The importance of microvascular invasion in patients with non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm.

Background/objectives: The oncological importance of lymphatic, microvascular, and perineural invasions and their association with outcomes in patients with non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (NF-PanNEN) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of these factors in the prognosis of patients with NF-PanNEN.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 115 patients who underwent curative resection and were pathologically and clinically diagnosed with NF-PanNEN.

Osteoporosis screening using X-ray assessment and osteoporosis self-assessment tool for Asians in hip surgery patients.

Objectives: As many patients with osteoporosis remain undiagnosed, we aimed to develop a simple method to efficiently screen for osteoporosis using a combination of anteroposterior hip X-ray assessment and the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA), which is calculated as (body weight - age) × 0.2.

Methods: One hundred Japanese women (age: 73 ± 11 years, body weight: 54.

A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Adjuvant S-1 Chemotherapy Versus Observation Following Major Hepatectomy for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: The prognosis of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) is poor even after curative resection, highlighting the need for effective adjuvant chemotherapy. The efficacy of adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy following major hepatectomy for PHC is unclear, and thus the aim of this study was to elucidate this.

Methods: Consecutive patients with PHC who underwent major hepatectomy (hemihepatectomy or trisectionectomy extending to segment 1 with extrahepatic bile duct resection) at three high-volume centers in Japan from 2007 to 2020 were retrospectively evaluated.

Development of signal processing algorithms for delamination detection in composite laminates using non-contact excited Lamb waves.

A novel Signal Processing algorithm based on the combination of a Wavelet Transform Analysis and Image Processing techniques is designed for assessing the delamination detectability of Lamb Waves generated with an innovative fully non-contact system in CFRP plates. Several Damage Indexes are extracted from the wavefields in spatial-time-frequency domain and plotted as surface cartographies to visualise their ability to size and localise artificial delaminations. Results show that the algorithm is efficient for characterising the waves propagation and that sophisticated Image comparison indexes show better ability to detect the artificial defects and to recognise healthy zones despite signal measurement and calculation uncertainties.

Associations Between DCD Traits, Perceived Difficulties Related to ADHD, ASD, and Reading and Writing Support Needs Among Students in Higher Education: A Pilot Study.

Since the Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities was enacted in 2016, the number of students with disabilities in higher education institutions has increased significantly, creating a greater need for support. Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) often coexists with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and reading and writing difficulties; yet, awareness of DCD remains low. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of DCD traits among Japanese higher education students and their relationship with ADHD, ASD, and reading and writing support needs A pilot study was conducted with 77 university students (mean age: 19.

Outcomes of Older Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Using the Impella Device - Insights From the Japanese Registry for Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device (J-PVAD).

Background: Aging has progressed in several regions of the world with more older patients experiencing acute cardiovascular disease. Impella is a percutaneous potent circulatory support device associated with substantial cost and potential device-related complications.

Methods And Results: We analyzed the Japanese nationwide registry, encompassing consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock using Impella.

Improving the Z3EV promoter system to create the strongest yeast promoter.

Promoters for artificial control of gene expression are central tools in genetic engineering. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a variety of constitutive and controllable promoters with different strengths have been constructed using endogenous gene promoters, synthetic transcription factors and their binding sequences, and artificial sequences. However, there have been no attempts to construct the highest strength promoter in yeast cells.

Ratio of pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aortic diameter and its association with right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: Several invasive hemodynamic parameters help predict right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. However, prediction using non-invasive parameters alone has not been established. The ratio of the diameters of the pulmonary artery (PAD) to those of the ascending aorta (AoD) may indicate past hemodynamic load and cardiac dysfunction.

Prognostic impact of being underweight in patients undergoing mitral TEER: The OCEAN-Mitral registry.

Aims: Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is a valid treatment option for severe mitral regurgitation (MR), necessitating accurate risk stratification of M-TEER candidates for effective patient selection, optimal periprocedural care and improved long-term outcomes. The body mass index (BMI) is a simple and practical prognostic index, and the obesity paradox has been widely reported.

