Cardiovascular Effects of Sucrose in Experimental Animals and Humans.

Sucrose, a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, is one of the most widely consumed dietary sugars. The recent global rise in sugar intake is a growing concern regarding its potential contribution to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. While the metabolic effects of glucose and fructose have been extensively studied individually, the impact of sucrose on cardiovascular health remains an evolving area of research.

Cisplatin-induced genetic alterations in KEAP1 promote therapeutic resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Cisplatin (CDDP) resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The KEAP1-NRF2 system, a central regulator of cellular redox homeostasis, is frequently altered in cancer, but its contribution to acquired CDDP resistance in HNSCC remains to be clarified. To address this, we investigated NRF2 activation in CDDP resistance using seven parental (P) HNSCC cell lines and their CDDP-resistant (CR) derivatives.

The renin-angiotensin system in models of pulmonary arterial hypertension vs primary hypertension.

Animal models of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) demonstrate up-regulation of the renin angiotensin system. However, no clinical data are available to support the efficacy of angiotensin II inhibition in treatment for PAH. In this mini review, we will update the knowledge regarding regulation of the RAS system in PAH compared to primary hypertension in order to seek better treatments against PAH.

Body composition and absenteeism risk among employees.

Background & Aims: Presenteeism, defined as reduced work performance owing to illness or symptoms, and absenteeism, defined as absence from work owing to illness or injury, pose significant challenges to worker productivity. This study aimed to examine the association between the risk of absenteeism and body composition, including skeletal muscle mass index and fat mass index (FMI), among employees.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 55 employees from four companies between May and July 2024.

The Metazoan SpoT Homolog 1 promotes ferroptosis by regulating the intracellular redox cycle and iron levels in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, is a potential target for cancer therapy. Metazoan SpoT Homolog 1 (MESH1) possesses intracellular NADPH phosphatase activity, which has been linked to ferroptosis. However, the molecular effects on the ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear.

Expression of Signal Regulatory Protein Alpha in Tumor Cells is the Key Factor in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) has recently garnered attention for its role in the immune system, commonly referred to as the "don't eat me" signal. However, the relationship between SIRPα expression in tumor cells and prognosis in patients undergoing hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has been scarcely reported.

Patients And Methods: A total of 117 patients who underwent hepatectomy for ICC were enrolled in this study.

Development of the Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System for Japanese Meals.

Introduction: Nutrient profiling (NP) is a method used to classify or score foods based on their nutritional content and impact on human health. The Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System (ANPS) was previously developed to evaluate the nutritional value of cooked dishes consumed in Japan. This study aimed to develop a novel NP model, named the Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System for Japanese Meals (ANPS-Meal), to evaluate meals.

Muscle mass at admission and increased muscle mass during hospitalization as predictors for improved walking function in patients with stroke.

Background & Aims: The muscle mass at hospital admission that contributes the most to improved walking ability and the muscle mass to focus on during hospitalization have not yet been fully investigated. This study examined the effects of site-specific muscle mass measurements at admission and their increase during hospitalization on walking ability (walking independence and walking speed) of patients with cerebral infarction at discharge from the hospital.

Methods: This study included patients with cerebral infarction aged ≥65 years.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived stellate cells promote proliferation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway via hepatocyte growth factor.

Purpose: Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the potential to differentiate into cells of various organs. Hepatocytes derived from iPSCs (i-Heps) have attracted much attention as an alternative treatment for liver transplantation in patients with liver failure. However, it is challenging to create sufficient i-Heps for clinical treatment, highlighting the need to develop an easier and more efficient culture method.

Differences in Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Counts in the Peritumoral Area in Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection After Lenvatinib and Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Aim: With advances in systemic therapy, the number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who can undergo hepatic resection has increased in recent years, but there are no reports evaluating the immune status in the peritumoral area.

Methods: We enrolled 14 patients who underwent hepatic resection after lenvatinib (LEN, n = 7) or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ/BEV, n = 5) therapy. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including CD3+ and CD8+ TILs, in the peritumoral area were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.

Deep learning-based analysis of 12-lead electrocardiograms in school-age children: a proof of concept study.

Introduction: The diagnostic performance of automated analysis of electrocardiograms for screening children with pediatric heart diseases at risk of sudden cardiac death is unknown. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a deep learning-based model for automated analysis of ECGs in children.

Methods: Wave data of 12-lead electrocardiograms were transformed into a tensor sizing 2 × 12 × 400 using signal processing methods.

[Communicating the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis].

