Sex based profiles in serum and urine levels of major VEGF-A isoforms, VEGF-A and VEGF-A.

Background: Sex differences significantly affect many laboratory test results. However, sex differences in the serum and urine levels of the major vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) isoforms, VEGF-A and VEGF-A, remain unclear. This study aimed to assess these sex-based profiles using a newly developed assay system.

Evaluation of serum samples in long cryopreservation for SomaScan proteomics and sex differences in elderly Japanese adults.

Many biobanks store biological samples and use them for various analyses, including proteomics. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the denaturation of target proteins during long-term storage. We analyzed 16-year-old cryopreserved serum samples using the SomaScan platform, a novel proteomic assay, to determine whether adiponectin and resistin concentrations were consistent with those measured in our previous studies using a different platform.

Associations among smoking, sleep quality, and decline in Mini-Mental State Examination scores based on health check-up data in Japan: a case-control study.

The number of individuals with age-related mild cognitive impairment and subsequent dementia has inevitably increased with the rise in population aging. It is important to maintain cognitive function or decelerate declines in cognitive function. However, the evidence on lifestyle-based factors associated with this decline is lacking.

[A Case of Bilateral Metachronous Breast Cancer with BRCA2 Genetic Mutation Discovered following Intramammary Hematoma Caused by Trauma].

The patient was a 56-year-old woman. At the age of 41, she underwent partial mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy for right breast cancer. At the age of 55, she fell and bruised her left chest.

Status of Community Pharmacy Functions and Regional Medical Collaboration System Initiatives in Japan.

With the increase in life expectancy in Japan, the proportion of older adults requiring medical assistance continues to increase. Hence, the Japanese government proposed the establishment of a community-based integrated care system, aimed at ensuring housing, medical care, long-term care, prevention, and lifestyle support in a comprehensive manner by 2025. To achieve this paradigm shift, pharmacies must collaborate with their respective medical providers.

A case of renal hypouricemia due to T217M mutation in SLC22A12 incidentally associated with IgA nephropathy.

A T217M heterozygous mutation in the SLC22A12 gene caused renal hypouricemia; this patient with IgA nephropathy had no findings other than IgA nephropathy on renal biopsy. Hypouricemia was susceptible to oxidative stress, but IgA nephropathy in the patient with hypouricemia could be treated with steroid pulse therapy without adverse events.

[A Case of a Malignant Phyllodes Tumor of the Breast with Osteogenic Sarcoma Which Repeated Local Recurrence].

The patient is a 39-year-old woman. At the age of 34, she recognized a 22 mm sized mass in the upper outer quadrant of her right breast, which was diagnosed as a fibroadenoma. 5 years later, the mass increased to 45 mm.

Detecting Comparative Features of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment through the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Linkage: A Web-Based Survey.

Multidimensional assessments are important in evaluating the overall health of older adults. The comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a representative framework; however, the burden associated with the CGA has led to the development of simplified multidimensional tools. Comparing these tools to the CGA can help utilize them effectively.

Evaluation of ABCG2-mediated extra-renal urate excretion in hemodialysis patients.

Two-thirds of urate is excreted via the renal pathway and the remaining one-third via the extra-renal pathway, the latter mainly via the intestine in healthy individuals. ABCG2, a urate exporter, is expressed in various tissues including the kidney and intestine, and its dysfunction leads to hyperuricemia and gout. ABCG2 is regarded as being responsible for most of the extra-renal urate excretion.

Prevalence of anatomic variants in coronary arteries of Japanese Black cattle.

Coronary artery anomalies that can cause sudden cardiac death have been described in some mammals. However, few studies have investigated coronary anomalies and coronary artery branching patterns in cattle. Therefore, understanding of bovine coronary arteries is incomplete.

Protective effects of probiotics against tannin-induced immunosuppression in broiler chickens.

Tannins (TAs) are an anti-nutritional substance commonly used as a natural feed additive for livestock. However, our previous study described the dose-dependent adverse effects of TA on immune responses and growth in chickens. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of a probiotic preparation (BT) consisting of three different bacteria ( and ) against TA-induced immunosuppression in chickens.