Methods And Results: Between April 2018 and June 2021, 2149 patients undergoing M-TEER were registered in the prospective multicentre registry and classified into three groups: underweight (BMI < 18.

Successful embolization with subsequent pancreaticoduodenectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm hemorrhage: a case report and review of literature.

Although various complications associated with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms have been reported, including acute pancreatitis, duct perforation, and fistula formation, spontaneous bleeding, especially life-threatening bleeding, is infrequent. In this case, emergency pancreatic resection might be one of the therapeutic options, which is associated with poor postoperative outcomes. An 87-year-old woman presented to our hospital with severe anemia (hemoglobin, 4.

Isotropy of Cosmic Rays beyond 10^{20} eV Favors Their Heavy Mass Composition.

We report an estimation of the injected mass composition of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) at energies higher than 10 EeV. The composition is inferred from an energy-dependent sky distribution of UHECR events observed by the Telescope Array surface detector by comparing it to the Large Scale Structure of the local Universe. In the case of negligible extragalactic magnetic fields (EGMFs), the results are consistent with a relatively heavy injected composition at E∼10  EeV that becomes lighter up to E∼100  EeV, while the composition at E>100  EeV is very heavy.

Possible pitfalls in the prediction of weight gain in middle-aged normal-weight individuals: Results from the NDB-K7Ps-study-2.

Background: The prevalence of obesity has not decreased worldwide and obesity-related morbidities have been increasing steadily. However, few studies have investigated factors contributing to weight gain in normal-weight individuals. Thus, in this community-based cohort study, we aimed to investigate factors contributing to weight gain in normal-weight participants.

Three Molecular Developmental Pathways of Remnant Pancreatic Cancer after Resection: A Nationwide Project Study of Japan Pancreas Society.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the molecular mechanism of remnant pancreatic cancer (PC) development after primary PC resection.

Summary Background Data: Molecular mechanisms of the development of remnant PCs following primary PC resection are largely unknown.

Methods: Forty-three patients undergoing remnant PC resection after primary PC resection between 2001 and 2017 at 26 institutes were retrospectively analyzed.

No-touch isolation technique in emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy for neoplastic hemorrhage: Two case reports and review of literature.

Background: Emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy (EPD) is a rare event for complex periampullary etiology. Increased intraoperative blood loss is correlated with poor postoperative outcomes.

Case Summary: Two patients underwent EPD using a no-touch isolation technique, in which all arteries supplying the pancreatic head region were ligated and divided before manipulation of the pancreatic head and duodenum.

Plasma cell differentiation is regulated by the expression of histone variant H3.3.

The differentiation of B cells into plasma cells is associated with substantial transcriptional and epigenetic remodeling. H3.3 histone variant marks active chromatin via replication-independent nucleosome assembly.

Impact of osteoporotic risk in men undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a report from the LAPLACE-TAVI registry.

Low body weight and advanced age are among the best predictors of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST) values are calculated by a simple formula [(body weight in kilograms - age in years) × 0.2] to identify patients at increased risk of osteoporosis.

Adrenocortical Adenoma With Protrusion Into the Inferior Vena Cava Initially Suspected to Be Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Adrenal tumors with invasion into the inferior vena cava (IVC) are typically malignant. Here, we present a case of adrenocortical adenoma with protrusion into the IVC. A 70-year-old man was referred to our hospital after his magnetic resonance imaging scan of the abdomen coincidently revealed a right adrenal tumor invading the IVC.

Type I interferon promotes the fate of Toll-like receptor 9-stimulated follicular B cells to plasma cell differentiation.

The activation and differentiation of B cells into plasma cells (PCs) play critical roles in the immune response to infections and autoimmune diseases. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) responds to bacterial and viral DNA containing unmethylated CpG motifs and triggers immune responses in B cells; however, abnormal recognition of self-DNA by TLR9 can cause autoimmune diseases. When stimulated with TLR9 agonists, follicular (FO) B cells, a subset of B cells residing in the FO regions of secondary lymphoid organs, exhibit a propensity for activation but fail to give rise to PCs.