Publications by authors named "Kazunori Nagasaka"

The incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are increasing among young Japanese women. In November 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare reinstated the active recommendation of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, after it had been suspended in June 2013 due to reports of adverse reactions. However, vaccine hesitancy is prevalent in the younger generation in Japan.

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An ovarian mucinous cystic tumor where fundic glands were broadly and evenly distributed. All components were FOXA2-positive. The diagnosis is difficult between "mucinous cystadenoma with fundic gland differentiation" and "monodermal cystic teratoma composed of gastric tissue derived from endoderm".

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  • Interval debulking surgery (IDS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is evaluated for its effectiveness in treating advanced ovarian cancer, focusing on the role of peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) alongside other factors like residual disease and CA-125 KELIM rates.*
  • Among 25 patients studied, nearly half were PWC-positive; however, survival outcomes did not significantly differ between PWC-positive and PWC-negative patients who received specific treatments, although differences in progression-free survival were noted based on CA-125 KELIM.*
  • The study concludes that while PWC status at IDS does not correlate with survival outcomes, optimal surgery and favorable CA-125 KELIM are linked to better progression-free and overall survival rates
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Aim: As a treatment for tubal infertility, falloposcopic tuboplasty (FT) is one of the options for patients who wish to conceive naturally. Based on the results of FT, we propose an appropriate time of transitioning to assisted reproductive technology (ART) for tubal infertility.

Objects And Methods: We examined the outcomes of cases of tubal infertility during the period from June 1999 through March 2021 who were performed tuboplasty at our hospital using the FT catheter system under laparoscopy.

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We present a case of tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) caused by Clostridioides difficile (CD) in a 43-year-old female. Despite lacking a history of sexually transmitted diseases, the patient had undergone paraovarian cystectomy nine months before admission. Transvaginal ultrasonography performed eight months post-surgery revealed left ovarian enlargement, accompanied by subsequent lower abdominal pain and fever exceeding 38 °C.

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More specific screening systems for cervical cancer may become necessary as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine becomes more widespread. Although p16/Ki-67 dual-staining cytology has several advantages, it requires advanced diagnostic skills. Here, we developed an automated on-chip immunostaining method using a microfluidic device.

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Placenta accreta is a high-risk condition causing obstetric crisis and hemorrhage; however, its pathogenesis remains unknown. We aimed to identify the factors contributing to trophoblast invasiveness and angiogenic potential, which in turn drive the pathogenesis of placenta accreta. We focused on the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-Smad pathway and investigated the intrinsic relationship between the time- and dose-dependent inhibition of the ubiquitinating enzyme UCHL5 using bAP15, a deubiquitinase inhibitor, after TGF-β1 stimulation and the invasive and angiogenic potential of two cell lines, gestational choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3 and trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo.

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•Endometrial stromal sarcoma is the second most common type of uterine sarcoma.•Endometrial stromal sarcoma has undergone modifications since its proposal.•This case highlights the importance of accurately diagnosing endometrial stromal sarcoma.

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Article Synopsis
  • Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) are a rare type of ovarian cancer that represent around 2% of ovarian malignancies, often linked to irregular bleeding in postmenopausal women and late recurrences following initial treatment.
  • In a study, two cases of GCTs were examined to explore the role of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels as a potential biomarker for treatment effectiveness and recurrence risk.
  • The findings suggest that VEGF levels could be clinically significant in monitoring disease progression in GCTs and may help assess the efficacy of treatments like bevacizumab.
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Background: Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have the capacity of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation . Conventional hPSCs, which are in a primed state, can produce various types of differentiated cells. However, the variability in their degree of pluripotency and differentiation propensities, which is influenced by the inductive methods and culture conditions, limit their availability.

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Background: Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) has become an increasingly popular tool in obstetrics due to its objective, non-invasive, and real-time imaging capabilities.

Aim: This review aims to describe the basic approaches, current utilization, and potential future applications of TPUS.

Materials & Method: A comprehensive literature review on TPUS was conducted.

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Background: Lenvatinib-pembrolizumab combination (LEAP) is an approved therapy in Japan for advanced endometrial cancer, based on the data from the KEYNOTE-775 clinical trial. We report a case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a patient who received LEAP therapy for advanced endometrial cancer.

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old patient with stage IVB endometrial cancer having rectal metastases, after four cycles of paclitaxel-carboplatin therapy, was found to have increased rectal invasion, peritoneal dissemination, and multiple paraaortic lymph node metastases.

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  • * A case study is presented of a 19-year-old woman with suspected ovarian cancer due to a tumor and ascites, but laparoscopic surgery revealed inflammation in the fallopian tubes rather than cancer.
  • * The diagnosis was ultimately an infection, specifically Chlamydia peritonitis, highlighting the need to consider infections when evaluating young patients with abnormal ascites.
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Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) after hysteroscopic myomectomy, and to analyze the association of IUA and the location of submucous myomas and the use of postoperative barrier (POB).

