Search Results (318)

Ascorbate (AsA), or vitamin C, is a central redox metabolite that functions as an antioxidant, enzyme cofactor, and electron donor. Its cellular function depends not only on biosynthesis or dietary uptake, but also on rapid recycling from its oxidized forms, monodehydroascorbate (MDHA) and dehydroascorbate (DHA). This requirement is especially evident in high-demand systems such as plant chloroplasts, which face continuous photosynthetic reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under illumination, and human neutrophils, which accumulate millimolar ascorbate to withstand NADPH oxidase-driven oxidative bursts in pathogen defense. Here, we revisit ascorbate recycling from a sulfur-centered perspective. Historical studies of plant, animal, and solution-chemistry pathways show that many DHA-reducing systems converge on sulfur chemistry, including glutathione (GSH), cysteine-dependent enzymes, H₂S, and modified thiols. We propose that ascorbate recycling is organized as a multilayered system in which nonenzymatic reactions are accelerated by enzymes, localized within cellular or extracellular compartments, and integrated with broader NAD(P)H-, glutathione-, sulfur-, and diet-dependent redox networks. Within this framework, the AsA/DHA couple can be viewed as a molecular redox capacitor that buffers transient oxidative pressure. Reactive sulfur species (RSS), including persulfides and polysulfides, represent chemically plausible but experimentally unresolved contributors to DHA reduction. Full article

Dyslipidemia in adolescents represents an early and potentially modifiable stage in the lifelong trajectory of cardiovascular disease. However, optimal lipid screening strategies in this age group remain controversial, particularly regarding feasibility, biological relevance, and reliance on family history. Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL cholesterol) has emerged as a promising screening marker because it reflects the total burden of atherogenic lipoproteins and can be reliably assessed even without fasting, making it particularly suitable for large-scale pediatric screening settings. A recent nationwide population-based study of Korean adolescents provides robust real-world evidence supporting the utility of non-HDL cholesterol in dyslipidemia screening, across both sexes and independent of familial lipid risk. From a nutritional and public health perspective, non-HDL cholesterol is closely related to dietary habits, postprandial hyperlipidemia, and metabolic stress, and is particularly important in the modern food environment characterized by increased consumption of ultra-processed foods. This Opinion discusses the biological rationale, clinical feasibility, and population-level implications of non-HDL cholesterol-based screening in adolescents. By linking lipid biology with nutrition-focused prevention and lifelong cardiovascular health, non-HDL cholesterol may serve as a practical gatekeeper for early risk identification and upstream intervention. Full article

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis is the principal bacterial species implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Despite its central role, direct detection of periodontopathic bacteria is not routinely performed in dental clinics. Although test kits using monoclonal antibodies against P. gingivalis have been reported, no practical chairside method has yet been established. Objectives: In this study, we developed an immunochromatography system that enables rapid and quantitative detection of P. gingivalis within 10 min. Methods: We evaluated the performance of the developed immunochromatography system and its dedicated measurement reader. Results: The kit demonstrated a minimum detection limit of 2.6 × 10⁴ CFU/mL and maintained detection capability across fimbrial types I and II. The dedicated reader showed strong correlations with a reference reader (R² = 0.9921) and visual color chart evaluation (R² = 0.9347). High intra- and inter-device precision was observed, with coefficients of variation less than 0.6%. Although the presence of 2% whole blood interfered with visual interpretation, other oral substances, including toothpastes and mouthwashes, did not significantly affect the assay performance. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings indicate that the developed system may serve as a rapid and reliable chairside tool for quantitative detection of P. gingivalis, with potential utility in the diagnosis and management of periodontitis and related systemic conditions. Full article

Background and Objectives: The fourth heart sound (S4) is a recognized marker of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, suggesting a potential risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). However, low-frequency sounds are often audible during the S4-corresponding phase in the general population without symptoms or a history of CHF. The present retrospective cross-sectional exploratory study examined the acoustic features of the S4 phase sound in patients with stage A or B heart failure in association with echocardiographic markers. Materials and Methods: Sixty asymptomatic male patients underwent simultaneous phonocardiographic and electrocardiographic recordings using Cardio-EGG (AMI Inc.). The amplitude of acoustic signals during the S4 phase was quantified across ten frequency bands using a continuous wavelet transform. Echocardiographic parameters of LV diastolic function were also assessed. Results: Several lower-frequency bands demonstrated significant correlations with LV diastolic indices. After adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, HbA1c, interventricular septal thickness, and coronary artery disease, strong associations were observed at the fourth left sternal border signals in the [7.81, 15.63) Hz band and septal E/e′ (r = 0.41, p = 0.0012). The [15.63, 31.25) Hz band was associated with septal E/e′, septal and lateral e′ velocities, and the E/A ratio. This frequency range at the apex also correlated with A-wave velocity (p = 0.0011). Conclusions: Specific low-frequency acoustic components observed during the S4 phase are closely associated with echocardiographic markers of left ventricular diastolic function in asymptomatic individuals. These characteristics resemble those of the standard S4, indicating that digital phonocardiography could facilitate the identification of early cardiac dysfunction before the onset of heart failure. Full article

