Combined molecular subclass and immune phenotype correlate to atezolizumab plus radiation therapy response in invasive bladder cancer: BPT-ART Phase II study.

Purpose: Bladder preservation therapy in combination with atezolizumab and radiation therapy (BPT-ART) trial, which was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase II study, showed a promisingly high interim clinical complete response (cCR) rate of 84.4% (38/45). In the present study, we aimed to identify potential tissue biomarkers for achieving cCR via BPT-ART.

Improved prognosis of de novo metastatic prostate cancer after an introduction of life-prolonging agents for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: In Japan, since 2014, new treatments such as androgen receptor signaling inhibitors and cabazitaxel have become applicable for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), leading to dramatic changes in treatment options.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of recent advancements in treatment options on the overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2450 Japanese men diagnosed with de novo mCSPC between 2008 and 2018.

Surgical skill analysis focused on tissue traction in laparoscopic wet lab training.

Background: Tissue handling is one of the pivotal parts of surgical procedures. We aimed to elucidate the characteristics of experts' left-hand during laparoscopic tissue dissection.

Methods: Participants performed tissue dissection around the porcine aorta.

Effects of heat stress on predicted energy balance, fat-to-protein ratio, and milk β-hydroxybutyrate in first-lactation Holstein cattle in Hokkaido, Japan.

Heat stress (HS) reduces dry-matter intake and causes negative energy balance (EB) in Holstein cattle, with consequent deterioration in milk production and wellness. Therefore, the effects of HS can be detected more directly from imbalances in EB than from the consequent changes in production or health traits. EB can be monitored by metabolism-related traits such as predicted EB (PEB), the fat-to-protein ratio (FPR), or β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in milk.

Profile of cytokine gene expression of the endometrium and its relationship to inflammation and fertility in postpartum dairy cows.

To clarify the profile of endometrial cytokines and their relation to inflammation and fertility, mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL)-1α, -1β, -8, -10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α at weeks (W) 3, 5, and 7 postpartum were compared between Holstein cows without and with cytological endometritis and between early (£90 days) and delayed (>90 days postpartum) conception cows. IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-8 expressions at W5 and W7 were significantly higher in cows with cytological endometritis than without. While IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α expressions decreased from W3 to W5 in all early conception cows, the percentage of cows decreasing these mRNA was significantly lower in delayed conception cows than early conception cows.