Brain-wide activation and deactivation maps during smooth and saccadic tracking in humans.

This study aimed to identify brain activity modulations associated with different types of visual tracking using advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques developed by the Human Connectome Project (HCP) consortium. Magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 27 healthy volunteers using a 3-T scanner. During a single run, participants either fixated on a stationary visual target (fixation block) or tracked a smoothly moving or jumping target (smooth or saccadic tracking blocks), alternating across blocks.

Influence of Cooking Methods on Phenolic Compounds and their Activities in Pea Shoots (Pisum sativum).

Pea shoots (Pisum sativum) are well known to have nutritional benefits when consumed raw; however, the effects of home cooking on their bioactive compounds remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated how different cooking methods affect the antioxidant activity and stability of antioxidants. Our evaluation revealed that antioxidant activity is preserved by steaming but significantly reduced by microwaving and boiling, which also causes weight loss during cooking.

Global challenges in diabetes research and care: which way forward? An appraisal from the EASD Global Council.

This review article, developed by the EASD Global Council, addresses the growing global challenges in diabetes research and care, highlighting the rising prevalence of diabetes, the increasing complexity of its management and the need for a coordinated international response. With regard to research, disparities in funding and infrastructure between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are discussed. The under-representation of LMIC populations in clinical trials, challenges in conducting large-scale research projects, and the ethical and legal complexities of artificial intelligence integration are also considered as specific issues.

Mitochondrial transfer from adipose-derived regenerative cells contributes therapeutic angiogenesis in a murine hindlimb ischemia model.

Objective: Adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) are promising cell sources for damaged tissue regeneration. The efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis with ADRC implantation in patients with critical limb ischemia has been demonstrated in clinical studies. There are several possible mechanisms in this process such as cytokines and microRNA.

Minimally invasive and standardized thoracoscopic surgery for stage III empyema using a variable-view rigid endoscope.

Thoracoscopic surgery for stage III acute empyema is often limited by poor visualization and anatomical complexity. We developed a standardized, minimally invasive approach using a variable-view rigid endoscope and fixed port placement, regardless of disease extent or patient physique. The variable-view endoscope enabled a wide, adjustable field of view without moving the camera shaft, allowing safe access even in the confined thoracic space.

Indirect treatment comparison of two pulsed field ablation systems for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation is beneficial in patients with symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF), and pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a promising energy source to safely and durably create ablation lesions. However, catheter-specific "PFA waveforms and designs" result in effectiveness and safety profiles that are not transferable to other PFA technologies. A head-to-head comparison between the dual-energy, wide-footprint lattice-tip (Sphere-9, Medtronic) and pentaspline PFA catheter (Farawave, Boston Scientific) is not yet available.

Clinical evaluation of motion robust reconstruction using deep learning in lung CT.

In lung CT imaging, motion artifacts caused by cardiac motion and respiration are common. Recently, CLEAR Motion, a deep learning-based reconstruction method that applies motion correction technology, has been developed. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the clinical usefulness of CLEAR Motion.

Sodium orthovanadate alleviates lethal effect of total-body irradiation in mice without impairing recovery of male reproductive function.

Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate), a potent inhibitor of p53, has been shown in earlier work to alleviate total-body irradiation (TBI)-induced hematopoietic syndrome. However, as p53 plays a crucial role in normal spermatogenesis, its suppression may raise concerns about potential adverse effects on male reproductive function. In this study, we investigated whether vanadate exacerbates impairment of male fertility when administered for hematopoietic protection under TBI conditions.

Simple scoring model for predicting overt hepatic encephalopathy in geriatric cirrhosis: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Identifying the risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) in geriatric patients with cirrhosis remains challenging. This study aimed to investigate the independent factors for OHE development in geriatric cirrhosis and to establish a simple scoring model to identify individuals at risk for OHE. We conducted a retrospective review of geriatric patients with cirrhosis aged ≥ 80 years who were admitted between April 2006 and November 2022.

Simultaneous Visualization of the Carotid and Subclavian Arteries Using Non-Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography With a 3D Fast Field Echo Sequence and Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse: A Comparison With 3D Time-of-Flight MR Angiography.

Background: Carotid artery stenosis is a major cause of stroke. Non-contrast MR angiography (MRA) using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP) may offer potential advantages over 3D time-of-flight (TOF)-MRA for simultaneous visualization of carotid, vertebral, and subclavian arteries, but remains uninvestigated.

Purpose: To determine optimal black blood inversion time (TI) for visualizing the carotid and subclavian arteries using three-dimensional (3D) fast field echo (FFE) Time-SLIP MRA, and to compare its image quality with 3D TOF-MRA.

