patients who complained of palpitation showed significantly lower concentrations of serum 25-OHD than those in the patients without palpitation (median: 11.9 vs. 17.3 ng/mL). Moreover, patients in the VDD group had significantly higher scores for physical and mental fatigue as well as higher scores for depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Collectively, VDD is involved in clinical manifestations of long COVID, particularly symptoms of palpitation, fatigue and depression. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 A Pilot Study of Urine Oxytocin as an Objective Biomarker for Chronic Pain EN Daisuke ONO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Ramucirumab in second‑line advanced colorectal cancer therapy: A study on therapeutic outcomes and hepatic sinusoidal platelet aggregation EN Keisuke KIMURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Utility of Serum Ferritin for Predicting Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Patients with Long COVID EN Yukichika YAMAMOTO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Changes in Working Situations of Employed Long COVID Patients: Retrospective Study in Japanese Outpatient Clinic EN Yui MATSUDA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Trends of correlations between serum levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I in general practice EN Kohei OGUNI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Trends in the Incidence of Disseminated Cryptococcosis in Japan: A Nationwide Observational Study, 2015–2021 EN Hidemasa AKAZAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Accurate tibial tunnel position in transtibial pullout repair for medial meniscus posterior root tears delays the progression of medial joint space narrowing EN Koki KAWADA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Risk model for predicting failure to rescue after hepatectomy: Cohort study of 1371 consecutive patients EN Jiro KIMURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Partner relationships, hopelessness, and health status strongly predict maternal well-being: an approach using light gradient boosting machine EN Hikaru OBA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Rates and risk factors of bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection with continuous warfarin or 1-day withdrawal of direct oral anticoagulants EN Shoichiro HIRATA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Virtual indigo carmine chromoendoscopy images: a novel modality for peroral cholangioscopy using artificial intelligence technology (with video) EN Ryosuke SATO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Association between metabolic acidosis and post-intubation hypotension in airway management performed in the emergency department EN Masafumi SUGA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Apolipoprotein-B mRNA-editing complex 3B could be a new potential therapeutic target in endometriosis EN VU THUY HA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Nicotine dependence based on the Tobacco Dependence Screener among heated tobacco products users in Japan, 2022-2023: the JASTIS Study EN Takuma KITAJIMA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Lower Work Engagement Is Associated with Insomnia, Psychological Distress, and Neck Pain among Junior and Senior High School Teachers in Japan EN Rina TSUCHIE Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Development of a unique tissue-engineered in vitro vascular model with endothelial layer-inverted vascular tissue structure using a cell self-aggregation technique EN Shingo HASHIMOTO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 CD106 in Tumor-Specific Exhausted CD8+ T Cells Mediates Immunosuppression by Inhibiting TCR Signaling EN Yuto NAOI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Genotypes and phenotypes of neurofibromatosis type 1 patients in Japan: A Hereditary Tumor Cohort Study EN Mashu FUTAGAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Long short-term memory algorithm for personalized tacrolimus dosing: A simple and effective time series forecasting approach post-lung transplantation EN Haruki CHOSHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Decline in and recovery of fertility rates after COVID-19-related state of emergency in Japan EN Tomohiro MITOMA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Activated CTLA-4-independent immunosuppression of Treg cells disturbs CTLA-4 blockade-mediated antitumor immunity EN Tomofumi WATANABE Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Impacts of routine varicella vaccination program and COVID-19 pandemic on varicella and herpes zoster incidence and health resource use among children in Japan EN Kazuhiro UDA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Adverse Events after Different Endoscopic Resection Procedures for Small and Intermediate-Sized Colorectal Polyps EN Junki TOYOSAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Predictive factors for transition to conversion therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma using atezolizumab plus bevacizumab EN Tatsuya KIKUCHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Low frequency of intracranial progression in advanced NSCLC patients treated with cancer immunotherapies EN Naoya KEMMOTSU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 The protective effect of carbamazepine on acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats EN YAQIANG LI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Non-woven masks and SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cluster setting in Japan EN Yukari TAKAHASHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Real-World Comparative Analysis of Trastuzumab Originator and Biosimilars: Safety, Efficacy, and Cost Effectiveness EN Tomoka MAMORI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Clinical Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Paclitaxel/Cisplatin/Gemcitabine Compared with Gemcitabine/Cisplatin for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer EN Tatsushi KAWADA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Optimizing β-TCP with E-rhBMP-2-Infused Fibrin for Vertical Bone Regeneration in a Mouse Calvarium Model EN KUN ZHAO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Impact of sex of bystanders who perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on return of spontaneous circulation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients: A retrospective, observational study EN Shunsuke NAKAMURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Ameliorating effect of chotosan and its active component, Uncaria hook, on lipopolysaccharide-induced anxiety-like behavior in mice EN Yasumasa OKAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Distribution and clinical impact of molecular subtypes with dark zone signature of DLBCL in a Japanese real-world study EN Tomohiro URATA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Gastrectomy Causes an Imbalance in the Trunk Muscles EN Nanami IKEYA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Trabecular bone scores in children with osteogenesis imperfecta respond differently to bisphosphonate treatment depending on disease severity EN Natsuko FUTAGAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Preventive effects of vasohibin-2-targeting peptide vaccine for diabetic nephropathy EN Yuri NAKASHIMA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a marker for renal outcome of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (U-CARE study 3) EN Asami UENO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Differences in clinical significance of atrial tachyarrhythmias in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation vs Brugada syndrome: A multicenter study EN Tomofumi MIZUNO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Human heart‑on‑a‑chip microphysiological system comprising endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and iPSC‑derived cardiomyocytes EN YUN LIU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Vascular dysfunction in women with recurrent pregnancy loss: Possible association with antiphospholipid antibodies EN TITI YANG Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Inhibitory Effect of a Tankyrase Inhibitor on Mechanical Stress-Induced Protease Expression in Human Articular Chondrocytes EN Yoshifumi HOTTA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Could the Trabecular Bone Score be a Complementary Tool for Evaluating Degenerative Lumbar Vertebrae? EN Shinichiro TAKAO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Dendritic cell maturation is induced by p53‑armed oncolytic adenovirus via tumor‑derived exosomes enhancing systemic antitumor immunity EN Tomoko OTANI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Partial versus Radical Nephrectomy for Small Renal Cancer: Comparative Propensity Score-Matching Analysis of Cardiovascular Event Risk EN Risa KUBOTA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Pulmonary Flow Management by Combination Therapy of Hemostatic Clipping and Balloon Angioplasty for Right Ventricular-Pulmonary Artery Shunt in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome EN Yusuke SHIGEMITSU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 New Anti-Angiogenic Therapy for Glioblastoma With the Anti-Depressant Sertraline EN Nobushige TSUBOI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Association between plasma-free haemoglobin and postoperative acute kidney injury in paediatric cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study EN Takanobu SAKURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Expression of c-jun/c-fos mRNA Indicates Persistent Myocardial Stretch During Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest EN Yutaka YOKOTA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Stress-experienced monocytes/macrophages lose anti-inflammatory function via β2-adrenergic receptor in skin allergic inflammation EN Hitoshi URAKAMI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Evaluation of the effects of fenestration in Fontan circulation using a lumped parameter model EN Naohiro HORIO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Topical application of activator protein-1 inhibitor T-5224 suppresses inflammation and improves skin barrier function in a murine atopic dermatitis-like dermatitis EN Minori SASAKURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Prophylactic effect of tissue flap in the prevention of bronchopleural fistula after surgery for lung cancer EN Tomohiro HABU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Photoinitiators Induce Histamine Production in Human Mast Cells EN Taro MIURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Chronic rhinosinusitis possibly associated with decreased lung function in chronic cough patients EN PENGFEI ZHAO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Loss