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Targeting the unique glioma immune microenvironment is a promising approach in developing breakthrough immunotherapy treatments. However, recent advances in immunotherapy, including the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, have not improved the outcomes of patients with glioma. A way of monitoring biological activity of immune cells in neural tissues affected by glioma should be developed to address this lack of sensitivity to immunotherapy. Thus, in this study, we sought to examine the feasibility of non-invasive monitoring of glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAM) by utilizing our previously developed induced microglia-like (iMG) cells. Primary microglia (pMG) were isolated from surgically obtained brain tissues of 22 patients with neurological diseases. iMG cells were produced from monocytes extracted from the patients peripheral blood. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed a significant correlation of the expression levels of representative markers for M1 and M2 microglia phenotypes between pMG and the corresponding iMG cells in each patient (Spearmans correlation coefficient = 0.5225, P

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease characterized by chronic widespread pain concomitant with various symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety. Although chronic inflammation has been implicated in the immunological abnormalities of FM, there are few human studies on complement and immunoglobulins. In this study, we investigated the immunological characteristics of FM patients and the association between their clinical symptoms and immunological indices, including complement and immunoglobulins. Methods: 1) The serum 50% hemolytic complement activity (CH50), C3, C4, IgG, IgM, and hsCRP of 36 FM patients and 30 healthy sex- and age-matched controls (HC) were measured and compared. 2) Data from the Brief Pain Inventory (pain intention and pain interference subscales), the visual analog scale (VAS) (low back pain, knee pain, and fatigue), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (anxiety and depression), and CH50, IgG, and hsCRP as immunological indices were acquired for 41 FM patients. Correlation analysis was done of the clinical symptom and immunological indices. Results: 1) The FM group had significantly higher CH50 and lower IgG and IgM than the HC group after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). 2) Correlation analysis of immunological indices and clinical symptoms showed a positive, partial correlation between CH50 and fatigue and trait anxiety after adjusting for sex, age, and BMI. Conclusions: FM patients had higher CH50 and lower immunoglobulin levels than HCs. CH50 was also associated with the fatigue and trait anxiety of FM patients. Further studies are needed to determine whether changes in these immunological indices can be used as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for FM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of home-based telemedicine with wearable devices and usual care on pain-related outcomes in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, compared to usual care alone. The patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain were randomly allocated to the usual care group or the telemedicine group, which participated in telemedicine with wearable devices, the objective data from which were recorded, in conjunction with usual care for six months. The primary outcome measure was the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain. The secondary outcome measures were the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pain Disability Assessment Scale (PDAS), and EuroQol-five dimensions-three level (EQ-5D-3L). Seventy-one participants were analyzed. At 1 and 3 months, there were no significant differences in the NRS scores between the groups; however, the telemedicine group had a significantly superior effect on all of the outcome measures at 6 months compared to the usual care group. The number of steps and distance were significantly increased at 6 months compared to baseline in the telemedicine group. Home-based telemedicine with wearable devices and usual care has a modest effect on pain-related outcomes compared to usual care in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study was registered (UMIN000052994 - 04/12/2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction has been reported to be associated with impaired activities of daily living (ADL) among patients with chronic pain, but the association has not been fully addressed in general populations. This study cross‐sectionally investigated the association between autonomic nervous system function and the presence of subjective symptoms affecting ADL in community‐dwelling residents with chronic pain. Methods: A total of 888 residents with chronic pain, aged 40–79 years, who underwent a health examination in 2017–2018 were included. Based on heart rate variability measured by fingertip pulse wave, the standard deviation of normal‐to‐normal intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD), low frequency (LF) power, and high frequency (HF) power were calculated. Symptoms affecting ADL were defined as those scoring ≥1 on the modified Rankin Scale. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for symptoms affecting ADL were estimated using a logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of symptoms affecting ADL was 39.4%. The ORs for symptoms affecting ADL increased significantly per 1‐standard‐deviation decrement in log‐transformed SDNN (OR 1.23 [95% CI 1.06–1.44]), RMSSD (1.25 [1.08–1.45]), LF power (1.29 [1.11–1.52]), and HF power (1.29 [1.11–1.51]) after adjusting for age, sex, education, hypertension, diabetes, serum total cholesterol level, body mass index, past medical history, current smoking, current drinking, exercise, depressive symptoms, and pain intensity. Conclusions: Decreased heart rate variability was associated with the presence of symptoms affecting ADL among individuals with chronic pain in a Japanese community. Significance: Decrease in heart rate variability was associated with the presence of symptoms affecting ADL among individuals with chronic pain in a Japanese community. This article could help scientists understand the significance of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in the pathology of chronic pain. Approaches that target autonomic nervous system dysfunction may be an option to relieve or prevent symptoms affecting ADL for chronic pain sufferers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the association of loneliness and its component subscales with the risk of dementia in a general Japanese older population. Method A total of 1,141 community-dwelling Japanese residents aged ≥65 years without dementia were prospectively followed up for a median 5.0 years. We evaluated any loneliness and its component subscales—namely, social and emotional loneliness—by using the 6-item de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of each loneliness type on the risk of dementia controlling for demographic factors, lifestyle factors, physical factors, social isolation factors, and depression. Results During the follow-up, 114 participants developed dementia. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of dementia was significantly greater in participants with any loneliness and emotional loneliness than those without. The multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% confidence intervals) of participants with any loneliness and emotional loneliness on incident dementia were 1.61 (1.08–2.40) and 1.65 (1.07–2.54), respectively, as compared to those without. However, there was no significant association between social loneliness and dementia risk. In subgroup analyses of social isolation factors, excess risks of dementia associated with emotional loneliness were observed in participants who had a partner, lived with someone, or rarely communicated with relatives or friends, but such association was not significant in participants who had no partner, lived alone, or frequently communicated with friends or relatives. Discussion The present study suggested that loneliness, especially emotional loneliness, was a significant risk factor for the development of dementia in the general older population in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In Japan and Asia, few studies have been done of physical and sexual abuse. This study was aimed to determine whether a history of childhood physical abuse is associated with anxiety, depression and self-injurious behavior in outpatients with psychosomatic symptoms. Methods We divided 564 consecutive new outpatients at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of Kyushu University Hospital into two groups: a physically abused group and a non-abused group. Psychological test scores and the prevalence of self-injurious behavior were compared between the two groups. Results A history of childhood physical abuse was reported by patients with depressive disorders(12.7%), anxiety disorders(16.7%), eating disorders (16.3%), pain disorders (10.8%), irritable bowel syndrome (12.5%), and functional dyspepsia(7.5%). In both the patients with depressive disorders and those with anxiety disorders, STAI-I (state anxiety) and STAI-II (trait anxiety) were higher in the abused group than in the non-abused group (p < 0.05). In the patients with depressive disorders, the abused group was younger than the non-abused group (p < 0.05). The prevalence of self-injurious behavior of the patients with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and pain disorders was higher in the abused groups than in the non-abused groups (p < 0.005). Conclusion A history of childhood physical abuse is associated with psychological distress such as anxiety, depression and self-injurious behavior in outpatients with psychosomatic symptoms. It is important for physicians to consider the history of abuse in the primary care of these patients.