Quantum Yield Enhancement in Graphene Quantum Dots via Esterification with Benzyl Alcohol.

The quantum yield of graphene quantum dots was enhanced by restriction of the rotation and vibration of surface functional groups on the edges of the graphene quantum dots via esterification with benzyl alcohol; this enhancement is crucial for the widespread application of graphene quantum dots in light-harvesting devices and optoelectronics. The obtained graphene quantum dots with highly graphene-stacked structures are understood to participate in π-π interactions with adjacent aromatic rings of the benzylic ester on the edges of the graphene quantum dots, thus impeding the nonradiative recombination process in graphene quantum dots. Furthermore, the crude graphene quantum dots were in a gel-like solid form and showed white luminescence under blue light illumination.

Impacts on Histological Features and C-Methyl-L-methionine Uptake After "One-Shot" Administration with Bevacizumab Before Surgery in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma.

Background: Bevacizumab (BEV), an antiangiogenic agent, induces dramatic normalization of the tumor vasculature in glioblastoma. This study aimed to clarify how one-time administration of BEV changes histological features in glioblastoma and how histological changes affect the uptake of C-methyl-L-methionine (C-met) as an amino-acid tracer.

Materials And Methods: Subjects were 18 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who were assigned to two groups: BEV group, single intravenous administration of BEV before surgical tumor removal; and control group, surgical tumor removal alone.

The expression of gastrointestinal differentiation markers in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: clinicopathological significance based on tumor location.

The expression of gastrointestinal differentiation markers is associated with the tumorigenesis and prognosis of digestive cancers. However, little is known about the significance of gastrointestinal differentiation marker profiles in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), which is classified as perihilar and distal CCA. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of gastrointestinal differentiation marker expression in extrahepatic CCA based on tumor location.

Therapeutic inhibition of microRNA-34a ameliorates aortic valve calcification via modulation of Notch1-Runx2 signalling.

Aims: Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is the most common valvular heart disease and is increased with elderly population. However, effective drug therapy has not been established yet. This study aimed to investigate the role of microRNAs (miRs) in the development of CAVS.

Risk Factors for Post-gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Bleeding with a Special Emphasis on Anticoagulant Therapy.

Background: Little is known about the risk factors for post endoscopic submucosal dissection (post-ESD) bleeding with anticoagulant therapy.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the risk factors for post-ESD bleeding for early gastric cancer (EGC) with an emphasis on anticoagulant therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2355 EGCs, including 137 lesions in patients treated under anticoagulants.

Melanocytic Nevus of the Colon.

Here, we report a very rare case of melanocytic nevus of the colon. A 54-year-old woman with an unremarkable medical history visited our hospital for screening colonoscopy. Colonoscopy revealed a pigmented flat lesion in the ascending colon.

Fluorescence-labeled neopeltolide derivatives for subcellular localization imaging.

Design, synthesis and functional analysis of fluorescent derivatives of neopeltolide, an antiproliferative marine macrolide, are reported herein. Live cell imaging using the fluorescent derivatives showed rapid cellular uptake and localization within the endoplasmic reticulum as well as the mitochondria.

Analysis of Expression Patterns of MicroRNAs That Are Closely Associated With Renal Carcinogenesis.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are frequently dysregulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). This study aimed to elucidate the role of miRNA expression patterns in renal carcinogenesis and to identify the specific miRNAs that exhibit expression patterns closely associated with patient outcomes. We examined the expression patterns of selected miRNAs, including miRNA-155-5p, miRNA-122-5p, miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-185-5p, miRNA-106a-5p, miRNA-106b-3p, miRNA-34b-3p, miRNA-210-3p, miRNA-141-3p, miRNA-200c-3p, miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-30a-5p, miRNA-218-5p, miRNA-429, miRNA-200a-3p and miRNA-200b-3p, in 96 samples of ccRCCs using the TaqMan real-time PCR method.

A case report of psychiatric symptoms following direct-acting antiviral and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C in a patient with innate anxiety.

Background: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) result in a highly sustained virological response rate and better patient tolerance. However, this therapeutic approach may, on rare occasions, give rise to psychiatric symptoms. We describe a case requiring discontinuation of DAA and ribavirin combination therapy due to psychiatric symptoms in a patient with congenital anxious personality traits.

A case of angiosarcomas which occurred in an adrenal gland and spleen synchronously.

We report a case of a 56-year-old woman who simultaneously presented adrenal and spleen tumors. Computed tomography imaging revealed a 7-cm enhancing adrenal and 2-cm solitary spleen masses. The patient simultaneously underwent left adrenalectomy and splenectomy.

Gastric mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN) with pancreatic acinar differentiation: a case report.

Background: Gastric mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) are infrequently encountered in routine practice. Some gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) have a variety of differentiation patterns; however, pancreatic acinar differentiation in gastric NECs is rare. The molecular abnormalities of NECs with pancreatic acinar differentiation are not well understood.

UHRF1 depletion and HDAC inhibition reactivate epigenetically silenced genes in colorectal cancer cells.

Background: Ubiquitin-like protein containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) is a major regulator of epigenetic mechanisms and is overexpressed in various human malignancies. In this study, we examined the involvement of UHRF1 in aberrant DNA methylation and gene silencing in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Results: CRC cell lines were transiently transfected with siRNAs targeting UHRF1, after which DNA methylation was analyzed using dot blots, bisulfite pyrosequencing, and Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip assays.

Cardiac Nuclear High-Mobility Group Box 1 Ameliorates Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy by Inhibiting DNA Damage Response.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-binding protein associated with DNA repair. Decreased nuclear HMGB1 expression and increased DNA damage response (DDR) were observed in human failing hearts. DNA damage and DDR as well as cardiac remodeling were suppressed in cardiac-specific HMGB1 overexpression transgenic mice after angiotensin II stimulation as compared with wild-type mice.

Clinical usefulness of magnifying colonoscopy for the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia.

Background And Aim: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of Japanese magnifying colonoscopic classifications for ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia (UCAN).

Methods: We reviewed the colonoscopy records from 2011 to 2018 at our institutions and identified cases of endoscopically or surgically resected UCAN observed by magnifying narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy and magnifying chromoendoscopy. Association between magnifying endoscopic classification and histopathological findings was investigated retrospectively.

[Preoperative Diagnosis of Spinal Immature Teratoma Associated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage from the Congenital Dermal Sinus Tract in a 0-Day-Old Infant:A Case Report].

We report the case of a patient with spinal immature teratoma and cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the congenital dermal sinus tract. A 0-day-old female infant presented with a subcutaneous soft mass with a dimple in the lumbosacral region at birth. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mixed low-intensity mass located in the extraspinal and intraspinal canal with a sinus tract.

Mesenteric extraovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor without DICER1 hotspot mutation: a case report.

Background: Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs) with androgenic manifestations harbor DICER1 mutations in 30-60% of cases. Ovarian SLCTs without DICER1 hotspot mutations have been reported to exhibit elderly onset and no androgenic manifestations. We present the first case of a primary mesenteric SLCT without DICER1 hotspot mutation.

Impact of Iron Deficiency on Peripheral Artery Disease After Endovascular Therapy.

Despite advances in endovascular therapy (EVT), peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a public health problem associated with high cardiovascular mortality. Iron deficiency (ID) is associated with poor clinical outcome in patients with heart disease, but whether ID is associated with the severity and clinical outcome of PAD remains unclear. A total of 449 patients with PAD who received EVT and who had iron and red blood cell measurement were enrolled.

Nitrogen loading increases the ozone sensitivity of larch seedlings with higher sensitivity to nitrogen loading.

Larch (Larix sp.) tree is a critical species for the future afforestation in Northeast Asia. The impacts of elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone (O) and nitrogen (N) deposition are raising concerns.