Femoral bone metastasis is a poor prognostic factor in EGFR-TKIs-treated patients with -mutated non-small-cell lung cancer: a retrospective, multicenter cohort study.

Background: ()-mutant non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) have higher frequencies of bone metastases than those of wild type; however, the metastatic pattern and influence on clinical outcome remain unclear.

Objectives: To analyze the association between bone metastatic sites and the clinical efficacy of the first-, second-, and third-generation EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), in these patients.

Design: Retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Impact of CT-angiography derived plaque characteristics on cardiac events in patients with a negative invasive fractional flow reserve.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) improves outcomes compared with angiography-guided PCI, however cardiac events still occur during long-term follow-up of FFR-negative patients. In the PREVENT study preventive PCI reduced cardiac-events in lesions which were FFR-negative (FFR > 0.80) and had intracoronary imaging defined vulnerable plaque.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Enables In vivo Quantification of PD-L1 Expression and Inter-tumoral Heterogeneity.

Patient selection for cancer immunotherapy requires precise, quantitative readouts of biomarker expression in intact tumors that can be reliably compared across multiple subjects over time. The current clinical standard biomarker for assessing immunotherapy response is programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression, typically quantified using immunohistochemistry. This method, however, only provides snapshots of PD-L1 expression status in microscopic regions of ex vivo specimens.

Combination CXCR4 and PD1 blockade enhances intratumoral dendritic cell activation and immune responses against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but their impressive efficacy is seen in just a fraction of patients. One key mechanism of immunotherapy resistance is the paucity of dendritic cells (DCs) in liver malignancies. Here, we tested combination blockade of programmed death receptor 1 (PD1) and CXCR4, a receptor for CXCL12, a pleiotropic factor that mediates immunosuppression in tumors.

Cryo-electron tomographic investigation of native hippocampal glutamatergic synapses.

Chemical synapses are the major sites of communication between neurons in the nervous system and mediate either excitatory or inhibitory signaling. At excitatory synapses, glutamate is the primary neurotransmitter and upon release from presynaptic vesicles, is detected by postsynaptic glutamate receptors, which include ionotropic AMPA and NMDA receptors. Here, we have developed methods to identify glutamatergic synapses in brain tissue slices, label AMPA receptors with small gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and prepare lamella for cryo-electron tomography studies.

A Simple Regeneration Process Using a CO-Switchable-Polarity Solvent for Cellulose Hydrogels.

Cellulose is one of the main components of plant cell walls, abundant on earth, and can be acquired at a low cost. Furthermore, there has been increasing interest in its use in environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral, sustainable materials. It is expected that the applications of cellulose will expand with the development of a simple processing method.

Secular change in seaweed species composition and coverage of Sargassaceae on the artificial reef in Wakasa Bay, Japan.

The threat of declining seaweed beds has been a concern around the world. Seagrass and seaweed (brown algae) beds are essential habitats supporting fisheries. However, approximately 22% of these habitats have been lost in Japan due to increased coastal landfill sites and ports.

Usefulness of an ultrathin endoscope in esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is sometimes challenging because of stenosis and scarring. We examined the use of an ultrathin endoscope for esophageal ESD, which is difficult using conventional endoscopes. A designated transparent hood and ESD knife for ultrathin endoscopes have been developed and clinically introduced.

Active surveillance vs. surgery in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients and the risk of loss to follow-up.

Background: Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) management has evolved, with active surveillance (AS) gaining prominence as a management option. However, a key concern for both clinicians and patients is the potential for patient loss to follow-up during AS.

Aims: This study aimed to determine adherence and loss-to-follow-up rates in low-risk PTMC patients undergoing AS versus surgical intervention, in order to gain insights into clinical pathways and safety profiles.

Distinct clinicopathological features of neuroendocrine liver metastases originating from the pancreas and rectum.

Introduction: Survival comparisons among patients with liver metastases from pancreatic and rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) were limited, and the efficacy of observation rules in patients undergoing hepatectomy for neuroendocrine liver metastases (NELMs) was unknown. This study aims to distinguish these characteristics and clarify the effects of the observation rules on NELMs.

