Positive predictive value of the clinical diagnosis of T1a-epithelial/lamina propria esophageal cancer depends on lesion size.

Objectives: Endoscopic resection (ER) is a minimally invasive treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, stricture may develop after ER for widespread lesions. Application of ER is justified if these cancers are pathological T1a-epithelial/lamina propria (pEP/LPM) cancers that can be cured by ER.

Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with severe radiation-induced mucositis in pharyngeal or laryngeal cancer patients: a retrospective study.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation that informs clinical decisions regarding recurrence and overall survival in most epithelial cancers. Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer leads to mucositis in almost all patients and severe radiation-mucositis affects their quality of life (QOL). However, little is known about the NLR for severe mucositis.

Did "" Prevent the Decline of Mental and Physical Functions and Frailty for the Home-Based Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

The purpose of this study is to grasp the management situation of "" under the conditions of self-quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also to clarify the efficacy of "" using the Kihon Checklist (KCL) for the assessment of mental and physical functions in the elderly. The respondents were 136 elderly people aged 65 years and over who lived in A City, a standard rural area in Japan.

Increased Serum-Immunoglobulin G4 Levels in a 12-Year-Old Male Patient With Central Diabetes Insipidus.

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disorders are characterized by tissue hypertrophy due to IgG4-positive cell infiltration and increased serum IgG4 levels. IgG4-related hypophysitis (IgG4-RH) is characterized by pituitary hypertrophy, IgG4-positive cell infiltration, central diabetes insipidus, and increased serum IgG4 levels. IgG4-RH is diagnosed through diagnostic criteria.

Correlation between a Bedridden Status and the Long-term Outcome in Hemodialysis Patients after Intracerebral Hemorrhaging.

Objective The quality of life and activities of daily living (ADL) are generally poor among dialysis patients after intracerebral hemorrhaging, and their precise clinical course remains unclear. In addition, the association between the severity of cerebral hemorrhaging and the long-term prognosis in these patients has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the subsequent prognosis of hemodialysis patients who survived the acute phase of intracerebral hemorrhaging.

Inhibitory effect of honokiol on furin-like activity and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a pandemic and has caused damage to the lives of the people and economy of countries. However, the therapeutic reagents against SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear. The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 contains a cleavage motif at the S1/S2 boundary, known to be cleaved by furin.

The pocket-creation method facilitates gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection and overcomes challenging situations.

Video 1Demonstration of gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection using the pocket-creation method at the angle along the lesser curvature and fornix.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Extract against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in RAW264 Cells.

Leaves of (noni) have been used in Polynesian folk medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammation, and their juice is very popular worldwide as a functional food supplement. This study aimed to demonstrate that seed extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects on RAW264 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. To confirm the inhibitory effect of seed extract, we assessed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory cytokines.

Assessment of locomotive syndrome in patients with visceral cancer, the comparison with non-cancer patients using propensity score matching.

Background: When treating cancer patients, the progression of symptoms is accompanied by the deterioration of systemic conditions and motor function. From a risk-benefit perspective, a certain level of physical function must be maintained to continue cancer treatment. Recently, outpatient cancer treatment has become more common.

Datopotamab Deruxtecan, a Novel TROP2-directed Antibody-drug Conjugate, Demonstrates Potent Antitumor Activity by Efficient Drug Delivery to Tumor Cells.

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is highly expressed on various epithelial tumors and correlates with poor prognosis. We developed the novel TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd, DS-1062a), with a potent DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor (DXd), and evaluated its antitumor activity and safety profiles in preclinical models.The pharmacologic activity and mechanism of action of Dato-DXd were investigated in several human cancer cell lines and xenograft mouse models including patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models.

Thyroid-related ophthalmopathy development in concurrence with growth hormone administration.

Background: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor and local infiltrate lymphocytes have been considered as major pathological factors for developing thyroid-related ophthalmopathy. Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for refractory patients. However, the relationship between activation of growth hormone (GH)/IGF-I receptor signaling and development or exacerbation of thyroid ophthalmopathy has not been elucidated.

Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An 84-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital with a month-long dry cough during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. She also had skin lesions on her fingers from 3 months prior. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral ground- glass opacities with a subpleural distribution, similar to the findings of COVID-19.

An Autopsy Case of Disseminated Varicella Zoster Virus Infection during the Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome.

A 68-year-old woman developed systemic blisters while receiving treatment for nephrotic syndrome. As she also developed marked liver dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation, she was admitted to our hospital. She was diagnosed with varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection.

Successful endoscopic surgical treatment of pleuroperitoneal communication in two infant cases.

Background: Pleuroperitoneal communication (PPC) is an uncommon, but potentially life-threatening complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). If a fistula does not close with conservative treatment, surgical repair is required. However, approximately half of these patients are forced to shift from PD to hemodialysis.

Comparison of various commercially available cinnamon barks using NMR metabolomics and the quantification of coumarin by quantitative NMR methods.

Cinnamon bark is an important spice worldwide. In this study, the chemical diversity of various commercially available cinnamon barks that differed in their production areas and utility applications (culinary spice or medicines) were investigated by the use of H NMR metabolomics. Our results indicated that principle component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of the H NMR spectra of the cinnamon bark methanolic extracts including the deduction of their species by nucleotide sequence analysis enabled differentiation of the cinnamon barks according to their species, production areas and utility applications.

Building siRNAs with Cubes: Synthesis and Evaluation of Cubane-Modified siRNAs.

Cubane molecules hold great potential for medicinal chemistry applications due to their inherent stability and low toxicity. In this study, we report the synthesis of a cubane derivative phosphoramidite for the incorporation of cubane into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Synthetic siRNAs rely on chemical modifications to improve their pharmacokinetic profiles.

A case of early recurrent immunoglobulin A nephropathy and T-cell-mediated rejection in a transplant patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-chromosome recessive immunodeficiency disease characterized by the triad of thrombocytopenia, eczema, and susceptibility to infection owing to WAS protein gene abnormalities. Kidney transplantation is rarely offered to WAS patients with end-stage renal disease because of concerns that thrombocytopenia and immune disorders may affect the clinical outcome. Here, we report the case of a 20-year-old kidney transplant patient who developed end-stage renal disease owing to immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy caused by WAS.

Periodontal inflamed surface area is associated with hs-CRP in septuagenarian Japanese adults in cross-sectional findings from the SONIC study.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects various peripheral organs. The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) quantifies periodontitis severity and the spread of inflammatory wounds. This study aimed to investigate the association between PISA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a systemic inflammation marker.

Manta versus Perclose ProGlide vascular closure device after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Initial experience from a large European center.

Background: Vascular and bleeding complications are common after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and are associated with worse outcomes. The plug-based Manta (M) vascular closure device (VCD) is a novel option to achieve haemostasis for large-bore arterial access sites.

Objective: We aimed to compare vascular and bleeding complications between the M-VCD and the established suture-based Perclose ProGlide (P)-VCD.

The pocket-creation method facilitates endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric neoplasms involving the pyloric ring.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of superficial gastric lesions involving the pyloric ring is difficult. The pocket-creation method (PCM) with a small-caliber-tip transparent hood can overcome this difficulty by compressing the pyloric sphincter applying both traction and counter-traction. The aim of this study is to clarify the usefulness of the PCM for ESD of superficial gastric neoplasms involving the pyloric ring compared to the conventional method (CM).

Asymmetric Dehydrative Allylation Using Soft Ruthenium and Hard Brønsted Acid Combined Catalyst.

Asymmetric Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost-type allylation is an important catalytic reaction toward chiral natural and unnatural product syntheses. We successfully modified a desalt-type reaction using allyl ester or halide to a dehydrative one using allylic alcohol via the establishment of two redox-mediated donor acceptor bifunctional catalyst systems. These systems were cationic CpRu-Cl-Napy-PyCOOH and cationic CpRu-Naph-diPIM-dioxo-iPr/p-TsOH and were designed on the basis of the soft ruthenium and hard Brønsted acid combined catalyst concept.