A Prospective Observational Study on Analyzing Lung Cancer Gene Mutation Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) and Its Correlation with Treatment Efficacy.

A few studies have reported on the variability of the variant allele frequency (VAF) of gene mutations and the relationship between VAF and the therapeutic effect of molecular-targeted drugs. This joint study was conducted from May 2020 to January 2022 between St. Marianna University School of Medicine and the DNA Chip Research Institute.

INVESTIGATION OF THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE FOVEOSCHISIS: Analysis of Longitudinal Changes in Visual Functions, Retinal Structures, and Retinal Traction Force.

Purpose: To analyze the pathophysiology of epiretinal membrane foveoschisis (FS) by evaluating the longitudinal changes in visual function and several optical coherence tomography parameters.

Methods: The medical records of 33 consecutive patients (35 eyes) with untreated epiretinal membrane foveoschisis were retrospectively reviewed. Best-corrected visual acuity, M-CHARTS score, and optical coherence tomography parameters including epiretinal membrane area, maximum depth of retinal folds, FS area, and FS circularity were evaluated.

Calcification of a Hydrophilic Acrylic Intraocular Lens after Glaucoma Surgery.

A Japanese woman in her 70s was referred to our hospital for the evaluation and treatment of high intraocular pressure (IOP) in her right eye. She had undergone bilateral cataract surgeries and the insertion of hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs). We performed trabeculotomy and trabeculectomy to lower her right IOP; thereafter, a circular opacity was observed on the right eye's IOL surface.

Influence of submacular hemorrhage at baseline on the long-term outcomes of aflibercept treatment for typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) at baseline on long-term visual outcomes of patients with typical age-related macular degeneration (tAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA).

Methods: In this retrospective study, eyes of treatment-naïve patients with tAMD and PCV who initiated IVA under a treat-and-extend regimen and were followed up for ≥ 5 years were classified into the tAMD-SMH ( +), tAMD-SMH (-), PCV-SMH ( +), and PCV-SMH (-) groups based on the presence of SMH at baseline. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes and macular fibrosis and atrophy incidences were assessed.

Microperimetry-guided inverted internal limiting membrane flap site selection to preserve retinal sensitivity in macular hole with glaucoma.

Purpose: In cases of macular hole (MH) that is difficult to close, including large, chronic, or highly myopic cases, the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique is often preferred and yields favorable surgical outcomes as compared to those yielded by conventional ILM peeling. However, no consensus exists on the optimal location and area for peeling and inverting the ILM, since multiple alternative methods have been reported alongside the original method. Several adverse effects associated with ILM peeling have been documented, including mechanical impairment of the retinal nerve fiber layer and decreased retinal sensitivity.

Evaluation of epiretinal membrane formation after scleral buckling for treating rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: En face optical coherence tomography image-based study.

Purpose: To assess epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation, severity, and the associated risk factors after scleral buckling using en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) images.

Methods: Medical records of 61 consecutive patients (66 eyes) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent scleral buckling were retrospectively reviewed. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was determined based on B-scan OCT images.

Surgical Management of Full-Thickness Macular Holes in Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: A Global Multicenter Study.

Purpose: To report on macular hole repair in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel2).

Design: Global, multicenter, retrospective case series.

Participants: Patients undergoing surgery for MacTel2-associated full-thickness macular hole (MTMH).

A Case of Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy in which Oct en Face Imaging Was Useful for Diagnosis and Follow-up.

A 23-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of visual abnormalities in her right eye. A visual field test revealed temporal abnormalities in the right eye. Optical coherence tomography revealed an indistinct ellipsoid zone (EZ) on the B-scan image and hyporeflective areas in the EZ layer on the en face image in the right eye.

Accuracy of ultrasound vs. Fourier-domain optic biometry for measuring preoperative axial length in cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To identify a method for accurately measuring preoperative axial length (AL) in cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: This retrospective study included 83 eyes of 83 patients who underwent vitrectomy for RRD and had both preoperative and postoperative data for AL.

The BEETS (JACCRO CC-18) trial: an observational and translational study of -mutated metastatic colorectal cancer.

For V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the BEACON phase 3 trial showed survival benefit of triplet therapy with cetuximab (anti-EGFR antibody), encorafenib (BRAF inhibitor) and binimetinib (MEK inhibitor) as well as doublet therapy with cetuximab and encorafenib over irinotecan-based chemotherapy plus anti-EGFR antibody. Both regimens are standards of care in Japan, but definite biomarkers for predicting efficacy and selecting treatment remain lacking. The mechanisms underlying resistance to these regimens also warrant urgent exploration to further evolve treatment.

Epiretinal Membrane Impairs the Inner Retinal Layer in a Traction Force-Dependent Manner.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between retinal traction force and impairment of the inner retinal layer in patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Design: Nonrandomized, retrospective consecutive case series.

Participants: Two hundred nine eyes of 201 patients with idiopathic ERM who underwent vitrectomy for idiopathic ERM were enrolled.

Quantitative Analyses of Retinal Traction Force and Metamorphopsia in Lamellar Macular Hole and Related Diseases.

Purpose: To investigate the involvement of retinal traction in the pathogenesis of lamellar macular hole (LMH) and related diseases based on OCT-based consensus definition.

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Participants: Seventy-two eyes with LMH, epiretinal membrane foveoschisis (ERM-FS), or macular pseudohole (MPH).

A factor for predicting simultaneous internal limiting membrane peeling during epiretinal membrane removal: swept-source optical coherence tomography-based evaluation of epiretinal membrane adhesion to the retina.

Purpose: To investigate preoperative factors associated with simultaneous internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal.

Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 60 eyes with idiopathic ERM that underwent vitrectomy.

A nationwide survey of newly certified visually impaired individuals in Japan for the fiscal year 2019: impact of the revision of criteria for visual impairment certification.

Purpose: To determine the status of visual impairment certification in Japan in the fiscal year 2019 and the impact of revising the criteria for visual impairment certification implemented in 2018.

Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Methods: We requested welfare offices throughout Japan to submit data of age, sex, causative diseases, and visual impairment grades for newly certified visually impaired individuals aged ≥ 18 years during the fiscal year 2019.

Soluble programmed cell death ligand 1 predicts prognosis for gastric cancer patients treated with nivolumab: Blood-based biomarker analysis for the DELIVER trial.

Background: The clinical value of soluble forms of programmed cell death-1 (sPD-1), PD ligand 1 (sPD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (sCTLA-4) for gastric cancer (GC) patients treated with nivolumab monotherapy has remained unknown.

Methods: Blood samples collected before nivolumab treatment from 439 GC patients enrolled in the DELIVER (Japan Clinical Cancer Research Organisation GC-08) trial were analysed for sPD-1, sPD-L1 and sCTLA-4. Corresponding baseline clinical data were also retrieved.

IMPACT OF MACULAR INTRARETINAL HEMORRHAGE AND MACULAR HOLE ON THE VISUAL PROGNOSIS OF SUBMACULAR HEMORRHAGE DUE TO RETINAL ARTERIAL MACROANEURYSM RUPTURE.

Purpose: To compare the effects of macular intraretinal hemorrhage (IRH) and macular hole (MH) on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after displacement of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) due to retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM) rupture.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 48 eyes with SMH due to RAM rupture. Cases underwent vitrectomy to displace SMH and were followed up for 6 months.

Polydactyly-derived allogeneic chondrocyte cell-sheet transplantation with high tibial osteotomy as regenerative therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

Allogeneic cell therapies are not fully effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). We recently reported that transplantation of autologous chondrocyte cell-sheets along with open-wedge high tibial osteotomy promoted hyaline cartilage repair in humans. Here we describe our regenerative therapy for OAK using polydactyly-derived allogeneic chondrocyte cell-sheets (PD sheets) and temperature-responsive culture inserts.

MicroRNAs secreted by human preimplantation embryos and IVF outcome.

Objective: To generate an effective embryo prediction model and identify a non-invasive evaluation method by analyzing microRNAs (miRNAs) in embryo culture medium.

Design: Analysis of microRNA profiles from spent culture medium of blastocysts with good morphology that did or did not result in pregnancy.

Setting: Clinical and experimental research.

A Prospective Validation Study of Lung Cancer Gene Panel Testing Using Cytological Specimens.

Genetic panel tests require sufficient tissue samples, and therefore, cannot always be performed. Although collecting cytological specimens is easier than tissue collection, there are no validation studies on the diagnostic accuracy of lung cancer gene panel tests using cytology samples. Using an amplicon-based high-sensitivity next-generation sequencing panel test capable of measuring eight druggable genes, we prospectively enrolled consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic procedures.

Inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) enhances the antitumor T cell response through regulating β-catenin signaling in cancer cells and ER stress in T cells and synergizes with anti-PD-1 antibody.

Background: Understanding the mechanisms of non-T cell inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) and their modulation are important to improve cancer immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. The involvement of various immunometabolisms has recently been indicated in the formation of immunosuppressive TME. In this study, we investigated the immunological roles of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), which is essential for fatty acid metabolism, in the cancer immune response.