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ABSTRACT Objectives Methods Results Conclusion Males, on average, are bigger and stronger than females. Hormonal differences during puberty are one reason given for this performance advantage. However, not all evidence supports that thesis. Our aim was to further this discussion by measuring early life changes between sexes (when hormones would be similar) in components of muscle function.Fifty‐one children (29 boys, 22 girls) completed this study. Forearm muscle size and strength were assessed three times with each time point being separated by approximately a year (2021–2023).There was no sex*time interaction for handgrip strength (p = 0.637). There was, however, a time (p < 0.001) and sex (p < 0.001) effect. Strength increased each year and boys were stronger than girls (difference of 1.5 [95% 0.7, 2.3] kg). There was no sex*time interaction for ulnar muscle thickness (p = 0.714) but there was a time (p < 0.001) effect. Muscle size increased each year but there was no evidence of a sex effect (p = 0.12; difference of 0.81 [95% −0.21, 1.8] mm). A strong positive within‐participant correlation between muscle size and strength (r = 0.803 95% CI: [0.72, 0.86], p < 0.0001) was found across time.Muscle size and strength increased together but this increase did not differ based on sex and boys were stronger than girls. Future work is needed to determine the reason for this difference in maximal strength. Any effect was seemingly present at the initial measurement (at the age of 4 years), since muscle size and strength did not change differently between boys and girls over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of pre‐ and postoperative supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on the recovery of continence and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function after robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP). Patients and Methods: We carried out a single‐blind randomised controlled trial involving 54 male patients scheduled to undergo RARP. The intervention group started supervised PFMT 2 months before RARP and continued for 12 months after surgery with a physiotherapist. The control group was given verbal instructions, a brochure about PFMT, and lifestyle advice. The primary outcome was 24‐h pad weight (g) at 3 months after RARP. The secondary outcomes were continence status (assessed by pad use), PFM function, and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) score. Results: Patients who participated in supervised PFMT showed significantly improved postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) compared with the control group (5.0 [0.0–908.0] g vs 21.0 [0.0–750.0] g; effect size: 0.34, P = 0.022) at 3 months after RARP based on 24‐h pad weight. A significant improvement was seen in the intervention compared with the control group (65.2% continence [no pad use] vs 31.6% continence, respectively) at 12 months after surgery (effect size: 0.34, P = 0.030). Peak pressure during a maximum voluntary contraction was higher in the intervention group immediately after catheter removal and at 6 months, and a longer duration of sustained contraction was found in the intervention group compared with the control group. We were unable to demonstrate a difference between groups in EPIC scores. Conclusion: Supervised PFMT can improve postoperative UI and PFM function after RARP. Further studies are needed to confirm whether intra‐anal pressure reflects PFM function and affects continence status in UI in men who have undergone RARP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), liver injury (ICI‐induced liver injury) as an immune‐related adverse event has become a major concern in clinical practice. Because severe cases of liver injury require administration of corticosteroids, a comprehensive evaluation is crucial, including clinical course, blood and imaging tests, and if necessary, pathological examination through liver biopsy. As with liver injury induced by other drugs, classification of injury type by R‐value is useful in deciding treatment strategies for ICI‐induced liver injury. Histologically, the most representative feature is an acute hepatitis‐like hepatocellular injury, characterized by diffuse lobular inflammation accompanied by CD8‐positive T lymphocytes. Another condition that can cause liver injury during ICI treatment is cholangitis accompanied by non‐obstructive bile duct dilatation and bile duct wall thickening. Many cases of ICI‐induced cholangitis are classified as non‐hepatocellular injury type, and they have been reported to respond poorly to corticosteroids. It is essential that gastroenterologists/hepatologists and doctors in various departments work in cooperation to develop a system that achieves early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of ICI‐induced liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The use of anti‐epileptic drugs (AEDs) in degenerative dementia (DD) remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the association of early AED administration with subsequent DD occurrence. METHODS: Using a large nationwide database, we enrolled patients newly diagnosed with epilepsy from 2014 to 2019 (n = 104,225), and using propensity score matching, we divided them into treatment (those prescribed AEDs in 2014) and control groups. The primary outcome was subsequent DD occurrence in 2019. RESULTS: Overall, 4489 pairs of patients (2156 women) were matched. The odds ratio (treatment/control) for DD occurrence was 0.533 (95% confidence interval: 0.459–0.617). The DD proportions significantly differed between the treatment (340/4489 = 0.076) and control (577/4489 = 0.129) groups. DISCUSSION: Among patients newly diagnosed with epilepsy, compared to non‐use, early AED use was associated with a lower occurrence of subsequent DD. Further investigations into and optimization of early intervention for epilepsy in DD are warranted. Highlights: Anti‐epileptic drug (AED) use before epilepsy diagnosis was linked with a lower subsequent degenerative dementia (DD) occurrence.Identifying the epileptic phenotype was crucial for justifying early AED use in DD.AED use with an epilepsy diagnosis did not pose an additional risk of DD.The potential contribution of combination drug therapy to the strategy was noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: According to the rapid progress in surgical techniques, a growing number of procedures should be learned during postgraduate training periods. This study aimed to clarify the current situation regarding urological surgical training and identify the perception gap between trainees' competency and the competency expected by instructors in Japan. Methods: Regarding the 40 urological surgical procedures selected via the Delphi method, we collected data on previous caseloads, current subjective autonomy, and confidence for future skill acquisition from trainees (<15 post‐graduate years [PGY]), and the competencies when trainees became attending doctors expected by instructors (>15 PGY), according to a 5‐point Likert scale. In total, 174 urologists in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan were enrolled in this study. Results: The response rate was 96% (165/174). In a large proportion of the procedures, caseloads grew with accumulation of years of clinical practice. However, trainees had limited caseloads of robotic and reconstructive surgeries even after 15 PGY. Trainees showed low subjective competencies at present and low confidence for future skill acquisition in several procedures, such as open cystectomy, ureteroureterostomy, and ureterocystostomy, while instructors expected trainees to be able to perform these procedures independently when they became attending doctors. Conclusion: Trainees showed low subjective competencies and low confidence for future skill acquisition