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An open-label interventional clinical study evaluating sweating function in dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis
Full text linkBackground: Sweat plays a crucial role in maintaining skin homeostasis but is also considered a factor that exacerbates atopic dermatitis (AD). Patients with AD exhibit reduced sweat production and altered sweat composition, with impaired sweating function and psychological anxiety being implicated. However, few clinical studies with high-level evidence have investigated the effects of dupilumab treatment on sweating function and psychological anxiety. Methods: Seven patients with moderate-to-severe AD who received dupilumab treatment at Nagasaki University Hospital were evaluated at baseline, week 6, and week 24. Eczema severity was assessed using the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score and the Patients’ Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM). Sweating function was evaluated using the Quantitative Sudomotor Axon Reflex Test (QSART), and psychological anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: EASI scores and POEM significantly improved at weeks 6 and 24. Sweat volume assessed by QSART increased at week 6 but showed a decreasing trend in some cases at week 24. Sweat latency shortened at week 6 but was prolonged again in some cases at week 24. State and trait anxiety scores of STAI decreased at week 6 but increased in some patients at week 24. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between sweat latency and state anxiety at baseline and a positive correlation between EASI and trait anxiety at week 6. No significant correlations were observed at week 24. Conclusion: Dupilumab improves skin symptoms in patients with AD and may temporarily enhance sweating function. It also affects psychological anxiety; however, its effects are inconsistent, suggesting individual variations in long-term changes.The Journal of Cutaneous Immunology and Allergy, 8, art. no. 14517; 2025journal articl
五島列島近海におけるカンムリウミスズメ Synthliboramphus wumizusume の観察記録
Full text link長崎県生物学会誌, 96, pp.21-24; 2025journal articl
Exploring the Clinical Diversity of Castleman Disease and TAFRO Syndrome: A Japanese Multicenter Study on Lymph Node Distribution Patterns
Full text linkNagasaki University (長崎大学)博士(医学)Individuals diagnosed with Castleman disease (CD) and TAFRO syndrome (characterized by thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, bone marrow fibrosis, and organomegaly) displays a wide range of clinical symptoms, including varying patterns of lymph node enlargement, systemic inflammation, and impaired organ function. Some patients may present with both CD and TAFRO syndrome concurrently. A retrospective study conducted across multiple centers in Japan examined 321 cases to determine if the quantity and position of swollen lymph nodes could forecast the clinical progression and intensity of these conditions. Interestingly, the study revealed that patients with TAFRO syndrome exhibited lymphadenopathy across all ranges of lymph node region counts. Moreover, no specific clinical patterns were associated with the number of affected lymph node regions in CD patients, regardless of whether they also had TAFRO syndrome. These results enhance our understanding of the clinical variability in CD and TAFRO syndrome, suggesting that a comprehensive clinical evaluation, rather than relying solely on lymph node count, is crucial for effectively managing these conditions. Additional studies are required to establish reliable diagnostic markers and to predict disease severity at the time of diagnosis, ultimately improving patient outcomes.長崎大学学位論文 学位記番号:共博(医歯薬)甲第50号 学位授与年月日:令和7年6月4日Author: Mizuna Otsuka, Tomohiro Koga, Remi Sumiyoshi, Shoichi Fukui, Yuko Kaneko, Takayuki Shimizu, Atsushi Katsube, Shingo Yano, Yasufumi Masaki, Makoto Ide, Hajime Yoshifuji, Masayasu Kitano, Yasuharu Sato, Naoki Sawa, Hiroaki Niiro, Naoya Nakamura, David C. Fajgenbaum, Frits van Rhee, Atsushi KawakamiCitation: American Journal of Hematology, 100(4), pp.592-605; 2025Nagasaki University (長崎大学), 博士(医学) (2025-06-04)doctoral thesi
Data-driven machine learning approaches for predicting the shear strength of rock joints
Full text linkAccurate prediction of the shear strength of rock joints is crucial for assessing the stability of civil and mining engineering projects. Traditional methods for determining the shear strength of rock joints are time-consuming, costly, and computationally complex. Machine learning methods, which are driven by data, provide a cost-effective and rapid approach to predicting rock joint shear strength, overcoming the limitations of traditional techniques. This study employs nine machine learning models: eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), Support vector regression (SVR), decision tree (DT), Gaussian process regression (GPR), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), categorical boosting (CatBoost), extreme learning machine (ELM), and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost). A dataset of 288 data