Neutron Reflectivity Study on the Adsorption Layer of Polyethylene Grown on Si Substrate.

To investigate the structure of the interface between polyethylene films and substrates, the neutron reflectivity (NR) of deuterated polyethylene (dPE) thin films deposited on Si substrates was measured, demonstrating water accumulation at the interface, even under ambient conditions. After leaching the thermally annealed dPE films in hot p-xylene, NR measurements were conducted on the layers remaining on the substrate, clearly revealing that the adsorption layer of dPE grew during annealing and consisted of two layers, an inner adsorption layer and an outer adsorption layer, as previously proposed for amorphous polymers. The inner adsorption layer was approximately 3.7 nm thick with a density comparable to that of the bulk. The outer adsorption layer was several nanometers thick and appeared to grow insufficiently on top of the inner adsorption layer under the annealing conditions examined in this study. This study clarifying the growth of the adsorption layer of polyethylene at the interface with an inorganic substrate is useful for improving the performance of polymer/inorganic filler nanocomposites due to the wide utility of crystalline polyolefins as polymer matrix materials in nanocomposites.

Development of a multivariable prediction model for prolonged air leak after lung resection.

OBJECTIVES: Prolonged air leak (PAL) is a common complication of lung resection. Research on predictors of PAL using a digital drainage system (DDS) remains insufficient. In this study, we investigated the predictive factors of PAL to establish a novel early postoperative prediction model for PAL. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study and validation study were conducted. We examined patients who underwent lung resection with DDS at our institute. The relationship between the clinical factors and measurements of the DDS, including the difference between the set and measured intrapleural pressure (named: additional negative pressure [ANP]) at postoperative hour (POH) 3, with PAL was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 494 patients were enrolled, 29 of whom had PAL. Percent forced expiratory volume in 1 s <60%, ANP <1 cmH2O, air leak flow >20 mL/min and pleural adhesion findings at surgery were independent predictors of PAL according to a multivariable analysis. The PAL rate was clearly stratified according to our novel risk scoring system, which simply notes the presence of the above four factors, that is, the rate increases when the score increases. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for this scoring system was 0.818. Analysis of the validation cohort (n = 133) revealed that this scoring system showed a sufficient ability to predict PAL. CONCLUSIONS: ANP at POH 3 is an independent predictor of PAL. Thus, the risk-scoring system proposed in this study is useful for predicting PAL in the early postoperative period.

Epidermal growth factor induces the initiation of epithelial mesenchymal transition in high-density colorectal cancer cell culture.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a step in the process through which colorectal cancer cells metastasize by gaining the cellular mobility associated with mesenchymal cells. However, whether the EMT occurs in cells tightly bound to each other remains largely unknown. In this study, we examined the dual influence of intercellular contact and epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling on the induction of EMT in SW480 human colon carcinoma cells. Stimulation of densely cultured SW480 cells with EGF initiated partial EMT, following which E-cadherin levels were reduced. In these cells, the transcriptional repression of E-cadherin was caused by ZEB1 binding to its promoter region. EGF signaling did not directly induce ZEB1 mRNA upregulation but contributed to ZEB1 protein stability by regulating proteasomal degradation. Our findings indicate that EGF can induce EMT in colorectal cancer cells in the presence of cell-cell contact and may be a potential therapeutic target for metastasis.

Clinical and laboratory findings characterizing the need for systemic corticosteroids and nonsteroidal systemic therapies, and the predicted outcomes in cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa: A single-centre retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (cPN) is a necrotizing arteritis of medium-sized vessels limited to the skin. Because of its rarity and the diversity of its clinical manifestations, there is no consensus treatment. Moreover, there are no established indicators that predict disease severity or its outcome. OBJECTIVES: To investigate clinico-laboratory features that predict patients requiring systemic therapy, including corticosteroids, to control the disease activity. METHODS: Thirty-six cPN patients who had not received systemic corticosteroids at the initial visit were retrospectively analysed by correlating the treatment and its response with clinico-laboratory findings. RESULTS: The major medications administered were antiplatelet agents (63.9%), vasodilators (38.9%), and prednisolone (PSL) (36.1%). In all, 23 cases achieved remission without PSL; 5 were managed with compression therapy alone or even observation; 18 received antiplatelet monotherapy or combined with vasodilator/dapsone; 13 required PSL; 10 achieved remission with PSL monotherapy or PSL and single/multiple medications and 3 with PSL and multiple drugs failed to achieve remission and underwent limb amputation. There were more skin ulcers and an elevated peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) before corticosteroid induction in patients requiring PSL. Three cases with treatment failure had a markedly elevated ESR (>50). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of cPN can achieve remission without corticosteroids; an elevated WBC and the presence of skin ulcers predict the need for PSL; a high ESR before corticosteroid induction predicts treatment resistance, even with PSL.

School-aged children's movement behaviours and subjective health complaints in Japan: a cross-sectional study during COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures and after school reopenings.

BACKGROUND: Social restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have altered children's movement behaviours and impacted their mental health. However, the influence of social restrictions on subjective health complaints remains inadequately understood. This study compared adherence to 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines and the prevalence of subjective health complaints during school closure and one year after reopening. We also examined how combinations of adherence to movement behaviour recommendations relate to subjective health complaints. METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted at two points. The first survey in May 2020 included 1535 (766 boys and 769 girls) participants during school closures, while the second survey from May to July 2021 involved 1125 (583 boys and 542 girls) participants one year after school reopening. The questionnaire covered socio-demographics, physical activity, screen time, sleep, and subjective health complaints. Differences between periods were analysed using chi-square tests. Logistic regression models assessed the association between adherence to guidelines and subjective health complaints. RESULTS: During school closure, children were more likely to meet 'only sleep' recommendations and have irritability and lethargy symptoms. Irrespective of sex, those adhering to two or all three recommendations (excluding physical activity and screen time) had a lower risk of symptoms related to physical and mental pain, fatigue, irritability, and lethargy as compared to those who met none of the recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Children should meet at least one physical activity or screen time recommendation in addition to sleep recommendations for subjective health. Strategies considering the priority of each movement behaviour are crucial, even during abnormal situations, such as pandemic-related social restrictions. This study offers insightful findings concerning children's mental health issues during unprecedented and massive disasters or crises.

Prevalence and clinicopathological features of primary age-related tauopathy (PART): A large forensic autopsy study.

INTRODUCTION: Primary age-related tauopathy (PART), often regarded as a minimally symptomatic pathology of old age, lacks comprehensive cohorts across various age groups. METHODS: We examined PART prevalence and clinicopathologic features in 1589 forensic autopsy cases (≥40 years old, mean age ± SD 70.2 ± 14.2 years). RESULTS: PART cases meeting criteria for argyrophilic grain diseases (AGD) were AGD+PART (n = 181). The remaining PART cases (n = 719, 45.2%) were classified as comorbid conditions (PART-C, n = 90) or no comorbid conditions (pure PART, n = 629). Compared to controls (n = 208), Alzheimer's disease (n = 133), and AGD+PART, PART prevalence peaked in the individuals in their 60s (65.5%) and declined in the 80s (21.5%). No significant clinical background differences were found (excluding controls). However, PART-C in patients inclusive of age 80 had a higher suicide rate than pure PART (p < 0.05), and AGD+PART showed more dementia (p < 0.01) and suicide (p < 0.05) than pure PART. DISCUSSION: Our results advocate a reevaluation of the PART concept and its diagnostic criteria. HIGHLIGHTS: We investigated 1589 forensic autopsy cases to investigate the features of primary age-related tauopathy (PART). PART peaked in people in their 60s in our study. Many PART cases over 80s had comorbid pathologies in addition to neurofibrillary tangles pathology. Argyrophilic grain disease and Lewy pathology significantly affected dementia and suicide rates in PART. Our results suggest that the diagnostic criteria of PART need to be reconsidered.

Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin in soy protein temporarily enhanced the plasma amino-acid concentrations, antioxidant index, and plasma hormone levels: a randomized, double-blind cross-over trial.

This study investigated the effects of a dietary protein supplement containing enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) on plasma amino-acid levels in healthy people. A randomized double-blind cross-over trial (UMIN000044791) was conducted with a sample of nine healthy individuals. These participants ingested soy protein with or without 42 mg EMIQ for 7 days after performing mild exercise. Plasma amino-acid levels were measured before ingestion and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min after ingestion on the last day. The concentrations of total amino acids at 0 and 120 min and easily oxidized amino acids at 120 min were significantly higher in the plasma of individuals who consumed 42 mg EMIQ. Oxidative stress levels were lower and plasma testosterone levels were higher in participants who ingested soy protein with 42 mg EMIQ than in those who did not. These results suggest that daily ingestion of soy protein with 42 mg EMIQ can be useful for effective protein absorption.

