Reduced expression of phosphorylated ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene is related to poor prognosis and gemcitabine chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Loss of expression of the gene ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), occurring in patients with multiple primary malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, is associated with poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the detailed molecular mechanism through which ATM expression affects the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods: The levels of expression of ATM and phosphorylated ATM in patients with pancreatic cancer who had undergone surgical resection were analyzed using immunohistochemistry staining.

Virtual cone-beam computed tomography simulator with human phantom library and its application to the elemental material decomposition.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a virtual CBCT simulator with a head and neck (HN) human phantom library and to demonstrate the feasibility of elemental material decomposition (EMD) for quantitative CBCT imaging using this virtual simulator.

Methods: The library of 36 HN human phantoms were developed by extending the ICRP 110 adult phantoms based on human age, height, and weight statistics. To create the CBCT database for the library, a virtual CBCT simulator that simulated the direct and scattered X-ray on a flat panel detector using ray-tracing and deep-learning (DL) models was used.

Mechanism of sac expansion without evident endoleak analyzed with X ray phase-contrast tomography.

Objective: Synchrotron radiation-based X ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) was used in this study to evaluate abdominal aorta specimens from patients with sac expansion without evidence of an endoleak (endotension) following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aim of this study was to analyze the morphologic structure of the aortic wall in patients with this condition and to establish the cause of the endotension.

Methods: Human aortic specimens of the abdominal aorta were obtained during open repair, fixed with formalin, and analyzed among three groups.

Chronic Glucocorticoid Use is a Potential Risk Factor for Delayed Pancreatic Fistula after Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy: A Retrospective Analysis.

Pancreatic fistula is a potentially morbid complication after distal pancreatectomy. Chronic glucocorticoid use is one of the risk factors for pancreatic fistula in pancreaticoduodenectomy, though it has not been reported in distal pancreatectomy. We explored whether chronic glucocorticoid use can be a risk factor for pancreatic fistula in distal pancreatectomy.

Significance of left posterior extension of early repolarization in patients with J-wave syndrome.

Background: J waves in the inferior or lateral leads are characteristic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in patients with early repolarization syndrome (ERS). However, the presence of J waves in the left posterior region has not yet been evaluated.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the significance of J waves in the posterior left ventricle using leads V-V and a body surface mapping (BSM) system.

Usefulness of a newly developed endoscope for the observation of the posterior tracheal wall.

Objective: Videoendoscopic evaluation of swallowing is an objective swallowing function evaluation method used in dysphagia rehabilitation. However, it is anatomically difficult to detect the entry of foreign substances through the posterior tracheal wall using a conventional endoscope (CE). In this study, we developed an endoscope that can observe the posterior tracheal wall and investigated its reliability and validity in healthy adults.

Involvement of Protein Kinase R in Double-Stranded RNA-Induced Proteasomal Degradation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a crucial therapeutic target in various diseases, including cancer and fibrosis. We previously demonstrated that transfection with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), including polyI:C and the dsRNA genome of mammalian orthoreovirus, resulted in significant reduction in HIF-1α protein levels in cultured cells; however, it remained to be elucidated how dsRNA induced down-regulation of HIF-1α protein levels. In this study, we examined the mechanism of dsRNA-mediated down-regulation of HIF-1α protein levels.

Association between bystander intervention and emergency medical services and the return of spontaneous circulation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring at a train station in the Tokyo metropolitan area: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to stratify patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with bystander procedures pre-emergency medical service (EMS) arrival and those who achieved ROSC with procedures post-EMS arrival, compare outcomes at 1-month, and identify factors associated with pre-EMS-arrival-ROSC.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of OHCAs occurring at stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area between 2014 and 2018 was conducted. Subjects were stratified by ROSC phase (categorized as pre- and post-EMS arrival and non-ROSC).

Elucidating colorectal cancer-associated bacteria through profiling of minimally perturbed tissue-associated microbiota.

Sequencing-based interrogation of gut microbiota is a valuable approach for detecting microbes associated with colorectal cancer (CRC); however, such studies are often confounded by the effect of bowel preparation. In this study, we evaluated the viability of identifying CRC-associated mucosal bacteria through centimeter-scale profiling of the microbiota in tumors and adjacent noncancerous tissue from eleven patients who underwent colonic resection without preoperative bowel preparation. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that differences between on- and off-tumor microbiota varied considerably among patients.

Factors influencing the selection of oral healthcare providers in multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Team for malnourished inpatients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Oral health management involving dental professionals in a multidisciplinary Nutritional Support Team (NST) is effective collaborative care. However, the indicators for the triage of oral health management requirements and selection of oral healthcare providers remain unclear.

Objective: This cross-sectional study included inpatients with malnutrition and aimed to investigate the factors associated with determining the need for oral health management involving dental professionals and selecting primary oral healthcare providers when needed.

Fertility-sparing management of stage IIIC serous borderline ovarian tumor: A case report of a 20-year follow-up.

Multimodal treatment, including assisted reproductive technology, is necessary in young patients with advanced borderline ovarian tumors. However, the details of long-term follow-up cases have not been reported. In this report, a 19-year-old patient presented with a stage IIIC serous borderline tumor.

Multicenter, 2-dose single-group controlled trial of tacrolimus for the severe infertility patients.

Introduction: Infertility is estimated to affect 8% to 12% of reproductive-aged couples worldwide. While approximately 85% of infertile couples have an identified cause, the remaining 15% suffer physically and emotionally from unexplained intractable infertility. In recent years, maternal-to-fetal immunological abnormalities have attracted attention as mechanisms that differ from the conventional factors contributing to infertility and pregnancy loss.

Evaluating variations in metabolic profiles during the dry period related to the time of hyperketonemia onset in dairy cows.

Hyperketonemia (HYK) in early lactation can have a different impact on health and productivity depending on the timing of HYK onset. While specific metabolites measured during the dry period may serve as biomarkers of HYK, the correlations between metabolites represent a challenge for the use of metabolic profiles dataset, and little has been explored on HYK. This exploratory cohort study aimed a) to characterize the correlations among metabolites measured during the late dry period in dairy cows, and b) to identify biomarkers in the late dry period associated with the onset of HYK at the first (wk1) and second (wk2) week of lactation.

Impact of High Fat Diet and Sex in a Rabbit Model of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder, characterized by fibrosis of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) mediated by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Risk factors for CTS include metabolic dysfunction and age. Additionally, the incidence of CTS is higher in women.

Novel single nucleotide polymorphism biomarkers to predict opioid effects for cancer pain.

There have been few studies on predictive biomarkers that may be useful to select the most suitable opioids to optimize therapeutic efficacy in individual patients with cancer pain. We recently investigated the efficacy of morphine and oxycodone using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the catechol-O-methyltransferase () rs4680 gene as a biomarker (RELIEF study). To explore additional biomarkers that may enable the selection of an appropriate opioid for individual patients with cancer pain, three SNPs were examined: C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (; rs17809012), histamine N-methyltransferase (; rs1050891) and transient receptor potential V1 (; rs222749), which were screened from 74 pain-related SNPs.

Two-carba cyclic phosphatidic acid treatment promotes phenotypic switch from M1 to M2 microglia and prevents behavioral abnormalities in a mouse model of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease associated with the production of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies and other antibodies that predominantly affects women with a wide range of lesions. Although neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms related to cerebrovascular diseases or depression, ranks high in severity, no specific treatment has been defined. Two-carba cyclic phosphatidic acid (2ccPA), a derivative of cyclic phosphatidic acid, was isolated from the true slime mold Physarum polycephalum in 1992.

Synthesis and Host-Guest Chemistry of Chiral Spirobifluorene-Based Macrocycles Soluble in Basic Aqueous Solution.

Synthesis and host-guest chemistry of water-soluble (pH 12.5) chiral spirobifluorene-based macrocycles were carried out. Cationic guests, such as quaternary ammonium salts, were accommodated well in the hosts.

Photoinduced electron transfer detection method for identifying UGT1A1*28 microsatellites.

During development of a novel detection method for the UDP-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28, the fluorescence intensity of a dye conjugated to cytosine (C) at the end of a DNA strand decreased upon hybridization with guanine (G). This phenomenon is referred to as photoinduced electron transfer (PeT). Using this phenomenon, we devised a method for the naked-eye detection of UGT1A1*28 (thymine-adenine (TA)-repeat polymorphism).

Continuous intake of quercetin-rich onion powder may improve emotion but not regional cerebral blood flow in subjects with cognitive impairment.

Depression in later life is associated with dementia. Changes in motivated behavior are an important mechanism contributing to dysfunctional cognitive control in depression. Although continuous intake of quercetin-rich onion suppresses cognitive decline in aged people by improving their emotional condition, the effect of quercetin-rich onion on emotional condition in people living with cognitive impairment remains unclear.

Medroxyprogesterone as the Initial Systemic Treatment of Recurrent Endometrial Cancer: A Single Institutional Study.

Background/aim: Hormonal treatment is the preferred initial systemic therapy for patients with advanced or recurrent G1 or G2 endometrial cancer (EC) in terms of efficacy, toxicity, and economy. Few reports are available on the topic and we, therefore, conducted a retrospective study.

Patients And Methods: Patients with EC who received high-dose medroxyprogesterone (MPA) at our Hospital between January 2010 and December 2022 were reviewed.

Incidence of Alzheimer's Disease in Men with Late-Life Hypertension Is Ameliorated by FOXO3 Longevity Genotype.

Background: It is well established that mid-life hypertension increases risk of dementia, whereas the association of late-life hypertension with dementia is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether FOXO3 longevity-associated genotype influences the association between late-life hypertension and incident dementia.

Methods: Subjects were 2,688 American men of Japanese ancestry (baseline age: 77.