[A Case of Pathological Complete Response after Nivolumab Therapy in Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer].

A 70-year-old man was admitted to a local hospital with epigastric pain and diagnosed with type-2 gastric cancer. Contrast-enhanced CT scan showed metastases in S3 and S8 of the liver, and the tumor was classified as type cT4aN2H1, cStage ⅣB. Nivolumab monotherapy was initiated after failure of treatment with S-1 plus oxaliplatin and ramucirumab.

Charge-dependent hierarchical self-assembling of fluorinated gold nanoclusters.

Au(SR) nanoclusters decorated with semifluorinated thiolate ligands (SFLs) self-assemble hierarchically depending on the charge state of the nanocluster component; the use of the anionic cluster ([Au]) resulted in the generation of nanofibers, whereas the neutral counterpart ([Au]) gave micron-sized filaments as a result of the bundling/twisting of the nanofibers.

Workout at a virtual gym: Surrounding avatar's motion speed and exercise intensity effect on the user's time perception.

This study explored the relationship between surrounding avatars and time perception in a virtual reality (VR) gymnasium. Previous research has highlighted that motion speed and exercise intensity significantly influence time perception. In VR, time perception is shaped by various factors, such as an avatar's embodiment at different levels.

Efficacy and safety of patiromer for non-dialysis and dialysis patients with hyperkalemia: the randomized, placebo-controlled and long-term study.

Background: The objectives of this phase two study are to investigate the efficacy of two starting doses of 8.4 g and 16.8 g and evaluate the long-term safety of patiromer in Japanese patients with hyperkalemia.

Evaluating Laparoscopic Skills: Report on the Origami Crane Folding Competition Using Laparoscopic Instruments With Objective Criteria.

Purpose: To evaluate the importance of daily laparoscopic training using laparoscopic forceps to fold origami paper cranes (a traditional Japanese paper craft) and assess the performance of laparoscopic origami crane folding in an actual competition.

Method: A competition, named the "Kaminote Challenge World Championship," was used to evaluate the effectiveness of training. The participants folded the paper cranes using laparoscopic forceps.

Nuchal Ligament Reconstruction Surgery for Dropped Head Syndrome: A Case Report.

Case: An 86-year-old woman suffered from dropped head syndrome (DHS). As she was not willing to undergo fusion surgery, we proposed a novel nuchal ligament reconstruction surgery, which is not a direct correction of the malalignment but rather a recovery of the function of extensor muscles under local anesthesia. Twelve months after surgery, the patient remains satisfied and is able to maintain a horizontal gaze.

Pediatric Bilateral Hypoplastic Kidney Complicated With C1q Nephropathy: A Case Report.

Progressive kidney dysfunction is often observed in children with bilateral hypoplastic kidneys. While glomerulopathy can exacerbate hypoplastic kidney progression, only IgA nephropathy and post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis have been noted in such cases. Herein, we present a case of a four-year-old female patient with bilateral hypoplastic kidney, kidney dysfunction, and significant proteinuria (urinary protein/creatinine ratio > 1 g/gCr), prompting referral owing to persistent hematuria since two years of age.

Controlled nanocrystallization of gold nanoclusters within surfactant envelopes: enhancing aggregation-induced emission in solution.

The nanocrystallization of functional molecules has been a subject of recent interest in the current development of nanotechnology. Herein, we report the unprecedented synthesis of single nanocrystals of a molecular gold nanocluster in a homogeneous solution by using surfactant-based nano-envelopes. The co-assembling of a Au nanocluster carrying lipophilic phosphine ligands with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in an aqueous solution results in the formation of sphere-shaped amorphous nano-aggregates coated with the surfactant.

Survival of Metastatic Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Related Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Platinum-Based Triplet Induction Chemotherapy and Relevance of Circulating Tumor HPV DNA.

Objectives We aimed to examine the effectiveness of platinum-based triplet induction chemotherapy in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) at diagnosis in terms of tumor human papillomavirus (HPV) status and the clinical relevance of circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) during induction chemotherapy. Methods  Twenty-one patients were included. ctHPVDNA was longitudinally quantified using optimized digital PCR in a subset of patients.

Optimal treatment conditions for low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy for Alzheimer's disease: applications from mice to humans.

Purpose: We previously developed a novel therapy with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) that ameliorates cognitive decline through upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial, we demonstrated that whole-brain LIPUS therapy is safe and tends to suppress the cognitive decline in early AD patients. We herein report the findings of our basic experiments that we performed for the pilot trial in order to apply whole-brain LIPUS therapy to humans, as well.

Influence of Power-Weighted Center of Echo Signal Within Window Function on Local Strain Rate Distribution in Left Ventricular Wall.

