Publications by authors named "Kusaba T"

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by restriction of energy intake leading to a significantly low body weight, and intense fear of gaining weight. Severe electrolyte changes such as hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia; and alterations in water metabolism such as hyponatremia and edema, can occur in patients with AN. Hypokalemia and chronic volume depletion may lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

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  • * The tumor, located in the right atrium, displayed both myxomatous (gelatinous) and sarcomatous (malignant) characteristics, with distinct microscopic features and immunohistochemistry profiles indicating the presence of malignancy.
  • * The findings highlight that while cardiac myxomas are typically benign, there is a potential for malignant transformation, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring of such tumors.
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Breast cancer (BC) is classified into four major histological subtypes, namely luminal A, luminal B, HER2, and basal-like, and its treatment is based on these subtypes. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors against BC depends on the expression of PD-1/PD-L1. Another tumor immune system-the cGAS-STING pathway-is a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

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Introduction: A reduced salt intake is a vital lifestyle modification in the management of hypertension. Initiatives aimed at decreasing the intake of salt are based on the preference by humans for a salt taste. Salt intake behavior appears to be affected by the balance between attraction to a low salt taste and aversion to a high salt taste.

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Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common histological type of lung carcinoma that is associated with interstitial pneumonia (IP). We hypothesized that identifying specific genetic alterations or molecular markers of SCC with IP may aid the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the same. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to identify tumorigenic genetic alterations and molecular markers in cases of SCC with IP.

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We report a case of alpha-fetoprotein-producing endometrioid carcinoma (AFP-EC) that originated within an adenomyoma of the uterine corpus. A 76-year-old Japanese woman was incidentally discovered to have a uterine tumor along with multiple lung nodules. Upon surgical removal of the uterus, it was revealed that the tumor was situated within the adenomyoma.

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  • * Researchers created a mouse model that mimics advanced DKD and found significant tissue damage, inflammation, and high levels of VCAM1 in the kidneys, which reflects the condition in humans.
  • * The drug luseogliflozin was shown to improve kidney health by reducing tissue hypoxia and inflammation, highlighting the potential of VCAM1 as a marker and SGLT2 inhibitors as a treatment option for advanced DKD.
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  • The study investigates how long-term patients in a family medicine clinic in northern Japan perceive family medicine and its unique community aspects.
  • Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research involved surveys and interviews with 144 patients to gather both quantitative and qualitative data.
  • Key findings indicate that patients view family physicians as holistic caregivers involved in home-based medical care and effective referrals, highlighting their clear understanding of the role of family medicine.
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Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and has a high mortality rate. Lymph node metastasis is a key determinant of prognosis, and an essential mechanism involved in metastasis is the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In this study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic role of versican (VCAN), a molecule participating in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, on the detection of metastatic cancer.

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The current research demonstrates the modification of the wetting behavior and mechanical features as well as structure and morphology of FeSi films created via facing target sputtering by the rapid thermal annealing (RTA) with the set RTA temperatures () of 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C. Following the RTA process, the crystallinity of FeSi developed under 400 °C or below. At the 600 °C and 800 °C , new crystal orientations emerged for FeSi and then -FeSi, respectively.

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Endometrioid carcinoma (EC) and clear cell carcinoma (CC) are associated with endometrial tissue hyperplasia and endometriosis, and they occur in the endometrium and ovaries. However, detailed differences between these tumors based on immunostaining are unclear; therefore, in this study, we aimed to analyze the clinicopathological correlations between these tumors using immunostaining and to develop new treatments based on histological subtypes. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate differentially expressed hypoxia-associated molecules (hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha [HIF-1α], forkhead box O1, prostate-specific membrane antigen, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 [STAT3], hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β [HNF-1β], aquaporin-3, and vimentin [VIM]) between these carcinomas because of the reported association between CC and ischemia.

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Background: Proactive interventions for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are required. We aimed to determine the staff-rated ability to provide post-diagnosis support for patients with MCI at a medical centre for dementia and the related factors.

Methods: We conducted a web-based survey on post-diagnosis support for patients with MCI among healthcare personnel, such as mental health social workers and public health nurses (hereafter referred to as 'staff'), in consultation and support roles at medical centres for dementia nationwide.

