Abstract Background The clustering of metabolic abnormalities may weaken vaccine-induced immunity, but epidemiological data regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and humoral immune response to Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine among the staff of a research center for medical care in Japan. Methods Participants were the staff (aged 21–75 years) of the National Center of Global Health and Medicine who had completed the second dose of...

Abstract Background Activated mutations in NOTCH1 are drivers of T-cell type acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma. The γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), which suppresses the function of NOTCH1, is expected to be a molecular-targeted agent. NOTCH1 is also expressed in other malignant neoplasms. We aimed to determine the function of NOTCH1 expression and the effects of GSI on adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) caused by long-term human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) infection. Methods We analyzed the expression of...

Abstract The transition process from coseismic to early postseismic phenomena within a half-day remains a significant topic for understanding the slip budget and friction properties of the fault. However, the investigation of this phase has undergone limited advancement. This is mainly due to the lack of precision pertaining to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) analysis caused by difficulty of separation between fault slip and other unknown parameters such as tropospheric delay. Therefore, we propose...

Abstract Background Prophylactic antibiotic use during delivery is common in routine obstetric practice to prevent infection globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In China, however, little is currently known about the national estimates for prophylactic antibiotic use during delivery. Therefore, we aimed to describe the prevalence of prophylactic antibiotic use and guideline adherence using national data in China. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed a national dataset from the China Labor and Delivery Survey in...

Abstract Background Prophylactic antibiotic use during delivery is common in routine obstetric practice to prevent infection globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In China, however, little is currently known about the national estimates for prophylactic antibiotic use during delivery. Therefore, we aimed to describe the prevalence of prophylactic antibiotic use and guideline adherence using national data in China. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed a national dataset from the China Labor and Delivery Survey in...

Abstract Background Tooth loss has been reportedly associated with shorter disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). However, no study has explored whether oral self-care offsets reduction in DFLE. The present study aimed to assess the association between oral self-care and DFLE in older individuals with tooth loss. Methods Data on the 13-year follow-up from a cohort study of 14,206 older Japanese adults aged ≥ 65 years in 2006 were analyzed. Information on the number of remaining teeth...

Background:The anti-Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) antibody test measures levels of IgA antibody against the glycopeptidolipid (GPL) core in the bacterial cell walls and is a useful clinical indicator of nontuberculous mycobacterium pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). However, it is not currently possible to diagnose the disease using anti-MAC antibodies alone.Objectives:The study aim was to assess the efficacy of the combination of anti-MAC antibodies and clinical findings for diagnosing potential NTM-PD.Methods:This cross-sectional study included 938 patients tested using...

Abstract The lithospheric mantle, formed at the mid-ocean ridge as a residue of crustal production, comprises theoretically depleted peridotite, but more fertile components (e.g., lherzolite and pyroxenite) have been reported, creating an enigmatic picture of the lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere has also been found to be locally modified by intraplate magmatism as proposed from geochemistry of mantle xenolith. Petit-spot xenoliths are particularly notable as direct evidence of old lithospheric mantle and expected to retain essential...

Purpose:The underlying difference between intermittent claudication (IC) and critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) still remains unclear. This prospective multicenter observational study aimed to clarify differences in clinical features and prognostic outcomes between IC and CLTI, and prognostic factors in patients undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT).Materials and Methods:A total of 692 patients with 808 limbs were enrolled from 20 institutions in Japan. The primary measurements were the 3-year rates of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and reintervention.Results:Among patients,...

Abstract The Teleostei class has the most species of the fishes. Members of this group have pectoral fins, enabling refined movements in the water. Although teleosts live in a diverse set of environments, the skeletal pattern of pectoral fins in teleosts is considered to show little morphological variability. Here, in order to elucidate variations in pectoral fin skeletons and to identify their evolutionary processes, we compared the pectoral fin skeletons from 27 species of teleosts....

Abstract The Teleostei class has the most species of the fishes. Members of this group have pectoral fins, enabling refined movements in the water. Although teleosts live in a diverse set of environments, the skeletal pattern of pectoral fins in teleosts is considered to show little morphological variability. Here, in order to elucidate variations in pectoral fin skeletons and to identify their evolutionary processes, we compared the pectoral fin skeletons from 27 species of teleosts....

Abstract The thermospheric wind response to a sudden westward turning of the ion velocity at a high latitude was studied by analyzing data obtained with a Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI; 630 nm), Dynasonde, and Swarm A & C satellites during a conjunction event. The event occurred during a geomagnetically quiet period (Kp = 0 +) through the night, but some auroral activity occurred in the north. The collocated FPI and Dynasonde measured the thermospheric wind (U)...

Abstract Background Tooth loss has been reportedly associated with shorter disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). However, no study has explored whether oral self-care offsets reduction in DFLE. The present study aimed to assess the association between oral self-care and DFLE in older individuals with tooth loss. Methods Data on the 13-year follow-up from a cohort study of 14,206 older Japanese adults aged ≥ 65 years in 2006 were analyzed. Information on the number of remaining teeth...

Abstract Background The clustering of metabolic abnormalities may weaken vaccine-induced immunity, but epidemiological data regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and humoral immune response to Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine among the staff of a research center for medical care in Japan. Methods Participants were the staff (aged 21–75 years) of the National Center of Global Health and Medicine who had completed the second dose of...

Abstract There is growing interest in the use of pteropods as potential archives of past changes in ocean chemistry. However, pteropods have rarely been used in studies of millennial-scale sedimentary records, especially in shallow-marine environments. This study obtained core data for the last 16 kyr from the Northwest Shelf of Australia (NWS). Changes in the carbonate saturation state were assessed based on the carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) of shells and the Limacina dissolution index (LDX)...

Abstract Background For biomechanical consideration of dental implants, an understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) load exerted on the implant is essential, but little information is available on the in vivo load, including the measuring devices. Purpose This review aimed to evaluate studies that used specific load-measuring devices that could be mounted on an implant to measure the functional load in vivo. Materials and methods An electronic search utilizing the internet research databases PubMed, Google Scholar,...

Abstract Background Physical frailty is associated with social activity. However, the relationship between physical frailty and levels of engagement with other people during social activities remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to clarify the relationship between physical frailty and social activity using a taxonomy of activity levels among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Methods This cross-sectional observational study analyzed data from 12,788 older adults (7001 women, mean age: 73.8 years, standard deviation = 5.9; range: 60–96...

Abstract Background Detecting genomic variants and their accumulation processes during species diversification and adaptive radiation is important for understanding the molecular and genetic basis of evolution. Anolis lizards in the West Indies are good models for studying evolutionary mechanisms because of the repeated evolution of their morphology and the ecology. We performed de novo genome assembly of six Cuban Anolis lizards with different ecomorphs and thermal habitats (Anolis isolepis, Anolis allisoni, Anolis porcatus, Anolis allogus,...

Abstract Background The rising global incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) highlights a need for new therapies. The Zishen Pill (ZSP) is a traditional Chinese herbal decoction that has previously shown hypoglycemic effects in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice, although the therapeutic mechanism remains unknown. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of ZSP’s hypoglycemic effects using db/db mice. Methods Db/db mice were divided into two groups: model group and ZSP group, while wt/wt mice were...

Abstract Background The rising global incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) highlights a need for new therapies. The Zishen Pill (ZSP) is a traditional Chinese herbal decoction that has previously shown hypoglycemic effects in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice, although the therapeutic mechanism remains unknown. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of ZSP’s hypoglycemic effects using db/db mice. Methods Db/db mice were divided into two groups: model group and ZSP group, while wt/wt mice were...

Abstract Background Respiratory symptoms are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. However, the impacts of upper and lower respiratory symptoms on COVID-19 outcomes in the same population have not been compared. The objective of this study was to characterize upper and lower respiratory symptoms and compare their impacts on outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study; the database from the Japan COVID-19 Task Force was used. A total...

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) adversely affect the prognosis of mother and child, and the prognosis depends on the subtype of HDP. Skipping breakfast may be associated with increased blood pressure due to disruption of the circadian clock, but the association with the development of HDP has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between skipping breakfast and the development of HDP and HDP subtypes in Japanese...

Abstract There is growing interest in the use of pteropods as potential archives of past changes in ocean chemistry. However, pteropods have rarely been used in studies of millennial-scale sedimentary records, especially in shallow-marine environments. This study obtained core data for the last 16 kyr from the Northwest Shelf of Australia (NWS). Changes in the carbonate saturation state were assessed based on the carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) of shells and the Limacina dissolution index (LDX)...

Abstract Background For biomechanical consideration of dental implants, an understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) load exerted on the implant is essential, but little information is available on the in vivo load, including the measuring devices. Purpose This review aimed to evaluate studies that used specific load-measuring devices that could be mounted on an implant to measure the functional load in vivo. Materials and methods An electronic search utilizing the internet research databases PubMed, Google Scholar,...

Abstract Background Activated mutations in NOTCH1 are drivers of T-cell type acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma. The γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), which suppresses the function of NOTCH1, is expected to be a molecular-targeted agent. NOTCH1 is also expressed in other malignant neoplasms. We aimed to determine the function of NOTCH1 expression and the effects of GSI on adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) caused by long-term human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) infection. Methods We analyzed the expression of...