Dual Energy Metal Artifact Reduction for Iodine-125 Seed Identification in Postimplant CT after Prostate Brachytherapy.

Objectives: To assess the metal artifact reductions of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) high-energy virtual monochromatic images (VMI) combined with the single energy metal artifact reduction (SEMER) (CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS, Otawara, Japan) processing techniques for iodine (I)-125 seed identification in postimplant computed tomography (CT) after prostate brachytherapy.

Methods: Dual-energy acquisition with fast tube voltage switching was performed on a prostate phantom with simulated seeds and six clinical cases treated with I-125 prostate brachytherapy. The images were retrospectively reconstructed at VMI energy levels of 65-200 keV and with and without SEMAR (SEMAR and non-SEMAR images).

Dataset of aquatic insects acquired using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and the NanoSuit method.

A simple surface modification, called NanoSuit, by electron beam or by plasma irradiation can form a nanoscale layer, allowing to keep small animals alive and hydrous under the high vacuum required for field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). We previously applied NanoSuit to aquatic insects, Dixa longistyla larvae (Diptera: Dixidae), which always lie on their ventral surface just under the water surface. We found that the crown-like structures on the ventral side of the hind segments enable the larvae to reside in such ecological niche.

A rapid simultaneous antigen detection of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae for predicting the prognosis of acute otitis media.

Background: Rapid identification of causative bacteria in treatment of acute otitis media (AOM) is of paramount importance for appropriate antibiotic use.

Materials And Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in 15 hospitals and clinics in Japan between 2018 and 2020. A new rapid antigen test kit (AOS-116), which simultaneously detects antigens for Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) and Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), was applied for middle ear fluids (MEFs) and nasopharyngeal secretions (NPSs) in patients with moderate to severe AOM.

MET kinase inhibitor reverses resistance to entrectinib induced by hepatocyte growth factor in tumors with NTRK1 or ROS1 rearrangements.

Background: Entrectinib is an effective drug for treating solid tumors with NTRK gene rearrangement and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ROS1 gene rearrangement. However, its efficacy is limited by tolerance and acquired resistance, the mechanisms of which are not fully understood. The growth factors produced by the tumor microenvironment, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) produced by tumor-associated fibroblasts, critically affect the sensitivity to targeted drugs.

Occupational Difference in Oral Health Status and Behaviors in Japanese Workers: A Literature Review.

The occupational environment is an important factor for oral health because people spend a long time in the workplace throughout their lives and are affected by work-related stress and occupational health policies. This study aimed to review evidence for the association between occupation and oral health status and behaviors. A literature search of PubMed was conducted from February to May 2022, as well as a manual search analyzing the article origins.

Methylation of Tumor Suppressive miRNAs in Plasma from Patients With Pancreaticobiliary Diseases.

Background/aim: We previously reported the usefulness of aberrant methylation of tumor suppressive miRNAs in bile to discriminate pancreaticobiliary cancers (PBCs) from benign pancreaticobiliary diseases (BD). Here we performed a methylation analysis of plasma miRNAs to identify miRNAs specific for PBCs.

Patients And Methods: Plasma was collected from 80 patients with pancreatic cancer (PC); 18 with biliary tract cancer (BTC) and 28 with BD.

Predictive factors for false negatives following sentinel lymph node biopsy in early oral cavity cancer.

Prophylactic elective neck dissection (ND) with navigation surgery using radioisotope-based sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is non-inferior to elective ND in terms of survival but has an advantage in postoperative functional disability. We conducted a subgroup analysis to identify predictive factors for false-negative (FN)-SLNB in patients with early oral cavity cancer. This study is a supplementary analysis using the dataset of a previously reported randomized clinical trial on SLN navigation surgery for oral cancers.

[Effect of Automatic Extraction Accuracy by Different Image Reconstruction Methods Using a Three-dimensional Image Analysis System for Pulmonary Segmentectomy Preoperative CT Angiography].

This study aimed to determine the optimal image reconstruction method for preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiography for pulmonary segmentectomy. This study enrolled 20 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT examination for pulmonary segmentectomy. The optimal image reconstruction algorithm among four different reconstruction algorithms (filtered back projection, hybrid iterative reconstruction, model- based iterative reconstruction, and deep learning reconstruction [DLR]) was investigated by assessing the CT numbers, vessel extraction ratios, and misclassification ratios.

Exploratory Analysis to Predict Optimal Tumor Burden for Starting Lenvatinib in Patients With Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Background: We previously reported that a high tumor burden is a prognostic factor based on an analysis of 26 patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) who were treated with lenvatinib. However, the optimal tumor burden for starting lenvatinib still remains to be defined. The aim of this retrospective study was to further explore in the same patient cohort the optimal timing for the start of lenvatinib by focusing on the pre- and post-treatment tumor burden.

Mediastinal Malignant Melanoma Markedly Shrinking in Response to Nivolumab.

