Antitumor Activity of the PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor SCL-1 in Various Mouse Tumor Models.

Background/aim: Immune checkpoint blockade has achieved great success as a targeted immunotherapy for solid cancers. However, small molecules that inhibit programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) binding are still being developed and have several advantages, such as high bioavailability. Previously, we reported a novel PD-1/PD-L1-inhibiting small compound, SCL-1, which showed potent antitumor effects on PD-L1 tumors.

New Diagnoses of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of a Large United States Commercial Insurance Database.

Background/objective: Little is known about the rates of rheumatic disease diagnosis among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the impact of the pandemic on the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the United States.

Methods: We performed a historical cohort study using US commercial insurance data (2016-2021) to identify children aged <18 years without prior JIA diagnosis or treatment in the prior ≥12 months.

Impact of social isolation on change in brain volume in community-dwelling older Japanese people: The NEIGE Study.

Background: Several studies have shown that social isolation is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia; however, its neurological mechanisms are not fully understood. Using longitudinal data, this study examined the effects of social isolation on hippocampal and total gray matter volumes in community-dwelling older Japanese individuals.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Neuron to Environmental Impact Across Generations (NEIGE) Study conducted in Tokamachi City (Niigata Prefecture, Japan), including 279 community-dwelling persons aged 65-84 years who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging in 2017 and 2021 (male: 47.

Identification of membrane proteins targeted by small-molecule compounds using nanomagnetic beads.

In drug discovery research, it is important to identify target proteins of bioactive small-molecule compounds and analyse their functions. In this study, we examined whether target membrane proteins could be captured by compounds that bind to membrane proteins on the cell surface. For this purpose, we performed affinity purification using the compound-immobilized nanomagnetic beads.

Summer Nutritional Status and Appetite Are Associated with the Frequency of Hot Meal/Drink Intake among Japanese Older People.

This study examined the relationship between the frequency of consuming cold or hot meal/drink during summer and the nutritional status, appetite, and energy intake among Japanese older people. The cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2021, targeting 60 adults aged 65 y and older. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used for nutritional status evaluation, the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) for appetite scoring, and food frequency questionnaire to assess energy intake.

"GO" to move toward dementia-friendly communities: A pilot study.

Background: To the creation of mutual aid relationships among people with cognitive decline is important in aging societies. This study aimed to develop and examine the feasibility of a GO Program in which older adults, with experience in playing GO, support the learning of GO by older adults with cognitive decline and other barriers to social participation, which in turn reduces social isolation and creates opportunities for older adults to use their role.

Methods: This single-arm intervention study was conducted in Tokyo, Japan.

Genetic and Immunological Characterization of Brain Metastases from Solid Cancers.

Background/aim: Brain metastasis, a leading cause of cancer death, is a clinical challenge. Recently, genetic characterization of brain metastatic lesions based on next generation sequencing-based advanced technologies, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, has been performed to develop novel efficient therapies. The present study aimed to investigate brain-metastasis-specific biomarkers as well as relevant prognostic factors.

A Far-Red Fluorescent Probe to Visualize Gram-Positive Bacteria in Patient Samples.

Gram-positive bacteria, in particular (), are the leading bacterial cause of death in high-income countries and can cause invasive infections at various body sites. These infections are associated with prolonged hospital stays, a large economic burden, considerable treatment failure, and high mortality rates. So far, there is only limited knowledge about the specific locations where resides in the human body during various infections.

Serum Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Levels Predict the Incidence of Frailty among Patients with Cardiometabolic Diseases.

Introduction: Frailty is a crucial health issue among older adults. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which are possible pathogeneses of frailty. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated the association between GDF15 and the incidence of frailty.

Impact of Mutations in Subunit Genes of the Mammalian SWI/SNF Complex on Immunological Tumor Microenvironment.

Background/aim: Recently, inactivating somatic mutations of SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling genes in cancers have been reported. However, few studies have been performed regarding the immunological analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in chromatin remodeling complex gene-mutated tumors. In the present study, we identified cancer patients harboring various mammalian SWI/SNF complex mutations and investigated the immunological features in those mutated cancers.

Impact of somatic mutations and transcriptomic alterations on cancer aneuploidy.

Aneuploidy has been recognized as one of hallmark of tumorigenesis since the early 20th century. Recent developments in structural variation analysis in the human genome have revealed the diversity of aneuploidy in cancer. However, the effects of gene mutation and expression in tumors on aneuploidy remain poorly understood.

