Comparative strength of ligature points achieved by various surgical knot-tying techniques: an observational study using Maxon™ monofilament sutures.

Purpose: Surgical knot-tying requires careful selection of the appropriate technique for optimal outcomes; however, evidence is lacking about the common ligation techniques combining square and slip knots (combination knots). This study investigates the strength of a combination knot, compared with other techniques.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, we assessed the strengths of square, slip-granny, slip-reef, and combination knots using absorbable monofilament sutures, and compared them using ANOVA and a multilevel linear regression analysis.

Improvement of skin condition and intestinal microbiota via Heyndrickxia coagulans SANK70258 intake: A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group comparative study.

Objective: Heyndrickxia coagulans SANK70258, a representative probiotic, is known for alleviating inflammation caused by cedar pollen, improving the intestinal environment and bowel movements. A previous study on consuming H. coagulans SANK70258 together with galactooligosaccharides showed a trend toward improvement in skin scaliness scores and subjective assessments of skin roughness.

Dietary inflammation, sleep and mental health in the United Kingdom and Japan: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Diet has been repeatedly shown to affect mental and sleep health outcomes. However, it is well known that there are cross-cultural differences in dietary practices as well as the prevalence of mental and sleep health outcomes. Given that the dietary inflammatory potential of diets has been linked to mental and sleep health outcomes, in the current study we sought to assess the inflammatory status of habitual diets and examine its relationship with mental and sleep health outcomes in both the United Kingdom and Japan.

Development of an Evaluation System Using Intestinal Organoids for Drug Efflux Transport Analysis by an Imaging Approach.

There are several in vitro systems that enable evaluation of the absorption direction, but there are few quantitative systems that enable easy evaluation of the excretion direction. Enteroids, organoids derived from intestine, have been frozen and passaged for various research. But it is not clear how the freezing and passaging affect the expression and function of transporters.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Bacteroidota Strains Derived From Outstanding Donors of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: The proportion of certain Bacteroidota species decreased in patients with ulcerative colitis, and the recovery of Bacteroidota is associated with the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation therapy. We hypothesized that certain Bacteroidota may advance ulcerative colitis treatment. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Bacteroidota strains isolated from donors.

Clinicopathological importance of Bcl-2 and p53 in postmenopausal triple-negative breast carcinoma and association with age.

Appropriate biomarkers are required to predict the clinical outcome of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this study, we focused on the clinical importance of two representative tumor-associated proteins, Bcl-2 and p53. Bcl-2 expression is usually related to estrogen receptor expression and a favorable outcome in breast cancer.

The Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Breast Cancer, 2022 Edition: changes from the 2018 edition and general statements on breast cancer treatment.

The Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Breast Cancer, 2022 Edition was published in June 2022. The guidelines were prepared while conforming as much as possible to the "Minds Manual for Guideline Development 2020 ver. 3.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-low advanced or metastatic breast cancer: recommendations from the Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guidelines.

The Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guidelines are published as timely guidance on clinical issues in breast cancer treatment in Japan. In the recent edition of these guidelines, we addressed a new clinical question 34 (CQ 34, systemic treatment part) "Is trastuzumab deruxtecan recommended for patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low breast cancer?" and a new future research question 7 (FRQ 7, pathological diagnosis part) "How is HER2-low breast cancer diagnosed for the indication of trastuzumab deruxtecan?". These questions address use of trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low breast cancer who have previously received chemotherapy for metastatic disease.

Transient chemical and structural changes in graphene oxide during ripening.

Graphene oxide (GO)-the oxidized form of graphene-is actively studied in various fields, such as energy, electronic devices, separation of water, materials engineering, and medical technologies, owing to its fascinating physicochemical properties. One major drawback of GO is its instability, which leads to the difficulties in product management. A physicochemical understanding of the ever-changing nature of GO can remove the barrier for its growing applications.

[Thymoma-associated generalized myasthenia gravis complicated with anti-VGKC complex antibody-associated limbic encephalitis: a case report].

We present a case of a 54-year-old woman. She was attending our department for thymoma-associated generalized myasthenia gravis. While she was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins for the exacerbation of myasthenic symptoms, she suddenly lost her consciousness for the first time and continued to have mild disorientation along with anterograde and retrograde amnesia afterwards.

Estrogen Receptor-β Gene Cytosine-Adenine (-CA) Repeat Polymorphism in Postmenopausal Colon Cancer.

The pathobiological role of estrogen is controversial in colorectal cancer. Cytosine-adenine (CA) repeat in the estrogen receptor (ER)-β gene (-CA) is a microsatellite, as well as representative of polymorphism. Though its function is unknown, we previously showed that a shorter allele (germline) increased the risk of colon cancer in older women, whereas it decreased it in younger postmenopausal women.

Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein-15 (GCDFP-15) Expression Characterizes Breast Mucinous Carcinomas in Older Women.

The predominant histological subtype of breast mucinous carcinoma in older women is type B (hypercellular type), and, in younger women, it is type A (hypocellular type). The characteristics of mucinous carcinomas of the same histological subtype may differ between older and younger women. This study aims to systematically clarify the pathological/immunohistochemical features of mucinous carcinomas.

Modulation of function and structure of stratum corneum in sphingomyelin synthase 2-deficient mice.

Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) synthesizes sphingomyelin (SM) from ceramide (Cer), a precursor of Cer. The effects of SMS deficiency on stratum corneum (SC) barrier function and SC lamellar structure are unknown. In this report, permeation of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds through full-thickness skin or stripped skin of SMS2-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice was examined.

The Diagnostic Utility of IDH2 R172 Immunohistochemistry in Tall Cell Carcinoma With Reversed Polarity of the Breast.

Tall cell carcinoma with reversed polarity (TCCRP) is a rare histologic type of low-grade breast cancer, consisting of tall columnar cells with reversed nuclear polarity and characterized by frequent IDH2 mutations. We herein report 3 cases of TCCRP with sequencing analyses of the IDH2 gene and immunohistochemical examination using monoclonal antibodies (11C8B1) against IDH2 R172. IDH2 R172 mutations were detected in all 3 resected tumors (R172S in 2 tumors and R172T in 1 tumor), and the presence of these mutations was confirmed by IDH2 R172 immunohistochemistry.

Frequency Error Compensation of Unsynchronized Bistatic CW- MIMO Radar for Multiple Human-Body Localization.

This article presents and experimentally evaluates a frequency error elimination technique suitable for unsynchronized bistatic Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radar for human-body detection. First, a mathematical expression of human-body localization using bistatic MIMO radar is presented. Then the direct path is used to eliminate the phase error created by the frequency difference between the transmitter and receiver.

Machine learning-based gene alteration prediction model for primary lung cancer using cytologic images.

Background: Understanding the gene alteration status of primary lung cancers is important for determining treatment strategies, but gene testing is both time-consuming and costly, limiting its application in clinical practice. Here, potential therapeutic targets were selected by predicting gene alterations in cytologic specimens before conventional gene testing.

Methods: This was a retrospective study to develop a cytologic image-based gene alteration prediction model for primary lung cancer.

Older patients' experience of living with cognitive impairment related to hormone therapy for breast cancer: A qualitative study.

Purpose: Patients with breast cancer may develop cognitive impairment as a result of hormone therapy and aging. This study aimed to describe older patients' experience of cognitive impairment related to hormone therapy for breast cancer.

Methods: A qualitative and descriptive design was used.

Estrogen concentration and estrogen receptor-β expression in postmenopausal colon cancer considering patient/tumor background.

Purpose: A large number of studies have suggested an inhibitory role of estrogens against colorectal cancer (CRC), but persistent controversy exists. CRC characteristics are affected by sex, age, and tumor locus, suggesting the need for a systematic study considering these factors. The purpose of this study was to verify the difference in the pathobiological role of estrogens in CRC according to patient/tumor backgrounds.

7-Aminocoumarin-4-acetic Acid as a Fluorescent Probe for Detecting Bacterial Dipeptidyl Peptidase Activities in Water-in-Oil Droplets and in Bulk.

Droplet-based microfluidic systems are a powerful tool for biological assays with high throughput. Water-in-oil droplets (WODLs) are typically used in droplet-based microfluidic systems to culture microorganisms and perform enzyme assays. However, because of the oil surrounding the nanoliter and picoliter volumes of WODLs, availability of suitable substrates is limited.

Fetal Heart Rate Detection Using First Derivative of ECG Waveform and Multiple Weighting Functions.

Fetal heart rate monitoring using the abdominal electrocardiograph (ECG) is an important topic for the diagnosis of heart defects. Many studies on fetal heart rate detection have been presented, however, their accuracy is still unsatisfactory. That is because the fetal ECG waveform is contaminated by maternal ECG interference, muscle contractions, and motion artifacts.