Risk factors for anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer surgery reflecting current practices.

Purpose: In recent years, major advancements have been made in rectal cancer surgery with the introduction of new techniques such as robotic surgery and indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI). This study aimed to evaluate the comprehensive risk factors for anastomotic leakage (AL) following rectal cancer surgery, incorporating recently introduced techniques and other existing factors, to reflect current practices.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 304 patients who underwent either robotic or laparoscopic anterior resection between January 2019 and December 2023.

Preoperative risk factors for ileostomy-associated kidney injury in colorectal tumor surgery following ileostomy formation.

Purpose: Diverting ileostomy is related to postoperative high-output stoma (HOS) leading to kidney injury. The purpose of our study was to clarify the risk factors for ileostomy-associated kidney injury, which is kidney injury starting after the first operation to ileostomy closure after colorectal tumor surgery with diverting ileostomy.

Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2020, 442 patients who underwent colorectal tumor surgery (cancer, neuroendocrine tumor, and leiomyosarcoma) following diverting ileostomy formation were included.

Isolation of a Moderately Acidophilic Nitrobacter from a Nitrifying Community Supplied with Urea.

Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), which perform the second step of aerobic nitrification, play an important role in soil. In the present study, we report a novel isolate from agricultural soil affiliated with the genus Nitrobacter and its physiological characteristics. We sampled the surface soil of a vegetable field and obtained mixed culture A31 using the most probable number (MPN) method with inorganic medium containing 0.

A Method for Evaluating Hunger and Thirst in Monkeys by Measuring Blood Ghrelin and Osmolality Levels.

Hunger and thirst drive animals' consumption behavior and regulate their decision-making concerning rewards. We previously assessed the thirst states of monkeys by measuring blood osmolality under controlled water access and examined how these thirst states influenced their risk-taking behavior in decisions involving fluid rewards. However, hunger assessment in monkeys remains poorly performed.

C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio as a risk factor for anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer with intraoperative use of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging.

Introduction: Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) reduces anastomotic leakage (AL) in rectal cancer surgery. However, no studies investigating risk factors for anastomotic leakage specific to the group using ICG-FI have ever previously been conducted. The purpose of this retrospective multicenter study was to ascertain the risk factors for AL in the group using ICG-FI.

Investigating the effect of the micelle structures of block and random copolymers on dye solubilization.

To elucidate the correlation between dye solubilization into micelles and their core-shell aggregated structure, the structures of block and random copolymer micelles were characterized. The block copolymer micelles exhibited a higher dye solubilization capacity which correlated with their core volume, clear core-shell contrast and slow solubilization rate.

Monitoring ctDNA RAS Mutational Status in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Trial Protocol of RAS-trace and RAS-trace-2 Studies.

Background: Spatial and temporal heterogeneities of RAS and other molecular genes should be considered in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs); acquired RAS mutation is sometimes observed at disease progression of treatment with the anti-EGFR mAb. At the same time, discrepancy of RAS status from tissues and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the same patient is sometimes observed. Based on this, we commenced two observational studies to clarify these heterogeneities of RAS and BRAF in mCRC, using next generation sequencing from liquid biopsy.

Incremental value of diastolic wall strain in predicting heart failure events in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Diastolic wall strain (DWS), an echocardiographic index based on linear elasticity theory, has been identified as a predictor of heart failure (HF) in patients with sinus rhythm. However, its effectiveness in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains uncertain. This study aims to assess DWS as a predictor of HF in AF patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with obstructive colon cancer: A multicenter propensity score-matched analysis (YCOG2101).

Aim: Obstructive colon cancer is locally advanced colon cancer with poor prognosis. However, the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on obstructive colon cancer remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of NAC in patients with obstructive colon cancer.

Surgical outcomes of a prospective, phase 2 trial of robotic surgery for resectable right-sided colon cancer (the ROBOCOLO trial).

Aim: We evaluated the safety of robotic surgery for right-sided colon cancer in Japan.

Methods: This was a prospective, open-label, single-arm phase II trial conducted at two institutions. Patients ≥20 years old with stage I-III right-sided colon cancer and scheduled for radical resection with ≥D2 lymph node dissection were eligible.

Discovery and SAR of JTE-151: A Novel RORγ Inhibitor for Clinical Development.

A number of RORγ inhibitors have been reported over the past decade. There were also several examples advancing to human clinical trials, however, none of them has reached the market yet, suggesting that there could be common obstacles for their future development. As was expected from the general homology of nuclear receptor ligands, insufficient selectivity as well as poor physicochemical properties were identified as potential risks for a RORγ program.

Total Synthesis of the Sesquiterpene (-)-Merrillianin.

The first total synthesis of (-)-merrillianin (), which is a natural sesquiterpene with a tricyclic structure having a cyclopentane ring and five- and seven-membered lactone parts, is demonstrated. This asymmetric total synthesis enabled the absolute stereostructure determination of naturally occurring (-)-.

Analysis of the Ink-Stream Break-Up Phenomenon in Continuous Inkjet Printing.

The ink-stream break-up phenomenon in continuous inkjet printers has been studied herein. A numerical model has been developed to reproduce and analyze the non-monotonic behavior of ink-stream break-up length (BUL) against the amplitude of piezo-actuator oscillation. That is, when the amplitude is increased, the BUL initially decreases to a local minimum point, then increases to a local maximum point, and finally decreases again.

Short-term and Mid-term Outcomes of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Laparoscopic Right-Sided Colectomy: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Background: With the use of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging, intraoperative lymphatic flow assessment is possible. However, no report has indicated mid-term outcomes of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging-guided laparoscopic right-sided colectomy.

Objective: To analyze the mid-term outcomes of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging-guided laparoscopic right-sided colectomy.

The role of dendritic cells and their immunometabolism in rheumatoid arthritis.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovitis and joint destruction. Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) with professional antigen-presenting functions are enriched in the RA synovium. In the synovium, the cDCs are activated and show both enhanced migratory capacities and T cell activation in comparison with peripheral blood cDCs.

Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Anti-synthetase Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition in which there is an abnormally high pressure in the pulmonary arteries that can occur as a complication of connective tissue diseases. Although the relationship between PH and systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic sclerosis has been well-characterized, PH rarely occurs in patients with anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS), and little is known about the pathophysiology and clinical outcome of patients with ASS-PH. We herein report a patient with anti-Jo-1-positive ASS complicated by PH and discuss the treatment strategy through a review of previously reported cases.

The effect of preoperative endoscopic tattooing using India ink on lymph node yield in laparoscopic colectomy for stage I right-sided colon cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of preoperative endoscopic tattooing using India ink (ETI) on the number of retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) dissected during laparoscopic surgery for stage I right-sided colon cancer (RCC).

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included stage I RCC patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery between January 2010 and December 2021. The clinicopathological background and number of LNs retrieved were compared between patients managed with and without ETI.

Immunomics analysis of rheumatoid arthritis identified precursor dendritic cells as a key cell subset of treatment resistance.

Objectives: Little is known about the immunology underlying variable treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We performed large-scale transcriptome analyses of peripheral blood immune cell subsets to identify immune cells that predict treatment resistance.

Methods: We isolated 18 peripheral blood immune cell subsets of 55 patients with RA requiring addition of new treatment and 39 healthy controls, and performed RNA sequencing.