start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=11550 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260302 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Pseudohypoxia induced by iron chelators preserves working memory performance in aged mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Pseudohypoxia refers to a physiological condition wherein hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is pharmacologically upregulated under normoxia, thereby modulating immune responses. We hypothesized that pseudohypoxia, induced by iron chelators, may similarly potentiate systemic immune responses in aged mice, concurrently triggering neuro-regenerative signaling pathways and enhancing cognitive performance. In this study, aged mice (43–48 weeks old) were orally administered two iron chelators, Super Polyphenol 10 (SP10) or Roxadustat, to induce a pseudohypoxia. An 8-week oral regimen of SP10 and Roxadustat significantly preserved working memory, as assessed by the Y-maze test (YMT). White blood cell counts and hippocampal volume, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were elevated in the treatment groups relative to controls. Pseudohypoxia induced by SP10 tended to enhance neuro-regenerative signaling, specifically involving the Tau and JNK pathways, and potentially modulated Doublecortin (DCX) expression, although statistical significance was limited by sample size. Importantly, inflammatory markers, such as ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), were not elevated by treatment. Collectively, these findings suggest that pseudohypoxia induced by iron chelators preserves working memory performance accompanied by leukocytosis, without concomitant neuroinflammation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OharaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasakiYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Iwasaki en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasaiTomonari en-aut-sei=Kasai en-aut-mei=Tomonari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaToru en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomakiShiho en-aut-sei=Komaki en-aut-mei=Shiho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaYusuke en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisawaMasayoshi en-aut-sei=Fujisawa en-aut-mei=Masayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukawaAkihiro en-aut-sei=Matsukawa en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Health Service Section, Environment Health & Safety Intelligence Department, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Applied Energy, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Hypoxia-inducible factor kn-keyword=Hypoxia-inducible factor en-keyword=Working memory kn-keyword=Working memory en-keyword=Hippocampus kn-keyword=Hippocampus en-keyword=Iron kn-keyword=Iron END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=bio062463 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260215 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Gap junction-mediated signaling coordinates Rhodopsin coupling for Drosophila color vision en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The Drosophila compound eye is composed of approximately 800 ommatidia, and every ommatidium contains eight photoreceptor cells, six outer cells (R1-R6) and two inner cells (R7 and R8), and accessory cells (cone and pigment cells). The expression of rhodopsin genes in R7 and R8 is highly coordinated through an instructive signal from R7 to R8. The activity of the homeodomain protein Defective proventriculus in R1 is also required to transmit this instructive signal, suggesting that cell–cell communication between R7, R1, and R8 is important to generate the pattern of Rh expression in R7/R8 (Rhodopsin coupling). As cell junctions play crucial roles in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of tissues, we tested whether cell junction proteins are involved in the interactions between photoreceptor cells. Here, we demonstrate that gap junction proteins innexin 2 and innexin 7 in accessory cells are necessary for transmitting signals from R7 to R8. In addition, Notch-mediated accessory cell development and Rhodopsin coupling in R7/R8 are highly correlated. Our results provide evidence that functional coupling of two different neurons, R7 and R8, is established through gap junction-mediated signaling from adjacent accessory cells. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ZhangXuanshuo en-aut-sei=Zhang en-aut-mei=Xuanshuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinjoRyoki en-aut-sei=Shinjo en-aut-mei=Ryoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamataManabu en-aut-sei=Kitamata en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsuneShinichi en-aut-sei=Otsune en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagoshiHideki en-aut-sei=Nakagoshi en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Health Science, Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Drosophila kn-keyword=Drosophila en-keyword=Eye kn-keyword=Eye en-keyword=Gap junction kn-keyword=Gap junction en-keyword=Innexin kn-keyword=Innexin en-keyword=Opsin kn-keyword=Opsin END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=810 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260326 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effect of Universal Adhesives on Resin Cement–Fiber Post–Core Materials en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This study evaluated eleven resin cements used as core build-up materials by examining the following properties: (a) push-out force between root dentin and the fiber post; (b) pull-out force between the fiber post and the core build-up material; (c) shear bond strength of the resin cement to root dentin; (d) flexural strength of the resin cement; and (e) flexural modulus of elasticity of the resin cement. The purpose of this investigation was to clarify the relationships between recently available universal adhesives, core build-up materials, resin cements, and fiber posts. All experiments were performed at two evaluation periods: after 1 day of water storage (Base) and after 20,000 thermocycles (TC 20k). For the push-out test, simulated post spaces were prepared in single-rooted human premolars. The specimens were sectioned perpendicular to the long axis into 2 mm-thick slices and then subjected to push-out testing to assess the bond strength of the dentin–resin cement–fiber post complex. No significant differences in bonding performance were found between Base and TC 20k. These findings suggest that universal adhesives used for pretreatment of multiple substrates in fiber post cementation can provide not only strong but also durable adhesion over time. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IrieMasao en-aut-sei=Irie en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruoYukinori en-aut-sei=Maruo en-aut-mei=Yukinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkiyamaKenraro en-aut-sei=Akiyama en-aut-mei=Kenraro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaKumiko en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujimotoAkimasa en-aut-sei=Tsujimoto en-aut-mei=Akimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoTakuya en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Dental Biomaterials, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Aichi Gakuin University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=bonding performance kn-keyword=bonding performance en-keyword=universal adhesive kn-keyword=universal adhesive en-keyword=fiber post kn-keyword=fiber post en-keyword=luting materials kn-keyword=luting materials en-keyword=root dentin kn-keyword=root dentin END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=30309 end-page=30326 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Self-Adaptive Framework for Deploying Machine Learning Systems Without Ground-Truth Data at Runtime en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In recent years, the practical application of machine learning technology has rapidly progressed, accelerating its adoption across various fields. In this context, studies into the effective operation of machine learning systems in real-world environments have become essential. In actual operational settings, the distribution of input data often changes over time, leading to a significant decline in the predictive performance of models. Additionally, the lack of ground-truth data for test data during operation can sometimes make adaptation through retraining difficult. This study proposes a framework that autonomously adapts to changes in input data distribution, even in environments where ground-truth data for test data is unavailable during operation. This framework analyzes the distribution of input data and selects the appropriate predictive model based on the state of the distribution. To ensure optimal model selection, the framework employs two complementary approaches: 1) dynamically switching between multiple pre-trained models with different feature sets according to environmental changes and 2) building ensemble models based on the distribution of the test data. These approaches enable the framework to autonomously adapt to shifts in data distribution, even in operational settings where ground-truth data is unavailable. Evaluation experiments using both simulated and real-world data assessed the predictive performance of the proposed method through metrics such as R2, RMSE, and MAE. Compared to conventional single model predictions, the proposed method consistently demonstrated higher accuracy. These results indicate that the proposed approach effectively adapts to data distribution shifts in operational environments where ground-truth data is unavailable. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FurukawaKento en-aut-sei=Furukawa en-aut-mei=Kento kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagawaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Nakagawa en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsuchiyaTatsuhiro en-aut-sei=Tsuchiya en-aut-mei=Tatsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University kn-affil= en-keyword=Self-adaptive systems kn-keyword=Self-adaptive systems en-keyword=frameworks kn-keyword=frameworks en-keyword=machine learning kn-keyword=machine learning END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=42 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1806 end-page=1810 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=An electric field temporarily strengthens zirconia ceramics en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=By applying an electric field to yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) equipped with an inert electrode, oxide ions are localized near the positive electrode, causing it to expand. When polarization was performed under different conditions, it was possible to strengthen the material to 1.5 times that of an untreated sample. The lattice constant of the positive electrode surface after polarization was larger than before polarization. When the Vickers hardness of the positive electrode surface was measured by changing the test load, the smaller the load, the higher the hardness value. Polarization caused oxide ions to move near the positive electrode, filling in the defects and generating an expanded layer with a large lattice constant. It is believed that this was subjected to compressive stress from the bulk layer, which had not changed in volume, resulting in an increase in strength. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KishimotoAkira en-aut-sei=Kishimoto en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimizuTakahiro en-aut-sei=Shimizu en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiyamaMitsuru en-aut-sei=Nishiyama en-aut-mei=Mitsuru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoShinya en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TeranishiTakashi en-aut-sei=Teranishi en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Poling kn-keyword=Poling en-keyword=Zirconia ceramics kn-keyword=Zirconia ceramics en-keyword=Strengthening kn-keyword=Strengthening en-keyword=Internal stress kn-keyword=Internal stress END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=61 end-page=73 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260328 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=Study on Physical Activity Levels During Soccer Matches Among Junior High School Students Focusing on Position and Physical/Fitness Characteristics kn-title=中学生を対象としたサッカー試合中の身体活動量に関する研究 ～ポジションと身体・体力特性に着目して～ en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract=We compared physical and fitness characteristics by soccer position using results from the New Physical Fitness Test administered to 30 junior high school students. Additionally, we compared differences in physical activity levels by position during soccer matches while wearing LC devices. The results showed no significant differences in physical or fitness characteristics between positions. However, significant differences were observed between positions in step count and the proportion of time spent in physical activity by intensity level. This revealed that physical activity levels during soccer matches differ between positions even among junior high school students, clarifying position-specific characteristics in soccer. It also suggested the usefulness of evaluating physical activity levels during matches over time. kn-abstract=　中学生34人を対象とし，身体・体力特性とサッカー試合中の身体活動量について，ポジションに着目して比較・検討した．その結果，身体・体力特性についてはポジション間に有意な差は認められなかった．歩数ではポジション間で有意差が認められ，ライトサイドバックが少なく，センターミッドフィルダーが高かった．強度別身体活動量時間の割合ではポジション間で有意差が認められ，ライトサイドバックが低く，センターミッドフィルダーが高かった．以上のことから，本研究の対象中学生ではポジション間で身体・体力特性には有意差が認められないが，サッカー試合中の身体活動量ではポジション間で差が生じることが示唆された． en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NATSUMEDATakaaki en-aut-sei=NATSUMEDA en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name=棗田尊貴 kn-aut-sei=棗田 kn-aut-mei=尊貴 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ADACHIMinoru en-aut-sei=ADACHI en-aut-mei=Minoru kn-aut-name=足立稔 kn-aut-sei=足立 kn-aut-mei=稔 aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学大学院教育学研究科 affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University Graduate School of Education kn-affil=岡山大学学術研究院教育学域 en-keyword=サッカー (Soccer) kn-keyword=サッカー (Soccer) en-keyword=中学生 (Junior High School Students) kn-keyword=中学生 (Junior High School Students) en-keyword=加速度計 (Accelerometer) kn-keyword=加速度計 (Accelerometer) en-keyword=新体力テスト (New Physical Fitness Test) kn-keyword=新体力テスト (New Physical Fitness Test) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=5 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=133 end-page=142 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251016 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Study on Zeek IDS Effectiveness for Cybersecurity in Agricultural IoT Networks en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=As agriculture moves toward Agriculture 4.0, which uses Internet of Things (IoT) devices to collect data in real time and monitor things from a distance, these networks are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. A common method used to protect against these kinds of threats is the use of intrusion detection systems (IDS). However, the agricultural environment is often changing and has limited resources, which makes cybersecurity challenging. Several available IDS tools are not designed to work properly in places with few resources, intermittent access, and unpredictable network conditions. This paper investigates the performance of Zeek, an open-source IDS, in identifying potential threats in agricultural IoT networks. We performed both offline and real-time experiments: offline analysis used pcap files from the Stratosphere Laboratory dataset, and real-time evaluation involved simulated live attack scenarios, focusing on unauthorized access attempts and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Zeek's performance was assessed based on CPU and memory utilization, as well as quality of service (QoS) metrics. From the experimental results, we found that Zeek was quite effective in protecting agricultural IoT networks against typical threats. Memory usage remained stable around 5% during offline analysis and under 20% during active attacks. However, CPU usage was more volatile, peaking at 120% during DDoS events. In terms of QoS, the system maintained a good throughput (1,375 kbits/s) with minimal packet loss (0.000186%). Among the attack types that we tested, brute force attacks, which represent attempts at unauthorized access, had the strongest effect on network performance, increasing delay to 2.159 ms and jitter to 0.793 ms. It seems clear that a heavier traffic load during such attacks can interfere with QoS. On the basis of our observation, we recommend practical deployment strategies for agricultural IoT systems that take these limitations into consideration, aiming to keep networks both secure and efficient under pressure. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HudaSamsul en-aut-sei=Huda en-aut-mei=Samsul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MusthafaMuhammad Bisri en-aut-sei=Musthafa en-aut-mei=Muhammad Bisri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShamimS. M. en-aut-sei=Shamim en-aut-mei=S. M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NogamiYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Nogami en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Interdisciplinary Education and Research Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=agricultural IoT kn-keyword=agricultural IoT en-keyword=Zeek IDS kn-keyword=Zeek IDS en-keyword=intrusion detection systems kn-keyword=intrusion detection systems en-keyword=open-source security tools kn-keyword=open-source security tools en-keyword=Agriculture 4.0 kn-keyword=Agriculture 4.0 en-keyword=cybersecurity kn-keyword=cybersecurity en-keyword=Raspberry Pi kn-keyword=Raspberry Pi END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=27 end-page=37 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260331 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=Historical Changes in HIV Testing Technologies and Japan's HIV Testing System kn-title=HIV 検査技術と日本における HIV 検査体制の変遷 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WANGDecheng en-aut-sei=WANG en-aut-mei=Decheng kn-aut-name=汪徳成 kn-aut-sei=汪 kn-aut-mei=徳成 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学大学院ヘルスシステム統合科学研究科 en-keyword=HIV kn-keyword=HIV en-keyword=HIV testing kn-keyword=HIV testing en-keyword=HIV testing technologies kn-keyword=HIV testing technologies en-keyword=HIV testing system kn-keyword=HIV testing system en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2025 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=9884345 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251120 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Comparing the Activity of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Frozen Under Electromagnetic Field Freezing and Standard Slow-Freezing en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are cells obtained from the blood that are used not only in clinical tests but also in various research applications. The slow-freezing (SLF) method, currently the standard for PBMC cryopreservation, involves extended storage at −80°C before transfer to liquid nitrogen. Delays in this transfer, such as overnight or weekend holds, risk a gradual decline in cell viability. Additionally, variability in freezing duration can lead to inconsistent cell quality, emphasizing the need for an alternative freezing method that allows for more timely transfer to liquid nitrogen. This study is aimed at clarifying whether the method of using a freezer with an applied electromagnetic field (EMF) is superior to the currently used standard SLF method for PBMC cryopreservation. A comparison of the number of viable cells, cell viability, and cell activity showed that the EMF method was equivalent to the SLF method. However, the shortest time required for freezing was significantly shorter with the EMF method than the SLF method (0.25 vs. 3 h), allowing for earlier transfer of PBMC to liquid nitrogen. This demonstrates that the EMF method offers an advantage in operational efficiency, particularly for facilities that routinely process and store PBMCs, such as biobanks and other storage-focused departments. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsubaraTakehiro en-aut-sei=Matsubara en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakagiMina en-aut-sei=Takagi en-aut-mei=Mina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UwaboTakahiro en-aut-sei=Uwabo en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SohJunichi en-aut-sei=Soh en-aut-mei=Junichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaMizuki en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Mizuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University Hospital Biobank kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Biorepository Research and Networking, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Surgery, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Okayama University Hospital Biobank kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Okayama University Hospital Biobank kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=JFST0004 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Numerical analysis validating the standard k-epsilon model for the kinetic energy of turbulence subjected to weak but long-lasting wind tunnel blockage acceleration en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of weak but prolonged mean flow accelerations, such as those observed in wind tunnel blockage acceleration, on free-stream turbulence. Specifically, this research aims to validate a model previously developed based on the k-epsilon model. To test this model, the study focuses on scenarios where the turbulence under acceleration is steady and isotropic, since the model suggests that this type of acceleration has no effect on the turbulent kinetic energy. To examine this suggestion, the turbulence within a periodic box was analyzed using large-eddy simulation (LES) based on the conventional Smagorinsky model framework. The numerical analysis is based on a method that conserves velocity fluctuation intensities. The results show that while high rate of acceleration deviates turbulent kinetic energy, low rate acceleration has hardly any effect on turbulent kinetic energy, enstrophy, pressure fluctuation, relative pressure fluctuation intensity, and higher-order statistics of a velocity fluctuation. These results validate the accuracy of the model proposed in the previous studies. These results were obtained by focusing on differences in Reynolds numbers and the spatial scale of the forcing. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ONOAkira en-aut-sei=ONO en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SUZUKIHiroki en-aut-sei=SUZUKI en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KOUCHIToshinori en-aut-sei=KOUCHI en-aut-mei=Toshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TANAKAKento en-aut-sei=TANAKA en-aut-mei=Kento kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Turbulent flows kn-keyword=Turbulent flows en-keyword=Large-eddy simulation kn-keyword=Large-eddy simulation en-keyword=Homogeneous turbulence kn-keyword=Homogeneous turbulence en-keyword=K-epsilon model kn-keyword=K-epsilon model en-keyword=Wind tunnel blockage kn-keyword=Wind tunnel blockage END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=1535 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260228 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Proposal of Secure and Automated Over-the-Air Firmware Update Mechanism for IoT Devices Using Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The Internet of Things (IoT) technology has grown rapidly over the past decade, resulting in deployments of thousands of IoT devices around the world. Then, managing firmware updates for these numerous devices poses significant challenges. Firmware updates face issues such as version rollback, modified firmware files, and potential man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, highlighting the need for a secure over-the-air (OTA) firmware update mechanism. In this paper, we propose an automated OTA firmware update mechanism, integrated with continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) to ensure trusted sources for firmware origins. It offers security, error handling during firmware updates, and monitoring of the update process. For evaluations, we implemented the proposal with the SEMAR IoT application server that has been implemented in our previous studies. Then, we verified the integrity and authentication, measured the performance and resource utilization, and performed benchmarking tests to assess the efficiency. The results demonstrate that the proposal is sufficiently reliable and efficient. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Noprianto en-aut-sei=Noprianto en-aut-mei= kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KyawHtoo Htoo Sandi en-aut-sei=Kyaw en-aut-mei=Htoo Htoo Sandi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=BrataKomang Candra en-aut-sei=Brata en-aut-mei=Komang Candra kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KotamaI Nyoman Darma en-aut-sei=Kotama en-aut-mei=I Nyoman Darma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Internet of Things (IoT) kn-keyword=Internet of Things (IoT) en-keyword=over-the-air (OTA) firmware update kn-keyword=over-the-air (OTA) firmware update en-keyword=security kn-keyword=security en-keyword=continuous integration (CI) kn-keyword=continuous integration (CI) en-keyword=continuous delivery (CD) kn-keyword=continuous delivery (CD) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=2339 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260228 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Concentration-Dependent Synergistic Interfacial Interactions Between Multifunctional Acrylate and Silane Coupling Agents in an Organic–Inorganic Nanohybrid Material en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Synergistic effects of a multifunctional acrylate and a long-chain silane coupling agent were investigated in an organic–inorganic nanohybrid material. We tested the bond strength of nanohybrid composites treated with experimental primers containing silane coupling agents—3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (γ-MPTS) or 8-methacryloxyoctyl trimethoxysilane (8-MOTS)—with or without multifunctional acrylates—trimethylolpropane triacrylate (A-TMPT) or dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (A-DPH). Shear bond strength was evaluated after 24 h of water storage at 37 °C. Untreated control and silane-only groups exhibited low shear bond strengths (e.g., control: 2.4 ± 2.0 MPa) and failed exclusively at the adhesive interface. While addition of A-TMPT did not significantly improve bond strength, addition of A-DPH produced significantly higher shear bond strengths. Highest strength was achieved with 30% 8-MOTS and A-DPH (22.4 ± 6.1 MPa), followed by 20% γ-MPTS and A-DPH (19.0 ± 7.0 MPa), and A-DPH groups produced cohesive failures. Regardless of the silane used (γ-MPTS or 8-MOTS), incorporating A-DPH in the primer consistently yielded superior bond strengths, indicating a promising strategy for improved adhesion for such nanohybrid systems. These findings provide new insights into optimizing resin–filler interfacial interactions and may contribute to the development of restorative materials with improved long-term clinical durability. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MaruoYukinori en-aut-sei=Maruo en-aut-mei=Yukinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaKumiko en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IrieMasao en-aut-sei=Irie en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaokaNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Nagaoka en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KodamaNaoki en-aut-sei=Kodama en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshizaneMai en-aut-sei=Yoshizane en-aut-mei=Mai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkiyamaKentaro en-aut-sei=Akiyama en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Dental School, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=silane coupling kn-keyword=silane coupling en-keyword=multifunctional acrylate kn-keyword=multifunctional acrylate en-keyword=bond strength kn-keyword=bond strength en-keyword=resin kn-keyword=resin END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=12 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e79545 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260302 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Prescription Support Practice for Pharmacy Students: Pre-Post Educational Intervention Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: In the field of team-based care, pharmacists are vital for optimizing medication therapy. However, many medical professionals lack the opportunity to learn how to propose prescription changes with precision.
Objective: This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by developing and assessing a new educational program for pharmacy students focused on prescription support and interprofessional collaboration.
Methods: We recruited 191 fifth-year pharmaceutical students during the 2022‐2024 academic years. The program featured a 7-day intensive curriculum that included learning how to assist with prescriptions, analyzing clinical data, and engaging in role-playing exercises. A web-based questionnaire and a paper test were used to evaluate students’ awareness and knowledge both before and after the program. Statistical analyses were performed to verify the significance of changes; we utilized the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for the ordinal data derived from the specific behavioral objectives and 2-tailed paired t tests for the interval data from the knowledge tests. The magnitude of change was quantified using r for Wilcoxon tests and Cohen dz for 2-tailed t tests, with 95% CI calculated to ensure the stability and reliability of the observed results.
Results: Analysis of the primary outcome specific behavioral objectives revealed statistically significant effects across all items (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; P<.001). Effect sizes (r=0.505‐0.835) ranged from moderate to large, with particularly large effects observed in identifying contents issue (r=0.835, 95% CI 0.126-0.330; P<.001). Knowledge test scores showed significant improvement in the following 3 subjects: pharmacology (r=−0.504, 95% CI –0.215 to 0.127; P<.001), organic chemistry (r=0.254, 95% CI –0.148 to –0.193; P=.004), and communication (r=0.221, 95% CI –0.151 to –0.190; P=.01). No significant changes were observed in pathology or pharmacokinetics.
Conclusions: This program provides strong evidence that practical, hands-on learning with hospital pharmacists helps improve pharmacy students’ professional skills and optimize pharmaceutical therapies in interprofessional care. By teaching pharmacists to effectively propose prescription changes, the program equips them to become integral members of interprofessional care, ultimately leading to optimized pharmaceutical care for patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AizawaFuka en-aut-sei=Aizawa en-aut-mei=Fuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YagiKenta en-aut-sei=Yagi en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigashionnaTsukasa en-aut-sei=Higashionna en-aut-mei=Tsukasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamanoHirofumi en-aut-sei=Hamano en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiShimon en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Shimon kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZamamiYoshito en-aut-sei=Zamami en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinomiyaKazuaki en-aut-sei=Shinomiya en-aut-mei=Kazuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NiimuraTakahiro en-aut-sei=Niimura en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=GodaMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Goda en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawadaKei en-aut-sei=Kawada en-aut-mei=Kei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshizawaKeisuke en-aut-sei=Ishizawa en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Clinical Pharmacy, Tokushima Bunri University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Clinical Research Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Tokushima University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=academic detailing kn-keyword=academic detailing en-keyword=pharmaceutical clinical practice kn-keyword=pharmaceutical clinical practice en-keyword=prescription support kn-keyword=prescription support en-keyword=professional education kn-keyword=professional education en-keyword=Interprofessional care kn-keyword=Interprofessional care END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=115 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=117345 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202607 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Investigation of the cefazolin inoculum effect in blood culture-isolated methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains: A Japanese multicenter study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Cefazolin inoculum effect (CInE) is a microbiological phenomenon where the MIC of cefazolin against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains increases with higher bacterial volumes.
Method: We retrospectively investigated the prevalence and characteristics of the CInE among MSSA strains isolated from blood cultures at three Japanese hospitals. The collected isolates were screened for blaZ using PCR, and the cefazolin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the blaZ-positive MSSA isolates was measured at standard and high inoculum volumes. CInE-positive MSSA strains were defined as those with a cefazolin MIC ≥16 μg/mL at 107 CFU/mL and ≤8 μg/mL at 105 CFU/mL. In these blaZ-positive strains, we performed blaZ typing and tested a modified nitrocefin-based rapid examination to detect the CInE.
Results: We collected 329 MSSA strains isolated from blood cultures. Of these, 96 (29.2%) were positive for the blaZ gene, with the following genotypes: type A (15, 15.6%), type B (3, 3.1%), type C (77, 80.2%), type D (0, 0.0%), and non-type (1, 1.0%). Among 96 blaZ-positive MSSA isolates, 11 exhibited the CInE, all of which harbored blaZ type A. The rapid nitrocefin test detected CInE positivity with high sensitivity (100%), specificity (94.1%), and diagnostic accuracy (94.8%).
Conclusion: This study highlighted the low prevalence of CInE-presenting MSSA isolates in Japan. When the cefazolin MIC is ≥1 μg/mL or the penicillin G MIC is ≥0.25 μg/mL, the rapid nitrocefin test may be useful for considering the CInE in patients with high bacterial volume MSSA infections. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FukushimaShinnosuke en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Shinnosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiShuma en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Shuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotohKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Gotoh en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IioKoji en-aut-sei=Iio en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaSakura en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Sakura kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoyanagiNorihito en-aut-sei=Koyanagi en-aut-mei=Norihito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoYuji en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoganemaruHiroshi en-aut-sei=Koganemaru en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Microbiology Division, Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chutoen General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Internal Medicine, Chutoen General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=blaZ kn-keyword=blaZ en-keyword=Cefazolin inoculum effect kn-keyword=Cefazolin inoculum effect en-keyword=Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus kn-keyword=Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus en-keyword=Nitrocefin rapid test kn-keyword=Nitrocefin rapid test en-keyword=β-lactamase kn-keyword=β-lactamase END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=165 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=105344 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202503 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Local immune response induced by intra-fin antigen injection in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) is a useful model for immunological studies en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Teleost fishes play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of immune system evolution because they retain the ancient characteristics of vertebrate immunity, encompassing both innate and adaptive immune systems. Among these, innate immunity plays a critical role in fish as the first line of defense, coordinating rapid responses to pathogen infections. However, the lack of fish-specific immunological methodologies has limited progress in elucidating fish immune mechanisms. To better understand how the innate immune response develops and resolves in fish, detailed observation and integrative analysis of leukocytes at multiple time points is necessary. In the present study, an intra-fin injection method for observing local immune responses in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) was tested and optimized to analyze the progression of zymosan-induced innate immune responses. Zymosan-injected medaka showed a rapid immune response characterized by leukocyte recruitment and phagocytosis. Using TG(FmpxP:mCherry) transgenic medaka with mCherry fluorescence driven by myeloperoxidase (mpx) promoter, granulocyte chemotaxis towards the site of zymosan entry was successfully visualized. The rapid increase in tumor necrosis factor α (tnfa), interleukin-1β (il1b), interleukin-6 (il6), and CXC motif chemokine ligand 8 (cxcl8) expressions in zymosan-injected anal fins provided a molecular basis for the visualized tissue-specific cellular response. Our study underscores the dynamic orchestration of immune components during the innate immune response in Japanese medaka and highlights their potential as a promising model for immunological research. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=RyuTsukasa en-aut-sei=Ryu en-aut-mei=Tsukasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshinoMizuki en-aut-sei=Yoshino en-aut-mei=Mizuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TseWilliam Ka Fai en-aut-sei=Tse en-aut-mei=William Ka Fai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnsaiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Ansai en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IguchiTaisen en-aut-sei=Iguchi en-aut-mei=Taisen kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KumarAnu en-aut-sei=Kumar en-aut-mei=Anu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SomamotoTomonori en-aut-sei=Somamoto en-aut-mei=Tomonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaoMiki en-aut-sei=Nakao en-aut-mei=Miki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OginoYukiko en-aut-sei=Ogino en-aut-mei=Yukiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biology, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Developmental Disorders and Toxicology, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Faculty of Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO Environment kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University kn-affil= en-keyword=Chemotaxis kn-keyword=Chemotaxis en-keyword=Local immunity kn-keyword=Local immunity en-keyword=Inflammation kn-keyword=Inflammation en-keyword=Innate immunity kn-keyword=Innate immunity en-keyword=Phagocytosis kn-keyword=Phagocytosis en-keyword=Zymosan kn-keyword=Zymosan END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=46 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e70089 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260111 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Lifestyle Factors and Current Alcohol Consumption Among Japanese Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced drinking behaviors in minors by disrupting daily routines and increasing psychosocial stress, although alcohol use among Japanese adolescents has declined in recent years. We aimed to clarify the relationships between current alcohol consumption and lifestyle factors during the COVID-19 pandemic based on a nationwide cross-sectional survey.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2021 Lifestyle Survey of Adolescents, a nationwide survey conducted in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 15 549 junior and senior high school students (7645 boys and 7904 girls) were included. Current alcohol consumption was defined as drinking on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between current alcohol consumption and lifestyle factors, including irregular sleep patterns, irregular dietary habits, and increased screen time. Sex-stratified analyses and interaction tests were also performed.
Results: The overall prevalence of current alcohol consumption was 2.1%, with slightly higher rates among boys (2.2%) than girls (2.0%). Current alcohol consumption was significantly associated with irregular sleep patterns (odds ratio [OR] = 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–1.95) and irregular dietary habits (OR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.18–2.40). An association with increased screen time was also observed (OR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.00–1.69), particularly among boys. A significant interaction by sex was detected for irregular sleep patterns (p for interaction = 0.013).
Conclusions: Alcohol consumption among Japanese adolescents was associated with irregular sleep and dietary habits and, among boys, with increased screen time. These findings highlight the importance of promoting regular routines and addressing lifestyle-related risks to prevent current alcohol consumption among adolescents during public health crises. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NishiwakiMasatake en-aut-sei=Nishiwaki en-aut-mei=Masatake kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KandaHideyuki en-aut-sei=Kanda en-aut-mei=Hideyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaKeita en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Keita kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HisamatsuTakashi en-aut-sei=Hisamatsu en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinjoAya en-aut-sei=Kinjo en-aut-mei=Aya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuwabaraYuki en-aut-sei=Kuwabara en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimHongja en-aut-sei=Kim en-aut-mei=Hongja kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImamotoAya en-aut-sei=Imamoto en-aut-mei=Aya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshimotoHisashi en-aut-sei=Yoshimoto en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoTeruna en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Teruna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasugaHideaki en-aut-sei=Kasuga en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinobeRuriko en-aut-sei=Minobe en-aut-mei=Ruriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaesatoHitoshi en-aut-sei=Maesato en-aut-mei=Hitoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=JikeMaki en-aut-sei=Jike en-aut-mei=Maki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaYuichiro en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Yuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItaniOsamu en-aut-sei=Itani en-aut-mei=Osamu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaneitaYoshitaka en-aut-sei=Kaneita en-aut-mei=Yoshitaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiguchiSusumu en-aut-sei=Higuchi en-aut-mei=Susumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsakiYoneatsu en-aut-sei=Osaki en-aut-mei=Yoneatsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Family Medicine, General Practice and Community Health, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Food and Nutrition, Koriyama Women's University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Fukushima Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=National Institute of Alcoholism, Kurihama National Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=National Institute of Alcoholism, Kurihama National Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Showa Women's University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=National Institute of Alcoholism, Kurihama National Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University kn-affil= en-keyword=adolescent kn-keyword=adolescent en-keyword=alcohol drinking kn-keyword=alcohol drinking en-keyword=COVID-19 kn-keyword=COVID-19 en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan en-keyword=lifestyle kn-keyword=lifestyle END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=25 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=908 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251122 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Prognostic value of right atrial strain in patients with chronic heart failure en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Aims Right ventricular dysfunction is a well-established prognostic marker in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the prognostic significance of right atrial (RA) function remains unclear. Given its sensitivity to systemic congestion, RA function may provide additional insights into HF disease progression and management. This study aimed to investigate whether RA reservoir function serves as an independent prognostic indicator in patients with chronic HF.
Methods A total of 613 patients with chronic HF and a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of less than 50% who underwent echocardiographic assessment at Okayama University Hospital between January 2018 and March 2023 were included (median age: 68 (58–76) years; 69% male). RA reservoir function was quantified using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular death or HF-related hospitalization. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to examine the association between RA reservoir function and clinical outcomes.
Results During a median follow-up period of 41 months (range: 12–91 months), 119 patients experienced cardiac events. Compared with event-free patients, those with cardiac events exhibited a significantly larger RA maximum volume index (38 mL/m2 vs. 31 mL/m2, P < 0.001) and a significantly lower RA reservoir longitudinal strain (RASr) (17% vs. 22%, P < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with RASr ≤ 20% had significantly poorer event-free survival than those with RASr > 20%, even without RA volume enlargement (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified RASr as an independent predictor of cardiac events (hazard ratio: 0.95, 95% confidence interval: 0.93 to 0.97, P < 0.001).
Conclusions In patients who experienced adverse cardiac events, a reduced RASr and an increased RA maximum volume were observed. Furthermore, a reduced RASr was independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death and HF-related hospitalization in patients with chronic HF and LV dysfunction. These findings indicate that RASr may serve as a valuable prognostic marker for the risk stratification and management of chronic HF. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakayamaRie en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Rie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakayaYoichi en-aut-sei=Takaya en-aut-mei=Yoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakashimaMitsutaka en-aut-sei=Nakashima en-aut-mei=Mitsutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiharaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Nishihara en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TohNorihisa en-aut-sei=Toh en-aut-mei=Norihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToruMiyoshi en-aut-sei=Toru en-aut-mei=Miyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKazufumi en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Kazufumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuasaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Yuasa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=Right atrial function kn-keyword=Right atrial function en-keyword=Right atrial strain kn-keyword=Right atrial strain en-keyword=Chronic heart failure kn-keyword=Chronic heart failure en-keyword=Echocardiography kn-keyword=Echocardiography END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=23 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=120 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251124 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Comparison of clinical practices during the transitional and young adult phases between patients with oligoarticular/polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and those with rheumatoid arthritis in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that frequently persists into adulthood, posing long-term challenges in disease control and quality of life. However, clinical management during the transitional and young adult phases remains insufficiently characterized, especially in comparison with adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to compare disease activity, medication use, and treatment practices between patients with oligoarticular/polyarticular JIA and those with RA, focusing on individuals aged 16–30 years.
Methods Data were derived from two nationwide multicenter databases in Japan—NinJa (National Database of Rheumatic Diseases in Japan) for RA and CoNinJa (a pediatric counterpart of NinJa) for JIA. A total of 176 JIA and 152 RA patients, all aged 16–30 years, were analyzed. Clinical parameters, disease activity indices, and medication profiles were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test.
Results Compared to RA patients, JIA patients demonstrated significantly lower disease activity (median SDAI 0.6 vs. 2.4) and higher remission rates, particularly Boolean remission (70% vs. 44%) (p < 0.001). MTX usage was less frequent in JIA (49% vs. 68%, p < 0.001), whereas biologic use was notably more common (69% vs. 38%, p < 0.001), with 31% involving off-label prescriptions. Among patients in CDAI remission, biologic monotherapy was observed more frequently in JIA (29% vs. 7%, p < 0.001). Discontinuation of MTX was most commonly attributed to disease improvement (58%) or gastrointestinal intolerance (nausea, 29%). Subcutaneous tocilizumab, though unapproved for JIA in Japan, had the lowest discontinuation rate (4%), suggesting favorable tolerability.
Conclusions Despite an overlap in age, patients with JIA and RA exhibit distinct disease characteristics and therapeutic patterns. These differences underscore the need to expand approved treatment options for JIA, promote equitable access to biologics, and strengthen transitional care frameworks. Further research is warranted to explore long-term outcomes, reproductive health considerations, and socioeconomic barriers that influence treatment continuity in young adults with childhood-onset arthritis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MoriSho en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShabanaKosuke en-aut-sei=Shabana en-aut-mei=Kosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Matsui en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NozawaTomo en-aut-sei=Nozawa en-aut-mei=Tomo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugitaYuko en-aut-sei=Sugita en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomiitaMinako en-aut-sei=Tomiita en-aut-mei=Minako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagishiYasuo en-aut-sei=Nakagishi en-aut-mei=Yasuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiYuichi en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmebayashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Umebayashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YashiroMasato en-aut-sei=Yashiro en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataNaomi en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Naomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasumuraJunko en-aut-sei=Yasumura en-aut-mei=Junko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=WakiguchiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Wakiguchi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoTakeshi en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakezakiShunichiro en-aut-sei=Takezaki en-aut-mei=Shunichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkuraYuka en-aut-sei=Okura en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaTadafumi en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Tadafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimizuMasaki en-aut-sei=Shimizu en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirayamaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Hirayama en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=TohmaShigeto en-aut-sei=Tohma en-aut-mei=Shigeto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoNami en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Nami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriMasaaki en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Masaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Division of Rheumatology and Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Rheumatology Research, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Sagamihara National Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Chiba Children’s Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children’s Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of General Pediatrics, Miyagi Children’s Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Infection and Immunology, Allergy and Immunology Center, Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicinea and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Center for Pediatric Allergy and Rheumatology, KKR Sapporo Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal and Maternal Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo National Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Division of Rheumatology and Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=Juvenile idiopathic arthritis kn-keyword=Juvenile idiopathic arthritis en-keyword=Rheumatoid arthritis kn-keyword=Rheumatoid arthritis en-keyword=Disease activity kn-keyword=Disease activity en-keyword=Biologics kn-keyword=Biologics en-keyword=Methotrexate kn-keyword=Methotrexate END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260219 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Tabtoxin biosynthetic gene cluster in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 genomic island 1 (GI-1Pta6605) is required for severe disease symptoms en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=One of the genomic islands in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 (GI-1Pta6605) has been identified as a pathogenicity island required for virulence because the deletion almost completely eliminated disease symptoms in inoculation tests at 4 × 105 CFU/ml. GI-1Pta6605 contains four cargo regions (CRs) named CR-1 to CR-4. The ∆CR-4 mutant did not produce tabtoxin like ∆GI-1 and disease symptoms did not develop in tobacco. However, it grew, although to a lesser extent than the wild-type strain. These results indicate that the tabtoxin biosynthetic gene cluster in GI-1 is required for virulence but not for establishment of compatibility. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KunishiKotomi en-aut-sei=Kunishi en-aut-mei=Kotomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisawaNorika en-aut-sei=Fujisawa en-aut-mei=Norika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuiHidenori en-aut-sei=Matsui en-aut-mei=Hidenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakataNanami en-aut-sei=Sakata en-aut-mei=Nanami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NoutoshiYoshiteru en-aut-sei=Noutoshi en-aut-mei=Yoshiteru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyodaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Toyoda en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchinoseYuki en-aut-sei=Ichinose en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=The Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=GI-1Pta6605 kn-keyword=GI-1Pta6605 en-keyword=Pathogenicity island kn-keyword=Pathogenicity island en-keyword=Pseudomonas syringae kn-keyword=Pseudomonas syringae en-keyword=Tabtoxin kn-keyword=Tabtoxin END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=183 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=111902 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Monitoring postharvest water loss in eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) using UV-induced fluorescence imaging and multivariate analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is susceptible to significant postharvest losses primarily due to water loss during storage, which affects market quality by causing texture and glossiness degradation. We investigated whether UV-induced fluorescence imaging and EEM (Excitation-Emission Matrix) fluorescence spectroscopy can non-destructively monitor WL under four storage regimes (10 °C/95 % RH, 20 °C/95 % RH, 20 °C/75 % RH, 10 °C/75 % RH). EEMs exhibited three regions; a 365/420 nm blue emission increased most under warm, low-humidity storage and is consistent with phenolic/lignin-related fluorescence. Side-view fluorescence (FL) images showed progressive blue-white emission and surface textural changes that tracked gravimetric water loss (WL). A PLSR model using combined color and texture features from FL and reflectance (CL) images achieved R2CV = 0.88 (RMSECV = 3.47 %) with only six features. To test a minimal predictor, we fit an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) using Day-1 FL MeanBlue as a covariate and storage category as a factor with Leave One Out Cross-validation (LOOCV); this forecasted cumulative WL with R2LOOCV = 0.92 and MAE = 1.88 %. Importantly, this ANCOVA model using Day-1 blue-band fluorescence as a covariate was predictive only under 20 °C/75 % RH; under the other conditions, its contribution was weak. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) models achieved accuracies of 94.4 % and 85.2 %, respectively, in differentiating storage conditions. These results support low-cost FL imaging as a practical tool to monitor WL and storage stress. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=RotichVincent en-aut-sei=Rotich en-aut-mei=Vincent kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=GaoTianqi en-aut-sei=Gao en-aut-mei=Tianqi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=PrempreePanintorn en-aut-sei=Prempree en-aut-mei=Panintorn kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiTakahiro en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NambaKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Namba en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MontaMitsuji en-aut-sei=Monta en-aut-mei=Mitsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimotoMotomi en-aut-sei=Nishimoto en-aut-mei=Motomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoNaoshi en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Naoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Technology and Innovation Center, Daikin Industries, Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Laboratory of Biosensing Engineering, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= en-keyword=Eggplant kn-keyword=Eggplant en-keyword=Fluorescence spectroscopy kn-keyword=Fluorescence spectroscopy en-keyword=UV-Induced imaging kn-keyword=UV-Induced imaging en-keyword=Water loss kn-keyword=Water loss en-keyword=Postharvest quality kn-keyword=Postharvest quality en-keyword=Non-destructive assessment kn-keyword=Non-destructive assessment END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e105012 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026310 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Rare Association of Congenital Glaucoma and Retinitis Pigmentosa: A 22-Year Follow-Up Case en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Primary congenital glaucoma is a rare congenital disease with a genetic background that shows high intraocular pressure due to ocular outflow anomalies. Retinitis pigmentosa is a predominant form of inherited retinal disorders. In this study, we present the case of a patient with primary congenital glaucoma in association with retinitis pigmentosa. A four-month-old female baby was brought to the emergency department due to corneal opacity in the left eye. The intraocular pressure measured by a hand-held applanation tonometer was 40 mmHg in the right eye and 36 mmHg in the left eye. She was otherwise healthy and diagnosed with primary congenital glaucoma. She immediately underwent trabeculotomy ab externo in both eyes under general anesthesia, and the intraocular pressure was lowered to 15 mmHg in the right eye and 12 mmHg in the left eye three weeks later. At the age of nine months, she was found to have retinal degeneration along the upper and lower vascular arcades of the fundus in both eyes and was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. At the age of one year and 10 months, the visual acuity was measured at 0.2 in the right eye and 0.2 in the left eye for the first time by a preferential looking procedure. The intraocular pressure was 9 mmHg in both eyes under sedation, and she did not use any topical medication. At the age of three years and three months, the uncorrected visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity with myopic astigmatism correction were 0.1 and 0.15, respectively, in the right eye and 0.6 and 0.7, respectively, in the left eye. Occlusion therapy with an eye patch over the left eye for one hour daily was started. At the age of four years and 10 months, the best-corrected visual acuity was 0.7 in both eyes. At the age of six years, occlusion therapy was discontinued, and full-correction glasses were prescribed, based on cycloplegic refraction. The visual acuity in the right eye decreased to 0.3 at the age of 11 years and further to 0.1 at the age of 12 years, while the visual acuity in the left eye remained 0.8. Afterwards, she maintained a visual acuity of 0.1 in the right eye and 0.8 in the left eye until the age of 22 years. An incidental presence of primary congenital glaucoma in this patient led to the detection of retinitis pigmentosa in earlier years and allowed long-term follow-up for 22 years. Even though genetic testing was not performed for this patient, the abnormal function of primary cilia, designated as ciliopathy, might explain the co-occurrence of primary congenital glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuoToshihiko en-aut-sei=Matsuo en-aut-mei=Toshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=ciliopathy kn-keyword=ciliopathy en-keyword=cycloplegic refraction kn-keyword=cycloplegic refraction en-keyword=full-correction glasses kn-keyword=full-correction glasses en-keyword=goldmann perimetry kn-keyword=goldmann perimetry en-keyword=occlusion therapy kn-keyword=occlusion therapy en-keyword=optical coherence tomography kn-keyword=optical coherence tomography en-keyword=photoreceptor ellipsoid zone kn-keyword=photoreceptor ellipsoid zone en-keyword=primary congenital glaucoma kn-keyword=primary congenital glaucoma en-keyword=retinitis pigmentosa kn-keyword=retinitis pigmentosa en-keyword=trabeculotomy kn-keyword=trabeculotomy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=22 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=98 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260119 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Genetic and phenotypic identities of Staphylococcus coagulans isolated from pustules of dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Staphylococcus coagulans, formerly called Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans is the second most common isolate from skin lesions of dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF). However, the clinical significance of S. coagulans in pustules of canine SBF remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotypic and phenotypic diversity of S. coagulans isolated from pustules in two dogs with SBF.
Results Two dogs with SBF were included in this study. S. schleiferi/coagulans was isolated as the sole organism from three pustules in case #1, whereas it coexisted with S. pseudintermedius in two of seven pustules in case #2. S. pseudintermedius was the sole organism in the remaining five pustules in case #2. Whole genome sequences revealed that all isolates tested were annotated as S. coagulans. The isolates from the same pustules exhibited identical genotypic and phenotypic profiles, indicating clonal multiplication. S. coagulans isolated from different pustules exhibited similar yet distinct genotypic and phenotypic profiles.
Conclusions S. coagulans with identical genetic and phenotypic profiles can be identified as the sole pathogen or coexist with S. pseudintermedius in the pustules of the same dogs with SBF. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OsumiTakafumi en-aut-sei=Osumi en-aut-mei=Takafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinomiyaYuuki en-aut-sei=Shinomiya en-aut-mei=Yuuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WanganuttaraThamonwan en-aut-sei=Wanganuttara en-aut-mei=Thamonwan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImanishiIchiro en-aut-sei=Imanishi en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimazakiYotaro en-aut-sei=Shimazaki en-aut-mei=Yotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IyoriKeita en-aut-sei=Iyori en-aut-mei=Keita kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyodaYoichi en-aut-sei=Toyoda en-aut-mei=Yoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IdeKaori en-aut-sei=Ide en-aut-mei=Kaori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaJumpei en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishifujiKoji en-aut-sei=Nishifuji en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=1sec Co. Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=1sec Co. Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= en-keyword=Staphylococcus coagulans kn-keyword=Staphylococcus coagulans en-keyword=Staphylococcus pseudintermedius kn-keyword=Staphylococcus pseudintermedius en-keyword=Dog kn-keyword=Dog en-keyword=Superficial bacterial folliculitis kn-keyword=Superficial bacterial folliculitis en-keyword=Antimicrobial susceptibility kn-keyword=Antimicrobial susceptibility en-keyword=Disk diffusion test kn-keyword=Disk diffusion test END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=24 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260124 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=TeMPRA: advancing continuing professional development in pediatric rheumatology in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background In the context of the global shortage of pediatric rheumatologists, mid-career specialists who can play key roles in regional education, research, and clinical practice have become increasingly important. In Japan, the Team of Mid-career Pediatric Rheumatologists Alliance (TeMPRA) was founded in 2014 to support continuing professional development (CPD) and foster collaboration among mid-career pediatric rheumatologists. The aim of this study was to characterize the current status and future perspectives of the TeMPRA members.
Methods In 2024, a cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among all 37 active members of the TeMPRA across Japan. Data were collected on career trajectories, educational roles, research activities, clinical practices, and international engagement. Categorical variables were compared using appropriate statistical tests, with a significance level of 0.05.
Results Responses were obtained from 35 members (response rate: 95%). Most respondents (71%) were affiliated with university hospitals, and 60% had > 10 years of experience in pediatric rheumatology. Compared with those working in community hospitals, respondents affiliated with university hospitals were significantly more likely to be involved in research activities (50% vs. 0%, P = 0.0261) and global professional contributions (88% vs. 0%, P < 0.0001). Overall, 54% of respondents were engaged in teaching students or early-career pediatric rheumatologists, while 43% were involved in clinical or basic research, most commonly focusing on juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Collectively, respondents were responsible for the care of 1,677 children with pediatric rheumatic diseases. While all respondents reported willingness to contribute to pediatric rheumatology at the regional level, 94% and 71% reported willingness to contribute at the national and global levels, respectively.
Conclusions This nationwide survey highlights the substantial educational roles, research activities, and clinical practices of mid-career pediatric rheumatologists in Japan and suggests that the TeMPRA framework can serve as a valuable model for supporting CPD and workforce sustainability. Similar alliance-based approaches may be applicable in other countries facing comparable challenges in pediatric rheumatology. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WakiguchiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Wakiguchi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HashimotoKunio en-aut-sei=Hashimoto en-aut-mei=Kunio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YashiroMasato en-aut-sei=Yashiro en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraKenichi en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Kenichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=EbatoTakasuke en-aut-sei=Ebato en-aut-mei=Takasuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkamineKeiji en-aut-sei=Akamine en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=UejimaYoji en-aut-sei=Uejima en-aut-mei=Yoji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoTomomi en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Tomomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiYuichi en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasumuraJunko en-aut-sei=Yasumura en-aut-mei=Junko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiFumiko en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Fumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KizawaToshitaka en-aut-sei=Kizawa en-aut-mei=Toshitaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasuokaRyuhei en-aut-sei=Yasuoka en-aut-mei=Ryuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshikawaTomoaki en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Tomoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoTakeshi en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaYuji en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItohNaohiro en-aut-sei=Itoh en-aut-mei=Naohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakasakiAsami en-aut-sei=Takasaki en-aut-mei=Asami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakuraiNodoka en-aut-sei=Sakurai en-aut-mei=Nodoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiKazuo en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Kazuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=TamaiTasuku en-aut-sei=Tamai en-aut-mei=Tasuku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiranoNaoki en-aut-sei=Hirano en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoNami en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Nami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimizuMasaki en-aut-sei=Shimizu en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Division of General Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Oita University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kitasato University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Saitama Children’s Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Clinical Education Center for Physicians, Shiga University of Medical Science kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital Organization Futabanosato Prefectural Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Japan Community Health Care Organization Sapporo Hokushin Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Toyama kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, NTT East Medical Center Sapporo kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Suzuki Kids Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Division of General Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Oita University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal and Maternal Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= en-keyword=Child kn-keyword=Child en-keyword=Education kn-keyword=Education en-keyword=Juvenile idiopathic arthritis kn-keyword=Juvenile idiopathic arthritis en-keyword=Practice kn-keyword=Practice en-keyword=Rheumatic diseases kn-keyword=Rheumatic diseases en-keyword=Systemic lupus erythematosus kn-keyword=Systemic lupus erythematosus en-keyword=Team of mid-career pediatric rheumatologists alliance kn-keyword=Team of mid-career pediatric rheumatologists alliance END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=59 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=101740 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202506 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluation of platinum-free interval and chemotherapeutic effect of subsequent platinum-containing chemotherapy in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer initially treated with bevacizumab: SGSG018/Intergroup study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective: The effect of bevacizumab on platinum sensitivity in recurrent ovarian cancer remains poorly understood. This study examined the association between platinum-free interval (PFI) and sensitivity to subsequent platinum-containing chemotherapy in patients with first relapsed ovarian cancer after bevacizumab chemotherapy.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who received platinum-based chemotherapy for platinum-sensitive recurrence between November 2013, and December 2019, and who were initially treated by platinum-based chemotherapy with concurrent and maintenance bevacizumab. The primary endpoint was response rate to subsequent chemotherapy after various periods of PFI. The relevance between response rate and PFI was assessed for each PFI of 6–12, 12–24 and ≧24 months using Cochran-Armitage test. The secondary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) defined as time from chemotherapy for first recurrence to subsequent progression and response rate to subsequent chemotherapy for each treatment-free interval since last administration of bevacizumab (Bev-TFI).
Results: A total of 77 patients were eligible. The median PFI until first recurrence was 12 months (range: 6–43). The response rates of subsequent chemotherapy for patients with PFI of 6–12, ≥12-24, and 24 months were 42 %, 65 %, and 80 %, showing a linear trend (p < 0.05). Median PFS among the three groups was 8 (95 %CI: 6.7–9.2), 11 (95 %CI: 8.4–13.5) and 13 months (95 % CI: 5.4–20.5) (p = 0.107, log-rank test), respectively. By contrast, no linear trend was observed between Bev-TFI and response rate (p = 0.225)
Conclusion: In patients with first relapse of primary ovarian cancer and bevacizumab beyond progression, the prolonged PFS effect of bevacizumab does not seem to affect sensitivity to subsequent platinum-based chemotherapy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TanakaTamaki en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Tamaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeharaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Takehara en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UsamiTomoka en-aut-sei=Usami en-aut-mei=Tomoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshikawaMasako en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Masako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoEiji en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KagabuMasahiro en-aut-sei=Kagabu en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirabayashiKei en-aut-sei=Hirabayashi en-aut-mei=Kei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumuraNoriomi en-aut-sei=Matsumura en-aut-mei=Noriomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoShinya en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraMasato en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakawaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Arakawa en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKeiichiro en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Keiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonnoYosuke en-aut-sei=Konno en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraSatoe en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Satoe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=SueokaKotaro en-aut-sei=Sueoka en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraHiroko en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Hiroko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KohIemasa en-aut-sei=Koh en-aut-mei=Iemasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoKimihiko en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Kimihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=HongoAtsushi en-aut-sei=Hongo en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gynecologic Oncology, NHO Shikoku Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iwate Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JCHO Tokuyama Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Tottori University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokushima Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University West Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NHO Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Rosai Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Ovarian cancer kn-keyword=Ovarian cancer en-keyword=Bevacizumab kn-keyword=Bevacizumab en-keyword=Chemotherapy kn-keyword=Chemotherapy en-keyword=Platinum-sensitive relapse kn-keyword=Platinum-sensitive relapse en-keyword=Platinum-free interval kn-keyword=Platinum-free interval END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=363 end-page=368 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250304 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Microsatellite-high intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with favorable treatment outcome using pembrolizumab en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma has a poor prognosis. In unresectable cases, the survival period is short despite combination therapy with cytotoxic anticancer agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The usefulness of immune checkpoint inhibitors against malignant tumors with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) mutations was shown in the KEYNOTE158 study; however, data for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are insufficient. In the present case, a 65-year-old man with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and lymph node metastasis could not be treated with a combination of gemcitabine, CDDP, and S-1. A comprehensive cancer genomic profiling (CGP) test showed MLH1 pathogenic mutation and MSI-H. When pembrolizumab was administered, the tumor shrinkage effect was rapidly observed, which was sustained even after 30 months. No pathogenic mutations were observed in the germline test, and MSI-high was considered to be due to the MLH1 pathogenic mutation occurring sporadically in somatic cells. MSI-H intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is extremely rare. However, because pembrolizumab is expected to be effective, CGP testing should be actively performed. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HoriguchiShigeru en-aut-sei=Horiguchi en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoHironari en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Hironari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyamotoKazuya en-aut-sei=Miyamoto en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimotoKosaku en-aut-sei=Morimoto en-aut-mei=Kosaku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumiAkihiro en-aut-sei=Matsumi en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TerasawaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Terasawa en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiYuki en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Microsatellite instability (MSI)-high kn-keyword=Microsatellite instability (MSI)-high en-keyword=Tumor mutation burden (TMB)-high kn-keyword=Tumor mutation burden (TMB)-high en-keyword=Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma kn-keyword=Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma en-keyword=Comprehensive genome profiling kn-keyword=Comprehensive genome profiling END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=115 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1 end-page=8 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260301 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluation of Branching Characteristics and Their Contribution to Yield in Everbearing Strawberry Cultivars under Forced Cultivation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=　Enhancing continuous flowering in cultivated strawberries may result in insufficient photosynthetic products due to the lower limit of leaf number on each lateral shoot, leading to reduced yield and fruit quality. If strawberries could differentiate an appropriate number of tillers and allow each tiller to grow autonomously with sufficient leaf number on each lateral shoot, rather than flowering continuously on the main bud alone, plants could achieve high yields while preventing plant weakening and fruit quality deterioration. Therefore, this study evaluated branching characteristics of everbearing strawberry cultivars under forcing cultivation to identify cultivars with moderate tillering and moderately low continuous flowering. Pot experiments revealed that the number of tillers was high in ‘Summer Princess’ and ‘Miyazaki-natsuharuka’ but low in ‘Summer Berry’ and ‘Suzuakane’. This trend was independent of total number of lateral shoots, nodal position of first inflorescence, and the number of leaves on each lateral shoot, which serve as indicators of continuous flowering ability. Among seven tested cultivars, ‘DT17’ and ‘Miyazaki-natsuharuka’ showed intermediate values with 2.1 - 2.5 tillers per plant and 6.7 - 7.7 leaves on each lateral shoots. These cultivars showed yields of 747.0 - 1,028.5 g per plant under forcing cultivation, which were higher than other cultivars, along with consistent fruit quality. These results suggest that improving branching characteristics is a practical approach to enhancing fruit productivity in strawberries. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Hikawa-EndoMinori en-aut-sei=Hikawa-Endo en-aut-mei=Minori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SoneKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Sone en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorishitaMasami en-aut-sei=Morishita en-aut-mei=Masami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Kyushu Okinawa Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Kyushu Okinawa Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Kyushu Okinawa Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO kn-affil= en-keyword=branching characteristics kn-keyword=branching characteristics en-keyword=continuous flowering ability kn-keyword=continuous flowering ability en-keyword=crown kn-keyword=crown en-keyword=strawberry kn-keyword=strawberry en-keyword=tiller kn-keyword=tiller END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2026 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=023F01 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260120 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Feedback-Controlled Beam Pattern Measurement Method Using a Power-Variable Calibration Source for Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We demonstrate a novel beam pattern measurement method for the side lobe characterization of cosmic microwave background telescopes. The method employs a power-variable artificial microwave source under feedback control from the detector under test on the telescope. It enables us to extend the dynamic range of the beam pattern measurement without introducing nonlinearity effects from the detector. We conducted a laboratory-based proof-of-concept experiment, measuring the H-plane beam pattern of a horn antenna coupled to a diode detector at 81 GHz. We gained an additional dynamic range of 60.3 dB attributed to the feedback control. In addition, we verified the measurement by comparing it with other reference measurements obtained using conventional methods. The method is also applicable to general optical measurements requiring a high dynamic range to detect subtle nonidealities in the characteristics of optical devices. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HiroseHaruaki en-aut-sei=Hirose en-aut-mei=Haruaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaMasaya en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Masaya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanekoDaisuke en-aut-sei=Kaneko en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagasakiTaketo en-aut-sei=Nagasaki en-aut-mei=Taketo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakuRyota en-aut-sei=Takaku en-aut-mei=Ryota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=de HaanTijmen en-aut-sei=de Haan en-aut-mei=Tijmen kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakuraSatoru en-aut-sei=Takakura en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujinoTakuro en-aut-sei=Fujino en-aut-mei=Takuro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Physics, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (WPI-QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Accelerator Laboratory (ACCL), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (WPI-QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=96 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260109 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of an oral exercise intervention on pre-frailty or frailty in older people: a randomized clinical trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Frailty is often experienced by older adults, which can lead to long-term health problems. We aimed to examine associations with improvements in nutritional status, sarcopenia (age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength), and frailty in four groups with different oral exercise frequencies.
