Association of Preoperative and Postoperative Plasma Syndecan-1 and Colorectal Cancer Outcome.

Background/aim: A three-dimensional network constructed using glycocalyx (GCX) extends throughout the cancer cell nest in human colorectal cancer (CRC). GCX was found to be closely related to cancer. We examined the prognostic correlation and potential of syndecan-1 (SDC1), a representative proteoglycan of GCX, as a biomarker.

Educational inequalities in all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Japan: national census-linked mortality data for 2010-15.

Background: Due to the lack of a national mortality inequality monitoring framework, the overall picture in Japan remains unclear. Here, we investigated educational inequalities in mortality and their cause-specific contribution in Japan.

Method: Data were obtained by linking the 2010 Japanese population census and death records between 1 October 2010 and 30 September 2015.

Enhancing carbapenem antimicrobial dosing optimization: synergy of antimicrobial stewardship teams and ward-based clinical pharmacists.

Antimicrobial-product package inserts and insufficient staffing impede routine carbapenem monitoring in the inpatient setting in Japan. The collaboration between antimicrobial stewardship teams and clinical pharmacists was associated with a sustained improvement in carbapenem dosing optimization. Our findings could be of use to countries with inadequate monitoring of carbapenem antimicrobial use.

Large Neutral Amino Acids Moderate the Effects of Metabolic Syndrome on Cognitive Performance in Middle-Aged Adults.

Introduction: Two large neutral amino acids (LNAA), tryptophan and tyrosine, are precursors to cerebral neurotransmitters and are involved in cognitive function. Higher levels of LNAA in young adults are associated with improved cognition, although these associations appear to reverse over time. Given that exposure to metabolic syndrome (MetS) may induce premature cognitive aging, the current project aims to fill the gap in the literature by examining the effect of LNAA on cognitive performance in midlife adults with metabolic risks.

Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer (YPB-001).

Objectives: The present multicenter prospective observational study investigated the effectiveness and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and those with RPC contacting major vessels, with respect to a historical control of upfront surgery.

Materials And Methods: Patients with BRPC and RPC contacting major vessels were prospectively registered and administered NAC with durations and regimens determined by the corresponding treating physician. Our primary aim was to assess the R0 resection rate, and secondary aim was to evaluate safety, resection rate, time to treatment failure, overall survival, and response rate.

Analysis of the Medication Persistence Rate for and Adherence to Oral 5-Aminosalicylic Acid Preparations in Japanese Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Study Using a Nationwide Claims Database.

Introduction: 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is the first-line drug for the treatment of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). Three oral sustained-release formulations are often used. However, no unified view of their actual use in routine medical practice has been presented to date.

Targeting ROCK2 improves macromolecular permeability in a 3D fibrotic pancreatic cancer microenvironment model.

Pancreatic cancer is characterized by a densely fibrotic stroma. The fibrotic stroma hinders the intratumoral penetration of nanomedicine and diminishes therapeutic efficacy. Fibrosis is characterized by an abnormal organization of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, namely the abnormal deposition and/or orientation of collagen and fibronectin.

Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia with Complicated Offending Vessel Involving Trigeminocerebellar Artery: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a well-established and definitive treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, complex vascular geometry and numerous offending vessels make it difficult to perform nerve decompression in certain cases. The trigeminocerebellar artery (TCA) is a unique branch of the basilar artery.

Verrucous gastritis-like lesion in intramucosal Helicobacter pylori-uninfected signet ring cell carcinoma with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.

In Japan, accessible Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication therapy is associated with an increase in the prevalence of gastric cancers (GCs) in Hp uninfected stomachs. Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is the most common of these GCs. Intramucosal SRCC with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PDA) occurring in Hp uninfected gastric mucosa is rare; furthermore, many Hp uninfected pure SRCCs exhibit discoloration and flat or slightly depressed lesions, and morphological elevation is relatively rare.

Tertiary lymphoid structures and B cells determine clinically relevant T cell phenotypes in ovarian cancer.