A Simplified Clinical Prediction Rule for Prognosticating Dependent Daily Living in Patients with Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury: A Multicenter Nationwide Japan Registry Study.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical prediction rule (CPR) using decision tree analysis is able to show the branching of the variables under consideration in a clear, hierarchical manner, including specific reference values, which can be used as classifiers in clinical practice. However, CPRs developed by decision tree analysis for predicting the degree of independent living of patients with thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) are few. The purpose of this study was to develop a simplified CPR for prognosticating dependent daily living in patients with thoracic SCI. METHODS: We extracted data on patients with thoracic SCI from a national multicenter registry database, the Japan Rehabilitation Database (JRD). All patients with thoracic SCI who were hospitalized within 30 days after the injury onset were included. The independent living was categorized in the JRD as follows: independent socially, independent at home, needing care at home, independent at the facility, and needing care at the facility. These categories were used as the objective variables in classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. The CART algorithm was applied to develop the CPR for predicting whether patients with thoracic SCI achieve independent living at hospital discharge. RESULTS: Three hundred ten patients with thoracic SCI were included in the CART analysis. The CART model identified, in a hierarchical order, patient's age, residual function level, and the bathing sub-score of Functional Independence Measure as the top three factors with moderate classification accuracy and area under the curve. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a simplified, moderately accurate CPR for predicting whether patients with thoracic SCI achieve independent living at hospital discharge.

Early Initiation of Exoskeletal Robotic Gait Training Improves Functional Outcomes in the Patients with Stroke: A Retrospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of early initiation of gait training using hybrid assistive limb (HAL) remains unclear. This observational study aimed to investigate whether early initiation of gait training using HAL improves functional outcomes in patients with stroke. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with acute stroke admitted to our facility. HAL was used for exoskeletal robotic gait training. Study participants were median split into an early group and a late group based on the days from stroke onset to initiation of gait training using HAL. The functional outcomes, defined by the Brunnstrom recovery stage (BRS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at discharge, were compared using propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS: We performed a propensity score-matched analysis in 63 patients with stroke (31 from the early group and 32 from the late group), and 17 pairs were matched. There were no significant differences in discharge in the BRS of the upper limb and finger in the post-matched cohort. On the other hand, the BRS of the lower limb in the early group was significantly higher than that in the late group. In addition, the mRS, but not FIM scores, was significantly better in the early group than that in the late group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, early initiation of gait training using HAL might improve the motor function of the paralyzed lower limb and disability in patients with stroke.

Clinical prediction rule for locomotive syndrome in older adults: A decision tree model.

BACKGROUND: No previous studies have proposed a clinical prediction rule that analyzes the factors related to the severity of locomotive syndrome. This study developed and assessed a clinical prediction rule for the severity of locomotive syndrome in older adults. METHODS: A total of 186 patients were assessed using the locomotive syndrome risk test. Classification and regression tree methodologies were used to develop the clinical prediction rule. This study developed three prediction models based on the severity of the locomotive syndrome, of which Model 3 assessed the most severe condition. The following potential predictive factors were measured and entered into each model; single-leg standing time, grip strength, preferred and maximum walking time, and timed up and go test. RESULTS: The single-leg standing test (≤59.4 or >59.4 s) was the best single discriminator for Model 1. Among those with a single-leg standing time >59.4 s, the next best predictor was grip strength (≤37.8 or >37.8 kg). In Model 2, the single-leg standing test was also the best single discriminator (≤12.6 or >12.6 s). Among those with a single-leg standing time ≤12.6, the next best predictor was TUG (≤7.9 or >7.9 s). Additionally, among those with a single-leg standing time >12.6, the next best predictor was single-leg standing time (≤55.3 or >55.3 s). In Model 3, predictive value in Model 2 was the best single discriminator (0 or 1). Among those with 1, the next best predictor was maximum walking time (≤3.75 or >3.75 s). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of Models 1, 2, and 3 were 0.737, 0.763, and 0.704, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A clinical prediction rule was developed to assess the accuracy of the models. These results can be used to screen older adults for suspected locomotive syndrome.