Methods: We conducted a prospective, parallel multi-arm randomized controlled trial (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT) 1062210063) to test the effects of oral exercise on frailty in older adults. Each intervention consisted of a standardized oral exercise protocol including neck exercises, lip exercises, and tongue movements, designed to improve oral function and reduce frailty. The primary outcome was the change in the number of frailty criteria from baseline to follow-up. Individuals aged ≥60 years were screened for frailty status using standardized criteria at the Department of Preventive Dentistry at Okayama University Hospital between October 2022 and December 2023. Those identified as pre-frailty or frailty were eligible and enrolled in the study. After screening 60 individuals, 58 eligible participants were randomly assigned using block randomization to one of four oral exercise frequency groups: 3 times/day & everyday, 3 times/day & 3 days/week, once/day & everyday, and once/day & 3 days/week. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate the impact of the four frequencies of oral exercise methods on frailty in older adults. Outcome assessors were blinded; participants were not.
Results: Here we show the results of the 58 participants. Group sizes are: 3 times/day & everyday (n = 14), 3 times/day & 3 days/week (n = 15), once/day & everyday (n = 14), once/day & 3 days/week (n = 15). The trial is completed as planned, and all randomized participants are analyzed. The main effect of time is significant for the number of frailty criteria (F = 14.803, p < 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.215). The mean changes from baseline to follow-up are −0.357 (95% Confidence Interval −0.787 to 0.073) in the 3 times/day & everyday group, −0.600 (95% Confidence Interval −1.255 to 0.055) in the 3 times/day & 3 days/week group, −0.571 (95% Confidence Interval −1.379 to 0.236) in the once/day & everyday group, and −0.600 (95% Confidence Interval −1.008 to −0.192) in the once/day & 3 days/week group. The main effect of time is also significant for the number of oral hypofunction criteria (F = 16.456, p < 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.234). No important adverse events or side effects related to the intervention were observed.
Conclusions: After conducting oral exercises for 3 months on older adults with pre-frailty or frailty, improvements in frailty are observed. Overall, these exercises could be a simple, low-cost way to support healthy aging in the community. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakeuchiNoriko en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Noriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SawadaNanami en-aut-sei=Sawada en-aut-mei=Nanami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=InadaSakura en-aut-sei=Inada en-aut-mei=Sakura kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaManabu en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=EkuniDaisuke en-aut-sei=Ekuni en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Section of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Health Promotion, Okayama-City Health Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=25 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e5 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of sagging correction calibration error on radiation therapy equipment using image analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: This study investigates the effect of sagging correction errors on image quality and geometric coordinate accuracy.
Methods: This study utilised the Elekta radiotherapy system, ball bearing (BB), Catphan phantom and MultiMet-WL phantom. Ten distinct flex maps (FMs) were acquired by positioning the BB at the accuracy isocentre and introducing shifts of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mm in the left, table and up directions, respectively. Cone-beam computed tomography images of the Catphan phantom were acquired using 10 FMs. The images were analysed for modulation transfer function (MTF) values and geometric coordinates. Additionally, the Winston–Lutz (W-L) test was conducted under reference couch positions and with a 0.3 mm couch shift.
Results: For the Catphan phantom analysis, the standard deviations of MTF10% across FMs were 0.19. The centre-of-gravity coordinates of the insert exhibited shifts of approximately 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mm when comparing reference images to those acquired with the shifted FMs. The results of the W-L test with a 0.3 mm couch shift showed radiation isocentre deviations exceeding 1 mm compared to the reference couch positions.
Conclusions: Minor sagging correction calibration errors did not remarkably impact image quality; however, they altered the geometric coordinates of the image isocentre. These calibration errors decreased the accuracy of off-isocentre positioning. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujiiYasushi en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakayamaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OshitaJunki en-aut-sei=Oshita en-aut-mei=Junki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsunodaAyaka en-aut-sei=Tsunoda en-aut-mei=Ayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaekiYusuke en-aut-sei=Saeki en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeYoshinori en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Chugoku Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Chugoku Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Chugoku Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil= Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=flex map kn-keyword=flex map en-keyword=sagging kn-keyword=sagging en-keyword=Winston–Lutz test kn-keyword=Winston–Lutz test END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e100872 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260105 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Saliva as a Reliable and Non-invasive Sample for Detecting Influenza A in Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Cases en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background
Nasopharyngeal swab sampling remains the gold standard for influenza diagnosis; however, it has several limitations, including dependence on medical staff, invasiveness, potential for nosocomial transmission, and occupational exposure risk. Non-invasive alternatives, such as saliva and nasal vestibular swabs, may improve patient comfort and participation in clinical studies. In addition, diagnosis with reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is often delayed because it requires trained laboratory technicians and facilities with appropriate laboratory settings. Although rapid diagnostic devices such as the GenPad® offer potential alternatives to RT-qPCR, their performance with non-invasive samples remains insufficiently explored. This study addresses the two key questions for influenza detection in severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases: (i) whether saliva or nasal vestibular swab samples serve as suitable alternatives to nasopharyngeal swab samples, and (ii) whether the GenPad® provides a reliable option for detecting influenza using saliva samples.
Methodology
A prospective observational study was conducted with 16 inpatients classified as having SARIs and diagnosed with influenza between December 2024 and March 2025 in Japan. Paired saliva and nasal vestibular swab samples were collected 1-9 (median = 3.5) days after symptom onset. RT-qPCR testing was performed according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases protocol. Saliva samples were also tested using the GenPad® system. Comparisons between sample types and diagnostic methods were analyzed using the exact McNemar's test.
Results
Among the 16 influenza-positive patients, saliva samples demonstrated higher sensitivity (87.5%) than nasal vestibular swabs (31.3%) in RT-qPCR when compared with the diagnostic results obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs. A comparison of RT-qPCR results between saliva and nasal vestibular swabs revealed a total agreement of 43.8%, with exact McNemar's test showing a significant difference (p = 0.0039). While nasal vestibular swabs showed inconsistent results, saliva samples consistently tested positive, particularly within seven days of symptom onset (100% positive agreement). The GenPad®, a rapid diagnostic device, showed promising performance (92.9%) using saliva samples compared to RT-qPCR.
Conclusions
Saliva is a reliable non-invasive alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs for influenza detection in SARI cases, particularly within seven days of symptom onset, whereas nasal vestibular swabs show lower sensitivity. Additionally, the GenPad® provides comparable performance to RT-qPCR using saliva samples, offering a rapid, portable diagnostic option. These approaches may mitigate discomfort, minimize infection risk for healthcare workers, and improve testing capacity. However, the absence of influenza-negative controls and the small sample size (n = 16) substantially limit the assessment of diagnostic accuracy and specificity. As a result, the broader applicability of our findings should be interpreted with caution, and further studies are required to validate these observations. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakeuchiJunko S en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Junko S kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsunagaNobuaki en-aut-sei=Matsunaga en-aut-mei=Nobuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsukadaAi en-aut-sei=Tsukada en-aut-mei=Ai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwamotoNoriko en-aut-sei=Iwamoto en-aut-mei=Noriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FuwaNoriko en-aut-sei=Fuwa en-aut-mei=Noriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchikawaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Ichikawa en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomitaYuka en-aut-sei=Tomita en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitagawaHiroki en-aut-sei=Kitagawa en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamatoMasaya en-aut-sei=Yamato en-aut-mei=Masaya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=AoyagiTetsuji en-aut-sei=Aoyagi en-aut-mei=Tetsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaseRyota en-aut-sei=Hase en-aut-mei=Ryota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HatakeyamaShuji en-aut-sei=Hatakeyama en-aut-mei=Shuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=InabaTohru en-aut-sei=Inaba en-aut-mei=Tohru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=IzumikawaKoichi en-aut-sei=Izumikawa en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakesueYoshio en-aut-sei=Takesue en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraMoto en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Moto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhmagariNorio en-aut-sei=Ohmagari en-aut-mei=Norio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Academic-Industrial Partnerships Promotion, Center for Clinical Sciences, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Clinical Reference Center, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Clinical Reference Center, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Disease Control and Prevention Center, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Disease Control and Prevention Center, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Sapporo City General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, International University of Health and Welfare (IUHW) Narita Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daini Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Rinku General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Red Cross Narita Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Division of Infectious Diseases, Jichi Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Infection Control and Laboratory Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil= kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Academic-Industrial Partnerships Promotion, Center for Clinical Sciences, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Disease Control and Prevention Center, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= en-keyword=influenza a kn-keyword=influenza a en-keyword=nasal vestibular swab kn-keyword=nasal vestibular swab en-keyword=nasopharyngeal swab kn-keyword=nasopharyngeal swab en-keyword=rapid diagnostics kn-keyword=rapid diagnostics en-keyword=rt-qpcr kn-keyword=rt-qpcr en-keyword=saliva kn-keyword=saliva en-keyword=sari kn-keyword=sari END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=5 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=2 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251226 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Threshold Selection Method in Code Plagiarism Checking Function for Code Writing Problem in Java Programming Learning Assistant System Considering AI-Generated Codes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=To support novice learners, the Java programming learning assistant system (JPLAS) has been developed with various features. Among them, code writing problem (CWP) assigns writing an answer code that passes a given test code. The correctness of an answer code is validated by running it on JUnit. In previous works, we implemented a code plagiarism checking function that calculates the similarity score for each pair of answer codes based on the Levenshtein distance. When the score is higher than a given threshold, this pair is regarded as plagiarism. However, a method for finding the proper threshold has not been studied. In addition, AI-generated codes have become threats in plagiarism, as AI has grown in popularity, which should be investigated. In this paper, we propose a threshold selection method based on Tukey’s IQR fences. It uses a custom upper threshold derived from the statistical distribution of similarity scores for each assignment. To better accommodate skewed similarity distributions, the method introduces a simple percentile-based adjustment for determining the upper threshold. We also design prompts to generate answer codes using generative AI and apply them to four AI models. For evaluation, we used a total of 745 source codes of two datasets. The first dataset consists of 420 answer codes across 12 CWP instances from 35 first-year undergraduate students in the State Polytechnic of Malang, Indonesia (POLINEMA). The second dataset includes 325 answer codes across five CWP assignments from 65 third-year undergraduate students at Okayama University, Japan. The applications of our proposals found the following: (1) any pair of student codes whose score is higher than the selected threshold has some evidence of plagiarism, (2) some student codes have a higher similarity than the threshold with AI-generated codes, indicating the use of generative AI, and (3) multiple AI models can generate code that resembles student-written code, despite adopting different implementations. The validity of our proposal is confirmed. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=PermatasariPerwira Annissa Dyah en-aut-sei=Permatasari en-aut-mei=Perwira Annissa Dyah kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MentariMustika en-aut-sei=Mentari en-aut-mei=Mustika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinariSafira Adine en-aut-sei=Kinari en-aut-mei=Safira Adine kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AungSoe Thandar en-aut-sei=Aung en-aut-mei=Soe Thandar kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KyawHtoo Htoo Sandi en-aut-sei=Kyaw en-aut-mei=Htoo Htoo Sandi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaiKhaing Hsu en-aut-sei=Wai en-aut-mei=Khaing Hsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Engineering Science, Akita University kn-affil= en-keyword=Java programming learning kn-keyword=Java programming learning en-keyword=JPLAS kn-keyword=JPLAS en-keyword=JUnit kn-keyword=JUnit en-keyword=code writing problem kn-keyword=code writing problem en-keyword=plagiarism kn-keyword=plagiarism en-keyword=Levenshtein distance kn-keyword=Levenshtein distance en-keyword=threshold kn-keyword=threshold en-keyword=IQR kn-keyword=IQR en-keyword=AI-generated kn-keyword=AI-generated END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=39 end-page=46 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202602 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Kinesiophobia Is Associated with Disability, Poor Quality of Life, Psychological Morbidity, and Surgery Dissatisfaction in Patients with Lumbar Microdiscetomy: A Cross-Sectional Controlled Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The study aimed to determine the prevalence of kinesiophobia in patients who had undergone lumbar microdiscectomy and to examine its associations with pain intensity, disability, quality of life, depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with surgery. Forty-eight patients with microdiscectomy and 48 healthy controls were enrolled. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Roland-Morris Disability Index (RMDI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D, respectively), and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) were administered to both groups. The scores of TSK, RMDI, HADS-A, and HADS-D were significantly higher and SF-36 scores were significantly lower in the microdiscectomy than the control group (p<0.001 for all). In the microdiscectomy group, median (min-max) RMDI, HADS-A, and HADS-D scores were 19 (4-34), 10 (0-18), and 9 (0-18), respectively, in kinesiophobic patients, and were significantly higher than 6 (2-20), 3 (0-11), 2.5 (0-11) in non-kinesiophobic patients (all p<0.001). The median (min-max) SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS, and VAS scores for surgery satisfaction were 36.5 (8.7-75), 52.1 (11-95), 5, 5 (0-10), respectively, in kinesiophobic patients and were significantly lower than 71 (28-95), 85.5 (9-93), 8.5 (3-10) in non-kinesiophobic patients (all p<0.05). TSK scores were significantly correlated with RMDI, HADS-A, HADS-D, SF-36, and surgery satisfaction scores (all p<0.05). Kinesiophobic patients with lumbar microdiscectomy therefore showed greater disability and psychological morbidity, poorer quality of life, and lower satisfaction with surgery. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TezelNihal en-aut-sei=Tezel en-aut-mei=Nihal kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=CanAslı Gençay en-aut-sei=Can en-aut-mei=Aslı Gençay kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Health Sciences University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University kn-affil= en-keyword=kinesiophobia kn-keyword=kinesiophobia en-keyword=microdiscectomy kn-keyword=microdiscectomy en-keyword=disability kn-keyword=disability en-keyword=quality of life kn-keyword=quality of life en-keyword=depression kn-keyword=depression END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=9 end-page=16 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202602 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Novel Nomogram that Predicts Chronic Hemodialysis Patients’ Survival Based on Their Sedentary Behavior en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Appropriate treatments for chronic hemodialysis patients are a public health challenge in Japan. Sedentary behavior appears to be closely associated with these patients’ survival. We thus sought to develop a nomogram that predicts survival based on the duration of chronic hemodialysis patients’ sedentary behavior. One hundred twenty-four patients under chronic hemodialysis (73 men, 51 women, age 71.7±11.1 years) were enrolled in this cohort study. The patients wore a triaxial accelerometer that measured both their sedentary behavior, i.e., total sedentary behavior (minutes) and their maximum sedentary bouts (min) on non-hemodialysis days. We obtained the Kaplan-Meier curve and used the log-rank test and a Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the relationship between the patients’ sedentary behavior and their survival. We also used a Cox proportional hazards model to develop a nomogram for the patients’ 5-year survival rate. Forty-six patients died during the follow-up period. When we stratified the patients by the medians of total sedentary behavior and maximum sedentary bouts, we observed significant between-group differences. After adjustment for confounding factors in a Cox proportional hazards model, total sedentary behavior and maximum sedentary bouts were identified as critical survival factors, and we generated a nomogram using an index of sedentary behavior. Our analysis results demonstrated that sedentary behavior on non-dialysis days was closely associated with the survival of the chronic hemodialysis patients, suggesting that a decrease in sedentary behavior would prolong their survival. The nomogram developed herein based on sedentary behavior may be useful for predicting the outcomes of chronic hemodialysis patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SugaharaKentaro en-aut-sei=Sugahara en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoTakashi en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyatakeNobuyuki en-aut-sei=Miyatake en-aut-mei=Nobuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Nishi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=UjikeKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Ujike en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoumotoKiichi en-aut-sei=Koumoto en-aut-mei=Kiichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NamioKeiichi en-aut-sei=Namio en-aut-mei=Keiichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HishiiShuhei en-aut-sei=Hishii en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaAkihiko en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Akihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiHiromi en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Hiromi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoYorimasa en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Yorimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Innoshima General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Innoshima General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Innoshima General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Innoshima General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Faculty of Social Studies, Shikokugakuin University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Innoshima General Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=nomogram kn-keyword=nomogram en-keyword=chronic hemodialysis kn-keyword=chronic hemodialysis en-keyword=sedentary behavior kn-keyword=sedentary behavior en-keyword=Cox proportional hazards model kn-keyword=Cox proportional hazards model en-keyword=Kaplan- Meier curve kn-keyword=Kaplan- Meier curve END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=1 end-page=7 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202602 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Usefulness of D-dimer Assay to Confirm the Course of Overt Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in Cancer Patients en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication in patients with cancer. In this population, the presence of thrombi is often assessed at cancer diagnosis by measuring D-dimer levels, which have high sensitivity but low specificity for identifying VTE at this clinical time point. However, the usefulness of D-dimer measurement during anticoagulation therapy has not been fully established, despite its widespread use. In this retrospective observational study, we investigated whether D-dimer measurement during anticoagulation therapy in cancer patients could predict overt VTE at follow-up. The study included patients who underwent D-dimer testing and contrast-enhanced computed tomography between 30 and 100 days after initiation of anticoagulation therapy. Eighty-two patients were included: 60 with cancer and 22 without. The diagnostic performance of D-dimer for overt VTE was as follows: sensitivity, 85.7%; specificity, 87.2%; positive predictive value, 78.3%; and negative predictive value, 89.2%. These findings suggest that D-dimer measurement at follow-up has high sensitivity and specificity for overt VTE in cancer patients and may aid in assessing thrombotic status. Clinically, if anticoagulation therapy is continued until D-dimer levels become negative, the absence of overt VTE could be inferred without additional invasive testing. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamaokaHidenaru en-aut-sei=Yamaoka en-aut-mei=Hidenaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaMasashi en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SarashinaToshihiro en-aut-sei=Sarashina en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkagiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Akagi en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiToru en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MunemasaMitsuru en-aut-sei=Munemasa en-aut-mei=Mitsuru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKazufumi en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Kazufumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuasaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Yuasa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, IMS Tokyo Katsushika General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Seisukai Kuroda Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Internal Medicine 3, Kawasaki Medical School General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=D-dimer kn-keyword=D-dimer en-keyword=venous kn-keyword=venous en-keyword=thromboembolism kn-keyword=thromboembolism en-keyword=cancer kn-keyword=cancer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=68 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=100731 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202602 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Insights into the taste of organic acids via TAS1Rs en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: Organic acids contribute significantly to the flavor of fermented foods by imparting sourness. Although mice generally avoid sour taste, previous studies have reported greater consumption of l-lactic acid than its d-enantiomer, suggesting enantiomer-specific recognition. This behavior is hypothesized to involve TAS1Rs, which consists of sweet/umami receptors. However, it remains unclear whether TAS1Rs additionally contribute to the recognition of other chiral organic acids. This study aimed to evaluate the role of TAS1Rs, particularly TAS1R3, in the modulation of enantiomer-dependent behavioral responses to organic acids in mice.
Methods: Behavioral responses were evaluated using 48-h and 1-h 2-bottle tests. Binding of organic acids to TAS1Rs was investigated by differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) with the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of medaka Tas1r2a/Tas1r3.
Results: Wild-type mice consumed more d-malic acid than l-malic acid in the 48-h test, whereas Tas1r3-KO mice showed no such difference. This pattern was not observed in the short-term 1-h test, which minimized the contribution of post-ingestion and learned effects. DSF analysis revealed no binding of any of the tested organic acids to the LBD of medaka Tas1r2a/Tas1r3.
Conclusions: Organic acids may elicit TAS1R3-dependent post-ingestion signals that contribute to enantiomer-selective consumption in mice. Electrostatic interactions and hydrogen-bonding networks within the orthosteric pocket of TAS1Rs may account for the differences in binding affinity to the LBD of medaka Tas1r2a/Tas1r3 between organic acids and L-alanine, a known ligand. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamaseYuko en-aut-sei=Yamase en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakebeKatsuki en-aut-sei=Takebe en-aut-mei=Katsuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HorieKengo en-aut-sei=Horie en-aut-mei=Kengo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitohYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Mitoh en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaAtsuko en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Atsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaRyusuke en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Ryusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Institute for Protein Research, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Taste detection kn-keyword=Taste detection en-keyword=Organic acid preference kn-keyword=Organic acid preference en-keyword=G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) kn-keyword=G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) en-keyword=Knockout mice kn-keyword=Knockout mice en-keyword=Surface electrostatic potential kn-keyword=Surface electrostatic potential END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=178 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e70775 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Reactive Carbonyl Species Mediate Isothiocyanate Signaling Pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana Guard Cells en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Our previous results demonstrated that depletion of glutathione (GSH) rather than elevation of levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is highly correlated with the decrease in stomatal aperture induced by isothiocyanates (ITCs), although ROS is considered a key second messenger in stomatal closure, suggesting that another signal component regulates stomatal apertures along with GSH depletion. This study, using Arabidopsis, clarified that reactive carbonyl species (RCS), especially acrolein and 4-hydroxy-(E)-2-nonenal, are determinants of stomatal aperture responses to ITCs. All tested ITCs, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), sulforaphane (SFN), benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), significantly induced stomatal closure, which was inhibited by the RCS scavengers, carnosine and pyridoxamine. The RCS scavengers suppressed ITC-induced depletion of GSH but not elevation of ROS levels. All tested ITCs (AITC, SFN, BITC, and PEITC) increased levels of RCS and non-RCS aldehydes in the epidermal tissues. However, acrolein, 4-hydroxy-(E)-2-nonenal, crotonaldehyde, and (E)-2-pentenal induced stomatal closure at 10 and 100 μM, whereas propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, and n-pentanal did not at concentrations up to 100 μM. Acrolein and 4-hydroxy-(E)-2-nonenal more effectively induced stomatal closure and GSH depletion than crotonaldehyde and (E)-2-pentenal did. The contents of RCS were more strongly correlated with GSH levels and stomatal closure than with ROS levels. These results suggest that RCS, especially acrolein and 4-hydroxy-(E)-2-nonenal, acts as key regulators of stomatal closure in guard cells in response to ITCs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FarzanaSumaiya en-aut-sei=Farzana en-aut-mei=Sumaiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IslamMd. Moshiul en-aut-sei=Islam en-aut-mei=Md. Moshiul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MunemasaShintaro en-aut-sei=Munemasa en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ManoJun'ichi en-aut-sei=Mano en-aut-mei=Jun'ichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurataYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Murata en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Science Research Center, Yamaguchi University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=arabidopsis kn-keyword=arabidopsis en-keyword=GSH depletion kn-keyword=GSH depletion en-keyword=isothiocyanate kn-keyword=isothiocyanate en-keyword=reactive carbonyl species kn-keyword=reactive carbonyl species en-keyword=reactive oxygen species kn-keyword=reactive oxygen species END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=563 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260131 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effect of Surface Morphology Formed by Additive Manufacturing on the Adhesion of Dental Cements to Zirconia en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Durable bonding to zirconia remains difficult because its chemically inert surface resists acid etching. Additive manufacturing (AM) enables controlled surface morphology, which may enhance micromechanical retention without additional treatments. Methods: Zirconia specimens with three AM-derived surface designs—(1) concave–convex hemispherical patterns, (2) concave hemispherical patterns, and (3) as-printed surfaces—were fabricated using a slurry-based 3D printing system and sintered at 1500 °C. Zirconia specimens fabricated by subtractive manufacturing using CAD/CAM systems, polished with 15 µm diamond lapping film and with or without subsequent alumina sandblasting, served as controls. Surface morphology was analyzed by FE-SEM, and shear bond strength (SBS) was tested after cementation with a resin-based luting agent. Results: SEM revealed regular layered textures and designed hemispherical structures (~300 µm) in AM specimens, along with step-like irregularities (~40 µm) at layer boundaries. The concave–convex AM group showed significantly higher SBS than both sandblasted and polished subtractive-manufactured zirconia (p < 0.05). Vertically printed specimens demonstrated greater bonding strength than those printed parallel to the bonding surface, indicating that build orientation affects resin infiltration and interlocking. Conclusion: AM-derived zirconia surfaces can provide superior and reproducible micromechanical retention compared with conventional treatments. Further optimization of printing parameters and evaluation of long-term durability are needed for clinical application. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshiharaKumiko en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaokaNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Nagaoka en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=LeeSungho en-aut-sei=Lee en-aut-mei=Sungho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruoYukinori en-aut-sei=Maruo en-aut-mei=Yukinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SpirrettFiona en-aut-sei=Spirrett en-aut-mei=Fiona kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiriharaSoshu en-aut-sei=Kirihara en-aut-mei=Soshu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=Van MeerbeekBart en-aut-sei=Van Meerbeek en-aut-mei=Bart kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Health and Medical Research Institute kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Dental School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Oral Health Sciences, BIOMAT, KU Leuven kn-affil= en-keyword=additive manufacturing kn-keyword=additive manufacturing en-keyword=bond strength kn-keyword=bond strength en-keyword=dental crown kn-keyword=dental crown en-keyword=dental resin cement kn-keyword=dental resin cement en-keyword=dental zirconia kn-keyword=dental zirconia END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=19 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260116 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Mycobacterium mageritense-associated refractory cutaneous infection and lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent adult: insights from genomic sequencing en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Nontuberculous mycobacteria are increasingly recognized as causes of chronic and refractory skin and soft tissue infections, even in individuals without immunodeficiency. Among them, Mycobacterium mageritense is a rare, rapidly growing species that can lead to persistent lesions requiring prolonged antimicrobial therapy. Reports of M. mageritense infections involving both the skin and regional lymph nodes are limited, and this case adds new clinical and genomic insights.
Case presentation A 48-year-old previously healthy man presented with a slowly enlarging cutaneous lesion on his lower leg and ipsilateral inguinal lymphadenitis. Empirical antibacterial therapy with β-lactams and macrolides was ineffective. Wound cultures subsequently grew M. mageritense, confirmed by whole-genome sequencing. Several antimicrobial regimens were attempted, and the final successful therapy consisted of oral levofloxacin and minocycline for 4 months, leading to complete clinical resolution. Genomic analysis identified resistance-related genes, including erm(40), aac(2′)-Ib, tet(V), and RbpA, although in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations showed variable susceptibility. Phylogenetic comparison revealed that the isolate was closely related to previously reported M. mageritense strains from Japan.
Conclusions This case demonstrates that M. mageritense can cause cutaneous infection with secondary lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent host. Accurate species identification using molecular or genomic methods and selection of appropriate combination antibiotic therapy based on susceptibility testing are crucial for successful management of such infections. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FukushimaShinnosuke en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Shinnosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaJumpei en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakamiYoshio en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraYoshiko en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Yoshiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiharaSatoru en-aut-sei=Sugihara en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorizaneShin en-aut-sei=Morizane en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MuenrayaPoowadon en-aut-sei=Muenraya en-aut-mei=Poowadon kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Konohana Dermatology Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Genome sequence kn-keyword=Genome sequence en-keyword=Lymphadenitis kn-keyword=Lymphadenitis en-keyword=Mycobacterium mageritense kn-keyword=Mycobacterium mageritense en-keyword=Skin and soft tissue infections kn-keyword=Skin and soft tissue infections en-keyword=Rapidly growing mycobacteria kn-keyword=Rapidly growing mycobacteria END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=212 end-page=219 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251115 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Tribological Properties of Amorphous-SiC-Based Coatings on Al2O3 Substrates in Normal Saline en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Amorphous SiC (a-SiC)-based coatings containing not only Si–C bonds but also C–Si–O, C–C, and Si–O2 bonds were deposited on Al2O3 substrates via pulsed laser deposition. Sliding tests using SiC ceramic balls in normal saline revealed that the coating exhibited a low friction coefficient of 0.05-0.06 at a shorter running-in process than SiC bulk ceramic plates. The specific wear rate of the coating was also lower than that of the SiC plate. Reactive molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the C–Si–O bonds in the coating facilitated the generation of Si–O units, which contained Si–O bonds but no Si-C bonds, through tribochemical reactions with water, resulting in superior tribological properties in normal saline compared to those of SiC plates. These findings demonstrate that a-SiC-based coatings containing C–Si–O bonds are promising as low-friction and low-wear coatings for biomedical implants such as ceramic joint prostheses. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShiotaTadashi en-aut-sei=Shiota en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniyaDaiki en-aut-sei=Taniya en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimazakiKazuma en-aut-sei=Shimazaki en-aut-mei=Kazuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoChiyu en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Chiyu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmiyaYuya en-aut-sei=Omiya en-aut-mei=Yuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiMasahiro en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Comprehensive Technical Solutions, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=silicon carbide kn-keyword=silicon carbide en-keyword=amorphous kn-keyword=amorphous en-keyword=coating kn-keyword=coating en-keyword=water lubrication kn-keyword=water lubrication en-keyword=ceramic artificial joint kn-keyword=ceramic artificial joint END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e80971 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250321 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Prospective Evaluation of the Safety and Compression Performance of Novel Compression Denim Jeans in Healthy Volunteers and Patients With Lymphedema en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: The treatment of lower-extremity lymphedema, whether congenital or acquired, remains challenging. Long-term management aimed at reducing complications and maximizing quality of life is essential. Compression stockings are crucial in this management; however, their application is limited by patient experience (ease of wear, texture, breathability, and appearance). This highlights the need to evaluate alternative compression garments that maintain therapeutic efficacy while improving patient adherence.
Methods: We developed a novel compression denim product (Flow plus Jeans®) using advanced sewing technology. Its baseline performance (compression ability) was evaluated by measuring pressure gradients at three points (ankle, calf, and thigh) using a mannequin-based compression testing system and compared with those of existing stockings. Thereafter, a safety assessment was conducted on healthy volunteers to evaluate potential adverse effects, including changes in lower limb circumference, signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) via ultrasound, and skin complications. A clinical trial in patients with lymphedema was then performed to compare its efficacy with that of conventional compression stockings.
Results: Baseline performance testing with a mannequin revealed that Flow plus Jeans demonstrated compression levels and pressure gradients at three calf points comparable to those of standard compression stockings. A safety study involving nine healthy volunteers confirmed that Flow plus Jeans caused no significant changes in lower-limb circumferences after three days of wear, with no cases of DVT or skin complications. In a subsequent clinical trial involving nine female patients with lymphedema, the jeans showed non-inferiority to existing stockings concerning lower-limb circumference measurements at six points (pre-use vs. six months post-use), with patient-reported experiences assessed via questionnaires. Notably, patients reported enhanced satisfaction regarding the jeans' fashionability, which could serve as an incentive for long-term adherence.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Flow plus Jeans represent a promising novel option for the long-term management of lymphedema, offering an alternative that balances medical efficiency with improved patient satisfaction and demonstrates safety in healthy individuals. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OusakaDaiki en-aut-sei=Ousaka en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaKiyoshi en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Kiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakanoNoriko en-aut-sei=Sakano en-aut-mei=Noriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KirinoSatoe en-aut-sei=Kirino en-aut-mei=Satoe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyakeKazumasa en-aut-sei=Miyake en-aut-mei=Kazumasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiTakumi en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Takumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaAkihiro en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaShintaro en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinaokaAkira en-aut-sei=Shinaoka en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OozawaSusumu en-aut-sei=Oozawa en-aut-mei=Susumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation, Lymphedema Treatment Center, Kousei Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Business Management, Matsuoka Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Production Engineering, Matsuoka Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Division of Sales, Kaihara Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Lymphatics and Edematology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Clinical Safety, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=compression garments kn-keyword=compression garments en-keyword=denim jeans kn-keyword=denim jeans en-keyword=long-term management kn-keyword=long-term management en-keyword=lower-extremity lymphedema kn-keyword=lower-extremity lymphedema en-keyword=quality of life kn-keyword=quality of life END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2026 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=7874254 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Experimental Analysis of Automatic Discrimination Performance Between Simulated Bruxism and Non‐Bruxism Under Conscious Conditions Using Electromyography and Machine Learning en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of machine learning to automatically classify electromyography (EMG) data into bruxism simulated movement with tooth contact (BMwTC), bruxism simulated movement without tooth contact (BMwoTC), and non-bruxism movement (non-BM).
Methods: Twelve eligible healthy participants (female/male: 2/10, mean age: 35.3 ± 8.4 years) were asked to perform the simulated movements (all the tasks were performed five times for 5 s each with a 30-s rest interval). The electrodes were placed on the masseter, infrahyoid, inframandibular, and chin muscles. A sound sensor was placed adjacent to the masseter. The EMG and sound data were sampled at 1 and 44.1 kHz, respectively. Single- and multi-stream hidden Markov models (HMMs) were used to automatically discriminate the tested behavior from the others using a hamming window with 100 ms and shift length of 50 ms. The leave-one-out method was used for training and testing the model, with data from 11 participants used for training and one for testing. Each participant was evaluated, and the final performance was measured by averaging the results of 12 classification trials. The validity of the discrimination was assessed by calculating the harmony mean values using six EMG signals and the sound data.
Results: The masseter EMG demonstrated significantly higher discrimination accuracy in the single-stream model (p  < 0.05, One-way ANOVA, Tukey HDS). The multi-stream model also demonstrated higher accuracy; however, no significant difference was observed. Notably, the accuracy of BMwoTC was less than 0.5.
Conclusion: The machine-learning-based discriminative system accurately discriminates BMwTC from non-BM using masseter EMG. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MinakuchiHajime en-aut-sei=Minakuchi en-aut-mei=Hajime kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagasakiMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Nagasaki en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ĐìnhLộc Hoàng en-aut-sei=Đình en-aut-mei=Lộc Hoàng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MikiHaruna en-aut-sei=Miki en-aut-mei=Haruna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriKo en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Ko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraTazuko en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Tazuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubokiTakuo en-aut-sei=Kuboki en-aut-mei=Takuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinematsuNobuaki en-aut-sei=Minematsu en-aut-mei=Nobuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= en-keyword=bruxism kn-keyword=bruxism en-keyword=dentistry kn-keyword=dentistry en-keyword=electromyography kn-keyword=electromyography en-keyword=EMG discrimination kn-keyword=EMG discrimination en-keyword=machine learning kn-keyword=machine learning END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=10 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e2025-0068 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251229 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Is Saline Sealing of Needle Tract Effective to Prevent Pneumothorax after Computed Tomography-guided Lung Biopsy? en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of needle tract sealing using normal saline instillation for decreasing the risk of pneumothorax after computed tomography-guided lung biopsy.
Material and Methods: This retrospective, single-institution study included 391 computed tomography-guided lung biopsies performed by 12 operators between January 2022 and October 2024. After exclusion, 298 biopsies were analyzed by comparing the saline seal (n = 138) and control (n = 160) groups. A 17/18-gauge or 19/20-gauge coaxial biopsy system was used, and tract sealing was performed by instilling 1-5 mL of normal saline during the withdrawal of the introducer needle in the saline seal group; tract sealing was not performed in the control group. After 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to balance baseline characteristics, the incidences of pneumothorax and chest tube placement were compared between the two groups using Fisher's exact test.
Results: After propensity score matching, 108 pairs (mean lesion size: 17 mm) were well balanced. The incidence of pneumothorax did not differ significantly between the control and saline seal groups (50.0% vs. 60.2%, respectively; p = 0.171). Similarly, the incidence of chest tube placement was not significantly different between the two groups (7.4% vs. 13.0%, respectively; p = 0.260).
Conclusions: According to the propensity score-matched analysis, normal saline instillation for tract sealing did not significantly reduce the incidence of pneumothorax or chest tube placement. In our cohort, which had a high prevalence of small lesions, saline sealing alone may be insufficient to reduce post-biopsy pneumothorax risk. Hence, combined strategies require further investigation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkamotoSoichiro en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuiYusuke en-aut-sei=Matsui en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomitaKoji en-aut-sei=Tomita en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MunetomoKazuaki en-aut-sei=Munetomo en-aut-mei=Kazuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmakoshiNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Umakoshi en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IguchiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Iguchi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirakiTakao en-aut-sei=Hiraki en-aut-mei=Takao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=pneumothorax kn-keyword=pneumothorax en-keyword=lung biopsy kn-keyword=lung biopsy en-keyword=image-guided biopsy kn-keyword=image-guided biopsy en-keyword=needle tract sealing kn-keyword=needle tract sealing END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=1786 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251221 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Salivary short chain fatty acids serve as biomarkers of periodontal inflammatory burden en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with systemic diseases. Early detection and intervention are crucial; however, conventional diagnostic methods require specialized dental procedures. Therefore, we aimed to develop a noninvasive saliva-based screening method that can be easily performed outside dental clinics. This cross-sectional pilot study evaluated three periodontal indices—probing depth, Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA), and periodontal epithelial surface area—in relation to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bacterial profiles in the saliva. Saliva samples collected during the day exhibited stronger correlations with periodontal indices than waking time samples, demonstrating a significant association with periodontal pathogens, protease activity, and elevated levels of butyric acid. The diagnostic thresholds for PISA were 300 mm2 and 600 mm2. Multivariate logistic regression and likelihood ratio analyses identified the combination of enzymatic SCFA markers and dipstick-based occult blood or leukocyte detection as a promising biomarker pair. Combining enzymatic SCFA markers with occult blood demonstrated a positive likelihood ratio of 3.4 and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.19 for PISA ≥ 600 mm2, with a post-test probability of 77%, sensitivity of 86%, and specificity of 75%. These findings suggest that combining salivary enzymatic and dipstick-based biomarkers provides a simple, cost-effective, and moderately informative screening strategy for periodontitis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Takeuchi-HatanakaKazu en-aut-sei=Takeuchi-Hatanaka en-aut-mei=Kazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShirahaseYasushi en-aut-sei=Shirahase en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonoMari en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Mari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyaNaoki en-aut-sei=Toya en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonishiKenji en-aut-sei=Konishi en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakashibaShogo en-aut-sei=Takashiba en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Division of Periodontics and Endodontics, Department of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Sysmex Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Sysmex Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Sysmex Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Sysmex Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Present address: Diagnostics Division, IVD Enzyme Department, Nagase Diagnostics kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Periodontitis kn-keyword=Periodontitis en-keyword=Screening kn-keyword=Screening en-keyword=Saliva kn-keyword=Saliva en-keyword=Short-chain fatty acid kn-keyword=Short-chain fatty acid en-keyword=Periodontal inflamed surface area kn-keyword=Periodontal inflamed surface area en-keyword=Crosssectional studies kn-keyword=Crosssectional studies END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=9 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e2500182 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202509 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Development and Validation of an Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence Risk Estimation Tool Incorporating Real-World Data and Evidence From Meta-Analyses: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose Ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) remains a critical concern for patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Reliable risk estimation tools for IBTR risk can support personalized surgical and adjuvant treatment decisions, especially in the era of evolving systemic therapies. We aimed to develop and validate models to estimate IBTR risk.
Patients and Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 8,938 women who underwent partial mastectomy for invasive breast cancer between 2008 and 2017. Prediction models were developed using Cox proportional hazards regression and validated via bootstrap resampling. Model performance was assessed using Harrell's C-index, Brier scores, calibration plots, and goodness-of-fit tests.
Results During a median follow-up of 9.0 years (IQR, 6.6-10.9), IBTR occurred in 320 patients (3.6%). The initial model, based on variables from Sanghani et al, achieved a Harrell's C-index of 0.74. Incorporating hormonal receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy as predictors reduced the C-index to 0.65, despite their clinical relevance. Importantly, the inclusion of these factors improved calibration, demonstrating better alignment between predicted and observed IBTR probabilities. Although the hazard ratios (HRs) for radiotherapy aligned with the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group meta-analyses (MA), those for chemotherapy and endocrine therapy showed slight differences. Therefore, HRs from the MA were used to represent treatment effects in our model.
Conclusion We have developed and internally validated a new risk estimation model for IBTR using Cox regression and bootstrap methods. A Web-based risk estimation tool is now available to facilitate individualized risk assessment and treatment planning. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SagaraYasuaki en-aut-sei=Sagara en-aut-mei=Yasuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraYuri en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Yuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshitobiMakoto en-aut-sei=Ishitobi en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnoYuka en-aut-sei=Ono en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYuko en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsukiokiTakahiro en-aut-sei=Tsukioki en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakadaKoji en-aut-sei=Takada en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoYuri en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Yuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsakoTomo en-aut-sei=Osako en-aut-mei=Tomo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakaiTakehiko en-aut-sei=Sakai en-aut-mei=Takehiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Hakuaikai Sagara Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, St Luke's International Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery, Osaka Habikino Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiation Oncology and Image-Applied Therapy, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Statistics, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Pathology, The Cancer Institute of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2026 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=9991157 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pain Management Among Nurses in University-Affiliated Hospitals in Western Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Pain is a major global concern. Nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward pain management are critical determinants of pain care quality and patient outcomes, making them essential for effective clinical practice.
Objective: This study aimed to assess nurses’ pain management knowledge and attitudes using the Japanese version of the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (J-KASRP), applied for the first time in Japan, and to examine how background factors affect these aspects.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1589 nurses in three university-affiliated hospitals in Western Japan. Data were collected using a questionnaire capturing sociodemographic information and the J-KASRP. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and effect size were used to analyze J-KASRP scores and subdomains. Tukey’s honestly significant difference test was applied for post hoc comparisons across clinical experience patterns.
Results: Of 1001 respondents, 856 valid responses (85.5%) were analyzed. The mean age was 30.1 years (SD = 8.3), and the mean total correct response rate for the J-KASRP was 59.8%; only 1.3% scored ≥ 80%. Cancer-related pain had the lowest J-KASRP subdomain score (42.5%, SD = 20.3%). Higher total J-KASRP scores were found for those with a higher level of education, prior clinical pain education, and recent opioid administration experience (all p < 0.001, effect size > 0.2). In an exploratory pattern analysis, regardless of education level, respondents with both education and opioid administering experience had the highest total and pharmacology subdomains’ scores. No significant differences in cancer-related pain subdomain were observed across patterns of clinical experiences.
Conclusions: This first application of the J-KASRP in Japan revealed that nurses’ pain management knowledge and attitudes need to be strengthened, especially for cancer-related pain and opioid pharmacology. The study findings highlight the importance of pain management strengthening education and training to enhance nurses’ evidence-based knowledge and clinical competence. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=XiMengyao en-aut-sei=Xi en-aut-mei=Mengyao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KajiwaraYuki en-aut-sei=Kajiwara en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiramatsuTakako en-aut-sei=Hiramatsu en-aut-mei=Takako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimotoMichiko en-aut-sei=Morimoto en-aut-mei=Michiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=knowledge andattitudes kn-keyword=knowledge andattitudes en-keyword=nurses kn-keyword=nurses en-keyword=painmanagement kn-keyword=painmanagement END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=e97931 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251127 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Perioperative Multidisciplinary Intervention Led to Complete Minimally Invasive Transthoracic Esophagectomy for a Patient With Severe Lung Dysfunction: A Case Report en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Risk factors for postoperative pneumonia after esophagectomy include smoking, severe lung dysfunction, and sarcopenia. Heavy smokers often have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is associated with poor physical activity and low muscle strength. Sarcopenia is also associated with decreased physical function and malnutrition. These factors lead to a close relationship between COPD and sarcopenia. This report describes the case of a 74-year-old man who presented with dysphagia and was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer with lymph node metastasis. Preoperative respiratory function testing showed a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 0.76 L because of his past smoking and COPD. Multidisciplinary intervention was started, along with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Preoperative management improved his physical function. Robot-assisted thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy with the patient in the prone position was performed with curative resection and no severe postoperative complications. The perioperative multidisciplinary intervention improved physical functions and enabled safe robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for the patient with severe lung dysfunction in the prone position. This case highlights that not only respiratory status but also physical parameters should be taken into account when considering whether a patient can tolerate surgery safely. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsumotoMakoto en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HashimotoMasashi en-aut-sei=Hashimoto en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawasakiKento en-aut-sei=Kawasaki en-aut-mei=Kento kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunitomoTomoyoshi en-aut-sei=Kunitomo en-aut-mei=Tomoyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaNaoaki en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Naoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeShunsuke en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NomaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Noma en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraToshiyoshi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Toshiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=copd kn-keyword=copd en-keyword=esophagectomy kn-keyword=esophagectomy en-keyword=perioperative multidisciplinary intervention kn-keyword=perioperative multidisciplinary intervention en-keyword=perioperative rehabilitation kn-keyword=perioperative rehabilitation en-keyword=respiratory function training and rehabilitation kn-keyword=respiratory function training and rehabilitation en-keyword=sarcopenia kn-keyword=sarcopenia en-keyword=severe pulmonary dysfunction kn-keyword=severe pulmonary dysfunction END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251229 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Genotype–Phenotype Correlations of Li–Fraumeni Syndrome in Japan Children's Cancer Group LFS20 Study Cohort en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germline pathogenic variants in the TP53 gene. With the increasing use of multi-gene panel testing, TP53 variants have been identified in individuals who do not meet established TP53 testing criteria, such as the Chompret criteria. The term “attenuated LFS” has been proposed for some of these cases, particularly those with adult-onset cancer. We analyzed participants of the Japanese nationwide prospective clinical trial of the cancer surveillance program (Japan Children's Cancer Group LFS-20), along with clinical information including their family histories, to better understand their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. We identified 32 distinct TP53 variants from 41 families (45 participants), including four missense variants with conflicting classifications of pathogenicity in ClinVar. Among these families, 36 (88%) met the LFS criteria (hereafter referred to as “LFS” in contrast to attenuated LFS), while 5 (12%) were classified as attenuated LFS. Including 30 additional family members carrying the same variant, we analyzed 75 individuals with TP53 variants. Of these, 40 with LFS and 6 with attenuated LFS had cancer. Multiple primary cancers occurred in 22 individuals (21 LFS, 1 attenuated LFS). LFS-core tumors accounted for 66% (58/88) of cancers in the LFS group and 63% (5/8) in the attenuated LFS group; of note, all core tumors in the attenuated group were limited to breast cancer. Hotspot missense variants were detected in 11 of 36 LFS families and in none of 5 attenuated LFS families, and non-hotspot null variants were found in 14 and 1, respectively. Our study revealed genotype–phenotype correlations in several respects. UMIN-CTR: UMIN000045855. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamazakiFumito en-aut-sei=Yamazaki en-aut-mei=Fumito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoYoshiko en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Yoshiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SanadaMasashi en-aut-sei=Sanada en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurahashiHiroki en-aut-sei=Kurahashi en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyaiShunsuke en-aut-sei=Miyai en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=UekiArisa en-aut-sei=Ueki en-aut-mei=Arisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeYuko en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaDaisuke en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KarakawaShuhei en-aut-sei=Karakawa en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirasawaAkira en-aut-sei=Hirasawa en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoAkiko M. en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Akiko M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueEisuke en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Eisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoMotohiro en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Motohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=HattoriHiroyoshi en-aut-sei=Hattori en-aut-mei=Hiroyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Genetic Medicine and Services, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Advanced Diagnosis, Clinical Research Center, NHO Nagoya Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Molecular Genetics, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Molecular Genetics, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genetic Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, St. Luke's International Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Clinical Research Center, NHO Nagoya Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Showa Medical University Research Administration Center, Showa Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genetics, NHO Nagoya Medical Center kn-affil= en-keyword=cancer predisposition kn-keyword=cancer predisposition en-keyword=genotype–phenotype correlations kn-keyword=genotype–phenotype correlations en-keyword=hotspot variants kn-keyword=hotspot variants en-keyword=Li–Fraumeni syndrome kn-keyword=Li–Fraumeni syndrome en-keyword=TP53 kn-keyword=TP53 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250923 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Hospital-acquired pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 15A en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia but is an infrequent pathogen in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Non-vaccine serotypes of multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. pneumoniae strains have been emerging globally, posing an increased risk of nosocomial infection.
Case A 71 year-old man developed pneumonia on postoperative day 4 following spinal fusion surgery. Despite initial treatment with ampicillin/sulbactam, his condition deteriorated, requiring ICU admission and mechanical ventilation. Microbiological testing confirmed S. pneumoniae as a causative pathogen, and ceftriaxone was empirically administered based on the local antibiogram. However, antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed resistant profiles to penicillin (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC], 8 µg/mL), ceftriaxone (MIC, 16 µg/mL), meropenem (MIC, 1 µg/mL), macrolides, and clindamycin, while demonstrating susceptibility to levofloxacin and vancomycin. The therapeutic regimen was subsequently adjusted to levofloxacin, resulting in clinical improvement. The isolate was later identified as serotype 15A, sequence type 63 (ST63).
Conclusion This case highlights that MDR S. pneumoniae can cause early-onset HAP and may not be covered by standard empiric therapies, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation of treatment response. Continued surveillance of infections caused by vaccine-escape clones like MDR serotype 15A is essential, given their increasing clinical relevance. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AkazawaHidemasa en-aut-sei=Akazawa en-aut-mei=Hidemasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukushimaShinnosuke en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Shinnosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamotoKenta en-aut-sei=Nakamoto en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguniKohei en-aut-sei=Oguni en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimbeMadoka en-aut-sei=Shimbe en-aut-mei=Madoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ChangBin en-aut-sei=Chang en-aut-mei=Bin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkedaYukihiro en-aut-sei=Akeda en-aut-mei=Yukihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Antimicrobial resistance kn-keyword=Antimicrobial resistance en-keyword=Multidrug-resistant kn-keyword=Multidrug-resistant en-keyword=Nosocomial infection kn-keyword=Nosocomial infection en-keyword=Sequence type 63 kn-keyword=Sequence type 63 en-keyword=Serotype 15A kn-keyword=Serotype 15A en-keyword=Streptococcus pneumoniae kn-keyword=Streptococcus pneumoniae END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=10 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=20250037 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Perme ICU Mobility Score: An Initial Psychometric Evaluation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives : The Perme ICU Mobility Score is widely used to assess functional status, but no version of this assessment tool has been validated for use in Japan. This study aimed to translate the Perme Score into Japanese and evaluate its reliability and validity.
Methods : Following forward–backward translation, the Japanese Perme Score was tested at ICU discharge. Inter-rater reliability was examined using weighted kappa coefficient. Construct validity was assessed through correlations with the Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS), Functional Status Score for the ICU (FSS-ICU), and ICU Mobility Scale (IMS). Predictive validity for activities of daily living (ADL) independence (Barthel Index ≥ 85) and discharge destination was evaluated using Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Floor and ceiling effects were also analyzed.
Results : In 69 patients, the Japanese Perme Score showed high inter-rater reliability (κ=0.83). It showed moderate correlation with FSS-ICU (rho=0.61) and IMS (rho=0.73), and it showed weak correlation with MRC-SS (rho=0.36). Predictive validity for ADL independence and home discharge yielded AUCs of 0.76 and 0.73, respectively. A ceiling effect was noted in 10% of cases, with no floor effect.
Conclusions: The Japanese Perme Score is a reliable, valid instrument for evaluating physical function at ICU discharge. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KatayamaSho en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaTomohiro en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanishiNobuto en-aut-sei=Nakanishi en-aut-mei=Nobuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsukawaHajime en-aut-sei=Katsukawa en-aut-mei=Hajime kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NawaRicardo Kenji en-aut-sei=Nawa en-aut-mei=Ricardo Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=PermeChristiane en-aut-sei=Perme en-aut-mei=Christiane kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMasanori en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoIkumi en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Ikumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirohataSatoshi en-aut-sei=Hirohata en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Scientific Research, Japanese Society for Early Mobilization kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation Services, Houston Methodist Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Academic Field of Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Academic Field of Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=critical illness kn-keyword=critical illness en-keyword=intensive care unit kn-keyword=intensive care unit en-keyword=outcome assessment kn-keyword=outcome assessment en-keyword=physical function kn-keyword=physical function en-keyword=rehabilitation kn-keyword=rehabilitation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=100511 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202503 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Genetic variability in Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in a Japanese hospital en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: Neisseria meningitidis is a significant pathogen causing invasive meningococcal disease, posing clinical and public health concerns worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the genetic characteristics of N. meningitidis clinical isolates at Okayama University Hospital in Japan.
Methods: Between 2018 and 2023, five clinical strains were isolated, of which three were subjected to the antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genetic analysis using MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA).
