Intensity-modulated radiation therapy can reduce acute toxicities in long-course neoadjuvant radiation therapy combined with S-1 for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes and adverse events between three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients undergoing long-course neoadjuvant radiation therapy (NA-RT) for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 47 consecutive patients who received NA-RT for LARC between January 2011 and September 2022. Seven and 40 patients were diagnosed with clinical stages II and III, respectively.

Lutein Maintains Bone Mass In Vitro and In Vivo Against Disuse-Induced Bone Loss in Hindlimb-Unloaded Mice.

Background: Lutein, a carotenoid, exhibits various biological activities such as maintaining the health of the eye, skin, heart, and bone. Recently, we found that lutein has dual roles in suppressing bone resorption and promoting bone formation. In this study, we examined the effects of lutein in a disuse-induced osteoporosis model using hindlimb-unloaded (HLU) mice.

Roles of Toll-like Receptor Signaling in Inflammatory Bone Resorption.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors expressed in immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Microbe-associated molecular patterns, including bacterial components, membranes, nucleic acids, and flagella are recognized by TLRs in inflammatory immune responses. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease known to cause local infections associated with gingival inflammation, subsequently leading to alveolar bone resorption.

Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia and Its Impact on Survival in Patients with Brain Metastasis.

Background: Differences in radiation-induced lymphopenia and prognosis between methods of radiotherapy (RT) for brain metastases remain unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of patients who underwent whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT) for brain metastases, baseline total lymphocyte count (TLC) data were obtained within 2 weeks before RT initiation. Follow-up TLC data were evaluated at 0-2, 2-4, and 4-8 weeks after RT completion.

An Increase in Aspartate Aminotransferase Can Predict Worsening Disease Severity in Japanese Patients with COVID-19.

Background: The prognostic significance of liver dysfunction in COVID-19 patients remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between liver function test results and severe disease progression in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive Japanese COVID-19 patients admitted between February 2020 and July 2021.

The stiffness and collagen control differentiation of osteoclasts with an altered expression of c-Src in podosome.

Osteoclasts are hematopoietic cells attached to the bones containing type I collagen-deposited hydroxyapatite during bone resorption. Two major elements determine the stiffness of bones: regular calcified bone (bone that is resorbable by osteoclasts) and un-calcified osteoid bone (bone that is un-resorbable by osteoclasts). The osteolytic cytokine RANKL promotes osteoclast differentiation; however, the roles of the physical interactions of osteoclasts with calcified and un-calcified bone at the sealing zones and the subsequent cellular signaling remain unclear.

Unfractionated Heparin Safety in COVID-19: Incidence and Risks of Bleeding Complications in Japan.

Aim: Several studies have shown the efficacy and safety of low-molecular-weight heparin use in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but that of unfractionated heparin (UFH) has not been investigated. We investigated the prevalence of bleeding complications during UFH administration, its impact on mortality, and the risk factors of bleeding outcomes associated with UFH.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single-center tertiary care hospital, including hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Establishment of a Triple Quadrupole HPLC-MS Quantitation Method for Dystrophin Protein in Mouse and Human Skeletal Muscle.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common type of neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin protein. To quantitively assess human dystrophin protein in muscle biopsy samples, it is imperative to consistently detect as low as 0.003% of the dystrophin protein relative to the total muscle protein content.

Improvement of the setting properties of mineral trioxide aggregate cements using cellulose nanofibrils.

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) exhibit excellent mechanical properties and are used to reinforce various composites. The effects of incorporating CNFs into commercial mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) cements (NEX MTA (NEX) and ProRoot MTA (PR)) on the underwater setting properties, compressive strength, and flowability were estimated in this study. NEX mixed without CNFs disintegrated after water immersion.

Applicability of the ATP assay in monitoring the cleanliness of hospital environments.

Background: The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay is widely used for simple and rapid evaluation of the cleanliness of environmental surfaces. However, there remain concerns regarding the reliability of the ATP assay in hospital settings. This study aimed to assess whether the ATP assay could detect inadequate cleaning within hospital environments as well as monitor the effectiveness of routine cleaning.