Analysis of Purine Metabolism to Elucidate the Pathogenesis of Acute Kidney Injury in Renal Hypouricemia.

Renal hypouricemia is a disease caused by the dysfunction of renal urate transporters. This disease is known to cause exercise-induced acute kidney injury, but its mechanism has not yet been established. To analyze the mechanism by which hypouricemia causes renal failure, we conducted a semi-ischemic forearm exercise stress test to mimic exercise conditions in five healthy subjects, six patients with renal hypouricemia, and one patient with xanthinuria and analyzed the changes in purine metabolites.

Studies on the immune status of calves with chronic inflammation and thymus atrophy.

The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ where the primary T cell repertoire is generated. Thymus atrophy is induced by various conditions, including infectious diseases, glucocorticoid treatment, and poor breeding management. Cattle with thymus atrophy tend to exhibit weak calf syndrome, a condition in which approximately half of neonates die shortly after birth.

Renal hypouricemia in a recipient of living-donor kidney transplantation: a case report and literature review.

Hypouricemia in kidney transplant (KT) recipients is rare since they usually have subnormal kidney function which raises serum uric acid level. Recently, interests in pathogenesis of hypouricemia have been increasing due to the understanding of the role of uric acid transporter in renal hypouricemia (RHUC). We herein report the case of RHUC consequently developed in a KT recipient from a living donor with RHUC diagnosed by the detailed urinary and genetic test.

DELLA degradation by gibberellin promotes flowering via GAF1-TPR-dependent repression of floral repressors in Arabidopsis.

Flowering is the developmental transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (SOC1), and LEAFY (LFY) are floral integrators. These genes are repressed by several floral repressors including EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3), SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP), TEMPRANILLO1 (TEM1), and TEM2.

Developing a nursing protocol for the remote verification of an expected death.

Background: Homecare nurses play an important role in end-of-life care. A protocol is needed for the remote verification of expected deaths using information and communication technologies (ICT), that is consistent with Japanese guidelines.

Aim: To clarify the processes that nurses use to verify deaths and to develop a tentative nursing protocol for verifying expected deaths, using home-based ICT.

Single Cell Array Enclosed with a Photodegradable Hydrogel in Microwells for Image-Based Cell Classification and Selective Photorelease of Cells.

Single cell arrays provide an accurate classification of analyte cells through an image-based analysis of cellular phenotypes. Light-guided cell retrieval from a single cell array is a promising approach for the rapid and simple sorting of difficult to distinguish cells. In this study, we developed a single cell array enclosed with a photodegradable hydrogel in microwells to enable both comprehensive image-based single cell analysis and light-guided cell retrieval.

Reproductive cycle and maturation of Swinhoe's tree lizard (Diploderma swinhonis (Günther, 1864)) in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

Swinhoe's tree lizard (Diploderma swinhonis) is an arboreal agamid that is native to Taiwan. The species has been introduced to some areas of Japan and is regarded as an invasive alien species. In 2016, a nonnative population of D.

Dysfunctional ABCG2 gene polymorphisms are associated with serum uric acid levels and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Dysfunctional variants of ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), a urate transporter in the kidney and intestine, are the major causes of hyperuricemia and gout. A recent study found that ABCG2 is a major transporter of uremic toxins; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between ABCG2 gene polymorphisms and mortality. This prospective cohort study of 1214 hemodialysis patients investigated the association between serum uric acid levels and ABCG2 genotype and mortality.

Different doses of tannin reflect a double-edged impact on broiler chicken immunity.

Tannin is one of the most common phytochemical secondary phenolic metabolites, which is widely distributed in various plant production systems. Dietary intake of tannin can exert different actions on the immune system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different concentrations on broiler chicken immunity.

Effect of maternal supplementation with seaweed powder on immune status of liver and lymphoid organs of piglets.

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of maternal supplementation with seaweed powder (SWP) on the immune status of piglets. Sows were supplementary fed SWP from 85-days of gestation until delactation. Forty-days old piglets were euthanized and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed.