Design of 2'--methyl RNA and DNA double-stranded oligonucleotides: naturally-occurring nucleotide components with strong RNA interference gene expression inhibitory activity.

Double-stranded RNAs consisting of 21-nucleotide passenger and guide strands, known as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), can be used for the identification of gene functions and the regulation of genes involved in disease for therapeutics. The difficulty with unmodified siRNAs lies in the chemical synthesis of RNA, its degradation by RNase, the immune response derived from natural RNA, and the off-target effects mediated by the passenger strand. In this study, asymmetrical 18 base-paired double-strand oligonucleotides comprised of alternately combined DNAs and 2'--methyl RNAs, denoted as MED-siRNA, were evaluated.

Dosimetric effect of rotational setup errors in stereotactic radiosurgery with HyperArc for single and multiple brain metastases.

Purpose: In stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with single-isocentric treatments for brain metastases, rotational setup errors may cause considerable dosimetric effects. We assessed the dosimetric effects on HyperArc plans for single and multiple metastases.

Methods: For 29 patients (1-8 brain metastases), HyperArc plans with a prescription dose of 20-24 Gy for a dose that covers 95% (D ) of the planning target volume (PTV) were retrospectively generated (Ref-plan).

Syntactic development in children with intellectual disabilities - using structured assessment of syntax.

Background: Children with intellectual disabilities (IDs) have a severe delay in syntactic development compared with other language abilities. This study investigated conditions of syntactic development in native Japanese-speaking children with ID.

Methods: Children with ID [N = 51; 18 autism spectrum disorders (ASD), 18 Down syndrome (DS) and 15 ID without ASD and DS] were compared with typically developing children (N = 78) with the same mental age (MA).

Altered lymphatic drainage patterns in re-operative sentinel lymph node biopsy for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of previous local treatment on lymphatic drainage patterns in ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) based on our data on re-operative sentinel lymph node biopsy (re-SLNB) for IBTR.

Methods: Between April 2005 and December 2016, re-SLNB using lymphoscintigraphy with Tc-99 m phytate was performed in 136 patients with cN0 IBTR. Patients were categorized into two groups: the AX group included 55 patients with previous axillary lymph node dissection; the non-AX group included 69 patients with previous SLNB and 12 patients with no axillary surgery.

Analysis of colorectal cancer-related mutations by liquid biopsy: Utility of circulating cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cells.

We recruited 56 colorectal cancer patients and compared the mutational spectrum of tumor tissue DNA, circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) and circulating tumor cell (CTC) DNA (ctcDNA) to evaluate the potential of liquid biopsy to detect heterogeneity of cancer. Tumor tissue DNA, ccfDNA, and ctcDNA were extracted from each patient and analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and digital PCR. To maximize yields of CTC, three antibodies were used in the capture process.

Circulating cell-free long DNA fragments predict post-hepatectomy recurrence of colorectal liver metastases.

Introduction: Most patients with colorectal liver metastases, who undergo hepatectomy, experience recurrence. Although the prognosis is poorer for patients with early recurrence (within 6 months after hepatectomy) compared with later recurrence, no biomarker has been identified to predict early recurrence. Minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients who undergo curative surgery is the main cause of recurrence.

Effect of collimator angle on HyperArc stereotactic radiosurgery planning for single and multiple brain metastases.

We assessed the effect of collimator angle on the dosimetric parameters for targets and organs at risk (OARs) for collimator-optimized HA (CO-HA) and non-CO-HA (nCO-HA) plans. The nCO-HA and CO-HA plans were retrospectively generated for 26 patients (1 to 8 brain metastases). The dosimetric parameters for planning target volume (homogeneity index [HI]; conformity index [CI]; gradient index [GI]) and for OARs were compared.

Outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery for sinusitis-induced intracranial abscess in patients undergoing neurosurgery.