The leaves and bark of Litsea species have traditionally been used as folk medicine to treat pain, headache, inflammation, diarrhea, and gastroenteritis. This study investigated whether dietary supplementation with Litsea cubeba leaves could preserve key functional components of the colonic barrier in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with L. cubeba leaves (20 g/kg diet) for 2 weeks, and colitis was induced by administering 3% (w/v) DSS in drinking water during the final week. Dietary L. cubeba leaf supplementation significantly attenuated DSS-induced body weight loss and suppressed the increase in Disease Activity Index. In addition, L. cubeba leaf supplementation attenuated DSS-induced reduction in fecal immunoglobulin A content and significantly prevented the reduction in fecal mucin content, which are key functional components of the colonic barrier. Furthermore, plasma levels of the inflammatory chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were significantly decreased by L. cubeba leaf supplementation, accompanied by a reduction in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity, a marker of liver injury. These findings suggest that dietary L. cubeba leaf supplementation alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice, at least in part, by preserving key functional components of the colonic barrier rather than predominantly through direct suppression of colonic inflammatory gene expression. Full article

This study investigated the optoelectronic synaptic properties of amorphous gallium oxide (GaO_x) thin films for low-power physical reservoir computing (PRC) applications. The fabricated devices were irradiated with time series UV-C light to characterize the paired pulse facilitation (PPF) index, a fundamental synaptic property governed by transient photocurrent dynamics. Furthermore, the short-term memory (STM) capacity and parity check (PC) nonlinearity were quantitatively evaluated as essential PRC performance metrics, alongside a practical demonstration using a handwritten digit recognition task. The experimental results revealed a high PPF index when the width and interval of the input light pulses were comparable to or shorter than the inherent photocurrent time constants of the device. Although the evaluated nonlinearity was lower than that of conventional optoelectronic artificial synapses based on other semiconductor materials, the GaO_x device exhibited a comparable short-term memory capacity. Consequently, the reservoir layer achieved a high classification accuracy of approximately 90% in the handwritten digit recognition task. As these performance metrics were higher than those of the annealed sample, the device without annealing proved to be more suitable for PRC applications. These findings indicate that the amorphous GaO_x thin film device holds significant potential to serve as a robust, UV-C-responsive edge artificial intelligence (AI) sensor in harsh environments, such as outer space. Full article

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major zoonotic pathogen, with pigs serving as the principal animal reservoir. While consumption of raw or undercooked pig liver is a well-recognized risk factor, systematic data on HEV contamination in retail pork meat remain limited. In this study, 1546 retail pork samples collected from eight geographic regions across Japan were analyzed for HEV RNA using a validated nested RT-PCR method. Analytical sensitivity was determined using the World Health Organization (WHO) International Standard for HEV RNA, yielding a 95% limit of detection (LOD95) of 134 IU/g (95% CI: 105–193). Overall, 15 samples (1.0%) tested positive for HEV RNA, with no significant regional variation (0.4–1.8%; p = 0.8375) or difference between domestically produced (1.0%, 12/1260) and imported pork (1.0%, 3/286; p = 0.7478). Viral loads in quantifiable samples (n = 11) ranged from 9.3 × 10² to 1.0 × 10⁵ IU/g. Genotyping based on partial ORF2 sequences revealed subtype 3b as predominant (n = 7), followed by 3a (n = 5), 3f (n = 2), and 4c (n = 1). Each of the 15 strains showed high nucleotide sequence identity (98.8–100%) to its closest reported Japanese strain(s). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all strains clustered with their closest reported HEV strains, with high bootstrap support, despite genetic diversity within subtypes. These findings demonstrate that retail pork meat in Japan is contaminated with HEV RNA and may represent a potential source of human exposure. However, whether HEV RNA-positive retail pork meat contains infectious virus capable of causing human infection remains to be determined. Full article

Background: Focal entrapment of the Common Peroneal (Fibular) nerve (CPN) is the most frequent lower-extremity nerve entrapment yet it can be difficult to diagnose clinically. The Phoenix Sign—an increase in extensor hallucis longus (EHL) motor strength following lidocaine injection—may assist diagnosis. Additional observed effects include improved arterial perfusion and Doppler waveforms. Methods: In this double-blinded, randomized small pilot study, only four patients (N = 4) with diabetic peripheral neuropathy underwent bilateral peripheral nerve blocks with lidocaine or papaverine. The first leg to be tested was randomized; the contralateral leg received a different agent that was randomized initially. Pre- and post-block assessments included motor strength, Doppler velocity of dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries, and near-infrared spectroscopy for microvascular perfusion. Results: All patients demonstrated increased EHL motor strength after injection with either agent. Doppler waveforms of the dorsalis pedis artery improved: lidocaine produced a 151.7% increase in blood flow velocity (p = 0.03), whereas papaverine produced a 16.8% increase (p = 0.19). Posterior tibial artery flow increased by 37.4% with lidocaine (p = 0.06) and 13.9% with papaverine (p = 0.33), but neither was statistically significant. No changes in oxygen saturation, oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, or total hemoglobin were observed using near-infrared spectroscopy. The consistency of motor responses across subjects supports the validity of the Phoenix Sign as a diagnostic tool. Conclusions: Peripheral nerve blocks with lidocaine or papaverine improved motor strength and macrovascular function in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, though microvascular changes were not detected. These preliminary findings are consistent with the Phoenix Sign phenomenon and support further study as a potential clinical indicator. While these preliminary findings indicate support as a diagnostic tool, they are preliminary and hypothesis-generating for evaluating the Phoenix Sign as a potential clinical indicator of CPN entrapment and highlight the need for larger studies to evaluate vascular responses. Trial Registration: NCT06919289 (retrospectively registered 8 April 2025). Full article

The global prevalence of pulmonary infections caused by non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), particularly the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), is increasing. Since NTM are ubiquitous in moist environments and resistant to standard disinfectants, this study evaluated the efficacy of chlorous acid water (CAW) against them. CAW demonstrated superior sanitizing effects compared to sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), efficiently inactivating NTM at 100 mg/L free available chlorine even in the presence of organic matter, where 1000 mg/L NaClO failed. Instead, subcellular fractionation and protein analysis revealed that CAW penetrates the cell to induce extensive aggregation of internal functional proteins, leading to the rapid collapse of membrane potential and ATP production. Furthermore, CAW exhibited significantly lower cytotoxicity toward human lung-derived A549 cells than NaClO. These results indicate that CAW inactivates NTM effectively by targeting internal protein stability and the respiratory chain, offering a potent and safer disinfection strategy for clinical and domestic environments. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which early detection and reliable monitoring remain major clinical challenges. Electroencephalography (EEG) combined with machine learning has attracted growing interest as a scalable and non-invasive approach to AD detection, yet reported classification accuracies vary widely across studies and are rarely comparable or clinically translatable. One important reason is that the analytical pipeline—from data acquisition to model validation—involves numerous methodological choices whose inter-stage dependencies and reproducibility implications are rarely made explicit. In this narrative review, we adopt a methodological chain framework to make these dependencies explicit, organizing EEG-based AD research into five sequential stages: data acquisition, preprocessing, feature representation, modeling, and validation. Choices at each stage can shape downstream analyses, inflate reported performance, and reduce cross-study comparability in ways that are difficult to detect when stages are assessed independently. These effects are particularly consequential in EEG-based AD research, where cohorts are typically small and biomarkers are subtle. We make three primary contributions: (1) we describe inter-stage methodological dependencies that may contribute to reproducibility problems and performance inflation; (2) we synthesize major sources of methodological variability across representative EEG–AD studies and evaluate their differential impact on spectral, connectivity, and complexity features; and (3) we provide practical, stage-aligned recommendations culminating in a minimum reporting checklist. Full article

Agricultural waste streams represent an underutilized source of bioactive compounds with potential to enhance crop resilience under climate stress. We previously showed that volatile compounds (VCs) emitted from waste shiitake fungi beds (WSFBs) promote early rice seedling growth under controlled conditions. Here, we evaluated whether these early-stage effects persist after transplanting and translate into agronomic benefits under field conditions, including the record high temperatures (HTs) of the 2023 growing season in Niigata, Japan. Seedlings of two japonica cultivars, Nipponbare and Koshihikari, were exposed to WSFBs-derived VCs using a non-contact system and subsequently grown in paddy fields across two seasons (2023–2024). WSFBs-VCs-treated (+VCs) plants exhibited enhanced seedling vigor, increased tiller and panicle numbers, higher grain yield per plant, greater 1000-grain weight, and reduced grain chalkiness. Gas exchange measurements at the reproductive stage during the 2023 record HT showed that +VCs plants maintained higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, and transpiration rate, while intrinsic water-use efficiency showed a modest decline consistent with transpirational cooling. Controlled-environment assays revealed enhanced physiological stability supported by upregulation of cytokinin and stress-responsive genes under acute heat stress. Together, these results demonstrate that short-term exposure to WSFBs-derived VCs enhances rice performance under field conditions, including during extreme heat, and highlight their potential as low-cost, waste-derived biostimulants that support sustainable, circular, and climate-resilient rice production. Full article

