Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report.

Recently, the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibody pembrolizumab, a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), has been used in preoperative systemic chemotherapy for hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2-negative breast cancer, also known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Chemotherapy with pembrolizumab has demonstrated clinical activity in terms of pathologic complete response and event-free survival. Despite their efficacy, the current understanding of the full spectrum of side effects associated with relatively new ICIs remains incomplete.

The evaluation of risk factors for prolonged viral shedding during anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies and long-term administration of antivirals in COVID-19 patients with B-cell lymphoma treated by anti-CD20 antibody.

Background: The global impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. Immunocompromised patients, particularly those treated for B-cell lymphoma, have shown an increased risk of persistent infection with SARS-CoV-2 and severe outcomes and mortality. Multi-mutational SARS-CoV-2 variants can arise during the course of such persistent cases of COVID-19.

Clinical experience of treatment of immunocompromised individuals with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection based on drug resistance mutations determined by genomic analysis: a descriptive study.

Background: The efficacy of antiviral drugs that neutralize antibody drugs and fight against SARS-COV-2 is reported to be attenuated by genetic mutations of the virus in vitro. When B-cell immunocompromised patients are infected with SARS-COV-2, the infection can be prolonged, and genetic mutations can occur during the course of treatment. Therefore, for refractory patients with persistent COVID-19 infection, genomic analysis was performed to obtain data on drug resistance mutations as a reference to determine which antiviral drugs and antibody therapies might be effective in their treatment.

Very Late Stent Thrombosis Complicating Immune Thrombocytopenia: Insights From Optical Coherence Tomography and Thrombopathology.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) carries bleeding and thrombotic risks; however, thromboses associated with ITP have not been histologically examined. This report presents optical coherence tomography images of the culprit lesion and histology of coronary aspirates in very late stent thrombosis complicating severe ITP, providing evidence of platelet-rich thrombus formation. ().

The safety of plasma apheresis from donors recovering from COVID-19 infection in Japan.

Purpose: Since 2020, the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has spread globally. A few studies have investigated the safety of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) apheresis from COVID-19. This study was the first retrospective observational study of CCP in Japan.

A case of subacute combined spinal cord degeneration and suspected leukoencephalopathy associated with vitamin B deficiency showing improved imaging findings after vitamin B administration.

We report a case of subacute combined spinal cord degeneration (SCD) caused by vegetarianism and autoimmune gastritis, which is rarely reported in Japan, and which showed improvement in symptoms and imaging findings after vitamin B administration. As delayed treatment can lead to irreversible damage, we suggest that patients with characteristic abnormal signals in the posterior cervical cord should be examined while considering the possibility that SCD may occur even in the absence of a history of gastrectomy or heavy drinking. We also describe the patient's reversible abnormal signals in the cerebral white matter on magnetic resonance imaging, indicative of an early sign of leukoencephalopathy associated with vitamin B deficiency.

Novel treatment combining antiviral and neutralizing antibody-based therapies with monitoring of spike-specific antibody and viral load for immunocompromised patients with persistent COVID-19 infection.

Because prolonged viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 is increasingly being recognized among immunocompromised patients, subacute or chronic COVID-19 pneumonia can cause persistent lung damage and may lead to viral escape phenomena. Highly efficacious antiviral therapies in immunosuppressed hosts with COVID-19 are urgently needed. From February 2022, we introduced novel treatment combining antiviral therapies and neutralizing antibodies with frequent monitoring of spike-specific antibody and RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values as indicators of viral load for immunocompromised patients with persistent COVID-19 infection.

[Fibrinolytic factors: novel molecular targets for cytokine storm-associated diseases].

The mortality rate due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reached 5.3 million. However, identifying the novel treatment targets that ultimately reduce or prevent disease aggravation will be possible by understanding the mechanism and pathophysiology underlying the COVID-19 aggravation.

Clinical analysis of 71 spontaneous pneumomediastinum cases: an observational study from a tertiary care hospital in Japan.

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is characterized by the presence of interstitial air in the mediastinum without any underlying disease. Some cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum have been reported in the past, although only few reports are available, and its management remains uncertain. This study reviewed our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Microstimulation of primate neocortex targeting striosomes induces negative decision-making.

Here, we combined MRI-guided electrical microstimulation and viral tracing to examine the function of a corticostriatal circuit implicated by previous cortical microstimulation as modulating affective judgment and decision-making. Local microstimulation of a small part of the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) was found to increase avoidance decisions in a cost-benefit decision-making task (Ap-Av task) in which differing amounts of "good" and "bad" options were given simultaneously. No effect of such stimulation was found when the monkeys performed a task in which both offers were rewarding, but given in different amounts.

Germanene Epitaxial Growth by Segregation through Ag(111) Thin Films on Ge(111).

Large-scale two-dimensional sheets of graphene-like germanium, namely, germanene, have been epitaxially prepared on Ag(111) thin films grown on Ge(111), using a segregation method, differing from molecular beam epitaxy used in previous reports. From the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images, the surface is completely covered with an atom-thin layer showing a highly ordered long-range superstructure in wide scale. Two types of protrusions, named hexagon and line, form a (7√7 × 7√7) R19.

[Two Cases of Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma Arising in Urethral Diverticulum].

We report two cases of clear cell adenocarcinoma arising in the urethral diverticulum. Case 1 occurred in a 79-year-old woman presenting with complaints of frequent micturition. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a localized urethral diverticular tumor.

Micafungin Breakthrough Fungemia in Patients with Hematological Disorders.

Limited data are available on micafungin breakthrough fungemia (MBF), fungemia that develops on administration of micafungin, in patients with hematological disorders. We reviewed medical and microbiological records of patients with hematological disorders who developed MBF between January 2008 and June 2015. A total of 39 patients with MBF were identified, and (30 strains) and non- (9 strains) fungal species were recognized as causative strains.

Miniaturized neural system for chronic, local intracerebral drug delivery.

Recent advances in medications for neurodegenerative disorders are expanding opportunities for improving the debilitating symptoms suffered by patients. Existing pharmacologic treatments, however, often rely on systemic drug administration, which result in broad drug distribution and consequent increased risk for toxicity. Given that many key neural circuitries have sub-cubic millimeter volumes and cell-specific characteristics, small-volume drug administration into affected brain areas with minimal diffusion and leakage is essential.

Rituximab-induced Acute Thrombocytopenia in a Patient with Follicular Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Rituximab is a highly effective agent that is used in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. Rituximab-induced acute thrombocytopenia is a rare side effect that has previously been reported in a small number of patients with malignant lymphoma; its mechanism is still unknown. We herein report the case of a 74-year old man who was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and who developed severe acute thrombocytopenia the day after the administration of rituximab.

Long-term dopamine neurochemical monitoring in primates.

Many debilitating neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by dopamine neurotransmitter dysregulation. Monitoring subsecond dopamine release accurately and for extended, clinically relevant timescales is a critical unmet need. Especially valuable has been the development of electrochemical fast-scan cyclic voltammetry implementing microsized carbon fiber probe implants to record fast millisecond changes in dopamine concentrations.

Pharmacological targeting of plasmin prevents lethality in a murine model of macrophage activation syndrome.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a life-threatening disorder characterized by a cytokine storm and multiorgan dysfunction due to excessive immune activation. Although abnormalities of coagulation and fibrinolysis are major components of MAS, the role of the fibrinolytic system and its key player, plasmin, in the development of MAS remains to be solved. We established a murine model of fulminant MAS by repeated injections of Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9) agonist and d-galactosamine (DG) in immunocompetent mice.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 regulates macrophage-dependent postoperative adhesion by enhancing EGF-HER1 signaling in mice.

Adhesive small bowel obstruction remains a common problem for surgeons. After surgery, platelet aggregation contributes to coagulation cascade and fibrin clot formation. With clotting, fibrin degradation is simultaneously enhanced, driven by tissue plasminogen activator-mediated cleavage of plasminogen to form plasmin.

Subcellular probes for neurochemical recording from multiple brain sites.

Dysregulation of neurochemicals, in particular, dopamine, is epitomized in numerous debilitating disorders that impair normal movement and mood aspects of our everyday behavior. Neurochemical transmission is a neuron-specific process, and further exhibits region-specific signaling in the brain. Tools are needed to monitor the heterogeneous spatiotemporal dynamics of dopamine neurotransmission without compromising the physiological processes of the neuronal environment.