Overcoming the probing-depth dilemma in spectroscopic analyses of batteries with muon-induced X-ray emission (MIXE).

Battery research often encounters the challenge of determining chemical information, such as composition and elemental oxidation states, of a layer buried within a cell stack in a non-destructive manner. Spectroscopic techniques based on X-ray emission or absorption are well-suited and commonly employed to reveal this information. However, the attenuation of X-rays as they travel through matter creates a challenge when trying to analyze layers buried at depths exceeding hundred micrometers from the sample's surface.

Efficient and cost-effective differentiation of induced neural crest cells from induced pluripotent stem cells using laminin 211.

Introduction: Neural crest cells (NCCs) are cell populations that originate during the formation of neural crest in developmental stages. They are characterized by their multipotency, self-renewal and migration potential. Given their ability to differentiate into various types of cells such as neurons and Schwann cells, NCCs hold promise for cell therapy applications.

Preoperative level of serum transthyretin as a novel biomarker predicting survival in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with neoadjuvant therapy.

Background: Systemic inflammation and altered metabolism are essential hallmarks of cancer. We hypothesized that the rapid turnover protein transthyretin (TTR) (half-life: 2-3 days), compared with the conventional marker albumin (21 days), better reflects the inflammatory/metabolic dynamics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and is a useful prognostic marker.

Methods: Serum TTR and albumin levels were measured in 104 consecutive post-NAT PDAC patients before curative resection.

Comparison of laparoscopic liver resection for the ventral versus the dorsal areas of segment 8.

Purpose: The technical difficulties of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) are greatly associated with the location of liver tumors. Since segment 8 (S8) contains a wide area, the difficulty of LLR for S8 tumors may vary depending on the location within the segment, such as the ventral (S8v) and dorsal (S8d) area, but the difference is unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 30 patients who underwent primary laparoscopic partial liver resection for liver tumors in S8 at Kobe University Hospital between January 2018 and June 2023.

Utility of plasma D-dimer for diagnosis of venous thromboembolism after hepatectomy.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially fatal complication of hepatectomy. The use of postoperative prophylactic anticoagulation in patients who have undergone hepatectomy is controversial because of the risk of postoperative bleeding. Therefore, we hypothesized that monitoring plasma D-dimer could be useful in the early diagnosis of VTE after hepatectomy.

Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis.

The amount of C in steel, which is critical in determining its properties, is strongly influenced by steel production technology. We propose a novel method of quantifying the bulk C content in steel non-destructively using muons. This revolutionary method may be used not only in the quality control of steel in production, but also in analyzing precious steel archaeological artifacts.

Efficacy of S-1 Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resected Biliary Tract Cancer: A Retrospective Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Introduction: Surgical resection is considered an effective cure for biliary tract cancer (BTC); however, the prognosis is unsatisfactory despite improved surgical techniques and perioperative management. The recurrence rate remains high even after curative resection. The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic and gastric cancers has been previously reported, and the feasibility of adjuvant therapy with S-1 has recently been reported in patients with resected BTC.

Self-expanding metallic stent for refractory pancreatic duct stricture in chronic pancreatitis: A prospective follow-up study.

Background And Aims: In chronic pancreatitis, fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMS) are used to treat refractory pancreatic duct strictures. However, the FCSEMS design, effectiveness, safety, optimal stent indwelling time and patient selection remain unclear. This study aimed at evaluating technical success, clinical success and adverse events with FCSEMS in patients with symptomatic pancreatic duct stricture.

LC-1000 flow cytometry system complements intraoperative peritoneal cytology for pancreatic and biliary tract cancer.

Background: The exfoliative cell analyzer, LC-1000, is medical device that utilizes the principles of flow cytometry, and might provide digital diagnostic information for cytology using a different approach from conventional cytomorphology. In this study, wae examined the usefulness of the LC-1000 as a diagnostic support system for intraoperative peritoneal lavage cytology and its prognostic impact for pancreatic (PC) and biliary tract cancer (BTC).

