Co-ingesting whey protein with dual-source carbohydrate enhances amino acid availability without compromising post-exercise liver glycogen resynthesis.

We examined the effects of ingesting maltodextrin and/or fructose with protein co-ingestion on post-exercise liver and muscle glycogen resynthesis. Following glycogen-depleting exercise, 10 well-trained male cyclists ingested 60 g h carbohydrate from either maltodextrin (MAL), fructose (FRU), 1:1 ratio of maltodextrin + fructose (MF) or 1:1 ratio of maltodextrin + fructose plus 30 g whey protein at 0 and 180 min (PRO) during a 5 h recovery period. C magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging were performed at 0, 120 and 300 min following exercise to determine liver and muscle glycogen concentrations and liver volume.

Investigation of contamination and environmental exposure of cold/heated water supply systems for extracorporeal circulation used in ECMO and other applications.

Infection cases have been reported where Legionella spp. and NTM (non-tuberculous mycobacteria) increased due to the contamination of circulating water in cold/heated water supply systems for extracorporeal circulation used in cardiac surgery and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) for blood temperature regulation. The contaminated circulating water became aerosolized and may have been a source of infection.

Recent advances in dual response molecular probes for biothiols.

The detection of biothiols such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH) are critical for understanding their roles in biology and their involvement in various physiological and pathological processes. Recently, significant progress has been made in constructing fluorescent probes capable of detecting and visualizing biothiols. This review provides an in-depth look at the latest advancements in simultaneous and selective molecular probes, focusing on developments over the last 5 years.

Clinical Value of the Symptom-Reflux Association on Secondary Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Abnormal Acid Reflux.

Introduction: Multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring (MII-pH) is the gold standard for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the clinical value of the symptom-reflux association (SRA) obtained using MII-pH remains unknown. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of SRA on the efficacy of secondary treatment in refractory true GERD.

Impact of tablet-induced electromagnetic interference on abdominal cardiac devices: A study based on simulated patients.

Background: Electromagnetic interference (EMI) between tablet computers (tablets) and cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in the abdomen of adults remains unclear.

Methods: We aimed to determine the magnetic flux density (MFD) of tablets, measure the distance at which EMI was triggered, and assess the susceptibility of abdominally implanted CIEDs to EMI.

Results: We studied 17 tablets and 2 CIED models.

MRI-Based Evaluation Improves the Validity of Rodent Nerve Regeneration Studies.

Rodent models are commonly used in preclinical studies on bioengineered conduits to induce nerve regeneration, but they often fail to predict human outcomes accurately. It is suspected that conventional evaluation methods, such as evoked electromyography and motor function assessments, are prone to errors and biases, which can lead to misleading conclusions. In this study, the limitations of conventional evaluation methods are highlighted by using muscle MRI to characterize pathophysiological changes in a rodent nerve injury model.

Attribute based cross classification analyses from the BRIGHTEN study reveal that therapeutic responsiveness to erythropoiesis stimulating agents predicts cardiorenal prognosis in renal anemia.

Renal anemia outcomes are influenced by sex and age; however, current guidelines for renal anemia lack sex- or age-specific standards for initiating treatment. Recently, the concept of attribute-based medicine has gained attention, with an emphasis on personalized approaches based on patient characteristics. As prognostic factors for renal and cardiovascular outcomes may vary between men and women, as well as between younger and older patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), we aimed to investigate anemia treatment-related indicators influencing kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events across four age and sex attributes (cross-classified by sex and age < or ≥ 65 years).

Association between nutritional intake and 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background & Aims: The relationship between energy intake and the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for aortic stenosis is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of energy intake before hospital discharge on the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing TAVI.

Methods: This single-centre retrospective observational study included patients who underwent TAVI for aortic stenosis.

Impact of magnetic fields from tablets, laptops, smartphones, and household/leisure magnets on cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) activate the magnet response at a magnetic flux density of ≥10 gauss (G), which may cause unintended pacing, leading to discomfort or even severe arrhythmias. Information processing devices have recently incorporated magnets, which may activate the magnet mode in patients with abdominally implanted devices, subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), or extravascular ICDs.

Methods: We investigated the effects of the magnetic fields generated by information processing devices (tablets, laptops, and smartphones) and household/leisure magnets on 13 models of CIEDs, analyzing their association with magnet mode activation in different manufacturers' CIEDs.

Visual Evoked Potential Monitoring in Long-term Anesthesia Maintenance and Challenging Environments for Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment: A Technical Case Report.

The monitoring of intraoperative optic nerve protection using visual evoked potential has been increasingly used in neurosurgical procedures. Although visual evoked potential is a valuable tool, its application is often hindered by anesthetic limitations and challenges related to measurement and recording environments. This case study indicates the successful use of visual evoked potential monitoring during long-term anesthesia maintenance and in artifact-prone environments for the treatment of a ruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation.

New Findings on Pulsatile ECMO: Verification of the Potential to Improve Antithrombogenicity of a Membrane Oxygenator Using Pump-Generated Pulsatile Flow in an Innovative Animal Model.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides mechanical circulatory and respiratory support. However, thrombus formation in the circuit can lead to hemorrhagic complications, requiring improvements in ECMO anti-thrombogenicity. Few studies have reported the effect of pulsatile flow on thrombus formation in ECMO circuits.

Investigation of Oral Health Awareness and Associated Factors Among Japanese University Students: Analyzing Behaviors Influencing Lifelong Oral Health Promotion.

: University students' awareness of oral health plays an important role in lifelong health promotion. However, the factors influencing this awareness among Japanese university students are not fully understood. This study aimed to comprehensively examine and analyze Japanese university students' perceptions of their oral health status, self-reported oral symptoms, and oral health-related behaviors.

Standardisation and Optimisation of Chest and Pelvis X-Ray Imaging Protocols Across Multiple Radiography Systems in a Radiology Department.

X-ray imaging protocols in radiology departments often exhibit variability in exposure parameters and geometric setups, leading to inconsistencies in image quality and potential variations in patient dose. : This study aimed to harmonise and optimise chest and pelvis X-ray imaging protocols by standardising exposure parameters and geometric setups across departmental systems, minimising radiation dose while ensuring adequate image quality for accurate diagnosis. : The image quality of five pelvic and three chest protocols across different radiographic systems was evaluated both quantitatively and visually.

The Impact of Radioiodine (131I) Therapy of Thyroid Disease on Salivary Glands Function and Inflammation: A Comprehensive Review.

Radioactive iodine therapy has been a well-established treatment for various thyroid conditions since the 1940s, targeting both benign diseases and malignancies. Treatment for benign conditions typically involves low doses of 131I, often requiring no more than two treatments, with the dose either fixed or personalized based on thyroid tissue mass and iodine uptake. In contrast, differentiated thyroid cancer treatment often requires higher doses and multiple administrations, especially for metastatic cases.

Application of ergosterol as a maitake mushroom intake biomarker.

BackgroundDyslipidemia is a lifestyle-related disease; therefore, cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors in foods can be easily ingested on a daily basis and are effective in aiding treatment and prevention. To assess the impact of this diet on health, it is of the essential thing that food intake can be properly measured, and it is important to find biomarkers of food intake. Previously, we reported that ergosterol, which is present in mushrooms, inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis.

Determining Accurate Pore Structures of Polypropylene Membrane for ECMO Using FE-SEM Under Optimized Conditions.

Long-term ECMOs are expected to be put into practical use in order to prepare for the next emerging severe infectious diseases after the novel coronavirus pandemic in 2019-2023. While polypropylene (PP) and polymethylpentene (PMP) are currently the mainstream materials for the hollow fiber membranes of ECMO, the PP membrane coated with a silicone layer on the outer surface has also been commercialized. In this study, we sought a method to accurately observe the detailed pore morphologies of the PP membrane by suppressing irreversible changes in the morphology in SEM observation, which is a general-purpose observation with higher resolution.

A Sudden Increase in Intrathoracic Pressure After Fibrin Glue Application During A Pediatric Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Case Report.

This case report describes an infant with congenital esophageal atresia who underwent thoracoscopic surgery and experienced a tension pneumothorax following the application of a fibrin glue product spray, resulting in critical hemodynamic deterioration close to circulatory arrest due to sudden and extreme elevation of intrathoracic pressure. Prompt action and adequate instruction to the surgeon by the clinical engineer in charge to reduce thoracic pressure facilitated a quick recovery from this critical hemodynamic situation. It is essential to understand the structure of the insufflation unit and manage accidental increases in closed cavity pressure during thoracoscopic or laparoscopic surgery.

Robotic Surgery for Sigmoid Colon Cancer in a Patient With Severe Obesity and Protocol Proposal of Preoperative Weight Reduction Program.

Surgical procedures in patients with severe obesity are associated with an increased risk of complications. Preoperative weight reduction is recommended. We report a case of robotic-assisted sigmoidectomy in a patient with severe obesity (obesity class III: WHO classification) and sigmoid colon cancer after preoperative management based on the previously reported protocol.

Quantification of liver fat fraction using T1-weighted mDixon MRI in young patients with ataxia telangiectasia undergoing whole-body MRI: an exploratory study.

Background: Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an inherited multiorgan disorder with onset in childhood. Liver involvement, with steatosis and subsequent fibrosis, is increasingly recognized in children and young people with A-T.

Purpose: To evaluate feasibility of T1-weighted two-point mDixon MRI for identification of liver steatosis in children with A-T and conduct exploratory analysis of relationships between MRI-quantified liver fat fraction and clinical and laboratory measures.

Anion-Mediated Synthesis of Diethynyl-Substituted Doubly N-Confused Dioxohexaphyrin Dyes That Exhibit Enhanced Photoacoustic Signals in the NIR-II Region.

We herein report the anion-mediated synthesis of diethynyl-substituted doubly N-confused dioxohexaphyrins with hydrogen sulfate anions in an acid condensation of the tripyrrane and silyl-protected propiolaldehyde and subsequent oxidation in a one-pot fashion. Further, functionalization through silyl deprotection and Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction yielded the anisotropically π-extended derivative along a longer molecular axis. The modified hexaphyrin dye exhibited an intense S → S transition at around 1100 nm in the near-infrared-II region and enhanced photoacoustic signal intensity suitable for high-resolution imaging applications.

Early retinal electrophysiology changes in quinine overdose.

Purpose: To report the early and subsequent electrophysiological findings of 2 patients following quinine overdose.

Methods: Serial assessments including: Medical history, visual acuity (VA), fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) and full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) were performed on 2 patients, between 2 and 47 days after quinine overdose.

Results: Both patients experienced a similar clinical course.

Efficacy of tenapanor in managing hyperphosphatemia and constipation in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Tenapanor is a minimally absorbed, small-molecule inhibitor of sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 and thus suppresses sodium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. It is approved by the FDA for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients. This randomized controlled trial evaluated its efficacy in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia and constipation in hemodialysis patients.

Moist Wound Healing and Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics Cream for Clean Buttonhole Cannulation: An Infection Reduction Strategy.

Background: The buttonhole cannulation technique is recognized for its advantages in hemodialysis, including reduced cannulation errors, decreased pain, and prevention of hematoma formation. However, it has been criticized for possibly increasing the risk of local and systemic infections, including sepsis and death. Prior studies have shown the infection risks associated with the buttonhole technique compared with the rope ladder technique, but the role of scab removal methods at the puncture site has been overlooked.

Quantitative Evaluation of Image Quality and Radiation Dose Using Novel Intelligent Noise Reduction (INR) Software in Chest Radiography: A Phantom Study.

This study quantitatively evaluates the novel Intelligent Noise Reduction (INR) software NE 3.10.0.