Successful resection of bilateral parafalcine meningioma with unilateral interhemispheric and contralateral transfalcine approach under nonintubated spontaneous breathing conditions: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: The best surgical approach for resecting bilateral parafalcine meningioma, as well as the optimal anesthesia and airway management for craniotomy in patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP) for preventing postsurgical exacerbation, remains unclear. OBSERVATIONS: A 66-year-old female with a history of multiple relapses of IP underwent craniotomy for resection of a 4.5-cm bilateral parafalcine meningioma located just beneath the inferior sagittal sinus. To avoid mechanical ventilation or high-concentration oxygenation, the entire procedure was performed under nonintubated spontaneous breathing conditions with a supraglottic airway/laryngeal mask airway (SGA/LMA) device. Half of the tumor was resected using the ipsilateral interhemispheric approach, while the remaining half was resected using the contralateral transfalcine approach (CTA). No brain retractors were required. Preoperative embolization contributed toward reducing blood loss and surgery duration. During most of the operation, additional oxygen administration was not required. The postoperative course was uneventful, without exacerbation of the IP. LESSONS: This case demonstrated the utility and feasibility of a unilateral interhemispheric approach combined with CTA for resection of a bilateral parafalcine meningioma. Additionally, this case provides an alternative method of airway and anesthesia management with an SGA/LMA device and nonintubated spontaneous breathing for the prevention of postoperative acute exacerbation of IP.

Eating behaviors and incidence of type 2 diabetes in Japanese people: The population-based Panasonic cohort study 15.

AIM/INTRODUCTION: This historical cohort study sought to research the relationship between eating behaviors and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in a large, long-term cohort of Japanese subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Panasonic Corporation employees who had no history of diabetes and attended yearly health surveys between 2008 and 2018 were included in this study. The main outcome measure was diabetes onset. RESULTS: This study included 128,594 participants and 6,729 participants who developed type 2 diabetes in the study period. Skipping breakfast, fast eating, snacking after dinner, and eating meals before sleeping were linked with the risk of the incidence of type 2 diabetes. In individuals with a BMI < 25 kg/m2, fast eating (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-1.90), and eating meals before sleeping (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.17) were likewise associated with an increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, fast eating (HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.89-1.30) and meals before sleeping (HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-1.01) were not related to the occurrence of type 2 diabetes in individuals with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (P value for interaction = 0.0007 [fast eating] and 0.007 [meals before sleeping], respectively). No significant interaction effect between sex and eating behavior was found. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to Japanese people, especially in people with a BMI < 25 kg/m2, eating behaviors may be a risk factor for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes.

Synchronized Expansion and Contraction of Olfactory, Vomeronasal, and Taste Receptor Gene Families in Hystricomorph Rodents.

Chemical senses, including olfaction, pheromones, and taste, are crucial for the survival of most animals. There has long been a debate about whether different types of senses might influence each other. For instance, primates with a strong sense of vision are thought to have weakened olfactory abilities, although the oversimplified trade-off theory is now being questioned. It is uncertain whether such interactions between different chemical senses occur during evolution. To address this question, we examined four receptor gene families related to olfaction, pheromones, and taste: olfactory receptor (OR), vomeronasal receptor type 1 and type 2 (V1R and V2R), and bitter taste receptor (T2R) genes in Hystricomorpha, which is morphologically and ecologically the most diverse group of rodents. We also sequenced and assembled the genome of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus. By examining 16 available genome assemblies alongside the grasscutter genome, we identified orthologous gene groups among hystricomorph rodents for these gene families to separate the gene gain and loss events in each phylogenetic branch of the Hystricomorpha evolutionary tree. Our analysis revealed that the expansion or contraction of the four gene families occurred synchronously, indicating that when one chemical sense develops or deteriorates, the others follow suit. The results also showed that V1R/V2R genes underwent the fastest evolution, followed by OR genes, and T2R genes were the most evolutionarily stable. This variation likely reflects the difference in ligands of V1R/V2Rs, ORs, and T2Rs: species-specific pheromones, environment-based scents, and toxic substances common to many animals, respectively.

Genetic Ablation of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase Isoform 4 Gene Enhances Recovery from Hyperoxic Lung Injury: Insights into Antioxidant and Inflammatory Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoform 4 (PDK4) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis. The objective of this study was to examine whether the genetic depletion of the PDK4 gene attenuates hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal mice. METHODS: Neonatal PDK4-/- mice and wild-type (WT) mice were exposed to oxygen concentrations of 21% (normoxia) and 95% (hyperoxia) for the first 4 days of life. Pulmonary histological assessments were performed, and the mRNA levels of lung PDK4, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and interleukin (IL)-6 were assessed. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue were quantified. RESULTS: Following convalescence from neonatal hyperoxia, PDK4-/- mice exhibited improved lung alveolarization. Notably, PDK4-/- mice displayed significantly elevated MCP-1 protein levels in pulmonary tissues following 4 days of hyperoxic exposure, whereas WT mice showed increased IL-6 protein levels under similar conditions. Furthermore, neonatal PDK4-/- mice subjected to hyperoxia demonstrated markedly higher MCP-1 mRNA expression at 4 days of age compared to WT mice, while IL-6 mRNA expression remained unaffected in PDK4-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS: Newborn PDK4-/- mice exhibited notable recovery from hyperoxia-induced lung injury, suggesting the potential protective role of PDK4 depletion in mitigating lung damage.

The transition of metabolic phenotypes and cardiovascular events: Panasonic cohort study 16.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to investigate whether changes in metabolic phenotype affect the risk of cardiovascular events. METHODS: All 117,589 participants were included in this retrospective cohort study. The metabolic phenotypes of the participants were assessed at two points (the second evaluation was set 2 years after the first evaluation), and the incidence rate of cardiovascular events was observed for 11 years. The main outcome was 3-point major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which comprises cardiovascular death, nonfatal coronary artery disease, and nonfatal stroke incidence. RESULTS: Of the participants, 2748 (2.3%) cases of 3-point MACE were identified during follow-up. The stable metabolically healthy obesity group had a higher risk of 3-point MACE than those with stable metabolically healthy nonobesity (MHNO). Additionally, the change from metabolically healthy obesity to MHNO for 2 years decreased the risk of 3-point MACE (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12: 95% CI: 0.84-1.47) to the same level as stable MHNO. However, the change from metabolically abnormal nonobesity and metabolically abnormal obesity to MHNO for 2 years maintained a higher risk of 3-point MACE (HR, 1.66 [95% CI: 1.36-2.01]; HR, 1.91 [95% CI: 1.22-2.81]) than those with stable MHNO. CONCLUSIONS: Change in metabolic phenotype is associated with incident 3-point MACE.

Association of hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 gene with the need of home oxygen therapy in premature Japanese infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has a lasting effect on the respiratory function of infants, imposing chronic health burdens. BPD is influenced by various prenatal, postnatal, and genetic factors. This study explored the connection between BPD and home oxygen therapy (HOT), and then we examined the association between HOT and a specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1) gene among premature Japanese infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prenatal and postnatal data from 212 premature infants were collected and analyzed by four SNPs (rs975563, rs10942332, rs179851, and rs4703570) around HAPLN1 using the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method. The clinical characteristics and genotype frequencies of HAPLN1 were assessed and compared between HOT and non-HOT groups. RESULTS: Individuals with AA/AC genotypes in the rs4703570 SNP exhibited significantly higher HOT rates at discharge than those with CC homozygotes (odds ratio, 1.20, 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.35, p = .038). A logistic regression analysis determined that CC homozygotes in the rs4703570 SNP did not show a statistically significant independent association with HOT at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Although our study did not reveal a correlation between HAPLN1 and the onset of BPD, we observed that individuals with CC homozygosity at the rs4703570 SNP exhibit a reduced risk of HOT.

In Silico Screening and Experimental Verification of Near-Infrared-Emissive Two-Boron-Doped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Embedding two boron atoms into a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) leads to the formation of a neutral analogue that is isoelectronic to the corresponding dicationic PAH skeleton, which can significantly alter its electronic structure. Based on this concept, we explore herein the identification of near-infrared (NIR)-emissive PAHs with the aid of an in silico screening method. Using perylene as the PAH scaffold, we embedded two boron atoms and fused two thiophene rings to it. Based on this design concept, all possible structures (ca. 2500 entities) were generated using a comprehensive structure generator. Time-dependent DFT calculations were conducted on all these structures, and promising candidates were extracted based on the vertical excitation energy, transition dipole moment, and atomization energy per bond. One of the extracted dithieno-diboraperylene candidates was synthesized and indeed exhibited emission at 724 nm with a quantum yield of 0.40 in toluene, demonstrating the validity of this screening method. This modification was further applied to other PAHs, and a series of thienobora-modified PAHs was synthesized.

