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Although robotic rectal resections are now widely performed, there are few robotic suction tools that can be easily used by console surgeons. It can therefore be difficult to maintain a clear visual field in the pelvis when there is effusion and bleeding from either a highly advanced cancer or from preoperative cancer treatment. In this report, we introduce our unique surgical technique that uses a soft catheter with a small gauze ball attached, inserted through the assistant port. This simple and inexpensive “instrument” can be used by the console surgeon as a retractor as well as a reliable suction device to secure their view of the operative field in the pelvis. This technique can be used in a narrow surgical field and does not rely on an assistant surgeon, making it potentially applicable to all types of surgery.

Abstract Background Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer occurs in 1 in 60,000–100,000 patients. This phenomenon has been reported in almost all cancer types, most commonly neuroblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and lymphoma/leukemia. However, SR in colorectal cancer (CRC) is extremely rare, particularly in advanced cases. Hence, this report describes a very rare case of spontaneous regression of advanced transverse colon cancer. Case presentation A 76-year-old female with anemia was diagnosed with a type II well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in the middle transverse colon. Two months later, a second colonoscopy examination was performed for preoperative marking, and it revealed tumor shrinkage and a shift to type 0–IIc morphology. Endoscopic tattooing was then performed, followed by a laparoscopic partial resection of the transverse colon with D3 lymph node dissection. However, the resected specimen contained no tumor, and colonoscopy showed no tumor remnants in the remaining colon. Histopathological examination revealed mucosal regeneration and a mucus nodule in between the submucosal and muscular layers, with no cancer cells detected. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the loss of MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) and postmeiotic segregation increased 2 (PMS2) expression in the cancer cells of biopsied specimens, suggesting deficient mismatch repair (dMMR). The patient continues to be followed up until 6 years postoperatively, and no recurrence has been observed. In this study, we also reviewed similar reported cases of spontaneous regression of cancer involving dMMR. Conclusion This study presents a rare case of spontaneous regression of advanced transverse colon cancer wherein dMMR is strongly involved. However, further accumulation of similar cases is needed to elucidate this phenomenon and to develop new treatment strategies for CRC.

Abstract Aim This study has two aims: to evaluate long‐term chronic pain and complications after circular incision transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (C‐TAPP) and compare outcomes of unilateral and bilateral inguinal hernia cases. Methods A postoperative patient questionnaire was used to evaluate pain and complications in 1546 patients who underwent C‐TAPP for simple inguinal hernia. Questions concerned satisfaction with surgery, pain at rest, pain at movement, mesh discomfort on a 10‐point scale, and complications, such as recurrence. Patients were classified into unilateral (U Group) and bilateral (B Group) groups, and propensity score matching was performed to compare long‐term chronic pain and complications. Results The questionnaire return rates were 77.5% (1034 cases) and 79.9% (135 cases) in unilateral and bilateral cases. The frequency of moderate‐to‐severe (≥4 points) pain at rest, pain at movement, and mesh discomfort were 3.2%, 3.6%, and 4.5%, respectively. After propensity score matching, no significant differences in pain at rest (P = .726), at movement (P = .712), or mesh discomfort (P = .981) were detected between the U and B groups. Postoperative complications occurred in 2.1% of all patients, and the recurrence rate was 0.3%. In the post‐match comparison, no differences in complications with Clavian‐Dindo classification ≥III (U Group 0.7%, B Group 2.1%, P = .622) were detected. Conclusion C‐TAPP, which focuses on the layered structure, showed acceptable results for long‐term chronic pain. Bilateral cases did not have worse pain or complications compared to unilateral cases.

Nutrition in early life has profound effects on an organism, altering processes such as organogenesis. However, little is known about how specific nutrients affect neuronal development. Dendrites of class IV dendritic arborization neurons in Drosophila larvae become more complex when the larvae are reared on a low-yeast diet compared to a high-yeast diet. Our systematic search for key nutrients revealed that the neurons increase their dendritic terminal densities in response to a combined deficiency in vitamins, metal ions, and cholesterol. The deficiency of these nutrients upregulates Wingless in a closely located tissue, body wall muscle. Muscle-derived Wingless activates Akt in the neurons through the receptor tyrosine kinase Ror, which promotes the dendrite branching. In larval muscles, the expression of wingless is regulated not only in this key nutrient-dependent manner, but also by the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Additionally, the low-yeast diet blunts neuronal light responsiveness and light avoidance behavior, which may help larvae optimize their survival strategies under low-nutritional conditions. Together, our studies illustrate how the availability of specific nutrients affects neuronal development through inter-organ signaling.

In Japan, major mumps outbreaks still occur every 4–5 years because of low mumps vaccine coverage (30–40%) owing to the voluntary immunization program. Herein, to prepare for a regular immunization program, we aimed to reveal the nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiological trends of the mumps virus (MuV) in Japan. Additionally, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using next-generation sequencing to assess results from conventional genotyping using MuV sequences of the small-hydrophobic (SH) gene. We analyzed 1,064 SH gene sequences from mumps clinical samples and MuV isolates collected from 25 prefectures from 1986 to 2017. The results showed that six genotypes, namely B (110), F (1), G (900), H (3), J (41), and L (9) were identified, and the dominant genotypes changed every decade in Japan since the 1980s. Genotype G has been exclusively circulating since the early 2000s. Seven clades were identified for genotype G using SH sequence-based classification. To verify the results, we performed WGS on 77 representative isolates of genotype G using NGS and phylogenetically analyzed them. Five clades were identified with high bootstrap values and designated as Japanese clade (JPC)-1, -2, -3, -4, -5. JPC-1 and -3 accounted for over 80% of the total genotype G isolates (68.3 and 13.8%, respectively). Of these, JPC-2 and -5, were newly identified clades in Japan through this study. This is the first report describing the nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiology of MuV in Japan. The results provide information about Japanese domestic genotypes, which is essential for evaluating the mumps elimination progress in Japan after the forthcoming introduction of the mumps vaccine into Japan’s regular immunization program. Furthermore, the study shows that WGS analysis using NGS is more accurate than results obtained from conventional SH sequence-based classification and is a powerful tool for accurate molecular epidemiology studies.

Abstract The low mobility and large contact resistance in organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) are the two major limiting factors in the development of high-performance organic logic circuits. Here, solution-processed high-performance OTFTs and circuits are reported with a polymeric gate dielectric and 6,6 bis (trans-4-butylcyclohexyl)-dinaphtho[2,1-b:2,1-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (4H–21DNTT) for the organic semiconducting layer. By optimizing and controlling the fabrication conditions, a high saturation mobility of 8.8 cm2 V−1 s−1 was demonstrated as well as large on/off ratios (> 106) for relatively short channel lengths of 15 μm and an average carrier mobility of 10.5 cm2 V−1 s−1 for long channel length OTFTs (> 50 μm). The pseudo-CMOS inverter circuit with a channel length of 15 μm exhibited sharp switching characteristics with a high signal gain of 31.5 at a supply voltage of 20 V. In addition to the inverter circuit, NAND logic circuits were further investigated, which also exhibited remarkable logic characteristics, with a high gain, an operating frequency of 5 kHz, and a short propagation delay of 22.1 μs. The uniform and reproducible performance of 4H–21DNTT OTFTs show potential for large-area, low-cost real-world applications on industry-compatible bottom-contact substrates.

Background The AT(N) classification was proposed for categorising individuals according to biomarkers. However, AT(N) profiles may vary depending on the markers chosen and the target population.Methods We stratified 177 individuals who participated in the Japanese Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative by AT(N) classification according to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. We compared the frequency of AT(N) profiles between the classification using total tau and neurofilament light chain (NfL) as N markers (AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL). Baseline characteristics, and longitudinal biological and clinical changes were examined between AT(N) profiles.Results We found that 9% of cognitively unimpaired subjects, 49% of subjects with mild cognitive impairment, and 61% of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia had the biological AD profile (ie, A+T+) in the cohort. The frequency of AT(N) profiles substantially differed between the AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL classifications. When we used t-tau as the N marker (AT(N)tau), those who had T− were more frequently assigned to (N)−, whereas those who had T+were more frequently assigned to (N)+ than when we used NfL as the N marker (AT(N)NfL). During a follow-up, the AD continuum group progressed clinically and biologically compared with the normal biomarker group in both the AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL classifications. More frequent conversion to dementia was observed in the non-AD pathological change group in the AT(N)tau classification, but not in the AT(N)NfL classification.Conclusions AT(N)tau and AT(N)NfL in CSF may capture different aspects of neurodegeneration and provide a different prognostic value. The AT(N) classification aids in understanding the AD continuum biology in various populations.

