Multiple myeloma-associated non-crystalline proximal tubulopathy and crystalline cast nephropathy: Biochemical and structural features of disease-causing monoclonal kappa light chains.

Various tubular diseases in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are caused by monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (LCs). However, the physicochemical characteristics of the disease-causing LCs contributing to the onset of MM-associated tubular diseases remain unclear. We herein report a rare case of MM-associated combined tubulopathies: non-crystalline light chain proximal tubulopathy (LCPT) and crystalline light chain cast nephropathy (LCCN).

High systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) level as a prognostic factor for colorectal cancer patients after curative surgery: a single-center retrospective analysis.

The Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), a marker used to assess systemic inflammation, is associated with lower patient survival rates in various cancer types. Factors contributing to the recurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been examined previously using the preoperative SIRI. Herein, we investigated the association between the preoperative SIRI level and both the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with CRC.

Large-scale CRISPR/Cas9 deletions within the WFDC gene cluster uncover gene functionality and critical roles in mammalian reproduction.

Despite 96 million years of evolution separating humans and rodents, 11 closely related reproductive tract-specific genes in humans-, , , , , , , , , , and -and the 13 reproductive tract-specific orthologous genes in mice, form highly conserved syntenic gene clusters indicative of conserved, combined critical functions. Further, despite significant progress toward a nonhormonal male contraceptive targeting the protein encoded by one of these genes, epididymal peptidase inhibitor (EPPIN), and associations found between mutations in and an increased risk of male infertility, neither EPPIN nor any closely related whey acidic protein four-disulfide core (WFDC) gene have been explored functionally. To clarify the involvement of WFDC genes in male fertility, we strategically used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate mice lacking 13, 10, 5, or 4 genes within the cluster and demonstrated that males with deletions of 13, 10, or 4 genes (Wfdc6a, Eppin, Wfdc8, and Wfdc6a) were sterile due to an arrest in spermatogenesis, preventing formation beyond round spermatids.

Be familiar with benign pediatric head and neck lesions! Image interpretation guides to overcome your weakness.

Pediatric head and neck lesions include three main categories: congenital, inflammatory, and neoplastic. It is important for management to understand the imaging features. The purpose of this pictorial review is to demonstrate the imaging features of benign head and neck lesions of pediatric patients.

Constipation among workers with depression/anxiety: a retrospective study using a claims database and survey data in Japan.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence, associated factors, treatment status and burden of constipation in workers with depression or anxiety.

Study Design: This was a retrospective observational study using a pre-existing database.

Setting: Claims data from October to November 2022 and data from the survey conducted in November 2022 were extracted from the database.

Asymmetric fluctuation of overlapping dinucleosome studied by cryoelectron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering.

Nucleosome remodelers modify the local structure of chromatin to release the region from nucleosome-mediated transcriptional suppression. Overlapping dinucleosomes (OLDNs) are nucleoprotein complexes formed around transcription start sites as a result of remodeling, and they consist of two nucleosome moieties: a histone octamer wrapped by DNA (octasome) and a histone hexamer wrapped by DNA (hexasome). While OLDN formation alters chromatin accessibility to proteins, the structural mechanism behind this process is poorly understood.

Kainate receptors regulate synaptic integrity and plasticity by forming a complex with synaptic organizers in the cerebellum.

Kainate (KA)-type glutamate receptors (KARs) are implicated in various neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders through their ionotropic and metabotropic actions. However, compared to AMPA- and NMDA-type receptor functions, many aspects of KAR biology remain incompletely understood. Our study demonstrates an important role of KARs in organizing climbing fiber (CF)-Purkinje cell (PC) synapses and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum, independently of their ion channel or metabotropic functions.

Δ-dn--OPDA, a bioactive plant hormone of .

Significant progress has been recently made in our understanding of the evolution of jasmonates biosynthesis and signaling. The bioactive jasmonate activating COI1-JAZ co-receptor differs in bryophytes and vascular plants. Dinor-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (dn--OPDA) is the bioactive hormone in bryophytes and lycophytes.