Methods: Clinical data were separately collected from patients with pancreatic and rectal NELMs at medical centers in both Japan and China.

Iminium ion metabolites are formed from nintedanib by human CYP3A4.

Nintedanib is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, interstitial lung disease, and progressive fibrotic interstitial lung disease. It is primarily cleared via hepatic metabolism, hydrolysis, and glucuronidation. In addition, formation of the iminium ion, a possible reactive metabolite, was predicted based on the chemical structure of nintedanib.

Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast: The Possibility to Omit Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.

Background/aim: Tubular breast carcinoma, classified as a special type of invasive cancer, has a good prognosis. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of 32 tubular carcinoma cases enrolled at our institution, with a focus on exploring the potential for treatment de-escalation.

Patients And Methods: The study included all patients diagnosed with tubular breast carcinoma at our hospital between January 2005 and December 2021.

Clinicopathological Features of Early Gastric Cancer Complicated by Autoimmune Gastritis.

Introduction: In the post-Helicobacter pylori era, autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is attracting increasing attention as an origin of gastric cancer. Here, we performed clinicopathological examination of gastric cancer complicating AIG treated in our hospital.

Methods: Eighty-six early gastric cancer lesions complicating AIG in 50 patients were treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) at our hospital in 2008-2022.

Differences in the characteristics and functions of brain and spinal cord regulatory T cells.

T cells play an important role in the acquired immune response, with regulatory T cells (Tregs) serving as key players in immune tolerance. Tregs are found in nonlymphoid and damaged tissues and are referred to as "tissue Tregs". They have tissue-specific characteristics and contribute to immunomodulation, homeostasis, and tissue repair through interactions with tissue cells.

Traction Devices May Not Affect the Vertical Margin Distance in the Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Introduction The usefulness of traction devices (TDs) in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of using a TD on the vertical margin (VM) distance in the ESD of rectal NETs. Methods In this single-center, retrospective study, we included patients with rectal NETs who were treated with ESD during 2013-2023.

Oral Administration of Apple Pectin Solution Improves Atopic Dermatitis in a Mouse Model.

The development of atopic dermatitis (AD) involves multiple factors. Three such factors are particularly important in AD onset: immune abnormalities, skin barrier dysfunction, and itching. Many studies report that an imbalance between helper T (Th)1 and Th2 cells causes AD.

Reprogramming the Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Immune Microenvironment by Chemotherapy and CTLA-4 Blockade Enhances Anti-PD-1 Therapy.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has limited therapeutic options and a dismal prognosis. Adding blockade of the anti-programmed cell death protein (PD)-1 pathway to gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy has recently shown efficacy in biliary tract cancers but with low response rates. Here, we studied the effects of anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4 when combined with anti-PD-1 and gemcitabine/cisplatin in orthotopic murine models of ICC.

The radiopharmaceutical radium-223 has immunomodulatory effects in patients and facilitates anti-programmed death receptor-1 therapy in murine models of bone metastatic prostate cancer.

Background & Purpose: Radium-223 (Ra223) improves survival in metastatic prostate cancer (mPC), but its impact on systemic immunity is unclear, and biomarkers of response are lacking. We examined markers of immunomodulatory activity during standard clinical Ra223 and studied the impact of Ra223 on response to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) in preclinical models.

Materials & Methods: We conducted a single-arm biomarker study of Ra223 in 22 bone mPC patients.

Impact of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Identified by Citrullinated Histone H3 Immunohistochemistry for Postoperative Prognosis in Patients with Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinomas.

Background: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are extracellular chromatin structures composed of cytoplasmic, granular, and nuclear components of neutrophils. Recently, NETs have received much attention for their role in tumor biology; however, their impact on the postoperative prognosis of patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (EHCCs) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the impact of NETs identified by immunohistochemical citrullinated histone H3 (Cit-H3) staining on postoperative overall survival (OS) in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) and distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC).