Kobe College

Abstract Students’ learning performance and its correlation with exam scores are examined using a unique factor: the day the online quiz was submitted. By collecting information on quizzes through an online learning management system for each subject in an introductory physics course for first-grade medical students, student learning performance is thoroughly analysed and compared with the final exam score. The results show a statistically significant negative correlation between the exam score and quiz submission day. Furthermore, by combining several parameters that are potentially related to the exam score, we are able to evaluate the student’s learning attitude in more detail. Based on the results, we discuss the negative effects of procrastinating behaviour and successful learning practices.

The trigeminal nerve consists of three major branches or rami (r) in jawed vertebrates: the ophthalmic (rV1), maxillary (rV2), and mandibular (rV3), with rV2 and rV3 innervating the upper and lower jaws, respectively. This three-branch configuration is conserved in the lamprey, a representative of the cyclostomes, the sole survivor of jawless vertebrates. While the first branch is widely accepted to be homologous to that of jawed vertebrate rV1, the homology of the other two remains unclear, so they are called rV1, rV2/3A, and rV2/3B. In this study, we investigate evolutionary modifications of the trigeminal nerve by comparing its organization in lamprey and jawed vertebrate embryos. By detailed neuronal tracing analysis of rV2/3B, which innervates the velum, we demonstrate that it consists solely of motor components. Conversely, we identify both sensory and motor fibers in rV2/3A. These results make a striking contrast to the trigeminal nerve of the jawed vertebrates, as their rV2 is purely sensory, but rV3 is a mixed nerve. Furthermore, through comparative analyses of sensory projection inside the brain, we clarify that the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (PrV) of anamniotes (shark, catfish, and Xenopus) lacks a somatotopic organization, suggesting that somatotopy evolved in at least the last common ancestor of amniotes. Last, by gene expression analysis of Drg11, a marker for the PrV and the spinal trigeminal nucleus (SpV), we show that a PrV-equivalent region is not present in the lamprey. These findings indicate significant structural changes in the trigeminal nerve associated with jaw acquisition, including shifts in innervation territories, the disappearance of the branch innervating the velum, and the emergence of novel brain nuclei.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate variations in step time and trunk acceleration during the first five steps of walking initiationwhen rhythmic auditory stimuli matched to a comfortable walking tempo, were provided before walking. [Participants and Methods] Seventeenhealthy, right-foot dominant adults (10 males, 7 females; mean age 23.2 ± 4.9 years; mean height 165.3 ± 10.2 cm) without orthopedic orneurological abnormalities were enrolled in this study. The participants were instructed to perform 10 steps of indoor-level walking withrhythmic auditory stimulation in two tasks. In Task 1, participants began walking after hearing the 1st auditory stimulus, while in Task 2,they initiated walking after the 10th auditory stimulus. Step times; peak trunk acceleration values in the vertical, lateral, andforward/backward directions; and the coefficients of variation for these measures over the first five steps were compared between the twotasks. [Results] The step time during Task 2 was significantly longer than that during Task 1. The coefficients of variation for step timeand lateral and forward trunk accelerations during Task 2 were significantly lower than those during Task 1. [Conclusion] This study foundthat the variability in step time and lateral and forward trunk accelerations during the five steps of walking initiation decreased whenhealthy participants listened to rhythmic auditory stimuli 10 times before walking.

