Long-Term Effects of Annual Intensive Rehabilitation in Patients with Hereditary Pure Cerebellar Ataxia: A 7-year Follow-up Study.

Although intensive rehabilitation has achieved short-term benefits in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration, long-term outcomes of periodic intervention remain unclear, particularly in patients with pure spinocerebellar ataxia types 6 (SCA6) and 31 (SCA31). To investigate the longitudinal effects of annual intensive rehabilitation on ataxic symptoms and balance function in patients with pure cerebellar type SCA6 and SCA31. Seven patients with genetically confirmed SCA6 or SCA31 participated in annual 4-week intensive rehabilitation programmes.

Inability of α-cyclodextrins to accommodate cholesterol potentially underlies their lack of efficacy and ototoxicity in Niemann-Pick disease type C treatment.

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a life-threatening neurodegenerative disease caused by impaired intracellular cholesterol trafficking. A cyclic heptasaccharide, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), is currently under clinical investigation for treating NPC, but its ototoxicity remains problematic. We previously reported that β- and γ-forms of cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives with various substituents capable of accommodating/solubilizing unesterified cholesterol (UC) exerted more pronounced therapeutic and ototoxic effects when administered intracerebroventricularly than subcutaneously for NPC treatment.

Temporal dynamics of courtship and spawning in medaka under laboratory conditions revealed by 24 h video monitoring.

Understanding the biological phenomena in model organisms typically relies on laboratory studies. However, the ecological validity of these findings is often uncertain when natural behaviors remain understudied. The medaka (Oryzias latipes) is a widely used model in reproductive and behavioral research; however, the timing of spawning in natural settings has rarely been directly observed.

A cytokinin response maximum induces and activates bifacial stem cells for radial growth.

Wood is formed as plants expand in thickness through radial growth, which initiates after apical growth. At the onset of radial growth, dormant procambial cells in the vasculature become active and act as bifacial cambium stem cells, which produce xylem (wood) inward and phloem outward. Cytokinin has been implicated in radial growth initiation; however, its precise mechanisms, especially at the cellular level, remain unclear.

Induction of Male Courtship Behavior by Olfactory Cues Released From Ovulating Female in the Medaka, Oryzias latipes.

Chemical communication between males and females is important for successful reproduction of animals. The activation of male courtship behavior by female olfactory cues has only been demonstrated in a limited number of teleost species. In the present study, we showed that in the model animal medaka, courtship behavior in males are activated by olfactory cues released by females and that at least one of them is released through urine.

Evaluation of an educational program for community pharmacists involved in pharmacotherapy for patients with impaired renal function: a preliminary study.

Background: Inquiries by community pharmacists to physicians regarding prescriptions for patients with impaired renal function are an important part of pharmaceutical care. However, such inquiries remain infrequent in Japan. To address this, we conducted a study to assess the effects of an educational program aimed at improving pharmacists' understanding of renal function assessment and prescription management.

Evolutionary-conserved RLF, a cytochrome b-like heme-binding protein, regulates organ development in Marchantia polymorpha.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, REDUCED LATERAL ROOT FORMATION (RLF), a cytochrome b-like heme-binding domain (Cytb5-HBD) protein, is necessary for proper lateral root (LR) formation. Whereas the other Cytb5-HBD proteins in A. thaliana regulate different metabolic reactions, RLF is unique as it specifically regulates organ development.

Courtship and spawning behaviour of medaka in a semi-outdoor environment initiating at midnight.

Reproductive timing is a critical ecological trait that directly influences fitness. Medaka (Oryzias latipes), a small freshwater fish, is widely used as a model organism in various scientific fields. However, ecological studies conducted under (semi-) natural conditions remain limited.

Coordination and regulation of vascular development in roots.

Vascular tissue is crucial for the transport of substances and physical support in most plants. Vascular development in roots encompasses cell proliferation, pattern formation, cell specification, and differentiation. In the roots, the positions and timing of cell proliferation and the differentiation of xylem and phloem cells are strictly controlled in order to achieve continuous vascular transport.

Variations in Visual Search Behavior Before Freezing of Gait Episodes: A Case Series.

Reports on the relationship between freezing of gait (FoG) and visual search behavior in Parkinsonian syndrome remain limited. This study aimed to examine gaze behavior in three patients with progressive supranuclear palsy during doorway walking trials. Contrary to previous case reports, substantial individual variability was observed in gaze fixation patterns and blink rates during the FoG episodes.

What are the Key Challenges Faced by Spinocerebellar Degeneration and Multiple System Atrophy Patients in Daily Life?: Insights from a Comprehensive Questionnaire Survey in Japan.

