Escalating the dose of high-dose-rate brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy improves the disease control rate in patients with high- or very-high-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose: High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is an effective treatment for patients with high- and very-high-risk prostate cancer. We sought to identify the factors associated with reduced biochemical recurrence rates following HDR-BT.

Methods: A total of 304 patients with high- or very-high-risk prostate cancer who underwent HDR-BT and EBRT were analyzed.

DSP-0509, a TLR7 agonist, exerted synergistic anti-tumor immunity combined with various immune therapies through modulating diverse immune cells in cancer microenvironment.

Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) acts as a crucial component of the innate immune system. Upon TLR7 binding to its ligand, myeloid cells, including dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, are activated and play vital roles in initiating adaptive immunity. Consequently, TLR7 agonists have been employed in cancer immunotherapy.

Paediatric Drug Development in Japan: Current Status and Future Challenges.

Introduction: Until around 2000, the number of medicinal products labelled for paediatric use was limited worldwide. Regulatory measures to promote paediatric drug development in the US and Europe and the establishment of an international guideline (ICH-E11) have led to an increase in the number of paediatric labels. In Japan, efforts have been made to promote the development of paediatric drugs.

Targeting Tumor-Associated Macrophages with the Immune-Activating Nanomedicine for Achieving Strong Antitumor Activity with Rapid Clearance from the Body.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a class of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) crucial for the detection of infections and activation of downstream signaling pathways that lead to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interferons. The TLR pathway is an attractive actively studied target pathway. Because of their strong immunostimulatory activity, TLRs are thought to be a "double-edged sword" for systemic treatment, even in the cancer field.

TLR7 agonist, DSP-0509, with radiation combination therapy enhances anti-tumor activity and modulates T cell dependent immune activation.

Background: TLR7 is a key player in the antiviral immunity. TLR7 signaling activates antigen-presenting cells including DCs and macrophages. This activation results in the adaptive immunity including T cells and B cells.

Comparison between the sodium chloride content and labeled salt value of industrially prepared Japanese single dishes.

Salt intake reduction is a global concern. In particular, Japanese consume higher amounts of salt than those of other ethnicities. The sodium content is mentioned on the label of industrially prepared dishes with an intention of reducing salt intake.

Critical evaluations on the crystallographic properties of translucent dental zirconia ceramics stabilized with 3-6 mol% yttria.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the crystalline phase composition of 3-6 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (3-6YSZ), specifically investigating the presence of tetragonal (t), cubic (c), and/or additional yttria-rich tetragonal (t') phase.

Methods: Laboratory-fabricated specimens comprising 3-5YSZ, resembling translucent dental zirconia ceramics (TZ specimens), and a blend of 3YSZ and 8YSZ, representing a c-phase reference, were prepared. Additionally, 25 dental zirconia products stabilized with 3-6 mol% yttria were analyzed.

Eliminating extracellular autoinducing peptide signals inhibits the Staphylococcus aureus quorum sensing agr system.

An accessory gene regulator (agr) in the quorum sensing (QS) system in Staphylococcus aureus contributes to host infection, virulence factor production, and resistance to oxidative damage. Artificially maintaining the inactive state of agr QS impedes the host infection strategy of S. aureus and inhibits toxin production.

Preventive effect of propolis on cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease model mice.

Brazilian green propolis (propolis) is a chemically complex resinous substance that is a potentially viable therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. Herein, propolis induced a transient increase in intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]) in Neuro-2A cells; moreover, propolis-induced [Ca] elevations were suppressed prior to 24-h pretreatment with amyloid-β. To reveal the effect of [Ca] elevation on impaired cognition, we performed memory-related behavioral tasks in APP-KI mice relative to WT mice at 4 and 12 months of age.

Successful coil embolization of post-hepatectomy arterioportal fistula that reduced ascites and improved liver function.

A 71-year-old man had previously undergone S7 + S8 dorsal segmentectomy and S5 partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinomas. Six months later, he experienced abdominal distention. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed massive ascites and a significant hepatic arterioportal shunt.

Polypharmacy of Older Surgical Patients With Extremity Fractures.

Introduction: Fractures are often caused by falls in older people. Among various causes of falls, polypharmacy is known to be a risk of falls. Furthermore, potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs), which interact with polypharmacy, include the drugs involved in falls.

Intraocular pressure changes at different gaze positions after superior rectus muscle-lateral rectus muscle loop myopexy in highly myopic strabismus.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) at different gaze positions before and after superior rectus muscle-lateral rectus muscle (SR-LR) loop myopexy in highly myopic strabismus (HMS).

Study Design: Nonrandomized clinical, prospective, interventional trial.

Methods: Fourteen patients with HMS (18 eyes) who underwent SR-LR loop myopexy were divided into 3 groups: < 100 prism diopters (PD) (mild esotropia [ET] group), > 100 PD (large ET group), and > 100 PD, and simultaneous recession of the medial rectus (MR) muscle was performed (large ET + MR group).

Residual stress associated with crystalline phase transformation of 3-6 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics induced by mechanical surface treatments.

Monolithic dental prostheses made of 3-6 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (3-6YSZ) have gained popularity owing to their improved material properties and semi-automated fabrication processes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of mechanical surface treatments, such as polishing, grinding, and sandblasting, on the residual stress of 3-6YSZ used for monolithic prostheses in association with crystalline phase transformation. Plate specimens were prepared from five dental zirconia blocks: Aadva Zirconia ST (3YSZ), Aadva Zirconia NT (6YSZ), Katana HT (4YSZ), Katana STML (5YSZ), and Katana UTML (6YSZ).

Clinical utility of positron emission tomography leading to rapid and accurate diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma presenting with the central nervous system symptoms alone: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare entity among large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas and is often difficult to diagnose. We report the case of a patient with IVLBCL who presented with central nervous system (CNS) symptoms alone, in which positron emission tomography (PET) enabled a rapid and accurate diagnosis.

Case Description: An 81-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 3-month history of gradually progressive dementia and declining spontaneity.

Impact of Lumbar Surgery on Pharmacological Treatment for Patients with Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Treatment for lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS) is mainly classified into conservative and surgical therapies. Among conservative therapies, pharmacological treatment is commonly prescribed for LSCS. Meanwhile, surgical treatment is the last option for LSCS.

Efficacy of surgical treatment on polypharmacy of elderly patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis: retrospective exploratory research.

Background: Polypharmacy is a growing public health problem occurring in all healthcare settings worldwide. Elderly patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) who manifest low back and neuropathic pain and have a high frequency of comorbidity are predicted to take many drugs. However, no studies have reported polypharmacy in elderly patients with LSS.

Potential Role of Lipase Activity on the Internal Exposure Assessment of Glycidol Released from Its Fatty Acid Esters.

Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) can be found in food, and they can be converted into genotoxic animal carcinogen glycidol in vivo by the action of lipase. This study examined whether human ingestion of charbroiled pork containing high levels of GEs (300 µg/day) increased glycidol-hemoglobin adduct (diHOPrVal), a marker of internal exposure to glycidol using LC-MS/MS. Contrary to expectation, the diHOPrVal value before ingesting charbroiled pork was 3.

Rehabilitation of a Patient with COVID-19 Who Underwent Right Transfemoral Amputation Due to Acute Limb Ischemia: A Case Report.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic complications. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of clinical knowledge regarding rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19 after lower-limb amputation.

Case: A 74-year-old woman with COVID-19 was admitted to a university hospital.

Persistent brain damage in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome on Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography: A long-term observational study.

Background: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is considered a key step in the pathophysiology of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS); however, its temporal course remains unclear. Based on the characteristics and dynamics of Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-ECD) as a tracer, Tc-ECD single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can detect not only hypoperfusion but also BBB breakdown and/or brain tissue damage. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this course using Tc-ECD SPECT.

Intraocular pressure at different gaze positions in patients with highly myopic strabismus.

Purpose: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) at different gaze positions in patients with highly myopic strabismus (HMS).

Study Design: Nonrandomized, prospective, observational study.

Methods: This study included 18 eyes of 14 patients with HMS and 51 eyes of 51 age-matched controls without strabismus; these were further divided into two groups based on refractive errors: > -6.

Propolis Promotes Memantine-Dependent Rescue of Cognitive Deficits in APP-KI Mice.

Propolis is a complex resinous substance that is relevant as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we confirmed that propolis (Brazilian green propolis) further enhances the rescue of cognitive deficits by the novel AD drug memantine in APP-KI mice. In memory-related behavior tasks, administration of a single dose of propolis at 1-100 mg/kg p.

Exophthalmos associated with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia.

Purpose: Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) is a mitochondrial disease characterized by slowly progressive ptosis and limitations in ocular motility. Although exophthalmos is not considered to be a common feature of CPEO, this study focused on the incidence of exophthalmos in patients with CPEO.

Study Design: Retrospective observational case series METHODS: We reviewed the clinical charts of patients who received a diagnosis of CPEO sometime during the period between January 2010 and December 2018.