Biomarker testing for personalized, first-line therapy in advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer patients in the real world setting in Japan: a retrospective, multicenter, observational study (the BRAVE study).

Background: Molecular diagnostic testing is necessary to guide optimal first-line treatment. The number of patients who receive first-line treatment based on biomarker analysis in Japan is unknown. We aimed to determine the proportion of nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients for whom first-line treatment was selected based on biomarker testing.

Real-World EGFR T790M Testing in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Observational Study in Japan.

Introduction: Approximately one-half of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develop resistance to first- or second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) due to a secondary T790M mutation. This study investigated the pattern of T790M testing after EGFR TKI treatment in a real-world setting in Japan.

Method: This prospective observational study enrolled patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced/metastatic NSCLC who reported disease progression during treatment with first- or second-generation EGFR TKIs.

Evaluation of antibiotic-loaded calcium phosphate bone cement in an cranium-infected experimental model.

Treatment of calvarial defects has remained a challenge in reconstruction surgery, especially because of infection at these sites. We produced a bactericidal biomaterial for treating infected bone defects by using calcium phosphate bone cement mixed with antibiotics. We evaluated the usefulness of this material mixed with the antibiotic vancomycin in a cranium-infected rat model.

Two-barrier stability that allows low-power operation in current-induced domain-wall motion.

Energy barriers in magnetization reversal dynamics have long been of interest because the barrier height determines the thermal stability of devices as well as the threshold force triggering their dynamics. Especially in memory and logic applications, there is a dilemma between the thermal stability of bit data and the operation power of devices, because larger energy barriers for higher thermal stability inevitably lead to larger magnetic fields (or currents) for operation. Here we show that this is not the case for current-induced magnetic domain-wall motion induced by adiabatic spin-transfer torque.

QOL-associated factors in elderly patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery.

Objectives: Quality of life (QOL) was compared between elderly patients treated with cardiac surgery (cardiac surgery group) and general elderly nonoperated individuals (control group) to clarify differences in QOL-associated factors between the two groups.

Methods: The cardiac surgery group consisted of 82 patients aged 72.5 years at approximately 2 years after discharge, and the control group consisted of 95 elderly individuals aged 77 years living at home.