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Socioeconomic status is a risk factor for poor disease prognosis. No studies of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have investigated the association between socioeconomic status and erectile dysfunction (ED), although UC is independently positively associated with ED. Therefore, the purpose of this survey to evaluate this issue in Japanese patients with UC. The study enrolled 165 patients with UC. Education status (low, middle, high) and household income (low, middle, high) were classified in three groups using self-administered surveys. The information regarding the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The definition of mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED was SHIM score <17 and SHIM score <8, respectively. The prevalence of mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED was 64.9% and 47.9%, respectively. In crude analysis, household income was inversely associated with mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED. After adjustment for age, current drinking, current smoking, exercise habit, body mass index, mucosal healing, and duration of UC, high household income was independently and inversely associated with mild to moderate or severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.05, 0.93], p for trend =.038) and severe ED (adjusted OR 0.26, 95% CI [0.07, 0.85], p for trend =.024). In contrast, no association between education status and ED was found. In conclusion, household income was independently and inversely associated with ED in Japanese UC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The clinical background and prognostic impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on vasospastic angina (VSA) are unclear; thus, in this retrospective study, we investigated whether they differ based on the presence or absence of DM in patients with VSA. Patients and Methods: We included 272 Japanese patients with VSA diagnosed by coronary angiography (CAG) and the spasm provocation test (SPT). The diagnosis of DM was determined by measuring fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C and by the patient's current oral medications. On CAG, the presence of atherosclerotic lesions (20%– 50%) was checked. On SPT, the coronary spasm was defined as transient coronary vasoconstriction > 90% on CAG, accompanied by chest symptoms and/or ST-T changes. Focal spasm was defined as coronary spasm occurring within one segment of the American Heart Association classification on CAG. Blood and urine tests and vascular endothelial function were also evaluated when possible. A major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), which is defined as cardiac mortality and rehospitalization due to cardiovascular illness, was the basis for determining the prognosis. Results: There were 49 patients (18%) in the DM group and 223 (82%) in the non-DM group. No significant differences in urinary albumin levels and peripheral vascular function were between groups. On CAG, atherosclerotic lesions were observed significantly more frequently in the DM group (63% vs 46%; P = 0.028). Results of SPT showed a trend toward fewer focal spasms in the DM group (24% vs 39%; P = 0.072). No significant differences in MACE were noted between groups in the primary analysis of DM, whereas sub-analyses of focal spasms showed lower MACE-free survival in the DM group (P = 0.042). Conclusion: The study results support the hypothesis that DM associated with VSA should be treated appropriately, especially in cases of focal spasm, which may require more attention in treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) epidemiology and outcomes vary by gender. Methods: We reviewed 18,436 GC patients from 2008 to 2018 and looked for gender differences in clinical characteristics and survival. Results: The gender proportion was 71% male and 29% female. Males had a significantly (p < 0.001) higher proportion of differentiated GC (66.3%) and a lower proportion of undifferentiated GC (26.3%). Diagnosis through medical check-ups was more common in males (30.0% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.001). Clinical staging revealed 54.6% of males and 52.9% of females had localized disease without lymph node metastasis (LNM), while distant metastasis occurred in 17.4% of males and 16.9% of females (p < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated females had a significantly higher overall survival (p = 0.0018). The survival advantage for females was evident in the early stages, with a significant difference in localized disease without LNM (p < 0.001) and localized disease with LNM (p = 0.0026, log-rank test) but not in the advanced stages. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed a significantly reduced mortality risk in females (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Significant gender differences exist with regard to pathological type, presentation, clinical stage, and overall survival. These findings suggest gender-specific strategies for screening, diagnosis, and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Covid-19 vaccines on vascular function are still controversial. We evaluated the effects of BNT162b2 vaccine (BioNTech and Pfizer) on endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and vascular smooth muscle function assessed by nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID). This study was a prospective observational study. A total of 23 medical staff at Hiroshima University Hospital were enrolled in this study. FMD and NID were measured before vaccination and two weeks and six months after the 2nd dose of vaccination. FMD was significantly smaller two weeks after the 2nd dose of vaccination than before vaccination (6.5±2.4% and 