Thermochromic Afterglow from Benzene-1,4-Diboronic Acid-Doped Co-crystals.

The accurate thermosensing requires a minimum impact of autofluorescence and light scattering from the samples. In this study, we discovered that commercially available benzene-1,4-diboronic acid (BDBA) doped co-crystals with trimethylolpropane (TMP) exhibit excellent thermochromic dual phosphorescence properties over a wide temperature range from -132 to 40 °C, despite its simple structure that does not have any donor-acceptor linkage. The dual phosphorescence was consisted of monomeric benzene-1,4-diboronate (BDBA ester) and aggregation-stabilized species. With an increase in temperature, the emission intensity from the monomeric state significantly decreased, whereas that originating from the aggregated state remained almost constant owing to the difference in their thermal stabilities. Further investigation revealed that molecular distortions in singlet excited states enable efficient intersystem crossing, causing efficient phosphorescence from the monomeric state of BDBA ester.

Triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio and type 2 diabetes incidence: Panasonic Cohort Study 10.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated the association between the ratio of triglycerides (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the incidence of diabetes in adults and discovered that a high TG/HDL-C ratio was linked to an elevated risk of new-onset diabetes. However, the comparison of predicting diabetes development among lipid profiles including the TG/HDL-C ratio, and the ratio of TG/HDL-C cut-off value has received limited attention. We examined the relationship between diabetes onset and the TG/HDL-C ratio in addition to the applicable cut-off value for predicting diabetes onset. METHODS: This study included 120,613 participants from the health examination database at Panasonic Corporation from 2008 to 2017. Cox regression analysis employing multivariable models was used to investigate the association between lipid profiles, particularly the ratio of TG/HDL-C and the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The multivariable model was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose levels after fasting, smoking status, and exercise habits. Areas under time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs) were employed to assess the prediction performance and cut-off values of each indicator. A fasting plasma glucose level of 126 mg/dL, a self-reported history of diabetes, or usage of antidiabetic medicines were used to identify T2D. RESULTS: During the course of the study, 6,080 people developed T2D. The median follow-up duration was 6.0 (3-10) years. Multivariable analysis revealed that the ratio of TG/HDL-C (per unit, HR; 1.03 [95% CI 1.02-1.03]) was substantially linked to the risk of incident T2D. AUC and cut-off points for the ratio of TG/HDL-C for T2D development after 10 years were 0.679 and 2.1, respectively. Furthermore, the AUC of the ratio of TG/HDL-C was considerably larger compared to that of LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG alone (all P < 0.001). We discovered an interaction effect between sex, BMI, and lipid profiles in subgroup analysis. Females and participants having a BMI of < 25 kg/m2 showed a higher correlation between lipid profile levels and T2D onset. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of TG/HDL-C was found to be a stronger predictor of T2D development within 10 years than LDL-C, HDL-C, or TG, indicating that it may be useful in future medical treatment support.

School-Age Outcomes of Antenatal Magnesium Sulphate in Preterm Infants.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) therapy given to women at risk of preterm birth reduced the risk of cerebral palsy in early childhood. However, its effect on longer-term neurological outcomes remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the effects of antenatal MgSO4 therapy on school-age outcomes of preterm infants. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two reviewers independently evaluated the eligibility for inclusion and extracted data. RESULTS: Ten RCTs were included. Only two of them were on school-age outcomes. Antenatal MgSO4 therapy had no impact on cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, neurosensory disability, and death at school-age. Meta-analysis on mental retardation and visual impairment was not able to be performed due to different methods of evaluation. In the analysis of short-term outcomes conducted as secondary outcomes, antenatal MgSO4 therapy increased the risk of maternal adverse events with any symptom (3 RCTs; risk ratio 2.79; 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 7.05, low certainty of evidence) but was not associated with any neonatal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The number of cases was insufficient to determine the impact of antenatal MgSO4 therapy on school-age outcomes. Further accumulation of long-term data is required.

A new strategy to exploit maximum rate performance for aqueous batteries through a judicious selection of MOF-type electrodes.

