Reduction of ischemic time using the pull-through technique for scapular free flap.

Purpose: Current scapular free flap (SFF) harvest in mandibular reconstruction often requires repositioning, hindering simultaneous harvest and resection and potentially increasing ischemic time. This study evaluated the efficacy of the pull-through technique (PTT) for SFF harvest, aiming to reduce ischemic time during mandibular segmental resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction using SFF at two maxillofacial surgery departments between January 2015 and May 2022.

Influence of Anterior Talofibular Ligament Injury and Ankle Anterior Displacement on Symptoms in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability.

Context: Repeated ankle sprains can lead to injuries, including those of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL); however, the extent to which these ligament injuries are associated with symptoms of chronic ankle instability (CAI) remains unclear.

Objective: To examine the influence of ATFL injury and ankle anterior displacement on symptoms of CAI.

Design: Case-control study.

CT-assessed sarcopenia and prognostic nutritional index are associated with poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Recently, it has been reported that sarcopenia and nutritional evaluation are associated with the prognosis of patients with cancer; however, there are only a few detailed reports on oral cancer. This single-center retrospective study aimed to analyze the relationship between computed tomography (CT)-assessed sarcopenia (CT-SP), immunocompetence, nutritional status, and the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent radical therapy with surgery for OSCC between January 2014 and January 2021.

Impact of missing values on the ability of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation III and Japan risk of death models to predict mortality.

Purpose: This study assessed model performance of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III and Japan Risk of Death (JROD) when degraded by the number and category of missing variables. We also examined the impact of missing data on predicted mortality for facilities with missing physiological variables.

Methods: We obtained data from the Japanese Intensive care PAtient Database (JIPAD).

Enzyme immobilization on α-1,3-glucan: development of flow reactor with fusion protein of α-1,3-glucan binding domains and histamine dehydrogenase.

α-1,3-Glucanase Agl-KA from Bacillus circulans KA-304 consists of a discoidin domain (DS1), a carbohydrate binding module family 6 (CBM6), a threonine-proline-rich-linker (TP linker), a discoidin domain (DS2), an uncharacterized domain, and a catalytic domain. The binding of DS1, CBM6, and DS2 to α-1,3-glucan can be improved in the presence of two of these three domains. In this study, DS1, CBM6, and TP linker were genetically fused to histamine dehydrogenase (HmDH) from Nocardioides simplex NBRC 12069.

Translational study for stereotactic body radiotherapy against non-small cell lung cancer, including oligometastases, considering cancer stem-like cells enable predicting clinical outcome from in vitro data.

Background: Curative effects of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been evaluated using various biophysical models. Because such model parameters are empirically determined based on clinical experience, there is a large gap between in vitro and clinical studies. In this study, considering the heterogeneous cell population, we performed a translational study to realize the possible linkage based on a modeling approach.

DNA‑PKcs phosphorylation specific inhibitor, NU7441, enhances the radiosensitivity of clinically relevant radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Radioresistant cancer cells lead to poor prognosis after radiotherapy. However, the mechanisms underlying cancer cell radioresistance have not been fully elucidated. Thus, the DNA damage response of clinically relevant radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC2-R cells, established by long-term exposure of parental HSC2 cells to fractionated radiation, was investigated.

4-Methylumebelliferone Enhances Radiosensitizing Effects of Radioresistant Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells via Hyaluronan Synthase 3 Suppression.

Radioresistant (RR) cells are poor prognostic factors for tumor recurrence and metastasis after radiotherapy. The hyaluronan (HA) synthesis inhibitor, 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), shows anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects through suppressing HA synthase (HAS) expression in various cancer cells. We previously reported that the administration of 4-MU with X-ray irradiation enhanced radiosensitization.

Identification of novel prognostic factors focusing on clinical outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has attracted extensive attention as an effective treatment for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, the factors affecting prognosis after SBRT have not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) after SBRT.

4-Methylumbelliferone administration enhances radiosensitivity of human fibrosarcoma by intercellular communication.

Hyaluronan synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) is a candidate of radiosensitizers which enables both anti-tumour and anti-metastasis effects in X-ray therapy. The curative effects under such 4-MU administration have been investigated in vitro; however, the radiosensitizing mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the radiosensitizing effects under 4-MU treatment from cell experiments and model estimations.

Pathological responses to low-dose irradiation and Pepleomycin in Oral squamous cell carcinoma are predictive of Locoregional control.

Background: The prognosis of advanced oral cancer remains dismal. While multimodal therapy is beneficial, maintaining the quality of life of long-term survivors is important. Therefore, risk-adapted treatment regimens need to be designed.

Prognostic value of quantitative FDG-PET in the prediction of survival and local recurrence for patients with advanced oral cancer treated with superselective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy.

The current study aimed to evaluate the relationship between 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) standardized uptake value (SUV) [pre-treatment SUV (pre-SUV) and post-treatment SUV (post-SUV)] and treatment results in patients with advanced oral cancer treated with superselective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy (SSIACRT). A total of 37 patients with advanced oral cancer were treated with SSIACRT. The treatment consisted of superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy (docetaxel (DOC) 40 mg/mm and nedaplatin (CDGP) 80 mg/mm) and concurrent radiotherapy (60-70 Gy) for a period of seven weeks.

4-methylumbelliferone inhibits clonogenic potency by suppressing high molecular weight-hyaluronan in fibrosarcoma cells.

The inflammatory response is closely associated with cancer cell survival. It has been reported that inflammatory signaling cascades promote tumor survival and exert detrimental effects in normal tissue. Hyaluronans have different cellular functions depending on their molecular weights and high molecular weight-hyaluronan (HMW-HA) exhibits anti-inflammatory effects.

Analysis of the high-dose-range radioresistance of prostate cancer cells, including cancer stem cells, based on a stochastic model.

In radiotherapy, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are well recognized as one of the radioresistant cell types. Even in a small subpopulation, CSCs may have an influence on tumor control probability, represented by cell killing after irradiation. However, the relationship between the percentage content of CSCs and the cell survival dose-response curve has not yet been quantitatively clarified.

Regulation of radiosensitivity by 4-methylumbelliferone via the suppression of interleukin-1 in fibrosarcoma cells.

Tumor recurrence and distant metastasis following radiotherapy, which can lead to poor prognosis, are caused by residual cancer cells that acquire radioresistance. Chemotherapy or a combination of targeted inhibitors can potentially enhance radiation sensitivity and prevent metastasis. It was previously reported that co-administration of the hyaluronan synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) enhanced the lethality of X-ray irradiation in HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and decreased their invasiveness to a greater extent than either treatment alone.

Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor After Switching From Once-Daily DPP-4 Inhibitor to Once-Weekly Regimen.

Background: We administered once-weekly dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor (W) (used omarigliptin as W in this study) to patients with type 2 diabetes taking once-daily DPP-4 inhibitor (D), and investigated efficacy, safety and patient satisfaction before and after switching to W.

Methods: W was administered to 182 patients with type 2 diabetes taking D (used sitagliptin as D in this study), who had been visiting our hospital on an outpatient basis; 164 (90.6%) of these patients requested to switch medications.

Specificity of MicroRNA Detection on a Power-free Microfluidic Chip with Laminar Flow-assisted Dendritic Amplification.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are attracting considerable attention as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. We have been developing a detection method for miRNAs on a microfluidic chip with external-power-free fluid pumping and enzyme-free amplification. The assay is completed within 20 min.

Detection of Methylated DNA on a Power-Free Microfluidic Chip with Laminar Flow-Assisted Dendritic Amplification.

We report on a detection method for methylated DNA on a microfluidic chip, which needs no external power for fluid pumping. The methylated DNA was sandwiched by immobilized probe DNA and an anti-methylcytosine antibody. The fluorescence signal was amplified by our original amplification technology.

Multiplex MicroRNA Detection on a Power-free Microfluidic Chip with Laminar Flow-assisted Dendritic Amplification.

MicroRNA (miRNA) profile-based point-of-care (POC) diagnostic methods have attracted considerable attention. In our laboratory, singleplex miRNA detection on a power-free poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chip with laminar flow-assisted dendritic amplification (LFDA) has been developed. In this study, to obtain the miRNA profile and to improve the reliability of the diagnosis, multiplex miRNA detection on the same system is demonstrated without compromising any advantages of the singleplex miRNA detection.

Successful thoracoscopic debridement of descending necrotizing mediastinitis.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis results from odontogenic, deep neck infection that spreads along fascial planes into the mediastinum. Although the optimal surgical approach remains controversial, nearly half of the cases require mediastinal debridement by thoracotomy. We report a case of successful thoracoscopic debridement for descending necrotizing mediastinitis due to odontogenic infection that failed to be drained by transcervical approach.