When is the ideal time to remove cerclage in cases requiring cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum?

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) presents one of the highest risks to pregnancy and often requires a cesarean hysterectomy for management, but the challenges associated with this surgery often cause severe obstetric haemorrhaging and high rates of maternal morbidity. Shirodkar cerclage is usually performed in cases with cervical insufficiency, a short cervix with previous preterm birth, etc., to decrease the preterm birth rate. It is recommended that Shirodkar cerclage is removed when the patient approaches term, but the ideal timing of removal for patient for whom cesarean hysterectomy is planned is not clear. Here, authors present a case of PAS in whom Shirodkar cerclage that was difficult to remove at the timing of cesarean hysterectomy. After cesarean hysterectomy, the patient had a vaginal abscess and required antibiotic therapy for approximately two weeks. In the light of our case, authors discuss the timing of removal of cerclage in the cases of PAS

DNA nanotechnology: Measuring chloride in live cells

PDF title = Chloride Sensor: measuring sub-cellular chloride in live cellsA nucleic acid-based chloride sensor is used to image and quantify spatiotemporal chloride transport in the living cell

Influence of Cold Sensation on Plantar Tactile Sensation for Young Females

Cold sensation (CS) is a cold feeling on people’s hands or feet; this is a well-known health problem for young females. Plantar tactile sensation plays an important role in postural control and is affected by skin temperature. However, there is no research focusing on the relation between CS and plantar tactile sensation. In this study, we address the question of whether the CS influences plantar tactile sensation. 32 non cold sensation (Non-CS) and 31 cold sensation (CS) young females have participated in this research. A tactile sensation test was conducted at five plantar points (first and fifth toes, first and fifth metatarsal heads, and heel). Experimental results showed that although there was no significant difference at the first and fifth toes as well as the first metatarsal head and heel, the sensation threshold at the fifth metatarsal head for CS was lower than the Non-CS (21.61 ± 8.10 μm, 27.42 ± 11.02 μm respectively, p < 0.05).  It was concluded that plantar tactile sensation for young females with cold sensation was more sensitive compared to healthy subjects

Hydrodynamic stress stimulates growth of cell clusters via the ANXA1/PI3K/AKT axis in colorectal cancer

Cancer cells are exposed to various stresses in vivo, including hydrodynamic stress (HDS). HDS on cancer cells in the blood stream can influence the metastatic potential. Recent studies revealed that circulating tumor cell clusters are more responsible for metastasis than circulating single cells. Nevertheless, most studies on HDS are based on single cells prepared from established cancer cell lines. Here, we used cancer tissue-originated spheroids (CTOS) as a patient-derived, 3D organoid model to investigate the effect of HDS on cancer cell clusters. We found that HDS induced the growth of cancer cell clusters in a population of colorectal CTOSs. Microarray analyses revealed that the multifunctional protein, Annexin 1 (ANXA1), was upregulated upon HDS exposure. Chemically-induced membrane damage also triggered the expression of ANXA1. A knockdown of ANXA1 revealed that ANXA1 regulated HDS-stimulated growth in colorectal CTOSs. Mechanistically, activating the PI3K/AKT pathway downstream of ANXA1 contributed to the phenotype. These findings demonstrate that HDS induces the growth of cancer cell clusters via ANXA1/PI3K/AKT axis, which helps to elucidate the pro-metastatic feature of circulating cancer cell clusters

Impact of an EFL Digital Application on Learning, Satisfaction, and Persistence in Elementary School Children

The version of record of this article, first published in Early Childhood Education Journal, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01653-5.There is a lack of research evaluating the effects of digital textbooks and digital apps on learning for early elementary school learners. Therefore, this study conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate how an iPad application for learning English as a foreign language impacted children’s grammar understanding, satisfaction, persistence, and confidence compared to a digital textbook. A total of 119 Japanese first- and second-graders participated in the study. They were randomly divided into groups studying English using “digital books” or “applications” over five days. Pre- and post-intervention tests and questionnaires were used to measure their understanding of the study content, satisfaction, persistence, and confidence in English. Application-based learning was more effective than digital books in terms of grammar comprehension and was significantly better for satisfaction and persistence. The results suggested the use of specific criteria for selecting multimedia learning materials, including a high degree of learner control, autonomy to manipulate the learning environment, feedback on learning activities, and guaranteed interactions with the learning materials