in several open and reconstructive procedures, while instructors considered that these procedures should be independently performable by attending doctors. We believe that knowledge of these perception gaps is helpful to develop a practical training program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Handgrip strength may differ depending on the type of sport played during the developmental period. Youth sports in which athletes hold equipment in their hands may be the most effective for improving handgrip strength. This study aimed to examine the age at which differences in handgrip strength appear by comparing sports that involve gripping (kendo) with those that do not involve gripping (soccer) in young athletes. Methods: Two hundred and twenty‐two male athletes (115 kendo and 107 soccer) between 6 and 15 years old participated in this study. Handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer, and the average value of both hands was used for analysis. Sports experience was determined when they started practicing each sport. Handgrip strength was compared between sports. Statistical moderation was used to determine if the relationship between sport and handgrip strength depended upon the age of the athlete. Results: Kendo athletes had significantly higher handgrip strength than soccer athletes (4.77 kg [95% CI: 2.34, 7.19]) in the overall sample. We found that the relationship between sport and handgrip strength depended upon the age of the child (sport*age t = −3.6, p =.004). Using the Johnson‐Neyman procedure, we found statistically significant differences between sports from 8.48 years and older. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the type of sport played, that is, whether or not an athlete plays with sports equipment in their hands, may influence the development of handgrip strength during the period of growth, and these sports may contribute to a higher level of handgrip strength in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Ulcerative colitis‐associated neoplasia (UCAN) is characterised by multifocal tumourigenesis. A wide range of metachronous lesions have been reported to occur after endoscopic treatment of UCAN, which suggests the development of sporadic tumours in lesions treated as UCAN. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate differences of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in features and clinicopathological characteristics of intramucosal lesions in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods and results: We examined 35 intramucosal lesions resected for carcinoma or dysplasia by total colectomy from patients with UC and 71 sporadic adenomas (SAs) endoscopically resected from patients without UC. UC lesions were divided into the conventional UCAN group, defined as p53 mutant pattern and normal expression of β‐catenin, and the non‐conventional UCAN group, defined as the rest. Ki‐67 distribution, α‐methylacyl‐CoA racemase (AMACR) expression and mucin phenotypes were compared using IHC, and clinicopathological characteristics were investigated. Conventional and non‐conventional UCAN lesions were located in the left colon and rectum. Relative to the SA lesions, UCAN lesions occurred in much younger patients and exhibited more frequent basal distribution of Ki‐67 in tumour crypts. Conventional UCAN lesions tended to be non‐polyploid and exhibited a higher frequency of normal AMACR expression than SA lesions. UC lesions were heterogeneous—only two of the eight patients with multiple lesions had lesions (both non‐conventional UCAN lesions) exhibiting concordant IHC staining features. Conclusions: The basal pattern of Ki‐67 distribution, normal expression of AMACR and a non‐intestinal mucin phenotype were determined as characteristic features suggestive of UCAN. Non‐polypoid growth was another a key feature of UCAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an essential therapeutic and prognostic factor. E‐cadherin plays a crucial role in adhesive properties and intercellular interaction in various cancer tissues, including HCC, but the expression profile and functional contribution of E‐cadherin in PVTT remain unknown. This study aimed to analyze the expression of E‐cadherin in the main tumor tissue and PVTT tissue of HCC, and evaluate the functional roles of E‐cadherin in PVTT formation.A retrospective analysis was performed using the medical records of patients who underwent liver resection for HCC with PVTT, analyzing tissue specimens from 1995 to 2016. E‐cadherin expression is evaluated using immunohistochemistry and western blot. The study also uses a c‐Met inhibitor to explore its impact on E‐cadherin expression in vitro and in vivo using cell lines and a tumor xenograft mouse model.The results revealed a reduced E‐cadherin expression in PVTT tissue than in the main tumor tissue. The inhibition of c‐Met activation, frequently detected in HCC, upregulated E‐cadherin expression in HCC cell lines. Furthermore, treatment with c‐Met inhibitors induced changes in epithelial morphology, and inhibited migration and invasion of HCC cell lines.This study demonstrates the downregulation of E‐cadherin in PVTT, and underscores the potential of c‐Met inhibition in upregulating E‐cadherin and inhibiting metastatic behavior. Understanding the significance of E‐cadherin and c‐Met in HCC progression provides a foundation for future clinical investigations into the therapeutic effects of c‐Met inhibitors on PVTT in HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micropatterning is reliable method for quantifying pluripotency of human‐induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that differentiate to form a spatial pattern of sorted, ordered and nonoverlapped three germ layers on the micropattern. In this study, we propose a deep learning method to quantify spatial patterning of the germ layers in the early differentiation stage of hiPSCs using micropattern images. We propose decoding and encoding U‐net structures learning labelled Hoechst (DNA‐stained) hiPSC regions with corresponding Hoechst and bright‐field micropattern images to segment hiPSCs on Hoechst or bright‐field images. We also propose a U‐net structure to extract extraembryonic regions on a micropattern, and an algorithm to compares intensities of the fluorescence images staining respective germ‐layer cells and extract their regions. The proposed method thus can quantify the pluripotency of a hiPSC line with spatial patterning including cell numbers, areas and distributions of germ‐layer and extraembryonic cells on a micropattern, and reveal the formation process of hiPSCs and germ layers in the early differentiation stage by segmenting live‐cell bright‐field images. In our assay, the cell‐number accuracy achieved 86% and 85%, and the cell region accuracy 89% and 81% for segmenting Hoechst and bright‐field micropattern images, respectively. Applications to micropattern images of multiple hiPSC lines, micropattern sizes, groups of markers, living and fixed cells show the proposed method can be expected to be a useful protocol and tool to quantify pluripotency of a new hiPSC line before providing it to the scientific community. LAY DESCRIPTION: Human‐induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are an ideal resource for patient specific regenerative medicine. Pluripotency of a hiPSC line has to be analysed before us. Differentiated hiPSCs on a micropattern have been used for the analysis on which hiPSCs form segregated, sorted and radially ordered three germ layers. This study uses DNA‐stained fluorescence microscopy images for segmentation of the differentiated hiPSCs, together with fluorescence images staining respective ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm to classify a segmented hiPSC as any of the three germ layers. However, cells on a DNA‐stained fluorescence micropattern image are