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Purpose Currently in Japan, public awareness of dementia is based on the concept that "anyone can develop dementia, and it is something that is familiar to many people, including family members and those close to them" (quoted from the Outline of Dementia Policy Promotion in Japan). As a part of the promotion, we have developed a web-based memory check tool using jsPsych (De Leeuw, 2015), a library released under the MIT license for conducting psychological experiments on a browser. jsPsych can be used for psychological experiments in various environments (smartphones, personal computers, etc.) and can be used for self-assessment of cognitive functions. It has been used for psychological experiments in various environments (smartphones and personal computers). Because it can be run on a browser, subjects do not need to install any special program, and it is thought to be an easier and safer way to check cognitive functions. The purpose of this study is to verify whether this web -based memory check tool can be used by a wide range of age groups and genders. Method The flow of the web-based memory check consisted of (1) a questionnaire on subject attributes, (2) an immediate replay task, (3) a choice reaction time task (Nissen & Bullemer, 1987), (4) a delayed replay task, and (5) display of results and recommendation for medical examination. The items (2) and (4) were designed to resemble the contents of a shopping trip in order to better reflect real-life impairment. The task (3) was designed to assess attentional impairment, and was administered for 3 to 5 minutes to allow for a time interval between tasks (2) and (4). The created web-based memory check tool was made available free of charge on March 11, 2021 on "ORANGENET" (https://check.orangenet.osaka/, Figure 1), a dementia awareness website for the general public. The results of the questionnaires and tests were stored as anonymous information with Wellness Open Living Lab (WOLL), the operator of "ORANGENET". We examined test results and user demographics (age, gender, educational level). Results and Discussion Information on users who used the web-based memory check tool by May 12, 2022 is shown in Table 1. The users were found to be mainly in the 50-70 age range. Users up to the age of 60 years old were mainly those who graduated from vocational schools or universities, while users in the age group of 70 years old and above included those who graduated from junior high school and high school as well. No differences were found regarding the gender of the users. These results suggest that the service may have been accepted by a wide range of age groups, genders, and educational backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In human serum, a portion of homocysteine (Hcy) exists as an N-linked form to the 1-amino group of protein lysine residues. N-homocysteinylated proteins differ structurally and functionally from native proteins. The present study strives to develop detection and potential semi-quantification methods for N-homocysteinylated apolipoprotein AI (N-HcyapoAI) in human serum. Methods: Serum treated with or without cysteamine was supplied to isoelectric focusing (IEF) followed by an immunoblot using an anti-apoAI antibody. Cysteamine treatment increased the isoelectric point for N-Hcy-apoAI, but not for unmodified apoAI, due to the presence of -SH group(s) derived from Hcy and the absence of a cysteine residue in the apoAI molecule. N-Hcy-apoAI was semi-quantified from the scanned immunoblot pattern via a computer. Results: After cysteamine treatment, N-Hcy-apoAI in the serum was identified by IEF at the position with a higher pI value compared with intact apoAI. The reproducibility (between assays) of the semi-quantification method was 19.1% CV (coefficientofvariation) foranaverage ratio5.9%ofN-Hcy-apoAI to thewholeapoAI inthe serum.Approximately1.0-7.4%of apoAI was N-homocysteinylated in the serum obtained from 27 healthy subjects. Neither the ratio of N-Hcy-apoAI nor its concentration, calculated by total apoAI concentration, indicated correlation with the so-called total (free and S-linked) Hcy concentration. Conclusions:We directly found that a portion of apoAI in the serum undergoes homocysteinylation in an N-linkage manner, and used this to develop a potential semi-quantification method for N-Hcy-apoAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We wished to determine the relationship between circulating levels of nitric oxide (NO) and cardiac index (CI) in children with congenital heart diseases. We measured the plasma levels of nitrate/nitrite (NO x), the stable end products of NO production as well as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and brain natriuretic peptide in relation to various parameters determined simultaneously. The plasma NO x levels correlated negatively with CI ( r=−0.541, p < 0.05). No correlation was observed between NO x and cardiac output. TNF-α correlated with NO x levels ( r= 0.593, p < 0.005) but not with either CI or cardiac output. Plasma levels of ANP and TNF-α were higher in atrial septal defect than those in the control group ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Elevated plasma NO x could explain the increased basal release of endothelial NO due to high pulmonary blood flow. Plasma NO x correlate negatively with CI in young patients with left-to-right shunt congenital heart diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the role of retinoic acid in chick limb formation. Results indicate that the primary function of exogenous retinoic acid is to induce polarizing activity in the limb bud.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is known to modulate myocardial contraction and coronary tone, and its inhalation reduces pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary hypertension.Objectives: To evaluate the pathophysiological role of NO in patients with a ventricular septal defect (VSD).Patients: Twenty-nine children with VSD, nine of whom had undergone VSD closure surgery, and 14 patients with Kawasaki disease. The mean age of the VSD patients was 3.1 years (range, 2 months to 9 years).Methods: Using high performance liquid chromatography, nitrate (a more stable NO oxidation product) was measured in plasma specimens of the patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation.Results: Nitrate concentrations in the pulmonary artery bore a significant relation to mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary to systemic systolic pressure ratio, and pulmonary to systemic flow ratio.Conclusions: The concentration of nitrate was in proportion to the increment in intravascular or cardiac pressure, indicating that endogenous NO is upregulated as a compensatory homeostatic attempt to reduce pulmonary pressure and blood flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article determines the level of expression of CD64, one of the Fc receptors for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, on neutrophils in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). It is said that CD64 is constitutively expressed on macrophages and monocytes. It is upregulated on neutrophils as part of the systemic response to infection, while AOSD is a rare, multi-system inflammatory syndrome.

A 1-day-old male infant with critical aortic valvular stenosis underwent balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) under echocardiographic guidance during cardiopulmonary bypass. Left ventricular function dramatically improved after BAV. This technique combined with a surgical approach was safe and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]