In vivo screening evaluation of 12 chemicals as candidate endocrine disruptors using ovariectomized mouse uterotrophic bioassay.

The rodent uterotrophic bioassay is helpful to easily predict and evaluate the estrogenic properties of chemicals by measuring changes in uterine weight as a screening test. We used this assay in ovariectomized (OVX) mice to screen 12 chemicals suspected to be estrogenic or antiestrogenic properties by in vitro assays in the screening project of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. We administered each chemical to 8-week-old OVX mice either orally (po) or by subcutaneous (sc) injection at 24-hr intervals for 7 consecutive days.

Osmosis-Induced Mechanical Disintegration of Polymer Network Gels.

A polymer network soaked in its good solvent absorbs the solvent molecules to swell up. The structurally possible swelling range of a polymer network is from its dried state to the structural swelling limit where its network strands reach their stretching limit. However, swelling of a polymer network to near its structural limit has not been realized due to the thermodynamic limitation.

Direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin for the management of left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with acute stroke.

Background: We compared the effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin for resolving left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in patients with acute stroke with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods: Among consecutive patients with acute stroke admitted to five major comprehensive stroke centers in Japan between January 2017 and December 2022, those with NVAF and LAA thrombus detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and underwent follow-up TEE were included. All patients received DOAC or warfarin treatment.

A long-term mouse testis organ culture system to identify germ cell damage induced by chemotherapy.

We previously developed the acrosin-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic neonatal mouse organ culture system for rapid and accurate assessment of testicular toxicity. This system effectively evaluates drug-induced toxicity in male germ cells before meiotic entry but cannot assess post-meiotic germ cell toxicity. For many chemicals, the specific stage of germ cell differentiation that is susceptible to toxicity remains unclear, highlighting the need for new methods.

Cognitive assessment in patients with acute stroke: Exploring early intervention for dementia.

Background: Early detection of cognitive impairment in patients with acute stroke could improve dementia treatment; however, such testing is uncommon. This study aimed to assess cognitive testing feasibility in patients with acute stroke and identify patient characteristics associated with testing ability.

Methods: 291 patients with suspected acute stroke were admitted to our hospital between December 2016 and May 2017.

A case of cardiac amyloidosis presenting stiff left atrial syndrome with severe calcification after first AF ablation.

Unlabelled: Scarring of the left atrial (LA) wall from atrial ablation (AF) leads to the development of stiff LA syndrome. Multiple ablation treatments have been considered to be associated with the development of LA calcification (LAC). We report a case of wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (CA) who presented with worsening heart failure due to stiff LA syndrome despite the condition after initial ablation for AF.

Episodic transient deformation revealed by the analysis of multiple GNSS networks in the Noto Peninsula, central Japan.

Since November 30, 2020, an intense seismic swarm and transient deformation have been continuously observed in the Noto Peninsula, central Japan, which is a non-volcanic/geothermal area far from major plate boundaries. We modeled transient deformation based on a combined analysis of multiple Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observation networks, including one operated by a private sector company (SoftBank Corp.), relocated earthquake hypocenters, and tectonic settings.

Engineering of an electrically charged hydrogel implanted into a traumatic brain injury model for stepwise neuronal tissue reconstruction.

Neural regeneration is extremely difficult to achieve. In traumatic brain injuries, the loss of brain parenchyma volume hinders neural regeneration. In this study, neuronal tissue engineering was performed by using electrically charged hydrogels composed of cationic and anionic monomers in a 1:1 ratio (C1A1 hydrogel), which served as an effective scaffold for the attachment of neural stem cells (NSCs).

Pre-stroke cognitive impairment in acute ischemic stroke patients predicts poor functional outcome after mechanical thrombectomy.

Objective: Several studies have investigated the predictors of functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy (MT). However, it is not clear whether pre-stroke cognitive (PSC) impairment is associated with the functional outcome of patients treated with MT.

Methods: We enrolled 113 patients treated with MT from December 2016 to November 2018.

[The Effect of Patient Age on Anticholinergic Use in the Elderly Japanese Population -Differences between Four Anticholinergic Scales].

We previously reported that anticholinergic (AC) drug use increases with age in the elderly Japanese population. In this analysis, we investigated attribution for each AC drug type to total AC burden using different elderly age groups. Prescription records (from 09/23/2015 to 12/31/2016) for outpatients using any AC were extracted from pharmacy claims (primary source) and hospital-based databases.

Early Cognitive Impairment after Minor Stroke: Associated Factors and Functional Outcome.

Objectives: Evaluation of cognitive status is not performed routinely in the acute stroke setting. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of early cognitive impairment in patients with minor ischemic stroke, analyze the factors associated with early cognitive impairment, and assess functional outcomes.

Methods: In this prospective study, 112 consecutive patients with acute minor ischemic stroke were enrolled.

Early Cognitive Assessment Following Acute Stroke: Feasibility and Comparison between Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Objectives: Cognitive assessment is not performed routinely in the acute stroke setting. We investigated factors associated with cognitive impairment and the differences between the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores in patients with acute stroke.

Methods: In this prospective study, 881 consecutive patients (median age, 73 years) with acute stroke were enrolled.

Drug Utilization Patterns in Patients with Diabetes Initiating Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2i) in Japan: A Multi-Database Study (2014-2017).

Introduction: This study aimed to identify drug utilization patterns in patients initiating sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in the first 3 years of their launch in Japan.

Methods: This was a retrospective study using three administrative databases in Japan: a pharmacy claims database, a hospital-based database, and an insurance claims database. Prescription data were extracted from adult outpatients with diabetes who started SGLT2i between April 2014 and March 2017 to evaluate pre-index and concomitant medications.

Real-World Effectiveness of Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors in Japanese Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: Sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been on the market for 5 years in Japan. We explored the real-world effectiveness of SGLT2i in Japan.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed two large Japanese administrative databases from JMDC Inc.

Function of Prion Protein and the Family Member, Shadoo.

Lowering cellular prion protein (PrPC) levels in the brain is predicted to be a powerful therapeutic strategy for the prion disease. PrPC may act as an antiapoptotic agent by blocking some of the internal environmental factors that initiate apoptosis. Prion protein (PrP)-knockout methods provide powerful indications on the neuroprotective function of PrPC.

Mechanism of subsidence of the Northeast Japan forearc during the late period of a gigantic earthquake cycle.

The forearc in Northeast Japan subsided (3-4 mm/year) in the interseismic ~100 years before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (M9.1) just like it did during this event. This study attempts to understand the mechanism of the vertical displacement of the forearc during gigantic earthquake cycles via numerical modeling.

Characteristics of Patients with Diabetes Initiating Sodium Glucose Co-transporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2i): Real-World Results from Three Administrative Databases in Japan.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of new users of sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in comparison with those of new users of other oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) using data retrieved from three administrative databases in Japan.

Methods: This study included adult patients from each database who started an OAD between 2014 and 2017. Outpatients who started SGLT2i therapy were included in the SGLT2i cohort.

Characteristics of Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Patients Receiving Oral Anticoagulants.

Objective: We investigated the precise clinical and radiologic characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage associated with direct oral anticoagulant use.

Methods: Patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to our department from September 2014 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and neuroradiological characteristics of patients with direct oral anticoagulant-related intracerebral hemorrhage, and effects of prior treatment on the severity at admission and on outcome at discharge were assessed.

Anticholinergic burden in the Japanese elderly population: Use of antimuscarinic medications for overactive bladder patients.

Objectives: To assess anticholinergic use, especially the use of antimuscarinics, in the elderly (aged ≥65 years) Japanese overactive bladder and non-overactive bladder populations.

Methods: Patient records were sourced from a large, nationwide Japanese pharmacy claims database. Anticholinergic use on a random day in 2016 (index date) was investigated through the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale (primary scale), the Anticholinergic Drug Scale, the Anticholinergic Risk Scale and Beers criteria.

Long-term Tumor Control and Late Toxicity in Patients with Prostate Cancer Receiving Hypofractionated (2.2 Gy) Soft-tissue-matched Image-guided Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy.

Aim: We report the long-term tumor control and toxicity outcomes of patients undergoing hypofractionated (2.2 Gy) image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT) using tomotherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: We examined the cases of 138 consecutive patients with stage T1-T3 prostate cancer that were treated with IG-IMRT from June 2007 to July 2009.

Non-neoplastic lesions found only in the two-year bioassays but not in shorter toxicity studies of rats.

International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) has been conducting a prospective evaluation period to validate the criteria for waiving some carcinogenicity studies in rats. Before the waiving strategy is practiced in ICH, it is crucial to elucidate whether non-neoplastic lesions are found only in 2-year rat carcinogenicity studies. To confirm possible importance of 2-year bioassays for evaluating chronic toxicity but not carcinogenicity, we retrospectively surveyed 59 pharmaceuticals approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) from 2007 to 2010 in Japan for non-neoplastic lesions observed in carcinogenicity studies.