Primary malignant melanoma (MM) of the mediastinum is rare, and there is a lack of consensus regarding the preferred treatment because non-cutaneous MM demonstrates an inferior response to systemic therapy. Herein, we describe the case of a 73-year-old man with MM of the anterior mediastinum with multiple liver metastases. Even though the size of lesions increased rapidly following diagnosis, nivolumab monotherapy caused remarkable tumor shrinkage.

Hydrophobic-hydrophilic crown-like structure enables aquatic insects to reside effectively beneath the water surface.

Various insects utilise hydrophobic biological surfaces to live on the surface of water, while other organisms possess hydrophilic properties that enable them to live within a water column. Dixidae larvae reside, without being submerged, just below the water surface. However, little is known about how these larvae live in such an ecological niche.

Multi-institutional survey of cancer disparities in disabled patients in the region of northwestern Japan.

Background: Potential disparities between cancer patients with and without disabilities remained to be validate in Japan.

Methods: We surveyed retrospective data on hospital cancer registration as well as information on disability certificates obtained through the Hokushin Ganpro database. In total, 93,545 cancer patients in 10 principal hospitals covering the region of northwestern Japan were registered with the Hokushin Ganpro database between 2010 and 2015.

Bronchoesophageal fistula formation after three courses of nivolumab for carcinoma of unknown primary with a subgroup of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used in both monotherapy and combination chemotherapy for various types of cancers. Nivolumab is the most popular among ICIs, and the number of adapted malignant diseases for nivolumab is increasing. Bronchoesophageal fistula formation is a serious complication of the treatment for esophageal or lung cancer.

In situ elemental analyses of living biological specimens using 'NanoSuit' and EDS methods in FE-SEM.

Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) carried out alongside scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a common technique for elemental analysis. To investigate "wet" biological specimens, complex pre-treatments are required to stabilize them under the high vacuum conditions of high-resolution SEM. These often produce unwanted artifacts.

Multiple Malignant Lymphomas of the Bile Duct Developing after Spontaneous Regression of an Autoimmune Pancreatitis-like Mass.

We herein report a 67-year-old woman with malignant lymphomas of the bile duct that developed after regression of a pancreatic head mass. Computed tomography suggested the mass was pancreatic head cancer. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a low-echoic mass with hyperechoic strands resembling autoimmune pancreatitis.

Reduced doses of dabrafenib and trametinib combination therapy for BRAF V600E-mutant non-small cell lung cancer prevent rhabdomyolysis and maintain tumor shrinkage: a case report.

Background: A BRAF V600E mutation is found as driver oncogene in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Although combined treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib is highly effective, the efficacy of reduced doses of the drugs in combination therapy has not yet been reported.

Case Presentation: A Japanese man in his mid-sixties was diagnosed with unresectable lung adenocarcinoma and was unresponsive to cytotoxic chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Transcriptional Coactivator TAZ Negatively Regulates Tumor Suppressor p53 Activity and Cellular Senescence.

Transcriptional coactivator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) is one of the mammalian orthologs of Yorkie, a transcriptional coactivator of the Hippo pathway. TAZ has been suggested to function as a regulator that modulates the expression of cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic genes in order to stimulate cell proliferation. TAZ has also been associated with a poor prognosis in several cancers, including breast cancer.

Aberrant Methylation of Tumor Suppressive miRNAs in Bile from Patients With Pancreaticobiliary Diseases.

Background/aim: Epigenetic abnormalities in microRNAs (miRNAs) have not been analyzed in samples other than pancreaticobiliary tissues in patients with pancreaticobiliary cancer (PBC). To identify miRNAs specific for PBC, the present study analyzed the methylation of tumor-suppressive miRNAs in bile from patients with pancreaticobiliary diseases.

Materials And Methods: Bile was collected endoscopically or percutaneously from 52 patients with pancreatic cancer, 26 with biliary tract cancer, and 20 with benign pancreaticobiliary diseases.

Patient-derived xenograft models of non-small cell lung cancer for evaluating targeted drug sensitivity and resistance.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are a useful tool in cancer biology research. However, the number of lung cancer PDX is limited. In the present study, we successfully established 10 PDX, including three adenocarcinoma (AD), six squamous cell carcinoma (SQ) and one large cell carcinoma (LA), from 30 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (18 AD, 10 SQ, and 2 LA), mainly in SCID hairless outbred (SHO) mice (Crlj:SHO-Prkdc Hr ).

Exploratory analysis of prognostic factors for lenvatinib in radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.

Background: Multitarget kinase inhibitors (m-TKI), including lenvatinib, are now available as treatment options for radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). However, the optimal timing of treatment initiation with m-TKI in these patients remains to be defined.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 30 consecutive patients with RR-DTC.

[Evaluation of Radiation Exposure on Mass Screening Examination for Gastric Cancer Using an Air Kerma-area Product Meter].

The present study grasped the radiation exposure per examination by incident air kerma (air kerma-area product; KAP and incident air kerma; K) using an air kerma-area product meter of our division with mobile population based gastric cancer screening. Initially, we measured the air kerma rate at the patient entrance reference point using an air kerma-area product meter and calibrated dosimeter, for three devices which an air kerma-area product meter was equipped, inspected the indication error of them. The error was 4.