MicroRNA dynamics, PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling, and their relationship to breast cancer: prospects for pharmaceuticals and natural product application.

Background: Globally, Breast Cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer in women and has a major negative impact on the physical and emotional well-being of its patients as well as one of the most common cancers to be diagnosed. Numerous studies have been published to identify various molecular pathways, including PI3K/AKT/PTEN. Moreover, growing evidence suggests that miRNAs have been found to play a vital role in the growth and carcinogenesis of tumors.

The Estrogen-Immune Interface in Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a gynecologic condition characterized by the growth of endometrium-like stroma and glandular elements outside of the uterine cavity. The involvement of hormonal dysregulation, specifically estrogen, is well established in the initiation, progression, and maintenance of the condition. Evidence also highlights the association between endometriosis and altered immune states.

Real-Time Imaging of Platelet-Initiated Plasma Clot Formation and Lysis Unveils Distinct Impacts of Anticoagulants.

Background:  Fibrinolysis is spatiotemporally well-regulated and greatly influenced by activated platelets and coagulation activity. Our previous real-time imaging analyses revealed that clotting commences on activated platelet surfaces, resulting in uneven-density fibrin structures, and that fibrinolysis initiates in dense fibrin regions and extends to the periphery. Despite the widespread clinical use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), their impact on thrombin-dependent activation of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and fibrinolysis remains unclear.

Incidence of Severe Illness in Pediatric Influenza Outpatients Treated with Baloxavir or Neuraminidase Inhibitors.

Introduction: A single oral dose of baloxavir marboxil, a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, is approved for patients with influenza A or B infection; however, real-world evidence is limited. We evaluated the effectiveness of baloxavir vs neuraminidase inhibitors in reducing the incidence of severe illness in influenza outpatients aged 5-11 years.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed individual-level data from patients treated with these antivirals, using a large, Japanese health insurance claims database (JMDC).

Trastuzumab-Pertuzumab Plus Eribulin or Taxane as First-Line Chemotherapy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2-Positive Locally Advanced/Metastatic Breast Cancer: The Randomized Noninferiority Phase III EMERALD Trial.

Purpose: Trastuzumab-pertuzumab (HP) plus taxane is a current standard first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)+ breast cancer (BC). We investigated noninferiority of eribulin to a taxane when combined with dual HER2 blockade as first-line systemic treatment for locally advanced/metastatic HER2+ BC.

Methods: In the phase III EMERALD trial (target sample size, 480; ClinicalTrials.

Adolescent thoracic scoliosis due to giant ganglioneuroma: a two-case report and literature review.

Ganglioneuromas are rare benign tumors that arise from the sympathetic nervous system. The presentation of tumors is variable and associated with adolescent thoracic scoliosis. Herein, we present two case reports and a review of literature.

Two independent families with de novo whole APC gene deletion and intellectual disability: a case report.

Background: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant colorectal tumour syndrome characterised by the formation of multiple adenomatous polyps throughout the colon. It is important to understand the extracolonic phenotype that characterizes FAP. Most previous case reports of patients with both FAP and intellectual disability (ID) have described deletions in all or part of chromosome 5q, including the APC locus.

A process for conducting mixed methods data analysis.

The process of mixed methods data analysis has long been understudied and needs clear guidance for researchers. This review article honors Michael D. Fetters' pioneering work on mixed methods data analysis, building on his concepts of integration, joint displays, and metainferences.

Tumorigenesis Caused by Aberrant Expression of GANP, a Central Component in the Mammalian TREX-2 Complex-Lessons from Transcription-Coupled DNA Damages.

DNA is frequently damaged by genotoxic stresses such as ionizing radiation, reactive oxygen species, and nitrogen species. DNA damage is a key contributor to cancer initiation and progression, and thus the precise and timely repair of these harmful lesions is required. Recent studies revealed transcription as a source of genome instability, and transcription-coupled DNA damage has been a focus in cancer research.

Reliable Performance of mALBI Grade-Based Risk Models for Predicting the Prognosis of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab as First-Line Treatment: Comparative Analysis of 13 Risk Models.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the prognostic performance of the risk models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) as first-line treatment.