points was compiled from an extensive set of literature. Five input features, namely, normal stress, uniaxial compressive strength, Young’s modulus, joint roughness coefficient (JRC), and specimen length, were selected, with shear strength of the rock joints as the output variable. The performance of the nine ML models was assessed using the root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), and mean absolute error (MAE). Due to its unique ordered boosting mechanism and symmetric tree structure, CatBoost outperformed the other models, achieving RMSE, R2, and MAE values of 0.4663, 0.9765, and 0.3508, respectively. Compared with the experimental results, the model yielded a mean square error (MSE) of 0.0360. The proposed ML method offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for predicting rock joint shear strength.Rock Mechanics Bulletin, 4(3), art. no. 100209; 2025journal articl
Applying pulse UV irradiation-induced chemiluminescence approach for high-throughput screening assay of tyrosinase inhibitors
No full textTyrosinase is an enzyme that metabolizes L-tyrosine and is found in various organisms. Its overactivity can lead to health issues in humans, such as hyperpigmentation, and can adversely affect human skin, leading to skin cancers. This has heightened the significance of tyrosinase inhibitors in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, particularly skin-whitening formulations. In this study, we developed a high-throughput screening assay for identifying tyrosinase inhibitors. This assay leverages the strong chemiluminescence signal emitted by L-tyrosine upon nanosecond UV irradiation in the presence of L-012 chemiluminescence dye, which is based on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We measured the decrease in chemiluminescence signal induced by tyrosinase enzyme, which converts chemiluminescent L-tyrosine into non-chemiluminescent L-DOPA. The addition of tyrosinase inhibitors prevents this conversion, leading to recovery in chemiluminescence of L-tyrosine. However, the reliability of the assay can be compromised by the ROS-scavenging activity and phenolic nature of certain enzyme inhibitors. To mitigate potential false results caused by some inhibitors, tyrosinase was immobilized on the microplate surface, and the inhibitors were incubated with the fixed enzyme, then, the enzyme activity was assessed after washing away the inhibitors. The proposed assay successfully facilitated high-throughput screening (less than 1 min per sample) of numerous tyrosinase inhibitor candidates from various pharmacological classes. The percentage inhibition of tyrosinase activity determined by our assay was statistically compared with results from a previously reported assay, revealing comparable outcomes and confirming the reliability of our approach. In addition, we evaluated the environmental impact and applicability of the assay using two recent metrics, yielding promising results.Talanta, 297, art. no. 128560; 2025journal articl
Role-play-based hug-robot-mediated communication in promoting friendship among individuals with autism spectrum disorders
Full text linkIndividuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience challenges in building friendships across the lifespan. To address the limitations of existing hug-based interventions, we developed Moffuly-MS, a tele- operated interactive hugging robot. In this study, participants were paired and alternated roles using Moffuly- MS; one person operated the robot to deliver a hug, while the other received it, and they took turns playing both roles. This study aimed to evaluate whether bidirectional haptic interaction via Moffuly-MS could improve mutual understanding and promote a sense of oneness. Twenty-four individuals (20 males and four females) participated over 6 consecutive days. In the with-hug condition, post-intervention scores significantly improved from baseline in both knowledge of partner (t (22) = 3.873, p = .005, r = .64) and sense of oneness (t (22) = 3.182, p = .013, r = .57). A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that perceived relaxation in the hug condition was significantly higher than that in the without-hug condition (z = 2.377, p = 0.017, r = 0.49). The results indicated that participants demonstrated enhanced knowledge of their partner and a greater sense of oneness following the intervention. These findings suggest that our approach may promote social connectedness in in-dividuals with ASD. Future research with larger, more diverse samples and longitudinal designs is needed to confirm and expand upon these results.Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 112, art. no. 104704; 2025journal articl
A phase II clinical trial on the efficacy and safety of carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel in chemotherapy-naive advanced or recurrent thymic epithelial tumors: protocol of Nab-TET
