Philadelphia Chromosome as a Clinically Favorable Prognostic Factor of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in Transplant-Ineligible Elderly Patients in the Era of Molecular-Targeted Therapy.

Background and objective There is scarce data on the treatment outcomes of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-ALL/LBL) in elderly patients in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), blinatumomab, and inotuzumab ozogamicin. In light of this, we aimed to address this gap in data by conducting this retrospective study. Methods Treatment outcomes were retrospectively evaluated by using data from transplant-ineligible patients aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed B-ALL/LBL (n=29) at two hospitals in Oita, Japan between 2013 and 2023.

A Prospective Phase II Study of Automated Non-Coplanar VMAT for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: Initial Report of Feasibility, Safety, and Patient-Reported Outcomes.

This study reports the initial results for the first 15 patients on a prospective phase II clinical trial exploring the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the HyperArc technique for recurrent head and neck cancer treatment. Eligible patients were simulated and planned with both conventional VMAT and HyperArc techniques and the plan with superior dosimetry was selected for treatment. Dosimetry, delivery feasibility and safety, treatment-related toxicity, and patient-reported quality of life (QOL) were all evaluated.

Graphene-based plasmonic metamaterial for terahertz laser transistors.

This paper reviews recent advances in the research and development of graphene-based plasmonic metamaterials for terahertz (THz) laser transistors. The authors' theoretical discovery on THz laser transistors in 2007 was realized as a distributed-feedback dual-gate graphene-channel field-effect transistor (DFB-DG-GFET) in 2018, demonstrating ∼0.1 µW single-mode emission at 5.

High-throughput simultaneousquantification offive azole anti-fungal agents and one active metabolite in human plasma using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

Objectives: For patients with hematological malignancy, triazole antifungal agents such as fluconazole (FLCZ), itraconazole (ITCZ), voriconazole (VRCZ), posaconazole (PSCZ) and isavuconazole (ISCZ) are often used for prophylaxis of deep mycosis. Since these azoles exhibit large pharmacokinetic variability, dose adjustment by therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended for some azoles. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel method for simultaneous determination of plasma concentrations of FLCZ, ITCZ, VRCZ, PSCZ, ISCZ and ITCZ-OH, an active metabolite of ITCZ, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).

The evaluation of a novel digital immunochromatographic assay with silver amplification to detect SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction: Rapid antigen tests are convenient for diagnosing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); however, they have lower sensitivities than nucleic acid amplification tests. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of Quick Chaser Auto SARS-CoV-2, a novel digital immunochromatographic assay that is expected to have higher sensitivity than conventional antigen tests.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between February 8 and March 24, 2021.

as a potential predictive factor for adverse events associated with platinum-based antitumor agent-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) exhibits antidotal effects on numerous drugs, including platinum-based antineoplastic drugs. Furthermore, () polymorphism is associated with peripheral neuropathy. In the present study, it was determined whether can predict adverse events associated with platinum-based antitumor agent-induced peripheral neuropathy among Japanese patients.

[A Case of Breast Apocrine Carcinoma in Which Eribulin Was Effective].

A 79-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of a palpated tumor on her right axilla. The right breast tumor size was 18mm and the axillary lymph node size was 30 mm, as detected with ultrasonography. Pathological findings indicated the presence of an ER(-), Pg R(-), HER2-negative apocrine carcinoma.

Dissemination in Japan of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates producing IMP-type metallo-β-lactamases and AAC(6')-Iae/AAC(6')-Ib.

The spread throughout Japan of antibiotic-resistance factors in multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates was investigated epidemiologically, using immunochromatographic assays specific for IMP-type metallo-β-lactamases (IMPs) and aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase [AAC(6')]-Iae and -Ib. Three hundred MDR P. aeruginosa isolates were obtained during each of two years, 2011 and 2012, from 190 hospitals in 39 prefectures in Japan.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of GH in Japanese Children with Down Syndrome Short Stature Accompanied by GH Deficiency.

In this study, we investigated the effects of GH treatment in children with Down syndrome who had been diagnosed with GH deficiency (GHD). A total of 20 subjects were investigated in this study. Fourteen Down syndrome children (5 boys and 9 girls) with short stature due to GHD were treated with GH at Okayama Red Cross General Hospital, and 6 Down syndrome children (4 boys and 2 girls) with short stature due to GHD were registered in the Pfizer International Growth Database (KIGS).

Production of monoclonal antibodies specific for the recombinant viral coat protein of Apple stem grooving virus-citrus isolate and their application for a simple, rapid diagnosis by an immunochromatographic assay.

A simple and rapid immunochromatographic assay (ICA) for the diagnosis of Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in citrus was developed. Nine lines of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced by immunizing with a recombinant viral coat protein of ASGV as the antigen. According to the competitive-binding ELISA results, the 9 mAbs comprised 2 paratope groups, A and B.

Characterization of edge oscillation in a traveling-wave field-effect transistor.

