Mechanism behind reduced resection ability of bent snares during cold snare polypectomy.

Accidental bending of the snare sheath occasionally occurs during cold snare polypectomy (CSP). We aimed to demonstrate whether snare bending reduces resection ability and, if it does, what causes this reduction. Using currently available CSP snares and prototype snares, we investigated changes in the resection ability of bent snares as well as the stiffness of their sheaths and wire spindles.

Clinical Impact of TP53 Mutations in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Who Were Treated with Targeted Therapies or Immunotherapy.

Purpose: TP53 mutations are common in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We evaluated their clinical impact in patients treated with targeted agents or immunotherapy in the KCSG HN15-16 TRIUMPH trial.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with TP53 mutations in the TRIUMPH trial, a multicenter, biomarker-driven umbrella trial in Korea.

TIM-3 marks measurable residual leukemic stem cells responsible for relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

In this study, we investigated the measurable residual leukemic stem cell (MR-LSC) population after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML), utilizing T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) expression as a functional marker of AML leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Analysis of the CD34CD38 fraction of bone marrow cells immediately after achievement of engraftment revealed the presence of both TIM-3LSCs and TIM-3 donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) at varying ratios. Genetic analysis confirmed that TIM-3 cells harbored patient-specific mutations identical to those found in AML clones, whereas TIM-3 cells did not, indicating that TIM-3CD34CD38 cells represent residual AML LSCs.

Impact of sarcopenic obesity on postoperative outcomes in patients with oesophago-gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We elucidated the influence of sarcopenic obesity on postoperative outcomes in patients with oesophago-gastric cancer.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search on MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify observational studies published from their inception to September 26, 2024.

Why is low educational attainment linked to worse pain and function in fibromyalgia?

Lower educational attainment has been linked to worse pain in individuals with chronic pain, but the mechanisms of this relationship are not fully elucidated. This observational study analyzed the relationship between educational attainment and pain in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and the potential psychological mechanisms driving this relationship. We hypothesized that (1) lower educational attainment would be associated with greater pain intensity and interference, and that (2) concerns about pain (CAP), anxiety, and depression would mediate the relationship between educational attainment and pain.

Endoscopic hemostasis with a self-assembling peptide gel during endoscopic submucosal dissection and cold-snare polypectomy in the duodenum: Prospective exploratory study (with video).

Objectives: A novel self-assembling peptide gel (SAPG) was recently developed for hemostasis during endoscopic resection (ER) as an alternative for electrocoagulation and clip placement. Therefore, this exploratory study aimed to evaluate the hemostatic effect of SAPG on bleeding during ER of the duodenum.

Methods: Patients with superficial duodenal epithelial tumors who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or cold-snare polypectomy (CSP) between June 2022 and October 2023 were enrolled in the study.

Myringoplasty: A comparison of inlay and underlay techniques.

Purpose: Myringoplasty aims to improve hearing and prevent otorrhea, making graft uptake rates and hearing crucial considerations. This study analyzed the factors associated with unsuccessful graft uptake and hearing improvement to guide the selection of optimal surgical approaches for myringoplasty.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 56 ears with chronic otitis media.

Accurate predictions of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity from comprehensive analysis.

An unprecedented amount of SARS-CoV-2 data has been accumulated compared with previous infectious diseases, enabling insights into its evolutionary process and more thorough analyses. This study investigates SARS-CoV-2 features as it evolved to evaluate its infectivity. We examined viral sequences and identified the polarity of amino acids in the receptor binding motif (RBM) region.

Glucocorticoid tapering pace in microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis in Japanese real-world practice: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study from the J-CANVAS registry.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and outcomes among regimens of glucocorticoid tapering for microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in real-world practice.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the Japan Collaborative Registry of ANCA-associated Vasculitis (J-CANVAS) registry, and evaluated the prevalence of glucocorticoid tapering regimens in the PEXIVAS trial. In patients with newly diagnosed MPA and GPA, we compared outcomes among standard and reduced pace regimens.

Integration of partially observed multimodal and multiscale neural signals for estimating a neural circuit using dynamic causal modeling.

Integrating multiscale, multimodal neuroimaging data is essential for a comprehensive understanding of neural circuits. However, this is challenging due to the inherent trade-offs between spatial coverage and resolution in each modality, necessitating a computational strategy that combines modality-specific information effectively. This study introduces a dynamic causal modeling (DCM) framework designed to address the challenge of combining partially observed, multiscale signals across a larger-scale neural circuit by employing a shared neural state model with modality-specific observation models.

Cynaropicrin Increases [Ca] and Ciliary Beat Frequency in Human Airway Epithelial Cells by Inhibiting SERCA.

Mucociliary clearance (MCC) is a host defense mechanism of the respiratory system. Beating cilia plays a crucial role in the MCC process and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is activated by several factors including elevations of the intracellular cAMP concentration ([cAMP]), intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]), and intracellular pH (pH). In this study, we investigated whether an artichoke-extracted component cynaropicrin could be a beneficial compound for improving MCC.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Predicting Transarterial Chemoembolization Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Background: Major society guidelines recommend transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as the standard of care for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, predicting treatment response remains challenging.

Aims: As artificial intelligence (AI) may predict therapeutic responses, this systematic review aims to assess the performance and effectiveness of radiomics and AI-based models in predicting TACE outcomes in patients with HCC.

Is the natural course of perioperative laboratory testing effective in identifying wound-related complications following primary total hip arthroplasty?

Introduction: Previous study did not clarify the correlation between the natural course of perioperative blood tests and occurrence of wound-related complications, including SSI, PJI, and delayed wound healing. This study aimed to investigate whether perioperative laboratory test is effective in identifying wound-related complications after THA.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective, single-institutional study enrolled 1072 patients who underwent primary THAs.

English version of clinical practice guidelines for the management of atopic dermatitis 2024.

This is the English version of the 2024 clinical practice guidelines for the management of atopic dermatitis (AD). AD is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion. A crucial aspect of AD treatment is the prompt induction of remission via the suppression of existing skin inflammation and pruritus.

Association between gut microbiota and ultra-processed foods consumption among the patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 362 participants with T2D. UPFs consumption was assessed using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, quantified as the density of UPFs intake (g/1000 kcal).

Disrupting Notch signaling related HES1 in myeloid cells reinvigorates antitumor T cell responses.

Background: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are immunosuppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) that hinder anti-tumor immunity. Notch signaling is a pathway crucial for TAM differentiation and function. Here, we investigate the role of HES1, a downstream target of Notch signaling, in TAM-mediated immunosuppression and explore its potential as a target for cancer immunotherapy.

Tumor-associated macrophages promote bladder cancer metastasis through the CCL20-CCR6 axis.

We investigated the mechanisms of interaction between bladder cancer (BC) cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Coculturing BC cell lines (UMUC3 and T24) with macrophage-like cells differentiated from THP-1 into M2-like TAMs revealed a decrease in Cluster of Differentiation (CD) 68 expression and an increase in CD206 expression. This differentiation enhanced BC cell migration and invasion.

Prevalence of gastric cancer following colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection for lesions more than 20 mm: A retrospective analysis.

Objectives: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for large tumors is spreading worldwide. Gastric cancer (GC) sometimes occurs after colorectal ESD. However, its status including frequency and risk factors have not been examined well.

Advancing immunosuppression in liver transplantation: the role of regulatory T cells in immune modulation and graft tolerance.

Prolonged immunosuppressive therapy in liver transplantation (LT) is associated with significant adverse effects, such as nephrotoxicity, metabolic complications, and heightened risk of infection or malignancy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) represent a promising target for inducing immune tolerance in LT, with the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for life-long immunosuppression. This review summarizes current knowledge on the roles of Tregs in LT, highlighting their mechanisms and the impact of various immunosuppressive agents on Treg stability and function.

Use of a mouse-human chimeric anti-α-galactosidase A monoclonal antibody as a reference for measuring serum antidrug antibody titers in patients with Fabry disease.

The detection of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) is important for monitoring patients with Fabry disease who are undergoing enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant α-galactosidase A (GLA) drugs, as ADAs can cause allergic reactions and reduce therapeutic efficacy. Various immunological methods, particularly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are widely used to measure serum ADA titers in patients with Fabry disease. However, estimating and comparing results of ELISA is challenging because of the absence of a reference antibody.

Enhancing vaccine effectiveness in the elderly to counter antibiotic resistance: The potential of adjuvants via pattern recognition receptors.

Vaccines are an effective way to prevent the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance by preventing diseases and establishing herd immunity. However, the reduced effectiveness of vaccines in the elderly due to immunosenescence is one of the significant contributors to the increasing antibiotic resistance. To counteract this decline and enhance vaccine effectiveness in the elderly, adjuvants play a pivotal role.

Comprehensive Genetic Testing for Coexisting Marfan and Loeys-Dietz Syndromes in Hereditary Thoracic Aortic Disease.

Hereditary thoracic aortic disease (HTAD) is a rare heritable condition with several subtypes, including Marfan syndrome (MFS), vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS). Although MFS is the most common type of HTAD caused by mutations in , differentiation from other conditions such as LDS is crucial due to the varying clinical courses. We report the case of a family history of early-onset ascending aortic dissection initially diagnosed as MFS based on a pathogenic variant of .