A metal-organic framework (MOF) having a redox active 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxdiimide (NDI) derivative in its organic linker shows excellent rate performance as an electrode material for aqueous batteries thanks to its large pores. Among aqueous electrolytes examined, K+-based ones exhibit the highest rate performance, which is caused by the highest mobility of the smallest hydrated K+ ion not only in the aqueous electrolyte but also in the electrode. Since the use of a counter electrode with insufficiently small pores for the full-cell configuration offsets this merit, our study may lead to a conclusion that the maximum rate performance for aqueous batteries will be accomplished only through further elaboration of both electrode materials with sufficiently large pores, in which hydrated ions can travel equally fast as those in the electrolyte.

Eating Behaviors and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Japanese People: The Population-Based Panasonic Cohort Study 14.

Evidence on common eating behaviors to support the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Japanese people is insufficient. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association of diet behaviors (eg, skipping breakfast, eating speed, snack after dinner, and alcohol consumption) with incident CVD in Japanese individuals. Employees of Panasonic Corporation who underwent the annual health checkups and without a history of CVD at baseline were enrolled. The main outcome was incident 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The secondary outcomes were incident coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. To assess the effect of BMI, the subgroup analysis was conducted. In total, 132,795 participants were included. Overall, 3115, 1982, and 1165 participants developed 3-point MACE, CAD, and stroke, respectively. Skipping breakfast (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.23) and fast eating (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47) were associated with 3-point MACE in the participants overall. Skipping breakfast (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.10-1.37) and fast eating (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.71) were also associated with 3-point MACE in participants with BMI < 25 kg/m2. In contrast, in participants with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, these associations were not detectable (P value for the interaction between subgroups = 0.09 [skipping breakfast] and 0.03 [fast eating], respectively). The diet behavior is a potential risk factor of incident CVD in Japanese people, particularly in those with BMI < 25 kg/m2.

Estimated small dense low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and incident type 2 diabetes in Japanese people: Population-based Panasonic cohort study 13.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association between estimated small dense low-density lipoprotein (sd-LDL) and incident type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We analyzed the data from a health checkup under a program conducted by Panasonic Corporation between 2008 and 2018. A total of 120,613 participants were included, of whom 6,080 developed type 2 diabetes. Estimated large buoyant (lb)-LDL cholesterol and sd-LDL cholesterol was calculated by the formula using triglyceride and LDL cholesterol. Cox proportional hazard model and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to evaluate the association between the lipid profiles and incident type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that LDL cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, estimated large buoyant (lb)-LDL cholesterol, and estimated sd-LDL were associated with incident type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the area under the ROC curve and optimal cut-off values for estimated sd-LDL cholesterol for incident type 2 diabetes at 10 years were 0.676 and 35.9 mg/dL, respectively. The area under the curve of estimated sd-LDL cholesterol was higher than that of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or estimated lb-LDL cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The estimated sd-LDL cholesterol was an important predictor of future incidence of diabetes within 10 years.

Photodissociative Modules that Control Dual-Emission Properties in Donor-π-Acceptor Organoborane Fluorophores.

Donor-π-acceptor fluorophores that consist of an electron-donating amino group and an electron-accepting triarylborane moiety generally exhibit substantial solvatochromism in their fluorescence while retaining high fluorescence quantum yields even in polar media. Herein, we report a new family of this compound class, which bears ortho-P(=X)R2 -substituted phenyl groups (X=O or S) as a photodissociative module. The P=X moiety that intramolecularly coordinates to the boron atom undergoes dissociation in the excited state, giving rise to dual emission from the corresponding tetra- and tricoordinate boron species. The susceptibility of the systems to photodissociation depends on the coordination ability of the P=O and P=S moieties, whereby the latter facilitates dissociation. The intensity ratios of the dual emission bands are sensitive to environmental parameters, including temperature, solution polarity, and the viscosity of the medium. Moreover, precise tuning of the P(=X)R2 group and the electron-donating amino moiety led to single-molecule white emission in solution.

Association between occupation type and development of type 2 diabetes: A population-based Panasonic cohort study 3.

