Regimen Selection for Chemoimmunotherapy in Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Low PD-L1 Expression: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Although chemoimmunotherapy is recommended for advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with low programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, no head-to-head comparisons of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been performed. Therefore, we compared the effect and safety of regimens in these patients to guide evidence-based treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score of 1% to 49% administered ICI combination platinum-based chemotherapy between May 2018 and May 2023 at 19 institutions in Japan.

Current Trends and Perspectives of Pressure Wire-Based Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been well validated as a modality for evaluating myocardial ischemia, demonstrating the superiority of FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over conventional angiography-guided PCI. As a result, the strategy for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is shifting toward FFR guidance. However, the advantage of FFR-guided CABG over angiography-guided CABG remains unclear.

General procrastination associated with the evening preference in healthy people but not with circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders with phase delay.

Procrastination behavior has been reportedly associated with the evening preference. This study aimed to evaluate its difference between patients with circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders with phase delay (CRSWDswPD) and healthy controls in terms of evening preference and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Thirty patients with CRSWDswPD and 29 healthy participants were included.

Identification of glycogen synthase kinase 3alpha/beta as a host factor required for hepatitis B virus transcription using high-throughput screening.

Background Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) leads to severe liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Identification of host factors that regulate HBV replication can provide new therapeutic targets. The discovery of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) as an HBV entry receptor has enabled the establishment of hepatic cell lines for analyzing HBV infection and propagation.

Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown. We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.

Reduced prefrontal hemodynamic responses measured using near-infrared spectroscopy in adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Aim: Functional neuroimaging studies have suggested that prefrontal cortex dysfunction occurs in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive optical tool used to investigate oxygenation and hemodynamic responses in the cerebral cortex by measuring changes in oxygenated hemoglobin. Previous studies using NIRS have suggested that male children with ASD exhibit reduced hemodynamic responses in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; however, only a few studies examined this response in adults with ASD.

MicroRNA-3145 as a potential therapeutic target for hepatitis B virus: inhibition of viral replication via downregulation of HBS and HBX.

Current treatments for hepatitis B virus (HBV), such as interferons and nucleic acid analogs, have limitations due to side effects like depression and the development of drug-resistant mutants, highlighting the need for new therapeutic approaches. In this study, we identified microRNA-3145 (miR-3145) as a host-derived miRNA with antiviral activity that is upregulated in primary hepatocytes during HBV infection. The expression of its precursor, pri-miR-3145, increased in response to the the virus infection, and miR-3145 downregulated the hepatitis B virus S (HBS) antigen and hepatitis B virus X (HBX), thereby inhibiting viral replication.

Multicenter prospective feasibility study on compliance, safety, and acceptance of small bowel and colon capsule endoscopy in the out-of-clinic setting in Japan.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the compliance, safety, and acceptance of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) and small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) in an out-of-clinic setting remotely supported by medical staff.

Methods: We enrolled 30 examinees (24 with CCE and six with SBCE) who had not undergone CE at six gastroenterological centers. All examinees were provided with instructions on equipment and bowel preparations.

Efficacy and Safety of BI 1358894 in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder: Results of a Phase 2 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Dose-Ranging Trial.

To provide proof-of-concept (PoC), dose-range finding, and safety data for BI 1358894, a TRPC4/5 ion channel inhibitor, in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This was a phase 2, multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Patients were randomized to oral placebo or BI 1358894 (5 mg, 25 mg, 75 mg, or 125 mg) once daily in a 2.

FAP upregulates PD-L1 expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts to exacerbate T cells dysfunction and suppress anti-tumor immunity.

FAP-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), recognized as a critical subset of CAFs, have been implicated in fostering an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in various cancers. However, their potential mechanisms of immunosuppression, particularly in modulating T cells, remain elusive. In this study, multiple internal cohorts consisting of 328 patients as well as 5 external cohorts were integrated to delineate the association between unfavorable prognosis or therapeutic resistance and FAP CAFs in gastric cancer patients.

Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Therapy in Patients With Sepsis: A Feasibility Study.

Background: The pathogenesis of sepsis is thought to be linked to a dysregulated immune response, particularly that involving neutrophils. We have developed a granulocyte adsorption column as a "decoy organ," which relocates the massive inflammation in organs in the body to a blood purification column. This study was conducted to assess the safety and experimental effectiveness of granulocyte monocyte adsorption apheresis-direct hemoperfusion (G1-DHP) in the treatment of patients with sepsis, using a prospective, multicenter design.

Hydrogel coils in intracranial aneurysm treatment: a multicenter, prospective, randomized open-label trial.