Improving the Cyclic Reversibility of Layered Li-Rich Cathodes by Combining Oxygen Vacancies and Surface Fluorination.

Layered-type Li-rich cathode materials have attracted significant attention for next-generation Li-ion batteries, but the advantage of their high capacity is eclipsed by their poor reversibility upon cycling. Irreversible oxygen redox activity and surface degradation have been deemed as the root cause and direct cause for their poor performance, respectively. We attempted to suppress surface degradation by inserting fluoride ions up to some depth on the surface.

Janus-Type Mixed-Valent Copper-Cyanido Honeycomb Layers.

The synthesis of Janus-type layers, which possess front and back sides that consist of different structures, remains a major challenge in the field of two-dimensional materials. In this study, two Janus-type layered coordination polymers, namely, Cu(NEtH)(NMeH·HO)Cu(CN) () and Cu(NMeH)(NMeH·HO)Cu(CN) (), were synthesized via a simple one-pot procedure using copper(II) nitrate and sodium cyanido in mixed solutions of dimethylamine and ethylamine. Uniquely, and were composed of cyanido-bridged neutral layers and exhibited a CuCu mixed-valent state.

Prioritizing Connection and Centering on Community: Take Your Shoes Off and Don't Put Your Feet on the Furniture.

This column describes what it means to be "in" a community and how to create a leading role for community partners in shaping research. It highlights essential components for conducting clinical and translational research in the community, including: (1) invitation to share history and purpose; (2) community-initiated collaboration and engagement; (3) focus on social and cultural determinants of health; (4) community-driven measures and frameworks; (5) application of Indigenous methods and approaches; and (6) implementation of Indigenous and adaptable interventions. Partnering with a community entails building relationships and positioning research around community interests, using methodologies and interventions right for the community.

Preparation and properties of the fine ground strontium-based endodontic cements.

In this study, fine powders of tristrontium aluminate (SA) and distrontium cerate (SCe) cement were prepared using a dry grinding process, and their mechanical and ion dissolution properties were estimated. Fine cements showed the particles about 10 μm in diameter or smaller with sharp particle size distribution curves. The setting reaction of the fine cements was rapid; therefore, a 0.

Clinical course of longer than five years after definitive radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to reveal the long-term outcomes and late toxicities (> 5 years) after definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: Data from 43 patients (median age, 55 years; range, 17-72 years) with NPC who underwent definitive IMRT between 2001 and 2018 were analyzed. All patients were alive and disease-free 5 years after IMRT.

Dose difference between anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB (AXB) caused by target's air content for volumetric modulated arc therapy of head and neck cancer.

Background: We clarified the dose difference between the anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB (AXB) with increasing target's air content using a virtual phantom and clinical cases.

Materials And Methods: Whole neck volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan was transferred into a virtual phantom with a cylindrical air structure at the center. The diameter of the air structure was changed from 0 to 6 cm, and the target's air content defined as the air/planning target volume (PTV) in percent (air/PTV) was varied.

Mechanisms of point defect formation and ionic conduction in divalent cation-doped lanthanum oxybromide: first-principles and experimental study.

The ionic conduction mechanism in M-doped (M: Mg, Ca, Zn, and Sr) lanthanum oxybromide (LaOBr) was investigated theoretically and experimentally. Formation energy calculations of point defects revealed that Br ion vacancies and substitutional M ions were the major point defects in M-doped LaOBr, while Br ion vacancies and antisite O ions at Br sites were the major defect types in pure LaOBr. In the relaxed point defect models, doped Mg and Zn ions were displaced from the initial positions of the La ions, and this was experimentally supported by crystal structural analysis.

Effect of unintended short-term 3.0 g/day amoxicillin and probenecid treatment for early syphilis on patients with HIV-1 infection.

Background: Standard therapy for early syphilis involves intramuscular injections of penicillin G, which frequently faces shortages in several countries. Fourteen-day amoxicillin therapy has been suggested as an alternative to benzathine penicillin G, but the optimal duration of amoxicillin therapy remains unclear and could theoretically be shortened to less than 14 days. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of short-term amoxicillin therapy for early syphilis.