The Similarities in Microbial and Chemical Patterns of Fermentation in Two Open Environments were Promoted by Using 150-Year-Old Nukadoko as Starters.

Nukadoko, a fermented rice bran employed in traditional Japanese pickling, uses lactic acid bacteria to ferment vegetables. Here, we report the microbial and chemical data of a mixture of matured 150-year-old nukadoko and commercially available rice bran placed in two open environments over 29 days. Across the two environments, Loigolactobacillus was identified as the dominant microbial genera in the later stages of fermentation in nukadoko. The period of increase in the relative abundance of Loigolactobacillus correlated with a decrease in pH and Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) values. While the two environments showed a difference in the rate of change in microbial diversity, they shared the common process through which Loigolactobacillus outcompeted adventitious bacteria in nukadoko, as indicated by the alpha and beta diversity index. Thus, the similarities in microbial and chemical data across two open environments during fermentation using starters indicate that starters contribute to the stability of fermentation in open environments.

Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of Treatment Strategies for Antipsychotic-Induced Akathisia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotics are the treatment of choice for schizophrenia, but they often induce akathisia. However, comparative efficacy of treatment strategies for akathisia remains unclear. DESIGN: We performed a systematic review and network meta-analyses (PROSPERO CRD42023450720). We searched multiple databases on July 24, 2023. We included randomized clinical trials comparing 1 or more treatment strategies for antipsychotic-induced akathisia against each other or control conditions. We included adults with schizophrenia or other psychiatric disorders treated with antipsychotics. The primary outcome was akathisia severity at posttreatment. Secondary outcomes included akathisia response, all-cause dropout, psychotic symptoms, and long-term akathisia severity. We synthesized data in random effects frequentist network meta-analyses and assessed confidence in the evidence using CINeMA. RESULTS: We identified 19 trials with 661 randomized participants (mean age 35.9 [standard deviation 12.0]; 36.7% [195 of 532] women). No trials examined dose reduction or switching of antipsychotics. Findings suggested 5-HT2A antagonists (k = 6, n = 108; standardized mean difference [SMD] -1.07 [95% confidence interval, -1.42; -0.71]) and beta-blockers (k = 8, n = 105; SMD -0.46 [-0.85; -0.07]) may improve akathisia severity, but confidence in the evidence was deemed low. We also found that benzodiazepines (k = 2, n = 13; SMD -1.62 [-2.64; -0.59]) and vitamin B6 (k = 3, n = 67; SMD -0.99 [-1.49; -0.50]) might also be beneficial, but confidence in the evidence was very low. Analyses of secondary outcomes did not provide additional insights. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that 5-HT2A antagonists, beta-blockers, and with a lesser certainty, benzodiazepines, and vitamin B6 might improve akathisia. Given the low to very low confidence in the evidence of add-on agents and the absence of evidence of their long-term efficacy, careful consideration of side effects is warranted. These recommendations are extremely preliminary and further trials are needed.

Patterns of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for chorioretinal vascular diseases: Analysis of a nationwide claims database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Although intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy is currently considered the first-line treatment for chorioretinal vascular diseases in Japan, information regarding its treatment pattern is scarce. This study investigated the patterns of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for chorioretinal vascular diseases. METHODS: A health insurance claims database from acute care hospitals was used to estimate treatment intervals and continuation and drop-out rates regarding the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. Patients aged ≥50 years diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration or aged ≥18 years diagnosed with diabetic macular edema or retinal vein occlusion were analyzed. RESULTS: Data were included for 76,535, 49,704, and 37,681 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion, respectively; exactly 8,111, 2,283, and 6,896 received the treatment, respectively. The mean and median interval ranges during the maintenance phase by treatment initiation year were 94-100 and 73-80, 111-120 and 98-102, and 97-103 and 87-93 days for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion, respectively, without any trend over time. A tendency to increase the treatment continuation rate was indicated in later years by Kaplan-Meier curves. The drop-out rate in the treatment initiation year (2016) was 32% from 63% (2009), 53% from 69% (2014), and 36% from 47% (2013) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For all these diseases, the treatment intervals did not change remarkably, and a tendency toward improved treatment continuation was suggested.