Results: One non-groupable isolate, belonging to sequence types (STs)-11026 (ST-32 complex), exhibited non-susceptibility to penicillin G, with a five-mutation pattern (F504L, A510V, I515V, H541N, and I566V) in the penA amino acid sequence and additional mutations (XXXIV and N513Y) characteristic of a mosaic penA gene. The other two isolates, ST-1655 (ST-23 complex) with serogroup Y and ST-2057 with serogroup B, were susceptible to penicillin G, neither of which contained the five-mutation pattern. Levofloxacin resistance was observed in two isolates carrying the T91I mutation in the gyrA protein.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest the presence of antimicrobial-resistant N. meningitidis in Japan, underscoring the necessity for continuous local surveillance. Additional research is crucial for clarifying the ongoing spread of resistance mechanisms and for establishing effective countermeasures to reduce the clinical burden of invasive meningococcal disease. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=GotohKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Gotoh en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukushimaShinnosuke en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Shinnosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiShuma en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Shuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IioKoji en-aut-sei=Iio en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsushitaOsamu en-aut-sei=Matsushita en-aut-mei=Osamu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Microbiology Division, Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Antimicrobial resistance kn-keyword=Antimicrobial resistance en-keyword=Invasive meningococcal disease kn-keyword=Invasive meningococcal disease en-keyword=Drug-resistant gene kn-keyword=Drug-resistant gene en-keyword=Genome sequence kn-keyword=Genome sequence END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=74 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=6009610 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Small Distance Increment Method for Measuring Complex Permittivity With mmWave Radar en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Measuring the complex permittivity of material is essential in many scenarios, such as quality checks in material manufacturing. Generally, measurement methods for characterizing the material are based on the use of a vector network analyzer (VNA), which is large and not easy for on-site measurement, especially in high-frequency range such as millimeter wave (mmWave). In addition, some measurement methods require the destruction of samples, which is not suitable for nondestructive inspection. In this work, a small distance increment (SDI) method is proposed to nondestructively measure the complex permittivity of a material. In SDI, the transmitter and receiver are formed as a monostatic radar, which is facing toward the material under test (MUT). During the measurement, the distance between the radar and the MUT changes with small increments, and the signals are recorded at each position. A mathematical model is formulated to depict the relationship among the complex permittivity, distance increment, and measured signals. By fitting the model, the complex permittivity of MUT is estimated. To implement and evaluate the proposed SDI method, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) mmWave radar is utilized, and the measurement system is developed. Then, the evaluation was carried out on the acrylic plate. With the proposed method, the estimated complex permittivity of the acrylic plate shows good agreement with the literature values, demonstrating the efficacy of the SDI method for characterizing the complex permittivity of the material. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SongHang en-aut-sei=Song en-aut-mei=Hang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimHyun Joon en-aut-sei=Kim en-aut-mei=Hyun Joon kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WanMingxia en-aut-sei=Wan en-aut-mei=Mingxia kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=WeiBo en-aut-sei=Wei en-aut-mei=Bo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KikkawaTakamaro en-aut-sei=Kikkawa en-aut-mei=Takamaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakadaJun-Ichi en-aut-sei=Takada en-aut-mei=Jun-Ichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= en-keyword=Complex permittivity measurement kn-keyword=Complex permittivity measurement en-keyword=material characterization kn-keyword=material characterization en-keyword=millimeter wave (mmWave) radar kn-keyword=millimeter wave (mmWave) radar en-keyword=nondestructive inspection kn-keyword=nondestructive inspection en-keyword=small distance increment (SDI) method kn-keyword=small distance increment (SDI) method END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=137 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=118 end-page=125 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251201 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=The results of COVID-19 antibody testing studies in Bizen, Japan kn-title=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 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=　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. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YorifujiTakashi en-aut-sei=Yorifuji en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name=頼藤貴志 kn-aut-sei=頼藤 kn-aut-mei=貴志 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakiAyako en-aut-sei=Sasaki en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name=佐々木綾子 kn-aut-sei=佐々木 kn-aut-mei=綾子 aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoNaomi en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Naomi kn-aut-name=松本尚美 kn-aut-sei=松本 kn-aut-mei=尚美 aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KadowakiTomoka en-aut-sei=Kadowaki en-aut-mei=Tomoka kn-aut-name=門脇知花 kn-aut-sei=門脇 kn-aut-mei=知花 aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name=三橋利晴 kn-aut-sei=三橋 kn-aut-mei=利晴 aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaoSoshi en-aut-sei=Takao en-aut-mei=Soshi kn-aut-name=高尾総司 kn-aut-sei=高尾 kn-aut-mei=総司 aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学学術研究院医歯薬学域　疫学・衛生学 affil-num=2 en-affil=Kurashiki City Public Health Center kn-affil=倉敷市保健所 affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学学術研究院医歯薬学域　疫学・衛生学 affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Public Health Action in Applied Epidemiology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases kn-affil=国立感染症研究所　応用疫学研究センター affil-num=5 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil=岡山大学病院　新医療研究開発センター affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学学術研究院医歯薬学域　疫学・衛生学 en-keyword=COVID-19 kn-keyword=COVID-19 en-keyword=ワクチン (vaccination) kn-keyword=ワクチン (vaccination) en-keyword=抗体価 (antibody titer) kn-keyword=抗体価 (antibody titer) en-keyword=感染 (infection) kn-keyword=感染 (infection) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=37 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=012041 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250201 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=High-quality welding of copper and aluminum by angled laser irradiation and insert metals en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Copper is an important material in order to use electricity effectively, and aluminum is also an attractive material to perform lightweight construction. Laser welding of copper and aluminum is required, and there are some reports to weld copper and aluminum firmly by laser irradiation from the aluminum side. On the other hand, laser irradiation from the copper side requires high power density to generate a keyhole, which causes the strong convection of molten aluminum into copper. Thus, brittle intermetallic compounds with rich aluminum result in the deterioration of joining strength. Angled laser irradiation enables mild heat input to the aluminum side, and the combination of angled and superposed irradiation of blue and near-infrared (NIR) lasers achieved a remarkable increase of breaking strength. However, the breaking strength is still lower than the base materials. Therefore, insert materials between copper and aluminum plates were investigated by the angled irradiation of blue and NIR lasers from the copper side. The breaking strength with insert materials showed higher values in the order of titanium mesh, nickel foil, and nickel mesh, and its value with the nickel mesh was close to the tensile strength of aluminum in a cross tensile test. Further improvement of breaking strength is possible by inserting the nickel mesh between copper and aluminum plates in the case of angled irradiation of blue and NIR lasers even from the copper side. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkamotoYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaYuki en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaAkira en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyakeMasaki en-aut-sei=Miyake en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamuraTakeshi en-aut-sei=Yamamura en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagasakiKatsutoshi en-aut-sei=Nagasaki en-aut-mei=Katsutoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiNorio en-aut-sei=Nishi en-aut-mei=Norio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Kataoka Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Kataoka Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Kataoka Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Kataoka Corporation kn-affil= en-keyword=welding kn-keyword=welding en-keyword=copper kn-keyword=copper en-keyword=aluminum kn-keyword=aluminum en-keyword=insert metal kn-keyword=insert metal en-keyword=intermetallic compound kn-keyword=intermetallic compound en-keyword=fiber laser kn-keyword=fiber laser en-keyword=blue laser kn-keyword=blue laser en-keyword=angled irradiation kn-keyword=angled irradiation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=57 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=632 end-page=645 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202603 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Robust adhesion between solid-state hydroxyapatite and bone tissue through surface demineralization en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective: Current bone adhesives typically lack adequate mechanical strength, long-term stability, or biocompatibility. To address these limitations, we designed a new adhesion strategy using a solid-state hydroxyapatite (HAp) adhesive in combination with bone surface demineralization.
Methods: Solid-state HAp adhesives were synthesized via wet chemical precipitation and heat treatment. Cortical bone specimens were partially demineralized with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Shear adhesion strength of HAp to demineralized bone was measured over time. In vivo fixation was assessed in rats using micro-computed tomography and histology. Statistical analysis used Tukey-Kramer tests after normality and variance checks.
Results: Although the HAp adhesive failed to adhere to non-demineralized bone, effective adhesion was achieved on the surface-demineralized bone tissue. Shear adhesion strength was significantly higher in EDTA-treated samples (238.4 kPa at 10 h) compared to H3PO4-treated samples (102.9 kPa at 1 h), with performance correlating with demineralization depth. ATR-FTIR and SEM analyses revealed that EDTA preserved collagen's triple-helix structure and free water content, both enhancing adhesion. Animal experiments confirmed stable fixation of HAp adhesive to demineralized bone tissue.
Conclusions: Surface demineralization enabled strong adhesion of the solid-state HAp adhesive to bone by exposing collagen swollen with water. Adhesion strength was influenced by structural changes in the demineralized layer, and the adhesive provided stable in vivo fixation, supporting its potential for bone-anchored biomedical applications. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=XieShichao en-aut-sei=Xie en-aut-mei=Shichao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AoyagiHaruyuki en-aut-sei=Aoyagi en-aut-mei=Haruyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtakaAkihisa en-aut-sei=Otaka en-aut-mei=Akihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YangXiaofeng en-aut-sei=Yang en-aut-mei=Xiaofeng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoTakayoshi en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Takayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoTakuya en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Solid-state adhesive kn-keyword=Solid-state adhesive en-keyword=Hydroxyapatite kn-keyword=Hydroxyapatite en-keyword=Demineralized bone kn-keyword=Demineralized bone en-keyword=Collagen kn-keyword=Collagen en-keyword=Hydration kn-keyword=Hydration END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=11 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=100998 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202508 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Robustness of the RGB image-based estimation for rice above-ground biomass by utilizing the dataset collected across multiple locations en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Above-ground biomass (AGB) is a critical phenotype representing crop growth. Non-invasive evaluations of AGB, including deep-learning-based red-green-blue (RGB) image analyses, are often specific to the training data. The robustness of the estimation model across untrained conditions is essential to monitor crop productivity globally, but it has yet to be fully assessed. This study aims to assess the robustness of a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for rice AGB estimation across five locations in three countries, and to demonstrate the feasibility of robust model via a practical approach. From transplanting to heading, 1957 RGB images were captured vertically downward over the rice canopy, covering approximately 1 m2. First, a base model was established using data collected from a single location. Then, its robustness was assessed using test datasets taken from the other four locations. The CNN model showed a significant variation in estimation accuracy across the untrained four locations, indicating insufficient robustness of the base model. Subsequently, we quantitatively tested the impact of improving training data diversity on model robustness by adding data from each of the four locations to the base model's training data. Adding at most 48 data points from a location achieved practical accuracy for the added location, with R2Ad above 0.8. Interestingly, adding data from one location sometimes improved the accuracy for other untrained locations as well. These findings suggest that collecting diverse training data for RGB-based estimation, combined with evaluation of robustness paves the way for on-site and instant AGB monitoring of rice. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakajimaKota en-aut-sei=Nakajima en-aut-mei=Kota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoKazuki en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujimotoYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Tsujimoto en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaiToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Takai en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MochizukiAtsushi en-aut-sei=Mochizuki en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaguchiTomoaki en-aut-sei=Yamaguchi en-aut-mei=Tomoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IbrahimAli en-aut-sei=Ibrahim en-aut-mei=Ali kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MairouaSalifou Goube en-aut-sei=Mairoua en-aut-mei=Salifou Goube kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=AndrianaryBruce Haja en-aut-sei=Andrianary en-aut-mei=Bruce Haja kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsuraKeisuke en-aut-sei=Katsura en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaYu en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=CHIBA Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil= Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Regional Station for the Sahel kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Laboratoire des Radioisotopes, Université d′Antananarivo kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Robustness kn-keyword=Robustness en-keyword=RGB image kn-keyword=RGB image en-keyword=Rice, Above-ground biomass kn-keyword=Rice, Above-ground biomass en-keyword=Convolutional neural network kn-keyword=Convolutional neural network END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=437 end-page=444 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202512 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Frailty at 1 Month before ICU Admission Poses a Hospital Mortality Risk in Cancer Survivors whose Condition Has Deteriorated due to Medical Factors en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The optimal indications for intensive care unit (ICU) treatment for critically ill cancer survivors whose condition has deteriorated due to medical factors are unclear. To test our hypothesis that frailty before deterioration was associated with hospital mortality in this patient population, we retrospective analyzed the cases of the patients admitted to the ICU at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Japan (April 2014-March 2022). We excluded patients who underwent surgery within 28 days or were denied critical care within 24 h or admitted after cardiopulmonary arrest. Their Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores at 1 month before ICU admission (Pre-ICU) were obtained. Frailty was defined as CFS scores ≥4 points. We analyzed 298 admissions and observed that the mortality rate at hospital discharge was significantly higher in the frailty group (n=119). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the following factors were significantly associated with hospital mortality: Pre-ICU frailty (OR 2.00, 95%CI: 1.19-3.36, p=0.009), cancer type (hematological: OR 2.93, 95%CI: 1.42-6.05, p=0.004), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at ICU admission (OR 0.88, 95%CI: 0.82-0.95, p=0.0008). Frailty retrospectively assessed using the CFS at 1 month pre-ICU admission is a risk factor for hospital mortality in these cancer survivors. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsumiJunya en-aut-sei=Matsumi en-aut-mei=Junya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoTetsufumi en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Tetsufumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=frailty kn-keyword=frailty en-keyword=cancer survivor kn-keyword=cancer survivor en-keyword=clinical frailty scale kn-keyword=clinical frailty scale en-keyword=cancer kn-keyword=cancer en-keyword=critically ill kn-keyword=critically ill END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=431 end-page=436 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202512 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Association of Weekend Admission and In-Hospital Mortality in Adult Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The effect of weekend admission on patient mortality has been investigated in several therapeutic areas, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but the investigations’ results are controversial. We evaluated the relationship between in-hospital mortality and weekend admission in adult patients with AML in Japan by conducting a retrospective observational study using administrative data from 144 acute care hospitals from which patients were discharged between April 2014 and March 2019. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, compared between weekend and weekday admissions. Among the 1,340 eligible patients, 11% (150) were admitted during a weekend. The in-hospital mortality rates of the patients admitted during weekends and those admitted on a weekday were 28% (42/150) and 17% (204/1190), respectively. After an adjustment for covariates, weekend admission was associated with a significantly higher risk of in-hospital mortality than weekday admission (HR 1.70, 95%CI: 1.20-2.40; p=0.003). However, such an association was not observed in patients treated in a bio-clean room (HR 1.26, 95%CI: 0.65-2.42). Our results demonstrate that for patients with AML, weekend admission was independently associated with a higher risk of death during hospitalization. An appropriate system is necessary for these patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=InoueTakahiro en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuwabaraHiroyo en-aut-sei=Kuwabara en-aut-mei=Hiroyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoKoh en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Koh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Healthcare Management Research Center, Chiba University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Healthcare Management Research Center, Chiba University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=acute leukemia kn-keyword=acute leukemia en-keyword=weekend admission kn-keyword=weekend admission en-keyword=in-hospital mortality kn-keyword=in-hospital mortality en-keyword=bio-clean room kn-keyword=bio-clean room END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=421 end-page=429 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202512 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of Thoron Inhalation and Cyclosporin A Treatment on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Oxidative Damage in Mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Radon (222Rn; Rn) and thoron (220Rn; Tn) inhalation have been reported to enhance antioxidant activity in various organs. However, the effects of Tn on the colon have not been investigated. This study aimed to clarify the effects of Tn inhalation, alone and in combination with cyclosporin A (CsA), on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, and the accompanying oxidative stress, in mice. Male BALB/c mice were subjected to continuous 8-day Tn inhalation (c-Tn, 533±128 Bq/m3) or alternate-day Tn inhalation over the same period (f-Tn, 577±63Bq/m3), followed by treatment with 3% DSS and either CsA or vehicle for 7 days. Although the disease activity index (DAI) decreased significantly by day 2 in the c-Tn group, scores remained significantly higher than those in the f-Tn group. In the c-Tn group, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the colon were significantly elevated compared with those in sham controls. Thus, DSS-induced damage was effectively inhibited in the earlier stages by the c-Tn mode of inhalation than by the f-Tn mode. These findings suggest that continuous Tn inhalation more effectively attenuated early colitis symptoms than alternate-day inhalation, potentially through upregulation of antioxidant defenses. Tn and CsA showed no combined effects. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TanakaAyumi en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaoeShota en-aut-sei=Naoe en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakenakaReiju en-aut-sei=Takenaka en-aut-mei=Reiju kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanzakiNorie en-aut-sei=Kanzaki en-aut-mei=Norie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakodaAkihiro en-aut-sei=Sakoda en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaokaKiyonori en-aut-sei=Yamaoka en-aut-mei=Kiyonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KataokaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Kataoka en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=thoron kn-keyword=thoron en-keyword=DSS kn-keyword=DSS en-keyword=antioxidant activity kn-keyword=antioxidant activity en-keyword=CsA kn-keyword=CsA en-keyword=colon kn-keyword=colon END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=413 end-page=419 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202512 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=COVID-19 and the Risks of Migraine and Headache: A Mendelian Randomization Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Several observational studies suggested that migraine headache attacks were associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We investigated genetic causal links between COVID-19 phenotypes and the development of headache and migraine, including migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO). We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to estimate the genetic association in European populations. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main approach in the MR analyses, together with weighted median and MR-Egger methods. We also performed a series of sensitivity tests to assess the robustness of the MR results. The MR results demonstrated that COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, and susceptibility had no causal effect on the risks of headache, migraine, MA, or MO. No horizontal pleiotropy was detected, and the results were robust as supported by the sensitivity analysis findings. Our analyses identified no casual effect of COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, or susceptibility on the risks of headache or migraine in European populations. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=JiangZhiyun en-aut-sei=Jiang en-aut-mei=Zhiyun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=XiYing en-aut-sei=Xi en-aut-mei=Ying kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University kn-affil= en-keyword=headache kn-keyword=headache en-keyword=migraine kn-keyword=migraine en-keyword=Mendelian randomization kn-keyword=Mendelian randomization en-keyword=COVID-19 kn-keyword=COVID-19 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=5 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=101482 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202512 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Amelioration of Cd-induced bone deterioration by orally administered calcium phosphate en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that accumulates in the body, primarily through daily grain intake, and has a high affinity for bone, leading to skeletal diseases such as osteomalacia and fractures. Hydroxyapatite (HAp), a major bone mineral component, is highly pH-sensitive and is known to incorporate Cd, as observed in studies of Itai-itai disease. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that HAp could serve as an effective oral detoxification material for heavy metals. This study investigated the efficacy of orally administered HAp in inhibiting Cd-induced changes in bone physical and chemical properties, comparing its effects to those of activated charcoal (AC), a common detoxifying agent. Six-week-old male ICR mice were exposed to cadmium via drinking water containing CdCl2 and subsequently given diets containing either HAp or AC for four weeks. Three-point bending tests, micro-CT analysis, and histological observations of the femurs demonstrated that mice receiving HAp exhibited improved mechanical strength and enhanced bone quality protection compared to the control and other Cd-treated groups. Activated charcoal also contributed to bone quality improvement at low concentrations, but its effect diminished at high concentrations. These results suggest that the oral administration of HAp may be a promising therapeutic strategy for suppressing cadmium-induced osteomalacia. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SungPing-chin en-aut-sei=Sung en-aut-mei=Ping-chin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=BikharudinAhmad en-aut-sei=Bikharudin en-aut-mei=Ahmad kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MusaRanda en-aut-sei=Musa en-aut-mei=Randa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaKenta en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtakaAkihisa en-aut-sei=Otaka en-aut-mei=Akihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsusakaTadaaki en-aut-sei=Matsusaka en-aut-mei=Tadaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsugakiAira en-aut-sei=Matsugaki en-aut-mei=Aira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoTakayoshi en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Takayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoTakuya en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Cadmium kn-keyword=Cadmium en-keyword=Bone deterioration kn-keyword=Bone deterioration en-keyword=Calcium phosphate kn-keyword=Calcium phosphate en-keyword=Bone quality kn-keyword=Bone quality END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=55 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=547 end-page=555 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250223 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled study to test the utility of electronic patient-reported outcome monitoring in patients with unresectable advanced cancers or metastatic/recurrent solid tumors en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) monitoring for patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy may provide qualified and early detection of adverse events or disease-related symptoms, leading to improved patient care. The aim of this study is to examine whether addition of ePRO monitoring to routine medical care contributes to improved overall survival and quality of life of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients with unresectable advanced cancers or metastatic/recurrent solid tumors receiving systemic chemotherapy will be randomized to an ePRO monitoring group and a usual care group. The ePRO group will conduct weekly symptom monitoring using an electronic device after study enrollment until the end of the study. Monitoring results will be returned to medical personnel and used as information for patient care. The primary endpoints are overall survival and health related quality of life. The initial target sample size for the study was 1500 patients. However, due to delays in enrollment, the target was readjusted to 500 patients. Enrollment has been completed, and the study is now in the follow-up phase. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TairaNaruto en-aut-sei=Taira en-aut-mei=Naruto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiyotaNaomi en-aut-sei=Kiyota en-aut-mei=Naomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KikawaYuichiro en-aut-sei=Kikawa en-aut-mei=Yuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoKyoko en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Kyoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubotaKaoru en-aut-sei=Kubota en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TateishiRyosuke en-aut-sei=Tateishi en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakataAkinobu en-aut-sei=Nakata en-aut-mei=Akinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKeiichiro en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Keiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaritaYukiya en-aut-sei=Narita en-aut-mei=Yukiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HottaKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataHiroji en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Hiroji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=GemmaAkihiko en-aut-sei=Gemma en-aut-mei=Akihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimozumaKojiro en-aut-sei=Shimozuma en-aut-mei=Kojiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=MuroKei en-aut-sei=Muro en-aut-mei=Kei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwamotoTetsuya en-aut-sei=Iwamoto en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakumotoYuki en-aut-sei=Takumoto en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiroiwaTakeru en-aut-sei=Shiroiwa en-aut-mei=Takeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukudaTakashi en-aut-sei=Fukuda en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaguchiTakuhiro en-aut-sei=Yamaguchi en-aut-mei=Takuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiwaraYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Hagiwara en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinamiHironobu en-aut-sei=Minami en-aut-mei=Hironobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Center, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery, Kansai Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Advanced Clinical Research and Development, Nagoya City University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Biomed Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Center for Outcomes Research and Economic Evaluation for Health, National Institute of Public Health kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Center for Outcomes Research and Economic Evaluation for Health, National Institute of Public Health kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Center for Outcomes Research and Economic Evaluation for Health, National Institute of Public Health kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Center for Outcomes Research and Economic Evaluation for Health, National Institute of Public Health kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Division of Biostatistics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Biostatistics, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=electronic patient-reported outcomes monitoring kn-keyword=electronic patient-reported outcomes monitoring en-keyword=advanced cancers kn-keyword=advanced cancers en-keyword=systemic chemotherapy kn-keyword=systemic chemotherapy en-keyword=randomized controlled study kn-keyword=randomized controlled study en-keyword=quality of life kn-keyword=quality of life en-keyword=overall survival kn-keyword=overall survival END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=12 article-no= start-page=577 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251203 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of miR-128-3p on Renal Inflammation in a Rat Periodontitis Model en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: The study aim was to investigate the effects of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived miR-128-3p on renal inflammation using a rat periodontitis model. Methods: Ten-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: a control (n = 8) and a lipopolysaccharides (LPS) group (n = 8). The LPS group received LPS (Porphyromonas gingivalis) injection in the gingiva for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, plasma, gingival tissue, and kidney samples were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to evaluate the glomerular tissue injury score. Bioinformatic analysis was conducted to identify potential target genes of miR-128-3p. The reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate miR-128-3p, inflammatory, pro-inflammatory cytokine, chemokine and predicting gene’s expression. The control and LPS groups were compared using Welch’s t-test. p-values < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: The kidney glomerular tissue injury score was significantly higher in the LPS than in the control group. miR-128-3p expression in the LPS group was significantly higher in the gingival tissue and plasma. mRNAs (interleukin [IL]-1β, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 [CX3CL1], and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 7 [CXCL7]) expression was higher in the kidney of the LPS group. The potential target genes of activin A receptor type I (Acvr1), ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1 (Rps6kb1), and transforming growth factor beta receptor type 1 (Tgfbr1) were significantly lower in the kidneys of the LPS group. Conclusions: EVs-derived miR-128-3p in LPS induced periodontitis may cause kidney inflammation which may be mediated by, Rps6kb1, Tgfbr1, and Acvr1. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NurhamimMohammad en-aut-sei=Nurhamim en-aut-mei=Mohammad kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZhangYixuan en-aut-sei=Zhang en-aut-mei=Yixuan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaharaMomoko en-aut-sei=Nakahara en-aut-mei=Momoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukuharaDaiki en-aut-sei=Fukuhara en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagashimaYosei en-aut-sei=Nagashima en-aut-mei=Yosei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruyamaTakayuki en-aut-sei=Maruyama en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaManabu en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=EkuniDaisuke en-aut-sei=Ekuni en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral Health, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=extracellular vesicles kn-keyword=extracellular vesicles en-keyword=miR-128-3p kn-keyword=miR-128-3p en-keyword=mRNA kn-keyword=mRNA en-keyword=inflammation kn-keyword=inflammation en-keyword=periodontitis kn-keyword=periodontitis en-keyword=renal inflammation kn-keyword=renal inflammation en-keyword=lipopolysaccharide kn-keyword=lipopolysaccharide END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=64 cd-vols= no-issue=23 article-no= start-page=3413 end-page=3418 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251201 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Prompt Diagnosis of Ascites and Dramatic Effect of Alectinib for Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring EML4-ALK Fusion en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=A 75-year-old never-smoker woman presented with dyspnea and loss of appetite. A mass was identified in the left upper lobe of the lung, and the patient was referred to our hospital. Despite the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma via bronchoscopy, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) immunostaining was negative. Rapid weight gain and abdominal distension caused by ascites prompted fluid testing using the AmoyDx® Pan Lung Cancer PCR Panel. EML4-ALK fusion was confirmed, and alectinib therapy was initiated immediately. The tumor size had decreased significantly, and the patient was discharged on day 34. This case highlights the necessity of multiplex genetic testing even when ALK immunostaining is negative. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BabaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueHirofumi en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaHiromi en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Hiromi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KyakunoMio en-aut-sei=Kyakuno en-aut-mei=Mio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshinagaYusuke en-aut-sei=Yoshinaga en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeguchiTetsuya en-aut-sei=Takeguchi en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraMiho en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Miho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaKotaro en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraEri en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Eri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaAyako en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaraNaofumi en-aut-sei=Hara en-aut-mei=Naofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigoHisao en-aut-sei=Higo en-aut-mei=Hisao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiMasanori en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=RaiKammei en-aut-sei=Rai en-aut-mei=Kammei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiKadoaki en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Kadoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=HottaKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=TabataMasahiro en-aut-sei=Tabata en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=TogashiYosuke en-aut-sei=Togashi en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakimotoGo en-aut-sei=Makimoto en-aut-mei=Go kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Medical Support, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Medical Support, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Geriatric Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=lung adenocarcinoma kn-keyword=lung adenocarcinoma en-keyword=EML4-ALK kn-keyword=EML4-ALK en-keyword=AmoyDxⓇ Pan Lung Cancer PCR Panel kn-keyword=AmoyDxⓇ Pan Lung Cancer PCR Panel en-keyword=alectinib kn-keyword=alectinib END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=33 cd-vols= no-issue=12 article-no= start-page=1087 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251119 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Factors associated with period of sick leave after gynecologic cancer treatment: a prospective cohort study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose Gynecologic cancer is one of the most common malignancies in working-age women. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with period of sick leave after gynecologic cancer treatment in Japan.
Methods A prospective cohort study on period of sick leave was conducted among 207 cancer survivors who returned to work at the same workplace. Questionnaires were randomly distributed to patients aged under 65 years and more than one-year post-treatment. Clinical information was extracted from medical records, and the factors influencing the period of sick leave were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test and logistic regression analysis.
Results Surgery plus more than six courses of chemotherapy (number (n) = 41, 166.02 ± 146.84 days) led to a significantly longer period of sick leave than surgery without lymph node dissection (n = 64, 31.15 ± 30.47 days), surgery with lymph node dissection (n = 41, 55.56 ± 85.90 days), surgery plus less than six courses of chemotherapy (n = 21, 72.42 ± 56.07 days), and radiotherapy alone (n = 21, 58.85 ± 84.24 days) (OR: 2.63, 2.95, 2.67, and 2.08; 95% CI: 7.71–54.59, 18.17–92.94, 18.22–126.63, and 2.38–115.33; p = 0.009, p = 0.004, p = 0.009, and p = 0.041). gynecologic cancer survivors who experienced adverse effects after treatment had a significantly longer period of sick leave (OR: 8.50; CI: 52.98–84.98; p < 0.001). In univariate and multivariate analyses, patients who received surgery plus more than six courses of chemotherapy were most involved in long period of sick leave than other factors (OR: 11.20, and 16.997; CI: 4.86–25.08, and 5.51–52.35; p < 0.001, and p < 0.001).
Conclusion Patients with gynecologic cancer requiring long-term treatment required the most time to return to work. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TaniYoshinori en-aut-sei=Tani en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKeiichiro en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Keiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiharaHanako en-aut-sei=Sugihara en-aut-mei=Hanako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShirakawaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Shirakawa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaHirofumi en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IdaNaoyuki en-aut-sei=Ida en-aut-mei=Naoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaragaJunko en-aut-sei=Haraga en-aut-mei=Junko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaChikako en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Chikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=EtoEriko en-aut-sei=Eto en-aut-mei=Eriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaoShoji en-aut-sei=Nagao en-aut-mei=Shoji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasuyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Masuyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=Period of sick leave kn-keyword=Period of sick leave en-keyword=Surgery plus chemotherapy kn-keyword=Surgery plus chemotherapy en-keyword=Six or more cycles of chemotherapy kn-keyword=Six or more cycles of chemotherapy en-keyword=Gynecologic cancer survivors kn-keyword=Gynecologic cancer survivors END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=90 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=104413 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251215 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Species-specific sensitivity of marine phytoplankton to selected herbicides and antibiotics en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The toxicity of two herbicides (diuron and bromacil) and three antibiotics (clarithromycin, azithromycin, and clindamycin) was evaluated for on four marine phytoplankton species: two diatoms, Skeletonema costatum and Chaetoceros lorenzianus, a dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum shikokuense, and a raphidophyte, Heterosigma akashiwo. The 50 % effective concentrations (EC50-μ) for growth of the herbicides (approximately 2.3–24.3 μg L−1) were lower than those of the antibiotics, indicating their higher toxicity. The EC50-μ of diuron was close to its reported environmental concentrations. The EC50-μ values for the antibiotics substantially differed by species, ranging from 19.5 to > 1000 μg L−1, with diatoms showing higher sensitivity than flagellates. Herbicides inhibited the photosynthetic yield (φII) of all tested species at concentrations similar to or lower than those affecting growth, while antibiotics affected φII at higher concentrations. Under high-light conditions, photosynthesis in S. costatum was substantially inhibited by all chemicals except clindamycin, suggesting enhanced chemical toxicity under intense light. Overall, these findings indicate that these herbicides and antibiotics can alter phytoplankton abundance and composition in coastal areas and that environmental factors, such as increased solar radiation, can potentially enhance their toxicity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OharaShizuka en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Shizuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OndukaToshimitsu en-aut-sei=Onduka en-aut-mei=Toshimitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UekiShoko en-aut-sei=Ueki en-aut-mei=Shoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseShotaro en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Shotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoikeKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Koike en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Hatsukaichi Field Station, Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University kn-affil= en-keyword=Herbicides kn-keyword=Herbicides en-keyword=Antibiotics kn-keyword=Antibiotics en-keyword=Growth rate kn-keyword=Growth rate en-keyword=Effective quantum yield kn-keyword=Effective quantum yield en-keyword=Non-photochemical quenching kn-keyword=Non-photochemical quenching en-keyword=High light kn-keyword=High light END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e21664 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251014 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Biologically-Architected Wear and Damage-Resistant Nanoparticle Coating From the Radular Teeth of Cryptochiton stelleri en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Nature utilizes simple building blocks to construct mechanically robust materials that demonstrate superior performance under extreme conditions. These exquisite structures result from the controlled synthesis and hierarchical assembly of nanoscale organic and mineral components that have provided critical evolutionary advantages to ensure survival. One such example is the ultrahard radular teeth found in mollusks, which are used to scrape against rock to feed on algae. Here, it is reported that the leading edges of these teeth consist of a wear-resistant coating that is comprised of densely packed ≈65 nm magnetic nanoparticles integrated within an organic matrix of chitin and protein. These mesocrystalline magnetite-based structures are assembled from smaller, highly aligned nanocrystals with inter/intracrystalline organics introduced during the crystallization process. Nanomechanical testing reveals that this multi-scale, nano-architected coating has a combination of increased hardness and a slight decrease in modulus versus geologic magnetite provides the surface of the chiton tooth with superior abrasion resistance. The mesocrystalline structures fracture at primary domain interfaces, corroborated by computational models, providing significant toughening to the tooth under extreme contact stresses. The design features revealed provide insight for the design and fabrication of next-generation advanced wear- and impact-resistant coatings for tooling, machinery, wind turbines, armor, etc. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WangTaifeng en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=Taifeng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ChenYu en-aut-sei=Chen en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SarmientoEzra en-aut-sei=Sarmiento en-aut-mei=Ezra kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaoTaige en-aut-sei=Hao en-aut-mei=Taige kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakakiAtsushi en-aut-sei=Arakaki en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NemotoMichiko en-aut-sei=Nemoto en-aut-mei=Michiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZavattieriPablo en-aut-sei=Zavattieri en-aut-mei=Pablo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KisailusDavid en-aut-sei=Kisailus en-aut-mei=David kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Purdue University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Program, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Purdue University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California kn-affil= en-keyword=biomineralization kn-keyword=biomineralization en-keyword=coatings kn-keyword=coatings en-keyword=damage tolerance kn-keyword=damage tolerance en-keyword=magnetite kn-keyword=magnetite en-keyword=mesocrystals kn-keyword=mesocrystals END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=82 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=26-1566 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=放射線治療装置の回転座標系誤差が軸外targetの照射精度に及ぼす影響とTG142のトレランスの評価 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract=Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the impact of gantry, collimator, and couch rotational errors in a linear accelerator on the irradiation accuracy of off-isocenter targets, and to assess the validity of the rotational error tolerance (±1.0°) specified in American Association of Physicists in Medicine TG142. Methods: Using an Elekta linear accelerator (Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden) and the MultiMet-WL QA phantom (Sun Nuclear, Melbourne, FL, USA), an off-isocenter Winston–Lutz test was performed on six targets. In addition to baseline measurements, six conditions were evaluated by intentionally introducing rotational errors of +0.5° and +1.0° in the collimator, gantry, and couch. The vector distance (S value) between the field center and the target center, as well as positional deviations in each direction (gantry-target: GT, left-right: LR, anterior-posterior: AP), were analyzed. Results: Targets located farther from the isocenter exhibited more significant positional deviations. The collimator rotation had the greatest impact; at 7 cm from the isocenter, even a 0.5° error resulted in a maximum S value of 1.24 mm. Couch rotation had the next largest effect, while gantry rotation had relatively smaller effects, likely because most targets were located near the gantry’s rotational axis. The rotational errors mainly caused geometric deviations with direction-dependent positional shifts. Conclusion: The effects of the collimator and couch were substantial, with positional deviations exceeding 1 mm even for a 0.5° rotation error. The influence of the gantry was relatively small and dependent on the target configuration. For irradiation of off-axis targets, the TG142 tolerance of ±1.0° should be regarded as a minimum standard that must be strictly observed regardless of the type of linear accelerator. However, depending on the target arrangement, clinically adequate margins may not be ensured. These findings suggest the necessity of applying stricter criteria according to target configuration and emphasize the importance of regular quality assurance. kn-abstract=【目的】放射線治療装置の回転座標系の誤差が軸外targetの照射精度に及ぼす影響を定量的に評価し，TG142における回転座標系誤差（±1.0°）のトレランスの妥当性を検討する．【方法】Elekta社製放射線治療装置（Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden）とMultiMet-WL QAファントム（Sun Nuclear, Melbourne, FL, USA）を用いて，6個のtargetに対してoff isocenterのWinston–Lutz test（WL test）を実施した．Baselineの測定に加え，意図的にcollimator，gantry，couchに+0.5°, +1.0°回転誤差を加えた6条件で測定を行い，照射野中心とtarget中心のベクトル距離（S値）および各方向（gantry-target: GT, left-right: LR, anterior-posterior: AP）の位置ずれを解析した．【結果】Isocenterからの距離が大きいtargetほど位置ずれが顕著であった．特にcollimator回転誤差の影響が最も大きく，isocenterから7 cm離れたtargetでは0.5°の回転誤差でもS値が最大1.24 mmに達した．次に影響が大きかったのはcouch回転であり，gantry回転はtargetの配置が回転軸に近いものが多く相対的に影響が少なかった．回転座標系の誤差は幾何学的誤差の影響が強く，位置ずれに方向依存性があった．【結語】Collimatorやcouchの影響が大きく，0.5°の誤差でも1 mm以上の位置ずれが生じることがあった．Gantryの影響はtargetの配置依存があり，相対的に小さかった．軸外targetの照射において，TG142の±1.0°のトレランスは放射線治療装置の種類にかかわらず最低限遵守するべき基準であり，targetの配置次第では臨床的に十分なマージンを保証できない可能性が示された．Target配置に応じたより厳格な基準と定期的quality assurance（QA）の重要性が示唆された． en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakayamaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name=中山貴裕 kn-aut-sei=中山 kn-aut-mei=貴裕 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeYoshinori en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name=田辺悦章 kn-aut-sei=田辺 kn-aut-mei=悦章 aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiYasushi en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name=藤井康志 kn-aut-sei=藤井 kn-aut-mei=康志 aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Public Mutual Aid Association Chugoku Central Hospital kn-affil=公立学校共済組合中国中央病院放射線科 affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学学術研究院保健学域放射線技術科学専攻 affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Public Mutual Aid Association Chugoku Central Hospital kn-affil=公立学校共済組合中国中央病院放射線科 en-keyword=off-isocenter Winston–Lutz test kn-keyword=off-isocenter Winston–Lutz test en-keyword=rotation error kn-keyword=rotation error en-keyword=off-axis targets kn-keyword=off-axis targets en-keyword=Elekta kn-keyword=Elekta en-keyword=TG142 kn-keyword=TG142 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=e95808 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251031 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Risk Stratification for the Prediction of Skeletal-Related Events in Patients With Bone Metastases From Non-small Cell Lung Cancer en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Skeletal-related events (SREs) frequently occur in patients with bone metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to identify risk factors for SREs in patients with NSCLC. Based on these factors, we also aimed to stratify patients into subgroups to facilitate the assessment of SRE risk. This retrospective analysis used medical records of 139 patients with NSCLC bone metastases who received treatment at our institution between 2011 and 2014. The incidence of SREs was assessed, and SRE-free survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinical information collected at registration was assessed to identify factors associated with the onset of SREs within six months. Univariate analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test, and multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression. Of the 139 patients, 36 (26%) developed SREs after registration. The SRE-free survival rates were 80% and 64% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the absence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement (hazard ratio (HR): 4.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-15.7, p = 0.017) and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level ≥400 U/L (HR: 8.08, 95% CI: 1.78-36.6, p = 0.0067) were risk factors for SRE presentation within six months. Patients were classified into the following three subgroups: with EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement and LDH level <400 U/L; without EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement and LDH level <400 U/L; with/without EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement and LDH level ≥400 U/L. The corresponding six-month SRE-free survival rates were 92%, 69%, and 34%, respectively, showing significant differences (p < 0.001). Close monitoring is recommended for patients with LDH levels ≥400 U/L in daily clinical practice, particularly with the help of the proficiency of orthopedic and radiological experts, to prevent complications such as pathological fractures and paraplegia. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SakamotoYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakataEiji en-aut-sei=Nakata en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMasanori en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaYoshimi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Yoshimi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiharaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Sugihara en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shikoku Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=anaplastic lymphoma kinase kn-keyword=anaplastic lymphoma kinase en-keyword=bone metastases kn-keyword=bone metastases en-keyword=epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase kn-keyword=epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase en-keyword=lactate dehydrogenase kn-keyword=lactate dehydrogenase en-keyword=non-small cell lung cancer kn-keyword=non-small cell lung cancer en-keyword=skeletal related events kn-keyword=skeletal related events END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=e85955 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250613 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Clinical Outcomes and Biomechanical Evaluation of the Cement-Catching Screw Technique for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: We developed a cement-catching screw (CCS) technique for pedicle screw insertion into hardened cement, connecting anterior and posterior vertebral elements during balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs). This study reports the CCS technique, clinical outcomes, and biomechanical properties.
Methods: This retrospective study included 59 patients (20 men, 39 women; mean age, 77.4 ± 8.7 years) who underwent BKP with one-above-one-below posterior fixation for OVFs between 2020 and 2023. Patients were divided into CCS (−) (without intermediate screws, n = 28) and CCS (+) (with intermediate CCSs, n = 31) groups. Clinical and radiographic outcomes, including activities of daily living, vertebral wedge angle (VWA), surgical level Cobb angle (CA), anterior vertebral body height (AVBH), screw loosening, pullout, and adjacent vertebral fractures, were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the final follow-up (≥6 months). Biomechanical pullout strength was assessed at different insertion depths (5, 10, and 15 mm) using polymethylmethacrylate cement.
Results: No significant differences were observed between groups in age, sex, follow-up duration, or blood loss; however, the operation time was significantly longer in the CCS (+) group than in the CCS (−) group (P < 0.0001). Radiographic outcomes showed no significant differences in the VWA, CA, AVBH, adjacent vertebral fracture rates, and reoperation rates. However, the incidence of adjacent pedicle screws loosening and pullout was significantly higher in the CCS (−) group than in the CCS (+) group (P = 0.046 and 0.0084, respectively). The correction loss of the CA was significantly lower in the CCS (+) group (CCS (−), 5.6° ± 4.8°; CCS (+), 3.5° ± 4.8°, P = 0.023). The biomechanical test revealed pullout strengths of 683 ± 164, 2231 ± 208, and 3477 ± 393 N for insertion depths of 5, 10, and 15 mm, respectively, with significant increases by depth (P = 0.003 and 0.009).
Conclusions: The CCS technique improves anterior-posterior vertebral body stability, enhances fixation strength, and contributes to better surgical outcomes in OVFs treatment. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShitozawaHisakazu en-aut-sei=Shitozawa en-aut-mei=Hisakazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MisawaHaruo en-aut-sei=Misawa en-aut-mei=Haruo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=JokoRyoji en-aut-sei=Joko en-aut-mei=Ryoji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiMasaya en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Masaya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=UotaniKoji en-aut-sei=Uotani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiozakiYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Shiozaki en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsunagaTomoko en-aut-sei=Tetsunaga en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinoharaKensuke en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamichiRyo en-aut-sei=Nakamichi en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=UedaMasataka en-aut-sei=Ueda en-aut-mei=Masataka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakatoriRyo en-aut-sei=Takatori en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaKazutaka en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Kazutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ryusou Orthopaedic Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic surgery, Mitoyo General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=balloon kyphoplasty kn-keyword=balloon kyphoplasty en-keyword=cement-catching screw kn-keyword=cement-catching screw en-keyword=intermediate screws kn-keyword=intermediate screws en-keyword=osteoporotic vertebral fractures kn-keyword=osteoporotic vertebral fractures en-keyword=pullout strength kn-keyword=pullout strength END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250925 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=日本の高齢者における聴力検査と補聴器装用に影響を与える要因の探索： 難聴と認知症の関連を認識することの意義 kn-title=Exploring factors influencing the hearing test and hearing aid adoption among Japanese older adults: Implications of recognizing the hearing loss–dementia relationship en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FUKUMASUIchiro en-aut-sei=FUKUMASU en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name=福増一郎 kn-aut-sei=福増 kn-aut-mei=一郎 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学大学院医歯薬学総合研究科 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=19 article-no= start-page=3144 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250927 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Utility of Same-Modality, Cross-Domain Transfer Learning for Malignant Bone Tumor Detection on Radiographs: A Multi-Faceted Performance Comparison with a Scratch-Trained Model en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Developing high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) models for rare diseases like malignant bone tumors is limited by scarce annotated data. This study evaluates same-modality cross-domain transfer learning by comparing an AI model pretrained on chest radiographs with a model trained from scratch for detecting malignant bone tumors on knee radiographs. Methods: Two YOLOv5-based detectors differed only in initialization (transfer vs. scratch). Both were trained/validated on institutional data and tested on an independent external set of 743 radiographs (268 malignant, 475 normal). The primary outcome was AUC; prespecified operating points were high-sensitivity (≥0.90), high-specificity (≥0.90), and Youden-optimal. Secondary analyses included PR/F1, calibration (Brier, slope), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: AUC was similar (YOLO-TL 0.954 [95% CI 0.937–0.970] vs. YOLO-SC 0.961 [0.948–0.973]; DeLong p = 0.53). At the high-sensitivity point (both sensitivity = 0.903), YOLO-TL achieved higher specificity (0.903 vs. 0.867; McNemar p = 0.037) and PPV (0.840 vs. 0.793; bootstrap p = 0.030), reducing ~17 false positives among 475 negatives. At the high-specificity point (~0.902–0.903 for both), YOLO-TL showed higher sensitivity (0.798 vs. 0.764; p = 0.0077). At the Youden-optimal point, sensitivity favored YOLO-TL (0.914 vs. 0.892; p = 0.041) with a non-significant specificity difference. Conclusions: Transfer learning may not improve overall AUC but can enhance practical performance at clinically crucial thresholds. By maintaining high detection rates while reducing false positives, the transfer learning model offers superior clinical utility. Same-modality cross-domain transfer learning is an efficient strategy for developing robust AI systems for rare diseases, supporting tools more readily acceptable in real-world screening workflows. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HaseiJoe en-aut-sei=Hasei en-aut-mei=Joe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaharaRyuichi en-aut-sei=Nakahara en-aut-mei=Ryuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaYujiro en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Yujiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiKoichi en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraYusuke en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkutaKunihiro en-aut-sei=Ikuta en-aut-mei=Kunihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsakiShuhei en-aut-sei=Osaki en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TamiyaHironari en-aut-sei=Tamiya en-aut-mei=Hironari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiwaShinji en-aut-sei=Miwa en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhshikaShusa en-aut-sei=Ohshika en-aut-mei=Shusa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraShunji en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Shunji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaharaNaoaki en-aut-sei=Kahara en-aut-mei=Naoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaAki en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Aki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoHiroya en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Hiroya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunisadaToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kunisada en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Support Technology Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Plusman LCC kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka International Cancer Institute, kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kindai University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mizushima Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=malignant bone tumors kn-keyword=malignant bone tumors en-keyword=artificial intelligence kn-keyword=artificial intelligence en-keyword=transfer learning kn-keyword=transfer learning en-keyword=YOLO kn-keyword=YOLO en-keyword=radiographs kn-keyword=radiographs en-keyword=cross-domain learning kn-keyword=cross-domain learning en-keyword=diagnostic imaging kn-keyword=diagnostic imaging END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=42195 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251126 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Elucidation of puberulic acid–induced nephrotoxicity using stem cell-based kidney organoids en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Recent cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Japan have been linked to Beni-koji CholesteHelp supplements, with puberulic acid identified as a potential nephrotoxic contaminant. To address the need for a reliable in vitro nephrotoxicity testing platform, we developed a screening model using kidney organoids derived from adult rat kidney stem (KS) cells. The organoids were exposed to known nephrotoxicants, including cisplatin and gentamicin, to validate the system. Puberulic acid toxicity was evaluated in both KS cell-derived organoids and wild-type mice. The organoids recapitulated tubular injury induced by known nephrotoxins and showed significant Kim-1 mRNA upregulation. Puberulic acid-treated organoids and mice exhibited morphological features of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), mitochondrial damage, and reduced cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV (COX-IV) expression. Markers of oxidative stress and apoptosis, such as 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and cleaved caspase-3, were also elevated. These findings suggest that puberulic acid induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, leading to tubular cell death. Puberulic acid-induced nephrotoxicity was demonstrated using our kidney organoid model. KS cell-derived kidney organoids may provide a simple, reproducible, and rapid platform for nephrotoxicity assessment, which may complement conventional animal experiments. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakanohHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Nakanoh en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiKenji en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaNaruhiko en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Naruhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukushimaKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaraguchiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Haraguchi en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamuraShinji en-aut-sei=Kitamura en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Kidney organoid kn-keyword=Kidney organoid en-keyword=Kidney stem cell kn-keyword=Kidney stem cell en-keyword=Puberulic acid kn-keyword=Puberulic acid en-keyword=Nephrotoxicity kn-keyword=Nephrotoxicity en-keyword=Mitochondrial dysfunction kn-keyword=Mitochondrial dysfunction END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=29 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=1342 end-page=1353 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250516 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=First-time diagnosis and referral practices for individuals with CKD by primary care physicians: a study of electronic medical records across multiple clinics in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health burden in Japan. Japanese primary care physicians (PCPs) are expected to play an important role in the early diagnosis and management of CKD, but comprehensive data on their role are limited.
Methods This observational study examined data from individuals who underwent tests for CKD diagnosis between January 2017 and September 2023 in the Japan Medical Data Survey (JAMDAS) database of primary care clinics in Japan. The primary outcome was the proportion of individuals with CKD without the registration of a CKD-related disease code. Time to CKD diagnosis and referral were also assessed.
Results Among 1,188,543 eligible individuals who underwent kidney-related laboratory tests, 183,473 (15.4%) met CKD diagnosis criteria according to the Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD. The mean (± SD) age was 77.4 ± 11.0 years, 57.1% were female, and 71.8% had CKD stage 3a. Over 98% of individuals who met CKD diagnosis criteria did not receive an insurance diagnosis code within 90 days after meeting the criteria. Among referrable individuals, 89.7% did not receive a referral within 90 days of meeting the referral criteria.
Conclusion These results suggest CKD may be underdiagnosed and under-referred in Japanese clinics. Measures should be taken to increase detection and diagnosis according to the Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UchidaHaruhito A. en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Haruhito A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaoYuji en-aut-sei=Nagao en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IharaKatsuhito en-aut-sei=Ihara en-aut-mei=Katsuhito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Medicine Division, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Medicine Division, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd. kn-affil= en-keyword=Chronic kidney disease kn-keyword=Chronic kidney disease en-keyword=Electronic medical records kn-keyword=Electronic medical records en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan en-keyword=Primary care physician kn-keyword=Primary care physician en-keyword=Disease code kn-keyword=Disease code END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=30 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=e70057 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202505 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Case of IgA Nephropathy With Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis-Like Features Miyu Kanazawa, en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=A 73-year-old man was referred due to the onset of nephrotic-range proteinuria. He had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 18 years prior and had achieved remission with treatment, including methotrexate and janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. Although routine follow-ups had not revealed any urinary abnormalities, subsequent tests detected proteinuria and hematuria in the absence of infection or other symptoms. As the urinary abnormalities persisted, with a serum albumin decrease and proteinuria measuring 5.7 g/day, indicating nephrotic syndrome, the patient was referred to our hospital for further evaluation, and a renal biopsy was performed. Light microscopy revealed mesangial cell proliferation, endocapillary proliferation and double-contoured basement membranes. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed IgA-dominant deposits in both mesangial areas and glomerular capillary walls. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated electron-dense deposits in the mesangium and subendothelial regions, leading to the diagnosis of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN)-type IgA nephropathy. Immunostaining with the Gd-IgA1 (galactose-deficient IgA1)-specific antibody (KM55) was positive, consistent with the diagnosis. Following the initiation of steroid therapy, proteinuria rapidly decreased, achieving complete remission within 5 months. IgA nephropathy with MPGN-like features often presents as nephrotic syndrome, differing from the typical pathological and clinical presentation of IgA nephropathy, making differentiation from secondary MPGN and other diseases sometimes challenging. This case suggests that KM55 staining may offer additional information in differentiating atypical IgA nephropathy with non-classical pathological features. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KanazawaMiyu en-aut-sei=Kanazawa en-aut-mei=Miyu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiKenji en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AokiRyoya en-aut-sei=Aoki en-aut-mei=Ryoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SueMihiro en-aut-sei=Sue en-aut-mei=Mihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyakeHiromasa en-aut-sei=Miyake en-aut-mei=Hiromasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaNaruhiko en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Naruhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanohHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Nakanoh en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukushimaKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaHaruhito A. en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Haruhito A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Disease, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Gd-IgA1 kn-keyword=Gd-IgA1 en-keyword=IgA nephropathy kn-keyword=IgA nephropathy en-keyword=membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis kn-keyword=membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis en-keyword=nephrotic syndrome kn-keyword=nephrotic syndrome en-keyword=rheumatoid arthritis kn-keyword=rheumatoid arthritis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=254 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=108998 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202506 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Cellulose nanofibers boost soil water availability, plant growth, and irrigation water use efficiency under deficit irrigation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Under climate change, even previously rainfall-prone areas may experience droughts, and effective strategies are vital for soil conservation. Owing to their cutting-edge water absorption and storage properties, cellulose nanofibers (CNF) are expected to increase soil water availability and help plants resist water stress. However, the role of CNF in improving plant growth and soil water retention under various irrigation regimes is not yet known. We evaluated the effects of CNFs on plant available water (PAW), germination, plant growth, and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) under both adequate and deficit irrigation conditions. Plant cultivation experiments were conducted using different CNF dosages (0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%), irrigation levels (I100, I50, and I25), and soil types (sandy and silty loam). The results indicated that CNF significantly increased field capacity (FC) and PAW in both soil types, with PAW in CNF-amended soils increasing by up to 110% and 88% in sandy and silty loam soil, respectively, at 1% CNF dosage. In germination tests, CNF showed no phytotoxicity and supported the germination process during water stress, with enhancements of up to 64% and 163% at I50 and up to 125% and 214% at I25 in germination percentage and germination index, respectively. Plant growth experiments revealed that CNF addition helped plants resist water stress, maintaining plant height and weight close to those under full irrigation, while using 50% less water. IWUE analyses demonstrated that CNF enhanced IWUE, with increases of up to 56% under sufficient watering (I100), 169% under moderate water stress (I50), and 120% under severe water stress (I25), at 1% CNF dosage. These findings highlight the potential of CNF as a multifaceted amendment, offering practical solutions for addressing water scarcity challenges and contributing to more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NgoAn Thuy en-aut-sei=Ngo en-aut-mei=An Thuy kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NguyenManh Cong en-aut-sei=Nguyen en-aut-mei=Manh Cong kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaMorihiro en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Morihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriYasushi en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Nong Lam University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Cellulose nanofibers kn-keyword=Cellulose nanofibers en-keyword=Available water kn-keyword=Available water en-keyword=Plant growth kn-keyword=Plant growth en-keyword=Irrigation water use efficiency kn-keyword=Irrigation water use efficiency en-keyword=Deficit irrigation kn-keyword=Deficit irrigation en-keyword=Water stress kn-keyword=Water stress END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=10 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=965 end-page=970 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250404 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Decreased homovanillic acid and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Dravet syndrome with parkinsonism en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Dravet syndrome (DS) is an early onset, developmental, and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by drug-resistant seizures and multiple comorbidities. It has been reported that in adulthood, it may be accompanied by parkinsonism, but the pathogenesis of this condition remains unclear. We performed dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT SPECT) and measured monoamine metabolite levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in two adult patients with DS who developed parkinsonism around the age of 30 years. DAT SPECT showed no abnormalities in either patient, whereas CSF tests revealed significant decreases in the levels of homovanillic and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acids. One patient with severe symptoms was treated with levodopa–carbidopa, which improved parkinsonism manifestations. The other patient initiated treatment with a low dose and has been continuing the treatment without any reported side effects. In conclusion, CSF testing can detect a decrease in dopamine synthesis and may be useful in monitoring the efficacy of levodopa treatment in patients with DS and parkinsonism.
Plain Language Summary: Dravet syndrome (DS) is an early onset, developmental, and epileptic encephalopathy. DS can lead to the development of parkinsonism in adulthood, a clinical syndrome characterized by tremor, slowed movements, and rigidity. Although parkinsonism is a significant issue for patients, its underlying pathology has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we confirmed that the levels of monoamine metabolites in the CSF were low in two patients, potentially shedding light on the pathology involved. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SugiyamaRyo en-aut-sei=Sugiyama en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoTakashi en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsumotoAtsuko en-aut-sei=Katsumoto en-aut-mei=Atsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YonenoShota en-aut-sei=Yoneno en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkiyamaTomoyuki en-aut-sei=Akiyama en-aut-mei=Tomoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomakiHirofumi en-aut-sei=Komaki en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= en-keyword=dopamine transporter kn-keyword=dopamine transporter en-keyword=levodopa kn-keyword=levodopa en-keyword=monoamine metabolites kn-keyword=monoamine metabolites en-keyword=single-photon emission computed tomography kn-keyword=single-photon emission computed tomography END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2025 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e240121 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250127 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Adult hypophosphatasia presenting with recurrent acute joint pain en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a genetic disorder due to pathological variants in ALPL, the gene encoding tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (ALP). HPP is typically associated with bone-related symptoms, such as bone deformity, fractures and bone pain in children, but can appear in adults with symptoms resembling arthritis. A 22-year-old male experienced repeated and severe sudden attacks of joint pain in the elbows and knees. Magnetic resonance imaging and joint ultrasonography showed joint effusions indicating chronic inflammation. Blood biochemical tests revealed a remarkably low serum ALP level, and repeated examination confirmed a sustained low ALP level; urine phosphoethanolamine, plasma inorganic pyrophosphate and plasma pyridoxal-5′-phosphate levels were elevated, raising concern for HPP. While the patient had no history of premature loss of primary teeth, fragility fractures, muscle weakness or abnormalities in growth, genetic testing revealed a likely pathogenic and a pathogenic heterozygous variant in the ALPL gene, i.e., c.979T>C (p.Phe327Leu) and c.1559del (p.Leu520Argfs), confirming HPP. Additional genetic testing of his parents showed a heterozygous c.1559del variant in his father and a heterozygous c.979T>C variant in his mother. A diagnosis of adult HPP due to compound heterozygous mutations was therefore confirmed. Enzyme replacement therapy with asfotase alfa was then introduced; no attacks of arthralgia occurred in the 1-year period since then. This case highlights the possibility of HPP in adults who present clinically with repeated joint symptoms and low serum ALP levels but without bone-related symptoms. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshidaHayao en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Hayao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiTakaaki en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaAtsubumi en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Atsubumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SunouchiTakashi en-aut-sei=Sunouchi en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HidakaNaoko en-aut-sei=Hidaka en-aut-mei=Naoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoNobuaki en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Nobuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiHiromi en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Hiromi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawasakiHidenori en-aut-sei=Kawasaki en-aut-mei=Hidenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkiyamaTomoyuki en-aut-sei=Akiyama en-aut-mei=Tomoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakajimaKatsumi en-aut-sei=Nakajima en-aut-mei=Katsumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=YabeDaisuke en-aut-sei=Yabe en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoTaizo en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Taizo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Shiga General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Shiga General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, The University of Tokyo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, The University of Tokyo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Osteoporosis Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Child Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Shiga General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Shiga General Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=hypophosphatasia kn-keyword=hypophosphatasia en-keyword=genetic disorders kn-keyword=genetic disorders en-keyword=bone kn-keyword=bone END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=214 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=111341 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202602 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The influence of lubricant additives and surface roughness and hardness of material on the damage behavior of gears en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This study investigates the influence of lubricant additives, surface roughness, and material hardness on gear damage behavior under boundary lubrication conditions. We conducted both the Short-term Test and the Standard Test using an FZG gear test machine to evaluate how lubricant additives and gear surface roughness influence damage progression when the surface roughness exceeds the oil-film thickness. Acid phosphate ester effectively suppressed micropitting through surface smoothing but led to severe damage such as pitting and scuffing during prolonged use. In contrast, sulfurized fatty oil promoted mild wear, delaying catastrophic failures and extending gear life. Higher surface roughness accelerated wear, while increased hardness reduced deformation but it expanded damage areas. The study found that initial surface roughness and its progress during load stages strongly correlate with gear durability. Measurement of arithmetic mean roughness after sufficient running-in under actual load conditions proved useful for predicting long-term performance. These findings highlight the importance of selecting lubricant formulations tailored to specific gear operating environments and damage modes. Understanding the interplay between lubrication chemistry and material properties enables the design of more durable gear systems. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OhnoTakuya en-aut-sei=Ohno en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiotaTadashi en-aut-sei=Shiota en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiMasahiro en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Tribology kn-keyword=Tribology en-keyword=Gears kn-keyword=Gears en-keyword=Fatigue kn-keyword=Fatigue en-keyword=Micropitting kn-keyword=Micropitting en-keyword=Scuffing kn-keyword=Scuffing en-keyword=Pitting kn-keyword=Pitting en-keyword=Lubricant additives kn-keyword=Lubricant additives END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251119 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The Role of the Mylohyoid Line in the Spread of Mandibular Odontogenic Deep Neck Infection en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: Although mandibular odontogenic deep neck infections are occasionally fatal, the transmission pathway has not been elucidated.
Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study was comprised of the patients of both sexes who were over 18 years of age and who had mandibular odontogenic deep neck abscesses. The patients' characteristics, laboratory tests, and radiographic findings were analyzed.
Results: One hundred eighteen patients with mandibular odontogenic deep neck abscesses were included. Bone resorption superior to the mylohyoid line and the related abscess formation in submandibular space or submental space were both significantly associated with the presence of sublingual space abscess. In addition, the type of causative tooth was not a risk factor for abscess formation in both the sublingual space and “submandibular or submental” space.
Conclusions: When an odontogenic lesion is located superior to the mylohyoid line, the abscess tends to initially form in the sublingual space and subsequently spread to the submandibular or submental space. Since any mandibular tooth can lead to abscess formation in these regions, oral and maxillofacial surgeons should carefully assess the anatomical position of the lesion and accurately identify the causative tooth. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IwataEiji en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ObataKyoichi en-aut-sei=Obata en-aut-mei=Kyoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KikutaShogo en-aut-sei=Kikuta en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanekoNaoki en-aut-sei=Kaneko en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoKotaro en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitagawaNorio en-aut-sei=Kitagawa en-aut-mei=Norio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeshitaYohei en-aut-sei=Takeshita en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuoKatsuhisa en-aut-sei=Matsuo en-aut-mei=Katsuhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SameshimaJunsei en-aut-sei=Sameshima en-aut-mei=Junsei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TachibanaAkira en-aut-sei=Tachibana en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawanoShintaro en-aut-sei=Kawano en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KusukawaJingo en-aut-sei=Kusukawa en-aut-mei=Jingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkashiMasaya en-aut-sei=Akashi en-aut-mei=Masaya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=IbaragiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Ibaragi en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwanagaJoe en-aut-sei=Iwanaga en-aut-mei=Joe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kakogawa Central City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=causative tooth kn-keyword=causative tooth en-keyword=mylohyoid line kn-keyword=mylohyoid line en-keyword=odontogenic deep neck abscesses kn-keyword=odontogenic deep neck abscesses en-keyword=odontogenic deep neck infections kn-keyword=odontogenic deep neck infections en-keyword=transmission pathway kn-keyword=transmission pathway END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251023 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Comparative Analysis of a Dual DNA–RNA Panel and a DNA-Only Panel for Sarcoma: Real-World Data From a Nationwide Genomic Database en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Next-generation sequencing-based comprehensive cancer genomic profiling is promising in cancer management; however, most studies rely on tumor-only DNA panels from single institutions. In 2023, Japan introduced an insurance-covered cancer genomic profiling test—the GenMine TOP Cancer Genome Profiling System—a dual DNA–RNA panel with matched tumor–normal testing. This study evaluated its utility compared to a conventional DNA-only test (FoundationOne CDx) in managing sarcoma patients using a nationwide genetic profiling database provided by the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics. This study included 1046 patients registered between August 2023 and October 2024. The dual DNA–RNA test identified significantly more fusion genes (20.3% vs. 7.4%, p < 0.001) and therapeutically targetable kinase fusions (3.5% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.019) than the DNA-only test. Among patients with translocation-related sarcomas, histology-specific fusion genes were identified in 77.5% using the dual panel, compared to 40.0% with the DNA-only panel (p < 0.001). In non-gastrointestinal stromal tumor sarcomas, the dual test showed a trend toward higher rates of genotype-matched therapy (4.3% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.25) and a significantly higher rate of molecular targeted therapy (4.3% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.03). Additionally, 5.7% of patients had pathogenic germline variants identified through tumor–normal matched analysis. These findings suggest that a dual DNA–RNA panel with matched tumor–normal testing may improve diagnostic accuracy and inform treatment decisions in the routine clinical management of sarcoma. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakataEiji en-aut-sei=Nakata en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsoneTatsunori en-aut-sei=Osone en-aut-mei=Tatsunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=EnnishiDaisuke en-aut-sei=Ennishi en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomidaShuta en-aut-sei=Tomida en-aut-mei=Shuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunisadaToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kunisada en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=FutagawaMashu en-aut-sei=Futagawa en-aut-mei=Mashu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirasawaAkira en-aut-sei=Hirasawa en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=comprehensive cancer genomic profiling (CGP) kn-keyword=comprehensive cancer genomic profiling (CGP) en-keyword=fusion genes kn-keyword=fusion genes en-keyword=gene alterations kn-keyword=gene alterations en-keyword=genotype-matched therapy kn-keyword=genotype-matched therapy en-keyword=potential germline variants (PGVs) kn-keyword=potential germline variants (PGVs) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=386 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=115145 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202504 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=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-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Ischemic stroke results in significant long-term disability and mortality worldwide. Although existing therapies, such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and mechanical thrombectomy, have shown promise, their application is limited by stringent conditions. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, especially using SB623 cells (modified human bone marrow-derived MSCs), has emerged as a promising alternative, promoting neurogenesis and recovery. This study evaluated the effects of voluntary and forced exercise, alone and in combination with SB623 cell transplantation, on neurological and psychological outcomes in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Male Wistar rats that had undergone middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were divided into six groups: control, voluntary exercise (V-Ex), forced exercise (F-Ex), SB623 transplantation, SB623 + V-Ex, and SB623 + F-Ex. Voluntary exercise was facilitated using running wheels, while forced exercise was conducted on treadmills. Neurological recovery was assessed using the modified neurological severity score (mNSS). Psychological symptoms were evaluated through the open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST), and neurogenesis was assessed via BrdU labeling. Both exercise groups exhibited significant changes in body weight post-MCAO. Both exercises enhanced the treatment effect of SB623 transplantation. The forced exercise showed a stronger treatment effect on ischemic stroke than voluntary exercise alone, and the sole voluntary exercise improved depression-like behavior. The SB623 + F-Ex group demonstrated the greatest improvements in motor function, infarct area reduction, and neurogenesis. The SB623 + V-Ex group was most effective in alleviating depression-like behavior. Future research should optimize these exercise protocols and elucidate the underlying mechanisms to develop tailored rehabilitation strategies for stroke patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NagaseTakayuki en-aut-sei=Nagase en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasuharaTakao en-aut-sei=Yasuhara en-aut-mei=Takao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinKyohei en-aut-sei=Kin en-aut-mei=Kyohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasadaSusumu en-aut-sei=Sasada en-aut-mei=Susumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawauchiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Kawauchi en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YabunoSatoru en-aut-sei=Yabuno en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugaharaChiaki en-aut-sei=Sugahara en-aut-mei=Chiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirataYuichi en-aut-sei=Hirata en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyakeHayato en-aut-sei=Miyake en-aut-mei=Hayato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakiTatsuya en-aut-sei=Sasaki en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiKoji en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanimotoShun en-aut-sei=Tanimoto en-aut-mei=Shun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaijoTomoya en-aut-sei=Saijo en-aut-mei=Tomoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShota en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Ischemic stroke kn-keyword=Ischemic stroke en-keyword=Post-stroke depression kn-keyword=Post-stroke depression en-keyword=Regenerative medicine kn-keyword=Regenerative medicine en-keyword=Rehabilitation kn-keyword=Rehabilitation en-keyword=SB623 kn-keyword=SB623 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=71 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=938 end-page=943 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250402 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Mechanical Subpulmonary Support in Fontan Circulation: A Juvenile Porcine Experimental Model en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Mechanical cavopulmonary assist (CPA) remains challenging for failing Fontan circulation. This study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic impact of partial CPA using a juvenile porcine model. Six pigs (30 kg) underwent the Fontan procedure using a handmade Y-shaped graft. Total CPA was established by assisting both superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) flow to the pulmonary artery, whereas partial CPA assisted only IVC flow using a centrifugal pump. Cavopulmonary assist flow was set to 100%, 50%, or 25% of pre-Fontan cardiac output (CO). Hemodynamics at baseline, after total CPA, and after partial CPA were compared using paired t-tests. Total CPA with 100% CO support increased CO and reduced SVC and IVC pressures compared to baseline (CO, 1.03 vs. 2.36 L/min; SVC pressure, 16.3 vs. 9.5 mm Hg; IVC pressure, 17.3 vs. 9.3 mm Hg, p < 0.05 for all). Partial CPA with 25% CO support increased CO and decreased IVC pressure, though SVC pressure increased (CO, 1.03 vs. 1.52 L/min; SVC pressure, 16.3 vs. 20.5 mm Hg; IVC pressure, 17.3 vs. 11.5 mm Hg, p < 0.05 for all). Although total CPA achieved optimal hemodynamics, partial CPA with 25% CO flow was effective, suggesting a feasible, noninvasive solution for patients with failing Fontan physiology. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SakodaNaoya en-aut-sei=Sakoda en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=EdakiDaichi en-aut-sei=Edaki en-aut-mei=Daichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasaharaShingo en-aut-sei=Kasahara en-aut-mei=Shingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KotaniYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Kotani en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=1446 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251109 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Development of Propofol-Encapsulated Liposomes and the Effect of Intranasal Administration on Bioavailability in Rabbits en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Propofol is frequently used as an intravenous anesthetic and is rapidly metabolized. Therefore, if it could be administered non-invasively (e.g., orally) as premedication, it might hasten emergence from anesthesia, thereby improving patient safety. However, it undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver and intestines, limiting the route for premedication. We evaluated whether intranasal delivery of a propofol-encapsulated liposome solution improves systemic exposure and bioavailability in rabbits. Methods: A propofol-encapsulated liposome solution was administered to rabbits via the intravenous, oral, and intranasal routes. Blood propofol concentrations were measured for up to 60 min after administration and the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC0–60) and bioavailability of the propofol-encapsulated liposome solution were compared with those of the non-encapsulated propofol formulation. The differences were tested by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Šidák’s post hoc multiple-comparisons test and the Mann–Whitney test (α = 0.05). Results: The AUC0–60 for blood propofol concentrations after intravenous administration was significantly higher with the propofol-encapsulated liposome solution than with the non-encapsulated propofol formulation (3038.8 ± 661.5 vs. 1929.8 ± 58.2 ng·min/mL; p = 0.0286). By contrast, no increase in blood propofol concentrations was observed after oral administration, whereas intranasal administration increased blood propofol concentrations and yielded significantly higher bioavailability compared with the non-encapsulated propofol formulation (16.4 ± 7.3% vs. 2.0 ± 1.2%; p = 0.0286). Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that intranasal liposomal propofol increased systemic availability compared with a non-encapsulated formulation, supporting further evaluation as a candidate premedication approach for propofol. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UjitaHitomi en-aut-sei=Ujita en-aut-mei=Hitomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiguchiHitoshi en-aut-sei=Higuchi en-aut-mei=Hitoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiokaYukiko en-aut-sei=Nishioka en-aut-mei=Yukiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyakeSaki en-aut-sei=Miyake en-aut-mei=Saki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoRiko en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Riko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyawakiTakuya en-aut-sei=Miyawaki en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=liposome kn-keyword=liposome en-keyword=propofol kn-keyword=propofol en-keyword=bioavailability kn-keyword=bioavailability en-keyword=intranasal administration kn-keyword=intranasal administration END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=33 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=22 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251031 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Protective impact of landiolol against acute lung injury following hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR) induces pulmonary inflammation, leading to acute lung injury (ALI). Notably, blocking β1 receptors can lead to organ protection through anti‑inflammatory and anti‑apoptotic effects. Additionally, although the β1 receptor pathway is blocked by the β1 blocker, the β2 receptor pathway may be preserved and activate the 5' adenosine monophosphate‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. The present study aimed to examine whether administration of the β1 blocker landiolol could achieve lung protection in a model of HSR‑ALI, alongside improvements in inflammation and apoptosis. Male Sprague‑Dawley rats underwent hemorrhage keeping their mean arterial pressure at 30 mmHg for 1 h. Resuscitation by reinfusion was initiated to restore blood pressure to pre‑hemorrhage levels for >15 min, followed by a 45‑min stabilization period to create the HSR‑ALI model. Landiolol (100 mg/kg/min) or saline was continuously administered after resuscitation. The lung tissues, which were collected for assessing inflammation and apoptosis‑related damage, underwent analyses, including histological examination, neutrophil count, assessment of lung wet/dry weight ratio, detection of the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), identification of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‑end labeling (TUNEL)‑positive cells, and evaluation of caspase‑3 expression. In addition, phosphorylated AMPKα (pAMPKα) expression was tested via western blotting. Compared with the HSR/saline group, the HSR/landiolol group demonstrated a reduction in lung tissue damage score, and significant reductions in neutrophil count, lung wet/dry weight ratio, lung TNF‑α and iNOS mRNA levels, TUNEL‑positive cells and cleaved caspase‑3 expression. Furthermore, landiolol administration following HSR treatment increased pAMPKα expression. No significant hypotension occurred between the HSR/landiolol and HSR/saline groups; and blood loss did not differ significantly between the groups. In conclusion, landiolol administration after HSR reduced lung inflammation and apoptosis, suggesting a potential improvement in tissue damage. Furthermore, pAMPKα activation in the HSR/landiolol group may be the mechanism underlying the pulmonary protective effects of landiolol. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SakamotoRisa en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Risa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimizuHiroko en-aut-sei=Shimizu en-aut-mei=Hiroko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraRyu en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Ryu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=LuYifu en-aut-sei=Lu en-aut-mei=Yifu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=LiYaqiang en-aut-sei=Li en-aut-mei=Yaqiang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriEmiko en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Emiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiToru en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimatsuHiroshi en-aut-sei=Morimatsu en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Human Anatomy, Shantou University Medical College kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology, Okayama Saidaiji Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=HSR kn-keyword=HSR en-keyword=lung injury kn-keyword=lung injury en-keyword=landiolol kn-keyword=landiolol en-keyword=β1 blocker kn-keyword=β1 blocker en-keyword=inflammation kn-keyword=inflammation en-keyword=apoptosis kn-keyword=apoptosis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=10 cd-vols= no-issue=13 article-no= start-page=CASE25483 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250929 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Endovascular treatment for a symptomatic dissecting ophthalmic artery aneurysm occurring in the orbit: illustrative case en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=BACKGROUND: Peripheral ophthalmic artery aneurysms (POAAs) arising from the main trunk or branches of the ophthalmic artery (OphA) are extremely rare. However, their epidemiology and optimal management remain poorly understood. The authors report a rare case of a symptomatic POAA caused by arterial dissection that was successfully treated using endovascular therapy, leading to favorable visual recovery.
OBSERVATIONS: A 77-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset visual impairment in the right eye. Ophthalmological examination revealed a defect in the right visual field. CT angiography revealed a fusiform aneurysm in the right intraorbital OphA. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a pearl and string sign, consistent with a dissecting aneurysm. A balloon test occlusion (BTO) of the OphA origin confirmed collateral circulation from the external carotid artery. Internal trapping of the OphA was performed under general anesthesia. Postoperatively, the patient’s visual function gradually improved, and complete recovery was achieved within 3 months.
LESSONS: Although POAAs are exceptionally rare, they may lead to significant visual dysfunction owing to optic nerve compression. When visual symptoms are present, prompt intervention may reverse the symptoms. Preoperative assessment of collateral circulation using BTO is essential for treatment planning. Internal trapping may be an effective strategy when sufficient collateral flow is confirmed. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IzumiharaKohei en-aut-sei=Izumihara en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HarumaJun en-aut-sei=Haruma en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiuKenji en-aut-sei=Sugiu en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabaFukiko en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Fukiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaJuntaro en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Juntaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirataYuichi en-aut-sei=Hirata en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SotomeYuta en-aut-sei=Sotome en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakamiMasato en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraRyu en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Ryu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiramatsuMasafumi en-aut-sei=Hiramatsu en-aut-mei=Masafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShota en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=ophthalmic artery kn-keyword=ophthalmic artery en-keyword=dissecting aneurysm kn-keyword=dissecting aneurysm en-keyword=visual impairment kn-keyword=visual impairment en-keyword=endovascular treatment kn-keyword=endovascular treatment END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=50 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=114240 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of grain size and crystal orientation on tensile properties of pure titanium thin wires en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=To clarify the effects of the grain size and crystal orientation on the tensile properties of pure titanium thin wires, tensile and stepwise tensile tests were conducted on pure titanium wires with diameters of approximately 180 μm and different average grain sizes (52, 37, 23, and 3.8 μm). When the grain size was large, the fracture strain was significantly smaller, the variation in tensile strength was larger, and the grain size threshold for such properties was a grain-size ratio to wire diameter of 0.13 or greater. For larger grain sizes, the slip system with the highest modified Schmid factor (MSF), which is the Schmid factor divided by the critical resolved shear stress of each slip system, was activated in all 15 grains whereas for smaller grain sizes, the percentage of slip systems activated with the highest MSF was slightly lower. In addition, the fracture location in a thin wire with larger grain sizes was highly correlated with the average MSF of the grains in the cross-section. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SakamotoJunji en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Junji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TadaNaoya en-aut-sei=Tada en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UemoriTakeshi en-aut-sei=Uemori en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Tensile properties kn-keyword=Tensile properties en-keyword=Pure titanium kn-keyword=Pure titanium en-keyword=Thin wire kn-keyword=Thin wire en-keyword=Slip deformation kn-keyword=Slip deformation en-keyword=Grain size kn-keyword=Grain size en-keyword=Crystal orientation kn-keyword=Crystal orientation en-keyword=Cross-section kn-keyword=Cross-section END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=e89864 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250812 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Higher Liver Fibrosis-4 Index Is Associated With More Severe Hearing Loss in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background
Liver fibrosis is an important medical issue increasing over time in developed countries.
Aims/objectives
This study aimed to investigate whether liver fibrosis, as indicated by routine blood test parameters, influences the risk and severity of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).
Material and methods
Sixty-six patients with ISSNHL and 198 patients with benign parotid gland tumors (BPTs) (controls) were enrolled. Indices for liver fibrosis (Liver Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4 index) and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI)) were calculated from the blood laboratory data. The pure tone average (PTA) was calculated as the mean of hearing levels at the six frequencies at the onset of ISSNHL. Severe hearing loss was defined as PTA≥60 decibels Hearing Level (dB HL).
Results
In risk evaluation, the FIB-4 index did not differ significantly between ISSNHL patients and controls. Regarding the severity of ISSNHL, the FIB-4 index was significantly higher in ISSNHL patients with severe hearing loss than in those with PTA<60 dB HL (P<0.05) on univariate comparison. After adjusting for age, sex, and indices of inflammation, both the FIB-4 index and APRI showed a significant association with severe hearing loss (odds ratio (OR): 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-25.7, and OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.7).
Conclusions and significance
Higher liver fibrosis indices (FIB-4 index and APRI), derived from routine blood laboratory data, are associated with a more severe phenotype of ISSNHL. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MaedaYukihide en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yukihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaoSoshi en-aut-sei=Takao en-aut-mei=Soshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmichiRyotaro en-aut-sei=Omichi en-aut-mei=Ryotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AndoMizuo en-aut-sei=Ando en-aut-mei=Mizuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index kn-keyword=aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index en-keyword=audiometry kn-keyword=audiometry en-keyword=fatty liver disease kn-keyword=fatty liver disease en-keyword=incidence kn-keyword=incidence en-keyword=liver fibrosis-4 index kn-keyword=liver fibrosis-4 index en-keyword=severity kn-keyword=severity en-keyword=sudden hearing loss kn-keyword=sudden hearing loss END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250923 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=INF2-Related Charcot–Marie–Tooth Disease in a Japanese Cohort: Genetic and Clinical Insights en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: INF2 mutations cause focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT). Accurate genetic diagnosis is critical, as INF2-related FSGS is typically resistant to immunotherapy yet rarely recurs after transplantation, and its associated neuropathy can mimic treatable immune-mediated disorders such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).
Methods: We performed a multicenter study investigating 3329 Japanese patients with inherited peripheral neuropathies/CMT who underwent gene panel sequencing or whole-exome analysis between 2007 and 2024. Clinical data, including electrophysiological assessments, were obtained from the patients' medical records.
Results: We identified six pathogenic INF2 variants in eight patients, all of which were located within the diaphanous inhibitory domain. Structural modeling revealed clustering of variants near the diaphanous autoregulatory domain-binding pocket, which is critical for INF2 autoinhibition. Clinically, all cases were sporadic, with a median age at neurological onset of 9 years. All patients exhibited lower limb weakness, and 6/8 (75%) had sensory disturbances. All patients also developed kidney dysfunction, with 7/8 (88%) progressing to end-stage renal disease at a median age of 15 years. Furthermore, all patients showed demyelinating neuropathy, and 2/8 (25%) received immunotherapy due to suspected immune-mediated neuropathy.
Conclusion: Although INF2 variants are a rare cause of CMT in Japan, they should be considered in pediatric patients with demyelinating neuropathy and early-onset proteinuria, even in the absence of a family history. Blood and urine tests assessing renal dysfunction can provide guidance for appropriate genetic testing. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YanoChikashi en-aut-sei=Yano en-aut-mei=Chikashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AndoMasahiro en-aut-sei=Ando en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiguchiYujiro en-aut-sei=Higuchi en-aut-mei=Yujiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuanJun‐Hui en-aut-sei=Yuan en-aut-mei=Jun‐Hui kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshimuraAkiko en-aut-sei=Yoshimura en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HobaraTakahiro en-aut-sei=Hobara en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagatomoRisa en-aut-sei=Nagatomo en-aut-mei=Risa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KojimaFumikazu en-aut-sei=Kojima en-aut-mei=Fumikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiramatsuYu en-aut-sei=Hiramatsu en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NozumaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Nozuma en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraTomonori en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Tomonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakiyamaYusuke en-aut-sei=Sakiyama en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaChika en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Chika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaToru en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraTakashi en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyazakiAyako en-aut-sei=Miyazaki en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinjoChinatsu en-aut-sei=Kinjo en-aut-mei=Chinatsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokochiKenji en-aut-sei=Yokochi en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamanakaNanami en-aut-sei=Yamanaka en-aut-mei=Nanami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsudaNozomu en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Nozomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuichiTomoki en-aut-sei=Suichi en-aut-mei=Tomoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=HanaokaYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Hanaoka en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=KojimaHaruka en-aut-sei=Kojima en-aut-mei=Haruka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=TodoKenichi en-aut-sei=Todo en-aut-mei=Kenichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiuraHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Ishiura en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuiJun en-aut-sei=Mitsui en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=26 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiShoji en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Shoji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=27 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakashimaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Takashima en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=28 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Hyogo Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genetics, Hyogo Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genetics, Hyogo Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kurashiki Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=26 en-affil=Department of Precision Medicine Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=27 en-affil=Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=28 en-affil=Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Charcot-Marie- Tooth disease kn-keyword=Charcot-Marie- Tooth disease en-keyword=focal segmental glomerulosclerosis kn-keyword=focal segmental glomerulosclerosis en-keyword=INF2 kn-keyword=INF2 en-keyword=inherited peripheral neuropathies kn-keyword=inherited peripheral neuropathies en-keyword=neuropathy kn-keyword=neuropathy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=e89880 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250812 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Subacute Progression of Gait Disturbance and Consciousness Impairment Due to Communicating Hydrocephalus Associated With Vestibular Schwannoma en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Patients with vestibular schwannomas (VSs) present with vestibulocochlear nerve dysfunction such as vertigo and tinnitus. VSs occasionally develop communicating hydrocephalus as a complication, which is typically characterized by an insidious progression of symptoms. We report a case of an 84-year-old female patient with a VS who developed gait disturbance and consciousness impairment over a three-week period, ultimately resulting in an inability to walk and communicate. A thorough evaluation ruled out encephalitis and other differential diagnoses. Imaging studies demonstrated findings consistent with communicating hydrocephalus, and a tap test temporarily improved her consciousness disturbances. The patient underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), after which both consciousness and gait disturbances dramatically improved 10 days postoperatively. The subacute development of symptoms due to normal pressure hydrocephalus associated with VSs is rare. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of severe gait impairment and disturbance of consciousness progressing within a short period. This case highlights the importance of considering communicating hydrocephalus associated with VSs as a differential diagnosis, even in cases of subacute consciousness disturbance. We also discuss the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus in relation to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance into the extracranial space. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YanoSatoka en-aut-sei=Yano en-aut-mei=Satoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubotaAkatsuki en-aut-sei=Kubota en-aut-mei=Akatsuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiMizuho en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Mizuho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YashitaDaiki en-aut-sei=Yashita en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiuraHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Ishiura en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatakeWataru en-aut-sei=Satake en-aut-mei=Wataru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaKaoru en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinyaYuki en-aut-sei=Shinya en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyawakiSatoru en-aut-sei=Miyawaki en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwatsuboTakeshi en-aut-sei=Iwatsubo en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TodaTatsushi en-aut-sei=Toda en-aut-mei=Tatsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neuropathology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Neuropathology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=communicating hydrocephalus kn-keyword=communicating hydrocephalus en-keyword=csf dynamics kn-keyword=csf dynamics en-keyword=disorder of consciousness kn-keyword=disorder of consciousness en-keyword=ventriculoperitoneal shunting kn-keyword=ventriculoperitoneal shunting en-keyword=vestibular schwannoma kn-keyword=vestibular schwannoma END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=89 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=337 end-page=343 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251101 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Ti-18Nb-xAl合金の構成相と材料特性に及ぼすAl添加量の影響 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The Ti-18mass%Nb alloy with a quenched α” martensitic structure exhibited a high damping capacity. However, there are issues such as lower strength than annealed α+β structure and decreasing damping capacity due to heating until 400 K. Therefore, in this study, to address these issues, we investigated the effect of Al addition on the constituent phases and material properties of Ti-18Nb-xAl alloys. The crystal structure was determined by examining the lattice constant and unit volume using X-ray diffraction, and optical microscopy was also performed. The material properties were investigated by Vickers hardness, Young’s modulus, internal friction, tensile tests, and DSC measurements. Vickers hardness and tensile strength increased with increasing Al content. This is thought to be due to the combined effects of the refinement of the microstructure and solid-solution strengthening due to Al addition. The Young’s modulus increased slightly from 0Al to 1Al, but increased significantly to 4Al. Internal friction was highest for 0Al and decreased for 4Al, whereas 7Al showed a higher value than 1Al. In the DSC heating curves, there was a decrease in the exothermic peak starting temperature and an increase in the phase-transformation heat with the addition of Al, except for 1Al. It was suggested that these changes in Ti-18Nb-xAl alloys were influenced by the structure of the quenched α” phase, texture, and pseudoelasticity or phase transformation by deformation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MantaniYoshikazu en-aut-sei=Mantani en-aut-mei=Yoshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakemotoYoshito en-aut-sei=Takemoto en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Suzuka College kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=ternary titanium alloy kn-keyword=ternary titanium alloy en-keyword=martensite kn-keyword=martensite en-keyword=lattice constant kn-keyword=lattice constant en-keyword=hardness kn-keyword=hardness en-keyword=Young’s modulus kn-keyword=Young’s modulus en-keyword=internal friction kn-keyword=internal friction en-keyword=cyclic tensile test kn-keyword=cyclic tensile test en-keyword=texture kn-keyword=texture END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=286 end-page=299 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of Visual Stimuli on Perceived Sound Volume in Virtual Reality Spaces en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=With the proliferation of affordable and high-performance virtual reality (VR) devices, VR content such as games and the metaverse is becoming increasingly widespread. In VR environments, users experience various sensory stimuli, primarily through visual and auditory cues. However, subjective perception of these stimuli varies based on user context. Existing studies have shown that auditory perception can be influenced by visual stimuli, however, most of them have focused on congruent audiovisual stimuli, leaving the effects of non-congruent pairings unexplored. This study investigates how visual stimuli, specifically color and crowdedness, influence perceived sound volume in VR. In the experiment that participants experienced VR environments with different room colors while listening to test tones, the results showed that warm colors led to higher perceived volume at low sound levels. Also, in the experiment that participants viewed VR scenes with varying crowd densities while hearing announcements, less crowded environments resulted in higher perceived sound volume. These findings suggest that visual context impacts auditory perception, providing insights for optimizing hearable devices and enhancing VR auditory experiences. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsudaYuki en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiToma en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Toma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeHiroki en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasumotoKeiichi en-aut-sei=Yasumoto en-aut-mei=Keiichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Nara Institute of Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Future University Hakodate kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Nara Institute of Science and Technology kn-affil= en-keyword=Virtual Reality kn-keyword=Virtual Reality en-keyword=Subjective sound volume kn-keyword=Subjective sound volume en-keyword=Visual stimuli kn-keyword=Visual stimuli END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251014 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Comparative analysis of interactions between five strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci and Nicotiana benthamiana en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 (Pta 6605), the agent of wildfire disease in tobacco, has been used as a model strain for elucidating the virulence mechanisms of Pta. However, the host genes involved in resistance or susceptibility to Pta remain largely unknown. Nicotiana benthamiana is a model plant species in the Solanaceae family and is useful in functional analyses of genes. We herein compared five Pta strains (6605, 6823, 7372, 7375, and 7380) in terms of their phenotypes on medium and interactions with N. benthamiana. Pta 6605 and Pta 6823 showed more active proliferation than the other strains in a high cell density culture. Moreover, Pta 6605 exhibited markedly higher swarming motility than the other strains. In inoculated leaves of N. benthamiana, Pta 6605 and Pta 6823 caused more severe disease symptoms and proliferated to a higher cell density than the other strains. However, Pta 6823 as well as Pta 7372 and Pta 7380 induced the high accumulation of salicylic acid (SA). Moreover, the inoculations of Pta 6823 and Pta 7372 resulted in the upregulation of ethylene biosynthesis genes. On the other hand, Pta 6605 induced neither SA accumulation nor the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes, and suppressed the expression of jasmonate biosynthesis genes. Moreover, chlorosis was clearly induced in the upper uninoculated leaves of Pta 6605-infected plants. These results suggest that Pta 6605 escapes from or suppresses plant immune systems and, thus, is the most virulent on N. benthamiana among the five strains tested. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakaoYuna en-aut-sei=Nakao en-aut-mei=Yuna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsaiShuta en-aut-sei=Asai en-aut-mei=Shuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuiHidenori en-aut-sei=Matsui en-aut-mei=Hidenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchinoseYuki en-aut-sei=Ichinose en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatouShinpei en-aut-sei=Katou en-aut-mei=Shinpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Science and Technology, Shinshu University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Science and Technology, Shinshu University kn-affil= en-keyword=Chlorosis kn-keyword=Chlorosis en-keyword=Nicotiana benthamiana kn-keyword=Nicotiana benthamiana en-keyword=Phytohormones kn-keyword=Phytohormones en-keyword=Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci kn-keyword=Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=339 end-page=343 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202510 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluation of Scleral Adjustment Method: A Novel Adjustable Suture Technique in Strabismus Surgery en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=To determine whether passing a pole suture through the sclera at two points provides fixation comparable to that of a sliding noose, we measured the tensile strength of the suture‒sclera interface during simulated traction. In this in vitro study, three suture patterns were evaluated in porcine eyeballs, using 6-0 polyglycolic acid sutures. Patterns A (control), B (second suture pass perpendicular), and C (second suture pass in the same direction) were compared. The tensile strength of each pattern was measured 20 times using a KANON TK300CN, and the results were analyzed using the Kruskal‒Wallis test. Pattern A showed a tensile strength of 2±4 gram-force (gf) (range: 0-12). Pattern B showed 112±38 gf (range: 61-184). Pattern C showed 139±31 gf (range: 97-204). Patterns B and C had significantly higher tensile strengths than Pattern A (p<0.001). Although Pattern C was not significantly different from Pattern B (p=0.363), it exhibited the highest tensile strength. Lifting the suture between the first and second suture passes allows for an adjustable suture length, suggesting that adjustability can be achieved using only the sclera. This scleral adjustment method with a second suture pass offers a durable means of securing extraocular muscles and may represent a valuable addition to adjustable suturing techniques. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HamasakiIchiro en-aut-sei=Hamasaki en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShibataKiyo en-aut-sei=Shibata en-aut-mei=Kiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Lino Eye Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Lino Eye Clinic kn-affil= en-keyword=scleral adjustment method kn-keyword=scleral adjustment method en-keyword=adjustable suture technique kn-keyword=adjustable suture technique en-keyword=hang-loose method kn-keyword=hang-loose method en-keyword=tensile strength kn-keyword=tensile strength en-keyword=polyglycolic acid sutures kn-keyword=polyglycolic acid sutures END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=22 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=3933 end-page=3946 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202510 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Topology-Driven Configuration of Emulation Networks With Deterministic Templating en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Network emulation is an important component of a digital twin for verifying network behavior without impacting on the service systems. Although we need to repeatedly change network topologies and configuration settings as a part of trial and error for verification, it is not easy to reflect the change without failures because the change affects multiple devices, even if it is as simple as adding a device. We present topology-driven configuration, an idea to separate network topology and generalized configuration to make it easy to change them. Based on this idea, we aim to realize a scalable, simple, and effective configuration platform for emulation networks. We design a configuration generation method using simple and deterministic config templates with a new network parameter data model, and implement it as dot2net. We evaluate three perspectives, scalability, simplicity, and efficacy, of the proposed method using dot2net through measurement and user experiments on existing test network scenarios. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KobayashiSatoru en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiibaRyusei en-aut-sei=Shiiba en-aut-mei=Ryusei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiwaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Miwa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyachiToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Miyachi en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukudaKensuke en-aut-sei=Fukuda en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Informatics, School of Multidisciplinary Sciences, The Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Sokendai kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=StarBED Technology Center, Testbed Research, Development and Operations Laboratory, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Strategic Planning Department, Strategic Planning Office, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Informatics, School of Multidisciplinary Sciences, The Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Sokendai kn-affil= en-keyword=Configuration management kn-keyword=Configuration management en-keyword=template kn-keyword=template en-keyword=emulation network kn-keyword=emulation network en-keyword=topology graph kn-keyword=topology graph END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=52 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=An Extension of Input Setup Assistance Service Using Generative AI to Unlearned Sensors for the SEMAR IoT Application Server Platform en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Nowadays, Internet of Things (IoT) application systems are broadly applied to various sectors of society for efficient management by monitoring environments using sensors, analyzing sampled data, and giving proper feedback. For their fast deployment, we have developed Smart Environmental Monitoring and Analysis in Real Time (SEMAR) as an integrated IoT application server platform and implemented the input setup assistance service using prompt engineering and a generative AI model to assist connecting sensors to SEMAR with step-by-step guidance. However, the current service cannot assist in connections of the sensors not learned by the AI model, such as newly released ones. To address this issue, in this paper, we propose an extension to the service for handling unlearned sensors by utilizing datasheets with four steps: (1) users input a PDF datasheet containing information about the sensor, (2) key specifications are extracted from the datasheet and structured into markdown format using a generative AI, (3) this data is saved to a vector database using chunking and embedding methods, and (4) the data is used in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to provide additional context when guiding users through sensor setup. Our evaluation with five generative AI models shows that OpenAI’s GPT-4o achieves the highest accuracy in extracting specifications from PDF datasheets and the best answer relevancy (0.987), while Gemini 2.0 Flash delivers the most balanced results, with the highest overall RAGAs score (0.76). Other models produced competitive but mixed outcomes, averaging 0.74 across metrics. The step-by-step guidance function achieved a task success rate above 80%. In a course evaluation by 48 students, the system improved the student test scores, further confirming the effectiveness of our proposed extension. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KotamaI Nyoman Darma en-aut-sei=Kotama en-aut-mei=I Nyoman Darma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=PandumanYohanes Yohanie Fridelin en-aut-sei=Panduman en-aut-mei=Yohanes Yohanie Fridelin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=BrataKomang Candra en-aut-sei=Brata en-aut-mei=Komang Candra kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=PradhanaAnak Agung Surya en-aut-sei=Pradhana en-aut-mei=Anak Agung Surya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=Noprianto en-aut-sei=Noprianto en-aut-mei= kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Internet of Things kn-keyword=Internet of Things en-keyword=artificial intelligence kn-keyword=artificial intelligence en-keyword=Retrieval-Augmented Generation kn-keyword=Retrieval-Augmented Generation en-keyword=review kn-keyword=review en-keyword=application server platform kn-keyword=application server platform en-keyword=SEMAR kn-keyword=SEMAR en-keyword=sensor input kn-keyword=sensor input END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=588 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250708 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Map Information Collection Tool for a Pedestrian Navigation System Using Smartphone en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Nowadays, a pedestrian navigation system using a smartphone has become popular as a useful tool to reach an unknown destination. When the destination is the office of a person, a detailed map information is necessary on the target area such as the room number and location inside the building. The information can be collected from various sources including Google maps, websites for the building, and images of signs. In this paper, we propose a map information collection tool for a pedestrian navigation system. To improve the accuracy and completeness of information, it works with the four steps: (1) a user captures building and room images manually, (2) an OCR software using Google ML Kit v2 processes them to extract the sign information from images, (3) web scraping using Scrapy (v2.11.0) and crawling with Apache Nutch (v1.19) software collects additional details such as room numbers, facilities, and occupants from relevant websites, and (4) the collected data is stored in the database to be integrated with a pedestrian navigation system. For evaluations of the proposed tool, the map information was collected for 10 buildings at Okayama University, Japan, a representative environment combining complex indoor layouts (e.g., interconnected corridors, multi-floor facilities) and high pedestrian traffic, which are critical for testing real-world navigation challenges. The collected data is assessed in completeness and effectiveness. A university campus was selected as it presents a complex indoor and outdoor environment that can be ideal for testing pedestrian navigations in real-world scenarios. With the obtained map information, 10 users used the navigation system to successfully reach destinations. The System Usability Scale (SUS) results through a questionnaire confirms the high usability. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BatubulanKadek Suarjuna en-aut-sei=Batubulan en-aut-mei=Kadek Suarjuna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=BrataKomang Candra en-aut-sei=Brata en-aut-mei=Komang Candra kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KotamaI Nyoman Darma en-aut-sei=Kotama en-aut-mei=I Nyoman Darma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KyawHtoo Htoo Sandi en-aut-sei=Kyaw en-aut-mei=Htoo Htoo Sandi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HidayatiShintami Chusnul en-aut-sei=Hidayati en-aut-mei=Shintami Chusnul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Informatics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember kn-affil= en-keyword=pedestrian navigation kn-keyword=pedestrian navigation en-keyword=map information kn-keyword=map information en-keyword=optical character recognition (OCR) kn-keyword=optical character recognition (OCR) en-keyword=smartphones kn-keyword=smartphones en-keyword=web scraping kn-keyword=web scraping en-keyword=system usability scale (SUS) kn-keyword=system usability scale (SUS) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=87 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=1841 end-page=1851 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250620 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Implicit effect of visual long-term memory for nonverbal objects on recognition judgment en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This study uses an indirect recognition procedure to examine whether prior exposure to nonverbal visual objects affects recognition judgments in later, unrelated recognition tests. We also examined the effect of matching operations between study and test on recognition judgments. The experiment consisted of two sessions. The first session was an incidental learning task: Each object was presented twice, and participants were asked to count the number of corners of the presented object. In the second session after 3 weeks, participants performed the same task as in the first session and then performed an unexpected recognition test. In this test, participants were asked to identify whether the presented object had appeared in the second session. To unify the operation between study and test, some participants were required to count the number of corners of the presented object before the recognition judgment. The results revealed that recognition performance for the objects that appeared in the first session was significantly different from that of objects that had not appeared, even when participants were not asked to recall the episode of the first session when performing the recognition test. Although the results of the effect of the matching operation suggested a negative effect on recognition, the results were unclear. This finding indicates that representations for nonverbal objects are preserved for at least 3 weeks. This also highlights the need to consider the implicit effect of a brief prior experience on recognition judgments. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MasuokaTomoe en-aut-sei=Masuoka en-aut-mei=Tomoe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiyamaMegumi en-aut-sei=Nishiyama en-aut-mei=Megumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsurusakiYuna en-aut-sei=Tsurusaki en-aut-mei=Yuna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TerasawaTakafumi en-aut-sei=Terasawa en-aut-mei=Takafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Nursing, Japanese Red Cross Hiroshima College of Nursing kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Criminal Psychology, University of Human Environments kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Visual perception kn-keyword=Visual perception en-keyword=Object recognition kn-keyword=Object recognition en-keyword=Long-term memory kn-keyword=Long-term memory END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=34768 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251006 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Continuous glucose monitoring reveals periodontitis-induced glucose variability, insulin resistance, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Diabetes mellitus (DM) management has advanced from self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which better prevents complications. However, the influence of periodontitis—a common DM complication—on glucose variability is unclear. This study examined glucose variability in mice with periodontitis using CGM. Periodontitis was induced in 9-week-old male C57BL/6J mice via silk ligatures around the upper second molars. Glucose levels were monitored over 14 days with CGM, validated by SMBG. On day 14, samples were collected to assess alveolar bone resorption and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), insulin, and amyloid A. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were conducted to evaluate insulin resistance. Gut microbiota diversity was also analyzed. By day 10, mice with periodontitis exhibited higher mean glucose levels and time above range than controls. On day 14, serum insulin and amyloid A levels significantly increased, while TNF-α remained unchanged. GTT and ITT indicated insulin resistance. Microbiota analysis showed reduced alpha- and altered beta-diversity, with decreased Coprococcus spp. and increased Prevotella spp., linking dysbiosis to insulin resistance. Periodontitis disrupts glucose regulation by promoting insulin resistance and gut microbiota imbalance, leading to significant glucose variability. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Kubota-TakamoriMoyuka en-aut-sei=Kubota-Takamori en-aut-mei=Moyuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=Kamei-NagataChiaki en-aut-sei=Kamei-Nagata en-aut-mei=Chiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiyamaFumiko en-aut-sei=Kiyama en-aut-mei=Fumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiTakayuki en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakayamaMasaaki en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Masaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotohKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Gotoh en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraiKimito en-aut-sei=Hirai en-aut-mei=Kimito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=Shinoda-ItoYuki en-aut-sei=Shinoda-Ito en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkuboKeisuke en-aut-sei=Okubo en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraShin en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoTsugumichi en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Tsugumichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakashibaShogo en-aut-sei=Takashiba en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Health & Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Continuous glucose monitoring kn-keyword=Continuous glucose monitoring en-keyword=Periodontal disease kn-keyword=Periodontal disease en-keyword=Insulin resistance kn-keyword=Insulin resistance en-keyword=Chronic inflammation kn-keyword=Chronic inflammation en-keyword=Gut flora kn-keyword=Gut flora END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=e94062 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251007 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Refractive Error Correction With Glasses in Congenital Ocular Fundus Anomalies: A Retrospective Series of 18 Children With Different Disease Entities Followed Up for More Than 10 Years en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: Children with congenital anomalies of the posterior segment of the eye are in the process of visual development, and thus, their refractive errors should be detected by cycloplegic refraction testing to prescribe full-correction glasses, if required, and to help their visual acuity develop with growth. This study aimed to review refractive correction in children with congenital ocular fundus anomalies.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 18 consecutive children (11 female and seven male children) who were diagnosed with ocular fundus anomalies and followed for 10 years or more by a single ophthalmologist at a referral-based hospital. The age at the initial visit ranged from 10 days after birth to 11 years, with a median of one year and four months, and the age at the last visit ranged from 10 to 32 years, with a median of 15 years. The follow-up periods ranged from 10 to 21 years at a median of 15 years.
Results: The diagnoses were familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) in eight children, persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) in five, morning glory disc anomaly in two, optic nerve and choroidal coloboma (CHARGE syndrome) in two, and Coats disease in one. Full-correction glasses were prescribed in eight children, while the remaining 10 children did not wear glasses. Among nine children with the uncorrected visual acuity of 1.0 or better in one eye and the visual acuity in the other eye ranging from light perception to 0.01, eight children did not wear glasses, and one child wore glasses with hyperopic correction. The diagnoses in these nine children were PFV in five children, morning glory disc anomaly in two, FEVR in one, and Coats disease in one. In seven children who wore full-correction glasses, the best corrected visual acuity in the better eye ranged from 0.2 to 0.9 at a median of 0.5. In contrast, the visual acuity in the other eye ranged from light perception to 0.1 at a median of 0.03. The diagnoses of these seven children were FEVR in five children and CHARGE syndrome in two. The five children with FEVR showed myopic astigmatism in both eyes, while the two children with CHARGE syndrome showed hyperopic astigmatism in both eyes.
Conclusion: Children with unilateral eye anomalies such as PFV and morning glory disc anomaly did not wear glasses since their healthy eyes had good uncorrected visual acuity. In contrast, children with involvement of both eyes in FEVR and CHARGE syndrome wore full-correction glasses. Rough information regarding full-correction glasses in each category would help clinicians cope with rare congenital eye diseases. However, this conclusion is generally applicable to the standard practice of pediatric ophthalmology. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuoToshihiko en-aut-sei=Matsuo en-aut-mei=Toshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=charge syndrome kn-keyword=charge syndrome en-keyword=choroidal coloboma kn-keyword=choroidal coloboma en-keyword=coats disease kn-keyword=coats disease en-keyword=congenital eye anomalies kn-keyword=congenital eye anomalies en-keyword=cycloplegic refraction kn-keyword=cycloplegic refraction en-keyword=familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (fevr) kn-keyword=familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (fevr) en-keyword=full-correction glasses kn-keyword=full-correction glasses en-keyword=morning glory disc anomaly kn-keyword=morning glory disc anomaly en-keyword=optic nerve coloboma kn-keyword=optic nerve coloboma en-keyword=persistent fetal vasculature (pfv) kn-keyword=persistent fetal vasculature (pfv) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=e93012 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250923 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Impact of a Peer-Led International Training Program on Work Motivation Among Early-Career Psychiatrists: A Mixed-Methods Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background
The Japan Young Psychiatrists Organization (JYPO) has conducted a Course for Academic Development of Psychiatrists (CADP), a peer-led residential international training program, since 2002 to promote the professional development of early-career psychiatrists. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CADP on participants' work motivation using a psychometric scale and to identify the factors contributing to these changes.
Methods
We conducted a mixed-method study with 23 Japanese participants of the 21st CADP from March 8 to 10, 2024, in Himeji, Japan. Work motivation was assessed using the abbreviated version of the Measure of Multifaceted Work Motivations (MWM-12) at two time points: two weeks before and three months after the course. The total and subitem scores of the MWM-12 were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Furthermore, free-text responses collected before and after the course were subjected to qualitative analyses.
Results
Significant improvements were observed in the MWM-12 total score from pre-course to post-course. Significant increases were also identified in specific sub-items: M1 (directionality of achievement-oriented motivation), M4 (directionality of competition-oriented motivation), M6 (sustainability of competition-oriented motivation), and M9 (sustainability of cooperation-oriented motivation). Qualitative analysis revealed changes in key categories, including growth as a psychiatrist, personal networking, personal growth, and increased motivation. The integration of quantitative and qualitative findings suggested that enhanced career perspectives (M1), professional growth and peer interaction (M4), and increased self-confidence and support networks (M6 and M9) contributed to improved motivation.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that a three-day, two-night peer-led training program positively influenced work motivation among early-career psychiatrists. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShimizuToshihiro en-aut-sei=Shimizu en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitaokaJunko en-aut-sei=Kitaoka en-aut-mei=Junko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzutaniKen en-aut-sei=Suzutani en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatakeYuto en-aut-sei=Satake en-aut-mei=Yuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KodaMasahide en-aut-sei=Koda en-aut-mei=Masahide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuramochiIzumi en-aut-sei=Kuramochi en-aut-mei=Izumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SartoriusNorman en-aut-sei=Sartorius en-aut-mei=Norman kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Saitama Prefectural Psychiatric Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Fukkoukai Tarumi Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Aizu Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Co-learning Community Healthcare Re-innovation Office, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Epileptology and Psychiatry, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Psychiatry, Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programs (AIMHP) kn-affil= en-keyword=cadp kn-keyword=cadp en-keyword=early-career psychiatrists kn-keyword=early-career psychiatrists en-keyword=jypo kn-keyword=jypo en-keyword=peer-led training kn-keyword=peer-led training en-keyword=peer networking kn-keyword=peer networking en-keyword=professional development kn-keyword=professional development en-keyword=professional identity kn-keyword=professional identity en-keyword=work motivation kn-keyword=work motivation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=2500368 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250629 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Integration of Cholesterol Oxidase‐Based Biosensors on a Smart Contact Lens for Wireless Cholesterol Monitoring from Tears en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Cholesterol plays a critical role in physiological functions, but elevated levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Regular cholesterol monitoring is essential for elderly or obese individuals. Current methods, such as blood tests, are invasive, inconvenient, and require a professional operator. In contrast, tears, as an accessible body fluid, offer a promising alternative for noninvasive monitoring due to their correlation with blood cholesterol levels. Herein, a noninvasive approach for monitoring cholesterol levels in tears using a biosensor integrated into a smart contact lens is reported. The biosensor employs cholesterol oxidases as the biocatalyst, coupled with an osmium-based mediator, to detect cholesterol concentrations ranging from 0.1 mM to 1.2 mM in artificial tears. A key challenge is the extremely low cholesterol concentration in tears, which is addressed using a parity-time (P-T) symmetry-based magnetic resonance coupling system. This system enables wireless signal reading and achieves high sensitivity due to its high-quality (Q) factor, which can achieve a detection limit of 0.061 mM. This portable, high-sensitivity smart contact lens demonstrates significant potential as a wearable device for continuous, noninvasive cholesterol monitoring. The findings contribute to advancing tear-based diagnostic systems and highlight the scientific importance of utilizing tear biomarkers for health monitoring. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=CuiYang en-aut-sei=Cui en-aut-mei=Yang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZhuoLin en-aut-sei=Zhuo en-aut-mei=Lin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishinaYuta en-aut-sei=Nishina en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AzhariSaman en-aut-sei=Azhari en-aut-mei=Saman kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyakeTakeo en-aut-sei=Miyake en-aut-mei=Takeo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate school of Information, Production and Systems, Waseda University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate school of Information, Production and Systems, Waseda University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate school of Information, Production and Systems, Waseda University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate school of Information, Production and Systems, Waseda University kn-affil= en-keyword=cholesterol kn-keyword=cholesterol en-keyword=magnetic resonance coupling kn-keyword=magnetic resonance coupling en-keyword=parity-time symmetry kn-keyword=parity-time symmetry en-keyword=smart contact lens kn-keyword=smart contact lens END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=100277 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202509 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Development of a technique to identify μm-sized organic matter in asteroidal material: An approach using machine learning en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Asteroidal materials contain organic matter (OM), which records a number of extraterrestrial environments and thus provides a record of Solar System processes. OM contain essential compounds for the origin of life. To understand the origin and evolution of OM, systematic identification and detailed observation using in-situ techniques is required. While both nm- and μm-sized OM were studied previously, only a small portion of a given sample surface was investigated in each study. Here, a novel workflow was developed and applied to identify and classify μm-sized OM on mm-sized asteroidal materials. The workflow involved image processing and machine learning, enabling a comprehensive and non-biased way of identifying, classifying, and measuring the properties of OM. We found that identifying OM is more accurate by classification with machine learning than by clustering. On the approach of classification with machine learning, five algorithms were tested. The random forest algorithm was selected as it scored the highest in 4 out of 5 accuracy parameters during evaluation. The workflow gave modal OM abundances that were consistent with those identified manually, demonstrating that the workflow can accurately identify 1-15 μm-sized OM. The size distribution of OM was modeled using the power-law distribution, giving slope α values that were consistent with fragmentation processes. The shape of the OM was quantified using circularity and solidity, giving a positive correlation and indicating these properties are closely related. Overall, the workflow enabled identification of many OM quickly and accurately and the obtainment of chemical and petrographic information. Such information can help the selection of OM for further in-situ techniques, and elucidate the origin and evolution of OM preserved in asteroidal materials. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KumarRahul en-aut-sei=Kumar en-aut-mei=Rahul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiKatsura en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Katsura kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=PotiszilChristian en-aut-sei=Potiszil en-aut-mei=Christian kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunihiroTak en-aut-sei=Kunihiro en-aut-mei=Tak kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Asteroidal material kn-keyword=Asteroidal material en-keyword=Organic matter kn-keyword=Organic matter en-keyword=Carbonaceous chondrites kn-keyword=Carbonaceous chondrites en-keyword=RyuguImage processing kn-keyword=RyuguImage processing en-keyword=Machine learning kn-keyword=Machine learning en-keyword=Size distribution kn-keyword=Size distribution END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250903 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Vendor‐Agnostic Vision Transformer‐Based Artificial Intelligence for Peroral Cholangioscopy: Diagnostic Performance in Biliary Strictures Compared With Convolutional Neural Networks and Endoscopists en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: Accurate diagnosis of biliary strictures remains challenging. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system for peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) using a Vision Transformer (ViT) architecture and to evaluate its performance compared to different vendor devices, conventional convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and endoscopists.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 125 patients with indeterminate biliary strictures who underwent POCS between 2012 and 2024. AI models including the ViT architecture and two established CNN architectures were developed using images from CHF-B260 or B290 (CHF group; Olympus Medical) and SpyScope DS or DS II (Spy group; Boston Scientific) systems via a patient-level, 3-fold cross-validation. For a direct comparison against endoscopists, a balanced 440-image test set, containing an equal number of images from each vendor, was used for a blinded evaluation.
Results: The 3-fold cross-validation on the entire 2062-image dataset yielded a robust accuracy of 83.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 80.9–86.7) for the ViT model. The model's accuracy was consistent between CHF (82.7%) and Spy (86.8%, p = 0.198) groups, and its performance was comparable to the evaluated conventional CNNs. On the 440-image test set, the ViT's accuracy of 78.4% (95% CI, 72.5–83.8) was comparable to that of expert endoscopists (82.0%, p = 0.148) and non-experts (73.0%, p = 0.066), with no statistically significant differences observed.
Conclusions: The novel ViT-based AI model demonstrated high vendor-agnostic diagnostic accuracy across multiple POCS systems, achieving performance comparable to conventional CNNs and endoscopists evaluated in this study. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SatoRyosuke en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomiyaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Tomiya en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanimotoTakayoshi en-aut-sei=Tanimoto en-aut-mei=Takayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtoAkimitsu en-aut-sei=Ohto en-aut-mei=Akimitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkiKentaro en-aut-sei=Oki en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KajitaniSatoshi en-aut-sei=Kajitani en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KikuchiTatsuya en-aut-sei=Kikuchi en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumiAkihiro en-aut-sei=Matsumi en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyamotoKazuya en-aut-sei=Miyamoto en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiYuki en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaDaisuke en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsutsumiKoichiro en-aut-sei=Tsutsumi en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriguchiShigeru en-aut-sei=Horiguchi en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaharaYoshiro en-aut-sei=Kawahara en-aut-mei=Yoshiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Healthcare Solutions Division, Ryobi Systems Co., Ltd kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Healthcare Solutions Division, Ryobi Systems Co., Ltd kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Healthcare Solutions Division, Ryobi Systems Co., Ltd kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=artificial intelligence kn-keyword=artificial intelligence en-keyword=bile duct neoplasms kn-keyword=bile duct neoplasms en-keyword=cholangioscopy kn-keyword=cholangioscopy en-keyword=computer-assisted diagnosis kn-keyword=computer-assisted diagnosis en-keyword=vision transformer kn-keyword=vision transformer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=113544 end-page=113556 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250630 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Optimized Ensemble Deep Learning for Real-Time Intrusion Detection on Resource-Constrained Raspberry Pi Devices en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) networks has increased security risks, making it essential to have effective Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) for real-time threat detection. Deep learning techniques offer promising solutions for such detection due to their superior complex pattern recognition and anomaly detection capabilities in large datasets. This paper proposes an optimized ensemble-based IDS designed specifically for efficient deployment on edge hardware. However, deploying such computationally intensive models on resource-limited edge devices remains a significant challenge due to model size and computational overhead on devices with limited processing capabilities. Building upon our previously developed stacked Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model integrated with ANOVA feature selection, we optimize it by integrating dual-stage model compression: pruning and quantization to create a lightweight model suitable for real-time inference on Raspberry Pi devices. To evaluate the system under realistic conditions, we combined with a Kafka-based testbed to simulate dynamic IoT environments with variable traffic loads, delays, and multiple simultaneous attack sources. This enables the assessment of detection performance under varying traffic volumes, latency, and overlapping attack scenarios. The proposed system maintains high detection performance with accuracy of 97.3% across all test scenarios, while efficiently leveraging multi-core processing with peak CPU usage reaching 111.8%. These results demonstrate the system’s practical viability for real-time IoT security at the edge. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MusthafaMuhammad Bisri en-aut-sei=Musthafa en-aut-mei=Muhammad Bisri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HudaSamsul en-aut-sei=Huda en-aut-mei=Samsul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NguyenTuy Tan en-aut-sei=Nguyen en-aut-mei=Tuy Tan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoderaYuta en-aut-sei=Kodera en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NogamiYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Nogami en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Interdisciplinary Education and Research Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Internet of things kn-keyword=Internet of things en-keyword=intrusion detection system kn-keyword=intrusion detection system en-keyword=stacked lstm kn-keyword=stacked lstm en-keyword=pruning model kn-keyword=pruning model en-keyword=optimizing model kn-keyword=optimizing model en-keyword=quantization model kn-keyword=quantization model en-keyword=raspberry pi kn-keyword=raspberry pi en-keyword=real-time detection kn-keyword=real-time detection en-keyword=apache kafka kn-keyword=apache kafka END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250901 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Metachronic development of cholangiocarcinoma during treatment for IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We report a case of obstructive jaundice due to recurrent distal biliary stricture during 3 years of treatment for immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) associated with autoimmune pancreatitis. Although a relapse of IgG4-SC was initially suspected, imaging findings, laboratory tests, and histopathological examinations led to the diagnosis of metachronous cholangiocarcinoma. The patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, and no cancer recurrence was noted 6 months postoperatively. Distal cholangiocarcinoma and IgG4-SC remission were observed in the resected specimen. In patients with recurrent biliary strictures during IgG4-SC treatment, comprehensive evaluations are essential because of the risk of disease relapse and development of metachronous cholangiocarcinoma. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MorimotoKosaku en-aut-sei=Morimoto en-aut-mei=Kosaku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkuyamaTakaki en-aut-sei=Okuyama en-aut-mei=Takaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraShogo en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeiKensuke en-aut-sei=Takei en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatomiTakuya en-aut-sei=Satomi en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaTsuyoshi en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Tsuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinouraSusumu en-aut-sei=Shinoura en-aut-mei=Susumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShibataRei en-aut-sei=Shibata en-aut-mei=Rei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakenakaRyuta en-aut-sei=Takenaka en-aut-mei=Ryuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Autoimmune pancreatitis kn-keyword=Autoimmune pancreatitis en-keyword=IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis kn-keyword=IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis en-keyword=Cholangiocarcinoma kn-keyword=Cholangiocarcinoma en-keyword=Metachronous carcinogenesis kn-keyword=Metachronous carcinogenesis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=139 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250402 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=An Implementation of Creep Test Assisting System with Dial Gauge Needle Reading and Smart Lighting Function for Laboratory Automation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=For decades, analog dial gauges have been essential for measuring and monitoring data at various industrial instruments including production machines and laboratory equipment. Among them, we focus on the instrument for creep test in a mechanical engineering laboratory, which evaluates material strength under sustained stress. Manual reading of gauges imposes significant labor demands, especially in long-duration tests. This burden further increases under low-lighting environments, where poor visibility can lead to misreading data points, potentially compromising the accuracy of test results. In this paper, to address the challenges, we implement a creep test assisting system that possesses the following features: (1) to save the installation cost, a web camera and Raspberry Pi are employed to capture images of the dial gauge and automate the needle reading by image processing in real time, (2) to ensure reliability under low-lighting environments, a smart lighting mechanism is integrated to turn on a supplementary light when the dial gauge is not clearly visible, and (3) to allow a user to stay in a distant place from the instrument during a creep test, material break is detected and the corresponding message is notified to a laboratory staff using LINE automatically. For evaluations, we install the implemented system into a material strength measuring instrument at Okayama University, Japan, and confirm the effectiveness and accuracy through conducting experiments under various lighting conditions. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KongDezheng en-aut-sei=Kong en-aut-mei=Dezheng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FangShihao en-aut-sei=Fang en-aut-mei=Shihao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=Noprianto en-aut-sei=Noprianto en-aut-mei= kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkayasuMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Okayasu en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=PuspitaningayuPradini en-aut-sei=Puspitaningayu en-aut-mei=Pradini kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil= Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil= Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil= Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil= Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil= Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Surabaya kn-affil= en-keyword=creep test kn-keyword=creep test en-keyword=Raspberry Pi kn-keyword=Raspberry Pi en-keyword=dial gauge kn-keyword=dial gauge en-keyword=needle reading kn-keyword=needle reading en-keyword=smart lighting kn-keyword=smart lighting END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e70104 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250509 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Adequacy evaluation of 22‐gauge needle endoscopic ultrasound‐guided tissue acquisition samples and glass slides preparation for successful comprehensive genomic profiling testing: A single institute experience en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the successful sequencing rate of Foundation One CDx (F1CDx) using small tissue samples obtained with a 22-gauge needle (22G) through endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle acquisition (EUS-TA) and to propose guidelines for tissue quantity evaluation criteria and proper slide preparation in clinical practice.
Methods: Between June 2019 and April 2024, 119 samples of 22G EUS-TA collected for F1CDx testing at Himeji Red Cross Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Tissue adequacy was only assessed based on tumor cell percentage (≥20%). The procedure stopped when white tissue fragments reached 20 mm during macroscopic on-site evaluation. The specimens were prepared using both ‘tissue preserving sectioning’ to retain tissue within formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks and the ‘thin sectioning matched needle gauge and tissue length’ method with calculation to ensure minimal unstained slides for the 1 mm3 sample volume criterion. Tissue area from HE slides and sample volume were measured, and F1CDx reports were analyzed.
Results: Of 119 samples, 108 (90.8%) were suitable for F1CDx. Excluding the cases not submitted for testing, in the 45 cases where F1CDx was done using 22G EUS-TA samples, eight (17.8%) had a sum of tissue area tissue of 25 mm2 or greater in the HE-stained sample. However, all cases met the F1CDx 1 mm3 volume criterion by submitting > 30 unstained slides per sample. As a result, 43 of 45 cases (95.6%) were successfully analyzable.
Conclusions: The 22G EUS-TA needle is an effective tool for providing the sufficient tissue volume required for F1CDx. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NagataniTami en-aut-sei=Nagatani en-aut-mei=Tami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaniYoji en-aut-sei=Wani en-aut-mei=Yoji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakataniMasahiro en-aut-sei=Takatani en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FushimiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Fushimi en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueHirofumi en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriShinichiro en-aut-sei=Hori en-aut-mei=Shinichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaiKyohei en-aut-sei=Kai en-aut-mei=Kyohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoHideki en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiTetsuya en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniokaMaki en-aut-sei=Tanioka en-aut-mei=Maki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirasawaAkira en-aut-sei=Hirasawa en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Clinical Genomic Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Japanese Red Cross Society, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Society, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Japanese Red Cross Society, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Medical Support, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Society, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Genetic Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Society, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Clinical Genomic Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Clinical Genomic Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Clinical Genomic Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Society, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Clinical Genomic Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=biliary tract cancer kn-keyword=biliary tract cancer en-keyword=comprehensive genomic profiling kn-keyword=comprehensive genomic profiling en-keyword=endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration kn-keyword=endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration en-keyword=endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy kn-keyword=endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy en-keyword=pancreatic cancer kn-keyword=pancreatic cancer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250225 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Age-related behavioural abnormalities in C57BL/6.KOR–Apoe shl mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Spontaneously hyperlipidaemic (Apoeshl) mice were discovered in 1999 as mice lacking apolipoprotein E (ApoE) owing to a mutation in the Apoe gene. However, age-related behavioural changes in commercially available Apoeshl mice have not yet been clarified. The behavioural abnormalities of ApoE-deficient mice, which are genetically modified mice artificially deficient in ApoE, have been investigated in detail, and it has been reported that they can serve as a model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To understand whether Apoeshl mice can also serve as a murine model of AD, it is necessary to investigate age-related behavioural abnormalities in Apoeshl mice. In this study, we conducted a series of behavioural experiments on 7- and 11-month-old Apoeshl mice to investigate the behavioural abnormalities associated with ageing in Apoeshl mice. In this study, 7-month-old Apoeshl mice showed decreased body weight and grip strength compared to age-matched wild-type mice. In the open field test, 7-month-old Apoeshl mice showed increased anxiety-like behaviour compared to wild-type mice, whereas 11-month-old Apoeshl mice showed decreased anxiety-like behaviour. Moreover, Apoeshl mice aged 7 and 11 months had increased serum cholesterol levels. These results indicate that the behaviour of Apoeshl mice changes with age. However, 11-month-old Apoeshl mice did not show a decline in cognitive function or memory ability similar to murine models of AD. Our findings indicate that Apoeshl mice can be used to investigate the function of ApoE in the central nervous system. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UenoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Ueno en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYu en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriSachiko en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Sachiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitanoEriko en-aut-sei=Kitano en-aut-mei=Eriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiShinji en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaniKenta en-aut-sei=Wani en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyazakiTetsuji en-aut-sei=Miyazaki en-aut-mei=Tetsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoYosuke en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoMotoi en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Motoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= en-keyword=age kn-keyword=age en-keyword=apolipoprotein kn-keyword=apolipoprotein en-keyword=behavioural test kn-keyword=behavioural test en-keyword=central nervous system kn-keyword=central nervous system en-keyword=mouse kn-keyword=mouse END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2024 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=9215607 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=202401 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Mice Recognise Mice in Neighbouring Rearing Cages and Change Their Social Behaviour en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Mice are social animals that change their behaviour primarily in response to visual, olfactory, and auditory information from conspecifics. Rearing conditions such as cage size and colour are important factors influencing mouse behaviour. In recent years, transparent plastic cages have become standard breeding cages. The advantage of using a transparent cage is that the experimenter can observe the mouse from outside the cage without touching the cage. However, mice may recognise the environment outside the cage and change their behaviour. We speculated that mice housed in transparent cages might recognise mice in neighbouring cages. We used only male mice in this experiment. C57BL/6 mice were kept in transparent rearing cages with open lids, and the cage positions were maintained for 3 weeks. Subsequently, we examined how mice behaved toward cagemate mice, mice from neighbouring cages, and mice from distant cages. We compared the level of interest in mice using a social preference test. Similar to previous reports, subject mice showed a high degree of interest in unfamiliar mice from distant cages. By contrast, subject mice reacted to mice from neighbouring cages as familiar mice, similar to cagemate mice. This suggests that mice housed in transparent cages with open lids perceive the external environment and identify mice in neighbouring cages. Researchers should pay attention to the environment outside the mouse cage, especially for the social preference test. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UenoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Ueno en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYu en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriSachiko en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Sachiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiShinji en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaniKenta en-aut-sei=Wani en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoYosuke en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoMotoi en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Motoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=4 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e70167 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250728 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Occupational therapist‐guided exercise increased white blood cell and neutrophil counts during clozapine treatment: A case report en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Moderate exercise increases white blood cells and neutrophils. However, there are no reports on the relationship between exercise intensity and these cells. We observed a patient taking clozapine whose white blood cell and neutrophil counts were borderline. Supervised exercise therapy with an occupational therapist stabilized these counts.
Case Presentation: A 50-year-old woman with treatment-resistant schizophrenia was prescribed clozapine. By Day 63, the clozapine dosage had been increased to 450 mg/day. Additionally, she was advised to perform a 30-min walking exercise program 1 h before blood tests. Exercise therapy supervised by an occupational therapist was performed eight times, and self-training was performed five times. Exercise intensity was monitored using the Borg Scale for subjective evaluation and the Karvonen formula for objective evaluation. Supervised exercise therapy with an occupational therapist resulted in greater increases on the Borg Scale and Karvonen formula than did self-training. It also induced increases in white blood cells and neutrophils. Her psychiatric symptoms improved, and she was discharged on Day 71. A blood test taken after discharge revealed that her white blood cell and neutrophil counts were within the normal range and she continued to take clozapine for 2 years. She has since been able to enjoy a calm and relaxed life at home.
Conclusion: Exercise involving subjective and objective evaluation by an occupational therapist effectively increased white blood cells and neutrophils during clozapine treatment. Supervised exercise therapy by an occupational therapist is important when self-exercise is insufficient for continuing clozapine treatment. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HinotsuKenji en-aut-sei=Hinotsu en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoShinji en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiHiroki en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhyaYoshio en-aut-sei=Ohya en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokodeAkiyoshi en-aut-sei=Yokode en-aut-mei=Akiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsadaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Asada en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkahisaYuko en-aut-sei=Okahisa en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakiManabu en-aut-sei=Takaki en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=clozapine kn-keyword=clozapine en-keyword=exercise kn-keyword=exercise en-keyword=leukopenia kn-keyword=leukopenia en-keyword=neutropenia kn-keyword=neutropenia en-keyword=occupational therapist kn-keyword=occupational therapist END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=5 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=156 end-page=167 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250602 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Metaverse Support Groups for LGBTQ+ Youth: An Observational Study on Safety, Self-Expression, and Early Intervention en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This study explored whether metaverse-based support groups could address social isolation and suicide risks among LGBTQ+ youths by providing enhanced anonymity, avatar-based self-expression, and improved accessibility. Over one year, 53 individuals aged 14–23 participated in regular online sessions facilitated via the "cluster" metaverse platform by a non-profit LGBTQ+ organization. Each 90-minute session included voice and text-based interactions within a specially designed single-floor virtual space featuring conversation areas and a designated "safe area" for emotional regulation. Post-session questionnaires (5-point Likert scales) captured demographics, avatar preferences, self-confidence, and perceived safety, self-expression, and accessibility; responses were analyzed with Pearson's chi-squared test and Mann–Whitney U tests (α=0.05). Results indicated that 79.2% of participants selected avatars aligned with their gender identity, reporting high satisfaction (mean = 4.10/5) and minimal discomfort (mean = 1.79/5). Social confidence was significantly higher in the metaverse compared with real-world settings (p<0.001), particularly among those with lower real-world confidence, who exhibited an average gain of 2.08 points. Approximately half of all first-time participants were aged 16 years or younger, which suggested the platform’s value for early intervention. Additionally, the metaverse environment was rated significantly higher in safety/privacy (3.94/5), self-expression (4.02/5), and accessibility (4.21/5) compared with the real-world baseline, and 73.6% reported they felt more accepted virtually. However, some participants who had high confidence offline experienced mild adaptation challenges (mean decrease of 0.58 points), which highlighted that metaverse-based support may be more effective as a complement to in-person services rather than a replacement. Overall, these findings demonstrate that metaverse-based support groups can reduce psychological barriers for LGBTQ+ youth by facilitating safe and affirming virtual environments. The metaverse may help alleviate emotional distress and prevent further severe outcomes, such as suicidal ideation by providing early intervention, especially for adolescents unable to access conventional in-person services. Further research should examine its integration with existing clinical, community, and educational resources to ensure comprehensive, long-term support. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HaseiJoe en-aut-sei=Hasei en-aut-mei=Joe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoYosuke en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiHiroki en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkahisaYuko en-aut-sei=Okahisa en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakiManabu en-aut-sei=Takaki en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Science of Functional Recovery and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceu-tical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=LGBTQ+ Youth kn-keyword=LGBTQ+ Youth en-keyword=Social Isolation kn-keyword=Social Isolation en-keyword=Suicide Prevention kn-keyword=Suicide Prevention en-keyword=Avatar-Based Interventions kn-keyword=Avatar-Based Interventions END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2892 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=012002 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241101 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Crystal Grain Rotation during Tensile Test of Polycrystalline Pure Titanium Thin Sheet Based on Surface Height and Crystal Orientation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Thin sheets and wires of polycrystalline pure titanium are important materials for various devices used in electrical, mechanical, dental, and medical fields. Since pure titanium shows strong anisotropy in elastic and plastic deformation, and the individual grains comprising a polycrystalline body have different orientations and geometries, inhomogeneous deformation always occurs on the microscopic scale. This inhomogeneity is more significant in thin films than in bulk materials. It is therefore important to investigate the inhomogeneous deformation of pure titanium thin sheets to ensure the reliability of various titanium devices. In this study, thin-sheet specimens made of polycrystalline pure titanium were subjected to tensile testing. Inhomogeneous deformation was evaluated on the basis of two kinds of crystal grain rotations based on surface height and crystal orientation. The results under elastic and plastic tensile conditions were compared. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TadaNaoya en-aut-sei=Tada en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UemoriTakeshi en-aut-sei=Uemori en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoJunji en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Junji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=31 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202503 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Activated Clotting Time Requires Adaptation Across Altered Measurement Devices: Determination of Appropriate Range During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Methods for measuring activated clotting time (ACT) are not yet standardized.
Objectives: To adjust and compare values between two measurement systems and to optimize ACT during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.
Methods: Two systems were compared: electromagnetic detection using a rotating tube (EM system; Hemochron Response) and photo-optical detection using a cartridge immersed in blood (PO system; ACT CA-300TM).
Results: ACT was measured simultaneously in 124 instances in 53 patients before and during AF ablations using both methods. A linear regression analysis showed ACT (EM system) = 1.19 × ACT (PO system) + 9.03 (p < .001, r = 0.90). Bland–Altman plots indicated an average difference of 50 s between the two systems. In 3364 ACT measurements from 1161 ablations, the EM system recorded a mean ACT of 320 ± 44 s (range 156-487 s). Estimating the target range as mean ± 1 SD range, the EM system's range was 275-365 s, in 5-s increments. The pre-ablation ACT measured on the EM system was 143 ± 28 s (115-170 s). Cardiac tamponade occurred in 4 out of 2085 ablations (0.19%) over 5 years, with ACT values ranging from 330 to 391 s on the EM system. Based on these findings, the estimated optimal ACT range for the PO system was adjusted to 225-300 s to align with the EM system's range of 275-365 s.
Conclusions: ACT target ranges should be system-specific, and direct extrapolation between devices is not recommended. Adjustment is clinically necessary when switching systems. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SakanoueHaruna en-aut-sei=Sakanoue en-aut-mei=Haruna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamajiHirosuke en-aut-sei=Yamaji en-aut-mei=Hirosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoSayaka en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Sayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkanoKumi en-aut-sei=Okano en-aut-mei=Kumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaYuka en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigashiyaShunichi en-aut-sei=Higashiya en-aut-mei=Shunichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiTakashi en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirohataSatoshi en-aut-sei=Hirohata en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KusachiShozo en-aut-sei=Kusachi en-aut-mei=Shozo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Okayama Heart Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Heart Rhythm Center, Okayama Heart Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Okayama Heart Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Okayama Heart Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Okayama Heart Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Heart Rhythm Center, Okayama Heart Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Heart Rhythm Center, Okayama Heart Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=anticoagulation kn-keyword=anticoagulation en-keyword=heparin kn-keyword=heparin en-keyword=catheter kn-keyword=catheter en-keyword=supraventricular arrhythmia kn-keyword=supraventricular arrhythmia en-keyword=point-of-care testing kn-keyword=point-of-care testing END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue=S1 article-no= start-page=7 end-page=12 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202504 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Basic biology is not just “for the birds”: how avian studies have informed us about vertebrate reproduction en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Avian reproductive physiology has been studied for centuries, largely because of the importance of birds as food animals. It is likely that the ubiquity and ease of access to domesticated chickens led to them being used in some of the first experiments on transplantation of endocrine structures—in this case, the testes. Since then, study of seasonal changes in reproductive physiology (photoperiodism) in different orders of bird species has led to advances in the understanding of endocrine regulation of reproductive physiology and behavior. These include mechanisms of adult neuroplasticity, sexual selection, sperm competition, stress physiology, and circadian physiology. Here, we focus mainly on the discovery in birds of a neuropeptide named gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone that mostly has inhibitory effects on reproduction. This hormone has since been shown to exist in all mammals studied to date, including humans (it is known as RFamide-related peptide in mammals). We discuss the history and implications of avian studies on gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone/RFamide-related peptide for human reproductive biology. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BentleyGeorge E. en-aut-sei=Bentley en-aut-mei=George E. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AizawaSayaka en-aut-sei=Aizawa en-aut-mei=Sayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Integrative Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=GnRH kn-keyword=GnRH en-keyword=GnIH kn-keyword=GnIH en-keyword=RFamide kn-keyword=RFamide END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=1863 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=149752 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202509 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Spearmint extract Neumentix downregulates amyloid-β accumulation by promoting phagocytosis in APP23 mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In recent years, many researchers have focused on natural compounds that can effectively delay symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The spearmint extract Neumentix, which is rich in phenolic compounds, has been shown to reduce inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in mice. However, the effect of Neumentix on AD has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, APP23 transgenic female and male mice were administered Neumentix orally from 4 to 18 months of age at a dosage of 2.65 g/kg/day (containing 0.41 g/kg/day of rosmarinic acid). The impact was evaluated by behavioral tests and histological analyses and compared with APP23 mice to which Neumentix was not administered. The results showed that Neumentix administration increased the survival rate of APP23 mice and effectively reduced Aβ accumulation by enhancing its phagocytosis by microglial cells. These findings suggest that Neumentix is a potential natural nutritional treatment for improving the progression of AD. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HuXinran en-aut-sei=Hu en-aut-mei=Xinran kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriharaRyuta en-aut-sei=Morihara en-aut-mei=Ryuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukuiYusuke en-aut-sei=Fukui en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=BianYuting en-aut-sei=Bian en-aut-mei=Yuting kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SunHongming en-aut-sei=Sun en-aut-mei=Hongming kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=Ota-ElliottRicardo Satoshi en-aut-sei=Ota-Elliott en-aut-mei=Ricardo Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiuraHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Ishiura en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=AbeKoji en-aut-sei=Abe en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaToru en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Alzheimer's disease kn-keyword=Alzheimer's disease en-keyword=Amyloid-beta kn-keyword=Amyloid-beta en-keyword=Inflammation kn-keyword=Inflammation en-keyword=Neumentix kn-keyword=Neumentix en-keyword=Phagocytosis kn-keyword=Phagocytosis en-keyword=Survival rate kn-keyword=Survival rate END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250813 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The stress‒strain behavior of poly(methyl acrylate) microparticle-based polymers determined via optical microscopy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The structural integrity of microparticle-based films is maintained through interpenetration of the superficial polymer chains of the microparticles that physically crosslink neighboring microparticles. This structural feature is fundamentally different from those of conventional polymers prepared by solvent casting or bulk polymerization. To understand the mechanical properties of such microparticle-based films, it is necessary to investigate the behavior of their constituent particles. However, methods are still being developed to evaluate microscale structural changes in microparticle-based films during the stretching process leading to film fracture. In this study, we propose a method that combines a stretching stage with optical microscopy to investigate the changes in particle morphology and its positional relationship with surrounding particles during uniaxial tensile tests on microparticle-based films. In a film consisting of cross-linked poly(methyl acrylate) microparticles, the deformation of the particles deviated from affine deformation due to the cross-linked structure. However, the deformation of a group of several (local) particles was confirmed to be location-dependent and larger than that of each particle forming the film. The method established here can be used to contribute to the design of tough microparticle-based films. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NishizawaYuichiro en-aut-sei=Nishizawa en-aut-mei=Yuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawamuraYuto en-aut-sei=Kawamura en-aut-mei=Yuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakiYuma en-aut-sei=Sasaki en-aut-mei=Yuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiDaisuke en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=raduate School of Textile Science & Technology, Shinshu University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=37 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=43 end-page=53 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250220 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Fan-Shaped Pneumatic Soft Actuator that Can Operate Bending Motion for Ankle-Joint Rehabilitation Device en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Nowadays, owing to declining birthrates and an aging population, patients and the elderly requiring rehabilitation are not getting enough physical activity. In addressing this issue, devices for rehabilitating them have been researched and developed. However, rehabilitation devices are almost exclusively used for patients who can get up, rather than those who are bedridden. In this study, we aim to develop a rehabilitation device that can provide passive exercise for bedridden patients. The ankle joint was selected as the target joint because the patients who have undergone surgery for cerebrovascular disease remain bedridden, and early recovery in the acute stage is highly desirable. We proposed and tested a fan-shaped pneumatic soft actuator (FPSA) that can expand and bend stably at angles when supply pressure is applied as an actuator for a rehabilitation device to encourage patient exercise. However, the previous FPSA’s movement deviates from the arch of the foot owing to increased supply pressure. In the ideal case, FPSA should push the arch of the foot in an arc motion. This study proposes and tests the FPSA that can operate a bending motion to provide passive exercise to the ankle joint using tensile springs and a winding mechanism powered by a servo motor. The proposed FPSA has a significant advantage of exhibiting no hysteresis in its pressure-displacement characteristics. The configuration and static analytical model of the improved FPSA are described. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShimookaSo en-aut-sei=Shimooka en-aut-mei=So kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyaHirosato en-aut-sei=Yokoya en-aut-mei=Hirosato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMasanori en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiomiShun en-aut-sei=Shiomi en-aut-mei=Shun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=UeharaTakenori en-aut-sei=Uehara en-aut-mei=Takenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirayamaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Hirayama en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KamegawaTetsushi en-aut-sei=Kamegawa en-aut-mei=Tetsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NHO Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=fan-shaped pneumatic soft actuator kn-keyword=fan-shaped pneumatic soft actuator en-keyword=ankle-joint rehabilitation device kn-keyword=ankle-joint rehabilitation device en-keyword=hysteresis kn-keyword=hysteresis en-keyword=range of motion kn-keyword=range of motion END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=e240601 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250320 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Is subclinical hypothyroidism associated with cardiovascular disease in the elderly? en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is diagnosed when thyroid function tests show that the serum thyrotropin (TSH) level is elevated and the serum free thyroxine (FT4) level is normal. SCH is mainly caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the prevalence of which increases with aging. Recently, it has been revealed that SCH is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia and hypertension, leading to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, there are still controversies regarding the diagnosis and treatment of SCH in elderly patients. In this review, we present recent evidence regarding the relationship between SCH and CVD and treatment recommendations for SCH, especially in elderly patients. Studies have shown that SCH is associated with CVD and all-cause mortality. Patients aged less than 65 years showed significant associations of SCH with CVD risk and all-cause mortality, whereas patients aged 65 or older did not show such associations. It was shown that levothyroxine therapy was associated with lower all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in younger SCH patients (<65–70 years) but not in SCH patients aged 65–70 years or older. In elderly SCH patients, levothyroxine treatment should be considered individually according to the patient’s age, serum TSH level, hypothyroid symptoms, CVD risk and other comorbidities. To further elucidate the impact of SCH on CVD in elderly patients, studies should be conducted using age-specific reference ranges of results of thyroid function tests, focusing on elderly patients, specific serum TSH levels, thyroid antibody status and cardiovascular risk factors. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamamotoKoichiro en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SoejimaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Soejima en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuyamaAtsuhito en-aut-sei=Suyama en-aut-mei=Atsuhito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguniKohei en-aut-sei=Oguni en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaKou en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Kou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaFumio en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Fumio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=cardiovascular disease kn-keyword=cardiovascular disease en-keyword=elderly patients kn-keyword=elderly patients en-keyword=subclinical hypothyroidism kn-keyword=subclinical hypothyroidism en-keyword=thyroid disease kn-keyword=thyroid disease END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=56 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=64 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250527 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluating a discretized data acquisition method for couch modeling to streamline the commissioning process of radiological instruments en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background The commissioning of radiotherapy treatment planning system (RTPS) involves many time-consuming tests to maintain consistency between actual and planned dose. As the number of new technologies and peripheral devices increases year by year, there is a need for time-efficient and accurate commissioning of radiation therapy equipment. Couch modeling is one type of commissioning, and there are no recommended values for CT due to differences in equipment calibration between facilities. This study evaluated the optimal electron density (ED) for the couch using discretized gantry angles.
Results All discrete-angle groups showed a high correlation between the surface ED and dose difference between the actual and planned doses (|r|> 0.9). AcurosXB did not demonstrate a significant correlation between dose differences and each energy. For a small number of discretized gantry groups, the optimal couch modeling results revealed several combinations of surface and interior ED with the same score. Upon adding all couch thickness scores, all energy scores, and both algorithm scores, the optimal surface and interior EDs with the highest score across all couch thicknesses were 0.4 and 0.07, respectively.
Conclusions The optimal couch surface ED dose difference trend was identified, and the effectiveness indicated using the dose difference score from discrete-angle couch modeling. Using this method, couch modeling can be evaluated in a highly precise and quick manner, which helps in the commissioning of complicated linear accelerator and radiological treatment plans. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TomimotoSyouta en-aut-sei=Tomimoto en-aut-mei=Syouta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaekiYusuke en-aut-sei=Saeki en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MotodaOkihiro en-aut-sei=Motoda en-aut-mei=Okihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaMasato en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsumotoSyouki en-aut-sei=Tsumoto en-aut-mei=Syouki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishikawaHana en-aut-sei=Nishikawa en-aut-mei=Hana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyashimaYuki en-aut-sei=Miyashima en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiguchiMakiko en-aut-sei=Higuchi en-aut-mei=Makiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniTadashi en-aut-sei=Tani en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsuiKuniaki en-aut-sei=Katsui en-aut-mei=Kuniaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeYoshinori en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Couch modeling kn-keyword=Couch modeling en-keyword=Commissioning kn-keyword=Commissioning en-keyword=Attenuation of couch kn-keyword=Attenuation of couch en-keyword=Linear accelerator kn-keyword=Linear accelerator en-keyword=Radiotherapy planning system kn-keyword=Radiotherapy planning system END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=4 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e261 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2023 dt-pub=20230703 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Alcohol consumption, multiple Lugol‐voiding lesions, and field cancerization en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The development of multiple squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in the upper aerodigestive tract, which includes the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus, is explained by field cancerization and is associated with alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. We reviewed the association between alcohol consumption, multiple Lugol-voiding lesions, and field cancerization, mainly based on the Japan Esophageal Cohort study. The Japan Esophageal Cohort study is a prospective cohort study that enrolled patients with esophageal SCC after endoscopic resection. Enrolled patients received surveillance by gastrointestinal endoscopy every 6 months and surveillance by an otolaryngologist every 12 months. The Japan Esophageal Cohort study showed that esophageal SCC and head and neck SCC that developed after endoscopic resection for esophageal SCC were associated with genetic polymorphisms related to alcohol metabolism. They were also associated with Lugol-voiding lesions grade in the background esophageal mucosa, the score of the health risk appraisal model for predicting the risk of esophageal SCC, macrocytosis, and score on alcohol use disorders identification test. The standardized incidence ratio of head and neck SCC in patients with esophageal SCC after endoscopic resection was extremely high compared to the general population. Drinking and smoking cessation is strongly recommended to reduce the risk of metachronous esophageal SCC after treatment of esophageal SCC. Risk factors for field cancerization provide opportunities for early diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment. Lifestyle guidance of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking for esophageal precancerous conditions, which are endoscopically visualized as multiple Lugol-voiding lesions, may play a pivotal role in decreasing the incidence and mortality of esophageal SCC. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KatadaChikatoshi en-aut-sei=Katada en-aut-mei=Chikatoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaTetsuji en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Tetsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanoTomonori en-aut-sei=Yano en-aut-mei=Tomonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiHaruhisa en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Haruhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurueYasuaki en-aut-sei=Furue en-aut-mei=Yasuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoKeiko en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Doyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoikeTomoyuki en-aut-sei=Koike en-aut-mei=Tomoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TamaokiMasashi en-aut-sei=Tamaoki en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawataNoboru en-aut-sei=Kawata en-aut-mei=Noboru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraoMotohiro en-aut-sei=Hirao en-aut-mei=Motohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaharaYoshiro en-aut-sei=Kawahara en-aut-mei=Yoshiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgataTakashi en-aut-sei=Ogata en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatagiriAtsushi en-aut-sei=Katagiri en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamanouchiTakenori en-aut-sei=Yamanouchi en-aut-mei=Takenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiyokawaHirofumi en-aut-sei=Kiyokawa en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakuboHirofumi en-aut-sei=Kawakubo en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonnoMaki en-aut-sei=Konno en-aut-mei=Maki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaAkira en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiShinya en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoYuki en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=KishimotoYo en-aut-sei=Kishimoto en-aut-mei=Yo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanoKoichi en-aut-sei=Kano en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=MureKanae en-aut-sei=Mure en-aut-mei=Kanae kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiRyuichi en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Ryuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshikawaHideki en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=26 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaAkira en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=27 ORCID= en-aut-name=MutoManabu en-aut-sei=Muto en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=28 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Health and Promotion, National Institute of Public Health kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, National Cancer Center Hospital East kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Endoscopy Division, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Endoscopy, Hokkaido University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Endoscopy, Shizuoka Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Practical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Kanagawa Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Showa University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Kumamoto Regional Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Kawasaki Municipal Kawasaki Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Tochigi Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East kn-affil= affil-num=26 en-affil=Department of Molecular-Targeting Prevention, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=27 en-affil=Clinical Research Unit, National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center kn-affil= affil-num=28 en-affil=Department of Therapeutic Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= en-keyword=alcohol kn-keyword=alcohol en-keyword=esophageal cancer kn-keyword=esophageal cancer en-keyword=field cancerization kn-keyword=field cancerization en-keyword=head and neck cancer kn-keyword=head and neck cancer en-keyword=JEC study kn-keyword=JEC study END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=afaf224 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250801 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Oestrogen replacement combined with resistance exercise in older women with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Interventions targeting physical function decline in older women with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) are vital for healthy ageing. The additive benefits of combining oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) with resistance exercise remain unclear.
Objective: To evaluate the additive effect of low-dose ERT on physical performance when combined with a muscle resistance exercise programme (MREP) in older women with KOA.
Design: This is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised clinical trial.
Subjects: The subjects were community-dwelling women aged ≥65 years with chronic knee pain and KOA diagnosis.
Methods: Participants completed a 3-month MREP and were randomised to receive daily low-dose transdermal ERT (oestradiol 0.54 mg/day) or placebo. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention and 12 months later. The primary outcome was change in 30-second chair stand test (CS-30) score. Secondary outcomes included muscle mass, knee extension strength, walking performance, metabolic indicators, knee pain scale and 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12). Between-group differences in CS-30 changes were analysed using a linear regression model based on the intention-to-treat principle.
Results: Among 168 individuals screened, 75 participants (mean age 73.8 years, SD 5.8) were enrolled and randomised into an ERT group (n = 37) or a placebo group (n = 38). Baseline CS-30 scores were 14.81 (SD 3.95) in the ERT group and 15.58 (SD 3.48) in the placebo group. At 3 months, mean changes were 2.59 (SD 2.58) and 1.79 (SD 2.28) repetitions, respectively. The primary analysis showed no statistically significant between-group difference [regression coefficient: 0.81 (95% CI: −0.31, 1.92); P = .16]. Post hoc subgroup and sensitivity analyses suggested that benefits may exist among early-stage KOA participants. SF-12 mental health scores also improved significantly in the ERT group. No serious adverse events occurred.
Conclusions: ERT did not confer significant additive benefits to resistance exercise overall but may improve outcomes in early-stage KOA and mental health domains. These exploratory findings warrant further investigation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MitomaTomohiro en-aut-sei=Mitoma en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OobaHikaru en-aut-sei=Ooba en-aut-mei=Hikaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiKasumi en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Kasumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoTsunemasa en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Tsunemasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaTomohiro en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoYoko en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Yoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakiJota en-aut-sei=Maki en-aut-mei=Jota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Medical Development Field, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Medical Development Field, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochiai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochiai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Rehabilitation Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Medical Development Field, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Medical Development Field, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Medical Development Field, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=oestrogen replacement therapy kn-keyword=oestrogen replacement therapy en-keyword=muscle resistance exercise kn-keyword=muscle resistance exercise en-keyword=knee osteoarthritis kn-keyword=knee osteoarthritis en-keyword=physical performance kn-keyword=physical performance en-keyword=randomised controlled trial kn-keyword=randomised controlled trial en-keyword=older people kn-keyword=older people END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=77 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240410 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Impact of amyloid and tau positivity on longitudinal brain atrophy in cognitively normal individuals en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Individuals on the preclinical Alzheimer's continuum, particularly those with both amyloid and tau positivity (A + T +), display a rapid cognitive decline and elevated disease progression risk. However, limited studies exist on brain atrophy trajectories within this continuum over extended periods.
Methods This study involved 367 ADNI participants grouped based on combinations of amyloid and tau statuses determined through cerebrospinal fluid tests. Using longitudinal MRI scans, brain atrophy was determined according to the whole brain, lateral ventricle, and hippocampal volumes and cortical thickness in AD-signature regions. Cognitive performance was evaluated with the Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite (PACC). A generalized linear mixed-effects model was used to examine group × time interactions for these measures. In addition, progression risks to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia were compared among the groups using Cox proportional hazards models.
Results A total of 367 participants (48 A + T + , 86 A + T − , 63 A − T + , and 170 A − T − ; mean age 73.8 years, mean follow-up 5.1 years, and 47.4% men) were included. For the lateral ventricle and PACC score, the A + T − and A + T + groups demonstrated statistically significantly greater volume expansion and cognitive decline over time than the A − T − group (lateral ventricle: β = 0.757 cm3/year [95% confidence interval 0.463 to 1.050], P < .001 for A + T − , and β = 0.889 cm3/year [0.523 to 1.255], P < .001 for A + T + ; PACC: β =  − 0.19 /year [− 0.36 to − 0.02], P = .029 for A + T − , and β =  − 0.59 /year [− 0.80 to − 0.37], P < .001 for A + T +). Notably, the A + T + group exhibited additional brain atrophy including the whole brain (β =  − 2.782 cm3/year [− 4.060 to − 1.504], P < .001), hippocampus (β =  − 0.057 cm3/year [− 0.085 to − 0.029], P < .001), and AD-signature regions (β =  − 0.02 mm/year [− 0.03 to − 0.01], P < .001). Cox proportional hazards models suggested an increased risk of progressing to MCI or dementia in the A + T + group versus the A − T − group (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.35 [1.76 to 6.39]).
Conclusions In cognitively normal individuals, A + T + compounds brain atrophy and cognitive deterioration, amplifying the likelihood of disease progression. Therapeutic interventions targeting A + T + individuals could be pivotal in curbing brain atrophy, cognitive decline, and disease progression. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujishimaMotonobu en-aut-sei=Fujishima en-aut-mei=Motonobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawasakiYohei en-aut-sei=Kawasaki en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsudaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Kumagaya General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medicine, Saitama Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Biofunctional Imaging, Fukushima Medical University kn-affil= en-keyword=Preclinical kn-keyword=Preclinical en-keyword=Alzheimer’s disease kn-keyword=Alzheimer’s disease en-keyword=Longitudinal MRI kn-keyword=Longitudinal MRI en-keyword=Tau kn-keyword=Tau en-keyword=Amyloid-β kn-keyword=Amyloid-β END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=29 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=920 end-page=927 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250228 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The association of fasting triglyceride variability with renal dysfunction and proteinuria in medical checkup participants en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background The association between the variability of triglyceride (TG) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression remains unclear. We examined whether intraindividual variability in fasting TG was associated with the exacerbation of CKD.
Methods We conducted a retrospective and observational study. 18,339 participants, who went through medical checkups and had checked their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and semi-quantitative proteinuria by urine dipstick every year since 2017 for 4 years were registered. Variability in fasting TG was determined using the standard deviation (SD), and maximum minus minimum difference (MMD) between 2017 and 2021. The primary end point for the analysis of eGFR decline was eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The secondary end point for the analysis of proteinuria was the incidence of proteinuria ≥ ( ±) by urine dipstick.
Results The renal survival was lower in the higher-SD, and higher-MMD groups than in the lower-SD, and lower-MMD groups, respectively (log-rank test p < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). Lower SD and lower MMD were significantly associated with renal survival in the adjusted model (hazard ratio (HR), 1.12; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.04–1.21, and HR, 1.13; 95% CI 1.05–1.23, respectively). The non-incidence of proteinuria was lower in the higher-SD, and higher-MMD groups than in the lower-SD, and lower-MMD groups, respectively (log-rank test p < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion Fasting TG variability was associated with CKD progression in participants who went through medical checkups. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Matsuoka-UchiyamaNatsumi en-aut-sei=Matsuoka-Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Natsumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaHaruhito A. en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Haruhito A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsakawaTomohiko en-aut-sei=Asakawa en-aut-mei=Tomohiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakurabuYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Sakurabu en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaKatsuyoshi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Katsuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoShugo en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Shugo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnishiYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Onishi en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaKeiko en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiHidemi en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Hidemi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakemotoRika en-aut-sei=Takemoto en-aut-mei=Rika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmebayashiRyoko en-aut-sei=Umebayashi en-aut-mei=Ryoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=eGFR decline kn-keyword=eGFR decline en-keyword=Proteinuria kn-keyword=Proteinuria en-keyword=Renal dysfunction kn-keyword=Renal dysfunction en-keyword=Triglyceride variability kn-keyword=Triglyceride variability en-keyword=Fasting triglyceride kn-keyword=Fasting triglyceride END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=12 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=e70276 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202504 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Occupational motions such as kneeling and squatting are associated with the increased development of medial meniscus posterior root tears, regardless of the medial posterior tibial slope angle en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: The relationship between occupational motions and the medial posterior tibial slope (MPTS) with the development of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) has not been investigated. The development of non-traumatic degenerative MMPRTs may be influenced by repetitive occupational motions and bone morphological characteristics. Herein, we examined the association between occupational motions and MPTS in patients with MMPRT development.
Methods: During the first medical examination, MPTS was measured using lateral knee radiographic images, and occupational motions were investigated in 559 patients (591 knees). Occupational motions were classified as kneeling and squatting, standing and walking, sitting, lifting heavy weights, and housework. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare patient characteristics between male and female patients and MPTS relative to occupational motion.
Results: The most frequent occupational motion was housework (160/559 patients, 28.6%), followed by kneeling and squatting (140/559, 25.0%), standing and walking (128/559, 22.9%), sitting (82/559, 14.7%), and lifting heavy weights (49/559, 8.8%). Furthermore, housework (10.0 ± 2.6°) involved significantly greater MPTS than kneeling and squatting (9.3 ± 2.7°; p = 0.012). However, the MPTS associated with other occupational motions was not significantly different from that associated with housework.
Conclusion: The most frequent occupational motion among patients with MMPRTs was housework, followed by kneeling and squatting. Patients who performed housework tended to have a higher MPTS. Occupational motions such as kneeling and squatting potentially increase the development of MMPRTs, even without a high MPTS.
Level of Evidence: Level IV. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KawadaKoki en-aut-sei=Kawada en-aut-mei=Koki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaYusuke en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TamuraMasanori en-aut-sei=Tamura en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiYuki en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurumatsuTakayuki en-aut-sei=Furumatsu en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=kneeling kn-keyword=kneeling en-keyword=meniscus kn-keyword=meniscus en-keyword=occupational motion kn-keyword=occupational motion en-keyword=posterior root tear kn-keyword=posterior root tear en-keyword=posterior tibial slope kn-keyword=posterior tibial slope END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=35 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=40 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241212 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Association between lower limb muscle strength and musculoskeletal ambulation disability symptom complex in patients with medial meniscus posterior root tears en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose In this study, we aimed to evaluate the changes in and the relationship between lower limb muscle strength and physical function before and after medial meniscus posterior root (MMPR) repair.
Methods Thirty-three patients who underwent MMPR repair were evaluated. Pain was evaluated with the numerical rating scale (NRS), and knee flexor/extensor muscle strength was assessed using a handheld dynamometer. Physical function was evaluated using a timed up and go (TUG) test. The NRS, knee flexor/extensor muscle strength, and TUG were compared preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The correlation of patient characteristics, NRS score, knee flexor/extensor muscle strength, and preoperative TUG with the postoperative TUG was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient.
Results NRS (3.5 ± 2.1 to 0.1 ± 0.5 points), knee flexor strength (111.9 ± 50.2 to 146.7 ± 51.5 Nm), knee extensor strength (181.9 ± 92.8 to 256.9 ± 107.1 Nm), and TUG (12.3 ± 5.7 to 9.2 ± 2.2 s) all improved significantly from preoperatively to 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.001). The postoperative TUG was negatively correlated with the preoperative TUG (r = 0.578, p < 0.001), preoperative knee flexor muscle strength (r = − 0.355, p = 0.042), preoperative knee extensor muscle strength (r = − 0.437, p = 0.010), and postoperative knee extensor muscle strength (r = − 0.478, p = 0.004).
Conclusion In patients undergoing MMPR repair, surgery and rehabilitation significantly improve lower limb muscle strength and physical function. There was a significant correlation between lower limb muscle strength and TUG, and further strengthening of the lower limb muscles from the preoperative level is desirable to improve patients’ physical function further.
Level of evidence IV. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FukubaMikao en-aut-sei=Fukuba en-aut-mei=Mikao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawadaKoki en-aut-sei=Kawada en-aut-mei=Koki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiYuki en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaYoshimi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Yoshimi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMasanori en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurumatsuTakayuki en-aut-sei=Furumatsu en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Musculoskeletal ambulation disability symptom complex kn-keyword=Musculoskeletal ambulation disability symptom complex en-keyword=Meniscus kn-keyword=Meniscus en-keyword=Posterior root tear kn-keyword=Posterior root tear en-keyword=Physical therapy kn-keyword=Physical therapy en-keyword=Rehabilitation kn-keyword=Rehabilitation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=305 end-page=309 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202508 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Rare Presentation of Pneumonic-Type Adenocarcinoma Hidden behind Empyema en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Pneumonic-type adenocarcinoma (P-ADC) can closely mimic pneumonia. We report a P-ADC initially diagnosed as pneumonia which developed into a pulmonary abscess and empyema. A 50-year-old Japanese male diagnosed with pneumonia, pulmonary abscess, and empyema was administered antibiotics and a chest tube for drainage, which improved his symptoms and blood test results. However, chest computed tomography showed an enlarged infiltrative shadow. The patient underwent bronchoscopy and was diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma. This case highlights the importance of considering P-ADC in differential diagnoses when a pneumonia-like shadow enlarges post-empyema treatment. Diagnostic and clinical tests, e.g., bronchoscopy, should be performed in such cases. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SenooSatoru en-aut-sei=Senoo en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NimanEito en-aut-sei=Niman en-aut-mei=Eito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiRyoko en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Ryoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakataKohei en-aut-sei=Takata en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumoriShunsuke en-aut-sei=Matsumori en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MuranoFumika en-aut-sei=Murano en-aut-mei=Fumika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugisakiYuka en-aut-sei=Sugisaki en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriHiroki en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniguchiAkihiko en-aut-sei=Taniguchi en-aut-mei=Akihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoteRika en-aut-sei=Omote en-aut-mei=Rika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiKenji en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= en-keyword=pneumonic type adenocarcinoma kn-keyword=pneumonic type adenocarcinoma en-keyword=empyema kn-keyword=empyema en-keyword=bronchoscopy kn-keyword=bronchoscopy en-keyword=lung cancer diagnosis kn-keyword=lung cancer diagnosis en-keyword=cavity formation kn-keyword=cavity formation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=243 end-page=251 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202508 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The Work Productivity of Cancer-survivor and Non-cancer-survivor Workers en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We investigated the work productivity levels of employed cancer survivors and non-cancer-survivor workers by conducting a cross-sectional study in Japan between February and March 2019, using an online survey. A total of 561 employed individuals aged 20-64 years were analyzed. Work productivity was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-General Health questionnaire which evaluates absenteeism, presenteeism, and overall work productivity loss. The questionnaire responses demonstrated that the cancer survivors within 1 year of diagnosis had significantly higher absenteeism compared to the non-cancer workers (p=0.048). Although presenteeism and overall work productivity loss were also higher in the non-cancer-survivor group, the differences were not significant. Cancer survivors within 1 year of diagnosis exhibited higher absenteeism, but their work productivity appeared to recover to levels comparable to those of the non-cancer workers over time. These findings may contribute to workplace policies supporting cancer survivors’ return to work. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KamanoMika en-aut-sei=Kamano en-aut-mei=Mika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KandaKanae en-aut-sei=Kanda en-aut-mei=Kanae kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NgatuNlandu Roger en-aut-sei=Ngatu en-aut-mei=Nlandu Roger kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiAkitsu en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Akitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadoriYusuke en-aut-sei=Yamadori en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraoTomohiro en-aut-sei=Hirao en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Cancer Center, Kagawa University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University kn-affil= en-keyword=cancer survivor kn-keyword=cancer survivor en-keyword=work productivity kn-keyword=work productivity en-keyword=absenteeism kn-keyword=absenteeism en-keyword=presenteeism kn-keyword=presenteeism END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=231 end-page=242 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202508 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Bloodstream Infections Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria in Geriatric Patients: Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Resistance and The Factors Affecting Mortality en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients. We retrospectively analyzed the cases of geriatric patients who developed BSIs due to gram-negative bacteria in order to evaluate the epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and the factors affecting mortality. The cases of 110 patients aged ≥ 65 years admitted to our hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022 were assessed; 70 (63.6%) of the BSIs were healthcare-associated BSIs. The urinary system was the most common detectable source of infection at 43.6%. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, in that order. Carbapenem resistance was detected in 17 patients (15.5%), and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production from Enterobacterales family members was detected in 37 (51.4%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that (i) the probability of mortality in the patients with total bilirubin was increased by approx. sixfold and (ii) the likelihood of mortality for those with a Pitt bacteremia score (PBS) ≥ 4 points was approx. 17 times higher. PBS and simplified qPitt scores can help predict mortality and manage geriatric patients. There is a significant increase in mortality among patients with procalcitonin (PCT) levels at ≥ 2 nm/ml. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KardanM Enes en-aut-sei=Kardan en-aut-mei=M Enes kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ErdemIlknur en-aut-sei=Erdem en-aut-mei=Ilknur kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YildizEmre en-aut-sei=Yildiz en-aut-mei=Emre kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KirazNuri en-aut-sei=Kiraz en-aut-mei=Nuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ÇelikkolAliye en-aut-sei=Çelikkol en-aut-mei=Aliye kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University kn-affil= en-keyword=geriatrics kn-keyword=geriatrics en-keyword=gram-negative bacteria kn-keyword=gram-negative bacteria en-keyword=epidemiology kn-keyword=epidemiology en-keyword=antimicrobial resistance kn-keyword=antimicrobial resistance en-keyword=mortality kn-keyword=mortality END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=221 end-page=229 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202508 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Organ Donation after Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Clinical and Ethical Perspectives en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has evolved into a life-saving therapy for select cardiac arrest patients, yet a growing body of evidence suggests it also holds promise as a bridge to organ donation in non-survivors. This review explores the clinical outcomes, ethical complexities, and evolving policies surrounding organ donation after ECPR. We summarize recent international and Japanese data demonstrating favorable graft function from ECPR donors, with the exception of lung transplantation. The ethical challenges — particularly those involving brain death determination on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and adherence to the dead donor rule — are discussed in the context of Japan’s recent regulatory reforms. Additionally, we highlight the importance of structured end-of-life communication through multidisciplinary team meetings in facilitating ethically sound transitions from rescue efforts to donation pathways. Moving forward, improvements in donor management, standardized legal frameworks, and public and professional education are essential to optimizing the life-saving and life-giving potential of ECPR. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YumotoTetsuya en-aut-sei=Yumoto en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaitoHiromichi en-aut-sei=Naito en-aut-mei=Hiromichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HongoTakashi en-aut-sei=Hongo en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ObaraTakafumi en-aut-sei=Obara en-aut-mei=Takafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KosakiYoshinori en-aut-sei=Kosaki en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AgetaKohei en-aut-sei=Ageta en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NojimaTsuyoshi en-aut-sei=Nojima en-aut-mei=Tsuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsukaharaKohei en-aut-sei=Tsukahara en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaoAtsunori en-aut-sei=Nakao en-aut-mei=Atsunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=brain death kn-keyword=brain death en-keyword=end-of-life care kn-keyword=end-of-life care en-keyword=ethical dilemmas kn-keyword=ethical dilemmas en-keyword=extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation kn-keyword=extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=32 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e70005 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202501 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Lyme neuroborreliosis in Japan: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato as a cause of meningitis of previously undetermined etiology in hospitalized patients outside of the island of Hokkaido, 2010–2021 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background and Purpose: Clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), include erythema migrans, Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), carditis, and arthritis. LB is a notifiable disease in Japan with <30 surveillance-reported LB cases annually, predominately from Hokkaido Prefecture. However, LB, including LNB, may be under-diagnosed in Japan since diagnostic tests are not readily available. We sought to determine if LNB could be a cause of previously undiagnosed encephalitis or meningitis in Japan.
