Evaluation of urinary vanin-1 for the early prediction of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Purpose: Cisplatin (CDDP) induces acute kidney injury (AKI) as a side effect during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Urinary vanin-1 excretion may increase during CDDP treatment. We investigated whether urinary vanin-1 is an early biomarker for CDDP-induced AKI.

-Active Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase-Targeting PROTACs with Improved Potency and Stability.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a bifunctional enzyme involved in fatty acid metabolism and a promising drug target. We previously reported first-generation sEH proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) with limited degradation potency and low aqueous and metabolic stability. Herein, we report the development of next-generation sEH PROTAC molecules with improved stability and degradation potency.

Solitary Fibrous Tumor Requiring Abdominal Aortic Vessel Replacement.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are mesenchymal tumors, and retroperitoneal occurrence is rare. It has been identified in a variety of soft tissues and organs, such as the pleura, peritoneum, and meninges. In this case, the tumor was in contact with the abdominal aorta, and the invasion was difficult to judge preoperatively.

-Active Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase-targeting PROTACs with Improved Potency and Stability.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a bifunctional enzyme involved in fatty acid metabolism and promising drug target. We previously reported first-generation sEH proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) with limited degradation potency and low aqueous and metabolic stability. Herein, we report the development of next-generation sEH PROTAC molecules with improved stability and degradation potency.

Cellular and humoral immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection is associated with the memory phenotype of T- and B-lymphocytes in adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate cellular and humoral immunogenicity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination or infection and examine how lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood correlate with cellular and humoral immunogenicity in adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. The median period from SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection to sample collection was 110.5 days (range, 6-345 days).

Ultrapotent influenza hemagglutinin fusion inhibitors developed through SuFEx-enabled high-throughput medicinal chemistry.

Seasonal and pandemic-associated influenza strains cause highly contagious viral respiratory infections that can lead to severe illness and excess mortality. Here, we report on the optimization of our small-molecule inhibitor F0045(S) targeting the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) stem with our Sulfur-Fluoride Exchange (SuFEx) click chemistry-based high-throughput medicinal chemistry (HTMC) strategy. A combination of SuFEx- and amide-based lead molecule diversification and structure-guided design led to identification and validation of ultrapotent influenza fusion inhibitors with subnanomolar EC cellular antiviral activity against several influenza A group 1 strains.

Renal Failure Without Hemodialysis Is a Risk Factor for Postoperative Complications in Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

Background/aim: Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with renal failure (RF) remain to be clarified. The objective of this research was to investigate how RF impacts the surgical outcomes in patients with CRC.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data from 633 patients who underwent colorectal resection for CRC between January 2017 and December 2021.

Systemic inflammation score as a predictor of death within one year after esophagectomy.

Background: After radical resection for esophageal cancer, death within 1 year of surgery can occur due both to recurrence and to other diseases, even after postoperative complications have been overcome. This study identified risk factors for early death within 1 year of esophagectomy for reasons other than death in hospital in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer or esophagogastric junction cancer.

Methods: We reviewed 366 patients who underwent esophagectomy without adjuvant treatment between January 2009 and July 2022 for thoracic esophageal cancer or esophagogastric junction cancer.

Seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 N antibodies between December 2021 and march 2023 in Japan.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in 2019 in China and rapidly spread worldwide, leading to a pandemic. The threat of SARS-CoV-2 is subsiding as most people have acquired sufficient antibodies through vaccination and/or infection to prevent severe COVID-19. After the emergence of the omicron variants, the seroprevalence of antibodies against the N protein elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection ranged from 44.

Tumor-infiltrating monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells contribute to the development of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive and treatment-resistant tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Here, we investigated the roles of different immunosuppressive cell types in the development of the GC TIME.

Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and multiplex immunostaining of samples from untreated or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-resistant GC patients were used to examine the correlation between certain immunosuppressive cells and the prognosis of GC patients.

The degree of satisfaction and level of learning in male and female surgical residents: a nationwide questionnaire survey of graduating residents in Japan.

Purpose: Since 2002, the Japan Surgical Society has established a board certification system for surgeons to be certified for a specialty. Surgery remains a male-dominated field in Japan. This study aimed to clarify if the Japanese surgical residency training system is equally suitable for female and male residents.

Esophageal ulcer related to zinc deficiency following a total gastrectomy.