of Nr4a1 ameliorates endothelial cell injury and vascular leakage in lung transplantation from circulatory-death donor EN Shinichi KAWANA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 The use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs does not increase surgical site infection or delayed wound healing after orthopaedic surgeries for rheumatoid arthritis EN Yohei KISO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Novel stress tests for diagnosing Little League shoulder, and determining the timing of return to sports EN Takahiko UCHINO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Cardiovascular toxicity risk assessment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors: a pharmacovigilance study using the VigiBase database EN Yusuke IGAWA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Expression of SPRED2 in the lung adenocarcinoma EN Yoko OTA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Baseline gut microbiota as a predictive marker for the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer: a multicenter prospective cohort study in the Setouchi Breast Project‑14 EN Shogo NAKAMOTO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Human Cord Blood–Endothelial Progenitor Cells Alleviate Intimal Hyperplasia of Arterial Damage in a Rat Stroke Model EN HONGMING SUN Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Neuroprotective effect of, a flavonoid, sudachitin in mice stroke model EN OTA ELLIOTT RICARDO SATOSHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Ligand-independent function of β2-adrenergic receptor affects IgE-mediated Ca2+ influx in mast cells EN Kei NAGAO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Celiac and superior mesenteric ganglia removal improves glucose tolerance and reduces pancreas islet size EN SHANSHAN XU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Effects of dapagliflozin on myoglobin efflux from cardiomyocyte during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in anesthetized rats EN Tomohiro HAYASHIDA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 BNCT pancreatic cancer treatment strategy with glucose-conjugated boron drug EN Takuya FUJIMOTO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Cervical spinal cord stimulation exerts anti-epileptic effects in a rat model of epileptic seizure through the suppression of CCL2-mediated cascades EN Yosuke OKAZAKI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 The influence of fixing condition on myoglobin stainability of striated muscle as a tool for forensic diagnosis EN Chie KOBAYASHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 Functional remodeling of intraperitoneal macrophages by oncolytic adenovirus restores anti-tumor immunity for peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer EN Motoyasu TABUCHI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2025 p53-armed oncolytic virotherapy induces abscopal effect in osteosarcoma by promoting immunogenic cell death EN Koji DEMIYA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 第28回日本遠隔医療学会学術大会開催報告 39 40 EN Shingo Kasahara Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 第62回日本癌治療学会学術集会学会報告 36 38 EN Toshiyoshi Fujiwara Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 認知症治療 33 35 EN Shintaro Takenoshita Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital Seishi Terada Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 薬物相互作用（62―カリウム吸着薬の薬物相互作用） 30 32 EN Saori Ariki Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Hirofumi Hamano Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Yoshito Zamami Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 泌尿器科領域におけるロボット手術の進化と未来 25 29 EN Kensuke Bekku Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Naoya Nagasaki Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yusuke Okamoto Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiromasa Shiraishi Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Aya Taira Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shota Inoue Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuya Kawago Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomofumi Watanabe Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masao Mitsui Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Satoshi Horii Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takatoshi Moriwake Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kasumi Yoshinaga Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yosuke Mitsui Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomoaki Yamanoi Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tatsushi Kawada Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takuya Sadahira Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yusuke Tominaga Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takehiro Iwata Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Satoshi Katayama Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shingo Nishimura Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kohei Edamura Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomoko Kobayashi Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Motoo Araki Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 若手・中堅耳鼻咽喉科医師の臨床研究に対する質問紙調査 20 24 EN Kensuke Uraguchi Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takashi Yorifuji Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Soshi Takao Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Akiko Sugaya Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Mizuo Ando Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University 　Introduction : Clinical research is crucial for the advancement of medicine, but modern otolaryngologists' attitudes regarding clinical research have not been known. This study was conducted to survey the background, knowledge, and interest in clinical research among junior and mid-career otolaryngologists.