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  • Streptozotocin (STZ) is mainly used as an anti-cancer drug for treating neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) but can also cause DNA damage in kidney cells, leading to injury.
  • Research showed that this kidney damage is linked to the activation of the p53 signaling pathway and reduced membrane transporters in tubular epithelial cells.
  • Treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor can help protect kidney cells from STZ-induced damage without affecting the drug's effectiveness on pancreatic β-cells, suggesting its potential as a preventative treatment for kidney injury in NET patients.
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Sialadenoma papilliferum, a benign and rare salivary gland neoplasm, accounts for 0.4%-1.2% of all salivary gland tumors and occurs primarily in minor salivary glands of the oral cavity.

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Salivary gland cancers (SGCs) are diagnosed using histopathological examination, which significantly contributes to their progression, including lymph node/distant metastasis or local recurrence. In the current World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Head and Neck Tumors: Salivary Glands (5th edition), malignant and benign epithelial tumors are classified into 21 and 15 tumor types, respectively. All malignant tumors have the potential for lymph node/distant metastasis or local recurrence.

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In recent years, several immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or PD-1 have been developed for cancer therapy. The genetic background of tumors and factors that influence PD-L1 expression in tumor tissues are not yet elucidated in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). CD8-positive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are known to be related to tumor immunity.

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Pembrolizumab has been widely used to treat advanced urothelial carcinoma that has progressed after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Because its clinical benefits are limited, biomarkers that can predict a good response to pembrolizumab are required. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), calculated using the serum albumin level and peripheral lymphocyte count, has been evaluated as a predictive biomarker in cancer immunotherapy.

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  • Cell-based therapies, specifically using human Muse cells, show potential in treating peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in severe limb ischemia cases, though the best methods are still being researched.
  • In a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia, Muse cells led to improved blood flow, increased microvascular density, and less fibrosis compared to other treatment groups.
  • Muse cells also produced more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and promoted anti-inflammatory responses, indicating they could be a promising new therapy for PAD patients.
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Micronodular thymic carcinoma (MTC) with lymphoid hyperplasia is believed to be the malignant counterpart of micronodular thymoma (MT) with lymphoid hyperplasia. Since MT and MTC share a similar morphology, MTC is considered a malignant form of MT; there have been a few malignant transformations from MT to MTC. We report a case of MTC with lymphoid hyperplasia.

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Adenocarcinomas with clear cell morphology may be associated with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in various organs. We report the case of an alpha-fetoprotein-producing cervical adenocarcinoma with clear cell morphology and compare it immunohistochemically, molecularly, and virologically with cervical clear cell carcinoma, gastric-type mucinous carcinoma, and ovarian clear cell carcinoma. A 51-year-old Japanese woman was initially diagnosed with cervical clear cell carcinoma.

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Based on recent clinical trials using sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) demonstrating the significant improvement of outcomes of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), the paradigm shift from "glomerulocentric" to "tubule centric" pathophysiology in DKD progression has been highlighted. Several responsible mechanisms for renoprotective effects by SGLT2i have been proposed recently, but the changes in proximal tubule-specific gene expression by SGLT2i in diabetic mice have not been elucidated. We report the analysis of the proximal tubular-specific pathway, demonstrating the downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation in dapagliflozin-treated mice, a type 2 diabetic model.

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This is a short communication to reflect on experiences at North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) conference from the perspective of Asian family physicians. They feel that NAPCRG can play an important role to level up the skills and talents in countries with less-established primary care research capacity and capability. NAPCRG should not be restricted to networking functions for only North America, Europe and Oceania but should include Asia, South America and Africa.

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The present study aimed to use real-world Japanese data to compare the treatment outcome of conventional hormonal therapy to that of using androgen receptor axis-targeted (ARAT) agents for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The overall survival between the conventional hormonal therapy group and the ARAT agent therapy group was compared using a group of 75 Japanese patients who were treated for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. A subgroup analysis was carried out and the risk factors that affected overall survival (OS) were determined.

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