Genomic insights into multidrug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli O4: H12 harboring mcr-5 and blaSHV-12 on conjugative plasmids isolated from chicken meat in Japan.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the genomic profile of a multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli strain, 160-11H1, co-carrying an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and the plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-5.

Methods And Results: The entire genome of the strain was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore platforms, and de novo assembly was performed using Unicycler. The genome size was 5 031,330 bp and comprised 5 140 coding sequences.

Augmented glucagon-induced gluconeogenesis in primary hepatocytes from Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats.

Glucagon dysregulation is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet its early hepatic effects remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that glucagon-induced gluconeogenesis is markedly enhanced in primary hepatocytes from prediabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a well-established model of human T2DM. Compared to control LETO rats, OLETF hepatocytes showed significantly higher glucagon-stimulated expression of gluconeogenic genes (Pepck, G6pase, Fbp1) at both mRNA and protein levels, along with elevated glucose production.

Guide Tip Damage Due to Rotablation.

Background: The rotational atherectomy system can effectively debulk calcified coronary lesions. However, rare complications specific to that system have been reported.

Case Summary: A 77-year-old man with a heavily calcified lesion in the right coronary artery (RCA) ostium underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in an 8-F system.

Expert consensus regarding the clinical application of liver contrast-enhanced US with Sonazoid (Sonazoid CEUS).

Sonazoid, a combined blood pool and Kupffer-cell agent, can be specifically phagocytosed by Kupffer cells in the liver, allowing lesion detection and characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs) at the post-vascular phase apart from the vascular phase which is similar to that of other second-generation US contrast agents. Sonazoid CEUS is currently approved for use in some Asian countries. With the increasing use of Sonazoid CEUS for FLLs in clinical practice, developing consensus or guidelines to help standardize its use is required.

Impact of child-pugh score on surgical outcomes after distal gastrectomy and right hemicolectomy: a retrospective study from the Japanese national clinical database.

Background: The association between preoperative liver function and short-term outcomes after gastrointestinal cancer surgery is unknown. This study investigated the impact of Child-Pugh score-based preoperative liver dysfunction on short-term outcomes after distal gastrectomy and right hemicolectomy.

Materials And Methods: We included patients who underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer or right hemicolectomy for colon cancer between 2018 and 2022 from the Japanese National Clinical Database.

Comparison of 10-2 Visual Field Using Melbourne Rapid Fields Online Perimetry and Humphrey Field Analyzer.

Purpose: Melbourne rapid fields (MRF) online perimetry is web-based software that allows white-on-white threshold perimetry using any computer. This study assesses the perimetric outcomes of MRF10-2 protocol via laptop computer in comparison to Humphrey field analyzer (HFA).

Methods: This prospective and cross-sectional study included 91 eyes from 91 Japanese glaucoma patients.

The Clinical Characteristics of Kawasaki Disease Patients With Sterile Pyuria.

Background: Sterile pyuria is a common manifestation of Kawasaki disease (KD). We investigated the characteristics of KD patients with sterile pyuria.

Methods: This retrospective study included 345 KD patients who had not received antimicrobial therapy before the diagnosis.

Pregnancy Outcomes After HIV Diagnosis in Women Living With HIV in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: A Brief Report.

The study analyzed pregnancy outcomes among 498 women living with HIV in East Asia. We found 15% had pregnancies postdiagnosis, with 57% resulting in live births. Older age at antiretroviral therapy initiation and higher pre-antiretroviral therapy viral loads were negatively associated with pregnancy.

Changes in Physical Function After Long Corrective Fusion to the Ilium for Female Patients With Adult Spinal Deformity.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate longitudinal changes in physical functional status after long corrective fusion in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) during 2 years of follow-up.

Background: In ASD surgery, reports assessing physical functional status in long-term observations for more than a year are lacking.

Clinical Evaluation of Initial Experiences With the Qualitative Dual Detection of Core Antigen and Antibodies Immunoassay for Hepatitis C Virus Screening Test.

Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a global health concern. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a strategy to eliminate HCV by 2030, Japan faces challenges owing to limited access and insufficient support for high-risk populations. Previously, HCV diagnoses required a two-step process, delaying results and increasing costs.

Passive stiffness of the biarticular hamstring muscles could acutely decrease after eccentric-only resistance exercise, but not after passive muscle lengthening: Effects of exercise load.

This study aimed to investigate the acute changes in the passive stiffness of biarticular hamstring muscles after passive stretching and eccentric-only resistance exercise performed at different loads. Thirteen healthy young male participants performed four exercise sessions (on separate days) that comprised passive knee extension (0% of maximal eccentric torque) and eccentric-only knee flexion at different loads (25%, 50% and 75%). Maximal knee joint range of motion, passive torque, shear moduli of the biarticular hamstring muscles, and maximal isometric torque were measured before, 5 min, and 30 min after completing each session.