Predicting prognosis in colorectal cancer patients with curative resection using albumin, lymphocyte count and RAS mutations.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant global health challenge, demanding reliable prognostic tools to guide treatment decisions. This study introduces a novel prognostic scoring system, the albumin-total lymphocyte count-RAS index (ALRI), integrating serum albumin, lymphocyte count, and RAS gene mutations. A cohort of 445 stage I-III CRC patients undergoing curative resection was analyzed, revealing ALRI's association with clinicopathological factors, including age, tumor location, and invasion depth.

Effectiveness and safety of primary prophylaxis with G-CSF during chemotherapy for invasive breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis from Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Use of G-CSF 2022.

Introduction: Chemotherapy for breast cancer can cause neutropenia, increasing the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) and serious infections. The use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) as primary prophylaxis has been explored to mitigate these risks. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of primary G-CSF prophylaxis in patients with invasive breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Metronomic Chemotherapy for Pediatric Refractory Solid Tumors: A Retrospective Single-center Study.

Metronomic chemotherapy (MC) is based on chronic administration of chemotherapeutic agents at minimally toxic doses without prolonged drug-free breaks, that inhibits tumor angiogenesis and induces tumor dormancy. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of MC for pediatric refractory solid tumors. We retrospectively analyzed the data of pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors who received treatment, including low-dose continuous administration of anticancer drugs, at our institute.

Strain-dependent grain boundary properties of n-type germanium layers.

Polycrystalline Ge thin films have attracted considerable attention as potential materials for use in various electronic and optical devices. We recently developed a low-temperature solid-phase crystallization technology for a doped Ge layer and achieved the highest electron mobility in a polycrystalline Ge thin film. In this study, we investigated the effects of strain on the crystalline and electrical properties of n-type polycrystalline Ge layers.

Affinity-tagged SMAD1 and SMAD5 mouse lines reveal transcriptional reprogramming mechanisms during early pregnancy.

Endometrial decidualization, a prerequisite for successful pregnancies, relies on transcriptional reprogramming driven by progesterone receptor (PR) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-SMAD1/SMAD5 signaling pathways. Despite their critical roles in early pregnancy, how these pathways intersect in reprogramming the endometrium into a receptive state remains unclear. To define how SMAD1 and/or SMAD5 integrate BMP signaling in the uterus during early pregnancy, we generated two novel transgenic mouse lines with affinity tags inserted into the endogenous SMAD1 and SMAD5 loci ( and ).

Laparoscopy-Assisted Restorative Proctocolectomy with Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Middle Colic Artery Ligation Immediately before Specimen Removal.

Introduction: Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the surgical procedure for ulcerative colitis (UC). Intestinal ischemia may occur if the main blood vessels are ligated at an early stage of this surgery. Considering that the blood flow in the large intestine can be maintained by preserving the middle colic artery, we have used a new IPAA method: ligating the middle colic artery immediately before removal of the specimens ("M-method").

knockout male mice are sterile secondary to sperm head malformations and failure to penetrate through the zona pellucida.

Each year, infertility affects 15% of couples worldwide, with 50% of cases attributed to men. It is assumed that sperm head shape is important for sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) penetration but research has yet to elucidate why. We generated testis expressed 46 () knockout mice to investigate the essential roles of TEX46 in mammalian reproduction.

A case of rectal cancer complicated with segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) safely treated with curative resection - A case report.

Introduction: Recent advances in diagnostic imaging techniques have led to an increasing number of case reports of segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM). However, reports of abnormalities associated with SAM of abdominal organs, including the bowel, are limited. SAM, a rare vascular disease that causes spontaneous intra-abdominal bleeding, including shock and intestinal ischemia, has been reported to be associated with high mortality, but it has not been reported to coexist with rectal cancer.

Potential drug-induced constipation: A retrospective study using a Japanese claims database.

Background And Aim: Detailed clinical information regarding drug-induced constipation (DIC) is limited. This study aimed to investigate the real-world situation of DIC.

Methods: This retrospective study used data from a Japanese claims database registered from 2014 to 2021.