3D-printed devices for multiplexed semi-quantitative competitive lateral flow immunoassays.

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are widely used for the simple and rapid detection of various targets at the point of need. However, LFIAs enabling the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes and the possibility for naked-eye semi-quantitative analysis are facing various challenges, including the requirement of large sample volumes, low efficiency, and accuracy. This is particularly the case for the competitive immunoassay format targeting the detection of low molecular weight compounds, such as, for example, drugs.

Epigenetic Modification of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Background/aim: The five members of the mammalian muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family are encoded by the cholinergic receptor, muscarinic, 1-5 (CHRM1-5) genes. CHRM genes are incriminated in formation of various cancer types, but their roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are improperly understood. Aberrant epigenetic modifications of specific tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes are known to promote cancer development.

A simple method for estimating time-irreversible nucleotide substitution rates in the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the current worldwide pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome. The change of nucleotide composition of the SARS-CoV-2 genome is crucial for understanding the spread and transmission dynamics of the virus because viral nucleotide sequences are essential in identifying viral strains. Recent studies have shown that cytosine (C) to uracil (U) substitutions are overrepresented in SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences.

Combinational CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors: Requisites, rationales, and trials.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has achieved potent antitumor efficacy in hematological malignancies; however, because of limitations in CAR T-cell recruitment, infiltration, activation, and functional persistence in the tumor, its efficacy in solid tumors has been suboptimal. To overcome these challenges, combinational strategies that include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immune checkpoint inhibitor agent therapy with CAR T-cell therapy are being investigated. The established functional characteristics of the abovementioned therapies provide a rationale for the use of a combinational approach with CAR T cells.

Long-term quality of life after open and laparoscopic total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer: A prospective multi-institutional study (CCOG1504).

Background: Little information is available from prospective clinical trials on the influences of surgical approaches on postoperative quality of life (QOL). We aimed to prospectively compare chronological changes in postoperative body weight and QOL between laparoscopic and open total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective study (CCOG1504) of patients who undergo laparoscopic or open total gastrectomy.

Biallelic missense CEP55 variants cause prenatal MARCH syndrome.

CEP55 encodes centrosomal protein 55 kDa, which plays a crucial role in mitosis, particularly cytokinesis. Biallelic CEP55 variants cause MARCH syndrome (multinucleated neurons, anhydramnios, renal dysplasia, cerebellar hypoplasia and hydranencephaly). Here, we describe a Japanese family with two affected siblings harboring novel compound heterozygous CEP55 variants, NM_001127182: c.

Modulation and real-time monitoring of the carrier-envelope phase of terahertz pulses based on shaping of near-infrared femtosecond pulses.

We propose a novel, to our knowledge, method for modulating and real-time monitoring of the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of terahertz (THz) pulses. CEP is an essential parameter in the interaction of THz waves with matter due to the difference in temporal symmetry when the carrier is extended for several cycles. CEP can be continuously modulated at full range with high speed by oscillating the optical path length of the Michelson interferometer under 1 µm, as confirmed by electro-optic (EO) sampling.

Skeleton-guided 3D convolutional neural network for tubular structure segmentation.

Purpose: Accurate segmentation of tubular structures is crucial for clinical diagnosis and treatment but is challenging due to their complex branching structures and volume imbalance. The purpose of this study is to propose a 3D deep learning network that incorporates skeleton information to enhance segmentation accuracy in these tubular structures.

Methods: Our approach employs a 3D convolutional network to extract 3D tubular structures from medical images such as CT volumetric images.

Durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: a retrospective real-world study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor plus platinum-etoposide (PE) improved overall survival (OS) in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). While the CASPIAN trial demonstrated the efficacy of durvalumab plus PE, the clinical trial results may not be representative of the general, real-world population because clinical trials often have strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. We herein report the efficacy and safety of durvalumab plus PE in patients with ES-SCLC in real-world, clinical practice.

Complex chromosomal 6q rearrangements revealed by combined long-molecule genomics technologies.

Technologies for detecting structural variation (SV) have advanced with the advent of long-read sequencing, which enables the validation of SV at a nucleotide level. Optical genome mapping (OGM), a technology based on physical mapping, can also provide comprehensive SVs analysis. We applied long-read whole genome sequencing (LRWGS) to accurately reconstruct breakpoint (BP) segments in a patient with complex chromosome 6q rearrangements that remained elusive by conventional karyotyping.

Supplementation with cassis polyphenol has no effect on menopausal symptoms in healthy middle-aged women: A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial.

Hormonal changes during the menopause transition may lead to vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes (HFs) and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and irritability. We hypothesized that the effects of cassis polyphenol (CaP) to improve microcirculation and vasorelaxation may alleviate menopausal symptoms. We performed a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial involving 59 healthy women (mean [standard deviation] age, 51.

Cytomorphological features of sebaceous carcinoma of the breast.

Sebaceous carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare histological subtype of breast cancer, with fewer than 30 cases reported to date. Because of its extremely rare histological presentation, there are few case reports that highlight its cytological findings. In this case report, the cytomorphological features of a sebaceous carcinoma of the breast are described in detail.

Enhancer infestation drives tumorigenic activation of inactive B compartment in Epstein-Barr virus-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignant epithelial tumor endemic to Southern China and Southeast Asia. While previous studies have revealed a low frequency of gene mutations in NPC, its epigenomic aberrations are not fully elucidated apart from DNA hypermethylation. Epigenomic rewiring and enhancer dysregulation, such as enhancer hijacking due to genomic structural changes or extrachromosomal DNA, drive cancer progression.

A multi-institutional prospective observational study to compare postoperative quality of life of patients who undergo total or proximal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer (CCOG1602).

Background: Proximal gastrectomy (PG) has become an increasingly preferred procedure for treating early cancer in the upper third of the stomach. However, advantages of PG in postoperative quality of life (QOL) over total gastrectomy (TG) has not fully proven.

Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective observational study (CCOG1602) of patients who undergo TG or PG for cStage I gastric cancer.

Novel Repair Technique for Oral and Anal Side Stoma Prolapse of a Loop Colostomy With the Stapled Modified Altemeier Method Using Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging.

Background/aim: Stoma prolapse is a common complication in the late phase after stoma creation. With advances in chemotherapy, a double-orifice colostomy or ileostomy and chemotherapy are used to treat primary unresectable colorectal cancer. Preoperative therapy with a double-orifice colostomy or ileostomy is performed to aid primary colorectal cancer miniaturization.

Novel compound heterozygous ABCA2 variants cause IDPOGSA, a variable phenotypic syndrome with intellectual disability.

The gene for ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 2 (ABCA2) is located at chromosome 9q34.3. Biallelic ABCA2 variants lead to intellectual developmental disorder with poor growth and with or without seizures or ataxia (IDPOGSA).

Detection of hidden intronic DDC variant in aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency by adaptive sampling.

Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is an autosomal recessive neurotransmitter disorder caused by pathogenic DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) variants. We previously reported Japanese siblings with AADC deficiency, which was confirmed by the lack of enzyme activity; however, only a heterozygous missense variant was detected. We therefore performed targeted long-read sequencing by adaptive sampling to identify any missing variants.

Pan-cancer assessment of antineoplastic therapy-induced interstitial lung disease in patients receiving subsequent therapy immediately following immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

Background: Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DIILD) is a serious adverse event potentially induced by any antineoplastic agent. Whether cancer patients are predisposed to a higher risk of DIILD after receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is unknown.

Methods: This study retrospectively assessed the cumulative incidence of DIILD in consecutive cancer patients who received post-ICI antineoplastic treatment within 6 months from the final dose of ICIs.