<br> 　Methods : A questionnaire survey was distributed to 34 otolaryngologists with ≤15 years' clinical experience working at Okayama University and its affiliated facilities. The respondents were divided into junior (non-specialists) and mid-career otolaryngologists (specialists) based on whether they were board-certified otolaryngologists. The survey assessed their background, understanding, and interest in clinical research.<br> 　Results : Twenty-nine otolaryngologists (83%) responded (10 junior and 19 mid-career otolaryngologists). There was significant individual variation in their interest and knowledge of clinical research. However, approximately half of the respondents indicated that they were not interested in and/or had never engaged in clinical research.<br> 　Conclusion : The data collected by this survey contribute to our understanding of the current state of clinical research engagement among junior and mid-career otolaryngologists, and they can serve as a basis for exploring future strategies to increase this engagement. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 臓器創造・移植医療の可能性と展望 15 19 EN Munemasa Mori Department of Organ Generation and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 新生児期・小児発症の希少遺伝性疾患の病態解明とゲノム解析の社会実装に向けて 10 14 EN Toshiki Takenouchi Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 令和５年度岡山医学会賞　がん研究奨励賞（林原賞・山田賞） 7 9 EN Tomohiro Urata Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 令和５年度岡山医学会賞　総合研究奨励賞（結城賞） 4 6 EN Yuichi Sumii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 137 1 2025 令和５年度岡山医学会賞　脳神経研究奨励賞（新見賞） 1 3 EN Shintaro Takenoshita Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山大学大学院社会文化科学研究科 Acta Medica Okayama 1880-9162 24 2025 ライプニッツの機械論―医学哲学的観点から 49 73 EN Tsuyoshi MATSUDA 10.18926/68295 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 第108次日本法医学会学術全国集会開催報告 141 141 EN Satoru Miyaishi Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 生成 AI 139 140 EN Masahide Koda Co-learning Community Healthcare Re-innovation Office, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 薬物相互作用（61―がん悪液質治療薬の相互作用） 135 138 EN Eiji Kawakami Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Hiroto Okuda Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Hirofumi Hamano Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Yoshito Zamami Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 潰瘍性大腸炎 132 134 EN Sakiko Hiraoka Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Okayama University Hospital No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 好酸球性副鼻腔炎 127 131 EN Seiichiro Makihara Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Okayama University Hospital No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 東日本大震災後の女性における出産歴が避難と精神的苦痛や循環器疾患との関連に及ぼす影響：福島県「県民健康調査」を用いた横断研究 120 126 EN Sumiyo Yasukawa Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Eri Eguchi Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University Tetsuya Ohira Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University Fumikazu Hayashi Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University Akira Sakai Radiation Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University Michio Shimabukuro Radiation Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University Keiya Fujimori Radiation Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University Itaru Miura Radiation Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University Hirooki Yabe Radiation Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University Masaharu Maeda Radiation Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University Seiji Yasumura Radiation Medical Science Center, Fukushima Medical University 　Introduction : Women are more likely to be physically, mentally, and socially vulnerable after disasters because of the physical, socioeconomical, and lifestyle-related factors that are often related to their parity. Here, we analyzed the effects of women's parity on the association between evacuation and psychological distress, trauma reactions, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).<br> 　Participants and Methods : The participants were residents living in 13 municipalities in the evacuation zone of Japan's Fukushima Prefecture after the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake who responded to the Fukushima Health Management Survey in FY2012. A total of 30,709 women aged 40-90 years were included in the analyses. We performed a logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for CVD risk factors.<br> 　Results : A multivariate analysis revealed that among the parous women (n = 19,608), evacuation was associated with psychological distress (adjusted OR 1.30, 95%CI : 1.17-1.44), trauma reactions (OR 1.22, 95%CI : 1.11-1.35), and heart disease (OR 1.14, 95%CI : 1.03-1.26) compared to the non-evacuation status. Among the nulliparous women (n = 1,794), there was no association between the evacuation and any outcomes.<br> 　Conclusion : The evacuation of individuals after the Great East Japan Earthquake was associated with psychological distress, trauma reactions, and heart disease, especially among parous women. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 看護学生における共感性の検討―日常場面での共感性と医療者としての共感性から― 112 119 EN Shiori Nagoshi Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School Riho Matsumoto Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School Yuki Kajiwara Division of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Michiko Morimoto Division of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University 　Empathy is crucial for building an effective patient-nurse relationship. This study aimed to examine two aspects of nursing students' empathy : their empathy in everyday situations and their empathy as healthcare professionals.<br> 　This study involved 214 female students in their second to fourth years of nursing studies at a university, with analysis focusing on 118 participants. The Empathy Experience Scale Revised (EESR) was used to measure empathy in everyday situations, and the Jefferson Empathy Scale, Health Professionals version (JSE, HP-Version) measured the participants' empathy as healthcare professionals. The EESR comprises the Scale of Shared Experiences (SSE) and the Scale of Insufficient Sharing Experience (SISE) ; the JSE comprises Perspective Taking, Compassionate Care, and Standing in the Patient's Shoes.<br> 　The total JSE scores and the Perspective Taking subfactor scores tended to be higher in fourth-year students, who also showed SISE scores significantly lower than those of students with fewer years of nursing study. Relationship analysis showed a moderate positive correlation between SSE scores and Perspective Taking scores. There was a weak negative correlation between SISE and Standing in the Patient's Shoes scores. Compassionate Care scores were not significantly related to SSE or SISE scores. These results suggest that nursing students' empathy as healthcare professionals increases as they advance in their nursing studies, and emphasize the importance of scale selection in measuring empathy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 創薬環境の変遷とアカデミア研究者に求められる役割について 107 111 EN Masanori Nakayama Department of Pathophysiology and Drug Discovery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 高齢者慢性呼吸器疾患に対する温泉療法 100 106 EN Fumihiro Mitsunobu Department of Longevity and Social Medicine (Geriatrics), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 令和５年度岡山医学会賞　胸部・循環研究奨励賞（砂田賞） 97 99 EN Akihiko Taniguchi Department of Hematology, Oncology, Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 令和５年度岡山医学会賞　がん研究奨励賞（林原賞・山田賞） 94 96 EN Taisuke Obata Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 136 3 2024 令和５年度岡山医学会賞　総合研究奨励賞（結城賞） 91 93 EN Haruki Watanabe Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Power suppression in EEG after the onset of SAH is a significant marker of early brain injury in rat models EN Yuji TAKASUGI Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 戦前から戦後期における内モンゴル地域の医療衛生の近代化と日本の影響―戦中期留日医学生ホルチンビリクらを中心にー EN XUEFENG BAO Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Clinical characteristics of female long COVID patients with menstrual symptoms: a retrospective study from a Japanese outpatient clinic EN Yasue SAKURADA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Association and dose-response relationship between exposure to alcohol advertising media and current drinking: a nationwide cross-sectional study of Japanese adolescents EN Keita YOSHIDA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Carboxyhemoglobin and Methemoglobin Levels and Hemolysis in Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass EN Tsubasa YOSHIDA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 The association between problematic internet use and neck pain among Japanese schoolteachers EN Rina TANABE Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Heat Exposure Following the Rainy Season Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Emergency Among the Elderly in Japan EN Ryohei FUJIMOTO Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Superior outcomes of pullout repairs for medial meniscus posterior root tears in partial tear compared to complete radial tear EN Masanori TAMURA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Role of catecholamine synthases in the maintenance of cancer stem-like cells in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors EN Haruyoshi KATAYAMA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Small-for-Gestational-Age Status and the Risk of Kawasaki Disease: A Nationwide Birth Cohort in Japan EN Satoe TAKANAGA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 PAI-1 mediates acquired resistance to MET-targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer EN YIN MIN THU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Delayed diagnostic interval and survival outcomes in pediatric leukemia: A single-center, retrospective study EN Kosuke TAMEFUSA Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 The Specific Shapes of Capillaries are Associated with Worse Prognosis in Patients with Invasive Breast Cancer EN HNIN WINT WINT SWE Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Neuroprotective effects of carnosine in a mice stroke model concerning oxidative stress and inflammatory response EN XINRAN HU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2024 Exploring the Regulators of Keratinization: Role of BMP-2 in Oral Mucosa EN XINDI MU Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.