Metataxonomic Analysis of the Uterine Microbiota Associated with Low Fertility in Dairy Cows Using Endometrial Tissues Prior to First Artificial Insemination.

The deterioration in reproductive performance in association with low fertility leads to significant economic losses on dairy farms. The uterine microbiota has begun to attract attention as a possible cause of unexplained low fertility. We analyzed the uterine microbiota associated with fertility by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in dairy cows.

Exceptional Response of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma and Bile Duct Cancer to Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in a Family With a Germline BRCA2 Variant.

Pancreatic cancer and its rare subtype, acinar cell carcinoma (PACC), frequently harbor germline and/or somatic variants in homologous recombinant genes, including BRCA2. Individuals possessing germline pathogenic BRCA2 variants are known to have a higher risk of developing various cancers, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and bile duct cancers (BDCs). It has been reported that tumors positive for BRCA1/2 variants are sensitive to platinum-based agents.

Comprehensive circulating microRNA profile as a supersensitive biomarker for early-stage lung cancer screening.

Purpose:  Less-invasive early diagnosis of lung cancer is essential for improving patient survival rates. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that serum comprehensive miRNA profile is high sensitive biomarker to early-stage lung cancer in direct comparison to the conventional blood biomarker using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology combined with automated machine learning (AutoML).

Methods: We first evaluated the reproducibility of our measurement system using Pearson's correlation coefficients between samples derived from a single pooled RNA sample.

The pathogenic role of the BRCA2 c.7847C>T (p.Ser2616Phe) variant in breast and ovarian cancer predisposition.

Substantial numbers of variants of unknown significance (VUSs) have been identified in BRCA1/2 through genetic testing, which poses a significant clinical challenge because the contribution of these VUSs to cancer predisposition has not yet been determined. Here, we report 10 Japanese patients from seven families with breast or ovarian cancer harboring the BRCA2 c.7847C>T (p.

Combined therapeutic effect of YHO-1701 with PD-1 blockade is dependent on natural killer cell activity in syngeneic mouse models.

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway is a key mediator of cancer cell proliferation, survival, and invasion. We discovered YHO-1701 as a small molecule inhibitor of STAT3 dimerization and demonstrated its potent anti-tumor activity using xenograft mouse models as monotherapy and combination therapy with molecular targeted drugs. STAT3 is also associated with cancer immune tolerance; therefore, we used the female CT26 syngeneic mouse model to examine the effect of combining YHO-1701 administration with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.

Longitudinal trajectory of vascular age indices and cardiovascular risk factors: a repeated-measures analysis.

This study aimed to identify the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors associated with longitudinal changes, which are nine functional and structural biological vascular aging indicators (BVAIs), to propose an effective method to prevent biological vascular aging. We conducted a longitudinal study of 697 adults (a maximum of 3636 BVAI measurements) who were, at baseline, aged between 26 and 85 years and whose BVAIs were measured at least twice between 2007 and 2018. The nine BVAIs were measured using vascular testing and an ultrasound device.

Diagnostic Yield of Bone Window Computed Tomography and Cerebral Angiography Testing Congenital Bilateral Hypoplasia of the Internal Carotid Artery.

We herein report a case of congenital bilateral hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery (ICA) that was diagnosed by bone window computed tomography (CT) and cerebral angiography. A 23-year-old woman presented with left dominant quadriplegia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed not only massive infarcts in the anterior circulation but also poor depiction of the bilateral ICAs.

The impact of cellular senescence and senescence‑associated secretory phenotype in cancer‑associated fibroblasts on the malignancy of pancreatic cancer.

Cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are implicated in the strong malignancy of pancreatic cancer (PC). Various CAF subtypes have different functions, and their heterogeneity likely influence the malignancy of PC. Meanwhile, it is known that senescent cells can create a tumor‑promoting microenvironment by inducing a senescence‑associated secretory phenotype (SASP).

[Giant Mature Cystic Teratoma Causing Loss of Consciousness before Surgery].

A 30-year-old woman who presented loss of consciousness was diagnosed as having large anterior mediastinal tumor. Computed tomography (CT) showed a 17.0×13.

Validation of the initial brain metastasis velocity in non-small cell lung cancer at a single cancer center.