Simultaneous removal of fluoride and phosphate from semiconductor wastewater via chemical precipitation of calcium fluoride and hydroxyapatite using byproduct of recycled aggregate.

Semiconductor wastewater with high concentrations of fluoride and phosphate is an environmental issue that cannot be ignored. Moreover, the byproduct of recycled aggregates, concrete fines, cannot be reused in concrete manufacturing, which is a key issue to address for the sustainable development of the concrete industry. The objective of this study was to tackle the crucial environmental issues of these two industries by developing concrete fines as an alternative material to treat semiconductor wastewater.

Comparative analysis of tumor content estimation methods based on simu- lated tumor samples identified their impact on somatic variant detection in cancer whole genome sequencing.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) in cancer genomics has become widespread with recent technological innovations, and the amount and types of information obtained from WGS are increasing rapidly. Appropriate interpretation of results is becoming increasingly important in clinical applications. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of tumor content estimation and its impact on somatic variant detection, using 100 simulated tumor samples covering 10-100% tumor content constructed from the sequencing data of cell line models.

Investigation of performance and mechanism of zinc removal from polluted water by concrete fines derived from aggregate recycling: From problematic byproducts to effective adsorbent.

Concrete fines are byproducts produced from aggregate recycling. Because of their properties, they cannot be directly recycled for use in concrete manufacturing, which is problematic to move the cement and concrete industry toward sustainable development goals and reduce its environmental impact. Taking advantage of concrete fines unique properties was regarded as a possible research direction.

Generation of novel complete HLA class I monoallelic cell lines used in an MHC stabilization assay for neoantigen evaluation.

Immunogenic neoantigens derived from somatic mutations in cancer have been identified through clinical studies with the cloning of tumor-infiltrating T cells, and cancer driver gene mutation-derived epitopes have been reported; however, these are rare. At present, the validation of epitopes predicted is difficult as human T-cell clonal diversity cannot be reproduced or in experimental animal models. To confirm the epitope peptides presented by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules predicted , biochemical methods such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) stabilization assays and mass spectrometry-mediated identification have been developed based on HLA-A*02:01 monoallelic T2 cells and HLA-C*01:02 monoallelic LCL721.

Localization of Mutations in Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Tissues Using Mutation-specific PNA-DNA Probes.

Background/aim: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling inhibitors are potent therapeutic agents for EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer, but the effects of such inhibitors on the localization of EGFR mutations in tumor tissues remain to be elucidated. Thus, a simple and efficient technology for the detection of mutations in tumor tissue specimens needs to be developed.

Materials And Methods: Using an EGFR mutation-specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-DNA probe, the EGFR mutation-positive part of whole NSCLC tissues was visualized by immunofluorescence.

Evaluation of the usefulness of a paper-pencil group cognitive assessment for older adults in the community.

Background: As the older population increases, the need for early detection of cognitive decline is also increasing. In this study, we examined whether our paper-pencil type group examination for cognitive assessment (PAPLICA) could detect the effects of years of education and aging.

Methods: PAPLICA was conducted on 829 older people.

Potential of major by-products from non-ferrous metal industries for CO emission reduction by mineral carbonation: a review.

By-products from the non-ferrous industry are an environmental problem; however, their economic value is high if utilized elsewhere. For example, by-products that contain alkaline compounds can potentially sequestrate CO through the mineral carbonation process. This review discusses the potential of these by-products for CO reduction through mineral carbonation.

Association between physical performance during sit-to-stand motion and frailty in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases: a cross-sectional, longitudinal study.

Background: Although physical performance tests of the lower extremities are used to assess sarcopenia and frailty, little is known about the mechanisms by which the parameters of ground reaction force (GRF) measured during sit-to-stand motion affect the frailty status in older adults. We aimed to examine the association between GRF parameters during sit-to-stand motion and the incidence of frailty in older adults.

Methods: This longitudinal study evaluated 319 outpatients aged ≥ 65 years with cardiometabolic diseases.

[A case of hepatitis C virus-related mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis with chronic diarrhea].

A woman in her 50s with a medical history of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presented to our hospital with arthralgia, diarrhea, and fever. We performed colonoscopy and found scattered erosions at the terminal ileum. Furthermore, the biopsy specimen from the ileum and colon showed non-specific enterocolitis.