Membrane progesterone receptor e (paqr9) is necessary for chorion elevation in zebrafish.

Paqr9 is a gene encoding membrane progestin receptor e (mPRe), the fifth subtype of the five mPR subtypes, and is currently classified a member of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family, which consists of 11 genes. To elucidate the physiological functions of the mPR subtypes, we established gene knockout (KO) fish via genome editing of seven paqr genes in zebrafish and analyzed their phenotypes. The null-mutant strain of paqr9 (paqr9) that we established in this study presented reduced chorion elevation and a high percentage of abnormal embryos.

Successful embolization with subsequent pancreaticoduodenectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm hemorrhage: a case report and review of literature.

Although various complications associated with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms have been reported, including acute pancreatitis, duct perforation, and fistula formation, spontaneous bleeding, especially life-threatening bleeding, is infrequent. In this case, emergency pancreatic resection might be one of the therapeutic options, which is associated with poor postoperative outcomes. An 87-year-old woman presented to our hospital with severe anemia (hemoglobin, 4.

No-touch isolation technique in emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy for neoplastic hemorrhage: Two case reports and review of literature.

Background: Emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy (EPD) is a rare event for complex periampullary etiology. Increased intraoperative blood loss is correlated with poor postoperative outcomes.

Case Summary: Two patients underwent EPD using a no-touch isolation technique, in which all arteries supplying the pancreatic head region were ligated and divided before manipulation of the pancreatic head and duodenum.

Pax7 is involved in leucophore formation in goldfish and gene knockout improves the transparency of transparent goldfish.

Lines with few or no pigment cells have been established in fishes, and these lines are useful for bioimaging. The transparent goldfish (tra) line previously established by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis is also suitable for such experiments. However, in the case of tra, leucophores form in the adult fish, making it difficult to observe the organs inside body from outside the body.

Zebrafish prss59.1 is involved in chorion development.

The prss59.1 gene was identified as one of 11 genes that were highly upregulated during the induction of ovulation in zebrafish by using an in vivo ovulation assay. Previously, we conducted biochemical characterization of Prss59.

Influence of Cu induced crystallographic disorder on the optical and lattice vibrational properties of ZnO nanoparticles.

In this study, the vibrational and optical responses of 0-10% excess Cu incorporated ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by the low temperature (∼400 °C) wet chemical route were investigated experimentally and were found to be predominantly linked to the formation of both intrinsic and Cu induced crystallographic defects instead of substitutional Cu itself for the first time. For low temperature chemical synthesis, the effective band gap () of pristine ZnO NPs was found to be as low as 2.84 eV, which was followed by a further reduction by as high as ∼24.

Relapse rate and predictors of relapse after cessation of glucocorticoid maintenance therapy in type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis responds well to glucocorticoid therapy with a high remission rate. Moreover, glucocorticoid maintenance therapy can help prevent relapse. However, the relapse rate following cessation of long-term glucocorticoid therapy is unknown.

Diagnostic Ability and Safety of Repeated Pancreatic Juice Cytology Using an Endoscopic Nasopancreatic Drainage Catheter for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Pathological examination is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Moreover, a reliable pathological diagnosis is extremely important for improving prognosis, especially in early-stage PDAC. This study prospectively evaluated the usefulness of repeated pancreatic juice cytology (PJC) using an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage (ENPD) catheter for the diagnosis of PDAC.

Duodenal diverticula perforation caused by an impacted bezoar successfully treated by endoscopic drainage and lithotripsy: A case report and literature review.

Duodenal diverticula perforation due to an impacted bezoar is a rare disease. Surgical treatment is associated with high rates of complications and mortality; therefore, treatment strategies must be carefully decided. Endoscopic treatment offers significant benefits to patients over surgery.

Changes in serum transforming growth factor-beta concentration as a predictive factor for radiation-induced lung injury onset in radiotherapy-treated patients with locally advanced lung cancer.

Background: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) occurs after chest radiation therapy, which ranges from acute radiation pneumonia to subsequent radiation pulmonary fibrosis. However, they are difficult to predict. The study aimed to examine the predictive utility of serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) for radiation-induced lung injury.

Efficient passivation of n-type and p-type silicon surface defects by hydrogen sulfide gas reaction.

An efficient surface defect passivation is observed by reacting clean Si in a dilute hydrogen sulfide-argon gas mixture (<5% HS in Ar) for both n-type and p-type Si wafers with planar and textured surfaces. Surface recombination velocities of 1.5 and 8 cm sare achieved on n-type and p-type Si wafers, respectively, at an optimum reaction temperature of 550 °C that are comparable to the best surface passivation quality used in high efficiency Si solar cells.

Improvement in multipass Thomson scattering system comprising laser amplification system developed in GAMMA 10/PDX.

The multipass Thomson scattering (MPTS) technique is one of the most useful methods for measuring low-electron-density plasmas. The MPTS system increases Thomson scattering (TS) signal intensities by integrating all multipass (MP) signals and improving the TS time resolution by analyzing each pass signal. The fully coaxial MPTS system developed in GAMMA 10/potential-control and diverter-simulator experiments has a polarization-based configuration with image-relaying optics.

Clinical Analysis of Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer and Proposal for a New Diagnostic Algorithm: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenging but essential for improving its poor prognosis. We established a multicenter study to clarify the clinicopathological features, and to propose new algorithm for early diagnosis of PDAC. Ninety-six patients with stage 0 and IA PDAC were enrolled from 13 high-volume centers.

Prognostic factors in older patients with wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Over 40% Japanese patients with lung cancer are above 75 years of age. A specific strategy to treat such older patients is necessary because most trials exclude older patients with poor physical health. Herein, we aimed to identify predictive factors associated with overall survival (OS) in older patients by evaluating patient backgrounds and laboratory data before the start of treatment.

Education Program for Male Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease to Change Dietary Behavior.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) need to maintain proper eating behavior in order to maintain muscle mass and prevent weight loss. In this study, we measured the effects of a support program on patient attitude, social influences, and self-efficacy and aimed to positively change their dietary behavior. We recruited male patients from two Japanese outpatient clinics and assigned each to an intervention or a control group.

Serum immune modulators during the first cycle of anti-PD-1 antibody therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: Perforin as a biomarker.

Background: Currently used biomarkers for immunotherapy are inadequate because they are only based on tumor properties. In view of microenvironment changes by tumors, host immunity should be considered, which may result in identifying more accurate and easily detectable biomarkers for daily clinical practice. Here, we assessed serum immune-modulating factor levels for the response to anti-PD-1 antibodies during the first cycle in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Radical Hydroalkylation and Hydroacylation of Alkenes by the Use of Benzothiazoline under Thermal Conditions.

The hydroalkylation and hydroacylation of electron-deficient alkenes proceeded smoothly by using benzothiazoline derivatives as radical-transfer reagents under thermal conditions without light irradiation or any additive. Both benzyl and benzoyl moieties were transferred efficiently.

The Quality of Life of Patients with Suspected Lung Cancer before and after Bronchoscopy and the Effect of Mirtazapine on the Depressive Status.

Objective Patients with suspected lung cancer often experience adverse side effects such as anxiety, depression, and a decreased appetite. These side effects influence the patients' quality of life and their ability to make decisions concerning appropriate treatment. This study examined the psychological status and quality of life of patients with suspected lung cancer before and after bronchoscopy treatment and evaluated the effect of mirtazapine prescribed to patients with depression.

Benzothiazolines as radical transfer reagents: hydroalkylation and hydroacylation of alkenes by radical generation under photoirradiation conditions.

Novel radical transfer reagents under photoirradiation conditions were developed by the use of benzothiazoline derivatives. These reagents enabled both hydroalkylation and hydroacylation of alkenes under neutral conditions at ambient temperature without any toxic reagents or an excess amount of metals. A mechanistic study was carried out to elucidate the radical process.

Effect of drugs containing glucose on FDG-PET image quality.

Objective: Patients often take prescription drugs for various diseases or complications that contain several grams of glucose. However, the effect of these glucose-containing medications on the image quality of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has not been established. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of taking drugs containing glucose before an FDG-PET on the PET image quality.

A randomized phase II study of nutritional and exercise treatment for elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung or pancreatic cancer: the NEXTAC-TWO study protocol.

Background: Most advanced elderly cancer patients experience fatigue, anorexia, and declining physical function due to cancer cachexia, for which effective interventions have not been established. We performed a phase I study of a new nonpharmacological multimodal intervention called the nutritional and exercise treatment for advanced cancer (NEXTAC) program and reported the excellent feasibility of and compliance with this program in elderly patients with advanced cancer who were at risk for cancer cachexia. We report here the background, hypothesis, and design of the next-step multicenter, randomized phase II study to evaluate the efficacy of the program, the NEXTAC-TWO study.

Osimertinib in Elderly Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor T790M-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Who Progressed During Prior Treatment: A Phase II Trial.

Lessons Learned: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents 85% of lung cancer in elderly patients.In the present study performed in the 36 elderly subjects with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation-positive NSCLC, osimertinib 80 mg demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the objective response rate, which was comparable to those in the nonelderly population.Osimertinib appears to be an effective and safe treatment option in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutation; further research in larger scale is warranted.