When explaining amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, family members, caregivers, and other professionals are encouraged to be present with the patient's consent. Patients' perceptions vary considerably depending on their condition, personality, and home environment; therefore, the content of the explanation should be carefully considered. If the patient did not fully understand or provide consent to participate, the explanation was repeated.

Targeted labeling and depletion of alveolar macrophages using VeDTR mouse technology.

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are essential for maintaining lung homeostasis. However, their roles in respiratory infections have been controversial because the methods of depleting them have often suffered from poor cell selectivity. To resolve this problem, we here used VeDTR technology to generate a transgenic mouse line in which AMs can be specifically depleted using diphtheria toxin.

Patients' choices regarding ventilatory support affect opioid use in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: To investigate the impact of different ventilatory support options on opioid use among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 889 consecutive patients with ALS and enrolled 399 eligible patients. All patients were followed until death or tracheostomy.

Glucose transporter 1 in vascular smooth muscle cells is dispensable for abdominal aortic aneurysm induced by angiotensin II.

Treatment with an inhibitor of glucose use via glucose transporters (GLUT) has been shown to attenuate experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development in mice. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) signaling seems to be essential for angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced AAA in mice. Accordingly, we have tested a hypothesis that VSMC silencing of the major GLUT, GLUT1, prevents AAA development and rupture in mice treated with Ang II plus β-aminopropionitrile.

Ferroelasticity and Canted Antiferromagnetism in Two-Dimensional Organic-Inorganic Layered Perovskite [CH(CH)NH]FeCl.

Two-dimensional organic-inorganic perovskites have been attracted as candidates for multiferroic materials that exhibit two or more ferroic orders such as ferromagnetism, ferroelectricity, ferroelasticity, and ferrotoroidicity. Here, we introduce the structure, ferroelastic domains and magnetic properties of the two-dimensional organic-inorganic perovskite [CH(CH)NH]FeCl (CHEA-Fe) composed of 2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylammonium and FeCl . CHEA-Fe underwent two ferroelastic phase transitions from tetragonal to orthorhombic at 332 K and to monoclinic at 232 K with decreasing temperature and exhibited ferroelastic domains under polarized light as a consequence of these ferroelastic phase transitions.

Toxoplasma GRA15 expression on dendritic cells inhibits B cell differentiation and antibody production.

One of the dense granule proteins named GRA15 in Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is known to support an innate immune response in host through activation of NF-κB. However, little is known about advantages of GRA15 for parasites.

An autopsy report of a long-survival case of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with SOD1 G93S gene mutation: Lack of SOD1-positive inclusion in the remaining neurons.

We describe the case of a 70-year-old Japanese man with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) associated with a p.Gly93Ser mutation in the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. This mutation is one of the relatively rare SOD1 mutations, with only one previous autopsy report, and is known for its longer disease duration.

Novel protocol for prevention from hepatitis B reactivation following living-donor liver transplantation.

Aim: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) after liver transplantation (LT) remains a problem; thus, development of more effective HBV reactivation prophylaxis is desirable. We evaluated the efficacy of a combination of a long-term nucleotide analog (NA), such as entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), and short-term hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in preventing HBV reactivation and compared it with conventional HBV prophylaxis.

Methods: Between February 1999 and August 2023, 135 patients underwent living-donor liver transplantation for liver cirrhosis or acute liver failure caused by HBV infection or received an LT from a hepatitis B core antibody-positive donor.

The impact of perioperative synbiotics treatment in living-donor liver transplantation after induction of early enteral nutrition.

Purpose: Infectious complications, particularly post-transplant sepsis, have a critical impact on postoperative outcomes. This study examined the effects of perioperative synbiotic treatment on postoperative outcomes in patients receiving early enteral nutrition.

Methods: We reviewed 210 living-donor liver transplantation procedures and retrospectively analyzed the postoperative outcomes with and without perioperative synbiotic treatment (live lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, and oligosaccharides) 5 days before and after living-donor liver transplantation.

Fluorescence Microscopy and Immunoblotting for Mitophagy in Budding Yeast.

Selective removal of excess or damaged mitochondria is an evolutionarily conserved process that contributes to mitochondrial quality and quantity control. This catabolic event relies on autophagy, a membrane trafficking system that sequesters cytoplasmic constituents into double membrane-bound autophagosomes and delivers them to lysosomes (vacuoles in yeast) for hydrolytic degradation and is thus termed mitophagy. Dysregulation of mitophagy is associated with various diseases, highlighting its physiological relevance.