Single-crystal CsPbBr-based vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

All-inorganic perovskite materials have been widely used in various devices, including lasers, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and solar cells, due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Devices utilizing high-quality single crystals are anticipated to achieve significantly enhanced performance. In this work, we present a high-performance vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) based on a single-crystal CsPbBr microplatelet, fabricated through a simple solution process and sandwiched between two distributed Bragg reflector (DBRs).

Screening for Predictive Factors of Efficacy of Second-Generation Androgen Receptor Axis-Targeted Agents in Patients With High-Risk Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer.

Background: Differences in the effectiveness of second-generation androgen receptor axis-targeted agents (ARATs) in high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the efficacy of ARATs in patients with high-risk mHSPC and compare their long-term effectiveness.

Methods: Four hundred and sixty-six patients with mHSPC treated with ARATs were retrospectively recruited from our hospital and affiliated hospitals of the Kindai Oncology Study Group and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Oncology Study Group between December 2013 and March 2024.

-Linked Parkinson Syndrome in Female Heterozygotes Is Associated With PET-Detectable Tau Pathology.

Background And Objectives: A previous postmortem study of men with Christianson syndrome, a disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene , reported a mechanistic link between pathologic tau accumulation and progressive symptoms such as cerebellar atrophy and cognitive decline. This study aimed to characterize the relationships between neuropathologic manifestations and tau accumulation in heterozygous women with mutation.

Methods: We conducted a multimodal neuroimaging and plasma biomarker study on 3 middle-aged heterozygous women with mutations (proband 1: mid-50s; proband 2: early 50s; proband 3: mid-40s) presenting with progressive extrapyramidal symptoms.

A novel semi-quantitative scoring method for CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes based on infiltration sites in gastric cancer.

No established method currently exists for evaluating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in gastric cancer (GC), and their clinical significance based on infiltration site in GC remains unclear. In this study, we developed a method to evaluate TILs according to their infiltration site as a prognostic marker for GC. We retrospectively analyzed 103 patients with advanced GC who underwent curative resection.

Cost-Effectiveness of the Self-Care Management System for Heart Failure.

Background: We recently reported that the self-care management system for heart failure (HF) decreased re-hospitalization for HF. In the present study we estimate the cost-effectiveness of this system.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively enrolled 569 consecutive patients who were admitted for HF treatment at Kitano Hospital.

Optimal outpatient training for resident physicians' general medicine in-training examination score: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Outpatient training for resident physicians has been attracting attention in recent years. However, to our knowledge, there have only been a few surveys on outpatient training, particularly in Japan. This study evaluates outpatient care among Japanese resident physicians by determining how the volume of outpatient encounters and length of outpatient training correlate with residents' clinical competence.

Novel desensitization therapy of mesalamine intolerance in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background: Mesalamine is the first-line drug for treating mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC); however, some patients develop symptoms of intolerance. Although several desensitization methods have been reported, these desensitization regimens were rather complicated for physicians to prescribe in daily clinical practice; therefore, it has not yet become a major therapeutic option for intolerance patients. Thus, we developed an alternative desensitization protocol.

Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Femoral Endarterectomy.

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) undergoing femoral endarterectomy. We performed a retrospective analysis of our institutional data, evaluating consecutive patients with PAD who underwent femoral endarterectomy between January 2013 and March 2023. The main objective was to assess the prognostic value of preoperative NLR for 5-year mortality.

Familial Mediterranean fever with sigmoid colon stricture.

We describe a case of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) with sigmoid colon stricture. The patient, a woman in her 30 s, had a 12-year history of ileocolitis-type Crohn's disease. The colonoscope could not pass because of the sigmoid colon stricture, and the patient was referred to our hospital with complaints of abdominal pain and fever.

Plug Closure for Ascending Aortic Pseudoaneurysms After TAVI Using Self-Expandable Valve.

A 90-year-old man received a diagnosis of ascending aortic pseudoaneurysms after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using an Evolut PRO valve (Medtronic). Plug closure of the pseudoaneurysms was successfully performed, and the symptoms improved after the procedure. However, on postoperative day 4, the patient experienced sudden massive hemoptysis and died.

Endocardial Anchoring Technique for Variant Supracardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return.

The endocardial anchoring technique is a novel modification of total anomalous pulmonary venous return repair that involves creation of an L-shaped flap of the pulmonary venous confluence, subsequently anchoring it to the endocardium. A wide and smooth pathway can be expected from the theoretical advantages of this technique, namely, a smooth inner surface of the anchored flap and traction force to extend the orifice of the connection. An application of this technique for a rare variant of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous return suggests its potential to be an alternative to the conventional repair, especially in patients with a curved pulmonary venous confluence.

Current immunotherapy for thymic epithelial tumors: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are the most common neoplasm of the prevascular mediastinal compartment and are characterized by their rarity and variable clinical presentation. The present study aimed to explore the current management of patients with TET with a special focus on immunotherapy for advanced disease.

Methods: Relevant studies published between 1981 and 2024 were searched in PubMed using search terms "Thymoma", "Thymic cancer", "Myasthenia gravis", "Radiation therapy", "Surgery", and "Immunotherapy".

Expanding the concept of ID conversion in TogoID by introducing multi-semantic and label features.

Background: TogoID ( https://togoid.dbcls.jp/ ) is an identifier (ID) conversion service designed to link IDs across diverse categories of life science databases.

Association between allergic diseases and mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis.

Allergic diseases and ulcerative colitis (UC) share pathophysiological similarities. This study aimed to investigate the unclear association between allergic diseases and mucosal healing (MH), an important factor in the prognosis of UC. We studied 289 Japanese patients with UC.

Protocol for generating a pancreatic cancer organoid associated with heterogeneous tumor microenvironment.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) organoids that simulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) are an effective tool to identify how TME affects PDAC malignancy. We present a protocol for generating a fused pancreatic cancer organoid (FPCO) that partly reproduces the TME, including heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), using patient-derived PDAC cells and human-induced pluripotent cell-derived endothelial and mesenchymal cells. We also describe the procedure for analyzing FPCO characteristics.

Target Identification of Marine Natural Product Odoamide: Odoamide Induces Apoptotic Cell Death by Targeting ATPase Na+/K+ Transporting Subunit Alpha 1 (ATP1A1).

Marine natural products show a large variety of unique chemical structures and potent biological activities. Elucidating the target molecule and the mechanism of action is an essential and challenging step in drug development starting with a natural product. Odoamide, a member of aurilide-family isolated from Okinawan marine cyanobacterium, has been known to exhibit highly potent cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines.

Nanostructural Analysis of Age-Related Changes Affecting Human Dentin.

Human dentin performs its function throughout life, even though it is not remodeled like bone. Therefore, dentin must have extreme durability against daily repetitive loading. Elucidating its durability requires a comprehensive understanding of its shape, structure, and anisotropy at various levels of its structure.

Successful treatment of cardiac dysfunction due to left main trunk obstruction and severe acute aortic regurgitation secondary to acute type A aortic dissection using Impella: a case report.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (A-AAD) with severe acute aortic regurgitation (AR) and coronary involvement is a potentially fatal condition that causes left ventricular volume overload and catastrophic acute myocardial infarction. We present the successful management of a patient using Impella 5.5 following cardiopulmonary arrest caused by A-AAD with severe acute AR and left main trunk (LMT) obstruction.

Real-time computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided dye marking prior to robotic pulmonary resection.

Background: The detection of tumor localization is difficult in robotic surgery because surgeons have no sense of touch and rely on visual information. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative CT-guided dye marking of lung nodules prior to robotic surgery.

Methods: Patients undergoing CT-guided dye marking prior to robotic surgery at our hospital between September 2019 and April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.

Trideoxycytidine Diphosphate Promotes Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Neurogenesis in Mice.

Background: Food-derived nucleic acids exhibit various biological activities and may act as nutrients. Oral ingestion of the nucleic acid fraction (NAF) of salmon milt extract hydrolysates enhances cognitive function in mice, although their active ingredients have not yet been identified, and detailed mechanisms of action are unknown.

Objectives: To identify active ingredients enhancing cognitive function contained in the NAF and its possible underlying mechanism.

Efficacy of Donepezil for Fatigue and Psychological Symptoms in Post-COVID-19 Condition: Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Trial.

Background: Approximately 30% of coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 patients develop fatigue and psychological symptoms. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that is widely used to treat dementia, in basic research.

Methods: This is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled, phase II clinical trial in which 120 patients with COVID-19 will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a donepezil or placebo group.

Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Presenting with an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a genetic connective tissue disorder associated with vascular involvement and craniofacial, skeletal, and cutaneous abnormalities. Herein, we describe the case of a 28-year-old female who presented with a pulsatile mass in her abdomen. Imaging studies revealed multiple aneurysms, including a 53-mm abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and tortuosity of the intracranial arterial vasculature.

Exercise Habits, Including Exercising With Partners, and the Prevalence of Self-Reported Constipation in Young Japanese People: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Constipation is a very common medical issue among the general population worldwide. However, the association between exercise habits and constipation is still not fully understood. Additionally, no evidence regarding the association between exercise partners and constipation exists.

Impact of the relationship between renal pedicles and tumors on surgical outcomes for non-high-risk abdominal neuroblastoma.

Purpose: To assess the impact of the relationship between renal pedicles and tumors on surgical outcomes in patients with non-high-risk abdominal neuroblastoma.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cases of neuroblastoma without metastasis treated at our hospital between March 2002 and December 2023. Cases in which surgical resection was performed were divided into three groups according to imaging findings at the time of diagnosis and before surgery: Group E (tumor encasing renal pedicles), Group C (tumor in contact with renal pedicles), and Group S (tumor separated from renal pedicles).

Association of diabetic retinopathy with kidney disease progression according to baseline kidney function and albuminuria status in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Whether diabetic retinopathy (DR) can predict kidney disease progression in individuals with diabetes remains unclear. Furthermore, there are only a limited number of studies investigating the association between DR and kidney outcomes classified according to baseline kidney function and albuminuria status. Here, we examined the association of DR with kidney disease progression in individuals with type 2 diabetes.