8.2±2.6%, p = 0.03). FMD was significantly larger at six months than at two weeks after the 2nd dose of vaccination (8.2±3.0% and 6.5±2.4%, p = 0.03). There was no significant difference between FMD before vaccination and that at six months after the 2nd dose of vaccination (8.2±2.6% to 8.2±3.0%, p = 0.96). NID values were similar before vaccination and at two weeks, and six months after vaccination (p = 0.89). The BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine temporally impaired endothelial function but not vascular smooth muscle function, and the impaired endothelial function returned to the baseline level within six months after vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, a close association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and erectile dysfunction (ED) was reported. An inverse relationship between serum albumin and ED is found in patients with chronic disease. However, the association between serum albumin levels and ED in patients with UC is unclear. This study aims to investigate this issue in Japanese patients with UC. Methods: One hundred and thirty‐six Japanese male UC patients were enrolled in this study. Information on serum albumin levels and medications for UC from medical records, Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score information from self‐administered questionnaires and information on the severity of UC from physician reports were obtained from medical records, self‐administered questionnaires, and reports from physicians. The participants were divided into tertiles based on the total protein, serum globulin, serum albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, and C‐reactive protein levels. The definition of ED and severe ED was SHIM score < 22 and SHIM score < 8, respectively. The association between these serum markers and ED was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of severe ED in the low, moderate, and high albumin groups was 66.0%, 51.0%, and 28.3%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the low albumin group was independently and positively associated with severe ED (adjusted odds ratio: 2.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–7.48, p for trend =0.044). No association between other marker and ED was found. Conclusion: Serum albumin was independently inversely associated with severe ED in Japanese patients with UC. Hypoalbuminemia might be a useful complementary marker for assessing the prevalence and severity of ED in UC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Age is a risk factor for constipation. Constipation is common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and has been positively associated with disease activity, but evidence is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between disease activity and constipation in patients with UC. Methods : The study subjects consisted of 290 Japanese UC patients. The definition of constipation was based on Rome I criteria and/or medication for constipation. Information on and lifestyle habits was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Mucosal healing (MH) was defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore 0. Clinical remission (CR) was defined as both the absence of rectal bleeding and no abnormally high stool frequency (<3 times per day). Results: The prevalence of constipation is not associated with MH, CR, duration of UC and disease extent of UC. The prevalence of constipation among age groups, <40, 40–49 years, 50–59 years, 60–69 years, and >70 years was 10.0%, 5.8%, 15.7%, 11.8%, and 25.6%, respectively. >70 years was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of constipation (adjusted odds ratio 3.64 [95% confidence interval 1.26, 10.95], p for trend:.001). Conclusions: Aging was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of constipation in UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diels–Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene and nitroethene, the intramolecular cycloaddition between a diene and triene, and the Diels–Alder cycloaddition of 2‐hydroxyacrolein with 1,3‐butadiene involving post‐transition‐state bifurcation (PTSB) were studied. These cycloaddition reactions were investigated using quasi‐classical trajectory (QCT), classical molecular dynamics (MD), ring‐polymer molecular dynamics (RPMD) simulations, and supervised machine‐learning binary classification techniques. Room‐temperature dynamics simulations started from the ambimodal transition state (TS) using the QCT, classical MD, and RPMD methods presented similar dynamics. Binary classification revealed that the initial geometry displacement from the ambimodal TS for the Diels–Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene and nitroethene contributed to the branching dynamics and that the initial momenta for the intramolecular cycloaddition between a diene and triene and the Diels–Alder cycloaddition of 2‐hydroxyacrolein with 1,3‐butadiene played a significant role in the bifurcation dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The spasm provocation test (SPT) is a critical test for diagnosing vasospastic angina (VSA). However, the choice of vessel to be preferred for initiating the SPT—the right coronary artery (RCA) or the left coronary artery (LCA)—is unclear. This study aimed to assess SPT results including SPT-related complications while initiating the SPT in the RCA and LCA. Methods: We enrolled 225 patients who underwent coronary angiography and SPTs. The SPT was first performed in the RCA in 133 patients (RCA group) and the LCA in 92 patients (LCA group). We defined VSA as >90% narrowing of the coronary artery during the SPT, accompanied by chest pain and/or ST–T changes on the electrocardiogram. When coronary spasm occurs in two or more major coronary arteries, it is referred to as a multivessel spasm (MVS). SPT-related complications comprised atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, and unstable hemodynamics following catecholamine use. Analyses using propensity score matching (PSM) were performed in 120 patients. Results: No significant differences in the frequencies of VSA and complications were observed between the two groups (RCA: 79% and 19%, respectively; LCA: 85% and 22%, respectively). In both groups, spasms were most frequently provoked in the left anterior descending coronary artery (both p < 0.001) whereas spasms in the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) were higher in the LCA group than in the RCA group (p = 0.015). Furthermore, no significant difference in the frequency of MVS was observed between both groups (RCA: 50%, LCA: 62%; p = 0.122). After PSM, no significant difference in the frequencies of VSA and complications were observed between the two groups (RCA: 82% and 15%, respectively; LCA: 88% and 18%, respectively). The frequencies of LCX spasms (RCA: 8%, LCA: 23%; p = 0.022) and MVS (RCA: 40%, LCA: 62%; p = 0.020) were higher in the LCA group than in the RCA group. Conclusions: Although the diagnostic rate of VSA and frequency of SPT-related complications were similar in the two groups, the frequency of MVS was higher in the LCA group than in the RCA group because of the increase in the number of LCX spasms. A routine SPT may be started from the LCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of protonated formic acid dissociating from the transition state was studied using ring-polymer molecular dynamics (RPMD), classical MD, and quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) simulations. Temperature had a strong influence on the branching fractions for the HCO+ + H2O and CO + H3O+ dissociation channels. The RPMD and classical MD simulations showed similar behavior, but the QCT dynamics were significantly different owing to the excess energies in the quasi-classical trajectories. Machine-learning analysis identified several key features in the phase information of the vibrational motions at the transition state. We found that the initial configuration and momentum of a hydrogen atom connected to a carbon atom and the shrinking coordinate of the CO bond at the transition state play a role in the dynamics of HCO+ + H2O production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Vascular function per se plays an important role in cardiac function, whether it is a cause or consequence. However, there is no information on vascular function in patients with wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM). The purpose of this study was to evaluate vascular function in patients with ATTRwt-CM. We measured flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) as an index of endothelial function and nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID) as an index of vascular smooth muscle function and brachial artery intima-media thickness (bIMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as indices of arterial stiffness in 22 patients with ATTRwt-CM and in 22 one-by-one matched control patients using vascular function confounding factors. FMD was significantly greater in patients with ATTRwt-CM than in the controls (5.4 ± 3.4% versus 3.5 ± 2.4%, p = 0.038) and the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level was significantly greater in patients with ATTRwt-CM than in the controls (2202 ± 1478 versus 470 ± 677 pg/mL, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in NID, bIMT or baPWV between the two groups. There was a significant relationship between NT-proBNP and FMD in patients with ATTRwt-CM (r = 0.485, p = 0.022). NT-proBNP showed no significant relationships with NID, bIMT or baPWV. Conclusions: Endothelial function was preserved in patients with ATTRwt-CM. Patients with ATTRwt-CM may have compensatory effects with respect to endothelial function through elevation of BNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent meta-analysis showed that ulcerative colitis (UC) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dyslipidemia is a well-established risk factor for CVD. However, evidence regarding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including UC and lipid profiles, is limited. Additionally, no study has assessed the association between endoscopic activity and lipid profiles in patients with IBD. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the association between mucosal healing (MH) and lipid profiles in patients with UC. Methods: A total of 221 Japanese patients with UC were enrolled in this analysis. Total cholesterol (T-chol), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were divided into tertiles (high, moderate, and low) based on the distributions, respectively. Self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding medication for dyslipidemia. Complete MH and MH are based on Mayo endoscopic subscore 0 and 0–1, respectively. Results: The percentage of complete MH was 30.8%. In patients without medication for dyslipidemia, high HDL-C (>66 mg/dL) was significantly positively associated with complete MH (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.58, 95% CI: 1.04–6.64, p for trend = 0.037). In patients with nonproctitis, a positive association between HDL-C and complete MH was found (adjusted OR 3.54, 95% CI: 1.22–11.01, p for trend = 0.020). T-chol and TG were not associated with MH, regardless of medication for dyslipidemia. Conclusions: Complete MH was significantly positively associated with HDL-C in UC patients without medication for lipid. The disease extent might affect the association between complete MH and HDL-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]