Purpose: The initial brain metastasis velocity (iBMV) was recently reported as a survival predictor after brain metastases (BM) in patients treated by stereotactic radiosurgery. In this study, we validated whether iBMV is a prognostic tool, regardless of treatment modality, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with metachronous BM.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive 3,792 new lung cancer cases in which no BM was found on magnetic resonance (MR) screening between February 2014 and December 2019, and enrolled 176 NSCLC patients with subsequent BM.

Unusual microwave heating of water in reverse micellar solution.

Microwaves (MWs) are widely used for heating food, accelerating chemical reactions, drying materials, therapies, and so on. Water molecules absorb MWs and produce heat because of their substantial electric dipole moments. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to accelerating various catalytic reactions in water-containing porous materials using MW irradiation.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is associated with decreased quality of life and stigma in people with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) may present with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). We therefore investigated the association between RBD and quality of life (QOL) in people with PD.

Methods: Individuals with PD and a Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥ 24 were divided into two groups using the RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ): those with an RBDSQ score ≥ 5 were assigned to the "probable RBD" (pRBD) group, and those with a score < 5 to the "non-pRBD" group.

Retroperitoneoscopic Pyeloplasty for Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in Children: Value of Robotic Assistance.

Aim: Retroperitoneal pyeloplasty (RP) for pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) performed using retroperitoneoscopy (retro-RP) or robotic assistance (robo-RP) were compared.

Methods: All subjects were Japanese, matched for age, weight, and RP diameters. All RP were performed in the lateral decubitus position at a single institute by the same team using identical protocols.

Pin and Wire System Fixation for the Treatment of Comminuted Patella Fractures.

We describe the wiring technique and evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of treatment with a pin and wire system (PWS) for comminuted patella fractures. From June 2013 to October 2018, 33 patients with comminuted patella fractures were treated using a PWS. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed with multiple pins and a wire.

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia and Non-IgM-Type Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma Are Genetically Similar.

Introduction: Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) represents a subset of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) with the immunoglobulin (Ig)M paraprotein. MYD88 L265P and CXCR4 mutations are common mutations in WM patients, and mutations in ARID1A and KMT2D (MLL2) have also been reported. However, little information has been accumulated on genetic changes in LPL with other paraproteins like IgG.

Fixation of intra-articular calcaneal fractures: A comparative study of the postoperative outcome between HA/PPLA screws and locking plates.

Background: Forged unsintered hydroxyapatite and poly l-lactic acid F-u-HA/PLLA) screw is bioactivite, bioabsorbable, and radiopaque with high mechanical strength. Its efficacy has been previously demonstrated in the treatment of lateral humeral condylar, lateral tibial condylar, ankle, and patellar fractures. However, studies on its efficacy in treatment of calcaneal fractures is lacking.

Behavioral screening of sleep-promoting effects of human intestinal and food-associated bacteria on Drosophila melanogaster.

Commensal microbes influence various aspects of vertebrate and invertebrate brain function. We previously reported that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SBT2227 promotes sleep in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. However, how widely the sleep-promoting effects are conserved in gut bacterial species remains unknown.

Sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents induce senescence in T cells and upregulation of PD-1 expression.

Cellular senescence is a stable cell cycle arrest, usually in response to internal and/or external stress, including telomere dysfunction, abnormal cellular growth, and DNA damage. Several chemotherapeutic drugs, such as melphalan (MEL) and doxorubicin (DXR), induce cellular senescence in cancer cells. However, it is not clear whether these drugs induce senescence in immune cells.

Visualization of Sugar Content Distribution of White Strawberry by Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging.

In this study, an approach to visualize the spatial distribution of sugar content in white strawberry fruit flesh using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI; 913-2166 nm) is developed. NIR-HSI data collected from 180 samples of "Tochigi iW1 go" white strawberries are investigated. In order to recognize the pixels corresponding to the flesh and achene on the surface of the strawberries, principal component analysis (PCA) and image processing are conducted after smoothing and standard normal variate (SNV) pretreatment of the data.

Incidence and Treatment Outcome of Radiation Pneumonitis in Patients With Limited-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Concurrent Accelerated Hyperfractionated Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of and evaluate the risk factors for radiation pneumonitis (RP) induced by chemoradiation therapy (CRT) using accelerated hyperfractionated (AHF) radiation therapy (RT) in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).

Methods And Materials: Between September 2002 and February 2018, 125 patients with LS-SCLC were treated with early concurrent CRT using AHF-RT. Chemotherapy was comprised of carboplatin/cisplatin with etoposide.