Intratumoral tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been associated with improved outcome in various cohorts of patients with cancer, reflecting their contribution to the development of tumor-targeting immunity. Here, we demonstrate that high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) contains distinct immune aggregates with varying degrees of organization and maturation. Specifically, mature TLSs (mTLS) as forming only in 16% of HGSOCs with relatively elevated tumor mutational burden (TMB) are associated with an increased intratumoral density of CD8 effector T (T) cells and TIM3PD1, hence poorly immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-sensitive, CD8 T cells.

Landscape of driver mutations and their clinical effects on Down syndrome-related myeloid neoplasms.

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) is a common complication in newborns with Down syndrome (DS). It commonly progresses to myeloid leukemia (ML-DS) after spontaneous regression. In contrast to the favorable prognosis of primary ML-DS, patients with refractory/relapsed ML-DS have poor outcomes.

Elastic Banding Compression as a Novel Treatment to Maintain Hemodynamics in a Patient With Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is also associated with venous thrombosis originating from varicose veins in the lower extremities, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary hypertension. This study describes the anesthetic management of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a 54-year-old male KTS patient with orthostatic hypotension due to massive varicose veins in the lower extremities and pulmonary thromboembolism. Compressing the varicosities with an elastic bandage can maintain stable circulatory dynamics even under general anesthesia management to prevent position and insufflation-induced changes that can occur spontaneously.

A new surgical approach for the treatment of a refractory foveal microaneurysm: A case report.

Purpose: To report a case of a refractory foveal microaneurysm (MA) that was successfully treated by use of a new surgical procedure.

Observations: This study involved a 79-year-old female with an active foveal MA associated with branch retinal vein occlusion in her left eye. Despite anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments, the MA remained active without closure, and best-corrected visual acuity (VA) gradually decreased from 20/20 to 20/200.

A novel pathogenic variant in fibroblast growth factor 23 outside the furin-recognizing RXXR motif in an autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets patient.

Introduction: Autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR) is caused by pathogenic variants in the fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) gene, which plays a key role in the regulation of phosphorus metabolism. FGF23 has the RXXR motif recognized by furin, leading to cleavage between R179 and S180 and thereby inactivating the protein's function. Previously reported variants in FGF23 causing ADHR occurred only affecting residues R176 or R179, which are located in the RXXR motif, leading to impaired cleavage.

Interparticle normal force in highly porous granular matter during compression.

We perform a numerical simulation of compression of a highly porous dust aggregate of monodisperse spheres. We find that the average interparticle normal force within the aggregate is inversely proportional to both the filling factor and the average coordination number and we also derive this relation theoretically. Our findings would be applicable for granular matter of arbitrary structures, as long as the constituent particles are monodisperse spheres.

Development of phenotyping algorithms for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and their application in more than 22,000 pregnant women.

Recently, many phenotyping algorithms for high-throughput cohort identification have been developed. Prospective genome cohort studies are critical resources for precision medicine, but there are many hurdles in the precise cohort identification. Consequently, it is important to develop phenotyping algorithms for cohort data collection.

Assessing genetic diversity and geographical differentiation in a global collection of wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc.) and assigning a mini-core collection.

Wild soybean (Glycine soja), the ancestor of the cultivated soybean (G. max), is a crucial resource for capturing the genetic diversity of soybean species. In this study, we used a set of 78 genome-wide microsatellite markers to analyse the genetic diversity and geographic differentiation patterns in a global collection of 2,050 G.

Depletion of Ppp6c in hematopoietic and vascular endothelial cells causes embryonic lethality and decreased hematopoietic potential.

Protein phosphatase 6 (PP6) is a serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein phosphatase, and its catalytic subunit is Ppp6c. PP6 forms the PP2A subfamily with PP2A and PP4. The diverse phenotypes observed following small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based knockdown of Ppp6c in cultured mammalian cells suggest that PP6 plays roles in cell growth and DNA repair.

Adapting the Number of Questions Based on Detected Psychological Distress for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With an Embodied Conversational Agent: Comparative Study.

Background: The high prevalence of mental illness is a critical social problem. The limited availability of mental health services is a major factor that exacerbates this problem. One solution is to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) using an embodied conversational agent (ECA).

An Infant Diagnosed With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Following Frequent Apneic Attacks.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) is a microdeletion syndrome that pediatricians may encounter. It has a distinctive presentation and is often diagnosed based on a few characteristic symptoms.