low‐contrast to background and dense that are not easily segmented by image‐processing methods. Meanwhile, regions of fluorescent pixels on the germ‐layer fluorescence images overlap, although the hiPSCs differentiating on a micropattern expand in a two‐dimensional, nonoverlapped way at the early differentiation stage. We propose a U‐net structure with flexible input micropattern sizes and with designed loss functions to identify the dense differentiated hiPSCs to improve segmentation accuracy. We then use an intensity comparison calculation that compares fluorescence intensities of all the corresponding pixels on the germ‐layer fluorescence images inside a segmented hiPSC to classify the cell into a nonoverlapped region of any germ layer. Then, distribution (spatial pattering) of a germ layer on the micropattern are quantified using numbers, areas and distances to the micropattern centre of cells inside the germ layer. The U‐net is also trained by the labelled cells on DNA‐stained fluorescence images with their corresponding bright‐field images. This enables the hiPSC segmentation on live‐cell time‐lapse bright‐field micropattern images to quantify spatial patterning changes of the germ layers over time or monitoring of their formation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune‐mediated cholestatic liver disease that can progress to biliary cirrhosis and liver‐related death. The associations between baseline myostatin levels and clinical outcomes in PBC patients are unknown. We aimed to clarify the influence of myostatin levels on the clinical outcomes of PBC patients. Methods: A total of 119 PBC patients were analyzed in this study. Myostatin levels were measured in stored sera before ursodeoxycholic acid treatment, and their associations with the clinical features and prognosis of PBC patients were analyzed. We analyzed the correlation between serum myostatin and chemokines/cytokines. Results: Serum myostatin was significantly lower in PBC patients (2343 pg/mL) than in healthy controls (4059 pg/mL, P < 0.001). The prevalence of patients with low myostatin levels increased according to the severity of histological fibrosis. The serum myostatin concentration was negatively correlated with the IL‐6 and leucine‐rich α2 glycoprotein levels, but the chemokine concentration was not correlated with the myostatin concentration. Low myostatin in PBC patients was associated with shorter survival without liver‐related complications (hazard ratio [HR], 3.598; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–10.1; P = 0.015) and shorter transplant‐free survival (HR, 3.129; 95% CI, 1.02–9.56; P = 0.045) independent of pretreatment GLOBE score. Patients with both high pretreatment GLOBE scores and low myostatin levels had poor prognoses (log–rank test: P < 0.001). Conclusions: A low serum myostatin concentration at diagnosis was associated with poor clinical outcomes. Assessment of circulating myostatin levels may improve the prediction of outcomes in patients with PBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Narrow light observation is currently recommended as an alternative to Lugol chromoendoscopy (LCE) to detect esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Studies revealed little difference in sensitivity between the two modalities in expert settings; however, these included small numbers of cases. We aimed to determine whether blue light imaging (BLI) without magnification is satisfactory for preventing misses of ESCC. Methods: This was a post‐hoc analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial targeting patients at high risk of ESCC in expert settings. In this study, BLI without magnification followed by LCE was performed. The evaluation parameters included: (i) the diagnostic abilities of ESCC; (ii) the endoscopic characteristics of lesions with diagnostic differences between the two modalities; and (iii) the color difference between cancerous and noncancerous areas in BLI and LCE. Results: This study identified ESCC in 49 of 699 cases. Of these cases, nine (18.4%) were missed by BLI but detected by LCE. In per‐patient analysis, the sensitivity of BLI was lower than that of LCE following BLI (83.7% vs. 100.0%; P = 0.013), whereas the specificity and accuracy of BLI were higher (88.2% vs. 81.2%; P < 0.001 and 87.8% vs. 82.5%; P < 0.001, respectively). No significant endoscopic characteristics were identified, but the color difference was lower in BLI than in LCE (21.4 vs. 25.1; P = 0.003). Conclusion: LCE following BLI outperformed BLI in terms of sensitivity in patients with high‐risk ESCC. Therefore, LCE, in addition to BLI, would still be required in screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy even by expert endoscopists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Successful left atrial posterior wall isolation (LAPWI) using only the cryoballoon (CB) is technically challenging for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the cross‐over technique, wherein an overlapped ablation is performed by placing the CB from both directions in contact with the LAPW. Methods: This was a single‐center, retrospective, observational study of 194 consecutive patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) who underwent a first‐time procedure of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) + PWI (108 patients) or PVI‐only (86 patients) using the CB. The cross‐over technique was applied in all LAPWI. Results: For ablation of the LA roof and bottom, respectively, a mean of 8.6 ± 1.0 (right to left [R→L] 4.3 ± 1.1 and left to right [L→R] 4.3 ± 1.1) and 9.1 ± 1.2 (R→L 4.6 ± 1.6 and L→R 4.5 ± 1.2) CB applications were delivered. LAPW was successfully isolated solely using the CB in 99.1% of patients. Although the PVI + PWI group had significantly longer procedure time, no severe adverse events were observed in either group. During a median follow‐up of 19 months, freedom from recurrence of all atrial tachyarrhythmias was achieved in 93.5% of the PVI + PWI group and 72.9% of the PVI‐only group (p =.011). Conclusions: LAPWI performed solely with the CB using the cross‐over technique is feasibly, safe, and was independently associated with a significantly higher freedom from recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias compared with PVI alone in patients with PerAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The population of people living with dementia (PLwD) continues to grow in Japan where advance care planning (ACP) for PLwD is relatively new. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility and cultural acceptability of a dementia‐specific ACP communication skills toolkit for Japanese primary care clinicians. Methods: We delivered 13 training sessions in primary care clinics across central Japan and conducted a post‐training survey to assess whether the toolkit increased confidence in dementia‐specific ACP communication skills and the acceptability of the toolkit with the following four statements: (1) The language in the sessions was clear, (2) The sessions took an appropriate amount of time to complete, (3) The design of the sessions was an effective educational method, and (4) The sessions were culturally appropriate for communication with Japanese patients with dementia and their family members. We asked participants to respond using a 5‐point Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Results: All participants were Japanese and included 80 physicians (mean age 39.8 years), 33 nurses (mean age 45.7 years), and 58 other participants (mean age 42.9 years), who were 30.0%, 87.9%, and 55.2% female, respectively. Most participants practiced in rural settings. In pre‐ post‐comparisons, participant confidence increased in determining capacity, understanding dementia prognosis, goals of care, eliciting surrogates, recommending self‐care practices to families, and leading family meetings (all p < 0.001). Most participants strongly agreed or agreed that the toolkit was an effective method (96.9%), took an appropriate amount of time (94.5%), contained clear language (89.8%), and was culturally appropriate (73.6%). Conclusions: Dementia‐specific ACP communication skills toolkit can be delivered in Japan. Japanese primary care clinicians generally felt the dementia‐specific ACP toolkit increased their confidence in ACP communication skills and was acceptable. The language, time, and design were well received, though further work is needed to improve the cultural appropriateness of the toolkit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Sodium picosulfate plus magnesium citrate (SP + MC) is a well‐tolerated bowel preparation agent. However, Japan currently approves only two methods of taking SP + MC: the day‐before and split‐dose preparation, without approval of same‐day preparations. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of same‐day SP + MC preparations. Methods: This was a multicenter, single‐arm, nonrandomized, open‐label study. We enrolled 145 Japanese patients between June and December 2023. The patients received two sachets of SP + MC dissolved in 300 ml of water and 1200 mL or more of clear liquid on the day of colonoscopy. Bowel cleansing efficacy, adverse events (AEs), and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Of the enrolled patients, 137 underwent colonoscopy according to our protocol. Bowel preparation was adequate in 133 patients (97.1%). The mean total Boston Bowel Preparation Score was 8.3 ± 1.2. Five patients experienced AEs (3.6%): two (1.5%), abdominal pain; one (0.73%), ischemic enteritis; one (0.73%), vomiting or nausea; and one (0.73%), headache. All AEs were treated conservatively. None of the patients exhibited abnormal blood test results or clinical symptoms after receiving SP + MC. Regarding patient satisfaction, all patients were able to take SP + MC as directed; 136 (99.2%) expressed a preference for this bowel preparation for future colonoscopies. Conclusion: The same‐day SP + MC preparation showed high bowel‐cleansing efficacy and satisfaction in Japanese patients without serious AEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dose‐dense gemcitabine and cisplatin (ddGC) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Methods: Patients with locally advanced MIBC (cT2aN0M0‐cT4N1M0) who received ddGC between December 2017 and December 2023 were included. Regimens of ddGC with pegfilgrastim were administered every 2 weeks for 4 cycles, followed by radical cystectomy. The pathological complete response (CR) (pT0N0) and objective response (OR) (

Mammalian oocytes undergo a long‐term meiotic arrest that can last for almost the entire reproductive lifespan. This arrest occurs after DNA replication and is prolonged with age, which poses a challenge to oocytes in maintaining replication‐dependent chromosomal proteins required for the completion of meiosis. In this study, we show that chromosomal histones are reduced with age in mouse oocytes. Both types of histone H3 variants, replication‐dependent H3.1/H3.2 and replication‐independent H3.3, decrease with age. Aging‐associated histone reduction is associated with transcriptomic features that are caused by genetic depletion of histone H3.3. Neither the genetic reduction of chromosomal H3.1/H3.2 nor H3.3 accelerates the aging‐associated increase in premature chromosome separation that causes meiotic segregation errors. We suggest that aging‐associated reduction of chromosomal histones is linked to several transcriptomic abnormalities but does not significantly contribute to errors in meiotic chromosome segregation during the reproductive lifespan of mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the angle of the mouth, spoke‐like muscle bundles converge at the "modiolus," which is believed to appear in utero. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth of the modiolus histologically. We studied frontal histological sections of the face from 12 midterm and six near‐term fetuses. At midterm, a convergence of the levator anguli oris (LAOM) and depressor anguli oris (DAOM) was frequently present, and another convergence of the LAOM with the platysma (PM) or orbicularis oris (OOM) was also often evident. At near‐term, muscle fiber merging or interdigitation was classified into nine combinations, five of which were frequently seen: LAOM‐PM, LAOM‐DAOM, zygomaticus major (ZMM)‐orbicularis oris (OOM), buccinator (BM)‐LAOM, and BM‐PM. These combinations existed at slightly different depths and/or sites, thus allowing the angle of the mouth to receive multiple muscles. Notably, tissues interposed between the muscle fibers were limited to a thin epimysium at each crossing or interdigitation. Therefore, the LAOM, DAOM, OOM, BM, and PM appear to form a basic configuration at birth, but the development and growth were much delayed than the classical description. The modiolus is not a specific fibromuscular structure but simply represents a cluster of muscle convergence sites. Even at meeting between an elevator and depressor, a specific fibrous structure seems unlikely to connect the epimysium for the muscle convergence. Instead, the central nervous system appears to regulate the activity of related muscles to minimize tension or friction stress at the meeting site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p21‐activated kinase (PAK) family of proteins regulates various processes requiring dynamic cytoskeleton organization such as cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Among the six members of the protein family, PAK2 is specifically involved in apoptosis, angiogenesis, or the development of endothelial cells. We report a novel de novo heterozygous missense PAK2 variant, p.(Thr406Met), found in a newborn with clinical manifestations of Knobloch syndrome. In vitro experiments indicated that this and another reported variant, p.(Asp425Asn), result in substantially impaired protein kinase activity. Similar findings were described previously for the PAK2 p.(Glu435Lys) variant found in two siblings with proposed Knobloch syndrome type 2 (KNO2). These new variants support the association of PAK2 kinase deficiency with a second, autosomal dominant form of Knobloch syndrome: KNO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphocytic myocarditis (LM) is primarily triggered by various factors including viral infections and subsequent immune responses. While rare, some patients with LM experience recurrence with a life‐threatening fulminant form. Although combining steroids and immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil, has demonstrated favourable outcomes in patients with LM, their efficacy is limited to the chronic phase. Indeed, various immunosuppressants have been used for LM with fulminant manifestation; however, their evidence remains lacking. In our case series, two patients with LM experienced fulminant relapses during steroid tapering, and another presented persistent cardiac enzymes elevation despite steroid therapies. Consequently, we initiated calcineurin inhibitors alongside steroids, resulting in well‐controlled clinical courses without further recurrence of LM and significant adverse effects. Our cases suggest calcineurin inhibitors as therapeutic options for managing steroid‐resistant LM with fulminant relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD), including alcoholic fatty liver, is a serious problem in many countries, and its economic costs to society are enormous. There is evidence indicating the relations between gut environments and liver disease, and thus, improvement of gut environment is expected to be an effective approach for ALD prevention. In this study, we explored the preventive effect of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) on ALD focusing on the gut–liver axis. Two