In this study, we characterize the oscillating pulse edges developed in a traveling-wave field-effect transistor (TWFET). Recently, it has been found that a stable shock front can develop on a TWFET, which can travel in one direction only. Once the reflected pulse edge at the far end is transmitted to the input, the shock front develops and begins to travel on the device again.

External synchronization of oscillating pulse edge on a transmission line with regularly spaced tunnel diodes.

We investigate the external synchronization of the oscillating pulse edges developed in a transmission line periodically loaded with tunnel diodes (TDs), termed a TD line. It is observed that the pulse edge oscillates on a TD line when supplied by an appropriate voltage at the end of the line. We discuss how the pulse edge oscillates on a TD line and the properties of the external synchronization of the edge oscillation driven by a sinusoidal perturbation.

Nontraumatic amputation: incidence and cost analysis.

Lower extremity amputation (LEA) is devastating for those affected and a significant factor in health care costs. Although the overall incidence of amputation has been declining, the decline is not universal. The objectives of this study were to identify patients with nontraumatic amputation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (HUMC) from January 2000 to January 2007, to calculate their 1-year and 5-year mortality rates after amputation and to estimate the financial cost of those amputations.

Development of an immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of AAC(6')-Ib-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

To detect aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase-Ib [AAC(6')-Ib]-producing, Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates which are a frequent cause of nosocomial infections in Japan, an immunochromatographic assay was developed using two kinds of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing AAC(6')-Ib. The results of the assessment were fully consistent with those of aac(6')-Ib PCR analyses.

Discrimination of influenza A subtype by antibodies recognizing host-specific amino acids in the viral nucleoprotein.

Background: Nucleoprotein (NP) of influenza viruses is utilized to differentiate between the A, B, and C viral serotypes. The availability of influenza genome sequence data has allowed us to identify specific amino acids at particular positions in viral proteins, including NP, known as "signature residues," which can be used to discriminate human influenza A viruses from H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in human cases (HPAI) and pandemic H1N1(2009) (H1N1/2009) viruses.

Methods: Screening and epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against NP of influenza A, which reacted differently with NP from human influenza A virus from HPAI and H1N1/2009 A virus.

Development of an immunochromatographic assay for diagnosing the production of IMP-type metallo-β-lactamases that mediate carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas.

Rapid and reliable detection of carbapenem-resistant bacteria is an important infection-control measure and a crucial aspect of antimicrobial chemotherapy. IMP-type metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) is an emzyme that mediate carbapenem resistance in bacteria. Here, an immunochromatographic assay was newly developed using novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing IMP-type MBL.

An epidemiological study of children with status epilepticus in Okayama, Japan: incidence, etiologies, and outcomes.

To clarify the incidence of first-ever episodes of status epilepticus (SE), their etiologies and outcomes among Japanese children, we performed an epidemiological study in Okayama City. One hundred and twenty patients (69 males, 51 females) experienced first-ever SE episodes between 2003 and 2005. Overall, the annual incidence of SE was 42.

Akt1 deficiency delays tumor progression, vascular invasion, and distant metastasis in a murine model of thyroid cancer.

Akt activation is common in progressive thyroid cancer. In breast cancer, Akt1 induces primary cancer growth, but is reported to inhibit metastasis in vivo in several model systems. In contrast, clinical and in vitro studies suggest a metastasis-promoting role for Akt1 in thyroid cancer.

Multicenter prospective evaluation of a novel rapid immunochromatographic diagnostic kit specifically detecting influenza A H1N1 2009 virus.

Background: Definitive diagnosis is crucial in reducing morbidity and mortality from pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 (A/H1N1/2009), especially in high-risk populations. We recently developed a rapid diagnosis kit (RDK) capable of specifically detecting A/H1N1/2009.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic capability of the RDK in a multicenter, prospective trial.

Development of an immunochromatographic assay for the rapid detection of AAC(6')-Iae-producing multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Objectives: To develop an easy-to-use method for the rapid detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Here, a new immunochromatographic assay specific for aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase AAC(6')-Iae was designed. AAC(6')-Iae is a significant marker molecule for multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Japan.

Role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AKT cascades in regulating hypoxia-induced angiogenic factors produced by a trophoblast-derived cell line.

During human pregnancy, trophoblasts play an important role in embryo implantation and placental development. Cytotrophoblast cells invade the uterine spiral arteries and differentiate into extravillous trophoblasts, resulting in the remodeling of the uterine vessels and fetoplacental vasculature. During early pregnancy, a physiologically hypoxic environment induces the production of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are suggested to locally control the vascular remodeling.

Mobiloization of intracellular calcium ions in chicken and rat lymphocytes induced by T cell mitogens.

Cytosolic Ca(2+) is known to be an important factor in intracellular signaling pathways that regulate several cellular functions. The present study was designed to measure the intracellular concentrations of Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) in T cell mitogen-stimulated chicken lymphocytes, and to compare the results with those in rat lymphocytes. [Ca(2+)](i) was increased in the thymocytes, splenocytes and bursacytes of chickens, and in the thymocytes and splenocytes of rats following exposure to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA).