The efficacy of STRATAFIX® spiral PDS for vesicourethral anastomosis during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a single-center retrospective study.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of continuous suturing using barbed suture for vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three consecutive patients who underwent RARP by a single surgeon between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively divided based on the suture type used for VUA: group A, 3-0 poliglecaprone-25 RB-1 needle (Monocryl®), n = 46; group B, 3-0 spiral polydioxanone (PDS) barbed suture with RB-1 needle (STRATAFIX®), n = 27.

Results: There was no significant difference in patient background characteristics between groups, including age, body mass index, and clinical stage.

The inhibition of pancreatic cancer progression by K-Ras-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretomes.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with poor survival. To explore an uncharted function of K-Ras proto-oncogene, K-Ras was activated in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the effects of MSC conditioned medium (CM) on PDAC were examined. Overexpression of K-Ras elevated PI3K signaling in MSCs, and K-Ras/PI3K-activated MSC-derived CM reduced the proliferation and migration of tumor cells, as well as the growth of ex vivo freshly isolated human PDAC cultures.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Patients with Preformed Donor-Specific Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies Using Preoperative Desensitization Therapy According to Intensity of Donor-Specific Antibodies: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND In liver transplantation (LT), preoperative desensitization therapy is considered necessary in patients positive for donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies (DSAs). However, the relationship between DSA intensity and the necessary desensitization therapy is unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 37 adult living donor (LD) LTs performed between January 2016 and March 2022 were examined.

Increased Cell Proliferation as a Key Event in Chemical Carcinogenesis: Application in an Integrated Approach for the Testing and Assessment of Non-Genotoxic Carcinogenesis.

In contrast to genotoxic carcinogens, there are currently no internationally agreed upon regulatory tools for identifying non-genotoxic carcinogens of human relevance. The rodent cancer bioassay is only used in certain regulatory sectors and is criticized for its limited predictive power for human cancer risk. Cancer is due to genetic errors occurring in single cells.

How many cases do instructor class pediatric surgeons need to experience to be an independent operator in performing advanced endoscopic surgery? A nationwide survey to establish an ideal curriculum for pediatric endoscopic surgery in Japan.

Purpose: To ensure the safe spread of pediatric endoscopic surgery, it is essential to build a training curriculum, and a survey of the current situation in Japan is necessary. The present study assessed an efficient training curriculum by clarifying instructor class pediatric surgeons' experiences, including autonomy when performing advanced endoscopic surgeries.

Methods: An online nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted among pediatric surgeons who had Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification (ESSQ) and board-certified instructors who had skills comparable to ESSQ.

A scoring evaluation for the practical introduction of guideline-directed medical therapy in heart failure patients.

Aims: The guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) has been recommended for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) based on the accumulating clinical evidence. However, it is difficult to implement all the trial-proven medications for every patient in the real world.

Methods And Results: A simple GDMT score was created, according to the combination of GDMT drugs (renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors) administration and their dosage (0-9 points).

Risk factors for postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing gastroenterological surgery: A single-center retrospective study.

Aim: To investigate the risk factors for postoperative delirium among elderly patients undergoing elective surgery for gastroenterological cancer.

Methods: From May 2020 to March 2022, patients ≥75 years old with gastroenterological cancer who underwent radical surgery were enrolled. The geriatric assessment, including evaluations of frailty, physical function, nutrition status, and cognitive function, was conducted preoperatively.

Clinical Outcomes of Radiotherapy for Stage 1 Glottic Carcinoma: Comparing Accelerated Hyperfractionation and Once-daily Fractionation.

Background/aim: Accelerated hyperfractionation (AHF) is used in head and neck cancer to improve the local control (LC) rate, but reports of outcomes for early-stage GC are limited. The outcomes of radiotherapy (RT) for stage 1 glottic carcinoma (GC) were retrospectively analyzed, comparing AHF and once-daily fractionation (ODF) using 2.0-2.

Quantitative measurement of airborne particles during endoscopic and microscopic ear surgery in the operating room.

Objective: This study aimed to quantitatively investigate airborne particle load in the operating room during endoscopic or microscopic epitympanectomy or mastoidectomy.

Method: In the transcanal endoscopic ear surgery group, drilling was performed underwater. A particle counter was used to measure the particle load before, during and after drilling during transcanal endoscopic ear surgery or microscopic ear surgery.

Potential of circulating receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 levels as a marker of acute liver injury.

The pathogenesis of acute liver failure (ALF) involves cell death. Necroptosis is a newly suggested programmed cell death, and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) has been reported as a marker for necroptosis. However, there are few reports on necroptosis in ALF.

Exploring Visual-Auditory Redirected Walking Using Auditory Cues in Reality.

We examine the effect of auditory cues occurring in reality on redirection. Specifically, we set two hypotheses: the auditory cues emanating from fixed positions in reality (Fixed sound, FS) increase the noticeability of redirection, while the auditory cues whose positions are manipulated consistently with the visual manipulation (Redirected sound, RDS) decrease the noticeability of redirection. To verify these hypotheses, we implemented an experimental environment that virtually reproduced FS and RDS conditions using binaural recording, and then we conducted a user study ( N=18) to investigate the detection thresholds (DTs) for rotational manipulation and the sound localization accuracy of the auditory cues under FS and RDS, as well as the baseline condition without auditory cues (No sound, NS).

Clinical significance of KL-6 in immune-checkpoint inhibitor treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) functions as a tumor marker, as well as a diagnostic tool for interstitial pneumonia (IP). However, the significance of KL-6 in the immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially in patients without IP, is unknown.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study, which included patients with advanced NSCLC who received ICI therapy, analyzed the association between serum KL-6 values and ICI efficacy and the association between serum KL-6 values and ICI-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurrence, focusing primarily on patients without IP.

The 5-factor modified frailty index is a novel predictive marker of death from other diseases after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Aim: The 5-factor modified frailty index (MFI-5) is a stratification tool to evaluate a patient's frailty. This study determined whether the MFI-5 is associated with short- and long-term outcomes after curative gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 447 consecutive patients who underwent curative gastrectomy, and evaluated their overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival.

Inhibitory action of B-type natriuretic peptide on adrenocorticotropic hormone in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

In addition to the classical actions of hemodynamic regulation, natriuretic peptides (NPs) interact with various neurohumoral factors that are deeply involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. However, their effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is activated under acute high-stress conditions in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), remain largely unknown. We investigated the impact of plasma B-type NP (BNP) on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-cortisol levels during the acute phase of ACS ischemic attacks.

Demethylation in promoter region of severely damaged hepatocytes enhances chemokine receptor CXCR4 gene expression.

The liver is known to possess remarkable regenerative potential, but persistent inflammation or severe acute injury can lead to liver fibrosis and incomplete regeneration, ultimately resulting in liver failure. Recent studies have shown that the axis of two types of CXCL12 receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, plays a crucial role in liver fibrosis and regeneration. The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory factors involved in CXCR4 expression in injured liver.

Orbital Engineering in Sillén-Aurivillius Phase Bismuth Oxyiodide Photocatalysts through Interlayer Interactions.

Multicomponent inorganic compounds containing post-transition-metal cations such as Sn, Pb, and Bi are a promising class of photocatalysts, but their structure-property relationships remain difficult to decipher. Here, we report three novel bismuth-based layered oxyiodides, the Sillén-Aurivillius phase BiNbOI, BiBaTiOI, and BiNbWOI. We show that the interlayer Bi-Bi interaction is a key to controlling the electronic structure.

Astatine-211-labeled aza-vesamicol derivatives as sigma receptor ligands for targeted alpha therapy.

Introduction: As sigma receptors are abundantly expressed on different types of cancer cells, several radiolabeled sigma receptor ligands have been developed for cancer imaging and therapy. Previously, we synthesized and evaluated radioiodinated aza-vesamicol derivatives, [I]pICNV, [I]mICN5V, and [I]mICN5V. They accumulated in tumors, and [I]mICN5V and [I]mICN5V showed higher tumor to non-target tissue ratios than [I]pICNV.

Validation of robust radiobiological optimization algorithms based on the mixed beam model for intensity-modulated carbon-ion therapy.

Currently, treatment planning systems (TPSs) that can compute the intensities of intensity-modulated carbon-ion therapy (IMCT) using scanned carbon-ion beams are limited. In the present study, the computational efficacy of the newly designed IMCT algorithms was analyzed for the first time based on the mixed beam model with respect to the physical and biological doses; moreover, the validity and effectiveness of the robust radiobiological optimization were verified. A dose calculation engine was independently generated to validate a clinical dose determined in the TPS.

Total Superior Mesenteric Artery Nerve Plexus Preservation During Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) nerve plexus (PLsma) dissection has been performed to achieve R0 resection in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in high-volume centers. However, full-extent PLsma preservation in PD is employed in our institution. The feasibility of the PLsma preservation strategy was investigated.