Challenges in accurately assessing acute vasoreactivity in paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension: case reports highlighting the impact of sedation on diagnostic accuracy.

Background: Initial treatment based on acute vasoreactivity test results is essential for idiopathic or hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension. In paediatric patients who are usually examined under sedation, accurately identifying those who are positive in the acute vasoreactivity test is often difficult.

Case Summary: Patient 1: A 10-year-old boy was diagnosed with heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension at the age of 5 years, following symptoms of exertional dyspnoea and fatigue.

Antisense oligonucleotide targeting nicotinamide N-methyltransferase exhibits antitumor effects.

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is one of the methyltransferase family genes. It consumes S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM), which is required for DNA methylation and histone methylation for epigenetic regulation, to produce 1-methylnicotinamide from nicotinamide, a source of NAD, thus affecting energy metabolism and epigenetics. Recent studies have shown that is highly expressed in cancer tissues, mainly in the stroma, and worsens prognosis.

Recent Findings in N6-Methyladenosine Modification and Significance in Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: RNA modifications are widely detected in cells and are involved in RNA structural stabilization and regulation of gene expression. In cancer cells, RNA modifications are altered, resulting in abnormal expression of numerous genes and promoting cancer growth. N1-methyladenosine (mA), N6-methyladenosine (mA), N3-methylcytosine (mC), 5-methylcytosine (mC), 7-methylguanosine (mG), and N4-acetylcytidine (acC) have been reported as RNA modifications affecting gene expression.

In Vivo Engineered CAR-T Cell Therapy: Lessons Built from COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy but continues to face significant challenges that limit its broader application, such as antigen targeting, the tumor microenvironment, and cell persistence, especially in solid tumors. Meanwhile, the global implementation of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the transformative potential of mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technologies. These innovations, characterized by their swift development timelines, precise antigen design, and efficient delivery mechanisms, provide a promising framework to address some limitations of CAR-T therapy.

Recent Exploration of Solid Cancer Biomarkers Hidden Within Urine or Blood Exosomes That Provide Fundamental Information for Future Cancer Diagnostics.

Cancer cells exhibit abnormal behavior compared to normal cells. They ignore growth arrest signals such as contact inhibition, a mechanism that stops their proliferation when they collide with surrounding cells, and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner, destroying tissue. Early detection and treatment of cancer are therefore important for healthy longevity.

Non-Invasive Detection of Tumors by Volatile Organic Compounds in Urine.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death, and as it becomes more malignant, it becomes an intractable disease that is difficult to cure completely. Therefore, early detection is important to increase the survival rate. For this reason, testing with blood biomarkers is currently common.

Analgesic effect of Keishinieppiittokajutsubu on low barometric pressure-induced pain response in arthritic model rats.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that causes inflammation of joints, resulting in pain and swelling. Reduced barometric pressure induces painful symptom of RA, but there is no appropriate animal model and pharmacological evaluation. Keishinieppiittokajutsubu (KNEIJB), a Kampo medicine used to treat RA; however, its mechanism of action is not clear.

Recent advances in noncoding RNA modifications of gastrointestinal cancer.

Elucidating the mechanisms underlying cancer development and proliferation is important for the development of therapeutic methods for the complete cure of cancer. In particular, the identification of diagnostic markers for early detection and new therapeutic strategies for refractory gastrointestinal cancers are needed. Various abnormal phenomena occur in cancer cells, such as functional changes of proteins, led by genomic mutations, and changes in gene expression due to dysregulation of epigenetic regulation.

Ultrasound-Guided Selective Glossopharyngeal and Maxillary Nerve Blocks for Analgesia After Tonsillectomy: A Pilot Study.

Purpose Postoperative pain management methods for tonsillectomy commonly include the use of opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and acetaminophen. However, some patients report pain despite the use of these medications. In recent years, ultrasound-guided selective glossopharyngeal nerve block (UGSGNB) and ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block (UGMNB) have been reported to be effective for analgesia post-tonsillectomy.

A two-week exercise intervention improves cold symptoms and sleep condition in cold-sensitive women.

Background: We examined whether an aerobic exercise intervention in young women with cold sensitivity symptoms improves sleep quality and decreases cold complaints. Furthermore, we examined the association with increased foot skin temperature (Tsk) before falling asleep and decrease in sensitivity to cold in the brain.