Methods: Among 449 patients included in this retrospective multicenter study, we compared the prognostic performance of 13 risk models for the 12-month and 18-month survival status using area under the curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and relative integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) analysis. We also constructed a calibration plot to assess the fitness of each model.

Emergency cerclage outcomes for bulging fetal membranes: a single-center retrospective study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of emergency cerclage for pregnant women with bulging fetal membranes, as indicated by our original noninvasive clinical scoring system.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of pregnant women who underwent emergency cerclage for bulging fetal membranes within 28 weeks. The primary outcome was the continuation of pregnancy at 34 gestational weeks in singleton pregnancies and 32 gestational weeks in twin pregnancies.

Annual report on National Clinical Database 2021 for gastroenterological surgery in Japan.

Aim: The Japanese National Clinical Database, which covers more than 95% of the surgeries performed in Japan, is the largest nationwide database. This is the 2021 annual report of the Gastroenterological Section of the National Clinical Database, which aims to present the short-term outcomes of cases registered in 2021 and discuss significant changes and insights into gastroenterological surgeries observed over the decade.

Methods: We reviewed the data of patients registered in the National Clinical Database between 2012 and 2021.

Comparison of surgical outcomes and postoperative nutritional parameters between subtotal and proximal gastrectomy in patients with proximal early gastric cancer.

Aim: In this study, we evaluated the difference in short-term outcomes and postoperative nutritional status between subtotal gastrectomy (sTG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) to determine the optimal surgical treatment for early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach.

Methods: Patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic sTG or PG at the Shizuoka Cancer Center in Shizuoka between January 2014 and December 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patient characteristics, surgical outcomes, endoscopic findings, and postoperative nutritional changes, including blood tests, body weight, psoas muscle, and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, were measured and compared between the two groups.

Blood DNA virome associates with autoimmune diseases and COVID-19.

Aberrant immune responses to viral pathogens contribute to pathogenesis, but our understanding of pathological immune responses caused by viruses within the human virome, especially at a population scale, remains limited. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing datasets of 6,321 Japanese individuals, including patients with autoimmune diseases (psoriasis vulgaris, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) or multiple sclerosis) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or healthy controls. We systematically quantified two constituents of the blood DNA virome, endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and anellovirus.

Geriatric nutritional risk index and newly developed scoring system as prognosis prediction for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with lenvatinib.

In the current era of immune therapy, lenvatinib (LEN) continues to be vital for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) patients. This study investigates the importance of nutritional status in the prognosis of uHCC patients receiving LEN and evaluates a new prognostic scoring system that combines the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and systemic inflammatory response. From 2018 to 2022, 484 uHCC patients treated with LEN (384 males, median age 73).

Comparing Immuno-oncology Combination Therapy With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Monotherapy for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Immuno-oncology (IO) improves the prognosis of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Since research has so far been limited to clinical trials, we herein focused on the effects of IO-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combination therapy in real-world clinical settings.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 125 patients with advanced RCC who received IO-TKI combination therapy or TKI monotherapy.

Epigenetic Modification of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Background/aim: The five members of the mammalian muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family are encoded by the cholinergic receptor, muscarinic, 1-5 (CHRM1-5) genes. CHRM genes are incriminated in formation of various cancer types, but their roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are improperly understood. Aberrant epigenetic modifications of specific tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes are known to promote cancer development.

Impact of radiotherapy-related late toxicities of skin and soft tissue in the neck on quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: a multi-institutional observational study in Japan.

Purpose: This multi-institutional observational study aimed to assess the incidence, severity, and impact of radiotherapy-related late toxicities of the cervical skin and soft tissue in head and neck cancer patients. We also explored patient interest in fat grafting as a potential treatment for skin and soft tissue sequelae.

Methods: This study was conducted across 19 institutions in Japan.

Analysis of the aqueous humor before and after the administration of faricimab in patients with nAMD.

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in cytokine levels in the aqueous humor and factors of treatment resistance following intravitreal faricimab injection in treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. A total of 32 eyes were analyzed before and after a single faricimab injection. Although the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) showed no significant improvement, the mean central retinal thickness decreased significantly by 73.