Health Sciences University of Hokkaido

ABSTRACT Aim Schizonepeta spike, the dried spikes of Schizonepeta tenuifolia , are traditionally evaluated based on floret density. However, the chemical basis for this criterion remains unclear. This study aimed to provide scientific insight into this traditional quality evaluation by clarifying the association between floret density (floret‐to‐spike ratio) and pulegone content in whole spikes, and the localization of compounds between florets and rachises. Methods Two accessions of S. tenuifolia were cultivated at six sites in Japan and analyzed by LC‐Q‐TOF‐MS. Correlation analysis was performed between the floret‐to‐spike ratio and pulegone content in whole spikes. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to characterize the localization of compounds between florets and rachises, and the relative abundances of major compounds were compared between them. Results In whole spikes, pulegone content tended to increase with a higher floret‐to‐spike ratio. The PCA based on the comprehensive compounds showed that florets and rachises separated into distinct groups, regardless of cultivation site or accession. Florets showed higher levels of bioactive compounds, including pulegone, luteoloside, and apigetrin, whereas rachises showed higher hesperidin levels than other parts. Conclusion Floret density of Schizonepeta spikes, as described in traditional quality evaluation, was found to be related to pulegone content, which tends to increase as the floret density becomes higher. Moreover, florets were characterized by higher levels of bioactive compounds, including luteoloside and apigetrin, and this localization suggests that the accumulation of these compounds increases in spikes with dense florets. These findings provide chemical insights into the traditional quality evaluation of Schizonepeta spikes.

Mechanical stress on the periodontal ligaments, such as orthodontic force, causes the failure of homeostasis-inducing inflammation leading to inflammatory root resorption and replacement resorption. Despite these developments during orthodontic treatment, little is known about its relationship to the epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) located in the periodontal ligament. To address this gap, RNA sequencing was performed on non-compression and compression forced porcine ERM groups subjected to 4.0g/cm2 for 12h. The results showed 529 upregulated and 273 downregulated genes with more than a twofold change. Pathway analyses indicated that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in 13 pathways, including the TNF signaling pathway, viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor IL-17 signaling pathway, and NF-kappa B signaling pathway. The differentially expressed genes such as BMP2, NFKBIA, CXCL8, CCL4, SOCS3, and FOS were commonly significantly upregulated within these pathways. The levels of BMP2 protein increased, while the NF-kB protein did not translocate intranuclearly, with no change in CXCL8 protein levels. Through ERM-induced mechanical compression, BPM2 can regulate root resorption and bone addition to maintain periodontal ligament homeostasis. CCL4, SOCS3, and c-fos may suppress root resorption by angiogenesis, preventing excessive osteoclast formation and inhibiting hyalinization.

Existing XR simulators for enteral feeding rely mainly on self-reported learning outcomes and procedural checklists. As a result, they offer limited opportunities to capture objective behavioral data or to present dynamic patient reactions. This two-stage pilot study evaluated an XR-based gastrostomy tube-feeding simulator (ESTE-TF) that integrates sensor-derived performance metrics and two biological-reaction presentation modalities (projection mapping and tablet display). In Experiment 1, nursing students completed pre- and post-experience questionnaires assessing perceived learning across seven domains, alongside sensor-based measurements of feeding-start timing, dosing-rate characteristics, and total procedure time. Experiment 2 employed a tablet-based version with four learning items assessed for students and post-experience evaluations collected from registered nurses. Participants also compared the two XR presentation methods. Students demonstrated perceived learning gains of small-to-large magnitude across both experiments (Experiment 1: d = 0.455-0.974; Experiment 2: d = 0.014-0.886), with wide 95% confidence intervals reflecting the exploratory nature of this pilot work. Sensor-derived data showed greater dosing-rate variability and longer procedure times among students than nurses. Participants reported that projection mapping offered a more embodied experience, whereas tablet displays provided clearer visibility. These findings indicate the feasibility and preliminary educational potential of integrating sensing technologies with XR-based biological-reaction presentation for gastrostomy-feeding training. Given the small samples and non-validated measures, results should be interpreted as exploratory. Future research will refine sensor accuracy, establish standardized performance metrics, and evaluate learning outcomes using validated instruments and controlled study designs.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently affects the joints of the hands, with joint space narrowing (JSN) representing an important early marker of structural damage. The semi-quantitative Sharp/van der Heijde (SvdH) scoring system is widely used in clinical practice but is inherently subjective and susceptible to observer variability. Moreover, the complex anatomy of the wrist and substantial overlap of carpal bones pose challenges for automated quantitative assessment of wrist JSN on routine radiographs. This study aimed to introduce a novel quantitative assessment perspective and to clinically validate an automated, compactness-related quantification framework for evaluating wrist JSN in RA. This study initially enrolled 51 patients with RA. After excluding one case with severe carpal fusion that precluded anatomical differentiation, 50 patients (44 females and 6 males) were included in the final analysis. The cohort had a mean age of 61 years (range: 21-82), a median symptom duration of 9 years (IQR: 1-32), and a median follow-up interval for bilateral hand radiographs of 1.06 years (IQR: 0.82-1.30). To quantify global wrist JSN, 10 compactness-related metrics were computed based on the spatial distribution of bone centroids extracted from carpal segmentation masks. These metrics were validated against the wrist JSN subscore of the SvdH score (SvdH-JSN_wrist) and the total Sharp score (TSS) as gold standards. Several distance-based metrics among the compactness-related metrics showed significant negative correlations with the wrist joint space narrowing subscore of the Sharp/van der Heijde score (SvdH-JSN_wrist). Specifically, mean-pairwise-distance (MPD), root-mean-square-radius (RMSR), and median-radius (R50) showed moderate to strong correlations (r = -0.52 to -0.63, all p≤0.0001) that were consistent at BL and FU. Correlations with TSS were weaker overall, with only R50 and its normalized form showing stable negative correlations (r = -0.40 to -0.43, p < 0.01). Longitudinal analyses showed limited correlations between metric changes and clinical score changes. The proposed automated compactness quantification framework enables objective and reliable assessment of wrist JSN on standard radiographs and complements conventional scoring systems by supporting automated and standardized evaluation of RA-related wrist structural changes.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) secrete various growth factors that activate skin cells. This study investigated the effects of crude extracts and isolated compounds, hitorin A and hitorin B, from Chloranthus quadrifolius on AD-MSCs. The crude extract and hitorins A and B obtained from C. quadrifolius promoted cell proliferation. Furthermore, they suppressed the accumulation of excessive lipid droplets and reduced the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, and adiponectin. The extract and hitorins A and B increased the expression of stemness marker genes, including SRY-box transcription factor 2, homeobox protein NANOG, and octamer-binding transcription factor 4. For anti-aging effects, the crude extract and hitorins A and B significantly inhibited senescence-associated-β-galactosidase activity and the gene expression of p16, p21, and p53 under hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, they suppressed the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the gene expression of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. These findings indicate that crude extracts and hitorins A and B derived from C. quadrifolius suppress excessive adipogenic differentiation, promote cell proliferation while enhancing stem cell characteristics, and reduce oxidative stress-induced cellular aging through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. These results suggest that they are effective cosmetic ingredients for skin rejuvenation and anti-aging.

The emergence of autonomous driving is becoming a reality worldwide. However, in emergency situations, human drivers must assume control of the vehicle, hence detecting driver vigilance is critical. Although many electroencephalographic studies have documented alterations in brain rhythms associated with fatigue, the results have been inconsistent. Furthermore, in high-level automated driving contexts, the driver does not operate the vehicle except in emergencies. In this study, magnetoencephalograms from eight healthy participants were recorded as they watched a 20-minute video from the driver’s perspective. The participants were instructed to press a button when a checkered flag appeared, simulating their response to an emergency. Statistical analysis demonstrated that response time to the checkered flag was prolonged during the End period (final third) of the experiment (p = 0.04). The increase in reaction time from the Beginning (first third) to the Middle (middle third) period correlated negatively with alpha-band activities in the occipital cortices during all three periods (Beginning, r = −0.72; p = 0.04; Middle, r = −0.73, p = 0.04; End r = −0.78, p = 0.02). In other words, participants with higher alpha-band activity in the Beginning period did not experience prolonged reaction time toward the Middle period. This result suggests that alpha-band activity in the occipital cortex may serve as an indicator of whether participants maintain vigilance during autonomous driving.

Neonicotinoids (NNs) are commonly used insecticides; however, their biotransformation in wild mammals remains poorly understood. Asian elephants, which are declining in numbers, may be vulnerable to these chemicals. In this study, we examined the liver metabolism of four major NNs: acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and clothianidin, using elephant liver microsomes. Metabolite profiling and targeted analysis were conducted with liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer, respectively. Results indicated that elephants mainly metabolize these NNs via reductive pathways, suggesting the involvement of nitroreductase-like enzymes. Conversely, cytochrome P450-mediated oxidation may be limited; however, the roles of other enzymatic or microbial systems cannot be ruled out. These findings provide insights into xenobiotic metabolism in elephants, helping evaluate their toxicological vulnerability and supporting conservation efforts and risk assessments.