Full text linkBackground: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare, posing challenges for conducting large-scale clinical trials and leading to slower therapeutic advancements compared with other cancers. Although carboplatin plus paclitaxel therapy is the preferred standard treatment, its clinical use presents challenges, including the frequent occurrence of peripheral neuropathy. In a phase III study, carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel therapy demonstrated superior efficacy over carboplatin plus paclitaxel therapy in advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer, with reduced adverse events such as peripheral neuropathy, neutropenia, and myalgia. Carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel therapy has the potential to offer similar efficacy with reduced toxicity in TETs. Therefore, we plan to conduct a phase II clinical trial to clarify the efficacy and safety of carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel in patients with TETs. Methods: This study plans to enroll 44 patients with advanced or recurrent TETs, with a performance status of 0 or 1, and adequate organ function. Carboplatin (area under the blood concentration-time curve of 5 or 6) will be administered on day 1, while nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m2) will be administered on days 1, 8, and 15 intravenously every 3 weeks for four cycles. The primary endpoint is overall response rate, and the secondary endpoints are overall survival, progression-free survival, incidence rate of adverse events, and quality of life. Discussion: Carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel therapy may serve as a promising first-line regimen with a relatively mild side-effect profile and expected efficacy in rare TETs. We aim to determine whether this therapy is a better treatment option with lower toxicity. Trial Registration: This clinical trial was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (No. jRCTs071240019) on June 6th, 2024.Journal of Thoracic Disease, 17(9), pp.7343-7351; 2025journal articl
Application of Ferric–Graphene Quantum Dot Complex for Evaluation and Imaging of Antioxidants in Foods Based on Fluorescence Turn-Off–On Strategy
Full text linkAntioxidants have drawn much interest owing to their capacity to shield the human body from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, it is essential to develop a quick and easy assay for the evaluation of antioxidants and for imaging their distribution in food. Herein, we describe a fluorescence measurement platform for assessing and visualizing antioxidant capacity. Our method is based on using the composite of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with Fe3+ (Fe3+-GQDs) as a reagent for evaluating and imaging the antioxidant capacity in foods using a fluorescence turn-off–on strategy. The fluorescence of GQDs was found to be selectively quenched with Fe3+ at pH 3.5. Upon addition of an antioxidant, Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+, and the fluorescence of GQDs is regained. Next, we investigated the fluorescence intensity after the reaction of Fe3+-GQDs with seven typical antioxidants, and it showed excellent sensitivity down to 0.60 µM of antioxidant. Next, using Fe3+-GQDs as a reagent, we developed a paper-based fluorescence imaging method for antioxidants in foods. Furthermore, we analyzed the distribution of antioxidant capacity on cucumber and carrot slices (tips, central parts, and shoulders). Next, the antioxidant capacity of cucumber and carrot slice extracts was measured, and the results were consistent with the fluorescence imaging results of the intact slices.Antioxidants, 14(9), art. no. 1034; 2025journal articl
Research on Strength Degradation and Crack Development in Defective Concrete
Full text linkTunnel linings play a vital role in underground infrastructure, yet their performance can be severely affected by pre-existing cracks. This study investigates the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of C30 concrete with artificial cracks under uniaxial compression, simulating various crack conditions observed in tunnel linings. Specimens were designed with varying crack lengths and orientations. Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was employed to capture the evolution of internal damage and micro-cracking activity during loading. Fractal dimension analysis was performed on post-test crack patterns to quantitatively evaluate the complexity and branching characteristics of crack propagation. The AE results showed clear correlations between amplitude characteristics and macroscopic crack growth, while fractal analysis provided an effective metric for assessing the extent of damage. To complement the experiments, discrete element modeling (DEM) using PFC3D was applied to simulate crack initiation and propagation, with results compared against experimental data for validation. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of DEM in modeling cracked concrete and highlights the critical role of crack orientation and size in strength degradation. These findings provide a theoretical and numerical foundation for assessing tunnel lining defects and support the development of preventive and reinforcement strategies in tunnel engineering.GeoHazards, 6(3), art. no. 50; 2025journal articl