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.

Intracellular Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II and C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10-Expressing Neutrophils Indicate the State of Anti-Tumor Activity Induced by .

(1) Background: Inflammatory responses induce the formation of both anti-tumor and pro-tumor neutrophils known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Intermittent intravesical infusion of (BCG) is an established cancer immunotherapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, the types of neutrophils induced via the inflammatory response to both tumor-bearing and BCG remain unclear.

Trends in the use of local intervention for metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer: A multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluated the trends of local intervention and their impact on oncological outcomes in metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer (mHNPC) in real-world practice.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 760 patients treated with either androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) without local treatment (no castration-resistant prostate cancer [CRPC] progression within 12 months, control group) or ADT plus local intervention (intervention group) between January 2005 and March 2022. We evaluated the trends in the use of local intervention in patients with mHNPC and factors associated with CRPC-free survival in the intervention group.

Initial Myeloid Cell Status Is Associated with Clinical Outcomes of Renal Cell Carcinoma.

The therapeutic outcome of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) can be improved through combination treatments with ICI therapy. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) strongly suppress tumor immunity. MDSCs are a heterogeneous cell population, originating from the unusual differentiation of neutrophils/monocytes induced by environmental factors such as inflammation.

Anti-human leukocyte antigen and anti-ABO antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in kidney transplant recipients.

Introduction: In this study, we evaluated whether SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines induce anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies and anti- ABO blood type antibodies (ABOAb) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

Methods: Sixty-three adult KTRs with functioning grafts who received two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine were enrolled in this cohort. Changes in anti-ABO blood type immunoglobulin IgM and IgG antibody titers, flow panel reactive antibody (PRA), de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies (DSA), and kidney allograft function before and after vaccination were evaluated.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor type 4 as a potential therapeutic target in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Several clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cases harbour fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) gene copy number (CN) gains. In this study, we investigated the functional contribution of FGFR4 CN amplification in ccRCC.

Methods: The correlation between FGFR4 CN determined via real-time PCR and protein expression evaluated using western blotting and immunohistochemistry was assessed in ccRCC cell lines (A498, A704, and 769-P), a papillary RCC cell line (ACHN), and clinical ccRCC specimens.

Humoral and cellular immune response and the safety of third SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine with longer interval after the second vaccination in kidney transplant recipients.

We evaluated the humoral and cellular immune responses and safety of the third severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccine with a longer interval after the second vaccination in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We enrolled 54 kidney transplant recipients without a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), who received a third dose of the vaccine. We assessed anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody and antigen-specific T cells using enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) against the spike protein at baseline, after the second vaccination, and after the third vaccination.

The efficacy of sequential therapy with docetaxel and cabazitaxel for castration-resistant prostate cancer: A retrospective multi-institutional study in Japan.

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of docetaxel (DOC) and cabazitaxel (CBZ) and examined the factors associated with the prognosis of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) receiving DOC-CBZ sequential treatment in Japanese real-world data.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated data for 146 patients who received DOC followed by CBZ. The correlations of prostate specific antigen (PSA) decrease rate and time to progression between DOC and CBZ treatment were examined.

Electroreductive coupling of 2-acylbenzoates with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds: density functional theory study on product selectivity.

The electroreductive coupling of 2-acylbenzoates with acrylonitrile in the presence of TMSCl and successive treatment with 1 M HCl gave 2-cyanonaphthalen-1-ols or 3-(3-cyanoethyl)phthalides. On the other hand, the reaction of 2-acylbenzoates with methyl vinyl ketone under the same conditions produced 3-(3-oxobutyl)phthalides as the sole products. What determines the product selectivity was studied using DFT calculations.

Immunogenicity and safety of two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in kidney transplant recipients with low-dose rituximab.

Objectives: We evaluated whether the treatment history of low-dose rituximab affected safety profiles, and humoral and cellular responses induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine in healthy controls and kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: We enrolled 10 healthcare workers as controls, 22 kidney transplant recipients with rituximab, and 36 kidney transplant recipients without rituximab without history of coronavirus disease 2019 who received two doses of vaccine. We assessed anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike antibody and the antigen-specific T cells using enzyme-linked immunospot against spike protein at baseline and after two doses of vaccine.

Machine learning diagnosis by immunoglobulin N-glycan signatures for precision diagnosis of urological diseases.

Early diagnosis of urological diseases is often difficult due to the lack of specific biomarkers. More powerful and less invasive biomarkers that can be used simultaneously to identify urological diseases could improve patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate a urological disease-specific scoring system established with a machine learning (ML) approach using Ig N-glycan signatures.

Outcomes of Living Kidney Transplantation for Mitochondrial Disease Patients: A Case Series.

Purpose: Mitochondrial disease can affect many organs, including the brain, nerves, heart, liver, eyes, ears, pancreas, and kidneys. Kidney transplantation is a treatment option for renal failure due to mitochondrial disease; however, the prognosis of patients who undergo kidney transplantation for mitochondrial disease is unknown. Here we evaluated the outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with mitochondrial disease.

Impact of Gleason pattern 5 on prognosis for newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer with Gleason score ≥8.

Objective: We evaluated the impact of Gleason pattern 5 presence on prognosis among de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients with a Gleason score ≥8.

Methods: The data of 559 patients diagnosed as metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer with a Gleason score ≥8, who were initially treated with androgen deprivation therapy from 2008 to 2016, were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into two groups as high and low volume based on the CHAARTED trial criteria.

Changes in Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue and Body Composition in Kidney Transplant Recipients at 1, 3, and 5 Years After Kidney Transplant.

Background: Body composition changes 1 year after kidney transplant (KT) have been studied extensively. However, the number of reports on midterm body composition changes has been limited.

Methods: The medical records and computed tomography scans of 10 living kidney recipients (6 men, 4 women) before KT and at 1, 3, and 5 years post KT were analyzed.

In vitro transcytosis of Helicobacter pylori histidine-rich protein through gastric epithelial-like cells and the blood-brain barrier.

Recent epidemiological studies have supported the correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of Alzheimer's disease. HpHpn, a histidine-rich H. pylori protein, forms amyloid-like oligomers; it may be a pathogenic factor for Alzheimer's disease progression.

Body composition changes following chemotherapy for testicular germ cell tumor: obesity is the long-term problem.

Metabolic syndrome is a long-term complication of systemic chemotherapy for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT). It is believed to be caused by secondary hypogonadism or toxic medicines because of orchidectomy followed by systemic chemotherapy. In this study, changes in the body composition of patients over time were quantitatively analyzed up to 24 months after chemotherapy.

Electroreductive Coupling of Phthalimides with α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds and Subsequent Acid-Catalyzed Rearrangement to 4-Aminonaphthalen-1-ols: Density Functional Theory Study of the Acid-Catalyzed Rearrangement of Ketene Silyl Acetals.

The electroreductive coupling of phthalimides with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the presence of TMSCl and successive treatment of the electrochemically coupled products with TFA gave two types of rearranged products, 3- and 2-substituted 4-aminonaphthalen-1-ols. The substituent (R) on the nitrogen atom of phthalimides determined which type of 4-aminonaphthalen-1-ol was preferentially formed. Bulky and less bulky N substituents selectively afforded 3- and 2-substituted 4-aminonaphthalen-1-ols, respectively.

Adjuvant heparinization before manipulation of artery reduces early failure in primary arteriovenous fistula for end-stage renal disease patients.

Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the most preferred vascular access for hemodialysis patients, and early failure of AVF is one of the most avoidable complications of this procedure. We retrospectively evaluated whether adjuvant systemic heparinization just before arterial manipulation could reduce early failure of primary AVF.

Methods: Three hundred and fifty-six patients with end-stage renal failure who underwent primary AVF surgery from April 2009 to September 2020 were enrolled in this study.

Novel metastatic burden-stratified risk model in de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

The metastatic burden is a critical factor for decision-making in the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC). This study aimed to develop and validate a novel risk model for survival in patients with de novo low- and high-burden metastatic HSPC. The retrospective observational study included men with de novo metastatic prostate cancer who were treated with primary androgen-deprivation therapy at 30 institutions across Japan between 2008 and 2017.

Impact of pretreatment anemia on upfront abiraterone acetate therapy for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Anemia has been a known prognostic factor in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). We therefore examined the effect of anemia on the efficacy of upfront abiraterone acetate (ABI) in patients with mHSPC.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 66 mHSPC patients with high tumor burden who received upfront ABI between 2018 and 2020 (upfront ABI group).

Inchworm-type PNA-PEG conjugate regulates gene expression based on single nucleotide recognition.

In order to detect single nucleotide mutations and suppress gene expression, we synthesized an artificial nucleic acid, an inchworm-type PNA-PEG conjugate (i-PPc), that possessed a chemical structure in which 8 residues of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) were linked to both ends of a polyethylene glycol molecule. I-PPc_T7, which forms a complementary strand with the T7 promoter region of luciferase-expressing mRNA, failed to suppress the amount of luciferase produced via gene expression. However, 10 μM of i-PPc_ATG, targeting the start codon of luciferase (Luc), suppressed approximately 85% of Luc production compared to that of the control in the cell-free protein synthesis system.

Therapeutic effects of the combined androgen blockade therapy versus luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog monotherapy in patients with hormone naïve metastatic prostate cancer: a multi-institutional comparative analysis.

Background: The clinical benefit of the combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy over luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog (LH-RHa) monotherapy for hormone naïve metastatic prostate cancer (mHNPC) is unclear. Therefore, we retrospectively compare the effectiveness of CAB with the LH-RHa monotherapy on the prognosis of Japanese patients with mHNPC.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the prognosis of 517 patients diagnosed with mHNPC between August 2001 and May 2017.

Clinical utility of head computed tomography scan during systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: The utility of brain metastasis screening in asymptomatic metastatic renal cell carcinoma is controversial. Our study evaluated the utility of routine head computed tomography during systemic therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 152 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients who did not initially have brain metastasis at Yamagata University Hospital from January 2008 to July 2019.

Differential prognostic factors in low- and high-burden de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients.

Metastatic burden is a critical factor for therapy decision-making in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The present study aimed to identify prognostic factors in men with high- or low-metastatic burden treated with primary androgen-deprivation therapy. The study included 2450 men with de novo metastatic prostate cancer who were treated with primary androgen-deprivation therapy at 30 institutions across Japan between 2008 and 2017.