Methods: Hysteroscopic myomectomy was performed in 217 patients with submucous myomas. The retrospective investigation was performed, and the cases were divided into three groups: cases with solitary submucous myoma (SSM; group 1), cases with apposing submucous myomas (ASMs; group 2) and cases with submucous myomas that were far from each other or not in apposition to one another (not apposing submucous myomas: NASMs; group 3).

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  • SETD8 is a histone methyltransferase linked to endometrial cancer, influencing cell proliferation and apoptosis by modifying histone H4 at lysine 20 and affecting the p53 signaling pathway.
  • The study found that SETD8 expression is significantly higher in endometrial cancer tissues and that reducing SETD8 through siRNAs or inhibitors suppresses cancer cell growth and encourages cell death.
  • Key genes related to apoptosis, including KIAA1324 and TP73, were identified as being regulated by SETD8, indicating their importance in cancer progression and prognosis.
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We used the fetal movement acceleration measurement recorder to count gross fetal movement in two fetuses with gastroschisis. In conclusion, both fetuses moved as much as normal fetuses, which suggested that normal fetal movement could indicate reassuring status also in fetuses with malformation when they have normal neurological developments.

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The incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are rising among young women in Japan. In November 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare reinstated the active recommendation for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which was discontinued in June 2013 due to reports of adverse reactions, including chronic pain and motor dysfunction, following vaccination. However, vaccine hesitancy among the younger generation remains, and it is essential to identify the barriers in vaccination uptake.

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Ulipristal acetate (UPA), a selective progesterone receptor modulator, is used for the treatment of uterine fibroids and selectively inhibits the proliferation and inflammation of leiomyoma cells. As few studies have focused on the molecular biological mechanism of UPA in Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells, we aimed to identify the effects of UPA on these cells. Ishikawa cells were treated with different concentrations of UPA.

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  • Patient-derived cells and xenografts are essential for understanding the characteristics of clinical cancers and their resistance to chemotherapy, particularly in ovarian cancer.
  • A study using patient-derived spheroids showed significant variation in sensitivity to platinum-based drugs like cisplatin, revealing a strong correlation between cisplatin resistance and elevated levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and glutathione enzymes.
  • Treatment strategies combining G6PD inhibitors with cisplatin were effective in reducing tumor growth and metastasis in lab models, highlighting the importance of targeting G6PD-driven metabolism for improving treatment outcomes in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer.
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  • Relugolix, an oral medication for treating leiomyoma, has shown potential effectiveness based on a phase 3 study, but its impact on severe adenomyosis is under-researched.
  • A case study of a 49-year-old woman with both leiomyomas and adenomyosis indicates that relugolix treatment led to significant uterine shrinkage and symptom relief, allowing her to avoid surgery.
  • The case suggests that combining relugolix with a traditional Japanese remedy, kamishoyosan, may help alleviate side effects like hot flushes and headaches, highlighting a new approach to managing co-occurring conditions.
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  • Endometrial cancer is on the rise globally, making early diagnosis crucial, despite there being no established screening method currently available.
  • This study introduces an AI-based system designed to automatically identify cancerous regions in hysteroscopic images from a cohort of 177 patients with various conditions, including some with endometrial cancer.
  • Using advanced deep learning techniques, the accuracy of diagnosis improved significantly, reaching over 90% by combining multiple models and implementing a continuity analysis, demonstrating its potential to enable timely detection of the disease.
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  • Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exist in a special environment with other cells and structures that support their growth, playing a key role in tumor development and spread.
  • This study aims to create a reliable method to explore how ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) can initiate tumors.
  • The researchers used an in vitro model to observe how OCSCs interact with endothelial cells and how these interactions lead to new blood vessel formation, shedding light on the role of OCSCs in cancer progression.
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Transcription of human papillomavirus (HPV) genes proceeds unidirectionally from multiple promoters. Direct profiling of transcription start sites (TSSs) by Cap Analysis Gene Expression (CAGE) is a powerful strategy for examining individual HPV promoter activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate alterations of viral promoter activity during infection using CAGE technology.

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Previous studies have suggested that histone methylation can modulate carcinogenesis and cancer progression. For instance, the histone methyltransferase SET and MYND domain containing 2 (SMYD2) is overexpressed in several types of cancer tissue. The aim of the present study was to determine whether SMYD2 could serve a therapeutic role in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC).

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  • * In mouse models, DS-3032b reduced tumor volumes in clear cell ovarian and renal carcinomas, while DS-5272 improved survival by inhibiting ascites production and reducing tumor burden.
  • * Combining MDM2 inhibitors with everolimus showed promising results in enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing required doses, suggesting further research is needed to evaluate this dual therapy approach for clear cell carcinoma patients.
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