Distinct clinical outcomes based on multiple serum cytokine and chemokine profiles rather than autoantibody profiles and ultrasound findings in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective ultrasound cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the potential of clinical factors, ultrasound findings, serum autoantibodies, and serum cytokine and chemokine profiles as predictors of clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Patients And Methods: We included 200 patients with RA treated with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in a prospective multicentre ultrasound cohort study. Their serum levels of multiple cytokines and chemokines, rheumatoid factors, and serum autoantibodies (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide-2 (anti-CCP2) and anti-carbamylated protein antibodies) were measured at baseline, 3 months and 12 months.

X-Ray Shielding Polymer Based on Sequential Polycondensation of BiPh and Carboxylic Acids and Radical Polymerization.

Transparent X-ray shielding polymer films were developed by bulk photo copolymerization of in situ prepared bismuth carboxylate prepolymers with polymerizable exomethylene moieties and ,-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA). The bismuth-containing prepolymers were prepared via the polycondensation of BiPh, 2-octenylsuccinic acid (OSA), and itaconic acid (IA) bearing an exomethylene group for polymerization. OSA was a chain extender by intermolecular condensation and a stopper by intramolecular cyclization to inhibit cross-linkage.

Scrub Typhus and Influenza A Co-Infection: A Case Report.

Scrub typhus, caused by , is a neglected and reemerging disease that causes considerable morbidity and mortality. It now extends beyond the Tsutsugamushi Triangle, the region wherein it has traditionally been endemic. Influenza has also resurged since the infection control measures against COVID-19 were relaxed.

AP2A1 modulates cell states between senescence and rejuvenation.

Aging proceeds with the accumulation of senescent cells in multiple organs. These cells exhibit increased size compared to young cells, which promotes further senescence and age-related diseases. Currently, the molecular mechanism behind the maintenance of such huge cell architecture undergoing senescence remains poorly understood.

Comprehensive analysis of gene expressions in ileal mucosa of chickens fed paddy rice and their IgA response to oral vaccination.

Paddy rice ingestion increases intestinal mucin secretion and production by enhancing MUC2 gene expression and epithelial turnover. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of intestinal gene expression in chickens fed paddy rice and investigated whether the intestinal IgA response was modified by paddy rice ingestion. Furthermore, we investigated the possible involvement of gut fermentation.

Prognostic significance of the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, platelet (HALP) score after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases.

Purpose: Inflammatory, nutritional, and immune biomarkers are associated with the prognosis of patients with various tumors. Recently, a comprehensive predictive biomarker, the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, was introduced to predict clinical outcomes. We investigated the prognostic impact of preoperative HALP scores in patients who underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM).

Impact of the Inflammatory Burden Index on Prognosis After Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of the inflammatory burden index (IBI), a novel inflammation-based biomarker, in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatic resection.

Patients And Methods: One hundred fifty patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The IBI was defined as C-reactive protein × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count.

A newly proposed endoscopic score system to evaluate the entire small bowel and predict the prognosis in Crohn's disease.

Small bowel stenosis in patients with Crohn's disease leads to abdominal symptoms and can affect prognosis. The Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease for the large bowel has been applied to the small bowel; however, stenosis scoring may be overestimated since it has a long diameter. This retrospective study aimed to devise a new endoscopic scoring system including the small bowel and evaluate whether it predicts the prognosis of Crohn's disease.

Comparison of surgical outcomes and postoperative nutritional parameters between subtotal and proximal gastrectomy in patients with proximal early gastric cancer.

Aim: In this study, we evaluated the difference in short-term outcomes and postoperative nutritional status between subtotal gastrectomy (sTG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) to determine the optimal surgical treatment for early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach.

Methods: Patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic sTG or PG at the Shizuoka Cancer Center in Shizuoka between January 2014 and December 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patient characteristics, surgical outcomes, endoscopic findings, and postoperative nutritional changes, including blood tests, body weight, psoas muscle, and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, were measured and compared between the two groups.

ARID4B Promotes the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through the PI3K/AKT Pathway.

Background: AT-rich interaction domain 4B (ARID4B) is a transcriptional activator that regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway in prostate cancer. However, the role of ARID4B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has remained unclear.

Methods: This study included 162 patients who had undergone primary hepatic resection for HCC between 2008 and 2019.

Suppression of Bone Formation and Resorption by the Deletion of Complex Gangliosides.

Background/aim: Gangliosides regulate bone formation and resorption. Bone formation is reduced in mice lacking ganglioside GM2/GD2 synthase due to a decrease in osteoblasts. However, the effects of the loss of complex gangliosides by the deletion of both GM2/GD2 and GD3 synthases are unknown.

Lipoprotein(a) as a Predictor of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver After Pancreatectomy.

Background/aim: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a complex protein involved in the transport of insoluble lipids in plasma. Its expression is predominantly genetically determined, with 70% to over 90% influenced by the number of Kringle IV type 2 domains. This study investigated the association between preoperative serum Lp(a) level and development of post-pancreatectomy nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients who underwent pancreatectomy.

Associations of gut microbiota with disease development, disease activity, and therapeutic effects in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Altered gut microbiota is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but its association with disease development, disease activity, and post-intervention changes remains unclear. We compared new-onset SLE (NOSLE, n = 25), SLE in remission (RemSLE, n = 30), and healthy controls (HC, n = 30) cross-sectionally and conducted the first longitudinal analysis of NOSLE patients (n = 22) from pre-intervention to remission over 12 months. Significant β-diversity differences were observed in both NOSLE and RemSLE compared to HC, but not between NOSLE and RemSLE.

Neural substrates underlying distinct dual cognitive syndromes in Parkinson's disease.

Background: A dual-syndrome hypothesis, which states the cognitive impairments in Parkinson's disease (PD) are attributable to frontostriatal dopaminergic dysregulation and cortical disturbance-each associated with attention/executive and memory/visuospatial dysfunction, respectively-has been widely accepted. This multisystem contribution also underlies highly heterogeneous progression rate to dementia.

Methods: Nondemented PD patients who underwent [I]N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane ([I]FP-CIT) SPECT and neuropsychological examinations were enrolled.

Timing of TS1 adjuvant chemotherapy as a prognostic factor in recurrent pancreatic cancer after surgery.

Aim: Prognosis of pancreatic cancer is improved by combining postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with surgery, while the importance of extended dissection surgery has decreased. To better understand prognostic factors of recurrence, we focused on the timing of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods: One hundred patients who underwent pancreatectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer were classified into early and late postoperative adjuvant therapy initiation groups.

Action Mechanisms of Exosomes Derived from GD3/GD2-Positive Glioma Cells in the Regulation of Phenotypes and Intracellular Signaling: Roles of Integrins.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in intercellular communication in various biological events. In particular, EVs released from cancer cells have attracted special attention. Although it has been reported that cancer-associated glycosphingolipids play important roles in the enhancement of malignant properties of cancer cells, the presence, behavior, and roles of glycosphingolipids in EVs have not been elucidated.

Sn(IV) Complexes of 5,10,15,20-Tetraaryl-5,15-diazaporphyrinoids: A Promising Platform for Evaluating the 20π-Electron Antiaromaticity.

Porphyrinoids in the 20π-electron state have been extensively studied from the fundamental viewpoint of investigating their structure-antiaromaticity relationships. However, most of the 20π porphyrinoids are highly distorted and unstable in air, which hinder the comprehensive analysis of paratropic ring-current effects derived from planar π-electron systems. Herein, we present the first examples of antiaromatic Sn(IV) complexes of 5,10,15,20-tetraaryl-5,15-diazaporphyrinoids (SnXTADAPs), prepared by the complexation of the corresponding freebases with Sn(II) chloride under aerobic conditions and subsequent metathesis of the axial ligands, that show paratropic ring-current effects.

Gun-Sight Technique With Dual Hepatic Vascular Embolization for Sigmoidal Refractory Biliary Stricture After Living-Donor Liver Transplantation: A Case Report.

Background: Biliary stricture is a common complication after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), but its management is challenging. We herein report a case of successful internal drainage achieved through combination of the gun-sight technique and dual hepatic vascular embolization (DHVE).

Case Presentation: A 54-year-old woman with primary biliary cholangitis underwent ABO-incompatible LDLT with the right lobe.

Discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S2 protein antibody CV804 with broad-spectrum reactivity with various beta coronaviruses and analysis of its pharmacological properties in vitro and in vivo.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic alerted the potential for significant harm due to future cross-species transmission of various animal coronaviruses to human. There is a significant need of antibody-based drugs to treat patients infected with previously unseen coronaviruses. In this study, we generated CV804, an antibody that binds to the S2 domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is highly conserved across the coronavirus family and less susceptible to mutations.

Two Approaches to the Synthesis of Redox-Switchable 5,10,20-Triaryl-5,15-diazaporphyrinoids.

Despite the significant development and extensive application of phthalocyanine and related azaporphyrins, little attention has been paid to meso-N-substituted azaporphyrinoids. Here, we report new derivatives of 5,10,20-triaryl-5,15-diazaporphyrinoids (ArDAP), which are reversibly redox-switchable between the 18π- and 19π-electron state. Four kinds of metal(II) complexes and free bases of ArDAP were prepared by metal-templated cyclization of metal(II) complexes of 5,10,15-triaryl-10-azabiladiene-ac with sodium azide or copper-catalyzed N-phenylation of 10,20-diaryl-5,15-diazaporphyrins (ArDAP) with diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate.

Validity of E-PASS Score for Evaluating Perioperative Minor Complications Associated with Carotid Endarterectomy.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is conducted to reduce the risk of cerebral infarction; therefore, a low complication rate is highly required. To predict long-term morbidity and mortality, various scoring systems have been considered; nonetheless, a model that can be utilized to estimate nonmajor temporary complications and minor complications is currently lacking. To evaluate the occurrence rate of perioperative complications in various surgical domains, the E-PASS (Estimation of Physiological Ability and Surgical Stress) score is employed.

An estimation of the abundance of plastic litter generated by beach users nationwide in Japan.

Coastal regions, including beaches, constitute major tourism assets. Concurrently, beaches are hotspots for microplastic generation, and accumulated beached litter substantially influences future microplastic abundance in the marine environment. Although the stock of plastic litter on beaches has been estimated in previous studies, knowledge gaps exist with regard to the amount of annually generated litter by beach users and the absence of litter generation rate (LGR) in g/person/h or items/person/h.