Methods: We recruited 16 female adult volunteers who had cold sensitivity and were not engaged in daily exercise training, and they were divided into an exercise group (EXE) and a control group (CON).

Fenofibrate for diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains a major cause of sight loss worldwide, despite new therapies and improvements in the metabolic control of people living with diabetes. Therefore, DR creates a physical and psychological burden for people, and an economic burden for society. Preventing the development and progression of DR, or avoiding the occurrence of its sight-threatening complications is essential, and must be pursued to save sight.

Evaluation of probability distribution models for stutter ratios in the typing system of GlobalFiler and 3500xL Genetic Analyzer.

As DNA typing systems have become increasingly sensitive in recent years, probability distribution models for back, forward, double-back, and minus 2-nt stutter ratios have been desired to be considered in DNA evidence interpretation using specific software programs. However, experimental investigations have been insufficient, especially for forward, double-back, and minus 2-nt stutters. In this study, we experimentally reevaluated the probability distribution models for each stutter ratio in the typing systems of GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit and 3500xL Genetic Analyzer from Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Endogenous testosterone reduces hepatic lipid accumulation in protein-restricted male rats.

Objectives: Protein deficiency is known to cause ectopic fat accumulation in the liver. The aim of this study was to analyse the mechanism of suppression of hepatic fat accumulation by testosterone and to clarify the mechanism behind the gender difference in fatty liver formation due to protein deficiency.

Methods: Hepatic fat accumulation due to protein deficiency was evaluated in male and female rats before and after sexual maturation.

[A case of anti-SRY-Related HMG-Box Gene 1 (SOX1) antibody-positive chorea].

A 77-year-old man with a history of lung cancer at the age of 71 developed involuntary right leg movement for a month. Neurological examination revealed a right-sided hemi-chorea. Autoimmune disease was suspected owing to the presence of oligoclonal bands and the elevated IgG-index in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Accuracy of hand localization is subject-specific and improved without performance feedback.

Accumulating evidence indicates that the spatial error of human's hand localization appears subject-specific. However, whether the idiosyncratic pattern persists across time with good within-subject consistency has not been adequately examined. Here we measured the hand localization map by a Visual-matching task in multiple sessions over 2 days.

Primary Position Upbeat Nystagmus with Low Serum Vitamin B12.

A 38-year-old man presented with primary position upbeat nystagmus accompanied by peripheral neuropathy. The serum vitamin B12 level was low along with high plasma homocysteine level, indicating vitamin B12 deficiency. Cyanocobalamin supplementation showed partial clinical and electrophysiological improvement.

[Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS) Induced by a Chinese Herbal Medicine; Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto].

A 52-year-old woman taking a Chinese herbal medicine for 10 months was admitted to our hospital for recurrent severe headaches, nausea and vomiting. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left occipital and parietal lobes. Brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed multifocal segmental stenosis of cerebral arteries.

A case of ectopic ACTH syndrome due to DDAVP-sensitive but V1b receptor-negative bronchial typical carcinoid with lymphatic metastasis and plasma ProGRP elevation.

Ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) is a potentially fatal endocrine disease that results from a variety of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), such as small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and bronchial typical carcinoid. Typical carcinoid is usually slow growing, not associated with plasma progastrin releasing peptide (ProGRP) elevation. Here, we report a 47-year-old female smoker with progressive typical carcinoid and plasma ProGRP elevation.

[A sigh increases motivation for difficult and monotonous tasks: The effect of one-time voluntary brief exhalation on relief and achievement needs].

We tested possible intrapersonal effects of a sigh as a psychological "resetter/rebooter." Fifty-eight undergraduates were randomly assigned to a sigh or a normal exhalation (control) group. We asked participants on each task to model the experimenter demonstrating how to exhale air into a small plastic bag for breathing manipulation under the pretext that we were interested in the exhaled gas in stressful situations.

Identification and functional analysis of choline transporter in tongue cancer: A novel molecular target for tongue cancer therapy.

We examined the functional characteristics of choline uptake in human tongue carcinoma using the cell line HSC-3. Furthermore, we explored the possible correlation between the inhibition of choline uptake and apoptotic cell death. Both choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) and CTL2 mRNAs and proteins were expressed, and were located in plasma membrane and mitochondria, respectively.