Methods: Investigators at 15 hospitals in 10 prefectures throughout Japan retrieved serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected in 2010–2021 from 517 patients hospitalized with encephalitis or meningitis which had an etiology that had not been determined. Samples were tested for Bbsl-specific antibodies using ELISA and Western blot tests. In alignment with the European Union LNB case definition, a confirmed LNB case had CSF pleocytosis and intrathecal production of Bbsl-specific antibodies and a probable LNB case had a CSF sample with pleocytosis and Bbsl-specific antibodies.
Results: LNB was identified in three hospitalized patients with meningitis of previously undetermined etiology: a male resident of Aomori Prefecture was a confirmed LNB case, and two female residents of Oita Prefecture were probable LNB cases. None of the patients with confirmed or probable LNB had traveled in the month prior to symptom onset and none had samples previously tested for LB.
Conclusion: The identification of previously undiagnosed LNB cases indicates a need for enhanced disease awareness in Japan, particularly beyond Hokkaido Island, and more readily available LB diagnostic testing. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OhiraMasayuki en-aut-sei=Ohira en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakanoAi en-aut-sei=Takano en-aut-mei=Ai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiKentaro en-aut-sei=Yoshi en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AraiAkira en-aut-sei=Arai en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsoYashuhiro en-aut-sei=Aso en-aut-mei=Yashuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurutaniRikiya en-aut-sei=Furutani en-aut-mei=Rikiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamanoTadanori en-aut-sei=Hamano en-aut-mei=Tadanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=Takahashi‐IwataIkuko en-aut-sei=Takahashi‐Iwata en-aut-mei=Ikuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanekoChikako en-aut-sei=Kaneko en-aut-mei=Chikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraTohru en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Tohru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaNorihisa en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Norihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakajimaHideto en-aut-sei=Nakajima en-aut-mei=Hideto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShindoKatsuro en-aut-sei=Shindo en-aut-mei=Katsuro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuenagaToshihiko en-aut-sei=Suenaga en-aut-mei=Toshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugieKazuma en-aut-sei=Sugie en-aut-mei=Kazuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaToru en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnguloFrederick J. en-aut-sei=Angulo en-aut-mei=Frederick J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=EdwardsJuanita en-aut-sei=Edwards en-aut-mei=Juanita kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=BenderCody Matthew en-aut-sei=Bender en-aut-mei=Cody Matthew kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=HarperLisa R. en-aut-sei=Harper en-aut-mei=Lisa R. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakayamaYoshikazu en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Yoshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoShuhei en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=PilzAndreas en-aut-sei=Pilz en-aut-mei=Andreas kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=StarkJames H. en-aut-sei=Stark en-aut-mei=James H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoïsiJennifer C. en-aut-sei=Moïsi en-aut-mei=Jennifer C. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=26 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizusawaHidehiro en-aut-sei=Mizusawa en-aut-mei=Hidehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=27 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaoMasaki en-aut-sei=Takao en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=28 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory and Internal Medicine, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Oita Prefectural Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Shinshu Ueda General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurology, University of Fukui Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Southern Tohoku General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Neurology, Jichi Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Beppu Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Nihon University Itabashi Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Kurashiki Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Tenri Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Asahikawa Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Vaccines and Antivirals Medical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Vaccines and Antivirals Medical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Vaccines and Antivirals Medical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Vaccines and Antivirals Medical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Vaccines Medical Affairs, Pfizer Japan Inc kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Vaccines Medical Affairs, Pfizer Japan Inc kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Vaccines and Antivirals Medical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=Vaccines and Antivirals Medical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines kn-affil= affil-num=26 en-affil=Vaccines and Antivirals Medical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines kn-affil= affil-num=27 en-affil=Department of Neurology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=28 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory and Internal Medicine, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= en-keyword=epidemiology kn-keyword=epidemiology en-keyword=disease burden kn-keyword=disease burden en-keyword=Lyme neuroborreliosis kn-keyword=Lyme neuroborreliosis en-keyword=meningitis kn-keyword=meningitis en-keyword=tick-borne disease kn-keyword=tick-borne disease END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=16 article-no= start-page=7832 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250813 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity of BrSPR20-P1 Peptide and Silver Nanoparticles Against Pathogenic Bacteria en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Bacterial infection is a cause of life-threatening diseases. The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria exacerbates this situation, highlighting the need for the discovery of new antimicrobial agents. Our previous study identified a novel antimicrobial peptide, BrSPR20-P1 (P1), which showed potential activity against MRSA. Additionally, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, capable of killing multidrug-resistant bacteria. The combination of antimicrobial agents presents a novel strategy for combating these pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the combination of P1 and AgNPs. It revealed that the combinations showed synergy. The P1 and AgNP mixture at a concentration of 1 and 8 µg/mL (1:8) doubled the activity against S. aureus and MRSA, while that combination of 64 and 64 µg/mL (64:64) exhibited broad-spectrum activity, expanding to E. coli with a 32-fold increase. These combinations exhibited a bactericidal effect, showing the rapid killing of tested bacteria at 10× MIC, with killing rates during the first 3 h ranging from 4.04 ± 0.01 to 4.31 ± 0.03 h−1. The P1 and AgNP mixtures caused a low risk of antibacterial resistance up to 30 passages. It was demonstrated that the synergistic activity of P1 and AgNPs occurred through the disruption of cell walls and membranes, leakage of intracellular materials, and cell lysis. Additionally, the mixtures appeared to interact with bacterial genomic DNA, as indicated by a gel retardation assay. These activities of the combinations were concentration-dependent. The 1:8 µg/mL mixture caused low hemolysis and cytotoxicity and did not impede the wound healing process. In contrast, although the 64:64 µg/mL mixture showed excellent antibacterial efficacy, it was toxic to erythrocytes and mammalian cells. It implies that dose optimization is required to balance its efficacy and toxicity. Therefore, the P1 and AgNP combinations exhibit synergistic antimicrobial activity and have the potential to resolve bacterial infections. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ThonginThanyamai en-aut-sei=Thongin en-aut-mei=Thanyamai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SawatdeeSomchai en-aut-sei=Sawatdee en-aut-mei=Somchai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SongnakaNuttapon en-aut-sei=Songnaka en-aut-mei=Nuttapon kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaJumpei en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=WiwasukuTheanchai en-aut-sei=Wiwasuku en-aut-mei=Theanchai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SrichanaTeerapol en-aut-sei=Srichana en-aut-mei=Teerapol kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakphengTitpawan en-aut-sei=Nakpheng en-aut-mei=Titpawan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=AtipairinApichart en-aut-sei=Atipairin en-aut-mei=Apichart kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= School of Pharmacy, Walailak University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil= School of Pharmacy, Walailak University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil= School of Pharmacy, Walailak University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=School of Science, Walailak University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Drug Delivery System Excellence Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Drug Delivery System Excellence Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil= School of Pharmacy, Walailak University kn-affil= en-keyword=antimicrobial peptide kn-keyword=antimicrobial peptide en-keyword=Brevibacillus sp. SPR20 kn-keyword=Brevibacillus sp. SPR20 en-keyword=silver nanoparticle kn-keyword=silver nanoparticle en-keyword=synergistic effect kn-keyword=synergistic effect END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=64 cd-vols= no-issue=12 article-no= start-page=1900 end-page=1905 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250615 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Subacute Upper Motor Neuron Dysfunction Possibly Associated with the Anti-GM1 Autoantibody en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Anti-GM1 antibodies are associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), primarily peripheral neuropathy. However, there are cases of anti-GM1 IgG antibody-positive GBS with upper motor neuron (UMN) signs. We herein report a case of gastrointestinal infection followed by subacute gait disturbance with predominant signs of UMN on a neurological examination. The serum and cerebrospinal fluid tests were positive for anti-GM1 and anti-asialo-GM1 IgG antibodies. An electrophysiological evaluation revealed normal nerve conduction and prolonged central motor conduction times. No magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were observed. The symptoms improved with treatment, which was accompanied by decreased antibody titers. This case highlights the fact that anti-GM1 IgG-associated disorders may present with predominant UMN involvement. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkuboSo en-aut-sei=Okubo en-aut-mei=So kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaMeiko en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Meiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsuseKazuto en-aut-sei=Katsuse en-aut-mei=Kazuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiuraHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Ishiura en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShirotaYuichiro en-aut-sei=Shirota en-aut-mei=Yuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMasashi en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatakeWataru en-aut-sei=Satake en-aut-mei=Wataru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TodaTatsushi en-aut-sei=Toda en-aut-mei=Tatsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= en-keyword=anti-GM1 antibody kn-keyword=anti-GM1 antibody en-keyword=anti-GA1 antibody kn-keyword=anti-GA1 antibody en-keyword=upper motor neuron kn-keyword=upper motor neuron en-keyword=motor-evoked potentials kn-keyword=motor-evoked potentials en-keyword=central motor conduction time kn-keyword=central motor conduction time en-keyword=Guillain-Barré syndrome kn-keyword=Guillain-Barré syndrome END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=15 article-no= start-page=e71098 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202508 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Real‐World Data of Comprehensive Cancer Genomic Profiling Tests Performed in the Routine Clinical Setting in Sarcoma en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: Next-generation sequencing-based comprehensive cancer genomic profiling (CGP) tests are beneficial for refining diagnosis and personalized treatment of various cancers. However, the clinical impact of CGP, as covered by public health insurance in the management of sarcomas, remains unknown. Especially, the data on the utility of the newly emerging dual DNA–RNA panel compared to the conventional DNA-only panel in clinical settings is lacking. Therefore, we evaluated the utility of CGP in routine clinical practice for sarcoma treatment.
Patients and Methods: In this study, three types of DNA panel and one DNA–RNA panel, reimbursed by Japanese public health insurance, were utilized. We detected oncogenic and druggable gene mutations and genotype-matched therapies.
Results: One hundred and thirty-six patients were included in this study. Based on the detection of highly histology-specific translocations in the sequencing results, 2.2% of patients were re-classified. In patients with translocation-related sarcomas, a DNA–RNA panel identified more histology-specific fusion genes than DNA panels (p = 0.0035). Specifically, 86.8% and 39.0% of patients had oncogenic and druggable genomic alterations, respectively. Of these, 9.6% underwent genotype-matched therapy, with a 36.3% response rate and an 81.8% disease control rate. Patients who were administered genomically matched therapy had better overall survival (OS) than those who did not in patients with metastatic or advanced sarcoma with no prior chemotherapy (3-year OS: 83.3% vs. 48.0%, p = 0.42). Patients with TP53 and RB1 mutations had worse OS than those without. Germline findings were detected in 11.0% of the patients, one of whom had a truly germline origin.
Conclusions: This study suggests that publicly reimbursed CGP tests, particularly the dual DNA–RNA panel, could be beneficial for refining diagnostic precision in selected sarcoma subtypes, treatment decisions, detecting the germline findings, and prognosis prediction in routine clinical settings for sarcoma. The implementation of genotype-matched therapies showed favorable clinical outcomes and improved the prognosis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakataEiji en-aut-sei=Nakata en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=EnnishiDaisuke en-aut-sei=Ennishi en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsoneTatsunori en-aut-sei=Osone en-aut-mei=Tatsunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomidaShuta en-aut-sei=Tomida en-aut-mei=Shuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItanoTakuto en-aut-sei=Itano en-aut-mei=Takuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunisadaToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kunisada en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IdaNaoyuki en-aut-sei=Ida en-aut-mei=Naoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoHideki en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=FutagawaMashu en-aut-sei=Futagawa en-aut-mei=Mashu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimoiTatsunori en-aut-sei=Shimoi en-aut-mei=Tatsunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanaiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Yanai en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirasawaAkira en-aut-sei=Hirasawa en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TabataMasahiro en-aut-sei=Tabata en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Regenerative Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Clinical Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=comprehensive genomic profiling kn-keyword=comprehensive genomic profiling en-keyword=genotype-matched therapy kn-keyword=genotype-matched therapy en-keyword=multiplex gene panel test kn-keyword=multiplex gene panel test en-keyword=sarcoma kn-keyword=sarcoma END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=244 end-page=254 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=202408 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A novel brief questionnaire using a face rating scale to assess dental anxiety and fear en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of a four-item questionnaire using a face rating scale to measure dental trait anxiety (DTA), dental trait fear (DTF), dental state anxiety (DSA), and dental state fear (DSF).
MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants were consecutively selected from patients undergoing scaling (S-group; n = 47) and implant placement (I-group; n = 25). The S-group completed the questionnaire both before initial and second scaling, whereas the I-group responded on the pre-surgery day (Pre-day), the day of implant placement (Imp-day), and the day of suture removal (Post-day).
RESULTS The reliability in the S-group was evaluated using the test-retest method, showing a weighted kappa value of DTA, 0.61; DTF, 0.46; DSA, 0.67; DSF, 0.52. Criterion-related validity, assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory’s trait anxiety and state anxiety, revealed positive correlations between trait anxiety and DTA/DTF (DTA, ρ = 0.30; DTF, ρ = 0.27, ρ: correlation coefficient) and between state anxiety and all four items (DTA, ρ = 0.41; DTF, ρ = 0.32; DSA, ρ = 0.25; DSF, ρ = 0.25). Known-group validity was assessed using the initial data and Imp-day data from the S-group and I-group, respectively, revealing significantly higher DSA and DSF scores in the I-group than in the S-group. Responsiveness was gauged using I-group data, showing significantly lower DSA and DSF scores on post-day compared to other days.
CONCLUSION The newly developed questionnaire has acceptable reliability and validity for clinical use, suggesting its usefulness for research on dental anxiety and fear and for providing patient-specific dental care. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MinoTakuya en-aut-sei=Mino en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=Kimura-OnoAya en-aut-sei=Kimura-Ono en-aut-mei=Aya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakawaHikaru en-aut-sei=Arakawa en-aut-mei=Hikaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokumotoKana en-aut-sei=Tokumoto en-aut-mei=Kana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurosakiYoko en-aut-sei=Kurosaki en-aut-mei=Yoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukaYoshizo en-aut-sei=Matsuka en-aut-mei=Yoshizo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaekawaKenji en-aut-sei=Maekawa en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubokiTakuo en-aut-sei=Kuboki en-aut-mei=Takuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Stomatognathic Function and Occlusal Reconstruction, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Removable Prosthodontics and Occlusion, Osaka Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Dental anxiety kn-keyword=Dental anxiety en-keyword=Anxiety disorders kn-keyword=Anxiety disorders en-keyword=Surveys kn-keyword=Surveys en-keyword=Questionnaires kn-keyword=Questionnaires en-keyword=Validation study kn-keyword=Validation study en-keyword=Phobia kn-keyword=Phobia END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=68 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1319 end-page=1323 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Method for predicting crack size using amplitude change in titanium alloy under bending vibration en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The natural frequency of a material decreases owing to the presence of cracks. Thus, when a crack initiates in a material under vibration, the amplitude of the vibration changes with the crack propagation. In this study, we investigated a method for predicting crack size using the amplitude change in a plate specimen of a titanium alloy under bending vibration. The bending displacement amplitudes were measured using high-speed camera images of the specimens. The crack sizes were measured using optical microscopy images of plastic replicas of the specimen surfaces that were obtained after interrupting tests at specified intervals. By using the relationship between the total area of the cracks and bending displacement amplitude for tests at two different vibration frequencies as well as the relationship between the vibration frequency and bending displacement amplitude for an undamaged specimen, the bending displacement amplitude at any vibration frequency can be monitored to predict the total area of the cracks. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SakamotoJunji en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Junji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TadaNaoya en-aut-sei=Tada en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UemoriTakeshi en-aut-sei=Uemori en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= en-keyword=Vibration kn-keyword=Vibration en-keyword=Fatigue crack propagation kn-keyword=Fatigue crack propagation en-keyword=Non-destructive inspection kn-keyword=Non-destructive inspection en-keyword=Titanium alloy kn-keyword=Titanium alloy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=10 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=e00110-25 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250519 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus induces pyroptosis in human lung fibroblasts en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We previously reported that live, but not dead, virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Rv bacilli induce cell death in human lung fibroblast cell lines, MRC-5, MRC-9, and TIG-1. Here, using two distinct Mtb strains from two different lineages (HN878 lineage 2 and H37Rv lineage 4), we confirmed cell death at day 2 after infection with a device that measures cell growth/cytotoxicity in real time (Maestro-Z [AXION]). Mtb bacilli uptake by the fibroblast was confirmed with a transmission electron microscope on day 2. Expressions of inflammatory cytokines and interleukin (IL)−1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were observed when exposed to live, but not dead bacteria. The cell death of fibroblasts induced by both Mtb strains tested was prevented by caspase-1/4 and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, but not by caspase-3 and caspase-9 inhibitors. Therefore, we classified the fibroblast cell death by Mtb infection as pyroptosis. To investigate the biological and pathological relevance of fibroblast cell death by Mtb infection, we performed dual RNA-Seq analysis on Mtb within fibroblasts and Mtb-infected fibroblasts at day 2. In Mtb bacilli tcrR, secE2, ahpD, and mazF8 genes were highly induced during infection. These genes play roles in survival in a hypoxic environment, production of a calcium-binding protein-inducing cytokine, and regulation of transcription in a toxin-antitoxin system. The gene expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, caspase-4, and NLRP3, but not of caspase-3 and caspase-9, were augmented in Mtb bacilli-infected fibroblasts. Taken together, our study suggests that Mtb bacilli attempt to survive in lung fibroblasts and that pyroptosis of the host fibroblasts activates the immune system against the infection. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakiiTakemasa en-aut-sei=Takii en-aut-mei=Takemasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MotozonoChihiro en-aut-sei=Motozono en-aut-mei=Chihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiSho en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TorrellesJordi B. en-aut-sei=Torrelles en-aut-mei=Jordi B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TurnerJoanne en-aut-sei=Turner en-aut-mei=Joanne kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimishimaAoi en-aut-sei=Kimishima en-aut-mei=Aoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsamiYukihiro en-aut-sei=Asami en-aut-mei=Yukihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OharaNaoya en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HidaShigeaki en-aut-sei=Hida en-aut-mei=Shigeaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiHidetoshi en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Hidetoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnozakiKikuo en-aut-sei=Onozaki en-aut-mei=Kikuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Mycobacterium Reference and Research, the Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Mycobacterium Reference and Research, the Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Texas Biomedical Research Institute and International Center for the Advancement of Research & Education (I•CARE) kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Texas Biomedical Research Institute and International Center for the Advancement of Research & Education (I•CARE) kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Laboratory of Applied Microbial Chemistry, Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Kitasato University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Laboratory of Applied Microbial Chemistry, Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Kitasato University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Oral Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Hygienic Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Hygienic Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University kn-affil= en-keyword=Mycobacterium tuberculosis kn-keyword=Mycobacterium tuberculosis en-keyword=pyroptosis kn-keyword=pyroptosis en-keyword=caspase kn-keyword=caspase en-keyword=RNA-Seq kn-keyword=RNA-Seq en-keyword=cytokine kn-keyword=cytokine en-keyword=fibroblasts kn-keyword=fibroblasts END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=77 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=522 end-page=532 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240625 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Synthesis and biochemical characterization of naphthoquinone derivatives targeting bacterial histidine kinases en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Waldiomycin is an inhibitor of histidine kinases (HKs). Although most HK inhibitors target the ATP-binding region, waldiomycin binds to the intracellular dimerization domain (DHp domain) with its naphthoquinone moiety presumed to interact with the conserved H-box region. To further develop inhibitors targeting the H-box, various 2-aminonaphthoquinones with cyclic, aliphatic, or aromatic amino groups and naphtho [2,3-d] isoxazole-4,9-diones were synthesized. These compounds were tested for their inhibitory activity (IC50) against WalK, an essential HK for Bacillus subtilis growth, and their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against B. subtilis. As a result, 11 novel HK inhibitors were obtained as naphthoquinone derivatives (IC50: 12.6–305 µM, MIC: 0.5–128 µg ml−1). The effect of representative compounds on the expression of WalK/WalR regulated genes in B. subtilis was investigated. Four naphthoquinone derivatives induced the expression of iseA (formerly yoeB), whose expression is negatively regulated by the WalK/WalR system. This suggests that these compounds inhibit WalK in B. subtilis cells, resulting in antibacterial activity. Affinity selection/mass spectrometry analysis was performed to identify whether these naphthoquinone derivatives interact with WalK in a manner similar to waldiomycin. Three compounds were found to competitively inhibit the binding of waldiomycin to WalK, suggesting that they bind to the H-box region conserved in HKs and inhibit HK activity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IshikawaTeruhiko en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Teruhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=EguchiYoko en-aut-sei=Eguchi en-aut-mei=Yoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IgarashiMasayuki en-aut-sei=Igarashi en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkajimaToshihide en-aut-sei=Okajima en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitaKohei en-aut-sei=Mita en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiYuri en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Yuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SumikuraKaho en-aut-sei=Sumikura en-aut-mei=Kaho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkumuraTaisei en-aut-sei=Okumura en-aut-mei=Taisei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TabuchiYuna en-aut-sei=Tabuchi en-aut-mei=Yuna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiChigusa en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Chigusa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=PasquaMartina en-aut-sei=Pasqua en-aut-mei=Martina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=ColucciaMarco en-aut-sei=Coluccia en-aut-mei=Marco kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=ProssedaGianni en-aut-sei=Prosseda en-aut-mei=Gianni kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=ColonnaBianca en-aut-sei=Colonna en-aut-mei=Bianca kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=KohayakawaChie en-aut-sei=Kohayakawa en-aut-mei=Chie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniAkiyoshi en-aut-sei=Tani en-aut-mei=Akiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=HarutaJun-ichi en-aut-sei=Haruta en-aut-mei=Jun-ichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=UtsumiRyutaro en-aut-sei=Utsumi en-aut-mei=Ryutaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Science and Technology on Food Safety, Faculty of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN) kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN) kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Istituto Pasteur Italy, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Istituto Pasteur Italy, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Istituto Pasteur Italy, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Istituto Pasteur Italy, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Lead Exploration Units, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Compound Library Screening Center, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Lead Exploration Units, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=3332 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250510 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Experience of High Tibial Osteotomy for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Recent Medication: A Case Series en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) was generally not indicated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because synovial inflammation may exacerbate joint damage postoperatively. Recently, joint destruction in RA has dramatically changed with the introduction of methotrexate (MTX) and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of HTO for patients with RA treated with recent medication. Methods: In this study, patients with RA who underwent HTO between 2016 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients whose follow-up period was <2 years and those whose onset of RA occurred after HTO were excluded. Clinical outcomes were investigated using the Japanese orthopedic Association (JOA) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores. Results: Seven patients (two males and five females, mean age 72.0 ± 6.2 years, mean body mass index 24.0 ± 2.9 kg/m2) were included in this study. The mean follow-up period was 62.1 ± 21.4 months. Open-wedge and hybrid closed-wedge HTO were performed in two and five cases, respectively. MTX was used for all cases. The bDMARDs were used in six cases (golimumab and tocilizumab in four and two cases, respectively). JOA scores significantly improved from 63.6 ± 10.7 preoperatively to 90.7 ± 5.3 postoperatively (p = 0.0167 Wilcoxon rank test). VAS scores significantly decreased from 48.6 ± 12.2 preoperatively to 11.4 ± 6.9 postoperatively (p = 0.017 Wilcoxon rank test). None of the patients underwent total knee arthroplasty. Conclusions: This study showed seven RA patients who underwent HTO treated with recent medication. The prognosis of RA, including joint destruction, has dramatically improved with induction of MTX and bDMARDs. HTO may be one of effective joint preservation surgeries even for patients with RA. To achieve the favorable outcomes, surgeons should pay attention to timing and indication of surgery. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakaharaYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Takahara en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakashimaHirotaka en-aut-sei=Nakashima en-aut-mei=Hirotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishidaKeiichiro en-aut-sei=Nishida en-aut-mei=Keiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaYoichiro en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Yoichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoHisayoshi en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Hisayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItaniSatoru en-aut-sei=Itani en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasakiYuichi en-aut-sei=Iwasaki en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nippon Kokan Fukuyama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nippon Kokan Fukuyama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nippon Kokan Fukuyama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nippon Kokan Fukuyama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nippon Kokan Fukuyama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nippon Kokan Fukuyama Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=high tibial osteotomy kn-keyword=high tibial osteotomy en-keyword=rheumatoid arthritis kn-keyword=rheumatoid arthritis en-keyword=methotrexate kn-keyword=methotrexate en-keyword=biologic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs kn-keyword=biologic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs en-keyword=knee surgery kn-keyword=knee surgery en-keyword=joint preservation kn-keyword=joint preservation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1 end-page=11 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250707 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Dual roles of suberin deposition at the endodermal Casparian strip in manganese uptake of rice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Rice roots are characterized by having two Casparian strips (CSs) at the exodermis and endodermis, where transporters for mineral nutrients are expressed. However, the exact role of the CS in expression of the transporters and subsequent nutrient uptake is poorly understood. Here, we first investigated the role of the CS in manganese (Mn) uptake by using a rice mutant (oscasp1) defective in formation of the endodermal CS. Knockout of OsCASP1 resulted in decreased Mn uptake under limited Mn conditions, but increased Mn uptake at high Mn concentration. Immunostaining revealed that knockout of OsCASP1 did not affect the cell specificity of localization of two transporters (OsNramp5 and OsMTP9) required for Mn uptake, but decreased the protein abundance of these transporters at the endodermis regardless of Mn concentrations tested. Furthermore, we found that overaccumulation of suberin at the endodermis of the mutants suppressed the expression of two transporters; the expression of the two transporters was only observed in the endodermal cells without suberin deposition, but not in the cells with suberin deposition. Taken together, our results indicate that there are two roles for the CS in Mn uptake; maintaining normal expression of the transporters at limited Mn concentration and preventing Mn diffusion to the stele at high Mn concentration. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujiiToshiki en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Toshiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamajiNaoki en-aut-sei=Yamaji en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaJian Feng en-aut-sei=Ma en-aut-mei=Jian Feng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Casparian strip kn-keyword=Casparian strip en-keyword=endodermis kn-keyword=endodermis en-keyword=manganese transporter kn-keyword=manganese transporter en-keyword=rice kn-keyword=rice en-keyword=root kn-keyword=root en-keyword=suberin deposition kn-keyword=suberin deposition END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250728 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Tailoring Mechanical Properties and Ionic Conductivity of Poly(ionic liquid)-Based Ion Gels by Tuning Anion Compositions en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Poly(ionic liquid) (PIL)-based ion gels have emerged as promising materials for advanced electrochemical applications because of their excellent miscibility with ionic liquids (IL), tunable mechanical properties, and high ionic conductivity. Despite extensive studies on PIL-based ion gels, a comprehensive understanding of how different anion combinations in the system affect physicochemical properties is lacking. In this study, we systematically investigate the effect of different anion species, such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI) and hexafluorophosphate (PF6), on the mechanical, viscoelastic, and ion conductive behaviors of PIL-based ion gels. We investigate the interplay between anion size, packing density, and polymer segmental dynamics by varying the anion composition in both the PIL network and IL component. Rheological analysis and uniaxial tensile testing results indicate that PF6-containing ion gels exhibit enhanced higher Young’s modulus because of their restricted chain mobility resulting in higher glass transition temperature (Tg). In addition, we confirm the anion exchange between PIL and IL during gel preparation and find that the mechanical and ion conductive properties of the gels are governed by the total molar ratio of anions in the gels. Our findings highlight that tuning the anion composition in PIL-based ion gels provides an effective strategy to tailor their performance, with potential applications for flexible electronics and solid-state electrochemical devices. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WatanabeTakaichi en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Takaichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizutaniYuna en-aut-sei=Mizutani en-aut-mei=Yuna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=LopezCarlos G. en-aut-sei=Lopez en-aut-mei=Carlos G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnoTsutomu en-aut-sei=Ono en-aut-mei=Tsutomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Material Science and Engineering Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 80 Pollock Road, State College kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=poly(ionic liquid) kn-keyword=poly(ionic liquid) en-keyword=anion exchange kn-keyword=anion exchange en-keyword=gel kn-keyword=gel en-keyword=conductivity kn-keyword=conductivity en-keyword=toughness kn-keyword=toughness END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=38 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=e70105 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250724 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Ultrahigh‐Field MR‐Compatible Mechanical Tactile Stimulator for Investigating Somatosensory Processing in Small‐Bodied Animals en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), small-bodied New World primates that share similar sensory processing pathways with human beings, have gained great interests. Their small body size allows imaging of brain activity with high spatial resolution and on a whole-brain scale using ultrahigh-field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. However, the strong magnetic field and the small size of the hand and forearm pose challenges in delivering tactile stimulation during fMRI experiments. In the present study, we developed an MR-compatible tactile dual-point stimulator to provide high-precision mechanical stimulation for exploring somatosensory processing in small-bodied animals. The study population consisted of a water phantom and three male common marmosets. Cerebral blood volume (CBV) weighted fMRI data were obtained with a gradient echo (GE), echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence at 7T scanner. The output performance of the device was tested by a pressure sensor. The MR compatibility of the device was verified by measuring the temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) of a water phantom. To test the effectiveness of tactile stimulation, we conducted block designed tactile stimulation experiments on marmosets. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted for comparing the tSNR results. We performed one-sample t-tests to investigate the negative response of the forearm and hand stimulation with a threshold of t > 1.96 (p < 0.05). Performance tests revealed that mechanical stimulation (averaged force: 31.69 g) was applied with a delay of 12 ms. Phantom experiments confirmed that there was no significant difference in the tSNR among three (10 Hz, 1 Hz, and no-stimulus) conditions (F (2, 798) = 0.71, p = 0.49). The CBV activity results showed that the stimulator successfully elicited hand and forearm somatosensory activations in primary somatosensory areas. These results indicated that the device is well suited for small-bodied animal somatosensory studies. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WangChenyu en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=Chenyu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImaiHirohiko en-aut-sei=Imai en-aut-mei=Hirohiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukunagaMasaki en-aut-sei=Fukunaga en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoHiroki en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuYinghua en-aut-sei=Yu en-aut-mei=Yinghua kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekiKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Seki en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HanakawaTakashi en-aut-sei=Hanakawa en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmedaTatsuya en-aut-sei=Umeda en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YangJiajia en-aut-sei=Yang en-aut-mei=Jiajia kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Innovation Research Center for Quantum Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Section of Brain Function Information, National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurophysiology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=primary somatosensory cortex kn-keyword=primary somatosensory cortex en-keyword=small-bodied animals kn-keyword=small-bodied animals en-keyword=tactile stimulation device kn-keyword=tactile stimulation device en-keyword=ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging kn-keyword=ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=9 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e60943 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250729 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Usefulness of Interventions Using a Smartphone Cognitive Behavior Therapy Application for Children With Mental Health Disorders: Prospective, Single-Arm, Uncontrolled Clinical Trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: The prevalence of mental health disorders among children in Japan has increased rapidly, and these children often show depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life (QOL). We previously developed a smartphone-based self-monitoring app to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), implemented it in healthy children, and reported its effectiveness for health promotion.
Objective: This study aims to examine the usefulness of the CBT app for improvement in depressive symptoms and QOL in children with mental health disorders.
Methods: The participants were 115 children with mental health disorders (eg, school refusal, orthostatic hypotension, eating disorders, developmental disorders, among others) and aged 12‐18 years. The CBT app–based program comprised 1 week of psychoeducation followed by 1 week of self-monitoring. After reading story-like scenarios, participants created a self-monitoring sheet with 5 panels: events, thoughts, feelings, body responses, and actions. All participants received regular mental health care from physicians in addition to the app-based program. To evaluate the participants’ depressive symptoms and QOL, Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-9A), Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) were measured at the beginning of the intervention, and at 2 and 6 months thereafter. Questionnaire for Triage and Assessment with 30 items (QTA30), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were also used to measure their health and self-esteem. Participants were divided into 4 groups on the basis of the PHQ-9A score (above or below the cutoff; PHQ-9A≥5 or PHQ-9A<5) and completion or noncompletion of the CBT app–based program (app [+] or app [-]). The primary outcome was improvement in the DSRS-C score, and secondary outcomes were improvement in other psychometric scales including PedsQL, QTA30, and RSE. A paired-samples t test was used for statistical analysis. The Medical Ethics Committee of Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine (approval U22-05-002) approved the study design.
Results: There were 48, 18, 18, and 7 participants in the PHQ-9A≥5 app (+), PHQ-9A≥5 app (-), PHQ-9A<5 app (+), and PHQ-9A<5 app (-) groups, respectively. A total of 24 participants dropped out. No improvement in the DSRS-C score was observed in all groups. However, PedsQL scores improved significantly at 2 and 6 months in the PHQ-9A<5 app (+) group (t17=6.62; P<.001 and t17=6.11; P<.001, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between the PHQ-9A scores and the number of self-monitoring sheets completed.
Conclusions: The CBT app was useful for improving PedsQL scores of children with mental health disorders. However, a higher-intensity CBT program is necessary for more severely depressed children.
Trial Registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000046775; center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000053360 en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NagamitsuShinichiro en-aut-sei=Nagamitsu en-aut-mei=Shinichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaAyumi en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakutaRyoichi en-aut-sei=Sakuta en-aut-mei=Ryoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiRyuta en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Ryuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoyanagiKenshi en-aut-sei=Koyanagi en-aut-mei=Kenshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HabukawaChizu en-aut-sei=Habukawa en-aut-mei=Chizu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaTakashi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoMasaya en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Masaya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanieAyako en-aut-sei=Kanie en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaniRyoko en-aut-sei=Otani en-aut-mei=Ryoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueTakeshi en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitajimaTasuku en-aut-sei=Kitajima en-aut-mei=Tasuku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsubaraNaoki en-aut-sei=Matsubara en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaChie en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Chie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiChikako en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Chikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShigeyasuYoshie en-aut-sei=Shigeyasu en-aut-mei=Yoshie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaMichiko en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Michiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KakumaTatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Kakuma en-aut-mei=Tatsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=HorikoshiMasaru en-aut-sei=Horikoshi en-aut-mei=Masaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, Kurume University, School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Nagasaki Prefectural Center of Medicine and Welfare for Children kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Allergy, Minami Wakayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=L2B Inc kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=National Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Research, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=National Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Research, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Biostatistics Center, Kurume University kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=National Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Research, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry kn-affil= en-keyword=smartphone kn-keyword=smartphone en-keyword=cognitive behavioral therapy kn-keyword=cognitive behavioral therapy en-keyword=application kn-keyword=application en-keyword=adolescent kn-keyword=adolescent en-keyword=youth kn-keyword=youth en-keyword=teen kn-keyword=teen en-keyword=pediatric kn-keyword=pediatric en-keyword=mental health kn-keyword=mental health en-keyword=psychoeducation kn-keyword=psychoeducation en-keyword=self-monitoring kn-keyword=self-monitoring en-keyword=questionnaire kn-keyword=questionnaire en-keyword=depressive symptoms kn-keyword=depressive symptoms en-keyword=effectiveness kn-keyword=effectiveness en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan en-keyword=statistical analysis kn-keyword=statistical analysis en-keyword=single-arm uncontrolled study kn-keyword=single-arm uncontrolled study en-keyword=mobile phone kn-keyword=mobile phone END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=6155 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250530 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Top-Down Stereolithography-Based System for Additive Manufacturing of Zirconia for Dental Applications en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This study investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a commercial top-down stereolithography (SLA)-based system for the additive manufacturing of zirconia dental prostheses. Yttria-stabilized zirconia–resin slurries were prepared, and zirconia objects were fabricated using a top-down SLA system. Thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis was used to examine the resin, while X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the printed samples. The microstructures of additively manufactured and subtractively manufactured zirconia were compared using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) before and after sintering. Biaxial flexural strength tests were also conducted to evaluate mechanical properties. The green bodies obtained via additive manufacturing exhibited uniform layering with strong interlayer adhesion. After sintering, the structures were dense with minimal porosity. However, compared to subtractively manufactured zirconia, the additively manufactured specimens showed slightly higher porosity and lower biaxial flexural strength. The results demonstrate the potential of SLA-based additive manufacturing for dental zirconia applications while also highlighting its current mechanical limitations. The study also showed that using a blade to evenly spread viscous slurry layers in a top-down SLA system can effectively reduce oxygen inhibition at the surface and relieve internal stresses during the layer-by-layer printing process, offering a promising direction for clinical adaptation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshiharaKumiko en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaokaNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Nagaoka en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SpirrettFiona en-aut-sei=Spirrett en-aut-mei=Fiona kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruoYukinori en-aut-sei=Maruo en-aut-mei=Yukinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=Van MeerbeekBart en-aut-sei=Van Meerbeek en-aut-mei=Bart kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiriharaSoshu en-aut-sei=Kirihara en-aut-mei=Soshu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Health and Medical Research Institute kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Dental School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=BIOMAT, Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University kn-affil= en-keyword=additive manufacturing kn-keyword=additive manufacturing en-keyword=subtractive manufacturing kn-keyword=subtractive manufacturing en-keyword=dental prosthesis kn-keyword=dental prosthesis en-keyword=ceramic prosthesis kn-keyword=ceramic prosthesis en-keyword=zirconia laminates kn-keyword=zirconia laminates en-keyword=stereolithography kn-keyword=stereolithography en-keyword=thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis kn-keyword=thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis en-keyword=X-ray diffraction kn-keyword=X-ray diffraction en-keyword=scanning electron microscopy kn-keyword=scanning electron microscopy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=60 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=616 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240410 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Novel Technique for Basilar Invagination Treatment in a Patient with Klippel–Feil Syndrome: A Clinical Example and Brief Literature Review en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives and Background: To present a novel technique of treatment for a patient with basilar invagination. Basilar invagination (BI) is a congenital condition that can compress the cervicomedullary junction, leading to neurological deficits. Severe cases require surgical intervention, but there is debate over the choice of approach. The anterior approach allows direct decompression but carries high complication rates, while the posterior approach provides indirect decompression and offers good stability with fewer complications. Materials and Methods: A 15-year-old boy with severe myelopathy presented to our hospital with neck pain, bilateral upper limb muscle weakness, and hand numbness persisting for 4 years. Additionally, he experienced increased numbness and gait disturbance three months before his visit. On examination, he exhibited hyperreflexia in both upper and lower limbs, muscle weakness in the bilateral upper limbs (MMT 4), bilateral hypoesthesia below the elbow and in both legs, mild urinary and bowel incontinence, and a spastic gait. Radiographs revealed severe basilar invagination (BI). Preoperative images showed severe BI and that the spinal cord was severely compressed with odontoid process. Results: The patient underwent posterior surgery with the C-arm free technique. All screws including occipital screws were inserted into the adequate position under navigation guidance. Reduction was achieved with skull rotation and distraction. A follow-up at one year showed the following results: Manual muscle testing results and sensory function tests showed almost full recovery, with bilateral arm recovery (MMT 5) and smooth walking. The cervical Japanese Orthopedic Association score of the patient improved from 9/17 to 16/17. Postoperative images showed excellent spinal cord decompression, and no major or severe complications had occurred. Conclusions: Basilar invagination alongside Klippel–Feil syndrome represents a relatively uncommon condition. Utilizing a posterior approach for treating reducible BI with a C-arm-free technique proved to be a safe method in addressing severe myelopathy. This novel navigation technique yields excellent outcomes for patients with BI. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TanakaMasato en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AskarAbd El Kader Al en-aut-sei=Askar en-aut-mei=Abd El Kader Al kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KumawatChetan en-aut-sei=Kumawat en-aut-mei=Chetan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AratakiShinya en-aut-sei=Arataki en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomatsubaraTadashi en-aut-sei=Komatsubara en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaokaTakuya en-aut-sei=Taoka en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=UotaniKoji en-aut-sei=Uotani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=basilar invagination kn-keyword=basilar invagination en-keyword=Klippel–Feil syndrome kn-keyword=Klippel–Feil syndrome en-keyword=navigation kn-keyword=navigation en-keyword=C-arm free kn-keyword=C-arm free en-keyword=novel technique kn-keyword=novel technique END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=23 article-no= start-page=2715 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241202 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Predicting Surgical Site Infections in Spine Surgery: Association of Postoperative Lymphocyte Reduction en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective: Postoperative lymphopenia is reported as an excellent indicator to predict surgical-site infection (SSI) after spine surgery. However, there is still controversy concerning which serological markers can predict spinal SSI. This study aims to evaluate excellent and early indicators for detecting SSI, focusing on spine instrumented surgery. Materials and Methods: This study included 268 patients who underwent spinal instrumented surgery from January 2022 to December 2023 (159 female and 109 male, average 62.9 years). The SSI group included 20 patients, and the non-SSI group comprised 248 patients. Surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, and glycemic levels were measured in both groups. The complete blood cell counts, differential counts, albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured pre-surgery and postoperative on Days 1, 3, and 7. In comparing the groups, the Mann–Whitney U test analysis was used for continuous variables, while the chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test were used for dichotomous variables. Results: The incidence of SSI after spinal instrumentation was 7.46% and was relatively higher in scoliosis surgery. The SSI group had significantly longer surgical times (248 min vs. 180 min, p = 0.0004) and a higher intraoperative blood loss (772 mL vs. 372 mL, p < 0.0001) than the non-SSI group. In the SSI group, the Day 3 (10.5 ± 6.2% vs. 13.8 ± 6.0%, p = 0.012) and Day 7 (14.4 ± 4.8% vs. 18.8 ± 7.1%, p = 0.012) lymphocyte ratios were lower than the non-SSI group. Albumin levels on Day 1 in the SSI group were lower than in the non-SSI group (2.94 ± 0.30 mg/dL vs. 3.09 ± 0.38 mg/dL, p = 0.045). There is no difference in CRP and lymphocyte count between the two groups. Conclusions: SSI patients had lower lymphocyte percentages than non-SSI patients, which was a risk factor for SSI, with constant high inflammation. The Day 3 lymphocyte percentage may predict SSI after spinal instrumented surgery. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiyamotoAkiyoshi en-aut-sei=Miyamoto en-aut-mei=Akiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaMasato en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FloresAngel Oscar Paz en-aut-sei=Flores en-aut-mei=Angel Oscar Paz kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuDongwoo en-aut-sei=Yu en-aut-mei=Dongwoo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=JainMukul en-aut-sei=Jain en-aut-mei=Mukul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HengChristan en-aut-sei=Heng en-aut-mei=Christan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomatsubaraTadashi en-aut-sei=Komatsubara en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=AratakiShinya en-aut-sei=Arataki en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinoharaKensuke en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=UotaniKoji en-aut-sei=Uotani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=surgical site infection kn-keyword=surgical site infection en-keyword=spine surgery kn-keyword=spine surgery en-keyword=instrumentation kn-keyword=instrumentation en-keyword=diagnosis kn-keyword=diagnosis en-keyword=lymphocyte kn-keyword=lymphocyte END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=24 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=551 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240827 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Body weight and eating attitudes influence improvement of depressive symptoms in children and pre-adolescents with eating disorders: a prospective multicenter cohort study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Pediatric patients with eating disorders in a multicenter joint study on 11 facilities were enrolled and prospectively investigated to determine whether improvement in body weight, eating attitudes, and psychosocial factors in children with eating disorders would also improve depressive symptoms.
Methods In this study, 91 patients were enrolled between April 2014 and March 2016. The severity of underweight was assessed using the body mass index-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), eating behavior was assessed using the children's eating attitude test (ChEAT26), the outcome of childhood eating disorders was assessed using the childhood eating disorder outcome scale, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) score.
Results After 12 months of treatment, depressive symptoms were evaluated in 62 of the 91 cases where it was evaluated at the initial phase. There was no difference in background characteristics between the included patients and the 29 patients who dropped out. A paired-sample t-test revealed a significant decrease in CDI scores after 12 months of treatment (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 2.401–7.373) and a significant increase in the BMI-SDS (p < 0.001, 95% CI: − 2.41973–1.45321). Multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI-SDS and ChEAT26 scores at the initial phase were beneficial in CDI recovery. In addition, BMI-SDS at the initial phase was useful for predicting BMI-SDS recovery after 12 months of treatment.
Conclusions Depressive symptoms in children with eating disorders improved with therapeutic intervention on body weight and eating attitudes.
Trial registration The Clinical Trial Number for this study is UMIN000055004. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SuzukiYuichi en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagamitsuShinichiro en-aut-sei=Nagamitsu en-aut-mei=Shinichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=EshimaNobuoki en-aut-sei=Eshima en-aut-mei=Nobuoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueTakeshi en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaniRyoko en-aut-sei=Otani en-aut-mei=Ryoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakutaRyoichi en-aut-sei=Sakuta en-aut-mei=Ryoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IguchiToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Iguchi en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiRyuta en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Ryuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaSoh en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Soh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaAyumi en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitayamaShinji en-aut-sei=Kitayama en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoyanagiKenshi en-aut-sei=Koyanagi en-aut-mei=Kenshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiYuki en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=SumiYoshino en-aut-sei=Sumi en-aut-mei=Yoshino kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakamiyaShizuo en-aut-sei=Takamiya en-aut-mei=Shizuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiChikako en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Chikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukaiYoshimitsu en-aut-sei=Fukai en-aut-mei=Yoshimitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Child Development and Psychosomatic Medicine Center, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Hoshigaoka Maternity Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Karamun`S Forest Children`S Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Himeji City Center for the Disabled kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Nagasaki Prefectural Center of Medicine and Welfare for Children kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Mie National Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Mental and Developmental Clinic for Children “Elm Tree” kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Takamiya Psychiatry Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics/Child Psychosomatic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, St. Luke’s International Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Eating disorders kn-keyword=Eating disorders en-keyword=Anorexia nervosa kn-keyword=Anorexia nervosa en-keyword=Body mass index-standard deviation score kn-keyword=Body mass index-standard deviation score en-keyword=Eating attitudes kn-keyword=Eating attitudes en-keyword=Children’s depression inventory kn-keyword=Children’s depression inventory END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=4984 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250522 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Cardiomyopathy: Advancing Disease Modeling, Therapeutic Development, and Regenerative Therapy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of heart muscle diseases that can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Traditional animal models and in vitro systems have limitations in replicating the complex pathology of human cardiomyopathies. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a transformative platform by enabling the generation of patient-specific cardiomyocytes, thus opening new avenues for disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative therapy. This process involves reprogramming somatic cells into iPSCs and subsequently differentiating them into functional cardiomyocytes, which can be characterized using techniques such as electrophysiology, contractility assays, and gene expression profiling. iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte (iPSC-CM) platforms are also being explored for drug screening and personalized medicine, including high-throughput testing for cardiotoxicity and the identification of patient-tailored therapies. While iPSC-CMs already serve as valuable models for understanding disease mechanisms and screening drugs, ongoing advances in maturation and bioengineering are bringing iPSC-based therapies closer to clinical application. Furthermore, the integration of multi-omics approaches and artificial intelligence (AI) is enhancing the predictive power of iPSC models. iPSC-based technologies are paving the way for a new era of personalized cardiology, with the potential to revolutionize the management of cardiomyopathies through patient-specific insights and regenerative strategies. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=VoQuan Duy en-aut-sei=Vo en-aut-mei=Quan Duy kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKazufumi en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Kazufumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoYukihiro en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Yukihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkagiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Akagi en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiToru en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuasaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Yuasa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=induced pluripotent stem cells kn-keyword=induced pluripotent stem cells en-keyword=cardiomyopathy kn-keyword=cardiomyopathy en-keyword=disease modeling kn-keyword=disease modeling en-keyword=drug screening kn-keyword=drug screening en-keyword=regenerative therapy kn-keyword=regenerative therapy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=468 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250506 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Distribution of Fimbrial Genes and Their Association with Virulence and Levofloxacin Resistance/Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Production in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is predominantly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Previous studies have reported that the fimbriae of UPEC are involved in virulence and antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to analyze the fimbrial gene profiles of UPEC and investigate the specificity of these expressions in symptomatic UTI, urinary device use, and levofloxacin (LVFX) resistance/extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. Methods: A total of 120 UPEC strains were isolated by urine culture between 2019 and 2023 at our institution. They were subjected to an antimicrobial susceptibility test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify 14 fimbrial genes and their association with clinical outcomes or antimicrobial resistance. Results: The prevalence of the papG2 gene was significantly higher in the symptomatic UTI group by multivariate analyses (OR 5.850, 95% CI 1.390–24.70, p = 0.016). The prevalence of the c2395 gene tended to be lower in the symptomatic UTI group with urinary devices (all p < 0.05). In LVFX-resistant UPEC strains from both the asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) and the symptomatic UTI group, the expression of the papEF, papG3, c2395, and yadN genes tended to be lower (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The fimbrial genes of UPEC are associated with virulence and LVFX resistance, suggesting that even UPEC with fewer motility factors may be more likely to ascend the urinary tract in the presence of the urinary devices. These findings may enhance not only the understanding of the virulence of UPEC but also the management of UTI. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MitsuiMasao en-aut-sei=Mitsui en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekitoTakanori en-aut-sei=Sekito en-aut-mei=Takanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruhashiMai en-aut-sei=Maruhashi en-aut-mei=Mai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruyamaYuki en-aut-sei=Maruyama en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataTakehiro en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TominagaYusuke en-aut-sei=Tominaga en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraShingo en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Shingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=BekkuKensuke en-aut-sei=Bekku en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakiMotoo en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Motoo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirakawaHidetada en-aut-sei=Hirakawa en-aut-mei=Hidetada kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=SadahiraTakuya en-aut-sei=Sadahira en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=fimbriae kn-keyword=fimbriae en-keyword=urinary tract infection kn-keyword=urinary tract infection en-keyword=drug resistance kn-keyword=drug resistance en-keyword=virulence kn-keyword=virulence en-keyword=uropathogenic Escherichia coli kn-keyword=uropathogenic Escherichia coli END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=32 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=258 end-page=263 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241118 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Postoperative infections after robotic‐assisted radical prostatectomy in a single large institution: Effect of type and duration of prophylactic antibiotic administration en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective: We evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for postoperative infections after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) according to the type and duration of prophylactic antibiotic administration.
Methods: A total of 1038 patients underwent RARP at our institution from 2010 to 2021; 1026 patients (201 in the cefazolin [CEZ] group and 825 in the ampicillin/sulbactam [ABPC/SBT] group) were analyzed, and 12 who used other antibiotics were excluded. The primary endpoint was the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI), surgical site infection (SSI), and remote infection (RI). T-tests, propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were performed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of type and duration of prophylactic antibiotic administration.
Results: The incidence of UTI was 2.5% (5/201) in the CEZ group and 3.2% (26/825) in the ABPC/SBT group, with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.622). The rates of SSI and RI were comparable between groups (p = 0.680 and 0.906, respectively). Although the duration of antimicrobial therapy was longer in the ABPC/SBT group (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference in the incidence of UTI/SSI/RI after PSM and IPTW (all p > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that neither the type of antibiotic nor the duration of administration affected the incidence of UTI/SSI/RI.
Conclusion: The risk of postoperative UTI/SSI/RI after RARP did not change with the type and duration of antimicrobial therapy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MitsuiMasao en-aut-sei=Mitsui en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SadahiraTakuya en-aut-sei=Sadahira en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagasakiNaoya en-aut-sei=Nagasaki en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruyamaYuki en-aut-sei=Maruyama en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekitoTakanori en-aut-sei=Sekito en-aut-mei=Takanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataTakehiro en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=BekkuKensuke en-aut-sei=Bekku en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakiMotoo en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Motoo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=cefazolin kn-keyword=cefazolin en-keyword=postoperative infections kn-keyword=postoperative infections en-keyword=prophylactic antibiotics kn-keyword=prophylactic antibiotics en-keyword=prostate kn-keyword=prostate en-keyword=robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy kn-keyword=robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=444 end-page=451 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250630 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=More postoperative complications and revision surgery after occipitocervical fusion than after atlantoaxial fusion: a retrospective multicenter cohort study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Study Design: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.
Purpose: We sought to determine whether occipitocervical (OC) fusion is followed by more postoperative complications and revision surgery than is atlantoaxial (AA) fusion. We aim to compare postoperative complications and revision surgery associated with OC fusion and AA fusion.
Overview of Literature: OC and AA fusion are established techniques for restoring upper cervical stability. However, the outcomes of the two methods have not been compared.
Methods: This study included 90 patients who underwent upper spinal fusion surgery for mechanical instability, performed by three surgeons in two hospitals from 2011 to 2023; OC fusion was indicated for irreducible AA subluxation, os odontoideum, and severe upper C1 fracture. Of the patients, 38 (mean age, 58.7 years) underwent OC fusion, and 52 (mean age, 62.8 years) underwent AA fusion. To evaluate surgical outcomes, we documented surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, and the rate of revision surgery. Radiographs were obtained to identify screw malposition, rod breakage, and nonunion. To compare the outcomes of the two techniques, we used the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for dichotomous variables.
Results: OC fusion took significantly longer (175.4 minutes) than AA fusion (150.7 minutes, p=0.020) and had a higher complication rate (39.5% vs. 11.5%, p<0.0001). The reoperation rate was 23.7% (9/38) after OC fusion and 3.8% (2/52) after AA fusion; the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0073). Average amounts of blood loss were 224 mL during OC fusion and 224 mL during AA fusion; the difference was not significant (p=0.947).
Conclusions: Although OC fusion is indispensable for certain conditions, particularly basilar invagination, it entails more risk than dose AA fusion; the choice of technique thus warrants careful consideration. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UotaniKoji en-aut-sei=Uotani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FloresAngel Oscar Paz en-aut-sei=Flores en-aut-mei=Angel Oscar Paz kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaMasato en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=EkadeShashank J en-aut-sei=Ekade en-aut-mei=Shashank J kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AratakiShinya en-aut-sei=Arataki en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomatsubaraTadashi en-aut-sei=Komatsubara en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinoharaKensuke en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Occipitocervical fusion kn-keyword=Occipitocervical fusion en-keyword=Atlantoaxial fusion kn-keyword=Atlantoaxial fusion en-keyword=Upper cervical instability kn-keyword=Upper cervical instability en-keyword=Surgical complication kn-keyword=Surgical complication en-keyword=Reoperation kn-keyword=Reoperation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=238 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=120296 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250505 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Grafting-through functionalization of graphene oxide with cationic polymers for enhanced adsorption of anionic dyes and viruses en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Graphene oxide (GO) is a sheet-like carbon material with abundant oxygen-containing functional groups on its surface. GO has been extensively studied as an adsorbent for heavy metals and organic compounds. However, effective strategies for negatively charged materials have yet to be established. This study aimed to synthesize composites of GO and cationic polymers for the selective adsorption of negatively charged materials; a challenge in this approach is the strong electrostatic interactions between GO and cationic polymers, which can lead to aggregation. This study addresses this issue by employing the grafting-through method. GO was initially modified with allylamine to introduce a polymerizable site, followed by radical polymerization to covalently bond polymers to the GO surface, effectively preventing aggregation. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that the GO-polymer composite selectively adsorbs anionic dye, such as methyl orange. Virus adsorption tests showed significantly enhanced performance compared to pristine GO. These results emphasize the critical role of controlled surface modification and charge manipulation in optimizing the adsorption performance of GO. This study establishes a simple and effective approach for synthesizing GO-cationic polymer composites, contributing to the development of advanced materials for water purification applications. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KimuraRyota en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Ryota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=Ferré-PujolPilar en-aut-sei=Ferré-Pujol en-aut-mei=Pilar kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishinaYuta en-aut-sei=Nishina en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Graphene oxide kn-keyword=Graphene oxide en-keyword=Virus adsorption kn-keyword=Virus adsorption en-keyword=Dye adsorption kn-keyword=Dye adsorption en-keyword=Cationic polymer composites kn-keyword=Cationic polymer composites en-keyword=Adsorbent kn-keyword=Adsorbent en-keyword=Aggregation kn-keyword=Aggregation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=ncaf080 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250718 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Optimizing radiation dose and image quality in neonatal mobile radiography en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Children are more susceptible to radiation exposure than adults. Therefore, determining an appropriate radiation dose requires balancing and minimizing radiation exposure while maintaining image quality (IQ) for accurate diagnosis. We evaluated the optimal radiation dose parameters for neonatal chest and abdominal mobile radiography by assessing entrance surface dose and IQ indices. A range of exposure parameters was tested on neonatal and acrylic phantoms, and the optimal settings were determined through visual and physical evaluations. Overall, 65 kVp and 1.2 mAs provided the best balance between minimizing radiation exposure and maintaining high IQ for neonates. This study offers essential insights into optimizing radiographic conditions for neonatal care, contributing to safe and effective radiological practices. These optimized parameters can help guide future clinical applications by ensuring reduced radiation risk and enhanced diagnostic accuracy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MaedaTakahiko en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Takahiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaraMakoto en-aut-sei=Hara en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaharaMakoto en-aut-sei=Nakahara en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeYoshinori en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Department of Radiological Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children’s Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children’s Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Hyogo Prefectural Tamba Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=186 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=118030 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202505 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=(+)-Terrein exerts anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects by regulating the differentiation and thermogenesis of brown adipocytes in mice fed a high-fat diet en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective: (+)-Terrein, a low-molecular-weight secondary metabolite from Aspergillus terreus, inhibits adipocyte differentiation in vitro. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the effects of (+)-terrein on adipocytes remain unclear. We hypothesized that (+)-terrein modulates adipogenesis and glucose homeostasis in obesity and diabetes via anti-inflammatory action and regulation of adipocyte differentiation. Hence, in this study, we aimed to investigate the in vivo anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of (+)-terrein.
Methods: Male C57BL/6 J mice were fed normal chow or high-fat (HF) diet and administered (+)-terrein (180 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests, serum biochemical assays, and histological analyses were also performed. Rat brown preadipocytes, mouse brown preadipocytes (T37i cells), and inguinal white adipose tissue (ingWAT) preadipocytes were exposed to (+)-terrein during in vitro adipocyte differentiation. Molecular markers associated with thermogenesis and differentiation were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.
Results: (+)-Terrein-treated mice exhibited improved insulin sensitivity and reduced serum lipid and glucose levels, irrespective of the diet. Furthermore, (+)-terrein suppressed body weight gain and mitigated fat accumulation by activating brown adipose tissue in HF-fed mice. (+)-Terrein facilitated the in vitro differentiation of rat brown preadipocytes, T37i cells, and ingWAT preadipocytes by upregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). This effect was synergistic with that of a PPARγ agonist.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that (+)-terrein effectively induces PPARγ expression and brown adipocyte differentiation, leading to reduced weight gain and improved glucose and lipid profiles in HF-fed mice. Thus, (+)-terrein is a potent novel agent with potential anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Aoki-SaitoHaruka en-aut-sei=Aoki-Saito en-aut-mei=Haruka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MandaiHiroki en-aut-sei=Mandai en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakakuraTakashi en-aut-sei=Nakakura en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakiTsutomu en-aut-sei=Sasaki en-aut-mei=Tsutomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamuraTadahiro en-aut-sei=Kitamura en-aut-mei=Tadahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HisadaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Hisada en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaShuichi en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Shuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugaSeiji en-aut-sei=Suga en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaMasanobu en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Masanobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoTsugumichi en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Tsugumichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gifu University of Medical Science kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Anatomy, Teikyo University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Metabolic Signal Research Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Diabetes, Soleiyu Asahi Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Health & Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University kn-affil= en-keyword=(+)-Terrein kn-keyword=(+)-Terrein en-keyword=Brown adipose tissue kn-keyword=Brown adipose tissue en-keyword=Thermogenesis kn-keyword=Thermogenesis en-keyword=Obesity kn-keyword=Obesity en-keyword=PPARγ kn-keyword=PPARγ END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250418 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Innovations in paper-based analytical devices and portable absorption photometers for onsite analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Two types of analytical instruments and devices—one sophisticated high-performance instrument and another portable device—have been the focus of recent trends in analytical science. The necessity of point-of-care testing and onsite analysis has accelerated the advancement of high-performance, user-friendly portable analytical devices such as paper-based analytical devices (PADs) and light-emitting diode-based portable photometers. In this review, we summarize our achievements in the study of PADs and portable photometers. Several types of PADs are capable of performing titrations, metal ion analysis, and food analysis, while photometers, which consist of paired emitter–detector light-emitting diode (PEDD) photometers, are used for thiocyanate and herbicide analysis. These PADs and photometers permit the onsite determination of real environmental, body fluid, and food samples when an equipped laboratory is unavailable. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SeetasangSasikarn en-aut-sei=Seetasang en-aut-mei=Sasikarn kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmedaMika I. en-aut-sei=Umeda en-aut-mei=Mika I. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=RenJianchao en-aut-sei=Ren en-aut-mei=Jianchao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanetaTakashi en-aut-sei=Kaneta en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Point-of-care testing kn-keyword=Point-of-care testing en-keyword=Onsite analysis kn-keyword=Onsite analysis en-keyword=Paper-based analytical device kn-keyword=Paper-based analytical device en-keyword=Paired emitter–detector light-emitting diode kn-keyword=Paired emitter–detector light-emitting diode en-keyword=Photometer kn-keyword=Photometer en-keyword=Environmental analysis kn-keyword=Environmental analysis en-keyword=Food analysis kn-keyword=Food analysis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=3 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=32 end-page=35 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250627 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The relationship between sleep disorder and dairy intake in university students of the nursing department in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This study was conducted to clarify the relationship between sleep disorders and frequency, or timing of dairy intake with 192 university students in Japan. Pearson’s chi-squared test was carried out to find the relationship between two groups of sleep disorders and the timing of dairy product intake (p = 0.034, df = 4, χ2 = 10.38). The sleep disorder occurred significantly less if participants took a dairy product in the morning (p = 0.004) and significantly more when participants took a dairy product in the afternoon (p = 0.028). The findings showed that consuming dairy products in the morning is effective in treating sleep disorders. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=EdahiroShiho en-aut-sei=Edahiro en-aut-mei=Shiho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakebayashiMaho en-aut-sei=Takebayashi en-aut-mei=Maho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiYui en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Yui kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahataYoko en-aut-sei=Takahata en-aut-mei=Yoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=sleep disorder kn-keyword=sleep disorder en-keyword=the frequency of dairy products kn-keyword=the frequency of dairy products en-keyword=the timing of dairy products kn-keyword=the timing of dairy products en-keyword=nursing students kn-keyword=nursing students END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250624 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Dual functions of SNAP25 in mouse taste buds en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Type III cells in mouse taste buds are considered to transmit aversive stimuli, such as sourness, to the gustatory nerve through vesicular synapses. Synaptosome-associated protein 25 (SNAP25) might contribute to synaptic vesicular release in sour sensation, although direct evidence has been lacking. Here, we demonstrated that epithelia-specific Snap25 conditional knockout (cKO) mice exhibited a significant reduction in the number of type III cells. Notably, the proportion of 5-ethynyl 2′-deoxyuridine-positive post-mitotic type III cells in Snap25 cKO mice was significantly lower on tracing day 14, but not at day 7, which suggests that SNAP25 contributes to the maintenance of type III cells. In a short-term lick test, Snap25 cKO (sour taste absent) and Snap25/ transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 double KO (sour taste and somatosensory absent) mice exhibit a significantly higher lick response to sour tastants, confirming the role of SNAP25 for sour sensation. Electrophysiological recordings of the chorda tympani nerve reveal nearly abolished ammonium and sour taste responses in Snap25 cKO mice, which concludes sour-dependent synapse transmission in type III cells. Overall, these data suggest that vesicular synapses in taste buds are indispensable for transmission of information from, and the replenishment of, sour-sensitive type III taste cells. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HorieKengo en-aut-sei=Horie en-aut-mei=Kengo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=WangKuanyu en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=Kuanyu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HuangHai en-aut-sei=Huang en-aut-mei=Hai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasumatsuKeiko en-aut-sei=Yasumatsu en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaYuzo en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Yuzo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitohYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Mitoh en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaRyusuke en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Ryusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Tokyo Dental Junior College kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=sour taste kn-keyword=sour taste en-keyword=synapse kn-keyword=synapse en-keyword=taste buds kn-keyword=taste buds en-keyword=taste nerve kn-keyword=taste nerve en-keyword=Type III cells kn-keyword=Type III cells END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250620 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=International Consensus Histopathological Criteria for Subtyping Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease Based on Machine Learning Analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder classified into three recognized clinical subtypes—idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy (IPL), TAFRO, and NOS. Although clinical criteria are available for subtyping, diagnostically challenging cases with overlapping histopathological features highlight the need for an improved classification system integrating clinical and histopathological findings. We aimed to develop an objective histopathological subtyping system for iMCD that closely correlates with the clinical subtypes. Excisional lymph node specimens from 94 Japanese iMCD patients (54 IPL, 28 TAFRO, 12 NOS) were analyzed for five key histopathological parameters: germinal center (GC) status, plasmacytosis, vascularity, hemosiderin deposition, and “whirlpool” vessel formation in GC. Using hierarchical clustering, we visualized subgroups and developed a machine learning-based decision tree to differentiate the clinical subtypes and validated it in an external cohort of 12 patients with iMCD. Hierarchical cluster analysis separated the IPL and TAFRO cases into mutually exclusive clusters, whereas the NOS cases were interspersed between them. Decision tree modeling identified plasmacytosis, vascularity, and whirlpool vessel formation as key features distinguishing IPL from TAFRO, achieving 91% and 92% accuracy in the training and test sets, respectively. External validation correctly classified all IPL and TAFRO cases, confirming the reproducibility of the system. Our histopathological classification system closely aligns with the clinical subtypes, offering a more precise approach to iMCD subtyping. It may enhance diagnostic accuracy, guide clinical decision-making for predicting treatment response in challenging cases, and improve patient selection for future research. Further validation of its versatility and clinical utility is required. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NishimuraMidori Filiz en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Midori Filiz kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaratakeTomoka en-aut-sei=Haratake en-aut-mei=Tomoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraYoshito en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishikoriAsami en-aut-sei=Nishikori en-aut-mei=Asami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SumiyoshiRemi en-aut-sei=Sumiyoshi en-aut-mei=Remi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=UjiieHideki en-aut-sei=Ujiie en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaharaYuri en-aut-sei=Kawahara en-aut-mei=Yuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KogaTomohiro en-aut-sei=Koga en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=UekiMasao en-aut-sei=Ueki en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=LaczkoDorottya en-aut-sei=Laczko en-aut-mei=Dorottya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=OksenhendlerEric en-aut-sei=Oksenhendler en-aut-mei=Eric kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=FajgenbaumDavid C. en-aut-sei=Fajgenbaum en-aut-mei=David C. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=van RheeFrits en-aut-sei=van Rhee en-aut-mei=Frits kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakamiAtsushi en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoYasuharu en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Yasuharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=The Research Program for Intractable Disease by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Castleman Disease, TAFRO and Related Ddisease Research Group kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=The Research Program for Intractable Disease by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Castleman Disease, TAFRO and Related Ddisease Research Group kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=School of Information and Data Sciences, Nagasaki University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Clinical Immunology, Hôpital Saint-Louis kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment and Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Myeloma Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=The Research Program for Intractable Disease by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Castleman Disease, TAFRO and Related Ddisease Research Group kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=clinical subtype kn-keyword=clinical subtype en-keyword=histopathological criteria kn-keyword=histopathological criteria en-keyword=idiopathic multicentric castleman disease kn-keyword=idiopathic multicentric castleman disease en-keyword=lymphoproliferative disease kn-keyword=lymphoproliferative disease en-keyword=machine-learning kn-keyword=machine-learning END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250616 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Leg-biting fights reduce the number of sperm transferred by the loser and in draws in Zophobas atratus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Intra-sexual selection has been observed across a wide range of species. Male-male combat can not only determine the winner and loser but also affect subsequent reproductive success. The effects of combat outcomes on reproduction are thought to depend on the reproductive ecology of the target species. However, to our knowledge, studies examining the impact of combat outcomes on sperm competition and fitness remain limited. In the giant mealworm (Zophobas atratus), male’s combat involves biting each other's hind legs. Females mated to the losers of leg-biting contests had significantly fewer eggs and fewer offspring than females mated to males that were not in a contest. Possible explanations for this fitness reduction include the inability of males to transfer sperm effectively due to the combat outcome or the inability of their sperm to fertilize eggs due to female cryptic sperm choice, and the mechanisms underlying this reduction remain unclear. Previous studies have observed distorted mating postures in losing males, leading us to hypothesize that leg-biting during combat might affect sperm transfer. To test this, we allowed uncontested males, winners, losers, and males with a draw outcome to mate with females and compared the number of sperm within the female’s spermatheca. Additionally, we examined the correlation between combat duration and sperm count. Results showed that losers and males with draw transferred fewer sperm than non-combat males. Moreover, the longer the combat duration, the fewer sperm males were able to transfer. These findings suggest that the reduction in sperm transferred was affected by both losing in combat and prolonged combat duration in leg-biting encounters. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuuraTeruhisa en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Teruhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyatakeTakahisa en-aut-sei=Miyatake en-aut-mei=Takahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Male combat kn-keyword=Male combat en-keyword=Male-male competition kn-keyword=Male-male competition en-keyword=Sperm transfer kn-keyword=Sperm transfer en-keyword=Sperm biology kn-keyword=Sperm biology END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250325 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=リトルリーグショルダーの診断とスポーツ復帰時期を決定するための新しいストレステスト kn-title=Novel stress tests for diagnosing Little League shoulder, and determining the timing of return to sports en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UCHINOTakahiko en-aut-sei=UCHINO en-aut-mei=Takahiko kn-aut-name=内野崇彦 kn-aut-sei=内野 kn-aut-mei=崇彦 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学大学院医歯薬学総合研究科 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=25 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=745 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250521 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Exploring the relationship between posture-dependent airway assessment in orthodontics: insights from kinetic MRI, cephalometric data, and three-dimensional MRI analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Previous studies have assessed the upper airway using various examination methods, such as cephalometric imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, there is a significant gap in the research regarding the relationship between these different imaging modalities. This study compares airway assessments using kinetic MRI and cephalometric scans, examining their correlation with three dimensional (3D) MRI data.
Materials and methods Kinetic MRI, cephalometric scans, and 3D MRI of forty-seven participants were used in the present study. Airway areas and widths were measured at the retropalatal, retroglossal, and hypopharyngeal levels in both kinetic MRI and cephalometric scans. Airway volumes were calculated from 3D MRI data. Statistical analyses, including the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression, were performed to evaluate the data and identify significant differences, correlations, and prediction models, respectively.
Results Significant differences were found between kinetic MRI and cephalometric scans. Cephalometric data showed larger airway areas and widths compared to kinetic MRI measurements. Although both cephalometric and kinetic MRI showed a correlation with 3D MRI, kinetic MRI demonstrated stronger correlations with 3D MRI airway volumes than cephalometric scans. According to our linear regression model equations, RPA-Max (maximum retropalatal airway area) and RPA (retropalatal airway area) can elucidate variations in RPV (retropalatal airway volume). RGA-Med (median retroglossal airway area) and RGA-Min (minimum retroglossal airway area) can explain variations in RGV (retroglossal airway volume). HPA (hypopharyngeal airway area) and ULHPAW-Max (maximum upper limit hypopharyngeal airway width) account for variations in HPV (hypopharyngeal airway volume). Additionally, TA-Max (maximum total airway area) can account for variations in TPV (total pharyngeal airway volume).ConclusionBoth cephalometric data and kinetic MRI data showed correlations with 3D MRI data. The shared posture of kinetic MRI and 3D MRI led to stronger correlations between these two modalities. Although cephalometric data had fewer correlations with 3D MRI and predictors for 3D airway volume, they were still significant. Our study highlights the complementary nature of kinetic MRI and cephalometric imaging, as both provide valuable information for airway assessment and exhibit significant correlations with 3D MRI data. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkaNaoki en-aut-sei=Oka en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HabumugishaJanvier en-aut-sei=Habumugisha en-aut-mei=Janvier kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraMasahiro en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KataokaTomoki en-aut-sei=Kataoka en-aut-mei=Tomoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisawaAtsuro en-aut-sei=Fujisawa en-aut-mei=Atsuro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawanabeNoriaki en-aut-sei=Kawanabe en-aut-mei=Noriaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IzawaTakashi en-aut-sei=Izawa en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KamiokaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Kamioka en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tottori University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Kinetic MRI kn-keyword=Kinetic MRI en-keyword=Posture kn-keyword=Posture en-keyword=Airway assessment kn-keyword=Airway assessment END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=e0320426 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250519 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=LeFood-set: Baseline performance of predicting level of leftovers food dataset in a hospital using MT learning en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Monitoring the remaining food in patients' trays is a routine activity in healthcare facilities as it provides valuable insights into the patients' dietary intake. However, estimating food leftovers through visual observation is time-consuming and biased. To tackle this issue, we have devised an efficient deep learning-based approach that promises to revolutionize how we estimate food leftovers. Our first step was creating the LeFoodSet dataset, a pioneering large-scale open dataset explicitly designed for estimating food leftovers. This dataset is unique in its ability to estimate leftover rates and types of food. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive dataset for this type of analysis. The dataset comprises 524 image pairs representing 34 Indonesian food categories, each with images captured before and after consumption. Our prediction models employed a combined visual feature extraction and late fusion approach utilizing soft parameter sharing. Here, we used multi-task (MT) models that simultaneously predict leftovers and food types in training. In the experiments, we tested the single task (ST) model, the ST Model with Ground Truth (ST-GT), the MT model, and the MT model with Inter-task Connection (MT-IC). Our AI-based models, particularly the MT and MT-IC models, have shown promising results, outperforming human observation in predicting leftover food. These findings show the best with the ResNet101 model, where the Mean Average Error (MAE) of leftover task and food classification accuracy task is 0.0801 and 90.44% in the MT Model and 0.0817 and 92.56% in the MT-IC Model, respectively. It is proved that the proposed solution has a bright future for AI-based approaches in medical and nursing applications. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SariYuita Arum en-aut-sei=Sari en-aut-mei=Yuita Arum kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakazawaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Nakazawa en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaniYudi Arimba en-aut-sei=Wani en-aut-mei=Yudi Arimba kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Nutrition Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brawijaya University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=25 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=364 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250513 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Efficient diagnosis for endoscopic remission in Crohn's diseases by the combination of three non-invasive markers en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG), and fecal calprotectin (Fcal) are non-invasive markers used to assess Crohn's disease (CD) severity. However, the accuracy of these markers alone is often limited, and most previous reports have evaluated the efficacy of each marker individually. We aimed to improve the diagnostic performance of endoscopic remission (ER) of CD by combining these 3 markers.
Methods We tested the diagnostic ability of various combinations of these 3 markers for endoscopic severity in 230 consecutive patients with CD from September 2014 to July 2023. The modified Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's disease (mSES-CD) was used to determine endoscopic severity.
Results Each of the 3 markers was correlated with mSED-CD (LRG: r = 0.69, CRP: r = 0.60, and Fcal: r = 0.67). A combination of 2 of the 3 markers did not increase the diagnostic accuracy of ER. However, by combining all 3 markers, the diagnostic ability for ER was improved in comparison to the diagnostic ability of the 3 individual markers, assuming that ER was obtained if 2 or 3 markers were negative. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 89%, 83%, and 86%, respectively. Additionally, we established a 2-step method using Fcal values after evaluating the 2 serum markers. This method was most useful for reducing both the patient burden and costs.
Conclusions The newly established 2-step method allowed for a higher accuracy in the non-invasive diagnosis of ER when the 3 markers were combined. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakeiKensuke en-aut-sei=Takei en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=InokuchiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Inokuchi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraokaSakiko en-aut-sei=Hiraoka en-aut-mei=Sakiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiguroMikako en-aut-sei=Ishiguro en-aut-mei=Mikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyosawaJunki en-aut-sei=Toyosawa en-aut-mei=Junki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AoyamaYuki en-aut-sei=Aoyama en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IgawaShoko en-aut-sei=Igawa en-aut-mei=Shoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiKeiko en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiYasushi en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinugasaHideaki en-aut-sei=Kinugasa en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaharaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Takahara en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawanoSeiji en-aut-sei=Kawano en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Research Center for Intestinal Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=CD, Crohn's disease kn-keyword=CD, Crohn's disease en-keyword=LRG, Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein kn-keyword=LRG, Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein en-keyword=Fcal, Fecal calprotectin kn-keyword=Fcal, Fecal calprotectin en-keyword=CRP, C-reactive protein kn-keyword=CRP, C-reactive protein en-keyword=ER, Endoscopic remission kn-keyword=ER, Endoscopic remission END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=22 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=97 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250411 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of aged garlic extract on experimental periodontitis in mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been reported to exert anti‑inflammatory effects. AGE has been recently found to reduce the inflammatory symptoms of periodontitis, a widespread chronic inflammatory disease caused by oral bacterial infection. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the effects of AGE on experimental periodontitis and the related inflammatory factors. AGE (2 g/kg/day) was orally administered to 15 mice during the experimental period, while a control group consisted of 15 mice that received pure water. A total of 3 days after initiation of administration, the left maxillary second molar was ligated with a 5‑0 silk thread for 7 days. Blood biochemical tests were performed to monitor the systemic effects of AGE. Alveolar bone loss was measured morphometrically using a stereomicroscope, and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was performed to assay mRNAs of proinflammatory cytokines in gingival tissues. A histological survey was also performed to identify osteoclasts in periodontitis lesions (five mice per group). The total protein and albumin levels showed no significant differences between the AGE and control groups. However, ligation‑induced bone resorption was lower in the AGE group than in the control group (P=0.01). Additionally, ligature increased the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines, whereas AGE administration tended to suppress them. Remarkably, tumor necrosis factor gene expression was significantly suppressed (P=0.04). The number of osteoclasts in periodontitis lesions was reduced in the AGE‑treated group. These results indicate that AGE prevents alveolar bone loss by suppressing the inflammatory responses related to osteoclast differentiation in the periodontal tissue. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of AGE in reducing inflammatory bone resorption. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KuangCanyan en-aut-sei=Kuang en-aut-mei=Canyan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraiAnna en-aut-sei=Hirai en-aut-mei=Anna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=Kamei‑ΝagataChiaki en-aut-sei=Kamei‑Νagata en-aut-mei=Chiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NangoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Nango en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtaniMasahiro en-aut-sei=Ohtani en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmoriKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Omori en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakashibaShogo en-aut-sei=Takashiba en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology‑Periodontal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Periodontics and Endodontics, Department of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Periodontics and Endodontics, Department of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Central Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology‑Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pathophysiology‑Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=AGE kn-keyword=AGE en-keyword=experimental periodontitis kn-keyword=experimental periodontitis en-keyword=bone resorption kn-keyword=bone resorption en-keyword=inflammation kn-keyword=inflammation en-keyword=osteoclasts kn-keyword=osteoclasts END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=139 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250402 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=An Implementation of Creep Test Assisting System with Dial Gauge Needle Reading and Smart Lighting Function for Laboratory Automation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=For decades, analog dial gauges have been essential for measuring and monitoring data at various industrial instruments including production machines and laboratory equipment. Among them, we focus on the instrument for creep test in a mechanical engineering laboratory, which evaluates material strength under sustained stress. Manual reading of gauges imposes significant labor demands, especially in long-duration tests. This burden further increases under low-lighting environments, where poor visibility can lead to misreading data points, potentially compromising the accuracy of test results. In this paper, to address the challenges, we implement a creep test assisting system that possesses the following features: (1) to save the installation cost, a web camera and Raspberry Pi are employed to capture images of the dial gauge and automate the needle reading by image processing in real time, (2) to ensure reliability under low-lighting environments, a smart lighting mechanism is integrated to turn on a supplementary light when the dial gauge is not clearly visible, and (3) to allow a user to stay in a distant place from the instrument during a creep test, material break is detected and the corresponding message is notified to a laboratory staff using LINE automatically. For evaluations, we install the implemented system into a material strength measuring instrument at Okayama University, Japan, and confirm the effectiveness and accuracy through conducting experiments under various lighting conditions. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KongDezheng en-aut-sei=Kong en-aut-mei=Dezheng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FangShihao en-aut-sei=Fang en-aut-mei=Shihao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NopriantoMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Noprianto en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkayasuMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Okayasu en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=PuspitaningayuPradini en-aut-sei=Puspitaningayu en-aut-mei=Pradini kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Surabaya kn-affil= en-keyword=creep test kn-keyword=creep test en-keyword=Raspberry Pi kn-keyword=Raspberry Pi en-keyword=dial gauge kn-keyword=dial gauge en-keyword=needle reading kn-keyword=needle reading en-keyword=smart lighting kn-keyword=smart lighting END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=29 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=156 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250411 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Clinical-level screening of sleep apnea syndrome with single-lead ECG alone is achievable using machine learning with appropriate time windows en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose To establish a simple and noninvasive screening test for sleep apnea (SA) that imposes less burden on potential patients. The specific objective of this study was to verify the effectiveness of past and future single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) data from SA occurrence sites in improving the estimation accuracy of SA and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) using machine learning.
Methods The Apnea-ECG dataset comprising 70 ECG recordings was used to construct various machine-learning models. The time window size was adjusted based on the accuracy of SA detection, and the performance of SA detection and SAS diagnosis (apnea‒hypopnea index ≥ 5 was considered SAS) was compared.
Results Using ECG data from a few minutes before and after the occurrence of SAs improved the estimation accuracy of SA and SAS in all machine learning models. The optimal range of the time window and achieved accuracy for SAS varied by model; however, the sensitivity ranged from 95.7 to 100%, and the specificity ranged from 91.7 to 100%.
Conclusions ECG data from a few minutes before and after SA occurrence were effective in SA detection and SAS diagnosis, confirming that SA is a continuous phenomenon and that SA affects heart function over a few minutes before and after SA occurrence. Screening tests for SAS, using data obtained from single-lead ECGs with appropriate past and future time windows, should be performed with clinical-level accuracy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamaneTakahiro en-aut-sei=Yamane en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiMasanori en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaMizuki en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Mizuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Biomedical Informatics, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Disease screening kn-keyword=Disease screening en-keyword=Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) kn-keyword=Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) en-keyword=Single-lead ECG kn-keyword=Single-lead ECG en-keyword=Artificial intelligence kn-keyword=Artificial intelligence en-keyword=Machine learning kn-keyword=Machine learning END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=33 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=283 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250315 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Cancer-related alopecia and wig acquisition: how age, sex, and treatment affect patient choices en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose This study aimed to explore the prevalence and cost of wig purchases among patients with cancer in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, and examine the relationship between wig purchases and various demographic, social, and clinical factors. The findings aim to provide insights into appearance care and support systems for patients with cancer, particularly wig subsidies.
Methods A survey was conducted between July and August 2023 among 3000 patients with cancer at 13 designated cancer care hospitals in Okayama Prefecture. Data on demographics, cancer treatment status, and wig purchase details were collected. Statistical analyses, including the Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square test, and logistic regression, were performed to identify factors significantly associated with wig purchases.
Results Among the 863 respondents, 31.4% (271 patients) reported purchasing wigs. Factors significantly associated with wig purchase included young age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04), female sex (OR = 1.61), and current cancer treatment (OR = 1.16). No significant correlation was found between wig purchase and household income, although higher-income patients tended to purchase more expensive wigs.
Conclusion The findings suggest that younger female patients with cancer and those undergoing treatment were more likely to purchase wigs, highlighting the importance of appearance care and the need for enhanced financial support for low-income patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KatayamaHideki en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaAyako en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakimotoGo en-aut-sei=Makimoto en-aut-mei=Go kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KagawaShunsuke en-aut-sei=Kagawa en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiAyano en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Ayano kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TabataMasahiro en-aut-sei=Tabata en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine , Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine , Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Integrated Support Center for Patients and Self-Learning , Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Cancer kn-keyword=Cancer en-keyword=Alopecia kn-keyword=Alopecia en-keyword=Wig purchases kn-keyword=Wig purchases en-keyword=Appearance care kn-keyword=Appearance care en-keyword=Patient support kn-keyword=Patient support END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=124 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250311 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Facial Privacy Protection with Dynamic Multi-User Access Control for Online Photo Platforms en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In the digital age, sharing moments through photos has become a daily habit. However, every face captured in these photos is vulnerable to unauthorized identification and potential misuse through AI-powered synthetic content generation. Previously, we introduced SnapSafe, a secure system for enabling selective image privacy focusing on facial regions for single-party scenarios. Recognizing that group photos with multiple subjects are a more common scenario, we extend SnapSafe to support multi-user facial privacy protection with dynamic access control designed for online photo platforms. Our approach introduces key splitting for access control, an owner-centric permission system for granting and revoking access to facial regions, and a request-based mechanism allowing subjects to initiate access permissions. These features ensure that facial regions remain protected while maintaining the visibility of non-facial content for general viewing. To ensure reproducibility and isolation, we implemented our solution using Docker containers. Our experimental assessment covered diverse scenarios, categorized as "Single", "Small", "Medium", and "Large", based on the number of faces in the photos. The results demonstrate the system's effectiveness across all test scenarios, consistently performing face encryption operations in under 350 ms and achieving average face decryption times below 286 ms across various group sizes. The key-splitting operations maintained a 100% success rate across all group configurations, while revocation operations were executed efficiently with server processing times remaining under 16 ms. These results validate the system's capability in managing facial privacy while maintaining practical usability in online photo sharing contexts. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SantosoAndri en-aut-sei=Santoso en-aut-mei=Andri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HudaSamsul en-aut-sei=Huda en-aut-mei=Samsul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoderaYuta en-aut-sei=Kodera en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NogamiYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Nogami en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Green Innovation Center, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=facial privacy protection kn-keyword=facial privacy protection en-keyword=selective facial encryption kn-keyword=selective facial encryption en-keyword=multi-user access control kn-keyword=multi-user access control en-keyword=deep-learning applications kn-keyword=deep-learning applications en-keyword=online photo platform kn-keyword=online photo platform END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=2713 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250318 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Involvement of a Novel Variant of FGFR1 Detected in an Adult Patient with Kallmann Syndrome in Regulation of Gonadal Steroidogenesis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), also known as KAL2, is a tyrosine kinase receptor, and variants of FGFR1 have been detected in patients with Kallmann syndrome (KS), which is a congenital developmental disorder characterized by central hypogonadism and anosmia. Herein, we report an adult case of KS with a novel variant of FGFR1. A middle-aged male was referred for a compression fracture of a lumbar vertebra. It was shown that he had severe osteoporosis, anosmia, gynecomastia, and a past history of operations for cryptorchidism. Endocrine workup using pituitary and gonadal stimulation tests revealed the presence of both primary and central hypogonadism. Genetic testing revealed a novel variant of FGFR1 (c.2197_2199dup, p.Met733dup). To identify the pathogenicity of the novel variant and the clinical significance for the gonads, we investigated the effects of the FGFR1 variant on the downstream signaling of FGFR1 and gonadal steroidogenesis by using human steroidogenic granulosa cells. It was revealed that the transfection of the variant gene significantly impaired FGFR1 signaling, detected through the downregulation of SPRY2, compared with that of the case of the forced expression of wild-type FGFR1, and that the existence of the variant gene apparently altered the expression of key steroidogenic factors, including StAR and aromatase, in the gonad. The results suggested that the novel variant of FGFR1 detected in the patient with KS was linked to the impairment of FGFR1 signaling, as well as the alteration of gonadal steroidogenesis, leading to the pathogenesis of latent primary hypogonadism. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SoejimaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Soejima en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaYuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaguchiMarina en-aut-sei=Kawaguchi en-aut-mei=Marina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguniKohei en-aut-sei=Oguni en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoKoichiro en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasudaMiho en-aut-sei=Yasuda en-aut-mei=Miho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokumasuKazuki en-aut-sei=Tokumasu en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=UedaKeigo en-aut-sei=Ueda en-aut-mei=Keigo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaKosei en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Kosei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataNahoko en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Nahoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaFumio en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Fumio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) kn-keyword=fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) en-keyword=gynecomastia kn-keyword=gynecomastia en-keyword=Kallmann syndrome (KS) kn-keyword=Kallmann syndrome (KS) en-keyword=osteoporosis and steroidogenesis kn-keyword=osteoporosis and steroidogenesis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=668 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250310 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Robustness of Machine Learning Predictions for Determining Whether Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold Is Required in Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) is a commonly used technique to reduce the mean heart dose (MHD), which is critical for minimizing late cardiac side effects in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT). Although previous studies have explored the potential of machine learning (ML) to predict which patients might benefit from DIBH, none have rigorously assessed ML model performance across various MHD thresholds and parameter settings. This study aims to evaluate the robustness of ML models in predicting the need for DIBH across different clinical scenarios. Methods: Using data from 207 breast cancer patients treated with RT, we developed and tested ML models at three MHD cut-off values (240, 270, and 300 cGy), considering variations in the number of independent variables (three vs. six) and folds in the cross-validation (three, four, and five). Robustness was defined as achieving high F2 scores and low instability in predictive performance. Results: Our findings indicate that the decision tree (DT) model demonstrated consistently high robustness at 240 and 270 cGy, while the random forest model performed optimally at 300 cGy. At 240 cGy, a threshold critical to minimize late cardiac risks, the DT model exhibited stable predictive power, reducing the risk of overestimating DIBH necessity. Conclusions: These results suggest that the DT model, particularly at lower MHD thresholds, may be the most reliable for clinical applications. By providing a tool for targeted DIBH implementation, this model has the potential to enhance patient-specific treatment planning and improve clinical outcomes in RT. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Al-HammadWlla E. en-aut-sei=Al-Hammad en-aut-mei=Wlla E. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=Al JamalJamal, Ghaida en-aut-sei=Al Jamal en-aut-mei=Jamal, Ghaida kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujikuraMamiko en-aut-sei=Fujikura en-aut-mei=Mamiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KamizakiRyo en-aut-sei=Kamizaki en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaSuzuka en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Suzuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraYoshihide en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yoshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OitaMasataka en-aut-sei=Oita en-aut-mei=Masataka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeYoshinori en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoKohei en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiantoIrfan en-aut-sei=Sugianto en-aut-mei=Irfan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=BarhamMajd en-aut-sei=Barham en-aut-mei=Majd kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=TekikiNouha en-aut-sei=Tekiki en-aut-mei=Nouha kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=HisatomiMiki en-aut-sei=Hisatomi en-aut-mei=Miki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsaumiJunichi en-aut-sei=Asaumi en-aut-mei=Junichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Dentistry and Dental Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=breast cancer kn-keyword=breast cancer en-keyword=radiation therapy kn-keyword=radiation therapy en-keyword=heart dose kn-keyword=heart dose en-keyword=cut-off value kn-keyword=cut-off value en-keyword=machine learning kn-keyword=machine learning en-keyword=robustness kn-keyword=robustness en-keyword=instability kn-keyword=instability en-keyword=F2 score kn-keyword=F2 score en-keyword=deep inspiration breath-hold technique kn-keyword=deep inspiration breath-hold technique en-keyword=computed tomography kn-keyword=computed tomography END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=619 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250313 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of Trehalose on Halitosis: A Randomized Cross-Over Clinical Trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Halitosis is a condition characterized by an unpleasant malodor. Intra-oral halitosis is caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) and can be associated with oral dryness. Trehalose is one of the materials used to relieve oral dryness. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of trehalose on halitosis. Methods: This prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over study enrolled volunteers from Okayama University Hospital. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, with one group receiving trehalose (a 10% trehalose solution) and the other receiving a placebo (distilled water) in a 1:1 allocation. The primary study outcome was the subjective organoleptic test. The secondary outcomes were the concentrations of the VSCs, which were measured using a portable gas chromatography device, and the oral moisture status, which was measured using an oral moisture meter. The planned sample size was 10 participants based on the previous study. Results: The final intention-to-treat analysis was performed using the data from 9 participants. After applying 10% trehalose as an oral spray, the organoleptic score decreased in a time-dependent manner. However, no significant differences were seen between the trehalose and placebo groups. In terms of secondary outcomes, the oral moisture levels increased immediately after the trehalose spray application, and significant differences in the amount of change from the baseline were seen between the trehalose and placebo groups (p = 0.047). No significant differences were seen in any of the other variables (p > 0.05). Conclusions: We could not identify any positive effects on halitosis from a one-time 10% trehalose application as an oral spray in this prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. However, the trehalose application immediately improved the oral moisture levels and was useful for treating oral dryness. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiyaiHisataka en-aut-sei=Miyai en-aut-mei=Hisataka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomofujiTakaaki en-aut-sei=Tomofuji en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizunoHirofumi en-aut-sei=Mizuno en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaManabu en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaharaMomoko en-aut-sei=Nakahara en-aut-mei=Momoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KataokaKota en-aut-sei=Kataoka en-aut-mei=Kota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SumitaIchiro en-aut-sei=Sumita en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaYurika en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Yurika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyamaNaoki en-aut-sei=Toyama en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoiAya en-aut-sei=Yokoi en-aut-mei=Aya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=Yamanaka-KohnoReiko en-aut-sei=Yamanaka-Kohno en-aut-mei=Reiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiNoriko en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Noriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruyamaTakayuki en-aut-sei=Maruyama en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=EkuniDaisuke en-aut-sei=Ekuni en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Asahi University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=halitosis kn-keyword=halitosis en-keyword=trehalose kn-keyword=trehalose en-keyword=oral dryness kn-keyword=oral dryness en-keyword=cross-over study kn-keyword=cross-over study en-keyword=randomized trial kn-keyword=randomized trial END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1 end-page=12 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250314 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=Relationship between Sexual Minorities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) kn-title=セクシュアルマイノリティと発達障害のADHD特性との関連 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract=To reveal the association between various sexual minority groups and the developmental disorder (ADHD), a web-based survey was conducted. Adults aged 18 years and over were surveyed and 11018 people (mean age 39.47 years) responded. The Adult ADHD Self-Rating Scale was used. For each sexual minority, a t-test was performed for ADHD scores and subscale scores of “inattention,” “hyperactivity,” and “impulsivity,” and a x2 test was performed for the number of persons above the cut-off. All sexual minority groups had significantly higher ADHD and subscale scores and significantly more people above the cut-off scores, so the close association was evident. There was no significant difference in ADHD scores or numbers of persons between transwomen and transmen. kn-abstract=　様々なセクシュアルマイノリティと発達障害のADHD（Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder）との関連を明らかにするため， WEB調査を行った。18歳以上の成人を対象とし，11,018人（平均年39.47歳）から回答を得た。ADHDを測る質問紙は「成人期ADHD検査（A-ADHD）」を使用した。セクシュアルマイノリティごとに， ADHD得点と下位尺度「不注意」「多動性」「衝動性」得点についてt検定，カットオフ54点以上の人数についてx2検定を行った。全てのセクシュアルマイノリティで有意にADHDと下位尺度得点が高く，カットオフ得点以上の人数も有意に多かった。なおトランスウーマンとトランスマンでADHD得点や人数に有意な差は見られなかった。以上から，セクシュアルマイノリティとADHDは密接に関係している事が明らかとなった。 en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MATSUIMegumi en-aut-sei=MATSUI en-aut-mei=Megumi kn-aut-name=松井めぐみ kn-aut-sei=松井 kn-aut-mei=めぐみ aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute for Promotion of Education and Campus Life, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学教育推進機構 en-keyword=セクシュアルマイノリティ kn-keyword=セクシュアルマイノリティ en-keyword=発達障害 kn-keyword=発達障害 en-keyword=ADHD kn-keyword=ADHD en-keyword=注意欠如・多動症 kn-keyword=注意欠如・多動症 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=577 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250306 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Efficacy of Oral Intake of Hydrogen-Rich Jelly Intake on Gingival Inflammation: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled and Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Initiation and progression of periodontal disease include oxidative stress. Systemic application of antioxidants may provide clinical benefits against periodontal disease including gingivitis. Recently, a jelly containing a high concentration of hydrogen (40 ppm) was developed. We hypothesized that oral intake of this hydrogen-rich jelly may be safe and effective on gingivitis. This clinical trial was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of oral intake of hydrogen-rich jelly against gingival inflammation. Methods: Participants with gingivitis were instructed to orally ingest 30 g of hydrogen-rich jelly (experimental group) or placebo jelly (control group) three times a day for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcome of this trial was the percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) sites. Secondary outcomes were oral parameters, serum reactive oxygen metabolites, antioxidant capacity, oxidative index, concentrations of cytokine (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) in gingival crevicular fluid, and adverse events. For all parameters, Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparison between experimental and control groups. Analysis of covariance, controlling for baseline periodontal inflamed surface area, was performed to evaluate the association between the effect of the hydrogen-rich jelly and gingival inflammation. Results: In the experiment and control groups, the percentage of sites with BOP and PISA significantly decreased at the end of the experiment compared to the baseline. However, no significant differences were found between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Administration of hydrogen-rich jelly for 14 days decreased gingival inflammation. However, no significant differences were identified compared to the control group. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MaruyamaTakayuki en-aut-sei=Maruyama en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakayamaEiji en-aut-sei=Takayama en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokunoShinichi en-aut-sei=Tokuno en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaManabu en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=EkuniDaisuke en-aut-sei=Ekuni en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral Biochemistry, Asahi University School of Dentistry kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Health, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=periodontal disease kn-keyword=periodontal disease en-keyword=oxidative stress kn-keyword=oxidative stress en-keyword=hydrogen kn-keyword=hydrogen en-keyword=randomized controlled trial kn-keyword=randomized controlled trial END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2016 dt-pub=20160908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=S-nitrosylation of laforin inhibits its phosphatase activity and is implicated in Lafora disease en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Recently, the relation between S-nitrosylation by nitric oxide (NO), which is over�produced under pathological conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, includingAlzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, has become a focus of attention. Although mostcases of Parkinson’s disease are known to be caused by mutations in the Parkin gene, arecent finding has indicated that S-nitrosylation of Parkin affects its enzymatic activityand leads to the Parkinsonian phenotype. Therefore, it is important to understand thefunction of S-nitrosylated proteins in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.Lafora disease (LD, OMIM 254780) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by theaccumulation of insoluble glucans called Lafora bodies (LBs). LD is caused by mutationsin genes that encode the glucan phosphatase, Laforin, or the E3 ubiquitin ligase, Malin.In this study, we hypothesized that LD may be caused by S-nitrosylation of Laforin,which is similar to the finding that Parkinson’s disease is caused by S-nitrosylation ofParkin. To test this hypothesis, we first determined whether Laforin was S-nitrosylatedusing a biotin switch assay, and compared the three main functions of unmodified andS-nitrosylated Laforin, namely glucan- and Malin-binding activity and phosphataseactivity. Furthermore, we examined whether the numbers of LBs were changed byNO in the cells expressing wild-type Laforin. Here, we report for the first time thatS-nitrosylation of Laforin inhibited its phosphatase activity and that LB formation wasincreased by an NO donor. Our results suggest a possible hypothesis for LD pathogenesis; that is, the decrease in phosphatase activity of Laforin by S-nitrosylation leads toincreased LB formation. Therefore, LD may be caused not only by mutations in theLaforin or Malin genes, but also by the S-nitrosylation of Laforin. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ToyotaRikako en-aut-sei=Toyota en-aut-mei=Rikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HonjoYasuko en-aut-sei=Honjo en-aut-mei=Yasuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImajoRisa en-aut-sei=Imajo en-aut-mei=Risa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatohAyano en-aut-sei=Satoh en-aut-mei=Ayano kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University; Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University; Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University; Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University kn-affil= en-keyword=S-Nitrosylation Of Laforin kn-keyword=S-Nitrosylation Of Laforin en-keyword=Post-Translational Modification kn-keyword=Post-Translational Modification en-keyword=Nitrosylation kn-keyword=Nitrosylation en-keyword=Phosphatase kn-keyword=Phosphatase en-keyword=Glucan-Binding kn-keyword=Glucan-Binding END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=5248 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250212 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Changes of leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein could be a marker of changes of endoscopic and histologic activity of ulcerative colitis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein (LRG) is one of the serum biomarkers for disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC). We focused on the correlation between the changes of LRG and the changes of endoscopic and histologic activity of UC, in comparison to the changes of fecal calprotectin (Fcal), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Seventy-nine patients with two or more colonoscopies were enrolled, and 123 paired colonoscopies and 121 paired biopsies were examined. With regard to the change of endoscopic/histologic activity between the preceding and subsequent colonoscopy, there was improvement (n = 29/45), unchanging (n = 63/36), and worsening (n = 31/40). The correlations between the changes of marker levels and endoscopic/histologic activity were Fcal; r = 0.50/0.39 and FIT; r = 0.41/0.40, LRG; r = 0.42/0.40 and CRP; r = 0.22/0.17. Furthermore, when the correlation between the changes of LRG levels and the changes of endoscopic/histological activity was compared with those of other markers, the correlation of LRG tended to be superior to those of CRP (CRP vs. LRG; p = 0.08/0.01). LRG is equivalent to fecal markers and superior to CRP, when inferring changes in disease activity of UC based on changes in its level. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AoyamaYuki en-aut-sei=Aoyama en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraokaSakiko en-aut-sei=Hiraoka en-aut-mei=Sakiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasutomiEriko en-aut-sei=Yasutomi en-aut-mei=Eriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=InokuchiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Inokuchi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeiKensuke en-aut-sei=Takei en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IgawaShoko en-aut-sei=Igawa en-aut-mei=Shoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiKeiko en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaharaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Takahara en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyosawaJunki en-aut-sei=Toyosawa en-aut-mei=Junki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiYasushi en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinugasaHideaki en-aut-sei=Kinugasa en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoJun en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Ulcerative colitis kn-keyword=Ulcerative colitis en-keyword=Leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein kn-keyword=Leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein en-keyword=Biomarker kn-keyword=Biomarker END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=34 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=35 end-page=40 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluation of CT Findings in Squamous and Non-Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Maxillary Sinus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The aim of the present study was to compare CT images between squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-SCC found in the maxillary sinus, and to identify features that could be used to differentiate between SCC and non-SCC. Patients who visited the Faculty of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital, between April 2007 and March 2023, underwent head and neck CT, and had tumors extending into the maxillary sinus that were diagnosed histopathologically as malignancy, were enrolled. The main seat of the mass, bony changes in the maxillary sinus wall, and extension into the surrounding area were assessed. These imaging features were evaluated according to SCC or non-SCC, and the characteristics of the two classes were assessed. Comparisons between the two groups were made using the Fisher exact probability test. There were 11 cases each of SCC and non-SCC. In 11 SCC and 7 non-SCC cases, the main seat of the mass occupied the entire maxillary sinus. The frequency of mass occupying the whole sinus was significantly higher in SCC than in non-SCC (p<0.05). Bone-thickening type disease was found only in squamous cell carcinoma 4/11 (36.4%), with there being a significant difference between SCC and non-SCC (p<0.05). Occupancy of the entire maxillary sinus by the mass and bone thickening on CT images were useful for differentiating between SCC and non-SCC arising in the maxillary sinus. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AsaumiYuka en-aut-sei=Asaumi en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujikuraMamiko en-aut-sei=Fujikura en-aut-mei=Mamiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HisatomiMiki en-aut-sei=Hisatomi en-aut-mei=Miki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=E. Al-HammadWlla en-aut-sei=E. Al-Hammad en-aut-mei=Wlla kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeshitaYohei en-aut-sei=Takeshita en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaShunsuke en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawazuToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kawazu en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanagiYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Yanagi en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsaumiJunichi en-aut-sei=Asaumi en-aut-mei=Junichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Dental Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Maxillary sinus kn-keyword=Maxillary sinus en-keyword=Squamous cell carcinoma kn-keyword=Squamous cell carcinoma en-keyword=Non-squamous cell carcinoma kn-keyword=Non-squamous cell carcinoma en-keyword=CT kn-keyword=CT END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=61 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250129 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Study of Podoplanin-Deficient Mouse Bone with Mechanical Stress en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective: We investigated morphological differences in osteocyte processes between aged mice and our original podoplanin-conditional knockout (cKO) mice in which the floxed exon 3 of podoplanin was deleted by Dmp-1-driven Cre (Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ). Methods: SEM observation on osteocyte cell process, histochemistry for bone remodeling with mechanostress, and RT-PCR for RANKL and M-CSF in podoplanin cKO mouse bone with mechanostress was investigated. Results: SEM observations showed fewer and thinner osteocyte processes in femurs from 23-week-old Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ mice than from 23-week-old wild-type mice, while the numbers of osteocyte processes in femurs and calvarias were similar in 23-week-old Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ mice and 48-week-old wild-type mice. Furthermore, cell process numbers in femurs and calvarias were significantly smaller in 23-week-old Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ mice than in 48-week-old wild-type mice. In the test for differences in alveolar bone resorption under mechanical stress between Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ and wild-type mice, the area of TRAP-positive resorption pits was larger in wild-type mice than in Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ mice. In a quantitative tissue PCR analysis, the mRNA expression levels of RANKL and M-CSF in alveolar bone under mechanical stress were significantly lower in Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ mice than in wild-type mice. These results suggest that a reduction in cell process formation in osteocytes with podoplanin cKO affected the absorption of alveolar bone under mechanical stress in Dmp1-Cre;PdpnΔ/Δ mice. Conclusions: In podoplanin-deficient bone, the deformation of osteocyte processes by mechanical stimuli is not recognized as a stress due to the lower number of cell processes with podoplanin deficiency; therefore, the production of osteoclast migration/differentiation factors by activated osteocytes is not fully induced and macrophage migration to alveolar bone with mechanical stress appeared to be suppressed. These results indicate that podoplanin-dependent osteocyte process formation indirectly plays a key role in sensing mechanical stress in bone. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KanaiTakenori en-aut-sei=Kanai en-aut-mei=Takenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsawaKyoko en-aut-sei=Osawa en-aut-mei=Kyoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KajiwaraKoichiro en-aut-sei=Kajiwara en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SawaYoshihiko en-aut-sei=Sawa en-aut-mei=Yoshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Growth & Development, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral Function & Anatomy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=podoplanin kn-keyword=podoplanin en-keyword=cKO kn-keyword=cKO en-keyword=osteocyte kn-keyword=osteocyte en-keyword=bone kn-keyword=bone en-keyword=remodeling kn-keyword=remodeling END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=4 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e70077 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250302 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis associated with clozapine-induced agranulocytosis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Clozapine-induced agranulocytosis (CLIA) is a rare but serious complication. Fever associated with CLIA is typically treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobials, but empiric antifungal therapy is rarely used. While bacterial and viral infections have been reported in CLIA cases, no cases of fungal infections complicated by CLIA have been documented. We report the first case of CLIA complicated by invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in a patient with schizophrenia. The diagnosis of IPA was made using serum beta-D-glucan, Aspergillus galactomannan antigen tests, and chest computed tomography (CT).