weeks of PHGG pre‐feeding suppressed the liver fat accumulation in the experimental binge alcohol model mouse. In cecal microbiome, PHGG pre‐feeding increased beneficial Bifidobacterium with its metabolite acetate concentration and suppressed the alcohol‐induced increase in the potential pathobiont Streptococcus. PHGG pre‐feeding increased colonic gene expression of angiogenin genes, which act as antimicrobial peptides and decreased expression of genes for mast cell protease, which suggests a potential involvement in leaky gut. Correlation network analysis based on evaluated parameters revealed four relations worth noticing. (i) The abundance of Bifidobacterium positively correlated with cecal acetate. (ii) Cecal acetate negatively correlated with Streptococcus via colonic angiogenin expression. (iii) Streptococcus positively correlated with liver fat area. (iv) Cecal acetate had direct negative correlation with liver fat area. Considering these relations comprehensively, acetate produced by Bifidobacterium may be a key mediator in ALD prevention; it inhibited growth of potential pathobiont Streptococcus and also directly regulated liver lipid metabolism reaching through portal vein. This study demonstrated that regularly intake of PHGG may be effective in reducing the risk of alcoholic fatty liver via gut–liver axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation reduces gene flow, causing genetic differentiation and diversity loss in endangered species through genetic drift and inbreeding. However, the impact of habitat fragmentation on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi remains unexplored, despite their critical roles in forest ecosystems. Here, we investigated the population genetic structure and the demographic history of Rhizopogon togasawarius, the ECM fungus specifically colonizing the host tree Pseudotsuga japonica, across its entire distribution range (>200 km). These two species are designated as endangered species on the IUCN Red List since they are found only in small, fragmented forests in Japan. We analysed 236 R. togasawarius individuals from five remaining populations across the Kii Peninsula and the Shikoku Island, separated by a sea channel. Simple sequence repeat analyses using 20 loci revealed strong genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.255), even significant in the nearest population pair separated by a distance of only 8 km (FST = 0.075), indicating extremely limited gene flow between populations. DIYABC‐RF analyses implied that population divergence occurred approximately 6000 generations ago between the two regions, and nearly 1500 generations ago between the nearest populations within Shikoku Island, related to past climate events. Because of prolonged genetic isolation, significant inbreeding was confirmed in four of five populations, where effective population sizes became very small (Ne = 9.0–58.0). Although evaluation of extinction risks for microorganisms is challenging, our conservation genetic results indicated that habitat fragmentation increases extinction risk through population genetic mechanisms, and therefore should not be overlooked in biodiversity conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Methods Results Conclusion Early identification of patients needing hospital‐specific interventional care (HIC) following endoscopic treatment is valuable for optimizing postoperative hospital stays. We aimed to develop and validate a risk‐scoring system for predicting HIC in patients who underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).This study included patients with esophageal motility disorders who underwent POEM at our hospital between April 2015 and March 2023. HIC was defined as any of the following situations: fasting for gastrointestinal rest to manage adverse events (AEs); intravenous administration of medications such as antibiotics and blood transfusion; endoscopic, radiologic, and surgical interventions; intensive care unit management; or other life‐threatening events. A risk‐scoring system for predicting HIC after postoperative day (POD) 1 was developed using multivariable logistic regression and was internally validated using bootstrapping and decision curve analysis.Of the 589 patients, 50 (8.5%) experienced HIC after POD1. Risk scores were assigned for four factors as follows: age (0 points for <70 years, 1 point for 70–79 years, 2 points for ≥80 years), preoperative prognostic nutritional index (0 points for >45, 1 point for 40–45, 4 points for <40), postoperative surgical site AEs on second‐look endoscopy (7 points), and postoperative pneumonia on chest radiography (6 points). The discriminative ability (concordance statistics, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.78–0.91) and calibration (slope 1.00; 0.74–1.28) were satisfactory. The decision curve analysis demonstrated its clinical usefulness.This risk‐scoring system can predict the HIC after POD1 and provide useful information for determining discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenylation of peptides is widely observed in the secondary metabolites of diverse organisms, granting peptides unique chemical properties distinct from proteinogenic amino acids. Discovery of prenylated peptide agents has largely relied on isolation or genome mining of naturally occurring molecules. To devise a platform technology for de novo discovery of artificial prenylated peptides targeting a protein of choice, here we have integrated the thioether‐macrocyclic peptide (teMP) library construction/selection technology, so‐called RaPID (Random nonstandard Peptides Integrated Discovery) system, with a Trp‐C3‐prenyltransferase KgpF involved in the biosynthesis of a prenylated natural product. This unique enzyme exhibited remarkably broad substrate tolerance, capable of modifying various Trp‐containing teMPs to install a prenylated residue with tricyclic constrained structure. We constructed a vast library of prenylated teMPs and subjected it to in vitro selection against a phosphoglycerate mutase. This selection platform has led to the identification of a pseudo‐natural prenylated teMP inhibiting the target enzyme with an IC50 of 30 nM. Importantly, the prenylation was essential for the inhibitory activity, enhanced serum stability, and cellular uptake of the peptide, highlighting the benefits of peptide prenylation. This work showcases the de novo discovery platform for pseudo‐natural prenylated peptides, which is readily applicable to other drug targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐ion secondary batteries (LIB) with high energy density have attracted much attention for electric vehicle (EV) applications. However, LIBs have a safety problem because these batteries contain a flammable organic electrolyte. As such, all‐solid secondary batteries that are not flammable have been extensively reported recently. In this study, we have focused on polymer electrolytes, which is flexible and is expected to address the safety problem. However, the conventional polymer electrolytes have low electrial conductivity at room temperature. Various attempts have been made to solve this problem, such as the addition of inorganic fillers and ionic liquids; however, these composite polymer electrolytes have not yet reached a practical level of lithium‐ion conductivity. In this study, high electrical conductivity and lithium dendrite formation‐free PEO based composite electrolytes are developed with both a filler of Li6,4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 and liquid plasticizers of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether and 1,2 dimethoxyethane. The proposed flexible polymer electrolyte shows a high electrical conduciviy of 6.01×10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a highly prevalent and disabling psychiatric disorder. The hippocampus, which plays a central role in mood regulation and memory, has received considerable attention in depression research. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for severe pharmacotherapy‐resistant depression. Although the working mechanism of ECT remains unclear, recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have consistently reported increased hippocampal volumes following ECT. The clinical implications of these volumetric increases and the specific cellular and molecular significance are not yet fully understood. This narrative review brings together evidence from animal models and human studies to provide a detailed examination of hippocampal volumetric increases following ECT. In particular, our preclinical MRI research using a mouse model is consistent with human findings, demonstrating a marked increase in hippocampal volume following ECT. Notable changes were observed in the ventral hippocampal CA1 region, including dendritic growth and increased synaptic density at excitatory synapses. Interestingly, inhibition of neurogenesis did not affect the ECT‐related hippocampal volumetric increases detected on MRI. However, it remains unclear whether these histological and volumetric changes would be correlated with the clinical effect of ECT. Hence, future research on the relationships between cellular changes, ECT‐related brain volumetric changes, and antidepressant effect could benefit from a bidirectional translational approach that integrates human and animal models. Such translational research may provide important insights into the mechanisms and potential biomarkers associated with ECT‐induced hippocampal volumetric changes, thereby advancing our understanding of ECT for the treatment of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on the effectiveness of combination maintenance therapy with mepolizumab (MEP) and azathioprine (AZA) for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a disease that affects various organs in the body. The study found that adding MEP to the treatment regimen resulted in higher remission rates and lower doses of glucocorticoids (GCs). Some patients were even able to discontinue GCs altogether. The findings suggest that MEP and AZA may be an effective combination therapy for severe EGPA, but further research is needed to fully understand its impact. The study was supported by a research grant and the authors have no conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]

The axial gap structure of a half‐wave rectified variable field flux motor (AG‐HVFM) has been proposed, which has a double stator structure and field winding short‐circuited by a diode. Although the AG‐HVFM can achieve a high‐efficiency drive in wide speed and torque range via variable field flux control, its structure deteriorates the average torque and torque ripple. In this paper, we sequentially design the core shape, aspect ratio, and current control method for an AG‐HVFM to improve its torque characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have synthesized two boron complexes based on N,N‐type bidentate imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine ligands exhibiting blue emission with good quantum yields in solution. The transient absorption and theoretical studies of the boron complexes indicated the intramolecular charge transfer nature. In addition, one specific complex, 1 a was found to work as a mitochondrial imaging agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Intestinal metaplasia (IM) of the gastric mucosa is strongly associated with the risk of gastric cancer (GC). This study was performed to investigate the usefulness of endoscopic and histological risk stratification for GC using IM. Methods: This was a post‐hoc analysis of a multicenter prospective study involving 10 Japanese facilities (UMINCTR000027023). The ridge/tubulovillous pattern, light blue crest (LBC), white opaque substance (WOS), endoscopic grading of gastric IM (EGGIM) score using non‐magnifying image‐enhanced endoscopy, and operative link on gastric IM assessment (OLGIM) were evaluated for their associations with GC risk in all patients. Results: In total, 380 patients (115 with GC and 265 without GC) were analyzed. The presence of an LBC (limited to antrum: odds ratio [OR] 2.4 [95% confidence interval 1.1–5.0], extended to corpus: OR 3.6 [2.1–6.3]), the presence of WOS (limited to antrum: OR 3.0 [1.7–5.3], extended to corpus: OR 4.2 [2.1–8.2]), and histological IM (limited to antrum: OR 3.2 [1.4–7.4], extended to corpus: OR 8.5 [4.5–16.0]) were significantly associated with GC risk. Additionally, the EGGIM score (5–8 points: OR 8.8 [4.4–16.0]) and OLGIM (stage III/IV: OR 12.5 [6.1–25.8]) were useful for stratification of GC risk. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value for GC risk was 0.740 for OLGIM and 0.706 for EGGIM. Conclusions: The LBC, WOS, EGGIM, and OLGIM were strongly associated with GC risk in Japanese patients. This finding can be useful for GC risk assessment in daily clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been growing evidence suggesting that diabetes may be associated with increased liver cancer risk. However, studies conducted in Asian countries are limited. This project considered data of 968,738 adults pooled from 20 cohort studies of Asia Cohort Consortium to examine the association between baseline diabetes and liver cancer incidence and mortality. Cox proportional hazard model and competing risk approach was used for pooled data. Two‐stage meta‐analysis across studies was also done. There were 839,194 subjects with valid data regarding liver cancer incidence (5654 liver cancer cases [48.29/100,000 person‐years]), follow‐up time and baseline diabetes (44,781 with diabetes [5.3%]). There were 747,198 subjects with valid data regarding liver cancer mortality (5020 liver cancer deaths [44.03/100,000 person‐years]), follow‐up time and baseline diabetes (43,243 with diabetes [5.8%]). Hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [95%CI]) of liver cancer diagnosis in those with vs. without baseline diabetes was 1.97 (1.79, 2.16) (p <.0001) after adjusting for baseline age, gender, body mass index, tobacco smoking, alcohol use, and heterogeneity across studies (n = 586,072; events = 4620). Baseline diabetes was associated with increased cumulative incidence of death due to liver cancer (adjusted HR (95%CI) = 1.97 (1.79, 2.18); p <.0001) (n = 595,193; events = 4110). A two‐stage meta‐analytic approach showed similar results. This paper adds important population‐based evidence to current literature regarding the increased incidence and mortality of liver cancer in adults with diabetes. The analysis of data pooled from 20 studies of different Asian countries and the meta‐analysis across studies with large number of subjects makes the results robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws from our own experiences of sexism within Business Schools to bring attention to the effects of the operation of a highly masculinized, white, cis‐gendered, and patriarchal culture, whether enacted by men or women, and to how we come to be silenced within it. Our work reflects on intersectional issues of race, health (mental and physical), and care‐work, using faction built from six paired interviews to tell a truth we feel unable to tell individually. This piece highlights the real fear of repercussions that still persist for female academics, and uses the acts of collecting data and writing differently to offer the authors a safe space in which to resist both overt and structural sexism in Business Schools. It highlights the need to take seriously those subtleties of sexism that we are often expected to put up with, those difficult‐to‐name aspects of our working lives that leave us feeling it would be "silly" to complain and act as a form of micro‐coercive control over our lives. We operationalize our collective voice