Significance of REV7 Expression in p16-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: REV7 is a multifunctional protein involved in various biological processes, including DNA damage response. REV7 expression in human cancer cells influences sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, and its high expression level is reportedly associated with a poor prognosis in many carcinomas. However, the significance of REV7 expression in human papillomavirus 16-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) remains unclear.

Left Atrial Thrombus after Transcatheter Mitral Edge-to-Edge Repair in a Patient with Left Appendage Occlusion.

A 67-year-old man with a history of heart failure (HF) secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) developed worsening HF secondary to severe functional mitral regurgitation. Consequently, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) was performed. Despite successful TEER, a large thrombus in the left atrium (LA) was unexpectedly discovered on postoperative day 3.

Suppression of the TGF-β signaling exacerbates degeneration of auditory neurons in kanamycin-induced ototoxicity in mice.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays a significant role in multiple biological processes, including inflammation, immunity, and cell death. However, its specific impact on the cochlea remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of TGF-β signaling suppression on auditory function and cochlear pathology in mice with kanamycin-induced ototoxicity.

Safety and feasibility of a novel total percutaneous post-closure technique after bedside Impella decannulation in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Objectives: The Impella (Abiomed) is a widely used percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with cardiogenic shock. This study aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of a non-angio-guided post-closure approach using the Perclose ProGlide (Abbott) to decannulate the Impella in the intensive care unit.

Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients who were successfully weaned from mechanical circulatory support using the Impella device between April 2019 and April 2022 at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine.

Association of Malnutrition and High Bleeding Risk with Long-Term Prognosis in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Malnutrition in cardiovascular disease is associated with poor prognosis, especially in patients with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). High bleeding risk is also linked to coronary artery disease prognosis, including ACS. However, whether the extent of malnutrition and high bleeding risk have a cumulative impact on the long-term prognosis of patients with ACS who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention remains unclear.

Brain-Specific Angiogenesis Inhibitor 3 Is Expressed in the Cochlea and Is Necessary for Hearing Function in Mice.

Mammalian auditory hair cells transduce sound-evoked traveling waves in the cochlea into nerve stimuli, which are essential for hearing function. Pillar cells located between the inner and outer hair cells are involved in the formation of the tunnel of Corti, which incorporates outer-hair-cell-driven fluid oscillation and basilar membrane movement, leading to the fine-tuned frequency-specific perception of sounds by the inner hair cells. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underlying the development and maintenance of pillar cells remains to be elucidated.

Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins Trigger Hepatocellular Oxidative Stress with the Formation of Cholesteryl Ester Hydroperoxide-Enriched Lipid Droplets.

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) induce oxidative stress in the liver tissue, leading to hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Precise information on the role of oxLDL in this process is needed to establish strategies for the prevention and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Here, we report the effects of native LDL (nLDL) and oxLDL on lipid metabolism, lipid droplet formation, and gene expression in a human liver-derived C3A cell line.

[Efficacy of L-shaped Shielding in Interventional Radiology by Transradial Approach and Consideration of Methods for Appropriate Use].

The present study investigated how effective an L-shaped shield was, depending on its position, in reducing a doctor's exposure to radiation during catheterization to access the transradial approach (TRA). The shield's effectiveness was evaluated by measuring the air kerma where the doctor stood under four conditions: with and without the shield, and with and without the shield in conjunction with conventional protection. To enable the shield to be positioned correctly in clinical practice, an illustrated instruction decal affixable to the shield's doctor-facing surface was produced, and the effectiveness of the decal was verified by means of a crossover test in which, as subjects of the study, different nurses set up the shield with and without the decal affixed to it.

Association of an Increased Abnormal Mitochondria Ratio in Cardiomyocytes with a Prolonged Oxygen Uptake Time Constant during Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing of Patients with Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective The cardiac function, blood distribution, and oxygen extraction in the muscles as well as the pulmonary function determine the oxygen uptake (VO) kinetics at the onset of exercise. This factor is called the VO time constant, and its prolongation is associated with an unfavorable prognosis for heart failure (HF). The mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle is known to reflect exercise tolerance.

Dietitian-supported dietary intervention leads to favorable dietary changes in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

Aims/introduction: It remains to be fully elucidated whether nutrition education by dietitians can lead to specific positive changes in the food choices of patients with diabetes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 96 patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease were randomly assigned to the intensive intervention group that received nutritional education at every outpatient visit and the control group that received nutritional education once a year. The total energy intake, energy-providing nutrients and 18 food groups were analyzed at baseline, and 1 and 2 years after the intervention in 87 patients.

Individualised left anterior oblique projection for lead implantation into interventricular septum.

Objective: We sought to investigate whether it is possible to obtain individualised left anterior oblique (LAO) by preprocedural electrocardiographic parameters and, if so, whether these parameters can help to improve the success rate of right ventricular (RV) lead implantation into the interventricular septum.