Background: Few studies have examined the association between seaweed intake and blood pressure in children. We conducted an intervention study to investigate whether seaweed intake affects blood pressure. Methods: Subjects were children aged 4 to 5 years attending a preschool in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in 2010. Among 99 students, 89 (89.9%) were enrolled in our study. Nori (dried laver), an edible seaweed widely consumed in Japan, was used as a dietary intervention. Children in the intervention group were asked to consume 1.76 grams per day of roasted nori in addition to standard meals for 10 weeks. Children in the control group consumed their usual diet. Before the intervention and at the 10th week of the intervention, children’s blood pressure was measured three times successively using an automated sphygmomanometer with subjects in a sitting position. Changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were compared between 55 children in the intervention group and 26 in the control group after adjustment for SBP and DBP before the intervention. Results: Changes in SBP were −8.29 mm Hg in the intervention group and +0.50 mm Hg in the control group (P for difference in change = 0.051). Changes in DBP were −6.77 mm Hg in the intervention group and −0.05 mm Hg in the control group (P = 0.031). In girls, no difference in blood pressure changes was found between the intervention and control groups. Conclusion: Nori intake lowered DBP level in boys. Seaweed intake might have preventive effects on elevated blood pressure in childhood.

Abstract Japanese spotted fever, a tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia japonica, was firstly described in southwestern Japan. There was a suspicion of Rickettsia japonica infected ticks reaching the non-endemic Niigata Prefecture after a confirmed case of Japanese spotted fever in July 2014. Therefore, from 2015 to 2017, 38 sites were surveyed and rickettsial pathogens were investigated in ticks from north to south of Niigata Prefecture including Sado island. A total of 3336 ticks were collected and identified revealing ticks of three genera and ten species: Dermacentor taiwanensis, Haemaphysalis flava, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Haemaphysalis megaspinosa, Ixodes columnae, Ixodes monospinosus, Ixodes nipponensis, Ixodes ovatus, and Ixodes persulcatus. Investigation of rickettsial DNA showed no ticks infected by R. japonica. However, three species of spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) were found in ticks, R. asiatica, R. helvetica, and R. monacensis, confirming Niigata Prefecture as a new endemic area to SFGR. These results highlight the need for public awareness of the occurrence of this tick-borne disease, which necessitates the establishment of public health initiatives to mitigate its spread.

Abstract Severe adhesions between the bladder and uterus necessitated an atypical incision in the cesarean section of a woman with endometriosis. This could not be predicted with pre‐surgery MRI. No methods in the literature are able to predict adhesions with true certainty; it is therefore still difficult to diagnose intra‐abdominal adhesions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting the mental health of hospital workers. During the prolonged pandemic, hospital workers may experience much more severe psychological distress, leading to an increased risk of suicide. This study aimed to investigate changes in psychological effects on hospital workers over 12 months from the beginning of the pandemic and clarify factors associated with psychological distress and suicide-related ideation 1-year after the pandemic's beginning. These repeated, cross-sectional surveys collected demographic, mental health, and stress-related data from workers in 2 hospitals in Yokohama, Japan. The first survey, conducted in March-April 2020, contained the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) assessing general distress and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessing event-related distress. In the second survey in March 2021, hospital workers at the same two hospitals were reassessed using the same questionnaire, and Item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was added to assess their suicide-related ideation. The findings of the first and second surveys revealed that the average score of GHQ-12 (3.08 and 3.73, respectively), the IES-R total score (6.8 and 12.12, respectively), and the prevalence rates of severe general distress (35.0% and 44.0%, respectively) and severe event-related distress (7.0% and 17.1%, respectively) deteriorated. The second survey showed that 8.6% of the hospital workers were experiencing suicide-related ideation. Both the general and event-related distress were associated with suicide-related ideation. In these surveys, mental health outcomes among the hospital workers deteriorated over one year from the pandemic's beginning, and their severe psychological distress was the risk factor for the suicide-related ideation. Further studies are needed to compare the psychological effects on hospital workers during and after the prolonged pandemic and to explore appropriate measures to support hospital workers' mental health.