A 76-y-old Japanese man who had undergone gastrectomy 4.5 y earlier experienced 2 wk of sore throat, heartburn, and difficulty swallowing. Endoscopy showed deep, craterlike, longitudinal ulcers in the lower and middle esophagus.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals functional changes in tumour-infiltrating B lymphocytes after chemotherapy in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Tumour immune microenvironment is related with carcinogenesis and efficacy of immunotherapy. B cells play major roles in humoral immunity, but detailed functions of tumour-infiltrating B lymphocytes (TIL-Bs) are unknown. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the functional heterogeneity of TIL-Bs in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and lymph nodes (LNs) during chemotherapy.

Skeletal Muscle Loss During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Predicts the Incidence of Postoperative Infectious Complications in Esophageal Cancer Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy.

Background/aim: Malnutrition, immune deficiency, and skeletal muscle loss are associated with a risk of postoperative complications in patients with various types of cancer. This study evaluated whether malnutrition, immunological deficiencies, and skeletal muscle loss during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) predict postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 123 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with NAC and esophagectomy at our hospital between 2014 and 2019.

Esophageal cancer presenting with brain abscess.

A 76-year-old man experienced fatigue and progressive dysphagia. He underwent endoscopy at another hospital and was diagnosed with thoracic esophageal cancer. Three days after the endoscopy, the patient was rushed to our hospital with sudden seizures of the right upper and lower extremities.

Antibody Avidity Maturation Following Recovery From Infection or the Booster Vaccination Grants Breadth of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Capacity.

Background: Cross-neutralizing capacity of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants is important in mitigating (re-)exposures. Role of antibody maturation, the process whereby selection of higher affinity antibodies augments host immunity, to determine SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing capacity was investigated.

Methods: Sera from SARS-CoV-2 convalescents at 2, 6, or 10 months postrecovery, and BNT162b2 vaccine recipients at 3 or 25 weeks postvaccination, were analyzed.

Gut bacterial aromatic amine production: aromatic amino acid decarboxylase and its effects on peripheral serotonin production.

Colonic luminal aromatic amines have been historically considered to be derived from dietary source, especially fermented foods; however, recent studies indicate that the gut microbiota serves as an alternative source of these amines. Herein, we show that five prominent genera of Firmicutes , and ) have the ability to abundantly produce aromatic amines through the action of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). cultivation of human fecal samples revealed that a significant positive correlation between copy number of and phenylethylamine (PEA) production.

The impact of the American Society of Anesthesiology-Physical Status classification system on the treatment and prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy.

Background: The American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification system has been shown to predict morbidity and mortality after surgery. However, the impact of the ASA-PS on esophageal cancer treatment remains unclear. This study examined both the impact of the ASA-PS on treatment, including surgery and perioperative chemotherapy, and the prognostic effects of ASA-PS class in patients who had undergone esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer or esophagogastric junction cancer.

Validation study of a skill assessment tool for education and outcome prediction of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Background: The Japanese operative-rating scale for laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (JORS-LDG) was developed through cognitive task analysis together with the Delphi method to measure intraoperative performance during laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. This study aimed to investigate the value of this rating scale as an educational tool and a surgical outcome predictor in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Methods: The surgical performance of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy was assessed by the first assistant, through self-evaluation in the operating room and by video raters blind to the case.

Risk Factors for Candidiasis as an Intra-Abdominal Infection after Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) develop in 2.4%-26.6% of patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and are occasionally serious.

Anti-spike protein antibody titer at the time of breakthrough infection of SARS-CoV-2 omicron.

By December 2021, about 80% of people over the age of 12 had been vaccinated in Japan, and almost all people were vaccinated with the mRNA vaccine. We investigated here the anti-spike protein antibody titer at the time of breakthrough infection of SARS-CoV-2 omicron. A total of 32 SARS-CoV2 omicron breakthrough infection was included in the study.

Serum carnitine as a biomarker of sarcopenia and nutritional status in preoperative gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Background: Sarcopenia is an important factor in the postoperative outcome of gastrointestinal cancer patients. However, little research has been carried out on potential biomarkers of sarcopenia. Carnitine is an amino acid derivative that is stored in skeletal muscle and is essential for muscle energy metabolism.

Dietary intake of yacon roots () affects gut microbiota and fecal mucin and prevents intestinal inflammation in mice.

Consumption of yacon () is associated with beneficial effects such as prevention of metabolic diseases. Yacon root is known to contain various bioactive components including indigestible carbohydrates, but the alteration of intestinal environment after treatment with yacon has not been fully investigated. This study investigated yacon-containing diet effects on the intestinal environment in mice, including microbial composition, short-chain fatty acid levels, and mucus content.