Methods: Patients with PC and BTC who underwent surgical treatment were included.

Transarterial chemoembolization for liver metastases of a pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm: a single-center experience.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is performed for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PanNEN) liver metastases; however, the safety and efficacy of TACE procedures, especially for patients who have undergone previous pancreatic surgery, have not been established. We reviewed 48 TACE procedures (1-6 procedures/patient) performed on 11 patients with PanNEN liver metastases, including 16 TACE procedures (4-6 procedures/patient) for 3 patients with a history of biliary-enteric anastomosis. The overall tumor objective response rate was 94%.

Prognostic Impact of Malnutrition Diagnosed by the GLIM Criteria for Resected Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background/aim: Recently, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), which includes the world's leading clinical nutrition societies, proposed the first global diagnostic criteria for malnutrition. However, the association between malnutrition diagnosed by the GLIM criteria and prognosis in patients with resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the predictive validity of the GLIM criteria for the prognosis of patients with resected ECC.

Factors Predicting Over-Time Weight Increase After Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Post-transplantation weight control is important for long-term outcomes; however, few reports have examined postoperative weight change. This study aimed to identify perioperative factors contributing to post-transplantation weight change.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2015 and 2019 with an overall survival of >3 years were analyzed.

Efficient Microfluidic Screening Method Using a Fluorescent Immunosensor for Recombinant Protein Secretions.

Microbial secretory protein expression is widely used for biopharmaceutical protein production. However, establishing genetically modified industrial strains that secrete large amounts of a protein of interest is time-consuming. In this study, a simple and versatile high-throughput screening method for protein-secreting bacterial strains is developed.

Assessment of serum and drain fluid bilirubin concentrations in liver transplantation patients.

Background: Bile leakage is a major complication after liver transplantation and remains as a significant source of morbidity and mortality. In 2011, the International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) defined bile leakage as a drain/serum bilirubin ratio ≥3. However, to our knowledge there is no literature assessing serum and drain bilirubin concentrations after liver transplantation.

Potential Role of Surgical Resection for Gallbladder Cancer in Elderly Patients.

Introduction: With the aging of the population in Japan, gallbladder cancer (GBC) in the elderly is increasing. However, the available clinical data are limited, and the optimal treatment is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of surgical resection in GBC patients ≥75 years of age.

Standardization of laparoscopic anatomic liver resection of segment 2 by the Glissonean approach.

Background: Anatomic liver resection (ALR) has been established to eliminate the tumor-bearing hepatic region with preservation of the remnant liver volume for liver malignancies. Recently, laparoscopic ALR has been widely applied; however, there are few reports on laparoscopic segmentectomy 2. This study aimed to present the standardization of laparoscopic segmentectomy 2 with surgical outcomes.

Use of a short cartridge stapler is beneficial in pancreatic transection at the neck during laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

Stapling is the standard method for pancreatic transection during laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Although most surgeons use a 60 mm cartridge stapler, space limitations created by laparoscopic surgery make the instrument difficult to handle, especially during pancreatic transection at the neck. Therefore, we currently use a 45 mm cartridge stapler for laparoscopic pancreatic transection at the neck.

Specificity of Nuclear Size Scaling in Frog Erythrocytes.

In eukaryotes, the cell has the ability to modulate the size of the nucleus depending on the surrounding environment, to enable nuclear functions such as DNA replication and transcription. From previous analyses of nuclear size scaling in various cell types and species, it has been found that eukaryotic cells have a conserved scaling rule, in which the nuclear size correlates with both cell size and genomic content. However, there are few studies that have focused on a certain cell type and systematically analyzed the size scaling properties in individual species (intra-species) and among species (inter-species), and thus, the difference in the scaling rules among cell types and species is not well understood.

Clinicopathological variables and risk factors for lung recurrence after resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high recurrence rate even after curative resection. Lung recurrence may have better outcomes than other recurrences. However, its detailed clinicopathological features are unclear.