Abstract Background Spontaneous esophageal rupture is a rare but serious disease with high mortality. Conservative treatment and endoscopic therapy have been reported, but surgical treatment is still a basic modality of therapy. In addition to thoracotomy, recent studies have reported treatment with thoracoscopic surgery and laparoscopic transhiatal repair. In this study, we report a patient who underwent laparoscopic transhiatal suture closure for spontaneous esophageal rupture with favorable postoperative course. We also discuss indication for laparoscopic surgery for spontaneous esophageal rupture. Case presentation A 70-year-old man visited our hospital with chief complaints of epigastric pain and vomitus niger. He was diagnosed with spontaneous esophageal rupture in the left wall of the lower esophagus by computed tomography and upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. At 11 h after the onset of symptoms, we performed laparoscopic transhiatal suture closure and lavage drainage. We performed transhiatal esophageal replacement using the 5-hole approach. We observed a perforation of 2 cm in diameter at the site of the rostral portion approximately 4 cm from the esophageal hiatus. All layers were closed with three stitches using 3–0 absorbable sutures. No perforation was observed in the thoracic cavity. The total operative time was 178 min, and total bleeding was 2 ml. He had no postoperative complications and was discharged on day 15 after the procedure. He received continuous proton pump inhibitor therapy as an outpatient. Healing cicatrization was found at the site of rupture by esophagogastroscopy. The patient was advised to improve his lifestyle and has shown no signs of recurrence over 2 years from the date of surgery. Conclusions Simple closure of all the layers using laparoscopic transhiatal simple closure was useful in the treatment of esophageal rupture as a less invasive approach for patients who meet the following conditions: stable general condition, intrathoracic perforation, and the perforation site is identified as the lower esophagus by pre-operative examination.

Abstract Background We aimed to examine the association of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke with dental caries among preschool children. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was assessed in terms of urinary cotinine concentrations and pack-years of exposure to smoking by parents and other family members at home. Methods This cross-sectional study included 405 preschool children aged 3–6 years from two preschools in Japan in 2006. Information on the smoking habits of family members living with the child was obtained from parent-administered questionnaires. Dental examination was conducted to assess dental caries, that is, decayed and/or filled teeth. Urinary cotinine levels were measured using first-void morning urine samples. Results Overall, 31.1% of the children had dental caries, and 29.5% had decayed teeth. Exposure to current maternal and paternal smoking was positively associated with the presence of dental caries after controlling for covariates. More than three pack-years of exposure to maternal smoking and more than five pack-years of exposure to smoking by all family members were significantly associated with the presence of dental caries as compared with no exposure (odds ratio [OR] = 5.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.17–14.22, P for trend

The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and associated factors on hospital workers at the beginning of the outbreak with a large disease cluster on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic data, mental health measurements, and stress-related questionnaires from workers in 2 hospitals in Yokohama, Japan, from March 23, 2020, to April 6, 2020. The prevalence rates of general psychological distress and event-related distress were assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), respectively. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the 26-item stress-related questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes for workers both at high- and low-risk for infection of COVID-19. A questionnaire was distributed to 4133 hospital workers, and 2697 (65.3%) valid questionnaires were used for analyses. Overall, 536 (20.0%) were high-risk workers, 944 (35.0%) of all hospital workers showed general distress, and 189 (7.0%) demonstrated event-related distress. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that 'Feeling of being isolated and discriminated' was associated with both the general and event-related distress for both the high- and low-risk workers. In this survey, not only high-risk workers but also low-risk workers in the hospitals admitting COVID-19 patients reported experiencing psychological distress at the beginning of the outbreak.

Machine learning algorithms are effective in realizing the programming of robots that behave autonomously for various tasks. For example, reinforcement learning (RL) does not require supervision or data sets; the RL agent explores solutions by itself. However, RL requires a long learning time, particularly for actual robot learning situations. Transfer learning (TL) in RL has been proposed to address this limitation. TL realizes fast adaptation and decreases the problem-solving time by utilizing the knowledge of the policy, value function, and Q-function from RL. Taylor proposed TL using inter-task mapping that defines the correspondence between the state and action between the source and target domains. Inter-task mapping is defined based on human intuition and experience; therefore, the effect of TL may not be obtained. The difference in robot shapes for TL is similar to the cognition in the modification of human body composition, and automatic inter-task mapping can be performed by referring to the body representation that is assumed to be stored in the human brain. In this paper, body calibration is proposed, which refers to the physical expression in the human brain. It realizes automatic inter-task mapping by acquiring data modeled on a body diagram that illustrates human body composition and posture. The proposed method is evaluated in a TL situation from a computer simulation of RL to actual robot control with a multi-legged robot.

Summary: The essential organization of microtubules within neurons has been described; however, less is known about how neuronal actin is arranged and the functional implications of its arrangement. Here, we describe, in live cells, an actin-based structure in the proximal axon that selectively prevents some proteins from entering the axon while allowing the passage of others. Concentrated patches of actin in proximal axons are present shortly after axonal specification in rat and zebrafish neurons imaged live, and they mark positions where anterogradely traveling vesicles carrying dendritic proteins halt and reverse. Patches colocalize with the ARP2/3 complex, and when ARP2/3-mediated nucleation is blocked, a dendritic protein mislocalizes to the axon. Patches are highly dynamic, with few persisting longer than 30 min. In neurons in culture and in vivo, actin appears to form a contiguous, semipermeable barrier, despite its apparently sparse distribution, preventing axonal localization of constitutively active myosin Va but not myosin VI. : Balasanyan et al. find dynamic patches of actin in proximal axons of live neurons, mature and newly differentiated, in culture and in vivo. Patches contribute to a filter that sequesters some proteins within the somatodendritic domain while allowing others to pass into the axon, leading to polarized localization of proteins.

Background: We aimed to clarify the utility of delta-shaped anastomosis (Delta), an intracorporeal Billroth-I anastomosis-based reconstruction technique used after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG), in robot-assisted distal gastrectomy (RADG). Methods: RADG was performed in patients with clinical Stage I gastric cancer, and reconstruction was performed using Delta. The Delta procedure was the same as that performed after LADG, and the operator practiced the procedure in simulated settings with surgical assistants before the operation. After gastrectomy, the scope and robotic first arm were reinserted from separate ports on the right side of the patient. Then, a port on the left side of the abdomen was used as the assistant port from which a stapler was inserted, with the robotic arm in a coaxial mode. The surgical assistant performed functional end-to-end anastomosis of the remnant stomach and duodenal stump using a powered stapler. Results: The mean anastomotic time in four patients who underwent Delta after RADG was 16.5 min. All patients were discharged on the post-operative day 7 without any post-operative complications or need for readmission. Conclusions: Pre-operative simulation, changes in ports for insertion of the scope and robotic first arm, continuation of the coaxial operation, and use of a powered stapler made Delta applicable for RADG. Delta can be considered as a useful reconstruction method.

Summary: During evolution, organisms have acquired variable feeding habits. Some species are nutritional generalists that adapt to various food resources, while others are specialists, feeding on specific resources. However, much remains to be discovered about how generalists adapt to diversified diets. We find that larvae of the generalists Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans develop on three diets with different nutrient balances, whereas specialists D. sechellia and D. elegans cannot develop on carbohydrate-rich diets. The generalist D. melanogaster downregulates the expression of diverse metabolic genes systemically by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Activin signaling, maintains metabolic homeostasis, and successfully adapts to the diets. In contrast, the specialist D. sechellia expresses those metabolic genes at higher levels and accumulates various metabolites on the carbohydrate-rich diet, culminating in reduced adaptation. Phenotypic similarities and differences strongly suggest that the robust carbohydrate-responsive regulatory systems are evolutionarily retained through genome-environment interactions in the generalists and contribute to their nutritional adaptabilities. : Watanabe et al. uncover robust carbohydrate-responsive regulatory systems, including TGF-β/Activin signaling, which allow larvae of a generalist Drosophila melanogaster to adapt to various nutrient balances. In contrast, a specialist D. sechellia is defective in the systems and no longer maintains metabolic homeostasis, culminating in reduced adaptation to carbohydrate-rich diets. Keywords: nutrient balance, growth, adaptability, Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila sechellia, TGF-β/Activin signaling, protein-to-carbohydrate ratio, genome-environment interactions, multi-omics, interspecies comparative approach

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) requires pharmaceutical innovations and molecular-based evidence of effectiveness to become a standard cancer therapeutic in the future. Recently, in Japan, 4-borono-L-phenylalanine (BPA) was approved as a boron agent for BNCT against head and neck (H&N) cancers. H&N cancer appears to be a suitable target for BPA-BNCT, because the expression levels of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), one of the amino acid transporters responsible for BPA uptake, are elevated in most cases of H&N cancer. However, in other types of cancer including malignant brain tumors, LAT1 is not always highly expressed. To expand the possibility of BNCT for these cases, we previously developed poly-arginine peptide (polyR)-conjugated mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH). PolyR confers the cell membrane permeability and tumor selectivity of BSH. However, the molecular determinants for the properties are not fully understood. In this present study, we have identified the cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) protein and translational machinery proteins as a major cell surface target and intracellular targets of BSH-polyR, respectively. CD44, also known as a stem cell-associated maker in various types of cancer, is required for the cellular uptake of polyR-conjugated molecules. We showed that BSH-polyR was predominantly delivered to a CD44High cell population of cancer cells. Once delivered, BSH-polyR interacted with the translational machinery components, including the initiation factors, termination factors, and poly(A)-biding protein (PABP). As a proof of principle, we performed BSH-polyR-based BNCT against glioma stem-like cells and revealed that BSH-polyR successfully induced BNCT-dependent cell death specifically in CD44High cells. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that BSH-polyR would be suitable for certain types of malignant tumors. Our results shed light on the biochemical properties of BSH-polyR, which may further contribute to the therapeutic optimization of BSH-BNCT in the future.

Trafficking of proteins specifically to the axonal or somatodendritic membrane allows neurons to establish and maintain polarized compartments with distinct morphology and function. Diverse evidence suggests that an actin-dependent vesicle filter within the axon initial segment (AIS) plays a critical role in polarized trafficking; however, no distinctive actin-based structures capable of comprising such a filter have been found within the AIS. Here, using correlative light and scanning electron microscopy, we visualized networks of actin filaments several microns wide within the AIS of cortical neurons in culture. Individual filaments within these patches are predominantly oriented with their plus ends facing toward the cell body, consistent with models of filter selectivity. Vesicles carrying dendritic proteins are much more likely to stop in regions occupied by the actin patches than in other regions, indicating that the patches likely prevent movement of dendritic proteins to the axon and thereby act as a vesicle filter.