as a form of activism in the academy that is situated within our individual silences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home appliances such as residential air conditioners are based on the variable speed drives for AC motors such as IPMSM and IM. These variable speed drives always require the simple and low‐cost system configurations without the large electrolytic capacitors, reactors, and power devices that consist of PFC converters. This paper surveys and analyzes the proposed and advanced control techniques to achieve high input power factor and sinusoidal source current control in electrolytic capacitor‐less inverters. The investigated control methods consist of control algorithms based on the energy flow between input and output of the electrolytic capacitor‐less inverter, and all of them are useful as high‐power factor control methods for compressor drive motors such as air conditioners. Moreover, these techniques realize the variable speed drives for AC motors to meet power supply harmonics regulations (IEC61000‐3‐2). © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human calcaneus is robust and provides a prominent heel for effective bipedal locomotion, although the adjacent talus has no muscle attachments. However, there is incomplete information about the morphological changes in these prominent bones during embryo development. We examined serial histological sections of 23 human embryos and early‐term fetuses (approximately 5–10 weeks' gestational age [GA]). At a GA of 5 weeks, the precartilage talus was parallel to and on the medial side of the calcaneus, which had a prolate spheroid shape and consisted of three masses. At a GA of 6 weeks, the cartilaginous talus extended along the proximodistal axis, and the tuber calcanei became long and bulky, with a small sustentaculum talus at the "distal" side. At a GA of 6 to 8 weeks, the sustentaculum had a medial extension below the talus so that the talus "rode over" the calcaneus. In contrast, the talus had a more complex shape, depending on the growth of adjacent bones. At a GA of 9 to 10 weeks, the talus was above the calcaneus, but the medial part still faced the plantar subcutaneous tissue because of the relatively small sustentaculum. Therefore, the final morphology appeared after an additional several weeks. Muscle activity seemed to facilitate growth of the tuber calcanei, but growth of the other parts of calcaneus, including the sustentaculum, seemed to depend on active proliferation at the different sites of cartilage. Multiple tendons and ligaments seemed to fix the talus so that it remained close to the calcaneus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the impact of 1q amplification, a chromosomal abnormality, on the outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who were treated with daratumumab, carfilzomib, and dexamethasone (DKd) in a real-world clinical setting. The study analyzed data from 35 patients who received DKd treatment and found that patients with 1q amplification had significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to those with 1q gain or without 1q abnormalities. The study suggests that 1q amplification may be a poor prognostic factor in MM patients undergoing daratumumab-based treatment. However, the study has limitations due to its retrospective nature and small sample size. [Extracted from the article]

To retrospectively analyze whether the second revision of the international staging system (R2‐ISS) influenced prognosis at treatment initiation in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) receiving anti‐CD38 antibody‐based triplet treatments. High‐risk chromosomal abnormalities were examined from diagnosis to treatment initiation and considered positive if detected once. R2‐ISS was recalculated at the initiation of treatment and defined as "dynamic R2‐ISS." Data from 150 patients who underwent the defined treatments were analyzed. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 19.5 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 36.5 months. Dynamic R2‐ISS significantly stratified prognoses for both PFS and OS. The median PFS for patients with dynamic R2‐ISS IV was 3.3 months, and the median OS was 11.7 months, indicating extremely poor outcomes. Although the Revised International Staging System (R‐ISS) calculated at the initiation of treatment significantly stratified treatment outcomes, the patients classified as R‐ISS could be further stratified by R2‐ISS to provide better prognostic information. Dynamic R2‐ISS showed potential as a prognostic tool in patients with MM who are treated with anti‐CD38 antibody‐based triplet therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of blood culture testing in the postoperative period of pancreatoduodectomy (PD), a highly invasive surgery. Methods: Rates of blood culture sampling and positivity were investigated for febrile episodes (FEs) in patients who underwent PD (2016–2021). FEs were defined as body temperature of 38.0°C or higher occurring on or after the 4th postoperative day. Fever origin was diagnosed retrospectively, and FEs were classified as pancreatic fistula (PF)‐related or PF‐unrelated FEs. Factors correlated with blood culture positivity were explored. Results: Among 339 patients who underwent PD, 99 experienced 202 FEs. Blood culture testing was performed on 160 FEs occurring in 89 patients. The sampling and positivity rates were 79.2% and 17.5%, respectively, per episode and 89.9% and 28.1%, respectively, per patient. Thirty‐six FEs were classified as PF‐related and 124 were classified as PF‐unrelated FEs. The blood culture positivity rate was significantly lower in PF‐related vs. PF‐unrelated FEs (1/36 vs. 27/124, respectively, p = 0.006). The blood culture positivity rate was significantly higher in patients with cholangitis, catheter‐related blood stream infection, and urinary tract infection than PF‐related FEs. Multivariate analysis showed that blood culture positivity was negatively associated with PF‐related FEs and positively associated with accompanying symptoms of shivering, Pitt Bacteremia Score, and preoperative biliary drainage. Conclusions: Patients who underwent PD showed relatively high blood culture positivity rates. Based on these results, it may be possible to distinguish PF‐related and ‐unrelated FEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We conducted a multicenter study on classical laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) and LECS‐related procedures to retrospectively clarify the safety, problems, and mid‐term outcomes of these methods after their coverage by the national health insurance. Methods: A total of 201 patients who underwent classical LECS/LECS‐related procedures for gastric submucosal tumors (G‐SMTs) in 21 institutions affiliated with the Laparoscopy Endoscopy Cooperative Surgery Study Group from April 2014 to March 2016 were included. Data was retrospectively obtained from the patients' charts. Results: The most common surgical procedure was classical LECS (155 patients, 77.1%), non‐exposed endoscopic wall inversion surgery (22 patients, 11.4%), a combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with non‐exposure technique (16 patients, 8%), and closed LECS (two patients, 1%). Only six (3%) patients underwent LECS with gastrostomy. The mean operative time and blood loss were 188.4 (70–462) minutes and 23.3 (0–793) g, respectively. Ten (5%) patients developed postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo classification grade II or higher). Two patients needed reoperation due to postoperative bleeding or anastomotic leakage. All tumors were resected with negative margins. A total of 127 (63.2%) patients underwent follow‐up observations for over 36 months, one of whom had a recurrence of peritoneal dissemination and one had poor oral intake. Conclusion: Classical LECS and LECS‐related