Objective: The deviation of the power-weighted center of the echo signal from the geometric center within the velocity estimation window for calculating strain rate (SR) causes an estimation error. This study aimed to confirm whether an erroneous multilayer pattern in the SR distribution of the left ventricular wall could be corrected by considering the power-weighted center of the echo signal.

Methods: The SR distributions were measured locally in the transmural direction around the pre-ejection and early diastolic phases in healthy volunteers.

A novel ultrasonic method for measuring minute sinusoidal displacement by network analyzer.

We developed a method for generating continuous sinusoidal displacements of an object to estimate viscoelastic parameters. However, the amplitude of the displacement caused by the ultrasonic excitation force under safe guidelines was small (a few micrometers), and it was difficult to stably measure the displacement. Therefore, to stably measure the amplitude of sinusoidal displacement as small as the order of micrometers, we proposed a novel method using a network analyzer.

Optimizing irradiation conditions for low-intensity pulsed ultrasound to upregulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Purpose: Here we aimed to develop a minimally invasive treatment for ischemic heart disease and demonstrate that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy improves myocardial ischemia by promoting myocardial angiogenesis in a porcine model of chronic myocardial ischemia. Studies to date determined the optimal treatment conditions within the range of settings available with existing ultrasound equipment and did not investigate a wider range of conditions.

Methods: We investigated a broad range of five parameters associated with ultrasound irradiation conditions that promote expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), a key molecule that promotes angiogenesis in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC).

Estimation error in speed of sound caused by rotation of measured cross-section from short-axis plane of blood vessels: a preliminary study.

Purpose: Estimating the speed of sound (SoS) in ultrasound propagation media is important for improving the quality of B-mode images and for quantitative tissue characterization. We have been studying a method for estimating the SoS by measuring the reception time distribution of waves scattered from a scatterer at the elements in a probe. Previously, the measurement cross section was assumed to be perpendicular to the long axis of the blood vessel.

Mother-child correlation of kidney function: data from the Yamanashi Adjunct Study of Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

Background: Individual variation in kidney function can be affected by both congenital and acquired factors, and kidney function in children is possibly correlated with that in their mothers. However, the mother-child correlation in kidney function remains directly unconfirmed.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 655 healthy pairs of 7- or 8-year-old children and their mothers as an adjunct study of a nationwide epidemiological study (Japan Environment and Children's Study).

Adverse Events in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Treated With Nivolumab in Combination With Radiotherapy.

Background/aim: When nivolumab is administered as second-line therapy for esophageal cancer, radiotherapy may also be provided in cases either concurrently or sequentially. The aim of this study was to retrospectively examine whether the incidence of adverse events increases in such cases.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-two esophageal cancer patients [17 males and 5 females; mean age 71 years (range=58-87 years)] treated with nivolumab were included.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy for refractory angina pectoris.

Background: Despite the advances in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, effective treatment remains to be established to improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients with chronic coronary syndromes. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy, which we have developed as a novel non-invasive angiogenic therapy through upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

Methods And Findings: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (RCT) pilot trial of the LIPUS therapy for patients with refractory angina pectoris.

Emergency laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy with primary anastomosis for Hinchey stages III and IV diverticulitis.

For patients with perforated diverticulitis, many reports have focused on laparoscopic surgery without primary anastomosis. We performed laparoscopic surgery with primary anastomosis in three patients (two with Hinchey stage III, one with IV), with a median age of 53 years, all female, and no prior medical history. They all were hemodynamically stable.

Prognostic Nutritional Index as a Predictor of Prognosis in Postoperative Patients With Gastric Cancer.

Background/aim: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been reported as an immunonutritional index that can easily evaluate nutritional status and immunocompetence from blood tests. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of PNI as a prognostic factor in postoperative gastric cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 258 patients with pStage I-III gastric cancer who underwent radical resection at Yokohama City University Hospital, from 2015 to 2021.

Beneficial Effects of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Therapy on Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Animal Models.

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a leading cause of death in patients with pulmonary hypertension; however, effective treatment remains to be developed. We have developed low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy for cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in RVF patients was downregulated and that eNOS expression and its downstream pathway were ameliorated through eNOS activation in 2 animal models of RVF.

Speed-of-sound estimation in ultrasound propagation medium by considering size of target scatterer.

Purpose: Accurate speed-of-sound (SoS) estimation in an ultrasound propagation medium improves imaging quality and contributes to better diagnosis of diseases. In conventional time-delay-based SoS estimation approaches studied by several groups, a received wave is assumed to be scattered from an ideal point scatterer. In these approaches, the SoS is overestimated when the target scatterer has a non-negligible size.