Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte patches ameliorate right ventricular function in a rat pressure-overloaded right ventricle model.

Right ventricular (RV) failure following surgical repair of congenital heart disease affects survival. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPS-CM) sheet transplantation ameliorated left ventricular dysfunction in preclinical studies, indicating its efficacy in RV failure in congenital heart disease. This study aimed to evaluate whether hiPS-CMs could improve RV function in rats with pressure-overloaded RV failure.

Serial positron-emission tomography after induction therapy as a predictor of prognostic outcomes for patients with thymic carcinoma.

Purpose: To investigate the role of F-fluorodeoxy glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to assess pathological response and prognosis after induction therapy in patients with thymic carcinoma.

Methods: The subjects of this retrospective study were 18 patients with thymic carcinoma who underwent FDG-PET, before and after induction therapy. We measured the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the tumor and analyzed the correlation between the change in SUVmax and pathological response or recurrence.

Development of LAT1-Selective Nuclear Medicine Therapeutics Using Astatine-211.

We investigated nuclear medicine therapeutics targeting the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1). We previously reported that a nuclear medicine therapeutic drug using astatine 211 (At), an alpha-emitting nuclide that can be produced in an accelerator and targets LAT1 as a molecular target, is effective. The seed compound was 3-[At] Astato-α-methyl-L-tyrosine (At-AAMT-OH-L).

Comparison Length of Linker in Compound for Nuclear Medicine Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein as Molecular Target.

Novel nuclear medicine therapeutics are being developed by labeling medium-molecular-weight compounds with short-lived alpha-emitting radionuclides. Fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) is recognized as a highly useful molecular target, and its inhibitor, FAPI, is a compound capable of , both therapeutic and diagnostic, for cancer treatment. In this study, we compared the functions of two compounds that target FAPα: At-FAPI1 and At-FAPI2.

Evaluation of Targeted Alpha Therapy Using [At]FAPI1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Xenograft Models.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents limited therapeutic options and is associated with poor prognosis. Early detection and the development of novel therapeutic agents are therefore imperative. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a membrane protein expressed on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that plays an essential role in TNBC proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Dendritic, delayed, stochastic CaMKII activation in behavioural time scale plasticity.

Behavioural time scale plasticity (BTSP) is non-Hebbian plasticity induced by integrating presynaptic and postsynaptic components separated by a behaviourally relevant time scale (seconds). BTSP in hippocampal CA1 neurons underlies place cell formation. However, the molecular mechanisms that enable synapse-specific plasticity on a behavioural time scale are unknown.

Decreased Abundance of Genus in Individuals With Obesity and Colorectal Adenoma.

Background And Aims: The increasing prevalence of obesity has significantly contributed to the global burden of colorectal cancer and the precancerous colorectal adenoma (CRA). Gut microbiota vary at each stage of colorectal carcinogenesis and participate in energy homeostasis. Elucidating gut microbiotal characteristics in obesity-related CRA may help prevent and treat colorectal tumors; however, this remains unclarified.

Site-specific photo-crosslinking of Hsc70 with the KFERQ pentapeptide motif in a chaperone-mediated autophagy and microautophagy substrate in mammalian cells.

Heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70/HSPA8) belongs to the Hsp70 family of molecular chaperones. The fundamental functions of Hsp70 family molecular chaperones depend on ATP-dependent allosteric regulation of binding and release of hydrophobic polypeptide substrates. Hsc70 is also involved in various other cellular functions including selective pathways of protein degradation: chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) and endosomal microautophagy (eMI), in which Hsc70 recruits substrate proteins containing a KFERQ-like pentapeptide motif from the cytosol to lysosomes and late endosomes, respectively.

Protein-Protein Interface Identification by Site-Specific Photo-Cross-linking/Cleavage in Mammalian Cells.

Identification of protein-protein interfaces is necessary for understanding and regulating biological events. Genetic code expansion enables site-specific photo-cross-linking by introducing photo-reactive non-canonical amino acids into proteins at defined positions during translation. This technology is widely used for analyzing protein-protein interactions and is applicable in mammalian cells.

Preclinical Evaluation of Biodistribution and Toxicity of [At]PSMA-5 in Mice and Primates for the Targeted Alpha Therapy against Prostate Cancer.

Astatine (At) is a cyclotron-produced alpha emitter with a physical half-life of 7.2 h. In our previous study, the At-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) compound ([At]PSMA-5) exhibited excellent tumor growth suppression in a xenograft model.

Expression of fibroblast activation protein in intrathoracic solitary fibrous tumor.

Purpose: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine integral membrane protease, the expression of which has been confirmed in various cancer types. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTP) are rare mesenchymal fibroblastic neoplasms. We present a case of F-labeled FAP inhibitor ([F]FAPI-74) PET imaging and its correlation with histological FAP expression and review an SFTP series at our institution in relation to the extent of FAP expression.

Two-minute standing endurance test for axial postural abnormalities in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Photo-based measurement methods are used to assess axial postural abnormalities (PA) in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, they capture only moments in time. We developed the 2-minute standing endurance test (2 M-SET), which specifically captures temporal changes in posture, as a novel dynamic method for measuring axial PA in patients with PD.

Safety and Efficacy of Early Rehabilitation With Assistance From a Single-Joint Hybrid Assistive Limb in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Pilot Study.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of knee exercise within four hours after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a single-joint hybrid assistive limb (HAL-SJ). Materials and methods This pilot single-blind randomized controlled trial included participants who underwent TKA for osteoarthritis and were randomly allocated to the early rehabilitation (n = 14) or control rehabilitation (n = 16) group. Knee rehabilitation exercises using the HAL-SJ began within four hours postoperatively in the early group and seven days after surgery in the control group.

Transforming growth factor-β signals promote progression of squamous cell carcinoma by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis.

At present, the molecular mechanisms driving the progression and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain largely uncharacterized. The activation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in the tumor microenvironment has been observed in various types of cancer and has been implicated their progression by enhancing the migration and invasion of epithelial cancer cells. However, its specific roles in the oral cancer progression remain unexplored.

Multiple gastric neuroendocrine tumors in a patient with parietal cell dysfunction and adenosine triphosphatase H/K transporting subunit alpha gene variant.

A 47-year-old woman presented with multiple gastric tumors, each up to 10 mm in diameter, in the gastric body and fundus without mucosal atrophy. White spots and numerous transparent, light-brownish, small, and rounded spots were observed in the background gastric mucosa. Biopsy specimens obtained from the tumors revealed gastric neuroendocrine tumors.

Production of [At]NaAt solution under GMP compliance for investigator-initiated clinical trial.

Background: The alpha emitter astatine-211 (At) is garnering attention as a novel targeted alpha therapy for patients with refractory thyroid cancer resistant to conventional therapy using beta emitter radioiodine (I). Herein, we aimed to establish a robust method for the manufacturing and quality control of [At]NaAt solution for intravenous administration under the good manufacturing practice guidelines for investigational products to conduct an investigator-initiated clinical trial.

Results: At was separated and purified via dry distillation using irradiated Bi plates containing At obtained by the nuclear reaction of Bi(He, 2n)At.

Vision transformer to differentiate between benign and malignant slices in F-FDG PET/CT.

Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is widely used for the detection, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making in oncological diseases. However, in daily medical practice, it is often difficult to make clinical decisions because of physiological FDG uptake or cancers with poor FDG uptake. False negative clinical diagnoses of malignant lesions are critical issues that require attention.