Radiographic evaluation of cervical spondylosis using an elemental grading system in a population-based cohort study of a Japanese mountain village.

Background: Cervical spine radiography is a common screening tool for cervical spondylosis with radiographic features, including osteophytes, disc height narrowing, vertebral sclerosis, and spondylolisthesis. The Kellgren-Lawrence classification is widely used for evaluating musculoskeletal radiographs, including spinal radiographs; however, evaluating the individual radiographic features of spondylosis is challenging with this classification. This study aimed to develop an elemental grading system for evaluating cervical spine radiographs and the extent of cervical spondylosis.

Parameter analysis using swallowing sounds shows differences in bolus volume, bolus viscosity, sex, and age.

Acoustic analysis of pharyngeal sounds during swallowing may capture physiological functions, providing a noninvasive method for early screening of swallowing decline. In this study, we examined changes in swallowing function across variations in bolus volume, bolus viscosity, sex, and age using parameters such as swallowing duration, average voltage, and swallowing power derived from swallowing sounds. The results showed that average voltage and swallowing power were significantly higher in men, both in younger (aged 20-25 years) and older (aged 50-65 years) groups, regardless of bolus volume and viscosity.

Transfer RNA Recognition Mechanism of Thermoplasma acidophilum Trm56, a SPOUT tRNA Methyltransferase that Possesses an Unusually Long C-terminal Region.

Trm56 from Thermoplasma acidophilum is an exceptional SpoU-TrmD superfamily enzyme, which possesses an unusually long C-terminal region, and catalyzes methylation of 2'-OH of ribose of C56 in tRNA. T. acidophilum Trm56 methylates elongator tRNA (tRNAe) transcript effectively, however this enzyme methylates tRNA transcript slowly.

Effectiveness Index of Mechanical Energy Utilization in Male 400-m Sprinters and the Relation Between Muscle Cross-Sectional Area of the Trunk and the Lower Limb.

The purpose of this study was to identify the morphological characteristics of trunk and lower limb muscles associated with 400-m sprint performance and "effectiveness index of mechanical energy utilization (EI)." Twelve male 400-m sprinters (age: 21.4 ± 1.

A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study of S-588410, a five-peptide cancer vaccine as an adjuvant therapy after curative resection in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: S-588410, a cancer peptide vaccine (CPV), comprises five HLA-A*24:02-restricted peptides from five cancer-testis antigens. In a phase 2 study, S-588410 was well-tolerated and exhibited antitumor efficacy in patients with urothelial cancer. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy, immune response, and safety of S-588410 in patients with completely resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Effects of high-intensity sprint exercise on neuromuscular function in sprinters: the countermovement jump as a fatigue assessment tool.

Background: High-intensity sprint exercises (HIS) are central to sprinter training and require careful monitoring of athlete muscle fatigue to improve performance and prevent injury. While the countermovement jump (CMJ) may be used to monitor neuromuscular fatigue (NMF), little is known about the specific effects from HIS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of HIS on the CMJ to assess its utility for assessing NMF following HIS.

A phase 3 randomized controlled trial of a COVID-19 recombinant vaccine S-268019-b versus ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in Japanese adults.

We assessed S-268019-b, a recombinant spike protein vaccine with a squalene-based adjuvant, for superiority in its immunogenicity over ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine among adults in Japan. In this multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded, phase 3 study, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-naïve participants (aged ≥ 18 years, without prior infection or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2) were randomized (1:1) to receive either S-268019-b or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 as two intramuscular injections given 28 days apart. Participants who provided consent for a booster administration received S-268019-b at Day 211.

Expression of Glial-Cell-Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Family Ligands in Human Intervertebral Discs.

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands (GFLs) contribute to the sensitization of primary afferents and are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory pain. The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the expression of other GFLs (neurturin (NRTN), artemin (ARTN), persephin (PSPN)) and receptors in human IVD cells and tissues exhibiting early and advanced stages of degeneration. Human IVD cells were cultured as a monolayer after isolation from the nucleus pulposus (NP) and anulus fibrosus (AF) tissues.

Regenerative effects of platelet-rich plasma releasate injection in rabbit discs degenerated by intradiscal injection of condoliase.

Background: Intradiscal condoliase injection is an alternative therapeutic option for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, it is often associated with disc degeneration. Several in vivo studies have demonstrated the regenerative potential of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in disc degeneration.

Quantitative Analysis of Lumbar Disc Bulging in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Implication for Surgical Outcomes of Decompression Surgery.

This study aimed to quantitatively assess disc bulging using computed tomography (CT) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and to examine whether disc bulging affects the surgical outcomes of patients with LSS after posterior decompression surgery. Sixty-three patients who underwent posterior decompression surgery for LSS were included. The extent of disc bulging was evaluated as the percentage of the extended area of the disc against the endplate area (%EAD) on axial CT images.

Daily Physical Training Improved Coronal Imbalance of Adult Degenerative Scoliosis: A Case Report.

: Adult (de novo) degenerative scoliosis (ADS) develops through degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, leading to spinal malalignment, which usually progresses with age. Strong evidence for non-operative care in patients with ADS is lacking, and whether physical exercise can improve the scoliosis curve remains unknown. We present a case of early stage ADS in which the coronal imbalance was improved by daily training.

Expression of GADD45G and CAPRIN1 in Human Nucleus Pulposus: Implications for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Marked cellular changes occur in human intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration during disc degeneration with biochemical changes. Genome-wide analysis of the DNA methylation profile has identified 220 differentially methylated loci associated with human IVD degeneration. Among these, two cell-cycle-associated genes, growth arrest and DNA damage 45 gamma (GADD45G) and cytoplasmic activation/proliferation-associated protein-1 (CAPRIN1), were focused on.

Relationships between feeding behaviors and emotions: an electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency analysis study.

Feeding behaviors may be easily affected by emotions, both being based on brain activity; however, the relationships between them have not been explicitly defined. In this study, we investigated how emotional environments modulate subjective feelings, brain activity, and feeding behaviors. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were obtained from healthy participants in conditions of virtual comfortable space (CS) and uncomfortable space (UCS) while eating chocolate, and the times required for eating it were measured.

A Phase 2 Study of S-588410 Maintenance Monotherapy for Platinum-Treated Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: Effective maintenance therapy for urothelial carcinoma (UC) is needed to delay progression after first-line chemotherapy.

Objective: To evaluate S-588410, a cancer peptide vaccine containing five human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24:02-restricted epitope peptides derived from five cancer-testis antigens (DEPDC1, MPHOSPH1, URLC10, CDCA1, and KOC1) in chemotherapy-treated, clinically stable patients with advanced or metastatic UC.

Materials And Methods: This open-label, international, phase 2 trial enrolled patients with UC who had completed≥4 cycles of first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy without disease progression.

[Interpretation and Application of Restricted Mean Survival Time].

Many clinical research and studies evaluate a time-to-event data, illustrate survival curves, and conventionally report an estimated hazard ratio to express the magnitude of the treatment effect when comparing between groups. However, it may not be straightforward to interpret the hazard ratio clinically and statistically when the proportional hazards assumption is invalid. In some recent papers published in clinical journals, the use of restricted mean survival time(RMST)or t-year mean survival time is discussed as one of the alternative summary measures for the time-to-event data.

Intradiscal injection of monosodium iodoacetate induces intervertebral disc degeneration in an experimental rabbit model.

Background: Establishing an optimal animal model for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is essential for developing new IVD therapies. The intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA), which is commonly used in animal models of osteoarthritis, induces cartilage degeneration and progressive arthritis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of MIA injections into rabbit IVDs on the progression of IVD degeneration evaluated by radiographic, micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and histological analyses.

Growth and Nitrate Reductase Activity Are Impaired in Rice Osnlp4 Mutants Supplied with Nitrate.

Nitrate is an important nutrient and signaling molecule in plants, which modulates the expression of many genes and regulates plant growth. In paddy-grown rice (Oryza sativa), nitrogen is mostly supplied in the form of ammonium but can also be supplied in the form of nitrate. Several nitrogen transporters and nitrate assimilation enzymes have been identified and functionally characterized in rice.

Cases of abdominal wall endometriosis distinguished from soft tissue tumors: A report of three cases.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of endometrium-like tissue in sites outside the uterine cavity. It affects 6-10% of women of reproductive age. Concerning abdominal wall endometriosis, it is particularly rare with a reported incidence of 0.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of baloxavir marboxil, a novel cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, in a murine model of influenza virus infection.

Background: Baloxavir acid, the active form of the orally available prodrug baloxavir marboxil, is a novel cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor of influenza virus. Baloxavir marboxil has been shown to rapidly reduce virus titres compared with oseltamivir in clinical studies.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and antiviral activity of baloxavir acid based on virus titre reduction in lungs of infected mice.

Restricted mean survival time as a summary measure of time-to-event outcome.

Many clinical research studies evaluate a time-to-event outcome, illustrate survival functions, and conventionally report estimated hazard ratios to express the magnitude of the treatment effect when comparing between groups. However, it may not be straightforward to interpret the hazard ratio clinically and statistically when the proportional hazards assumption is invalid. In some recent papers published in clinical journals, the use of restricted mean survival time (RMST) or τ-year mean survival time is discussed as one of the alternative summary measures for the time-to-event outcome.

Dynamics of Salivary Gland AQP5 under Normal and Pathologic Conditions.

AQP5 plays an important role in the salivary gland function. The and protein for aquaporin 5 (AQP5) are expressed in the acini from embryonic days E13-16 and E17-18, respectively and for entire postnatal days. Ligation-reopening of main excretory duct induces changes in the AQP5 level which would give an insight for mechanism of regeneration/self-duplication of acinar cells.

Antibody dynamics in Japanese paediatric patients with influenza A infection treated with neuraminidase inhibitors in a randomised trial.

Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) complement influenza virus infection management by helping to clear virus, alleviate symptoms, and reduce transmission. In a previous randomised study, we examined the effect of 4 NAIs on virus clearance and influenza symptoms in Japanese paediatric patients. In this second analysis, we examined the effects of NAI treatment on antibody responses and virus clearance, and the relationships between antibody responses and patients' infection histories (previous infection; asymptomatic infection via household members of same virus type/subtype; vaccination), and between infection histories and viral kinetics.

Antimony, a novel nerve poison, triggers neuronal autophagic death via reactive oxygen species-mediated inhibition of the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway.

Antimony (Sb), a naturally occurring metal present in air and drinking water, has been found in the human brain, and there is evidence of its toxic effects on neurobehavioral perturbations, suggesting that Sb is a potential nerve poison. Here, we provide the first study on the molecular mechanism underlying Sb-associated neurotoxicity. Mice exposed to antimony potassium tartrate hydrate showed significantly increased neuronal apoptosis.