Abstract Background Serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) is a biomarker reflecting endoscopic activity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and, may serve as treatment target for advanced therapy (AT), like C-reactive protein (CRP). However, unlike CRP, serum LRG is produced also by intestinal epithelium in response to stimulation not only by Interluekin-6 (IL-6) but also tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-22. Therefore, a certain number of cases exist where serum LRG is elevated even when CRP is negative. This study aimed to investigate the optimal selection of AT based on serum LRG levels in patients with UC with serum CRP-negative. Methods This was a multicentre prospective cohort study including 259 patients with UC who received AT from January 2019 to March 2024 at 16 hospitals. Among them, 134 patients with UC with CRP-negative who received one of four classes of AT—anti-TNF, vedolizumab (VDZ), ustekinumab (UST), or Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi)—were included in the present analysis [anti-TNF, n = 27; VDZ, n = 41; UST, n = 42; JAKi, n = 24]. The effectiveness and safety of AT was assessed by comparing the proportion of clinical remission (CR) at week 52 and the incidence rate of adverse events (AE) requiring discontinuation of AT using the person-year (PY) method. We defined CR as a partial Mayo score ≤2, with each subscore ≤1 and no-bleeding, CRP-negative as < 0.20 mg/dL and the low-LRG group as < 14.0 μg/mL, the high-LRG group as ≥ 14.0 μg/mL. Results Among 134 patients with UC who had negative CRP (female, 43%; pancolitis, 73%; AT exposure, 38%), 59 patients (44%) were classified as the high-LRG group. At week 0, median serum LRG and CRP levels were 13.1 μg/mL [Interquartile range (IQR) 10.7-17.9] and 0.04 mg/dL [IQR 0.00-0.09]. Concomitant corticosteroids and immunomodulators were used in 65 (49%) and 47 (35%) patients. In high-LRG group, the proportion of patients achieved CR at week 52 tended to differ among the four AT classes and that in patients received VDZ was only <50% (P = 0.091; anti-TNF, 88%; VDZ, 42%; UST, 60%; JAKi, 75%), and there was no difference in the incidence rate of AEs (anti-TNF, 0; VDZ 0.9; UST, 3.0; JAKi, 0 per 100PY). In low-LRG group, the proportion of CR at week 52 was significantly different among the four AT classes and that in patients received VDZ or UST was >70% (P = 0.013; anti-TNF, 39%; VDZ, 75%; UST, 73%; JAKi, 33%), and there was no difference in the incidence rate of AEs (anti-TNF, 0; VDZ 0.9; UST, 3.0; JAKi, 0 per 100PY) Conclusion For AT selection in CRP-negative UC patients, ATs other than VDZ can be prioritized in the high-LRG group, whereas VDZ and UST are appropriate in the low-LRG group. Conflict of interest: Dr. Amano, Takahiro: No conflict of interest Yoshihara, Takeo: No conflict of interest Sakakibara, Yuko: No conflict of interest Yamada, Takuya: No conflict of interest Hiyama, Satoshi: No conflict of interest Murayama, Yoko: No conflict of interest Ogiyama, Hideharu: No conflict of interest Uema, Ryotaro: No conflict of interest Tsujii, Yoshiki: No conflict of interest Inoue, Takahiro: No conflict of interest Shinzaki, Shinichiro: Shinichiro Shinzaki has received grant support from AbbVie, EA Pharma, Nippon Kayaku, advisor fees from AbbVie, EA Pharma, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Sekisui Medical and Takeda Pharmaceutical and honoraria from AbbVie, EA Pharma, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Sekisui Medical, and Takeda Pharmaceutical. Iijima, Hideki: No conflict of interest Hayashi, Yoshito: No conflict of interest

Abstract BACKGROUND In Japan, embolization of intracranial tumors is commonly performed as a preoperative adjunct to neurosurgical resection. The Japanese Registry of NeuroEndovascular Therapy (JR-NET), established in 2005, aims to identify factors influencing the outcomes of neuroendovascular procedures. JR-NET4, the latest phase of this registry, provides real-world data on the practice of intracranial tumor embolization across Japan. Patients and Methods JR-NET4 is a nationwide, multicenter, retrospective observational study that collected data from 166 neurosurgical centers between January 2015 and December 2019. Of 63,230 total registered cases, 2,664 patients (4.2%) underwent embolization for intracranial tumors. After excluding 61 cases with incomplete data, 2,603 patients were included in the analysis. Patient demographics, procedural details, and outcomes were evaluated. The primary endpoint was a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 30 days post-procedure. Secondary endpoints included rates and types of procedure-related complications. RESULTS The final cohort included 2,603 patients (1,612 females; median age: 61 years, interquartile range 51–71). Favorable outcomes (mRS 0–2) at 30 days were observed in 86.9% of patients. The overall complication rate was 4.8%, including 1.8% hemorrhagic, 2.0% ischemic, and 1.0% other complications. Multivariate analysis revealed that general anesthesia and embolization of arteries other than the external carotid artery were significant risk factors for complications. Among tumor types, meningiomas had a 4.3% complication rate (3.5% major), while hemangioblastomas showed a higher complication rate of 14.9% (9.9% major). CONCLUSION JR-NET4 provides comprehensive, real-world evidence on intracranial tumor embolization in Japan. The findings underscore the safety and utility of the procedure while identifying key risk factors that may guide clinical decision-making in neuroendovascular therapy.

Connected speech is often cited as a factor that makes second language (L2) listening comprehension more difficult. This chapter explores the relationship between connected speech and L2 listening comprehension. The chapter is structured into four sections. The first section defines connected speech and includes discussions of categories of connected speech, its presence in different languages, and its frequency in speech. In the second section, research on L2 listeners’ perception and comprehension of connected speech is examined. In the third section, methods for investigating connected speech in L2 listening research are discussed along with key issues that merit more investigation. The final section focuses on pedagogical advice for teaching L2 listening based on current knowledge about connected speech and L2 listening comprehension.

Background and objectiveThe H-reflex amplitude of certain muscles, such as the wrist and ankle, decreases immediately after performing a force control task that actively controls muscle output. However, this was unknown for the fingers. Therefore, the effect of force control exercises on the excitability of anterior horn cells of the spinal cord in the thumb was investigated using F waves.Materials and methodsThe participants were 15 healthy subjects. The exercise was to control the palmar abduction of the finger on the non-dominant hand side to 20% MVC (maximum voluntary contraction: MVC). In the force control task, visual information was used to actively control muscle output. In the non-force control task, participants were instructed to hold the thumb in a palmar abduction position against a constant external load, using isometric muscle contraction to maintain the posture without visual feedback or force modulation. Each task was practiced 10 times for 90 seconds, and the F wave was derived from the short abductor pollicis brevis muscle pre- and post-assignment at rest.The F/M amplitude ratio and frequency of appearance were used as analysis items; the F/M amplitude ratio was defined as the average of the vertex-to-vertex amplitudes of the 30 F waves obtained in one stimulus divided by the maximum amplitude value of the M wave, expressed as a percentage. Persistence was defined as the number of F waves that appeared for the number of stimuli in one trial and expressed as a percentage.Motor performance was assessed by performing controlled movements of 20% MVC of the thumb palmar abduction pre- and post-task with visual deprivation.ResultsIn the force control task, the F/M amplitude ratio decreased post-task compared to pre-task. In the non-force control task, no differences were found between pre- and post-task. There were no differences in motor performance before and after practice for both tasks.ConclusionIn the force control task, there was a decrease in the amplitude F/M ratio post-task. Furthermore, this decrease in the amplitude F/M ratio was thought to be due to active force control.

Introduction: Identifying the skin microbiome associated with severe radiodermatitis could lead to the development of preventive care strategies and early healing interventions, which are currently lacking. In this study, we investigated changes in the skin microbiome of a patient with head and neck cancer who developed severe radiodermatitis from the initiation of radiation therapy to the resolution of dermatitis. Case Presentation: An 82-year-old male underwent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin (69.96 Gy/33 fractions) for recurrent laryngeal cancer after a total laryngectomy. At baseline, Cutibacterium accounted for 64.3% of the skin microbiome and Staphylococcus for 23.2%. During the occurrence of moist desquamation associated with severe radiodermatitis, Cutibacterium decreased sharply to 0.2%, whereas Staphylococcus increased to 91.0%. Species-level analysis revealed that Staphylococcus aureus was dominant at 50.6%, whereas Staphylococcus hominis and Staphylococcus epidermidis were identified at 0.4% and 1.7%, respectively. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that changes in the skin microbiome occur during the progression of severe radiodermatitis. The reduction in Cutibacterium and overgrowth of Staphylococcus, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, suggest their involvement in the development of severe radiodermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer.