Moderate midazolam sedation is often used in gastrointestinal endoscopy to induce stress-free conscious sedation. Conversely, flumazenil can reverse midazolam-induced sedation and cause temporary awakening and resedation. However, the effects of flumazenil disuse on the incidence of inpatient falls are unknown. In this study, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of the incidence of falls in inpatients who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy under midazolam-induced sedation with or without flumazenil. This study included 1,424 procedures, of which 559 involved flumazenil use. The frequency of inpatient falls did not significantly differ between the flumazenil and nonflumazenil use groups (2/559 episodes [0.36%] vs. 2/865 episodes [0.23%], P = 0.648). The inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis could not determine the association of flumazenil disuse with the incidence of inpatient falls (odds ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-4.14; P = 0.58). Our results indicate that the association between flumazenil disuse and the incidence of inpatient falls remain unclear.

As part of our ongoing study on verification of helium–alternative carrier gases in the official test method using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for chemicals in indoor air, we examined the applicability of hydrogen and nitrogen to thermal desorption (TD)–GC–MS. A comparison of the signal–to–noise ratios of standard solutions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and Phthalate esters showed that detection sensitivities of hydrogen and nitrogen analyses were sufficient for the official test method. Measurements using these alternative carrier gases showed good linearity and could quantify less than 1/100^th of Japanese guideline values for indoor air concentrations. Therefore, hydrogen and nitrogen gases can be applied to the official test method using TD–GC–MS for VOC and Phthalate esters in indoor air as alternative carrier gases to helium.

Benzotriazole-based ultraviolet absorbers (BUVs) are widely used in polymers due to their high thermal and photo stability. However, their environmental persistence and bioaccumulation potential have raised concerns, and some have become subject to regulation. BUVs have been detected in water, air, road dust, biota, and indoor products such as plastics and paints. They have also been frequently found in household dust (HD), which accumulates semi-volatile organic compounds; however, no studies to date have investigated the presence of BUVs in Japanese HD. This study established an LC–MS/MS method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) to quantify eight BUVs in HD and evaluate their occurrence in Japanese residences. Here, eight BUVs were selected for analysis, including UV-320—classified as a Class I specified chemical substance under Japan’s Chemical Substances Control Law—and UV-328, newly listed in 2024. Sample preparation was optimized by evaluating six solid-phase extraction methods, among which basic alumina-based cartridges demonstrated selective BUV retention. High recoveries ranging from 86.9 to 100% were achieved using a back-flush elution approach. Using the developed method, HD samples collected in 2023 and 2024 were analyzed. Six compounds, excluding UV-320 and UV-PS, were detected in 100% of the samples. Although the maximum and minimum concentrations varied considerably between the two years, the median values and detection frequencies showed generally consistent trends. These findings reveal the contamination status of BUVs in Japanese HD and demonstrate that the developed APCI–LC–MS/MS method is a reliable approach for indoor pollution monitoring.

Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is transcribed from both chromosomal ends and regulates gene expression at telomeres as well as within internal chromosomal regions. Although chromosomal dysfunction has been implicated in depression, the relationship between TERRA expression and depressive symptoms remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) method to measure TERRA expression from 10 loci on chromosomes 3, 8, 11, 12, 16, and 22, which have been associated with depressive disorder. Using this method, we examined the association between TERRA expression in peripheral blood and depressive symptoms in 18 patients with major depressive disorder. TERRA expression levels at 8p and 11p exhibited limited correlation with those at other chromosomal loci. Moreover, when patients were stratified into two groups based on depressive symptom severity, TERRA expression at 8p was significantly lower in the group with severe depressive symptoms compared with those with mild symptoms (P = 0.043). This study established a method for quantifying chromosome-specific TERRA expression and provided insights into its potential association with depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that aberrant TERRA expression at 8p may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Further studies involving larger cohorts are warranted to validate these results.