Amplification in Small-Cell Lung Cancer-Transformed Tumors Following Resistance to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Background/objectives: Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting EGFR-activating mutations significantly improved the outcome of EGFR-mutant NSCLC, resistance inevitably emerges. Despite the heterogeneity of these resistance mechanisms, many induce activation of MAPK signaling in the presence of EGFR-TKIs. While gene amplification is identified as a resistance mechanism that activates MAPK signaling by directly interacting with RAS, little is known about its clinicopathologic characteristics.

SARS-CoV-2 IgG Seroprevalence in the Okinawa Main Island and Remote Islands in Okinawa, Japan, 2020-2021.

We estimated the seroprevalence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) in different island groups in Okinawa. A cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted over three periods between July 2020 and February 2021. A total of 2,683 serum samples were collected from six referral medical centers, each covering a separate region in Okinawa.

Novel species identification and deep functional annotation of electrogenic biofilms, selectively enriched in a microbial fuel cell array.

In this study, electrogenic microbial communities originating from a single source were multiplied using our custom-made, 96-well-plate-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) array. Developed communities operated under different pH conditions and produced currents up to 19.4 A/m3 (0.

COVID-19 serological survey using micro blood sampling.

During August 2020, we carried out a serological survey among students and employees at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Japan, testing for the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. We used a FDA-authorized 2-step ELISA protocol in combination with at-home self-collection of blood samples using a custom low-cost finger prick-based capillary blood collection kit. Although our survey did not find any COVID-19 seropositive individuals among the OIST cohort, it reliably detected all positive control samples obtained from a local hospital and excluded all negatives controls.

Metabolic engineering of a novel strain of electrogenic bacterium Arcobacter butzleri to create a platform for single analyte detection using a microbial fuel cell.

Electrogenic bacteria metabolize organic substrates by transferring electrons to the external electrode, with subsequent electricity generation. In this proof-of-concept study, we present a novel strain of a known, electrogenic Arcobacter butzleri that can grow primarily on acetate and lactate and its electric current density is positively correlated (R = 0.95) to the COD concentrations up to 200 ppm.

A case of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis complicated with severe acute pancreatitis induced by decreased lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase activity levels in a young Japanese woman.

We report a case of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis complicated with acute pancreatitis induced by hypertriglyceridemia in a young Japanese woman. A precise examination of the lipid profile showed decreased lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase activity levels, while the LPL mass was at the minimum level of the normal range.

Urinary bacteria in adult women with urgency urinary incontinence.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This study's aims were to detect and quantify bacterial DNA in the urine of randomized trial participants about to undergo treatment for urinary urgency incontinence (UUI) without clinical evidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) and to determine if the presence of bacterial DNA in baseline urine relates to either baseline urinary symptoms or UTI risk after urinary tract instrumentation.

Methods: Women without clinical evidence of baseline UTI were randomized to cystoscopic onabotulinum toxin A injection and oral placebo medication versus cystoscopic placebo injection and active oral medication. Bacterial DNA in participants' catheterized urine was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

[Case of acute necrotizing esophagitis associated with AA amyloidosis secondary to bronchiectasis].

An 82-year-old woman with a history of bronchiectasis for 20 years was admitted to our hospital with anorexia and diarrhea. Sigmoidoscopy showed multiple mucosal erythematous areas and erosions. Histologic examination with Congo red stain revealed massive amyloid deposition around the submucosal vessels as well as in the parenchyma of the mucosa and submucosa.

[Molecular diagnosis of lung cancer in association with treatment of choice].

Recent advances in lung cancer research have enabled significant progress in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and treatment for lung cancer. For example, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed, and a subset of patients show marked therapeutic responses to this treatment. Subsequently, this super-response was revealed to be associated with an EGFR mutation that was identified in 2005.

Evidence of uncultivated bacteria in the adult female bladder.

Clinical urine specimens are usually considered to be sterile when they do not yield uropathogens using standard clinical cultivation procedures. Our aim was to test if the adult female bladder might contain bacteria that are not identified by these routine procedures. An additional aim was to identify and recommend the appropriate urine collection method for the study of bacterial communities in the female bladder.

Cycleave polymerase chain reaction method is practically applicable for V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)/V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) genotyping in colorectal cancer.

Activating V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) and V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) gene mutations are important predictive markers for antiepidermal growth factor receptor chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, a rapid and accurate assay for KRAS/BRAF mutation detection from routine pathological specimens is lacking in clinical practice. We applied the cycleave polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to routine KRAS/BRAF genotyping of CRC patients at our institution from 2001 to 2009.

[Fundamental evaluation of HCV core antigen method comparison with Cobas Amplicor HCV monitor v2.0 (high range method)].

Quantitative measurement of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been performed by PCR method. However, PCR method has problems such as a special instrument, a complicated manual skill and a high cost. Recently, simple and highly sensitive HCV core antigen (Ag) method has been developed.

[Associations between glycated hemoglobin levels and atherosclerotic risk factors in urban communities].

Purpose: To prevent coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, we need to focus on "the deadly quartet" (coexistence of upper-body obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension), and the multiple risk factor syndrome related to insulin resistance. As few urban community-based population studies have evaluated the correlation between glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and risks of life-style related disease, we investigated this parameter and its correlation with atherosclerotic risk factors in participants of health check ups in two communities in Kanagawa prefecture. We also examined whether these correlations were affected by difference between the two groups.