Background: Due to a lack of investigation on the association between the type of occupation and the development of type 2 diabetes among Japanese individuals, we aimed to assess this association in 98,935 Japanese individuals. Methods: This long-term retrospective cohort study included participants selected from medical health checkup programs conducted at the Panasonic Corporation, Osaka, Japan, from 2008 to 2018. Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between occupation type and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Results: From 2008 to 2018, 5,008 participants developed type 2 diabetes. The proportion of never smokers, those with slow eating speeds, and those working with a flextime system was higher in men with technical jobs than in salespersons, manufacturers, and office workers (p < 0.0001). Cox regression analyses revealed that occupation type was associated with an increased probability of type 2 diabetes development in men but not in women. Multivariate analyses showed that the hazard ratios were 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.26], 1.20 (95% CI, 1.10-1.30), and 1.11 (95% CI, 1.02-1.21) in men working as salespersons, manufacturers, and office workers, respectively (reference group: men with technical jobs). On the other hand, the occupation type was not associated with the development of type 2 diabetes in women. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that occupation type might be an independent factor in the development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extremely Premature Infants: A Scoping Review for Identifying Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Over the years, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) affects the pulmonary function of infants, resulting in chronic health burdens for infants and their families. The aim of this scoping review was to screen available evidence regarding perinatal risk factors associated with the development and severity of BPD. METHODS: The eligibility criteria of the studies were year of publication between 2016 and 2021; setting of a developed country; English or Japanese as the study language; and randomized controlled, cohort, or case-control design. The titles and abstracts of the studies were screened by independent reviewers. RESULTS: Of 8189 eligible studies, 3 were included for severe BPD and 26 were included for moderate BPD. The risk factors for severe BPD were male sex, iatrogenic preterm birth, maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), low gestational age, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth weight, mechanical ventilation on day 1, and need for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management. The risk factors for moderate or severe BPD included male sex, premature rupture of membranes, clinical chorioamnionitis, maternal HDP, SGA birth weight, bubbly/cystic appearance on X-ray, and PDA management. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several risk factors for BPD. We plan to confirm the validity of the new classification using the existing dataset.

Chemometrics-assisted mechanism study of the room-temperature phosphorescence on nanoscopic boronate assemblies.

Boronate assemblies, derived from benzene-1,4-diboronic acid, showed room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in both the solid-state and dispersions, being quite sensitive to the preparation conditions. Our chemometrics-assisted quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) analysis between the nanostructure and RTP behavior of boronate assemblies led us not only to understand their RTP mechanism but also to predict the RTP properties of unknown assemblies from the PXRD patterns.

Association between uric acid levels and incidence of type 2 diabetes: Population-based Panasonic cohort study 11.

AIMS: This cohort study intended to assess the association between serum uric acid levels and incidence of type 2 diabetes in a Japanese population. METHODS: Individuals who participated a medical health checkup program carried out by Panasonic Corporation from 2008 to 2018 were included in this study. A total of 122,123 participants (92,718 men and 29,405 women) were included. During the research period, 6,386 participants developed type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that, in men, serum uric acid levels were not significantly associated with incident type 2 diabetes after adjusting for diabetes risk factors. However, in women, the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence was higher in the group with uric acid levels 5.1-6.0 mg/dL (hazard ratio, 2.01 [95 % confidence interval: 1.26-3.42]) or > 6.1 mg/dL (hazard ratio, 1.85 [95 % confidence interval: 1.11-3.22]) than in the group with uric acid levels ≤ 3 mg/dL. Furthermore, in women, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and optimized cut-off values of uric acid for the incidence of type 2 diabetes at 10 years were 0.720 and 4.8 mg/dL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum uric acid levels were associated with incident type 2 diabetes in Japanese women but not in Japanese men.

Revision of the genus Leptobatopsis Ashmead, 1900 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Banchinae) from Japan, with some taxonomic notes of Asian species.

The Japanese species of the genus Leptobatopsis Ashmead, 1900 are revised. A total of eight species are recorded from Japan, including a new species, Leptobatopsis yaima sp. nov., and three species, L. annularis Kasparyan, 2007, L. koreana Lee & Kang, 2015, and L. nigricapitis Chandra & Gupta, 1977, newly recorded from Japan. A Chinese species L. annularis Sheng & Sun, 2013 is a homonym of L. annularis Kasparyan, 2007. Both species are clearly different, and we therefore propose a new replacement name for the former, L. sinica (nom. nov.). Leptobatopsis daedeokensis Lee & Kang, 2015 is newly synonymised with L. annularis Kasparyan, 2007. The taxonomic position of L. nigra immaculata Momoi, 1971 is changed from a subspecies of L. nigra Cushman, 1933 to separate species, L. immaculata. The female of L. badia Momoi, 1970 is newly described. A key to the Japanese species of this genus is proposed.