Objective: Although sinusitis-induced intracranial complications rarely occur in the current era of antibiotics, they can induce neurological symptoms or death. The authors of this study investigated the association between endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and outcomes in patients who had undergone neurosurgical procedures for sinusitis-induced intracranial abscess.

Methods: The authors obtained data on patients with sinusitis-induced intracranial abscess from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient data for the period from 2010 to 2017.

Podocyte Injury Augments Intrarenal Angiotensin II Generation and Sodium Retention in a Megalin-Dependent Manner.

We have previously shown that podocyte injury increases the glomerular filtration of liver-derived Agt (angiotensinogen) and the generation of intrarenal Ang II (angiotensin II) and that the filtered Agt is reabsorbed by proximal tubules in a manner dependent on megalin. In the present study, we aimed to study the role of megalin in the generation of renal Ang II and sodium handling during nephrotic syndrome. We generated proximal tubule-specific megalin KO (knockout) mice and crossed these animals with NEP25 mice, in which podocyte-specific injury can be induced by injection of the immunotoxin LMB2.

Treatment for renal anemia and outcomes in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease: the current status of regional medicine according to the Kyoto Fushimi Renal Anemia (KFRA) study.

Background: The baseline data obtained in the CKD-JAC demonstrated that insufficient treatment was being provided for renal anemia by institutions specializing in renal disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the status of treatment for renal anemia, including renal/cardiovascular outcomes and mortality, at regional medical facilities since the development of long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (LA-ESA).

Methods: Non-dialysis outpatients with chronic kidney disease and renal anemia were eligible.

Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease Under Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance.

Objective: To evaluate whether patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease were diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer (PC) at an early stage during abdominal imaging surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively examined 447 patients with PC diagnosed at Ehime University Hospital and affiliated centers (2011-2013). Data were collected regarding HBV and HCV status, likelihood of PC diagnosis, and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage.

Evolution of the avian digital pattern.

Variation in digit number has occurred multiple times in the history of archosaur evolution. The five digits of dinosaur limbs were reduced to three in bird forelimbs, and were further reduced in the vestigial forelimbs of the emu. Regulation of digit number has been investigated previously by examining genes involved in anterior-posterior patterning in forelimb buds among emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), chicken (Gallus gallus) and zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata).

Two mammalian species in which the intercostal nerves innervate the serratus anterior or scalenus muscles together with the cervical nerves: an important clue to clarify the homology of cervico-thoracic trunk muscles in mammals.

The levator scapulae, rhomboideus, and serratus anterior muscles (as a group referred to the dorsal shoulder girdle muscles) and the scalenus muscles in mammals are usually innervated by cervical nerves. However, in koalas, the serratus anterior is additionally innervated by the lateral cutaneous branch of the first intercostal nerve. In cats, as in some other mammalian species, a part of the scalenus muscle (scalenus longus muscle) is innervated by the lateral cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerves.

Decoding of muscle activity from the sensorimotor cortex in freely behaving monkeys.

Remarkable advances have recently been made in the development of Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) technologies for restoring or enhancing motor function. However, the application of these technologies may be limited to patients in static conditions, as these developments have been largely based on studies of animals (e.g.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy planning based on virtual monochromatic images: Effect of inaccurate CT numbers on dose distributions.

Purpose: Though virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) at low energy levels can improve image quality, the measured Hounsfield unit (HU) values can be inaccurate. We assessed the dosimetric error due to inaccurate HU estimation in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning.

Methods: Based on the VMIs at 50 keV (VMI), 77 keV (VMI) and single-energy CT (SECT) image for a phantom with different sizes, lookup tables (LUT and LUT) were created.

Unhealthy changes in eating habits cause acute onset hypertension in the normotensive community-dwelling elderly-3 years cohort study.

