Can We Rely on Prophylactic Two-Level Vertebral Cement Augmentation in Long-Segment Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery to Reduce the Incidence of Proximal Junctional Complications?

: Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and failure (PJF), the most prevalent complications following long-segment thoracolumbar fusions for adult spinal deformity (ASD), remain lacking in defined preventive measures. We studied whether one of the previously reported strategies with successful results-a prophylactic augmentation of the uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) and supra-adjacent vertebra to the UIV (UIV + 1) with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-could also serve as a preventive measure of PJK/PJF in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). : The study included 29 ASD patients who underwent a combination of minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-LLIF) at L1-2 through L4-5, all-pedicle-screw instrumentation from the lower thoracic spine to the sacrum, S2-alar-iliac fixation, and two-level balloon-assisted PMMA vertebroplasty at the UIV and UIV + 1.

Spin-Orbit Effects on Exciton Complexes in Diamond.

Ultrafine splittings are found in the optical absorption spectra of boron-doped diamond measured with high resolution. An analytical model of an exciton complex is developed, which permits assigning all absorption lines and sizing the interactions among the constituent charges and crystal field. We conclude that the entry of split-off holes in the acceptor-bound exciton fine structure yields two triplets separated by a spin-orbit splitting of 14.

Lumbar lordosis restoration by minimally invasive short-segment fusion with anterior column realignment for adult spinal deformity: minimum 2-year follow-up.

Objective: The efficacy of anterior column realignment (ACR) remains relatively unclear, possibly because some safety concerns have limited its adoption and extensive evaluation. The authors aimed to study whether a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) triad consisting of ACR, lateral lumbar interbody fusion, and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in a select group of adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients helps shorten fusion length without compromising clinical and radiographic outcomes over a minimum 2-year follow-up period.

Methods: A series of 61 ASD patients (mean age 72.

WT1 Trio Peptide-Based Cancer Vaccine for Rare Cancers Expressing Shared Target WT1.

No standard treatment has been established for most rare cancers. Here, we report a clinical trial of a biweekly WT1 tri-peptide-based vaccine for recurrent or advanced rare cancers. Due to the insufficient number of patients available for a traditional clinical trial, the trial was designed for rare cancers expressing shared target molecule WT1.

WT1 epitope-specific IgG and IgM antibodies for immune-monitoring in patients with advanced sarcoma treated with a WT1 peptide cancer vaccine.

The Wilms' tumor gene WT1 is highly expressed in various malignancies and may be a common target antigen for cancer immunotherapy. In our group, peptide-based cancer vaccines targeting WT1 CTL epitopes were developed as an immunotherapy for these malignancies. In the present study, WT1 epitope-specific immune responses were analyzed in 31 patients with advanced sarcoma with human leukocyte antigen-A*24:02- and WT1-expressing tumors who received the WT1-235 peptide vaccine as monotherapy.

Surgical indication of pulmonary metastasis arising from osteosarcoma or soft tissue sarcoma.

Objectives: Metastasectomy is often the local treatment for pulmonary metastases arising from osteosarcoma or soft tissue sarcoma. However, there have been few investigations on the outcomes of patients who undergo this procedure. In this study, we identified prognostic factors in patients with pulmonary metastases arising from osteosarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma to determine more appropriate eligibility criteria for metastasectomy.

Broadband sum frequency generation spectroscopy of dark exciton states in hBN-encapsulated monolayer WSe.

We demonstrate that broadband sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy based on a partially incoherent supercontinuum light source can elucidate dark p-series excitons in monolayer WSe encapsulated between hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) slabs. The observed 2p exciton peak energy is a few meV higher than that predicted by the Rytova-Keldysh potential model, which is originated from the Berry phase effect. Interestingly, although the radiative relaxation of the 2p exciton is weaker, the 2p exciton peak is broader than the 1s and 2s peaks, which indicates its faster dephasing than the 1s and 2s excitons.

Giant cell tumor of bone - Analysis of 213 cases involving extra-craniofacial bones.

We elucidated clinicopathological characteristics of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) in Japan, and significant clinicopathological factors for predicting local recurrence. Clinicopathological profiles of 213 patients with GCTB (100 male, 113 female) involving extra-craniofacial bones were retrieved. Pathological slides obtained at the initial surgery were reviewed.

Efficacy and safety of TAS-115, a novel oral multi-kinase inhibitor, in osteosarcoma: an expansion cohort of a phase I study.

Background osteosarcoma is a rare, primary malignant bone tumour with limited available treatments for advanced or recurrent disease, resulting in a poor prognosis for patients. TAS-115 is a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor under investigation in a phase I study in patients with solid tumours. We report data of osteosarcoma patients in the expansion cohort of this ongoing study.

Comprehensive molecular and clinicopathological profiling of desmoid tumours.

Previous studies have not clearly identified a prognostic factor for desmoid tumours (DT). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and/or RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed in 64 cases of DT to investigate the molecular profiles in combination with the clinicopathological characteristics. CTNNB1 mutations with specific hotspots were identified in 56 cases (87.

Cathodoluminescence Spectroscopic Stress Analysis for Silicon Oxide Film and Its Damage Evaluation.

We describe the stress analysis of silicon oxide (SiO) thin film using cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy and discuss its availability in this paper. To directly measure the CL spectra of the film under uniaxial tensile stresses, specially developed uniaxial tensile test equipment is used in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with a CL system. As tensile stress increases, the peak position and intensity proportionally increase.

Prognostic factors and skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastasis from gastric cancer.

The number of studies on bone metastasis (BM) from gastric cancer (GC) is currently limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristics, skeletal-related events (SREs) and prognosis of GC in patients with BMs. Data from 60 patients with BMs from GC were retrospectively retrieved and patient-, tumor- and BM-related characteristics were analyzed.

Anti-allergic effect of the Src family kinase inhibitor saracatinib.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-anaphylactic and anti-allergic potentials of saracatinib, a Src family kinase inhibitor that was already shown to be safe in clinical trials when it was used as an anti-cancer drug. Using mast cell models, we found that saracatinib inhibited the degranulation response and cytokine production in RBL2H3 cells that were stimulated with IgE and antigen without affecting cell viability. Phosphorylation of Lyn, Akt, a PI3K substrate, and MAPKs including ERK, JNK, and p38, as well as the intracellular Ca increase induced by this stimulation were also suppressed by saracatinib.

Phase II trial of pazopanib in patients with metastatic or unresectable chemoresistant sarcomas: A Japanese Musculoskeletal Oncology Group study.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), epithelioid sarcoma (ES), and clear cell sarcoma (CCS) are known to be chemoresistant tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pazopanib on these chemoresistant tumors. This study is designed as a single-arm, multicenter, investigator-initiated phase II trial.

The value of the black fiber sign on T1-weighted images for predicting stability of desmoid fibromatosis managed conservatively.

Objectives: It is challenging to know at the first which patients with desmoid fibromatosis (DF) are better suited to conservative or aggressive treatment. To investigate whether the low signal intensity bundles on T1- or T2-weighted images (WI), termed the "black fiber sign (BFS)," can predict non-progressive behavior in the conservative approach.

Methods: This retrospective study included 59 patients with primary DF managed with wait-and-see approach from 2005 to 2018 and serial MR images were analyzed.

Clinical Outcomes of Osteoarticular Extracorporeal Irradiated Autograft for Malignant Bone Tumor.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 33 patients who underwent osteoarticular ECIA after bone tumor resection from 1988 to 2014. We investigated complications, radiographic changes by the International Society of Limb Salvage graft evaluation criteria, and functional outcomes according to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring system.

Results: Fifteen patients were reoperated upon due to infection ( = 9), protruding fixation implant ( = 4), or fracture of the grafted bone ( = 2).

A long-term follow-up study of extracorporeal irradiated autografts in limb salvage surgery for malignant bone and soft tissue tumors: A minimum follow-up of 10 years after surgery.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the survival, function, radiographic appearance, and modes of failure of extracorporeal irradiated (ECI) autografts in a long-term setting.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 87 patients who were treated for bone and soft tissue tumors using ECI autografts between 1988 and 2009.

Results: The 56 patients had a minimum follow-up of 10 years, and the median follow-up period was 16.

Three dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy of typical Japanese soil powders.

Front face fluorescence spectroscopy of typical Japanese soil powders (soil A: Typic Hapludand; soil H: Typic Hydraquent; soil Y: Typic Paleudult) has been conducted. Three dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra of the 100 wt% soils showed similar fluorescence patterns to each other. The fluorescence patterns were similar between the soil samples and their residues after extraction by NaOH solution for 60 min.

Clinical outcomes of chondroblastoma treated using synthetic bone substitute: risk factors for developing radiographic joint degeneration.

Background: Chondroblastoma (CB) is a rare locally aggressive bone tumor that commonly occurs in the epiphysis or apophysis of long bones. Although surgical treatment of CB carries potential risk for physeal or articular cartilage damage, risk factors for joint degeneration have not been well described. In addition, we have mainly used synthetic bone substitute (SBS) to fill the bone defect after intralesional curettage as treatment for CB.

Publisher Correction: Integrated exome and RNA sequencing of dedifferentiated liposarcoma.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.