Objective: Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of hydrogel-coated coils (HGCs) to achieve the composite endpoint of decreased recanalization rates and greater safety. Herein, the authors aimed to assess the true ability of second-generation HGCs to prevent recanalization.

Methods: This randomized controlled study, the HYBRID (Hydrocoil Versus Bare Platinum Coil in Recanalization Imaging Data) trial, comparing HGCs with bare platinum coils (BPCs), was conducted in 43 Japanese institutions.

Population pharmacokinetic model of tranexamic acid in patients who undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Purpose: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is widely used as an antifibrinolytic drug. However, studies to determine the optimal blood concentration of TXA have produced inconsistent results. During cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has serious effects on drug distribution, elimination, and plasma concentration.

Influence of Worsening Renal Function and Baseline Chronic Kidney Disease on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Coronary Syndromes: Insights From the REAL-CAD Study.

Background: The effect of worsening renal function and baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) on outcomes in patients with chronic coronary syndrome in the setting of optimal medical therapy remains unknown.

Methods And Results: The REAL-CAD (Randomized Evaluation of Aggressive or Moderate Lipid Lowering Therapy With Pitavastatin in Coronary Artery Disease) study is a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial of high-dose (pitavastatin 4 mg/day) or low-dose (pitavastatin 1 mg/day) statin therapy in 12 118 patients with chronic coronary syndrome. The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or unstable angina requiring hospitalization (major adverse cardiac and cerebral events [MACCE]).

Recent trends in scientific research in chest radiology: What to do or not to do? That is the critical question in research.

Hereby inviting young rising stars in chest radiology in Japan for contributing what they are working currently, we would like to show the potentials and directions of the near future research trends in the research field. I will provide a reflection on my own research topics. At the end, we also would like to discuss on how to choose the themes and topics of research: What to do or not to do? We strongly believe it will stimulate and help investigators in the field.

Development and validation of nomograms for predicting pentafecta outcomes before and after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a retrospective study.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men worldwide, and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a widely used treatment for localized PCa. Achieving pentafecta outcomes, which include continence, potency, cancer control, free surgical margins, and no major complications, is a critical measure of surgical success and long-term prognosis. However, predicting these outcomes remains challenging.

A guide to CNN-based dense segmentation of neuronal EM images.

Large-scale reconstitution of neuronal circuits from volumetric electron microscopy images is a remarkable research goal in neuroanatomy. However, the large-scale reconstruction is a result of automatic segmentation using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), which is still challenging for general researchers to perform. This review focuses on two representative CNNs for dense neuronal segmentation: flood-filling networks (FFN) and local shape descriptors (LSD)-predicting U-Net (LSD network).

Factors involved in maintaining Karnofsky Performance Status (≥ 50%) in glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype patients treated with temozolomide and radiotherapy.

Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) is a widely used scale to assess performance status. KPS ≥ 50% implies that patients can live at home. Therefore, maintaining KPS ≥ 50% is important to improve the quality of life of patients with glioblastoma, whose median survival is less than 2 years.

Sex-specific association of comorbid heart failure on mortality after Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in older adults aged 75 years and above: A health insurance claims data analysis in Japan.

Background: Research on the influence of heart failure on mortality after Alzheimer's disease diagnosis is limited.

Objective: To evaluate the association between comorbid heart failure and mortality following Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, particularly considering sex differences.

Methods: We analyzed administrative claims data from Japan, involving 32,363 individuals (11,064 men and 21,299 women) aged 75 or older newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, with 7% having comorbid heart failure.

Factors associated with ABCDEF bundle implementation for critically ill patients: An international cross-sectional survey in 54 countries.

Objectives: This study investigated the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle and the factors associated with its implementation according to national income levels.

Methods: This study is cross-sectional research. We conducted a secondary analysis of an international 1-day point-prevalence study that investigated the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle in critically ill patients.

Dissociation of IgM antibodies from red blood cells using ethylenediamine tetraacetate/glycine acid or chloroquine diphosphate.

Background: Ethylenediamine tetraacetate/glycine acid (EGA) and chloroquine diphosphate (CDP) are used in transfusion testing to dissociate IgG antibodies from red blood cells (RBCs). However, the ability of these reagents to dissociate IgM antibodies sensitized to RBCs has not been comprehensively elucidated. We investigated whether EGA and CDP could dissociate cold-reactive antibodies from RBCs and their effect on RBCs after dissociation treatment.

Three-Dimensional Gait Analysis of School-Age Children With Angelman Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Gait disturbance is a common motor symptom in Angelman syndrome (AS), but its characteristics have been poorly studied quantitatively. This study aimed to analyze gait characteristics in school-age children with AS using three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA). Patients with clinically and genetically confirmed AS and healthy children aged 6-15 years were included.