Genomic sequences of free-living species isolated from seawater using an ethylene-α-olefin co-oligomer as a sole carbon source.

Two free-living species were isolated from surface seawater through enrichment cultures using a model compound of polyolefins as the sole carbon source. We report their complete and draft genomes. Although these genomes lack genes encoding alkane hydroxylases involved in polyolefin degradation, they provide insights into polyolefin-bacteria interactions.

Reconstruction with transiliac-transsacral screws and spinopelvic fixation for combined lumbar and sacral fractures: Two case reports.

We report two cases of combined lumbar vertebral and sacral fractures treated with minimally invasive reconstructive surgery comprising transiliac-transsacral (TITS) screws and spinopelvic fixation (SPF). Case 1 involved a 32-year-old Japanese male patient who fell and sustained multilevel vertebral and sacral fractures with anterior displacement and kyphosis and right pubic fracture. The patient was placed in the supine position and underwent closed reduction in the hyperextended supine position.

Development of universal PCR primers for the environmental DNA metabarcoding of cephalopod (Mollusca) diversity.

Cephalopods play crucial roles in marine ecosystems, acting as both predators and prey for apex predators, thereby contributing to the distribution of energy and nutrients across the food web. Traditional net capture methods are often ineffective for studying cephalopods owing to their wide distribution in marine environments, necessitating the development of simple and efficient surveying techniques to assess cephalopod diversity. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to establish universal polymerase chain reaction primers specifically targeting mitochondrial 16S rRNA genes for environmental DNA metabarcoding in cephalopods.

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic postsurgical pain after lung cancer surgery and knee arthroplasty: a prospective multicenter cohort study in Japan.

Purpose: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is being increasingly recognized as an important clinical problem. The purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of CPSP at 3 months after surgery in a Japanese population.

Methods: Adult patients who underwent lung cancer surgery (L) or knee arthroplasty (K) at university hospitals in Japan and provided informed consent were included.

First northwestern Pacific records of the deep-sea cardinalfish (Teleostei, Epigonidae) from the Daito Islands, Japan.

The deep-sea cardinalfish Gon, 1985, previously known only from the Hawaiian Islands, was observed using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) on steep seafloors surrounding Kitadaito and Minamidaito islands, both being oceanic islands belonging to the Daito Islands, Japan in the northwestern Pacific. A total of 44 hours of ROV observations found sparse populations, each of several individuals, around or within small caves, fissures, and recesses, specifically at depths of 340-588 m within the surveyed depth of 284-1009 m. Seven individuals (36.

Parazoanthidae (Cnidaria, Zoantharia) associated with glass sponges on the Nishi-Shichito Ridge, northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the description of a new species.

Seamounts are biodiversity hotspots that face increasing threats from anthropogenic activities. Seamounts host diverse sessile suspension-feeding organisms such as sponges and anthozoans, which are crucial for seamount ecosystems as they construct three-dimensional habitats utilized by numerous other animals. Therefore, accurate identification of seamount fauna, in particular of sessile suspension-feeding organisms, is of paramount importance for robust conservation efforts.

C-arm Free Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Discectomy: A Technical Note.

This report presents a new unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique for lumbar disc herniation without C-arm guidance. Lumbar disc herniation requires surgical intervention when conservative methods fail. Shifts towards minimally invasive percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, including uniportal and biportal approaches, have been hindered by challenges such as steep learning curves and reliance on radiation-intensive C-arm guidance.

Two new species of the sponge associated axiid shrimp genus Eiconaxius Bate, 1888 (Decapoda: Axiidea) from seamounts in the Nishi-Shichito Ridge, Japan.

Two new species of the axiid shrimp genus Eiconaxius Bate, 1888, are described from seamounts in the Nishi-Shichito Ridge, northwestern Pacific off Japan, during recent cruises of R/V Kaimei of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, exploring the marine protected area (MPA). Eiconaxius latirostrum sp. nov.

Parity-independent Kondo effect of correlated electrons in electrostatically defined ZnO quantum dots.

Quantum devices such as spin qubits have been extensively investigated in electrostatically confined quantum dots using high-quality semiconductor heterostructures like GaAs and Si. Here, we present a demonstration of electrostatically forming the quantum dots in ZnO heterostructures. Through the transport measurement, we uncover the distinctive signature of the Kondo effect independent of the even-odd electron number parity, which contrasts with the typical behavior of the Kondo effect in GaAs.

Catecholamines Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammation through β2 Adrenergic Receptor Activation- and PKA Phosphorylation-Mediated TLR4 Downregulation in Macrophages.

Inflammation is a tightly regulated process involving immune receptor recognition, immune cell migration, inflammatory mediator secretion, and pathogen elimination, all essential for combating infection and restoring damaged tissue. However, excessive inflammatory responses drive various human diseases. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is known to regulate inflammatory responses; however, the detailed mechanisms underlying this regulation remain incompletely understood.

Discovery of deep-sea acoels from a chemosynthesis-based ecosystem.

Chemosynthesis-based ecosystems such as hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps harbour various endemic species, each uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions. While some species rely on obligatory relationships with bacterial symbionts for nutrient uptake, scavengers and predators also play important roles in food web dynamics in these ecosystems. Acoels, members of the phylum Xenacoelomorpha, are simple, worm-like invertebrates found in marine environments worldwide but are scarcely understood taxa.