Methods: In this observational study, we assessed the relationship between preoperative electrocardiographic parameters and the angle of the interventricular septum obtained using thoracic CT. The participants were divided into two groups: a retrospective derivation cohort to derive the optimal formula for the individual septum axis, and a prospective internal validation cohort to which we applied the optimal formula and implanted using the new method.

Safety of a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device Implantation in a Patient with Unstable Heart Failure Who Require Impella-Device Assistance.

Implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device is usually scheduled in the compensated phase of heart failure; however, procedural safety may be sometimes disturbed in the decompensated phase. We report a case of a successful semi-urgent implantation of a CRT device temporary assisted with Impella in a patient with the decompensated phase of severe heart failure dependent on inotropic agents and who cannot maintain the supine position. Impella assistance with left ventricular (LV) unloading and maintenance of end-organ perfusion contributed to early recovery from acute heart failure.

The Significance of CD109 Expression in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Up-regulation of CD109 occurs in malignant tumours, although its role is unknown. Here we aimed to evaluate the significance of CD109 expression in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Patients And Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess CD109 expression in 169 patients with OPSCC.

Case Report: Structural Changes in the Coronary Vessel Wall in a Patient With Incomplete Kawasaki Disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis of infants and young children that affects medium-sized vessels. Conventional cardiac imaging techniques, such as cardiac catheterization, are useful for characterizing the coronary arterial lesion (CAL) size and luminal diameter of the diseased coronary artery segment in patients with KD, but there are limitations to the visualization of the detailed vascular anatomy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution intracoronary arterial imaging modality that can distinguish the three layers of the coronary arterial wall.

Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway suppresses tracheal stenosis in a novel mouse model.

Tracheal stenosis is a refractory and recurrent disease induced by excessive cell proliferation within the restricted tracheal space. We investigated the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which mediates a broad range of intracellular signal transduction processes in tracheal stenosis and the therapeutic effect of the MEK inhibitor which is the upstream kinase of ERK. We histologically analyzed cauterized tracheas to evaluate stenosis using a tracheal stenosis mouse model.

Association between plasma xanthine oxidoreductase activity and in-hospital outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: Reactive oxygen species generated by xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) are associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. However, changes in plasma XOR (pXOR) activity after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unknown.

Methods: Herein, we compared the change in the pXOR activity in patients undergoing PCI with that in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) and further evaluated the relation between changes in pXOR activity and in-hospital and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing PCI.

Accurate assessment of coronary blood flow by continuous thermodilution technique: Validation in a swine model.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of coronary thermodilution measurements made with the RayFlow® infusion catheter.

Background: Measurements of absolute coronary blood flow (ABF) and absolute microvascular resistance (R ) by continuous coronary thermodilution can be obtained in humans but their accuracy using a novel dedicated infusion catheter has not yet been validated. We compared ABF values obtained at different infusion rates to coronary blood flow (CBF) values obtained using flow probes, in swine.

Decreasing auditory input induces neurogenesis impairment in the hippocampus.

Hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and dementia risk. Sensorineural hearing loss suppresses hippocampal neurogenesis, resulting in cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanism of impaired neurogenesis and the role of microglial activation and stress responses related to hearing loss in the hippocampus remains unknown.

Transient Conductive Hearing Loss Regulates Cross-Modal VGLUT Expression in the Cochlear Nucleus of C57BL/6 Mice.

Auditory nerve fibers synapse onto the cochlear nucleus (CN) and are labeled using the vesicular glutamate transporter-1 (VGLUT-1), whereas non-auditory inputs are labeled using the VGLUT-2. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of VGLUT expression in the CN remains unknown. We examined whether a sound level decrease, without primary neural damage, induces cellular and VGLUT expression change in the CN, and examined the potential for neural plasticity of the CN using unilateral conductive hearing loss models.

Activity-Dependent Neurodegeneration and Neuroplasticity of Auditory Neurons Following Conductive Hearing Loss in Adult Mice.

We examined the functional and structural changes of auditory neurons (ANs) in adult mice after conductive hearing loss (CHL). Earplugs (EPs) were bilaterally inserted in male 8-week-old mice for 4 weeks [EP(+) group] and subsequently removed for 4 weeks [EP(+/-) group]. We examined the control mice [EP(-) group] with no EPs inserted at 12 weeks.

Comparison of Side-Branch Dilation Techniques After Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold Implantation: A Bench Study.

Background: The resorbable magnesium scaffold (RMS) has demonstrated a good safety profile to treat de novo lesions. Nevertheless, bifurcation lesions involving a side branch (SB) >2.0 mm in diameter were excluded from these studies, and such lesions remain technically challenging due to concerns of scaffold deformation or fracture.