Background: Autobiographical memory undergoes qualitative changes across the lifespan, influencing self-understanding, emotional regulation, and psychological adaptation. Research shows memory is a dynamic process, reconstructed through retrieval, narration, and social interaction. How narrative construction and empathic engagement shape memory reconsolidation and self-continuity remains insufficiently integrated. Objectives: This narrative review synthesizes theoretical, empirical, and applied findings on autobiographical memory, narrative processes, and empathy, proposing an integrative model linking memory reconsolidation, identity reconstruction, and adaptive functioning. Methods: A theory-oriented narrative review was conducted across psychology, neuroscience, gerontology, and narrative research, drawing on literature from PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, J-STAGE, and CiNii. Peer-reviewed empirical studies, systematic reviews, and theoretical papers were organized around three interrelated conceptual domains: (1) autobiographical memory and self-related processes, (2) neurobiological and emotional mechanisms relevant to memory updating and reconsolidation, and (3) narrative construction within empathically mediated social interaction contexts, with additional consideration of evidence from narrative-based and creative interventions. Results: The reviewed literature suggests that autobiographical memory functions as a plastic, socially embedded system supporting self-continuity, although the strength and consistency of evidence vary across studies and contexts. Narrativization within empathically responsive and psychologically safe contexts enhances narrative coherence, emotional integration, and perspective-taking, promoting psychological stability, although these effects are not uniformly observed across all populations and study designs. Creative narrative activities further facilitate retrieval and meaning reconstruction, extending memory updating beyond recall, while the underlying mechanisms and causal pathways remain to be fully established. Conclusions: We propose an empathy-mediated narrative reconstruction model in which creative activity, narration, empathic response, and retelling interact cyclically to support memory reconsolidation and self-narrative updating. By integrating cognitive, social, and creative dimensions, this model provides a theoretically grounded framework with implications for clinical, educational, gerontological, and creative applications. Full article

Background: Human cysticercosis, caused by the larval stage (cysticerci) of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is an important zoonotic disease. The disease is prevalent in developing countries where porcine cysticercosis is common and undercooked pork is habitually consumed. Objective: This study aimed to develop an immunochromatography-based test kit for the rapid diagnosis of human cysticercosis using low-molecular-weight antigens purified from cyst fluid of the T. solium Asian genotype to detect specific IgG antibodies in whole blood. The kit was designated as “the cysticercosis whole-blood test kit (iCys WB kit).” Methods: It was evaluated under laboratory conditions using 164 whole-blood samples, of which 21 were from confirmed cysticercosis cases. The results of the iCys WB kit, which detects anti-T. solium (cysticercus) antibodies in simulated whole blood samples, were compared with results from corresponding human serum samples. Results: When using both sample types, iCys WB kit demonstrated an accuracy of 98.8%, a sensitivity of 91.7%, a specificity of 100%, a positive likelihood ratio of 0, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.083, and an ROC area of 0.96. The agreement between results obtained from simulated whole-blood and serum samples showed perfect concordance. Conclusions: The iCys WB kit is a valuable easy-to-handle diagnostic tool and may be applicable for supporting clinical diagnosis at the point of care. Full article

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) induces tumor-selective accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), enabling fluorescence-guided visualization of malignant tissue. In urologic oncology, the most established application is photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) during transurethral resection of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, in which fluorescence can identify occult carcinoma in situ and additional papillary lesions; however, specificity may decline in the presence of inflammation, recent instrumentation, or intravesical therapy. Renal applications are emerging: oral 5-ALA before partial nephrectomy can highlight some renal tumors, but fluorescence is often heterogeneous, can overlap with normal parenchyma, and is affected by histologic subtype, necrosis, blood attenuation, and device-dependent optics. Evidence in upper tract urothelial carcinoma and prostate cancer remains preliminary, with small cohorts and practical challenges in endoscopic or robotic workflows, alongside systemic adverse events such as hypotension and photosensitivity. This review synthesizes clinical and preclinical studies of 5-ALA-based fluorescence guidance across bladder, kidney, upper tract, and prostate malignancies, focusing on where the technology is ready for practice versus where it remains investigational. We discuss common pitfalls in interpretation and implementation and outline future directions, including quantitative fluorescence and spectroscopy, standardized dosing and imaging protocols, and prospective multicenter trials linking fluorescence guidance to residual disease, recurrence, margin status, and patient-centered outcomes. Full article