Background: Patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) encounter various challenges in daily life due to ataxia and other symptoms. A comprehensive understanding of their diverse needs can improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions.

Objective: This study aims to identify the daily challenges faced by patients with SCD and MSA in Japan, focusing on differences between ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.

Active provisioning of food to host sea anemones by anemonefish.

In mutualistic symbiosis, organisms often provide food to their partners. However, the processes and significance of food provisioning to hosts remain poorly understood. The anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii, which prefers larger hosts, has been suggested to provide food to its host the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor.

Control of plasma membrane-associated actin polymerization specifies the pattern of the cell wall in xylem vessels.

Cell wall patterning is central to determining the shape and function of plant cells. Protoxylem and metaxylem vessel cells deposit banded and pitted cell walls, respectively, which enable their distinctive water transport capabilities. Here, we show that the pitted cell wall pattern in metaxylem vessels is specified by transcriptional control of actin polymerization.

Endoscopic closure using a dedicated device following gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: Multicenter, prospective, observational pilot study.

Background And Study Aims: Development of a simple, optimized closure method for mucosal defects left by gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is warranted. Herein, we developed a novel and dedicated closure device called FLEXLOOP and aimed to assess feasibility and safety of the closure using FLEXLOOP following gastric ESD.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study enrolled patients clinically diagnosed with gastric neoplasms < 30 mm in size.

Medaka (Oryzias latipes) initiate courtship and spawning late at night: Insights from field observations.

Laboratory experiments were conducted using model organisms to elucidate biological phenomena. However, the natural habitats of organisms are inherently more complex than those found in the laboratory. To complement the laboratory experiments, we conducted field observations of the small freshwater fish medaka (Oryzias latipes), widely used as a model organism, to elucidate its ecology and behavior in natural environments.

Aldh2 and the tumor suppressor Trp53 play important roles in alcohol-induced squamous field cancerization.

Background: Field cancerization defined by multiple development of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in upper aerodigestive tract was explained by excessive alcohol intake. A dysfunctional mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2) delays the clearance of acetaldehyde, a genotoxic alcohol metabolite, and increases SCC risks. TP53 plays key roles in squamous carcinogenesis.

Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Evidence of the effectiveness of physiotherapy, including muscle strength training, coordination training, aerobic exercise, cycling regimen, balance training, gait training, and activity of daily living training, in patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia (DCA) was insufficient for clinical decision making. We aimed to explore clinical outcomes and examine the parameters associated with physical impairment and activity in people with DCA based on preregistration (PROSPERO: CRD42024493883).

Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, CHINAL, and PEDro databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Male medaka continue to mate with females despite sperm depletion.

In animals where males engage in multiple matings, sperm depletion can substantially reduce the reproductive success of both sexes. However, little is known about how successive matings affect sperm depletion, fertilization rates and mating behaviour. Here, we investigated this phenomenon under laboratory conditions.

Drug-induced megacolon in schizophrenia: a pharmacovigilance study of antipsychotic medications from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event database: a disproportionality analysis.

Background: Megacolon, characterized by colon dilation due to a nerve plexus disorder, can be fatal if untreated. Antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia have anticholinergic effects that may cause chronic constipation and impaired gastrointestinal motility, potentially leading to megacolon. However, the megacolon risk associated with each antipsychotic drug has not been thoroughly evaluated.

Magnetic assembly of microwires on a flexible substrate for minimally invasive electrophysiological recording.

Understanding the neural system in the brain requires the detection of signals from the tissue. Microscale electrodes enable high spatiotemporal neural recording, whereas traditional microelectrodes cause material and geometry mismatches between the electrode and the tissue, leading to injury and signal loss during recording. In this study, we propose a fabrication technique that uses magnetic force to facilitate assembly of vertical microscale wire-electrodes on a flexible substrate.

Tailored Design of a Nanoporous Structure Suitable for Thick Si Electrodes on a Stiff Oxide-Based Solid Electrolyte.

Oxide-based all-solid-state batteries are ideal next-generation batteries that combine high energy density and high safety, but their realization requires the development of interface bonding technology between the stiff solid electrolyte and electrode. Even if the interface could be bonded, it is difficult to hold the interface, because only the electrode expands/contracts unilaterally during charge/discharge reactions. In particular, silicon (Si), which has eagerly awaited as a next-generation negative-electrode material for many years, changes in volume by several hundred percent.

Association between the High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and the Long-term Prognosis in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-analysis.

Aim: We aimed to determine whether baseline high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) at the time of coronary angiography (CAG) could serve as a prognostic marker for future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: The MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases were used for data collection. As of April 2024, 2,871 studies have been identified.