The aim of this study was to determine what lifestyle changes can predict acute onset hypertension in the normotensive community-dwelling elderly.This study targeted elderly people enrolled in National Health Insurance in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The subjects were 24,490 people who took all of the specific health examination conducted by National Health Insurance in fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015 continuously and had a recorded systolic blood pressure (BP) <130 mm Hg and diastolic BP <85 mm Hg in the first 2 fiscal years.

A novel biomarker, active whole skeletal total lesion glycolysis (WS-TLG), as a quantitative method to measure bone metastatic activity in breast cancer patients.

Objective: There is no good response evaluation method for skeletal metastasis. We aimed to develop a novel quantitative method to evaluate the response of skeletal metastasis, especially lytic lesions, for treatment.

Methods: A method to measure active bone metastatic burden quantitatively using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in breast cancer patients, whole skeletal total lesion glycolysis (WS-TLG), a summation of each skeletal lesion's TLG, was developed.

Model design of a compact delayed gamma-ray moderator system using Cf for safeguards verification measurements.

Delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy (DGS) is an active-interrogation nondestructive assay technique that can be used to determine the composition of a nuclear material sample by comparing the ratios of fission product gamma-ray peak intensities. However, high-radioactivity nuclear material (HRNM) contains long-lived fission products that can overwhelm a detector and shielding must be used to reduce the count rate, while minimally affecting those gamma rays from short-lived fission products with energy above 3-MeV. To compensate for the signal loss through the shielding, low-energy neutrons are required to induce more fission events from the high thermal cross-section of fissile nuclides.

Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Administration Prevents Adrenal Gland Atrophy in an ACTH-Independent Cushing's Syndrome Rat Model.

ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome (CS) is mainly caused by cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumours. It is well known that secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs after surgical resection of these tumours. In this regard, impaired adrenocortical function is likely induced by atrophy of the residual adrenal tissue as a result of chronic suppression by the low ACTH levels of the hypercortisolism state.

A case report on 111In chloride bone marrow scintigraphy in management of adrenal myelolipoma.

Rationale: Adrenal myelolipoma is a benign hormone-inactive tumor composed of hematopoietic tissue and mature adipose tissue. Because this tumor tends to be rich in fat, in many cases it can be diagnosed based on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings alone. However, in the presence of much necrosis, calcification and hematopoietic tissue and/or the absence of much fat, and in cases with tumor apoplexy, this tumor becomes difficult to differentiate from other tumors.

Carbon ion irradiation enhances the antitumor efficacy of dual immune checkpoint blockade therapy both for local and distant sites in murine osteosarcoma.

Carbon ion radiotherapy has been utilized even for X-ray resistant tumors. However, control of distant metastasis remains a major challenge in carbon ion irradiation. We investigated whether carbon ion irradiation combined with dual immune checkpoint blockade therapy (anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies [P1C4]) provides anti-tumor efficacy for both local and distant sites.

Gynecologists May Underestimate the Amount of Blood Loss during Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.

Background: We considered the possibility of underestimation of the amount of bleeding during laparoscopic surgery, and we investigated comparing the amount of bleeding between laparoscopic surgery and open surgery by considering the concentration of hemoglobin before and after surgery as indicators.

Methods: The following procedures were included: A, surgery for ovarian tumor; B, myomectomy; and C, hysterectomy either by laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. Patients who underwent the above procedures in between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017, were enrolled.

Plaque characteristics and slow flow during percutaneous coronary intervention of irregular protrusion by optical coherence tomography.

Irregular protrusion on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is associated with clinical events and target lesion revascularization. We investigated clinical and procedure characteristics, plaque characteristics, slow flow after stent implantation, and clinical outcomes with irregular protrusion using OCT. Eighty-four lesions in 76 patients undergoing OCT before percutaneous coronary intervention were evaluated.

Age at the time of hip fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is 4 years greater than it was 10 years before, but is still younger than that of the general population.

To investigate the characteristics of hip fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Between 2012 and 2015, 789 hip fractures were treated at our hospital. Patients with RA were checked and their characteristics were compared with data recorded 10 years before, and with the general population.