Voltage-gated Ca(2+) (Ca(v)) channels control neuronal functions including neurotransmitter release and gene expression. The Cacna1a gene encodes the α1 subunit of the pore-forming Ca(v)2.1 channel. Mice with mutations in this gene form useful tools for defining channel functions. The recessive ataxic tottering-6j strain that was generated in the Neuroscience Mutagenesis Facility at The Jackson Laboratory has a mutation in the Cacna1a gene. However, the effect of this mutation has not been investigated in detail. In this study, mutation analysis shows a base substitution (C-to-A) in the consensus splice acceptor sequence linked to exon 5, which results in the skipping of exon 5 and the splicing of exon 4 directly to exon 6. The effect of this mutation is expected to be severe as the expressed α1 subunit protein lacks a significant part of the S4-S5 linker, S5, and part of S5-S6 linker in domain I. Tottering-6j mice display motor dysfunctions in the footprint, rotating rod, and hind-limb extension tests. Although cytoarchitecture of the mutant brains appears normal, tyrosine hydroxylase was persistently expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells in the adult mutant mice. These results indicate that tottering-6j is a useful model for functional studies of the Ca(v)2.1 channel.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine: 1) the association between contraceptive decision-making and perceptions of fertility decline as well as associated factors, and 2) the relationship between contraceptive decisionmaking and contraceptive behavior, in perimenopausal women. Methods Women between the ages of 40 and 50 who agreed to participate were included in the study. A self-administered, non-rated questionnaire was administered between July and November 2021. Contraceptive decision-making and the perception of fertility decline were measured using Visual Analogue Scales. In addition, contraceptive behavior was assessed in terms of contraceptive types and usage frequency. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between contraceptive decision-making and perceived fertility decline, to identify factors associated with perceived fertility decline, and to examine the relationship between contraceptive decision-making and contraceptive behavior. Results The questionnaire was sent to 354 women, of whom 123 were eligible for analysis (47.2% response rate, 73.7% valid response rate). Among women without the desire to become pregnant, those with a higher awareness of their declining fertility were less likely to use contraception than those with a lower awareness (odds ratio (OR): 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.66), and a significant associated factor was knowledge of age-related fertility changes (OR: 2.85, 95%CI: 1.16-7.02). Among women without the desire to become pregnant who had sexual intercourse within 1 year, those more willing to use contraception used contraception every time they had sexual intercourse (OR: 21.57, 95%CI: 5.30-87.83) and used more effective methods (OR: 4.20, 95%CI: 1.49-11.82). Conclusions Perimenopausal women without the desire to become pregnant were more aware of their own fertility decline and less likely to use contraception when they were aware of age-related fertility changes. In addition, the clear intention to use contraception led to the choices of using contraception and using a highly effective contraceptive method each time. Therefore, in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies, it is necessary to provide fertility knowledge that captures the characteristics of the perimenopausal period, promotes an understanding of the need for contraception, and supports contraceptive decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes John Herschel's research on estimating the stellar magnitude and measuring the relative brightness of stars, as well as on the relationship between them. In recent years, his research practices in stellar astronomy have been studied in more detail, which results in the reevalu-ation of his role in nineteenth-century stellar astronomy. By examining the actual data organization of his observations of the southern sky at the Cape of Good Hope, this paper explains the aims of his work process in estimating the stellar magnitudes, such as the correction of observational errors and the detection of variable stars. It also explains how, using scatter graphs and interpolation curves, Herschel assigned a finer scale of less than 1/10 of a magnitude to those stars that had previously been classified by a scale of 1/2 of a magnitude. This paper also traces Herschel's thoughts on photometry and magnitude scales throughout his career. It shows how he linked the luminosity data obtained from his "astrometer" with the newly assigned magnitudes to propose a relational equation, the historical position of which is also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of informational nursing support for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). Methods An exhaustive search was performed using five databases, and experimental or quasi-experimental studies with abstracts satisfying PICO were selected. We examined the texts of the selected articles and finally selected those that met our inclusion criteria. Using Cochrane's Risk of Bias ver.2, we independently assessed risk of bias in five domains and pooled the results to assess quality. Items with differing results were discussed and final ratings were combined. Results A total of six papers were adopted. Subjective symptoms of NVP were measured using the Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, The Motherisk Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea, and the Visual Analogue Scale. Quality of Life (QOL) of pregnant women was measured using Health-Related Quality of Life for Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy. Additionally, a paper tracked the duration of NVP. Intervention methods included telephone visits, a combination of interviews and telephone visits, lectures in small groups, and a combination of lectures and discussions. All studies included a baseline survey, followed by surveys at two and four weeks postintervention. One paper had weekly follow-ups until NVP converged. It was suggested that nursing support, which mainly included information provision for NVP, can be expected to have a certain effect in alleviating the pain experienced by pregnant women. However, as a result of quality evaluation using Risk of Bias ver.2, all papers were rated as "high risk of bias" or "some concern." Conclusion In the existing studies examining the effects of nursing support for NVP, the risk of bias was inevitable because of the nature of the intervention. Therefore, it is imperative to increase the reliability of the results by conducting randomized controlled trials, publishing the protocol prior to the start of the study, unifying scales for measuring subjective symptoms of NVP, and limiting outcome indicators to one. Furthermore, the timing of the intervention and follow-up intervals that consider the physiological changes of NVP should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]