Value of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score in predicting hospital mortality for postoperative brain tumor patients in intensive care units in Japan: A retrospective case-control study.

Objective: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) is based on the data of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and often correlates with disease severity and prognosis. However, no prognostic predictors exist based on ICU admission data for patients with brain tumors, and no studies have reported an association between APACHE II and prognosis in patients with brain tumors. The Japanese Intensive Care Patients Database (JIPAD) was established to improve the quality of care delivered in intensive care medicine in Japan.

Involvement of ferroptosis in eribulin-induced cytotoxicity in ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a unique clinicopathological subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer that is resistant to standard chemotherapy. Eribulin, a microtubule dynamics inhibitor of halichondrin class, has unique effects in the cancer microenvironment such as induction of epithelization and reduction in metastatic potential in breast cancer cells; however, nothing is known about the effect of eribulin and the detailed mechanisms in OCCC. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of ferroptosis and its mechanism in the antitumor activity of eribulin in OCCC cells and a mouse xenograft model.

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with negative arterial spin labeling on peri-ictal magnetic resonance images.

Purpose: Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is characterized by repetitive or continuous seizures without convulsions. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is useful for assessing hyperperfusion due to neurovascular unit coupling in patients with NCSE; subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) impairs the neurovascular unit. We hypothesized that the sensitivity of ASL in detecting NCSE is low in patients with SAH during the acute phase.

Regulatory action of PGRMC1 on cyclic AMP-mediated COX2 expression in human endometrial cells.

Human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) undergo differentiation, known as decidualization, and endometrial epithelial cells mature around the embryo implantation stage. In the uterus, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), the rate-limiting enzyme that produces prostaglandin E2, is expressed in endometrial stromal and epithelial cells, and promotes decidualization of the former cells. Our recent study demonstrated that progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is downregulated during decidualization and may be involved in cellular senescence associated with decidualization via the transcription factor forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1).

Downregulation of PGRMC1 accelerates differentiation and fusion of a human trophoblast cell line.

Mononuclear cytotrophoblasts (CTs) differentiate and fuse to form multinuclear syncytiotrophoblasts (STs), which produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone to maintain pregnancy. Impaired differentiation and fusion of CTs to form STs are associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and fetal growth restriction. Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is a multifunctional single transmembrane heme-binding protein.

Risk factors for difficult endoscopic hemostasis for colonic diverticular bleeding and efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization.

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for difficult endoscopic hemostasis in patients with colonic diverticular bleeding and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for colonic diverticular bleeding. This study included 208 patients with colorectal diverticular hemorrhage. The non-interventional radiotherapy group consisted of patients who underwent successful spontaneous hemostasis (n = 131) or endoscopic hemostasis (n = 56), whereas the interventional radiotherapy group consisted of patients who underwent TAE (n = 21).

Small GTP-binding protein Rap1 mediates EGF and HB-EGF signaling and modulates EGF receptor expression in HTR-8/SVneo extravillous trophoblast cells.

Purpose: Extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) invade the endometrium to establish a fetomaternal interaction during pregnancy. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) stimulate EVT invasion by binding to the EGF receptor (EGFR). We examined the role of the small GTP-binding protein Rap1 in EGF- and HB-EGF-stimulated EVT invasion.

Efficacy of glass membrane emulsification device in conventional transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary study.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the standard treatment for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A novel glass membrane emulsification device (GMD) produces a high percentage of water/oil emulsions with homogeneous and stable droplets. There are few reports on the efficacy of GMD-conventional-TACE (GMD-c-TACE); therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of GMD-c-TACE.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-regulated high temperature requirement A1 (HTRA1) modulates invasion and angiogenesis-related genes in human trophoblasts.

The pathogenesis of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP), which affects about 10% of pregnant women, is still incompletely understood. Our previous study showed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress influences high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) expression and trophoblast invasion. However, the involvement of ER stress in the regulation of HTRA subtype expression and pathophysiology of HDP has not been characterized in extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs).

Stathmin expression alters the antiproliferative effect of eribulin in leiomyosarcoma cells.

Uterine leiomyosarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue tumor. Stathmin, a phosphoprotein that modulates microtubule dynamics, is highly expressed in many malignancies including leiomyosarcoma. The microtubule-depolymerizing agent eribulin has been recently approved for treating malignant soft tissue tumors.

The Impact of Eribulin on Stathmin Dynamics and Paclitaxel Sensitivity in Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Eribulin, an inhibitor of microtubule dynamics, is used for treating breast cancers and sarcomas. The microtubule-destabilizing protein stathmin may modulate the antiproliferative activity of eribulin on breast cancer cells and leiomyosarcoma cells. The antitumor activity of eribulin in ovarian cancers has not been fully explored, so the present study aimed to determine the antitumor efficacy of eribulin and the involvement of stathmin in ovarian cancers.

Analysis of predictors after partial splenic embolization for thrombocytopenia with liver cirrhosis.

Blood transfusion, splenectomy, and partial splenic embolization (PSE) are generally performed for thrombocytopenia in patients with cirrhosis. Recently, thrombopoietin (TPO) agonists have become available, and investigations of patients who would benefit from them are necessary. Therefore, it is important to understand the fluctuations in cytokine levels associated with PSE.

Toll-like receptor signaling pathway triggered by inhibition of serpin A1 stimulates production of inflammatory cytokines by endometrial stromal cells.

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of inflamed and fibrotic endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Previously, we found decreased SERPINA1 (alpha-1 antitrypsin) expression in endometriosis-like lesions in a mouse model of endometriosis, suggesting that it exacerbated inflammation in these lesions. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which SERPINA1 affects expression of inflammatory factors and development of endometriotic lesions have not been fully characterized.

PGRMC1 Regulates Cellular Senescence via Modulating FOXO1 Expression in Decidualizing Endometrial Stromal Cells.

The appropriate differentiation of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) into decidual cells is required for embryo implantation and subsequent placentation into humans. Decidualization is accompanied by the appearance of senescent-like cells. We recently reported the secretory phase-specific downregulation of endometrial progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) and enhanced decidualization upon PGRMC1 knockdown and inhibition in cultured ESCs.

Clinical efficacy of Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer as a biomarker for albumin-bilirubin grade and the Controlling Nutritional Status score in chronic liver disease: investigation of cut-off values by the type of chronic liver disease.

Background: Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi), a novel noninvasive biomarker for fibrosis, is a prognostic factor for liver disease; however, its relationship with hepatic function reserve and nutritional status remains unclear. Furthermore, the cut-off value of this marker varies with the underlying liver disease. This study aims to clarify that M2BPGi can be clinically used as a hepatic function reserve marker and nutritional index without pushing the search for alternative markers to the forefront in clinical practice as an important biomarker.

Development of a Navigation-guided Fence-post Catheter for Brain Tumor Resection.

Background: Navigation system devices have been developed to allow precise resection of brain tumor. The fence-post catheter techniques that use a navigation system have been used in many neurosurgery centers. However, an exclusive catheter for the fence-post catheter techniques have not been made, and substituted silicon tube of the cerebral ventricle drainage or a Nelaton catheter is widely used.

Clinical Efficacy of Liver Tumor Biopsy With Radiofrequency Ablation of the Puncture Route Using a Co-access Needle.

Background/aim: Tumor biopsy are needed frequency for accurate diagnosis. However, percutaneous liver tumor biopsy presents a risk of complications such as bleeding and tumor seeding. We investigated the feasibility of liver tumor biopsy, followed by cauterization with expandable radiofrequency ablation.

Histologic Analysis of Transjugular Liver Biopsy Specimens for Early Prediction of Prognosis in Acute Liver Failure.

Background And Aims: The prognosis of acute liver failure (ALF) treated with conservative therapy is extremely poor. Histologic diagnosis at the time ALF occurs provides important clues for determining the prognosis, including indications for liver transplant. Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB), which helps clarify the pathology of ALF, may be an effective clinical parameter that contributes to prognosis prediction, including indications for liver transplant.

Gelatin-thrombin Hemostatic Matrix-related Cyst Formation after Cerebral Hematoma Evacuation: A Report of Two Cases.

The gelatin-thrombin matrix, Floseal, is an excellent novel hemostatic agent that is used in various surgical fields. Thrombin is a serine protease, and the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin is an essential step in the coagulation cascade. However, thrombin can induce blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and vasogenic brain edema.

Effectiveness of different coils for endovascular coiling for intractable hepatic encephalopathy caused by a portosystemic shunt.

Background: Interventional radiology (IVR), including balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) and percutaneous transhepatic obliteration (PTO), is performed for patients with intractable hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, information on the appropriate coil for endovascular coiling for preventing recanalization is lacking. This study aimed to compare the different types of coils for endovascular coiling used in BRTO and PTO for cases of intractable HE.

Clinical Usefulness of Transjugular Liver Biopsy in Patients With Hematological Diseases With Liver Dysfunction.

Introduction Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is indicated for patients in whom percutaneous liver biopsy is contraindicated, such as those with hematological diseases complicated by liver dysfunction. However, the clinical utility of TJLB in this group of patients has not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TJLB in patients with hematological diseases complicated by liver dysfunction.

Continued-Maintenance Therapy with High-dose Methotrexate Improves Overall Survival of Patients with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma.

Background: PCNSL is mainly treated with HD-MTX-based chemotherapy with or without WBRT. However, As WBRT is associated with delayed neurotoxicity leading to dementia in the elderly, many institutes reported benefits of intensive chemotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy with ASCT. We investigated whether treatment with HD-MTX and rituximab, followed by continued-maintenance HD-MTX monotherapy (3.

PGE2 and Thrombin Induce Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation via Activin A and CTGF in Endometrial Stromal Cells.

Endometriosis is characterized by inflammation and fibrotic changes. Our previous study using a mouse model showed that proinflammatory factors present in peritoneal hemorrhage exacerbated inflammation in endometriosis-like grafts, at least in part through the activation of prostaglandin (PG) E2 receptor and protease-activated receptor (PAR). In addition, menstruation-related factors, PGE2 and thrombin (P/T), a PAR1 agonist induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of endometrial cells under hypoxia.

PET/MRI is useful for early detection of pelvic insufficiency fractures after radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Radiotherapy (RT) is used to manage cervical cancer, and pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF) is known as a late complication of RT. The present study identified risk factors for PIF after radiotherapy for cervical cancer, and investigated its incidence rate. It also considered the usefulness of positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) in PIF diagnosis.

Risk of delayed bleeding after hot snare polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection in the colorectum with continuation of anticoagulants.

Background: Current guidelines recommend the temporary discontinuation of anticoagulants before colonoscopic polypectomy, but the effect of this practice on reducing the risk of delayed bleeding after hot snare polypectomy (HSP) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) remains unclear. Our aim was to assess the impact of anticoagulants on the risk of colorectal delayed bleeding after HSP and EMR, and evaluate the necessity of drug withdrawal.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of patients with colorectal polyps using antithrombotic drugs who underwent HSP and/or EMR between January 2016 and September 2020 at Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital.