A New Method for Lateral Visualization of the Primary Cilia on the Surfaces of Cells Cultured on White Glass Rods.

Purpose: To investigate the motility of the primary cilia of corneal endothelial cells (CECs), which exist like a hair on the cell surface, using our new in vitro method.

Methods: A white glass rod was heated with a gas burner to produce a rod approximately 0.5 mm in diameter and 20 mm in length and then coated with collagen.

Long-range enhancement for fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy using Ag nanoislands protected with column-structured silica overlayer.

We demonstrate long-range enhancement of fluorescence and Raman scattering using a dense random array of Ag nanoislands (AgNIs) coated with column-structured silica (CSS) overlayer of over 100 nm thickness, namely, remote plasmonic-like enhancement (RPE). The CSS layer provides physical and chemical protection, reducing the impact between analyte molecules and metal nanostructures. RPE plates are fabricated with high productivity using sputtering and chemical immersion in gold(I)/halide solution.

Membrane structures and functional correlates in the bi-segmented eye lens of the cephalopod.

The cephalopod eye lens is unique because it has evolved as a compound structure with two physiologically distinct segments. However, the detailed ultrastructure of this lens and precise optical role of each segment are far from clear. To help elucidate structure-function relationships in the cephalopod lens, we conducted multiple structural investigations on squid.

Circulating cell-free DNA methylation patterns as non-invasive biomarkers to monitor colorectal cancer treatment efficacy without referencing primary site mutation profiles.

This study investigates methylation patterns in circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) for their potential role in colorectal cancer (CRC) detection and the monitoring of treatment response. Through methylation microarrays and quantitative PCR assays, we analyzed 440 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and an additional 949 CRC samples. We detected partial or extensive methylation in over 85% of cases within three biomarkers: EFEMP1, SFRP2, and UNC5C.

Chemotherapy after nivolumab for advanced gastric cancer (REVIVE): a prospective observational study.

Background: Nivolumab therapy is a standard-of-care treatment for heavily pretreated patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Previous studies have reported improvement in the objective response rate to chemotherapy after nivolumab therapy for other types of cancer. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy after nivolumab therapy in AGC.

Identification and Analysis of Primary Cilia in the Corneal Endothelial Cells of Patients with Bullous Keratopathy.

Purpose: To identify primary cilia in human corneal endothelial cells (CECs) obtained from patients with bullous keratopathy (BK).

Methods: This study involved CEC specimens obtained from 10 eyes of 10 consecutive patients (three males and seven females; mean age: 74.5 years, range: 68-90 years) with BK who underwent Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty at Baptist Eye Institute, Kyoto, Japan between August 2019 and September 2020.

Neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio before each chemotherapy line predicts clinical outcomes in patients with unresectable gastric cancer.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a well-known prognostic biomarker for patients with gastric cancer (GC). However, for patients with GC treated with palliative chemotherapy, the predictive values of NLR remain obscure. Therefore, the present study evaluated the clinical impact of NLR in patients with GC treated with a series of chemotherapies.

Genomically Stable Gastric Cancer Characterized by Hypomethylation in Wnt Signal Cascade.

Introduction: Gastric cancer is divided into four subtypes by their molecular features linked with genetic alterations, e.g., Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high), chromosomal instability (CIN), and genomically stable (GS), called as TCGA classification.

Temperature effects on the disappearance and reappearance of corneal-endothelium primary cilia.

Introduction: To elucidate the specific functions of the primary cilia in corneal endothelial cells (CECs) by investigating the histological changes of corneal endothelium exposed at low temperature.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Methods: This study involved corneas freshly obtained from Japanese white rabbits preserved in Optisol™-GS (Bausch & Lomb) corneal storage medium at 4 °C for 0, 1, and 7 days.

Toxicity of Amphotericin B in Rabbit Corneal Epithelial Cells Stored in Optisol™-GS: Corneal Epithelial Cell Morphology and Migration.

Purpose: To evaluate the toxicity of Amphotericin B (AmB) in Optisol™-GS Corneal Storage Media (Bausch & Lomb) on corneal epithelial cell (CEC) morphology and migration ability.

Methods: Sclerocorneal strips were removed from male Japanese white rabbits, and then stored at 4 °C in Optisol™-GS containing 0 µg/ml of AmB (control group) and 2.5, 5, 25, and 50 µg/ml of AmB (AmB groups; four eyes per group).

Phase 3 trial of sequential versus combination treatment in colorectal cancer: The C-cubed study.

Background: An optimal treatment strategy using oxaliplatin and bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer has not been defined. We investigated whether the sequential treatment using fluoropyrimidines with bevacizumab followed by the addition of oxaliplatin at first progression was better than a combination treatment using fluoropyrimidines and oxaliplatin with bevacizumab.