procedures for G‐SMTs have favorable short/mid‐term outcomes. We conducted a multicenter study on classical laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) and LECS‐related procedures to retrospectively clarify the safety, problems, and mid‐term outcomes of these methods after their coverage by the national health insurance. A total of 201 patients who underwent classical LECS/LECS‐related procedures for gastric submucosal tumors (G‐SMTs) in 21 institutions affiliated with the Laparoscopy Endoscopy Cooperative Surgery Study Group from April 2014 to March 2016 were included. Classical LECS and LECS‐related procedures for G‐SMTs have favorable short/mid‐term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project for CMIP6 (ISMIP6) is the primary effort of CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project–Phase 6) focusing on ice sheets, designed to provide an ensemble of process‐based projections of the ice‐sheet contribution to sea‐level rise over the twenty‐first century. However, the behavior of the Antarctic Ice Sheet beyond 2100 remains largely unknown: several instability mechanisms can develop on longer time scales, potentially destabilizing large parts of Antarctica. Projections of Antarctic Ice Sheet evolution until 2300 are presented here, using an ensemble of 16 ice‐flow models and forcing from global climate models. Under high‐emission scenarios, the Antarctic sea‐level contribution is limited to less than 30 cm sea‐level equivalent (SLE) by 2100, but increases rapidly thereafter to reach up to 4.4 m SLE by 2300. Simulations including ice‐shelf collapse lead to an additional 1.1 m SLE on average by 2300, and can reach 6.9 m SLE. Widespread retreat is observed on that timescale in most West Antarctic basins, leading to a collapse of large sectors of West Antarctica by 2300 in 30%–40% of the ensemble. While the onset date of retreat varies among ice models, the rate of upstream propagation is highly consistent once retreat begins. Calculations of sea‐level contribution including water density corrections lead to an additional ∼10% sea level and up to 50% for contributions accounting for bedrock uplift in response to ice loading. Overall, these results highlight large sea‐level contributions from Antarctica and suggest that the choice of ice sheet model remains the leading source of uncertainty in multi‐century projections. Plain Language Summary: Numerical models simulating the evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet have mostly focused on the twenty‐first century. How the ice sheet will evolve after 2100 remains highly uncertain, as several instability mechanisms could develop and destabilize vast regions of Antarctica. We investigate here the behavior of the Antarctic Ice Sheet until 2300 using an ensemble of 16 different ice flow models. The results show that the Antarctic contribution to sea‐level rise remains limited until 2100 but increases rapidly afterward. The ice retreats in most basins of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and some numerical experiments suggest a near‐complete collapse of this region by 2300. The time when these glaciers start retreating varies depending on the choice of ice flow model, but the speed at which they retreat is consistent among the models once the retreat begins. On a multi‐century timescale, the choice of ice sheet model remains a leading source of uncertainties. Key Points: Antarctic Ice Sheet mass loss and associated uncertainty increase sharply after 2100Ice streams feeding the Ross and Ronne ice shelves experience considerable and consistent grounding line retreat for all ice sheet modelsOn multi‐centennial timescales, uncertainty in mass loss remains dominated by the choice of ice flow model, followed by the climate forcing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relentless quest for sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions has propelled sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) to the forefront of research and development in the realm of rechargeable batteries. This mini review delves into the intricate interfacial kinetics of Na ion transfer within SIBs, with a special focus on the carbon‐based negative electrode/electrolyte interfaces. By synthesizing insights from a myriad of studies encompassing experimental and theoretical analyses, we illuminate the critical role of electrode material properties and interfacial dynamics in dictating the kinetics of Na ion transfer for SIBs. Strategies for optimizing these parameters are scrutinized, revealing pathways to enhance the kinetic behavior of Na ions. Furthermore, emerging materials such as hard carbon, carbon nanospheres, and graphene‐like graphite are evaluated for their potential to surmount existing limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report Cu, Fe, N‐doped carbon nanotubes, (Cu,Fe)−N−CNT, as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media. (Cu,Fe)−N−CNT was prepared using a silica coating method in pyrolysis to minimize the formation of carbon‐coated metal oxide or carbide nanoparticles, which are known to be inactive for the H2O2 reduction. (Cu,Fe)−N−CNT shows a turnover frequency of 0.66 e− site−1 s−1 at +0.8 V vs. RHE and H2O2 yields of <1 % for the ORR with a utilization factor of active sites of 82 %. Kinetic analysis reveals that 4e− transfer rates for (Cu,Fe)−N−CNT are higher than those of a monometallic counterpart of Fe−N−CNT. In situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy enables us to determine redox potentials: E°'(FeIII/FeII)=0.65 V vs. RHE and E°'(CuII/CuI)=0.45 V for (Cu,Fe)−N−CNT, and E°'(FeIII/FeII)=0.65 V for Fe−N−CNT. These results indicate that bimetallic doping into carbon nanotubes gives the effect on kinetic parameters but not on thermodynamic ones. In other words, there is no direct electronic interactions between the Cu and Fe active sites for (Cu,Fe)‐N‐CNT because such interactions should modulate their redox potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) is the standard method for confirming the presence of a monoclonal protein (M‐protein) at multiple myeloma (MM) diagnosis. IFE is also essential at assessment of complete response (CR) and stringent CR during treatment. As the CR assessment is influenced by daratumumab and isatuximab, HYDRASHIFT assays were developed. Methods: Samples from patients under treatment that included daratumumab or isatuximab were tested and monitored by IFE on the HYDRASYS system using HYDRASHIFT assays (HYDRASYS/HYDRASHIFT) and by IFE on the Epalyzer2 system (Epalyzer). Results: The IFE using HYDRASYS/HYDRASHIFT avoided a false positive caused by drug‐related IgG‐κ and contributed to accurate assessment of CR. Furthermore, HYDRASYS/HYDRASHIFT detected small M‐proteins at early relapse and detected free light chains (FLCs) in patients with renal impairment exhibiting high serum FLCs despite being often missed on Epalyzer. Conclusion: Sensitivity and specificity of M‐protein detection vary greatly depending on the IFE system and reagents used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Stentablation (SA) has been used as a bailout method for undilated, under‐expanded stents, but one reason that SA is associated with a high rate of major adverse cardiac events may be its adverse effect on microcirculation. Consequently, appropriate lesion preparation should always be considered for heavily calcified lesions to avoid such complications. Under‐expansion of the coronary stent is associated with increased rates of in‐stent restenosis and thrombosis. Stentablation (SA) with rotational atherectomy is used in the treatment of undilatable, under‐expanded coronary stents; however, its effect on coronary microcirculatory function remains unclear. This novel report compares microcirculation indices before and after SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]