Retrospective Cohort Study of Early versus Delayed Ballon Kyphoplasty Intervention for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Treatment.

: To investigate the outcomes of early balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) intervention compared with late intervention for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF). : Osteoporotic vertebral fracture can lead to kyphotic deformity, severe back pain, depression, and disturbances in activities of daily living (ADL). Balloon kyphoplasty has been widely utilized to treat symptomatic OVFs and has proven to be a very effective surgical option for this condition.

Redescription and first Japanese seamount record of Stethopristes eos (Zeiformes; Parazenidae).

During a biodiversity survey conducted in 2020, focusing on seamounts located in the southern region of Japan, specifically designated as marine protected areas, a single specimen of Stethopristes eos Gilbert, 1905 measuring 124.2 mm in standard length was obtained via the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The collection occurred at a depth of 519 meters on the Ritto Seamount, located along the western Mariana Ridge.

Rapid, contamination-less, and efficient environmental DNA filtration system.

Due to the sporadic distribution and trace amount of environmental DNA (eDNA) in deep-sea water, in the context of biodiversity monitoring, large volumes of filtration and multiple filtration replicates are required for eDNA metabarcoding. To address issues tied to the use of multiple filtration devices and large filtration volumes (e.g.

Is Proximal Triangular Fixation Better than the Conventional Method in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery?

In adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, one of the key factors working to prevent proximal junctional kyphosis is the proximal anchor. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of triangular fixation with conventional fixation as proximal anchoring techniques in ASD surgery. We retrospectively evaluated 54 patients who underwent corrective spinal fusion for ASD.

Procedural characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing drug-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo lesions in large coronary arteries: an observational study.

Limited data exist regarding drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment in de novo large coronary arteries. We sought to demonstrate procedural characteristics, residual stenosis, and clinical outcomes following DCB angioplasty for de novo lesions in large versus small coronary arteries. The study included 184 consecutive patients with 223 de novo coronary lesions undergoing paclitaxel DCB angioplasty between January 2019 and August 2020, who were divided according to whether the DCB diameter was ≥ 3.

New Spinal Shortening Technique for Tethered Cord Syndrome: A Technical Note.

: To present a new spinal shortening technique for tethered cord syndrome. Tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is a debilitating condition leading to progressive neurological decline. Surgical detethering for TCS is the gold standard of treatment.

New record of two species of munidid squat lobster (Decapoda: Anomura) from the North-West Pacific off Japan.

Two species of munidid squat lobsters are newly reported from the North-West Pacific off Japan based on material collected by the recent cruise of R/V Kaimei (KM20-10C cruise) of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, exploring seamounts in the marine protected area (MPA): Gonionida kaimei n. sp. and Trapezionida psylla (Macpherson, 1994).

Our C-Arm-Free Minimally Invasive Technique for Spinal Surgery: The Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Spine-Based on Our Experiences.

: The implementation of intraoperative imaging in the procedures performed under the guidance of the same finds its history dating back to the early 1990s. This practice was abandoned due to many deficits and practicality. Later, fluoroscopy-dependent techniques were developed and have been used even in the present time, albeit with several disadvantages.

A C-Arm-Free Minimally Invasive Technique for Spinal Surgery: Cervical and Thoracic Spine.

: C-arm-free MIS techniques can offer significantly reduced rates of postoperative complications such as inadequate decompression, blood loss, and instrumentation misplacement. Another advantageous long-term aspect is the notably diminished exposure to radiation, which is known to cause malignant changes. This study emphasizes that, in some cases of spinal conditions that require a procedural intervention, C-arm-free MIS techniques hold stronger indications than open surgeries guided by image intensifiers.

Minimal Clinically Important Differences in Gait and Balance Ability in Patients Who Underwent Corrective Long Spinal Fusion for Adult Spinal Deformity.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Background: The risk of a femoral neck fracture due to a fall after adult spinal deformity surgery has been reported. One of the most significant factors among walking and balance tests in post-operative ASD patients was the timed up-and-go test (TUG).

Impact of prolonged drug-coated balloon inflation on residual stenosis and clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease patients: A propensity score matched analysis.

Background: There is a paucity of data regarding the optimal duration of drug-coated balloon (DCB) inflation for coronary lesions. We sought to explore the effect of DCB angioplasty with versus without long inflation time on residual stenosis and clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: This study included 314 consecutive patients with 445 lesions undergoing paclitaxel DCB angioplasty using different inflation time, divided according to whether the total inflation time of the DCB was ≥180 s (prolonged group) or <180 s (standard group).

Lateral access minimally invasive spine surgery in adult spinal deformity.

Background: Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and percutaneous posterior approach for screw fixation (PPS) is the latest minimal invasive treatment for spinal deformity in adult patients (ASD). This study aims to design and highlight key points for ASD correction.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients who had undergone OLIF with PPS for ASD from October 2019 to January 2022 (average 71.

Comparison of the Effects of Desflurane and Sevoflurane on Variations in Salivary Melatonin and Sleep Disturbance After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Single-center, Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Open-label Study.

Purpose: Anesthesia has been shown to disrupt the circadian rhythm. Recovery of the circadian rhythm after general anesthesia might help alleviate symptoms of insomnia and postoperative delirium. We hypothesized that recovery of the circadian rhythm is faster after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with desflurane than with sevoflurane.