Methods: In the sequential treatment, the escalation from fluoropyrimidines plus bevacizumab to fluoropyrimidines plus oxaliplatin with bevacizumab was recommended in case of progressive disease.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair with a right thoracotomy approach.

Background: The common femoral artery is usually the preferred access route for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). However, if access from the common femoral artery is challenging, other routes must be considered. We report a case of TEVAR performed by approaching the descending thoracic aorta with a right thoracotomy and using the descending thoracic aorta as an access route.

Erratum: Adoptive immunotherapy for gastric cancer using zoledronate-activated killer cells: A prospective observational study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/mco.2020.

Concordance of acquired mutations between metastatic lesions and liquid biopsy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Aim: To evaluate whether PCR-reverse sequence-specific oligonucleotide can examine the concordance between liquid biopsy and metastatic lesions with acquired resistance.

Materials & Methods: We examined acquired mutations in chemoresistant lesions and blood obtained from four patients with wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer who underwent treatment with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies.

Results: In one patient, metastatic lesions harbored diverse acquired mutations in in all seven metastases; the two acquired mutations were detectable in blood collected after the patient acquired resistance.

[Prediction of Length of Artificial Chordae by Using Preoperative Cardiac Computed Tomography:Report of a Case].

A 51-year-old man was diagnosed as having mitral valve regurgitation( MR). Transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe MR due to A2 prolapse. We decided to perform a mitral valve plasty (MVP).

Calcium functional imaging with high-resolution CT in the inner ear.

Although the otolith and otolith organs correlate with vertigo and instability, there is no method to investigate them without harmful procedures. We will create the technique for 3D microanatomical images of them, and investigate the in vivo internal state and metabolisms. The otolith and otolith organs images were reconstructed from a texture synthesis algorithm under the skull volume rendering algorithm using a cutting-plane method.

Clinical and epigenetic features of colorectal cancer patients with somatic POLE proofreading mutations.

Background: Mutations in the POLE gene result in an ultra-hypermutated phenotype in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the molecular characterisation of epigenetic alterations remains unclear. We examined the genetic and epigenetic profiles of POLE-mutant CRC to elucidate the clinicopathological features of the associated genetic and epigenetic alterations.

Results: Tumour tissues (1,013) obtained from a cohort of patients with CRC were analysed to determine associations between the proofreading domain mutations of POLE with various clinicopathological variables, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, BRAF and KRAS mutations, and the methylation status of key regions of MLH1, MGMT, and SFRP2 promoters by calculating the methylation scores (range 0-6).

Hepatectomy Followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy with 3-Month Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases.

Lessons Learned: Three-month adjuvant capecitabine plus oxaliplatin in combination (CAPOX) appeared to reduce recurrence, with mild toxicity in postcurative resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLM). Recurrence in patients who underwent the 3-month adjuvant CAPOX after resection of CLM was most commonly at extrahepatic sites.

Background: The role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of initially resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLM) is still unclear.

Safety and efficacy of panitumumab in combination with trifluridine/tipiracil for pre-treated patients with unresectable, metastatic colorectal cancer with wild-type RAS: The phase 1/2 APOLLON study.

Background: We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of combination treatment with panitumumab plus trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) in patients with wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were refractory/intolerant to standard therapies other than anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy.

Methods: APOLLON was an open-label, multicentre, phase 1/2 trial. In the phase 1 part, 3 + 3 de-escalation design was used to investigate the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D); all patients in the phase 2 part received the RP2D.

New cell delivery system CellSaic with adipose-derived stromal cells promotes functional angiogenesis in critical limb ischemia model mice.

Current therapies for patients with critical limb ischemia have not reduced amputation risk owing to poor cell engraftment. The recombinant peptide Cellnest increases the engraftment rate of administered cells by forming a complex with the cells (CellSaic). We hypothesized that CellSaic containing adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) could improve lower limb blood flow better than ADSCs alone, resulting in better transplanted cell engraftment.

Novel use of a chemically modified siRNA for robust and sustainable in vivo gene silencing in the retina.

Despite efficient and specific in vitro knockdown, more reliable and convenient methods for in vivo knockdown of target genes remain to be developed particularly for retinal research. Using commercially available and chemically modified siRNA so-called Accell siRNA, we established a novel in vivo gene silencing approach in the rat retina. siRNA designed for knockdown of the house keeping gene Gapdh or four retinal cell type-specific genes (Nefl, Pvalb, Rho and Opn1sw) was injected into the vitreous body, and their retinal mRNA levels were quantified using real-time PCR.