Case presentation: We present a case of a 51-year-old man with schizophrenia who developed CLIA complicated by IPA. The patient, diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, was started on clozapine, but 9 months later he presented with fever, cough, leukopenia, and neutropenia. Clozapine was discontinued, and empirical treatments with cefepime and filgrastim were initiated. Serum beta-D-glucan and Aspergillus galactomannan antigen tests were positive, and chest CT showed well-circumscribed nodules, leading to a probable diagnosis of IPA. Antifungal therapy was switched from micafungin to voriconazole according to guidelines. His neutropenia and fever improved, and he was re-transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
Conclusion: CLIA can be complicated by fungal infections. When patients with CLIA present with fever, fungal infections, including IPA, should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Serological tests, including beta-D-glucan and Aspergillus galactomannan, are useful for the diagnosis of IPA as well as the appropriate use of antifungal agents in patients with CLIA. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YokodeAkiyoshi en-aut-sei=Yokode en-aut-mei=Akiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraMasaki en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TeraoToshiki en-aut-sei=Terao en-aut-mei=Toshiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoShinji en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaYuto en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Yuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoRyota en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Ryota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MishimaMomoko en-aut-sei=Mishima en-aut-mei=Momoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YadaYuji en-aut-sei=Yada en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaKen-Ichi en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Ken-Ichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakiManabu en-aut-sei=Takaki en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Okayama Psychiatric Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Okayama Psychiatric Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Okayama Psychiatric Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=clozapine-induced agranulocytosis kn-keyword=clozapine-induced agranulocytosis en-keyword=fungal infections kn-keyword=fungal infections en-keyword=invasive pulmonary aspergillosis kn-keyword=invasive pulmonary aspergillosis en-keyword=schizophrenia kn-keyword=schizophrenia END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=25 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=16 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250215 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Behavior, behavioral syndromes, and metabolism: the effects of artificial selection for death-feigning on metabolic rate en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Death-feigning, or thanatosis, is an anti-predator behavioral strategy in many animals. Because individuals remain immobile while feigning death, individuals with longer durations of death feigning often show lower locomotor activity. Thus, metabolic rate, which is closely related to locomotor activity, may also be related to the intensity of death feigning. If there is a genetic correlation between death feigning and metabolism, metabolic rate may respond to selection on death-feigning behavior. Here, we tested for a relationship between metabolic rate and death-feigning using replicated populations of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) subjected to artificial bidirectional selection on the duration of death-feigning behavior. The results indicated that metabolic rate did not differ between populations selected for increased or decreased death feigning, although locomotor activity was significantly different between these treatments; populations selected for reduced death-feigning durations tended to be more active. These results suggest that death-feigning behavior is not genetically correlated with metabolic rate in T. castaneum. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsumuraKentarou en-aut-sei=Matsumura en-aut-mei=Kentarou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoskenDavid J. en-aut-sei=Hosken en-aut-mei=David J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NodaTomohito en-aut-sei=Noda en-aut-mei=Tomohito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyatakeTakahisa en-aut-sei=Miyatake en-aut-mei=Takahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SharmaManmohan D. en-aut-sei=Sharma en-aut-mei=Manmohan D. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter kn-affil= en-keyword=anti-predator behavior kn-keyword=anti-predator behavior en-keyword=artificial selection kn-keyword=artificial selection en-keyword=death-feigning kn-keyword=death-feigning en-keyword=metabolic rate kn-keyword=metabolic rate en-keyword=personality kn-keyword=personality en-keyword=Tribolium kn-keyword=Tribolium END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=49 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=563 end-page=567 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=202410 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Backside Irradiation of Ultraviolet-A for Correcting Nonuniformity Error of Gafchromic XR-QA2 Films en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: Radiochromic film is used for quality assurance and quality control of X-ray equipment in the diagnostic radiology. In addition, three-dimensional dose distribution of computed tomography (CT) is measured. To correct the nonuniformity and uncertainty of radiochromic films for dose measurement of CT, the films are preirradiated ultraviolet (UV)-A rays. There is a difference in the UV protection strength of radiochromic films. A concern exists about the effects of the UV-A irradiation intensity. We thus irradiated with UV-A rays from the backsides of the films to assess if backside irradiation was possible. Materials and Methods: Gafchromic XR-QA2 and RTQA2 were used in this study. The UV-A rays were simultaneously irradiated on the front and backsides of each film for 12 h. The yellow layer of each film was scanned and imaged. The average pixel values ± standard deviations (SDs) were compared. In the statistical analysis, a paired t-test was performed. To compare, the active-layer densities engendered by the UV-A rays. Calibration curve was created with 48 h of preirradiation of UV-A. Results: The mean pixel values ± SD for Gafchromic XR-QA2 on the front and backsides were 130.776 ± 0.812 and 81.015 ± 1.128, respectively. On the other hand, the mean pixel values ± SD for Gafchromic RTQA2 on the front and backsides were 62.299 ± 1.077 and 133.761 ± 1.365, respectively. The statistical results of the paired t-test were significantly different (P < 0.01) between both films. Fitting equation of the calibration curve is shown below. y = -390.47 ± 200 + (443.45 ± 10x80).5068 ± 0.0434. Conclusion: Based on the relationship between the sensitivity of the active layer to UV-A rays and the strength of UV protection on the surface, we concluded that backside irradiation is recommended for Gafchromic XR-QA2, and frontside irradiation is recommended for Gafchromic RTQA2. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TankiNobuyoshi en-aut-sei=Tanki en-aut-mei=Nobuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotoSachiko en-aut-sei=Goto en-aut-mei=Sachiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsudaToshizo en-aut-sei=Katsuda en-aut-mei=Toshizo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotandaRumi en-aut-sei=Gotanda en-aut-mei=Rumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotandaTatsuhiro en-aut-sei=Gotanda en-aut-mei=Tatsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuwanoTadao en-aut-sei=Kuwano en-aut-mei=Tadao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Medical Radiation Technology, Shizuoka College of Medicalcare Science kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Osaka Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention kn-affil= en-keyword=Backside irradiation kn-keyword=Backside irradiation en-keyword=computed tomography kn-keyword=computed tomography en-keyword=reflective type radiochromic film kn-keyword=reflective type radiochromic film en-keyword=ultraviolet radiation kn-keyword=ultraviolet radiation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=376 end-page=382 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250205 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma growing within the pancreatic duct mimicking an intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We herein report a case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) that developed within the pancreatic duct and was initially diagnosed as an intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm (ITPN). A 76-year-old man presented with weight loss and main pancreatic duct dilation. The imaging studies revealed a 30-mm hypovascular tumor within the main duct of the pancreatic head. An endoscopic examination with a biopsy revealed high-grade atypical epithelial cells with immunostaining patterns suggestive of ITPN. Following robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy, postoperative pathology revealed conflicting features: nodular/cribriform infiltrations typical of ITPN and non-lobular replacement with scattered infiltrations characteristic of PDAC. A comprehensive genomic profiling test detected KRAS and TP53 mutations, leading to the final diagnosis of PDAC (fT3N1aM0, stage IIB). The patient received adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy and remained recurrence-free for 15 months post-surgery. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of differentiating intraductal pancreatic tumors and demonstrates the utility of integrating genetic testing with conventional diagnostic modalities for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment selection. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SatoRyosuke en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UkaMayu en-aut-sei=Uka en-aut-mei=Mayu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakagiKosei en-aut-sei=Takagi en-aut-mei=Kosei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishidaKenji en-aut-sei=Nishida en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiYuki en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsutsumiKoichiro en-aut-sei=Tsutsumi en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriguchiShigeru en-aut-sei=Horiguchi en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Pancreatic intraductal neoplasms kn-keyword=Pancreatic intraductal neoplasms en-keyword=Pancreatic carcinoma kn-keyword=Pancreatic carcinoma en-keyword=Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm kn-keyword=Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm en-keyword=Genetic testing kn-keyword=Genetic testing END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=51 end-page=58 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202502 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Photoinitiators Induce Histamine Production in Human Mast Cells en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Photoinitiators are used in the manufacture of many daily products, and may produce harmful effects due to their cytotoxicity. They have also been detected in human serum. Here, we investigated the histamine-producing effects in HMC-1 cells and the inflammatory cytokine release effects in RAW264 cells for four photoinitiators: 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone; 2-isopropylthioxanthone; methyl 2-benzoylbenzoate; and 2-methyl-4´-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone. All four promoted histamine production in HMC-1 cells; however, they did not significantly affect the release of inflammatory cytokines in RAW264 cells. These findings suggest that these four photoinitiators induce inflammatory cytokine-independent histamine production, potentially contributing to histamine-mediated chronic inflammation in vitro. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiuraTaro en-aut-sei=Miura en-aut-mei=Taro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawasakiYoichi en-aut-sei=Kawasaki en-aut-mei=Yoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamanoHirofumi en-aut-sei=Hamano en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZamamiYoshito en-aut-sei=Zamami en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SendoToshiaki en-aut-sei=Sendo en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=photoinitiator kn-keyword=photoinitiator en-keyword=ink kn-keyword=ink en-keyword=injection kn-keyword=injection en-keyword=histamine kn-keyword=histamine en-keyword=inflammation kn-keyword=inflammation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=39 end-page=45 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202502 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Could the Trabecular Bone Score Be a Complementary Tool for Evaluating Degenerative Lumbar Vertebrae? en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Evaluating vertebral bone mass and quality in the elderly poses challenges due to degenerative changes. This study aims to elucidate the usefulness of the trabecular bone score (TBS) by examining the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), TBS, and Hounsfield unit (HU) values. A retrospective analysis of 599 vertebrae from 152 patients (mean age 69.0 years; range 44-89; 74 males and 78 females) undergoing dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and CT scans was conducted. Vertebrae were categorized into three grades based on the degree of degeneration. The TBS was calculated from DXA images, and the HU value was measured by placing a region of interest on an axial image of the vertebral mid-body. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation tests were employed to investigate the relationship between BMD and TBS or HU values. While lumbar BMD significantly increased (p<0.01) with degenerative changes, TBS and HU values showed no significant differences. The correlations between lumbar BMD and TBS values, and between BMD and HU values, were stronger without degenerative changes than with degenerative changes. Significantly different HU values were observed between the right and left sides of severely degenerated vertebrae. Severe degenerative changes, particularly those associated with sclerosis, may impact HU values. TBS exhibits greater potential than HU values as a complementary tool. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakaoShinichiro en-aut-sei=Takao en-aut-mei=Shinichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UotaniKoji en-aut-sei=Uotani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MisawaHaruo en-aut-sei=Misawa en-aut-mei=Haruo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsunagaTomoko en-aut-sei=Tetsunaga en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinoharaKensuke en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaneKentaro en-aut-sei=Yamane en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiHironori en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Hironori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KajikiYuya en-aut-sei=Kajiki en-aut-mei=Yuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=trabecular bone score kn-keyword=trabecular bone score en-keyword=computed tomography Hounsfield unit kn-keyword=computed tomography Hounsfield unit en-keyword=lumbar degenerative change kn-keyword=lumbar degenerative change en-keyword=radiodensity kn-keyword=radiodensity END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=74 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=96 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250204 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote pro-tumor functions of neutrophils in pancreatic cancer via IL-8: potential suppression by pirfenidone en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background The mechanisms by which neutrophils acquire pro-tumor properties remain poorly understood. In pancreatic cancer, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) may interact with neutrophils, directing them to promote tumor progression.
Methods To validate the association between CAFs and neutrophils, the localization of neutrophils was examined in clinically resected pancreatic cancer specimens. CAFs were produced by culturing in cancer-conditioned media, and the effects of these CAFs on neutrophils were examined. In vitro migration and invasion assays assess the effect of CAF-activated neutrophils on cancer cells. The factors secreted by the activated neutrophils were also explored. Finally, pirfenidone (PFD) was tested to determine whether it could suppress the pro-tumor functions of activated neutrophils.
Results In pancreatic cancer specimens, neutrophils tended to co-localize with IL-6-positive CAFs. Neutrophils co-cultured with CAFs increased migratory capacity and prolonged life span. CAF-affected neutrophils enhance the migratory and invasive activities of pancreatic cancer cells. IL-8 is the most upregulated cytokine secreted by the neutrophils. PFD suppresses IL-8 secretion from CAF-stimulated neutrophils and mitigates the malignant traits of pancreatic cancer cells.
Conclusion CAFs activate neutrophils and enhance the malignant phenotype of pancreatic cancer. The interactions between cancer cells, CAFs, and neutrophils can be disrupted by PFD, highlighting a potential therapeutic approach. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YagiTomohiko en-aut-sei=Yagi en-aut-mei=Tomohiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KagawaShunsuke en-aut-sei=Kagawa en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NogiShohei en-aut-sei=Nogi en-aut-mei=Shohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniguchiAtsuki en-aut-sei=Taniguchi en-aut-mei=Atsuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshimotoMasashi en-aut-sei=Yoshimoto en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuemoriKanto en-aut-sei=Suemori en-aut-mei=Kanto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaiYasuo en-aut-sei=Nagai en-aut-mei=Yasuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaShuto en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Shuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaShinji en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KikuchiSatoru en-aut-sei=Kikuchi en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KakiuchiYoshihiko en-aut-sei=Kakiuchi en-aut-mei=Yoshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=TeraishiFuminori en-aut-sei=Teraishi en-aut-mei=Fuminori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakagiKosei en-aut-sei=Takagi en-aut-mei=Kosei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OharaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TazawaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Tazawa en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraToshiyoshi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Toshiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Departments of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Cancer-associated fibroblasts kn-keyword=Cancer-associated fibroblasts en-keyword=Neutrophil kn-keyword=Neutrophil en-keyword=Anti-fibrotic agent kn-keyword=Anti-fibrotic agent en-keyword=Pirfenidone kn-keyword=Pirfenidone END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=31 end-page=37 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202502 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Retrospective Analysis of the Safety of High-Volume Dental Articaine Preparations for Japanese Patients en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We retrospectively analyzed the safety of the use of articaine, an amide-type local anesthetic, in Japanese dental patients (n=300) treated in Thailand in 2015-2017. The dosage, adverse events (AEs) caused by local anesthesia, and treatment efficacy were examined. Articaine, which is safe for patients with liver impairments due to its unique metabolism, has not been thoroughly tested in Japan for doses above 5.1 mL. Eighty of the present patients had undergone root canal treatment (RCT), 71 underwent tooth extraction, and 149 underwent implant-related surgery. More than three articaine cartridges were used in 41 patients, and no AEs occurred in these cases. The only AE occurred in a 52-year-old woman who was treated with three cartridges and presented with what appeared to be hyperventilation syndrome; she later recovered and received her dental treatment as scheduled. Most treatments were completed with three or fewer cartridges, suggesting that this number is generally sufficient. Our findings, particularly the low AE risk even with doses exceeding three cartridges, support the potential applicability of the overseas recommended maximum dose of articaine (7 mg/kg) in Japanese patients. This conclusion is significant for advancing dental anesthetic practices and ensuring patient safety and treatment efficacy in Japan. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MaedaShigeru en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=PimkhaokhamAtiphan en-aut-sei=Pimkhaokham en-aut-mei=Atiphan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaMichihiro en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Michihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HosoiHiroki en-aut-sei=Hosoi en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhshimaAyako en-aut-sei=Ohshima en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurisuRyoko en-aut-sei=Kurisu en-aut-mei=Ryoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=UtsumiNozomi en-aut-sei=Utsumi en-aut-mei=Nozomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiguchiHitoshi en-aut-sei=Higuchi en-aut-mei=Hitoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyawakiTakuya en-aut-sei=Miyawaki en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Data Science Division, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Data Science Division, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Data Science Division, Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=dental anesthesia kn-keyword=dental anesthesia en-keyword=local anesthesia kn-keyword=local anesthesia en-keyword=drug-related side effect kn-keyword=drug-related side effect en-keyword=adverse reaction kn-keyword=adverse reaction END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=170 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=109242 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250315 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluation of small fatigue crack deflection behavior on copper using electron backscatter diffraction and crystal plasticity finite element analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In this study, it was conducted to observe the propagation behavior of small fatigue cracks generated on the surface of α-brass and pure copper, using an electrodynamic plane bending fatigue testing machine. The EBSD method was also used to analyze the crystal orientation near the bottom of the notch on the surface of the test piece. For each slip system of the grain, we calculated the slip factor, defined as the ratio of resolved shear stresses that considers the singular stress field at the crack tip, and investigated the relationship between the propagation behavior of small cracks and the slip factor. Furthermore, we performed a crystal plasticity finite element analysis (CP-FEM) using a crystal plasticity FEM model created from the grains obtained by the EBSD method to predict the deflection behavior of small fatigue cracks when propagating through the grain boundaries. The results indicated that when a crack propagates across a grain boundary, it is difficult to predict the deflection behavior using slip factors, however, the deflection behavior of a crack can be predicted from the resolved shear stress calculated using CP-FEM, which considers the mechanical interactions between crystal grains. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ArakawaJinta en-aut-sei=Arakawa en-aut-mei=Jinta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YabukiRyo en-aut-sei=Yabuki en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UemoriTakeshi en-aut-sei=Uemori en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoMasato en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YaguchiKenichi en-aut-sei=Yaguchi en-aut-mei=Kenichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Innovation Center, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Innovation Center, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation kn-affil= en-keyword=Small fatigue crack kn-keyword=Small fatigue crack en-keyword=Crystal orientation kn-keyword=Crystal orientation en-keyword=CP-FEM kn-keyword=CP-FEM en-keyword=EBSD kn-keyword=EBSD END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=342 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250117 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Proposal of In Situ Authoring Tool with Visual-Inertial Sensor Fusion for Outdoor Location-Based Augmented Reality en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In location-based augmented reality (LAR) applications, a simple and effective authoring tool is essential to create immersive AR experiences in real-world contexts. Unfortunately, most of the current tools are primarily desktop-based, requiring manual location acquisitions, the use of software development kits (SDKs), and high programming skills, which poses significant challenges for novice developers and a lack of precise LAR content alignment. In this paper, we propose an intuitive in situ authoring tool with visual-inertial sensor fusions to simplify the LAR content creation and storing process directly using a smartphone at the point of interest (POI) location. The tool localizes the user’s position using smartphone sensors and maps it with the captured smartphone movement and the surrounding environment data in real-time. Thus, the AR developer can place a virtual object on-site intuitively without complex programming. By leveraging the combined capabilities of Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping(VSLAM) and Google Street View (GSV), it enhances localization and mapping accuracy during AR object creation. For evaluations, we conducted extensive user testing with 15 participants, assessing the task success rate and completion time of the tool in practical pedestrian navigation scenarios. The Handheld Augmented Reality Usability Scale (HARUS) was used to evaluate overall user satisfaction. The results showed that all the participants successfully completed the tasks, taking 16.76 s on average to create one AR object in a 50 m radius area, while common desktop-based methods in the literature need 1–8 min on average, depending on the user’s expertise. Usability scores reached 89.44 for manipulability and 85.14 for comprehensibility, demonstrating the high effectiveness in simplifying the outdoor LAR content creation process. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BrataKomang Candra en-aut-sei=Brata en-aut-mei=Komang Candra kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=PandumanYohanes Yohanie Fridelin en-aut-sei=Panduman en-aut-mei=Yohanes Yohanie Fridelin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MentariMustika en-aut-sei=Mentari en-aut-mei=Mustika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SyaifudinYan Watequlis en-aut-sei=Syaifudin en-aut-mei=Yan Watequlis kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=RahmadaniAlfiandi Aulia en-aut-sei=Rahmadani en-aut-mei=Alfiandi Aulia kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil= Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil= Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil= Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil= Department of Information Technology, Politeknik Negeri Malang kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil= Department of Information Technology, Politeknik Negeri Malang kn-affil= en-keyword=location-based augmented reality (LAR) kn-keyword=location-based augmented reality (LAR) en-keyword=authoring tool kn-keyword=authoring tool en-keyword=outdoor kn-keyword=outdoor en-keyword=VSLAM kn-keyword=VSLAM en-keyword=Google Street View (GSV) kn-keyword=Google Street View (GSV) en-keyword=handheld augmented reality usability scale (HARUS) kn-keyword=handheld augmented reality usability scale (HARUS) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=58 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=175 end-page=193 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241227 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=Testing the Effectiveness of Food Loss Reduction Campaigns. ―A Study from the Analysis of Two Types of Consumer Behaviour Based on Longitudinal Data ― kn-title=食品ロス削減キャンペーンの効果検証―縦断データによる２種類の消費者行動分析からの考察― en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KANDAMasashi en-aut-sei=KANDA en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name=神田將志 kn-aut-sei=神田 kn-aut-mei=將志 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山大学大学院社会文化科学研究科 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=24 article-no= start-page=4878 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241211 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=An Implementation of Web-Based Answer Platform in the Flutter Programming Learning Assistant System Using Docker Compose en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Programming has gained significant importance worldwide as societies increasingly rely on computer application systems. To support novices in learning various programming languages, we have developed the Programming Learning Assistant System (PLAS). It offers several types of exercise problems with different learning goals and levels for step-by-step self-study. As a personal answer platform in PLAS, we have implemented a web application using Node.js and EJS for Java and Python programming. Recently, the Flutter framework with Dart programming has become popular, enabling developers to build applications for mobile, web, and desktop environments from a single codebase. Thus, we have extended PLAS by implementing the Flutter environment with Visual Studio Code to support it. Additionally, we have developed an image-based user interface (UI) testing tool to verify student source code by comparing its generated UI image with the standard one using the ORB and SIFT algorithms in OpenCV. For efficient distribution to students, we have generated Docker images of the answer platform, Flutter environment, and image-based UI testing tool. In this paper, we present the implementation of a web-based answer platform for the Flutter Programming Learning Assistant System (FPLAS) by integrating three Docker images using Docker Compose. Additionally, to capture UI images automatically, an Nginx web application server is adopted with its Docker image. For evaluations, we asked 10 graduate students at Okayama University, Japan, to install the answer platform on their PCs and solve five exercise problems. All the students successfully completed the problems, which confirms the validity and effectiveness of the proposed system. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AungLynn Htet en-aut-sei=Aung en-aut-mei=Lynn Htet kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AungSoe Thandar en-aut-sei=Aung en-aut-mei=Soe Thandar kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunabikiNobuo en-aut-sei=Funabiki en-aut-mei=Nobuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KyawHtoo Htoo Sandi en-aut-sei=Kyaw en-aut-mei=Htoo Htoo Sandi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaoWen-Chung en-aut-sei=Kao en-aut-mei=Wen-Chung kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Information and Communication Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Computer and Information Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan Normal University kn-affil= en-keyword=Flutter kn-keyword=Flutter en-keyword=Dart kn-keyword=Dart en-keyword=answer platform kn-keyword=answer platform en-keyword=Flutter environment kn-keyword=Flutter environment en-keyword=Nginx kn-keyword=Nginx en-keyword=UI testing tool kn-keyword=UI testing tool en-keyword=Docker Compose kn-keyword=Docker Compose END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=10 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=74 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241215 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Case series showing the safety and changes in lipid profiles of hemodialysis patients with hypertriglyceridemia after pemafibrate administration en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Dyslipidemia is a key focus of cardiovascular therapy and is characterized by hypertriglyceridemia mainly caused by lipoprotein lipase-mediated metabolism of ApoC-III in patients with ESRD. Pemafbrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, can be used regardless of renal function and inhibit ApoC-III expression in the liver.
Case presentation We reported the cases of four patients on hemodialysis who met at least 175 mg/dL of triglycerides on the consecutive three tests between September 2022 and November 2022 and took 0.1 mg pemafbrate twice a day from November 2022 to May 2023. They experienced no adverse events after pemafbrate treatment. Pemafbrate signifcantly reduced triglyceride (TG) (302±72 to 140±50 mg/dL, p=0.048), total cholesterol (187±34 to 156±48 mg/dL, p=0.025), and Apo C-III (15.9±8.2 to 12.6±7.1, p=0.030) levels. Apo A-II levels signifcantly increased after treatment (27.0±6.1 to 37.1±5.8, p=0.041).
Conclusions Pemafbrate decreased TG, total cholesterol, and Apo-CIII and increased Apo A-II without adverse events. Further study is needed to examine the favorable efects of pemafbrate on the risk of CVD. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkadaRino en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Rino kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnishiYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Onishi en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiNaoya en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaTomohisa en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Tomohisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MifuneTomoyo en-aut-sei=Mifune en-aut-mei=Tomoyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakurabuYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Sakurabu en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NojimaIchiro en-aut-sei=Nojima en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorinagaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Morinaga en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaHaruhito A. en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Haruhito A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama Saidaiji Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Okayama Saidaiji Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Okayama Saidaiji Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Okayama Saidaiji Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Hemodialysis kn-keyword=Hemodialysis en-keyword=Dyslipidemia kn-keyword=Dyslipidemia en-keyword=Apolipoprotein kn-keyword=Apolipoprotein en-keyword=Pemafibrate kn-keyword=Pemafibrate END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=23 article-no= start-page=7078 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241123 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Clinical Characteristics of Persistent Hypophosphatasemia Uncovered in Adult Patients: A Retrospective Study at a Japanese Tertiary Hospital en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Hypophosphatasemia is often overlooked despite its potential to indicate underlying pathologies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of persistent hypophosphatasemia in a large, urban, multi-specialty hospital population and characterize the clinical and laboratory findings in adult patients with this condition. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, the results of 424,434 alkaline phosphatase (ALP) tests in 50,136 patients aged >= 18 years that were performed at Okayama University Hospital between July 2020 and October 2023 were analyzed. Persistent hypophosphatasemia was defined as consistently low ALP levels (<= 40 IU/L) for 28 days with a minimum recorded level of <= 35 IU/L. Results: Persistent hypophosphatasemia was detected in 273 patients (0.54% of the tested patients), and the patients with persistent hypophosphatasemia included a higher proportion of females (72.5% vs. 52.9% in the people without persistent hypophosphatasemia; chi-squared test, p < 0.01) and had a younger median age (51 years vs. 63 years; Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.01) than those in the overall tested population. The common causes of persistent hypophosphatasemia were cancer (30%), glucocorticoid use (21%), and immunosuppressants (16%). Notably, 38 patients (14%) had no apparent cause for low ALP values. These patients were categorized on the basis of their clinical characteristics, with some patients presenting symptoms potentially related to adult hypophosphatasia. Conclusions: This study provides prevalence and insights into the causes and characteristics of persistent hypophosphatasemia in a Japanese tertiary care setting. While most cases were associated with known causes, patients with unexplained hypophosphatasemia and symptoms such as chronic pain, muscle weakness, and general fatigue could have adult hypophosphatasia. In such cases, comprehensive evaluation and further investigation for hypophosphatasia should be considered. Persistent hypophosphatasemia of undetermined etiology could be a crucial initial step in diagnostic algorithms for this condition. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujiwaraShintaro en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaYuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurukawaMasanori en-aut-sei=Furukawa en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigashikageAkihito en-aut-sei=Higashikage en-aut-mei=Akihito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaFumio en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Fumio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Laboratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Laboratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=chronic fatigue syndrome kn-keyword=chronic fatigue syndrome en-keyword=chronic pain kn-keyword=chronic pain en-keyword=hypophosphatasemia kn-keyword=hypophosphatasemia en-keyword=alkaline phosphatase kn-keyword=alkaline phosphatase en-keyword=hypophosphatasia kn-keyword=hypophosphatasia END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=103 cd-vols= no-issue=50 article-no= start-page=e40849 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241213 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Relevance of oxidative stress for small intestinal injuries induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: A multicenter prospective study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Several reports revealed that oxidative stress was involved in the mouse model of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs)-induced small intestinal mucosal injuries. Thus, we aimed to investigate in the prospective clinical study, that the relevance of oxidative stress balance in small intestinal mucosal injury in NSAIDs users. We prospectively included 60 patients who had been taking NSAIDs continuously for more than 3 months and exhibited obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (number UMIN 000011775). Small intestinal mucosal injuries were assessed by capsule endoscopy (CE), and reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) levels and oxidant capacity (OXY) adsorbent test were performed to investigate the relevance of oxidative stress balance. More than half of the patients (N = 32, 53%) had small intestinal mucosal injuries by CE, and 14 patients (24%) had ulcers. The incidence of ulcers was relatively higher in nonaspirin users. Serum OXY levels were significantly lower in the mucosal injury group (P = .02), and d-ROM levels were significantly higher in the ulcer group (P < .01). In aspirin users, d-ROM and OXY levels did not differ significantly with respect to mucosal injuries or ulcers. However, in nonaspirin users, OXY level was significantly lower in the mucosal injury group (P = .04), and d-ROM levels were significantly higher in the ulcer group (P = .02). Nonaspirin NSAIDs-induced intestinal mucosal injury is associated with antioxidant systems, resulting in increased oxidative stress. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BabaYuki en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawanoSeiji en-aut-sei=Kawano en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakiAkinobu en-aut-sei=Takaki en-aut-mei=Akinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonoYoshiyasu en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Yoshiyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriiJoichiro en-aut-sei=Horii en-aut-mei=Joichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiSakuma en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Sakuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiDaisuke en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiSayo en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Sayo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Himeji Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=capsule endoscopy kn-keyword=capsule endoscopy en-keyword=NSAIDs kn-keyword=NSAIDs en-keyword=oxidative stress kn-keyword=oxidative stress en-keyword=small intestinal mucosal injury kn-keyword=small intestinal mucosal injury END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2024 cd-vols= no-issue=12 article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=202412 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Multi-dimensional optimisation of the scanning strategy for the LiteBIRD space mission en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Large angular scale surveys in the absence of atmosphere are essential for measuring the primordial B-mode power spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Since this proposed measurement is about three to four orders of magnitude fainter than the temperature anisotropies of the CMB, in-flight calibration of the instruments and active suppression of systematic effects are crucial. We investigate the effect of changing the parameters of the scanning strategy on the in-flight calibration effectiveness, the suppression of the systematic effects themselves, and the ability to distinguish systematic effects by null-tests. Next-generation missions such as LiteBIRD, modulated by a Half-Wave Plate (HWP), will be able to observe polarisation using a single detector, eliminating the need to combine several detectors to measure polarisation, as done in many previous experiments and hence avoiding the consequent systematic effects. While the HWP is expected to suppress many systematic effects, some of them will remain. We use an analytical approach to comprehensively address the mitigation of these systematic effects and identify the characteristics of scanning strategies that are the most effective for implementing a variety of calibration strategies in the multi-dimensional space of common spacecraft scan parameters. We verify that LiteBIRD's standard configuration yields good performance on the metrics we studied. We also present Falcons.jl, a fast spacecraft scanning simulator that we developed to investigate this scanning parameter space. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakaseY. en-aut-sei=Takase en-aut-mei=Y. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=VacherL. en-aut-sei=Vacher en-aut-mei=L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshinoH. en-aut-sei=Ishino en-aut-mei=H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=PatanchonG. en-aut-sei=Patanchon en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MontierL. en-aut-sei=Montier en-aut-mei=L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SteverS.L. en-aut-sei=Stever en-aut-mei=S.L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshizakaK. en-aut-sei=Ishizaka en-aut-mei=K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaganoY. en-aut-sei=Nagano en-aut-mei=Y. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=WangW. en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=W. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=AumontJ. en-aut-sei=Aumont en-aut-mei=J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=AizawaK. en-aut-sei=Aizawa en-aut-mei=K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnandA. en-aut-sei=Anand en-aut-mei=A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=BaccigalupiC. en-aut-sei=Baccigalupi en-aut-mei=C. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=BallardiniM. en-aut-sei=Ballardini en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=BandayA.J. en-aut-sei=Banday en-aut-mei=A.J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=BarreiroR.B. en-aut-sei=Barreiro en-aut-mei=R.B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=BartoloN. en-aut-sei=Bartolo en-aut-mei=N. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=BasakS. en-aut-sei=Basak en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=BersanelliM. en-aut-sei=Bersanelli en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=BortolamiM. en-aut-sei=Bortolami en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=BrinckmannT. en-aut-sei=Brinckmann en-aut-mei=T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=CalabreseE. en-aut-sei=Calabrese en-aut-mei=E. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=CampetiP. en-aut-sei=Campeti en-aut-mei=P. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=CarinosE. en-aut-sei=Carinos en-aut-mei=E. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=CaronesA. en-aut-sei=Carones en-aut-mei=A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= en-aut-name=CasasF.J. en-aut-sei=Casas en-aut-mei=F.J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=26 ORCID= en-aut-name=CheungK. en-aut-sei=Cheung en-aut-mei=K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=27 ORCID= en-aut-name=ClermontL. en-aut-sei=Clermont en-aut-mei=L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=28 ORCID= en-aut-name=ColumbroF. en-aut-sei=Columbro en-aut-mei=F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=29 ORCID= en-aut-name=CoppolecchiaA. en-aut-sei=Coppolecchia en-aut-mei=A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=30 ORCID= en-aut-name=CuttaiaF. en-aut-sei=Cuttaia en-aut-mei=F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=31 ORCID= en-aut-name=D'AlessandroG. en-aut-sei=D'Alessandro en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=32 ORCID= en-aut-name=de BernardisP. en-aut-sei=de Bernardis en-aut-mei=P. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=33 ORCID= en-aut-name=de HaanT. en-aut-sei=de Haan en-aut-mei=T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=34 ORCID= en-aut-name=de la HozE. en-aut-sei=de la Hoz en-aut-mei=E. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=35 ORCID= en-aut-name=Della TorreS. en-aut-sei=Della Torre en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=36 ORCID= en-aut-name=Diego-PalazuelosP. en-aut-sei=Diego-Palazuelos en-aut-mei=P. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=37 ORCID= en-aut-name=EriksenH.K. en-aut-sei=Eriksen en-aut-mei=H.K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=38 ORCID= en-aut-name=ErrardJ. en-aut-sei=Errard en-aut-mei=J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=39 ORCID= en-aut-name=FinelliF. en-aut-sei=Finelli en-aut-mei=F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=40 ORCID= en-aut-name=FuskelandU. en-aut-sei=Fuskeland en-aut-mei=U. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=41 ORCID= en-aut-name=GalloniG. en-aut-sei=Galloni en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=42 ORCID= en-aut-name=GallowayM. en-aut-sei=Galloway en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=43 ORCID= en-aut-name=GervasiM. en-aut-sei=Gervasi en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=44 ORCID= en-aut-name=GhignaT. en-aut-sei=Ghigna en-aut-mei=T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=45 ORCID= en-aut-name=GiardielloS. en-aut-sei=Giardiello en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=46 ORCID= en-aut-name=Gimeno-AmoC. en-aut-sei=Gimeno-Amo en-aut-mei=C. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=47 ORCID= en-aut-name=GjerløwE. en-aut-sei=Gjerløw en-aut-mei=E. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=48 ORCID= en-aut-name=González GonzálezR. en-aut-sei=González González en-aut-mei=R. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=49 ORCID= en-aut-name=GruppusoA. en-aut-sei=Gruppuso en-aut-mei=A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=50 ORCID= en-aut-name=HazumiM. en-aut-sei=Hazumi en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=51 ORCID= en-aut-name=Henrot-VersilléS. en-aut-sei=Henrot-Versillé en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=52 ORCID= en-aut-name=HergtL.T. en-aut-sei=Hergt en-aut-mei=L.T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=53 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkumaK. en-aut-sei=Ikuma en-aut-mei=K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=54 ORCID= en-aut-name=KohriK. en-aut-sei=Kohri en-aut-mei=K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=55 ORCID= en-aut-name=LamagnaL. en-aut-sei=Lamagna en-aut-mei=L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=56 ORCID= en-aut-name=LattanziM. en-aut-sei=Lattanzi en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=57 ORCID= en-aut-name=LeloupC. en-aut-sei=Leloup en-aut-mei=C. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=58 ORCID= en-aut-name=LemboM. en-aut-sei=Lembo en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=59 ORCID= en-aut-name=LevrierF. en-aut-sei=Levrier en-aut-mei=F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=60 ORCID= en-aut-name=LonappanA.I. en-aut-sei=Lonappan en-aut-mei=A.I. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=61 ORCID= en-aut-name=López-CaniegoM. en-aut-sei=López-Caniego en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=62 ORCID= en-aut-name=LuzziG. en-aut-sei=Luzzi en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=63 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaffeiB. en-aut-sei=Maffei en-aut-mei=B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=64 ORCID= en-aut-name=Martínez-GonzálezE. en-aut-sei=Martínez-González en-aut-mei=E. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=65 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasiS. en-aut-sei=Masi en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=66 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatarreseS. en-aut-sei=Matarrese en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=67 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsudaF.T. en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=F.T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=68 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumuraT. en-aut-sei=Matsumura en-aut-mei=T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=69 ORCID= en-aut-name=MicheliS. en-aut-sei=Micheli en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=70 ORCID= en-aut-name=MigliaccioM. en-aut-sei=Migliaccio en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=71 ORCID= en-aut-name=MonelliM. en-aut-sei=Monelli en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=72 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorganteG. en-aut-sei=Morgante en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=73 ORCID= en-aut-name=MotB. en-aut-sei=Mot en-aut-mei=B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=74 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagataR. en-aut-sei=Nagata en-aut-mei=R. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=75 ORCID= en-aut-name=NamikawaT. en-aut-sei=Namikawa en-aut-mei=T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=76 ORCID= en-aut-name=NovelliA. en-aut-sei=Novelli en-aut-mei=A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=77 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdagiriK. en-aut-sei=Odagiri en-aut-mei=K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=78 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguriS. en-aut-sei=Oguri en-aut-mei=S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=79 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmaeR. en-aut-sei=Omae en-aut-mei=R. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=80 ORCID= en-aut-name=PaganoL. en-aut-sei=Pagano en-aut-mei=L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=81 ORCID= en-aut-name=PaolettiD. en-aut-sei=Paoletti en-aut-mei=D. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=82 ORCID= en-aut-name=PiacentiniF. en-aut-sei=Piacentini en-aut-mei=F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=83 ORCID= en-aut-name=PincheraM. en-aut-sei=Pinchera en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=84 ORCID= en-aut-name=PolentaG. en-aut-sei=Polenta en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=85 ORCID= en-aut-name=PorcelliL. en-aut-sei=Porcelli en-aut-mei=L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=86 ORCID= en-aut-name=RaffuzziN. en-aut-sei=Raffuzzi en-aut-mei=N. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=87 ORCID= en-aut-name=RemazeillesM. en-aut-sei=Remazeilles en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=88 ORCID= en-aut-name=RitaccoA. en-aut-sei=Ritacco en-aut-mei=A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=89 ORCID= en-aut-name=Ruiz-GrandaM. en-aut-sei=Ruiz-Granda en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=90 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakuraiY. en-aut-sei=Sakurai en-aut-mei=Y. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=91 ORCID= en-aut-name=ScottD. en-aut-sei=Scott en-aut-mei=D. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=92 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekimotoY. en-aut-sei=Sekimoto en-aut-mei=Y. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=93 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiraishiM. en-aut-sei=Shiraishi en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=94 ORCID= en-aut-name=SignorelliG. en-aut-sei=Signorelli en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=95 ORCID= en-aut-name=SullivanR.M. en-aut-sei=Sullivan en-aut-mei=R.M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=96 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakuraH. en-aut-sei=Takakura en-aut-mei=H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=97 ORCID= en-aut-name=TerenziL. en-aut-sei=Terenzi en-aut-mei=L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=98 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomasiM. en-aut-sei=Tomasi en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=99 ORCID= en-aut-name=TristramM. en-aut-sei=Tristram en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=100 ORCID= en-aut-name=van TentB. en-aut-sei=van Tent en-aut-mei=B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=101 ORCID= en-aut-name=VielvaP. en-aut-sei=Vielva en-aut-mei=P. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=102 ORCID= en-aut-name=WehusI.K. en-aut-sei=Wehus en-aut-mei=I.K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=103 ORCID= en-aut-name=WestbrookB. en-aut-sei=Westbrook en-aut-mei=B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=104 ORCID= en-aut-name=Weymann-DespresG. en-aut-sei=Weymann-Despres en-aut-mei=G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=105 ORCID= en-aut-name=WollackE.J. en-aut-sei=Wollack en-aut-mei=E.J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=106 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZannoniM. en-aut-sei=Zannoni en-aut-mei=M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=107 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZhouY. en-aut-sei=Zhou en-aut-mei=Y. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=108 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=ILANCE, CNRS, University of Tokyo International Research Laboratory kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Okayama University, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Okayama University, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Okayama University, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=The University of Tokyo, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università degli Studi di Padova kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=School of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=INFN Sezione di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) kn-affil= affil-num=26 en-affil=Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) kn-affil= affil-num=27 en-affil=Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester kn-affil= affil-num=28 en-affil=Centre Spatial de Liège, Université de Liège kn-affil= affil-num=29 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=30 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=31 en-affil=INAF, OAS Bologna kn-affil= affil-num=32 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=33 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=34 en-affil=Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=35 en-affil=CNRS-UCB International Research Laboratory, Centre Pierre Binétruy, UMI2007 kn-affil= affil-num=36 en-affil=INFN Sezione Milano Bicocca kn-affil= affil-num=37 en-affil=Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics kn-affil= affil-num=38 en-affil=Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo kn-affil= affil-num=39 en-affil=Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie kn-affil= affil-num=40 en-affil=INAF, OAS Bologna kn-affil= affil-num=41 en-affil=Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo kn-affil= affil-num=42 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=43 en-affil=Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo kn-affil= affil-num=44 en-affil=University of Milano Bicocca, Physics Department kn-affil= affil-num=45 en-affil=International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=46 en-affil=School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University kn-affil= affil-num=47 en-affil=Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) kn-affil= affil-num=48 en-affil=Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo kn-affil= affil-num=49 en-affil=Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias kn-affil= affil-num=50 en-affil=INAF, OAS Bologna kn-affil= affil-num=51 en-affil=International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=52 en-affil=Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab kn-affil= affil-num=53 en-affil=Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia kn-affil= affil-num=54 en-affil=Okayama University, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=55 en-affil=Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= affil-num=56 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=57 en-affil=INFN Sezione di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=58 en-affil=Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=59 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=60 en-affil=Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris kn-affil= affil-num=61 en-affil=University of California, San Diego, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=62 en-affil=Aurora Technology for the European Space Agency kn-affil= affil-num=63 en-affil=Space Science Data Center, Italian Space Agency kn-affil= affil-num=64 en-affil=Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale kn-affil= affil-num=65 en-affil=Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) kn-affil= affil-num=66 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=67 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università degli Studi di Padova kn-affil= affil-num=68 en-affil=Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) kn-affil= affil-num=69 en-affil=Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=70 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=71 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata kn-affil= affil-num=72 en-affil=Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics kn-affil= affil-num=73 en-affil=INAF, OAS Bologna kn-affil= affil-num=74 en-affil=IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS kn-affil= affil-num=75 en-affil=Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) kn-affil= affil-num=76 en-affil=Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=77 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=78 en-affil=Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) kn-affil= affil-num=79 en-affil=Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) kn-affil= affil-num=80 en-affil=Okayama University, Department of Physics kn-affil= affil-num=81 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=82 en-affil=INAF, OAS Bologna kn-affil= affil-num=83 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza kn-affil= affil-num=84 en-affil=INFN Sezione di Pisa kn-affil= affil-num=85 en-affil=Space Science Data Center, Italian Space Agency kn-affil= affil-num=86 en-affil=Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-aboratori Nazionali di Frascati (INFN-LNF) kn-affil= affil-num=87 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara kn-affil= affil-num=88 en-affil=Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) kn-affil= affil-num=89 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata kn-affil= affil-num=90 en-affil=Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) kn-affil= affil-num=91 en-affil=Suwa University of Science kn-affil= affil-num=92 en-affil=Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia kn-affil= affil-num=93 en-affil=Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) kn-affil= affil-num=94 en-affil=Suwa University of Science kn-affil= affil-num=95 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa kn-affil= affil-num=96 en-affil=Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia kn-affil= affil-num=97 en-affil=Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) kn-affil= affil-num=98 en-affil=INAF, OAS Bologna kn-affil= affil-num=99 en-affil=Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano kn-affil= affil-num=100 en-affil=Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab kn-affil= affil-num=101 en-affil=Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab kn-affil= affil-num=102 en-affil=Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) kn-affil= affil-num=103 en-affil=Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo kn-affil= affil-num=104 en-affil=University of California, Berkeley, Department of Physics, Berkeley kn-affil= affil-num=105 en-affil=Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab kn-affil= affil-num=106 en-affil=NASA Goddard Space Flight Center kn-affil= affil-num=107 en-affil=University of Milano Bicocca, Physics Department kn-affil= affil-num=108 en-affil=International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) kn-affil= en-keyword=CMBR experiments kn-keyword=CMBR experiments en-keyword=CMBR polarisation kn-keyword=CMBR polarisation en-keyword=gravitational waves and CMBR polarization kn-keyword=gravitational waves and CMBR polarization END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=169 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e16291 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241222 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Exploring the Role of Ccn3 in Type III Cell of Mice Taste Buds en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Different taste cells express unique cell-type markers, enabling researchers to distinguish them and study their functional differentiation. Using single-cell RNA-Seq of taste cells in mouse fungiform papillae, we found that Cellular Communication Network Factor 3 (Ccn3) was highly expressed in Type III taste cells but not in Type II taste cells. Ccn3 is a protein-coding gene involved in various biological processes, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, and wound healing. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to explore the expression and function of Ccn3 in mouse taste bud cells. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), we confirmed that Ccn3 was predominantly expressed in Type III taste cells. Through IHC, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, gustatory nerve recordings, and short-term lick tests, we observed that Ccn3 knockout (Ccn3-KO) mice did not exhibit any significant differences in the expression of taste cell markers and taste responses compared to wild-type controls. To explore the function of Ccn3 in taste cells, bioinformatics analyses were conducted and predicted possible roles of Ccn3 in tissue regeneration, perception of pain, protein secretion, and immune response. Among them, an immune function is the most plausible based on our experimental results. In summary, our study indicates that although Ccn3 is strongly expressed in Type III taste cells, its knockout did not influence the basic taste response, but bioinformatics provided valuable insights into the possible role of Ccn3 in taste buds and shed light on future research directions. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WangKuanyu en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=Kuanyu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitohYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Mitoh en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HorieKengo en-aut-sei=Horie en-aut-mei=Kengo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaRyusuke en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Ryusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=bioinformatics kn-keyword=bioinformatics en-keyword=Ccn3 kn-keyword=Ccn3 en-keyword=Type III taste cell kn-keyword=Type III taste cell END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=JAMDSM0001 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Development of tool life prediction system for square end-mills based on database of servo motor current value en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Accurate prediction of tool life is crucial for reducing production costs and enhancing quality in the machining process. However, such predictions often rely on empirical knowledge, which may limit inexperienced engineers to reliably obtain accurate predictions. This study explores a method to predict the tool life of a cutting machine using servo motor current data collected during the initial stages of tool wear, which is a cost-effective approach. The LightGBM model was identified as suitable for predicting tool life from current data, given the challenges associated with predicting from the average variation of current values. By identifying and utilizing the top 50 features from the current data for prediction, the accuracy of tool life prediction in the early wear stage improved. As this prediction method was developed based on current data obtained during the very early wear stage in experiments with square end-mills, it was tested on extrapolated data using different end-mill diameters. The findings revealed average accuracy rates of 71.2% and 69.4% when using maximum machining time and maximum removal volume as thresholds, respectively. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KODAMAHiroyuki en-aut-sei=KODAMA en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SUZUKIMakoto en-aut-sei=SUZUKI en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OHASHIKazuhito en-aut-sei=OHASHI en-aut-mei=Kazuhito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate school of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Milling kn-keyword=Milling en-keyword=LightGBM kn-keyword=LightGBM en-keyword=Tool life prediction kn-keyword=Tool life prediction en-keyword=Square end-mill kn-keyword=Square end-mill en-keyword=Servo motor current kn-keyword=Servo motor current END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=63 cd-vols= no-issue=21 article-no= start-page=2875 end-page=2884 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241101 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Endoscopic and Histological Gastritis in University Students with Helicobacter pylori Infection en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective Although the characteristics of Helicobacter pylori infection have been extensively reported, there is a lack of consensus regarding its characteristics in young adults. The present study examined the endoscopic and histological characteristics of young adults who underwent eradication therapy for H. pylori infection.
Methods We examined the H. pylori infection status of first-year students at Okayama University School of Medicine and Dentistry between 2014 and 2020. A total of 152 (6.8%) students who were positive for H. pylori antibody or pepsinogen tests were enrolled in the study. Among them, 107 students underwent endoscopy, and their biopsy samples were investigated. Seventy-five students were diagnosed with H. pylori infections.
Results Of 75 H. pylori-positive patients, 57 (76.0%) had endoscopic atrophic gastritis, and 42 (56.0%) had histological atrophy. A few patients had severe atrophic gastritis. All 65 patients who underwent an eradication assessment were successfully treated. After successful eradication, 26 patients underwent endoscopic follow-up. The mean follow-up period was 32.9 months. A histological evaluation revealed that gastric antrum atrophy had subsided in 11 of 14 patients, and atrophy in the lesser curvature of the gastric body had subsided in 7 of 8 patients.
Conclusion More than half of young adults with H. pylori infection had atrophic gastritis. We found mild atrophy in young adults, which subsided shortly after eradication treatment. This study provides a foundation for future studies to evaluate the validity of eradication therapy in preventing gastric cancer in patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkanoueShotaro en-aut-sei=Okanoue en-aut-mei=Shotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakaeHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Sakae en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokotaKenji en-aut-sei=Yokota en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ObayashiYuka en-aut-sei=Obayashi en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AbeMakoto en-aut-sei=Abe en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonoYoshiyasu en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Yoshiyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanzakiHiromitsu en-aut-sei=Kanzaki en-aut-mei=Hiromitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwamuroMasaya en-aut-sei=Iwamuro en-aut-mei=Masaya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawanoSeiji en-aut-sei=Kawano en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaharaYoshiro en-aut-sei=Kawahara en-aut-mei=Yoshiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanaiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Yanai en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Practical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=atrophic gastritis kn-keyword=atrophic gastritis en-keyword=gastric cancer kn-keyword=gastric cancer en-keyword=Helicobacter pylori kn-keyword=Helicobacter pylori en-keyword=young adults kn-keyword=young adults en-keyword=eradication kn-keyword=eradication END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=45 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=11 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2023 dt-pub=20230323 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Mutation and apoptosis are well-coordinated for protecting against DNA damage-inducing toxicity in Drosophila en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Apoptotic cell death is an important survival system for multicellular organisms because it removes damaged cells. Mutation is also a survival method for dealing with damaged cells in multicellular and also unicellular organisms, when DNA lesions are not removed. However, to the best of our knowledge, no reports have comprehensively explored the direct relationship between apoptosis and somatic cell mutations induced by various mutagenic factors.
Results Mutation was examined by the wing-spot test, which is used to detect somatic cell mutations, including chromosomal recombination. Apoptosis was observed in the wing discs by acridine orange staining in situ. After treatment with chemical mutagens, ultraviolet light (UV), and X-ray, both the apoptotic frequency and mutagenic activity increased in a dose-dependent manner at non-toxic doses. When we used DNA repair-deficient Drosophila strains, the correlation coefficient of the relationship between apoptosis and mutagenicity, differed from that of the wild-type. To explore how apoptosis affects the behavior of mutated cells, we determined the spot size, i.e., the number of mutated cells in a spot. In parallel with an increase in apoptosis, the spot size increased with MNU or X-ray treatment dose-dependently; however, this increase was not seen with UV irradiation. In addition, BrdU incorporation, an indicator of cell proliferation, in the wing discs was suppressed at 6 h, with peak at 12 h post-treatment with X-ray, and that it started to increase again at 24 h; however, this was not seen with UV irradiation.
Conclusion Damage-induced apoptosis and mutation might be coordinated with each other, and the frequency of apoptosis and mutagenicity are balanced depending on the type of DNA damage. From the data of the spot size and BrdU incorporation, it is possible that mutated cells replace apoptotic cells due to their high frequency of cell division, resulting in enlargement of the spot size after MNU or X-ray treatment. We consider that the induction of mutation, apoptosis, and/or cell growth varies in multi-cellular organisms depending on the type of the mutagens, and that their balance and coordination have an important function to counter DNA damage for the survival of the organism. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Toyoshima-SasataniMegumi en-aut-sei=Toyoshima-Sasatani en-aut-mei=Megumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImuraFumika en-aut-sei=Imura en-aut-mei=Fumika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamatakeYuko en-aut-sei=Hamatake en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukunagaAkihiro en-aut-sei=Fukunaga en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NegishiTomoe en-aut-sei=Negishi en-aut-mei=Tomoe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=School of Nursing, Osaka City University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Drosophila kn-keyword=Drosophila en-keyword=Apoptosis kn-keyword=Apoptosis en-keyword=Mutation kn-keyword=Mutation en-keyword=Larval wing disc kn-keyword=Larval wing disc en-keyword=X-ray kn-keyword=X-ray en-keyword=Ultraviolet kn-keyword=Ultraviolet en-keyword=Alkylating agents kn-keyword=Alkylating agents en-keyword=Tobacco smoke kn-keyword=Tobacco smoke en-keyword=Acridine orange kn-keyword=Acridine orange en-keyword=BrdU kn-keyword=BrdU END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=11 cd-vols= no-issue=01 article-no= start-page=E90 end-page=E96 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2022 dt-pub=20221129 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Differences in color between early gastric cancer and cancer-suspected non-cancerous mucosa on linked color imaging en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background and study aims Linked color imaging (LCI) can enhance the original color of each area and may useful to detect tumorous lesions during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. However, LCI may also enhance cancer-suspected non-cancerous regional color change. We conducted a retrospective image analysis to investigate the color characteristics of early gastric cancer (EGC) and cancer-suspected non-cancerous mucosa (CSM) in LCI.
Methods LCI images of both EGC and CSM were retrospectively collected from the database of the institution. Fifteen endoscopists individually judged each image as EGC or CSM. The color difference between the inside and outside of the lesions was measured by CIE-Lab analysis in both groups and compared.
Results A total of 245 LCI images of EGC (169) and CSM (76) were extracted and randomly lined for image collection. The test by the endoscopists showed accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 64.0 %, 63.7 %, and 64.0 %, respectively. Although the color difference between EGC and CSM was almost the same (12.5 vs. 12.9, not significant), each parameter of ΔL (bright: –0.3 vs. –2.7, P  < 0.001), Δa (Reddish: 7.2 vs. 9.6, P = 0.004), and Δb (Yellowish: 6.4 vs. 3.8, P  < 0.001) was significantly different in the groups. The color feature of both positive ΔL and Δb to EGC showed accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 54.7 %, 39.6 %, 88.2%, respectively.
Conclusions The total color difference was almost the same between EGC and CSM; however, their color tones were different on linked color imaging. Although the color characteristics of EGC had high specificity, they also had low sensitivity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KanzakiHiromitsu en-aut-sei=Kanzaki en-aut-mei=Hiromitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaharaYoshiro en-aut-sei=Kawahara en-aut-mei=Yoshiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatomiTakuya en-aut-sei=Satomi en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkanoueShotaro en-aut-sei=Okanoue en-aut-mei=Shotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaKenta en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KonoYoshiyasu en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Yoshiyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwamuroMasaya en-aut-sei=Iwamuro en-aut-mei=Masaya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawanoSeiji en-aut-sei=Kawano en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Practical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Practical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=77 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=27 end-page=37 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241216 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=Training in Collaborative Feedback on Psychological Testing for Beginners kn-title=心理検査の協働的フィードバックについての卒後研修 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=INATSUKISatoko en-aut-sei=INATSUKI en-aut-mei=Satoko kn-aut-name=稲月聡子 kn-aut-sei=稲月 kn-aut-mei=聡子 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KUDOMasataka en-aut-sei=KUDO en-aut-mei=Masataka kn-aut-name=工藤昌孝 kn-aut-sei=工藤 kn-aut-mei=昌孝 aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KUMAMOTOMichiru en-aut-sei=KUMAMOTO en-aut-mei=Michiru kn-aut-name=隈元みちる kn-aut-sei=隈元 kn-aut-mei=みちる aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=岡山大学 affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=東海学院大学 affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=兵庫教育大学 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=28 end-page=36 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202501 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Local Control of Conjunctival Malignant Melanoma by Proton Beam Therapy in a Patient With No Metastasis in Six Years From in Situ to Nodular Lesions en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Conjunctival malignant melanoma is extremely rare, with no standard of care established at moment. Here we report a 65-year-old woman, as a hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier, who presented concurrently a liver mass and lower bulbar conjunctival pigmented lesions in the right eye. Needle liver biopsy and excisional conjunctival biopsy showed hepatocellular carcinoma and conjunctival malignant melanoma in situ, respectively. The priority was given to segmental liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. In 1 year, she underwent second and third resection of bulbar conjunctival pigmented lesions, and the pathological examinations constantly showed melanoma in situ. In the course, she showed gradual widening of pigmented lesions to upper bulbar conjunctiva and lower palpebral conjunctiva and lower eyelid. About 2.5 years from the initial visit, the lower eyelid lesion was resected for a genomic DNA-based test of BRAF mutations which turned out to be absent, and then, she began to have intravenous anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), nivolumab every 3 or 4 weeks. She developed iritis in the right eye with conjunctival melanoma as an immune-related adverse event, 3 months after the beginning of nivolumab, and so she used daily topical 0.1% betamethasone eye drops to control the intraocular inflammation. She showed no metastasis in 6 years of follow-up, but later in the course, 5 years from the initial visit, she developed abruptly a non-pigmented nodular lesion on the temporal side of the bulbar conjunctiva along the corneal limbus, accompanied by two pigmented nodular lesions in the upper and lower eyelids in a few months. She thus, underwent proton beam therapy toward the conjunctival melanoma and achieved the successful local control. Proton beam therapy is a treatment option in place of orbital exenteration, and multidisciplinary team collaboration is desirable to achieve better cosmetic and functional outcomes in conjunctival malignant melanoma. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuoToshihiko en-aut-sei=Matsuo en-aut-mei=Toshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgataTakeshi en-aut-sei=Ogata en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WakiTakahiro en-aut-sei=Waki en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TachibanaKota en-aut-sei=Tachibana en-aut-mei=Kota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiTomokazu en-aut-sei=Fuji en-aut-mei=Tomokazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=AdachiTakuya en-aut-sei=Adachi en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamasakiOsamu en-aut-sei=Yamasaki en-aut-mei=Osamu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine (Ophthalmology), Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Proton Beam Center, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Proton Beam Center, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Ocular surface kn-keyword=Ocular surface en-keyword=Conjunctiva kn-keyword=Conjunctiva en-keyword=Malignant melanoma kn-keyword=Malignant melanoma en-keyword=Proton beam therapy kn-keyword=Proton beam therapy en-keyword=Nivolumab kn-keyword=Nivolumab en-keyword=PD-1 inhibitor kn-keyword=PD-1 inhibitor en-keyword=Immune checkpoint inhibitor kn-keyword=Immune checkpoint inhibitor END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=12 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1434800 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241127 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Efficacy of extracting and preventively intervening late-stage older adults who are at high risk for spending high medical costs by using the health check-up system in Japan: a pilot study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: In Japan, the seven diseases (femur fracture, cerebral infarction, chronic renal failure, heart failure, dementia, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are the top causes of inpatient medical costs among the late-stage older adults aged 75 years and over. This pilot study was conducted with the following two objectives; (1) to examine the proportion of risks of onset and severity of seven diseases among the late-stage older adults, and (2) to examine the efficacy of interventions focusing on the prevention of unplanned hospitalization.
Methods: Participants were 45,233 older adults aged 75 and over living in Kure City, Japan. In addition to the government-mandated health checkup items, the Intervention group underwent additional risk screening tests included questionnaires, physical examinations, blood tests, and educational guidance by nurses. The efficacy of the intervention was examined whether there were differences in the number of hospitalizations, the use of emergency and critical care, and the incidence of hemodialysis induction between the Intervention and control groups (Usual Health Checkup group and No Health Checkup group) for the 2 years.
Results: There were 485 participants in the Intervention group, 1,067 in the Usual Health Checkup group, and 43,712 in the No Health Checkup group. As the risks of seven diseases in the Intervention group, the largest proportion of deviations occurred for systolic blood pressure (63.3%), estimated salt intake (60.3%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (51.5%). Estimated glomerular filtration rate deviated in 41.0%, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide in 37.9%. 7.5% scored <2 points on the Mini-Cog (c), and 9.1% performed the Timed Up and Go test in >12 s. The incidence of hospitalization due to any of the seven diseases was significantly higher in the No Health Checkup group (p < 0.001). There were no differences among the three groups in the use of emergency and critical care or the introduction of hemodialysis.
Conclusion: This study revealed that additional health checkup tests and intervention methods could be prevented hospitalization among the adults of 75 years and older. It is necessary to make health checkups and follow-ups more accessible those are already available within the existing health system in Japan. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KazawaKana en-aut-sei=Kazawa en-aut-mei=Kana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiMadoka en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Madoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriyamaMichiko en-aut-sei=Moriyama en-aut-mei=Michiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University kn-affil= en-keyword=older adults kn-keyword=older adults en-keyword=health checkups kn-keyword=health checkups en-keyword=health risk kn-keyword=health risk en-keyword=hospitalization kn-keyword=hospitalization en-keyword=education kn-keyword=education END