Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Transplantation Promotes Bone Healing via Gap Junction-Mediated Cell-Cell Interaction.

Aims: Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) are a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells that have been widely used in experimental therapies for patients with various diseases, including fractures.Activation of angiogenesis is believed to be one of the major modes of action of BM-MNCs; however, the essential mechanism by which BM-MNCs activate angiogenesis remains elusive. This study aimed to demonstrate that BM-MNCs promote bone healing by enhancing angiogenesis through direct cell-to-cell interactions via gap junctions, in addition to a previously reported method.

Ageing and inflammation limit the induction of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses in severe COVID-19.

CD8+ T cells are critical for immune protection against severe COVID-19 during acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, the induction of antiviral CD8+ T cell responses varies substantially among infected people, and a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie such immune heterogeneity is required for pandemic preparedness and risk stratification. In this study, we analyzed SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in relation to age, clinical status, and inflammation among patients infected primarily during the initial wave of the pandemic in France or Japan.

WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0: responsiveness in detecting long-term functional disability after surgery.

Background: The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 is widely used for detecting postoperative functional disability. Its responsiveness for detecting disability has been evaluated at 1 year after surgery, with no long-term evaluation.

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.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Resection of Localized Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Following Preoperative FOLFIRINOX.

Importance: The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX (combination leucovorin calcium [folinic acid], fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, and oxaliplatin in full or modified dosing) chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) is unclear because current studies do not account for the number of cycles of preoperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

Objective: To investigate the association of adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX with OS, taking into account the number of cycles of preoperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study included patients with localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with 2 to 11 cycles of preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX followed by resection across 48 centers in 20 countries from 2010 to 2018.

Calcineurin governs baseline and homeostatic regulations of non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice.

Sleep need accumulates during waking and dissipates during sleep to maintain sleep homeostasis (process S). Besides the regulation of daily (baseline) sleep amount, homeostatic sleep regulation commonly refers to the universal phenomenon that sleep deprivation (SD) causes an increase of sleep need, hence, the amount and intensity of subsequent recovery sleep. The central regulators and signaling pathways that govern the baseline and homeostatic sleep regulations in mammals remain unclear.

Band asymmetry-driven nonreciprocal electronic transport in a helimagnetic semimetal α-EuP.

Chiral magnetic textures give rise to unconventional magnetotransport phenomena such as the topological Hall effect and nonreciprocal electronic transport. While the correspondence between topology or symmetry of chiral magnetic structures and such transport phenomena has been well established, a microscopic understanding based on the spin-dependent band structure in momentum space remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate how a chiral magnetic superstructure introduces an asymmetry in the electronic band structure and triggers a nonreciprocal electronic transport in a centrosymmetric helimagnet α-EuP.

Pathophysiology, symptoms, outcomes, and evaluation of hyponatremia: comprehension and best clinical practice.

This review article series on water and electrolyte disorders is based on the 'Electrolyte Winter Seminar' held annually for young nephrologists in Japan. The seminar includes lively discussions based on cases, which are also partly included in this series as self-assessment questions. The first article in this series focuses on pathophysiology, symptoms, outcomes, and evaluation of hyponatremia, a common water and electrolyte disorder in clinical practice.

Treatment of hyponatremia: comprehension and best clinical practice.

This review article series on water and electrolyte disorders is based on the 'Electrolyte Winter Seminar' held annually for young nephrologists in Japan. The seminar features dynamic case-based discussions, some of which are included as self-assessment questions in this series. The second article in this series focuses on treatment of hyponatremia, a common water and electrolyte disorder frequently encountered in clinical practice.

Clinical Impact of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy is recommended for treating resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, its appropriate use in patients with resectable PDAC remains debatable.

Objective: This study aimed to identify independent poor prognostic factors and evaluate the clinical significance of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with resectable PDAC.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients diagnosed with resectable PDAC at our institute between January 2003 and December 2022.

Unelongated Stems are an Active Nitrogen-Fixing Site in Rice Stems Supported by Both Sugar and Methane Under Low Nitrogen Conditions.

Enhancing nitrogen (N) fixation in rice plants can reduce N fertilizer application and contribute to sustainable rice production, particularly under low-N conditions. However, detailed microbial and metabolic characterization of N fixation in rice stems, unlike in the well-studied roots, has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the active N-fixing sites, their diazotroph communities, and the usability of possible carbon sources in stems compared with roots.

Exploring novel immunotherapy in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Is targeting TIGIT an answer?

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent and highly lethal malignancy in Asia. Recent advancements in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have markedly transformed the systemic therapy landscape for ESCC. Anti-PD-1-based combination with chemotherapy or with ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, have been established as the new standard first-line treatments for patients with advanced ESCC.

Effectiveness of rehabilitation in hospitalized hemodialysis patients as compared with rehabilitation in hospitalized patients not on hemodialysis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The effectiveness of rehabilitation aimed at improving the activities of daily living and physical functions may differ between hospitalized patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and not undergoing HD (non-HD). The aim of the present study was to compare the outcomes of rehabilitation between hospitalized HD and non-HD patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of inpatients who underwent rehabilitation.

Co-occurrence of exercise-induced acute kidney injury and rhabdomyolysis in a holding cell at a police station: a case report.

We present a rare case of a patient with co-occurring exercise-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and rhabdomyolysis. A 67-year-old man was referred to our department with AKI. Five days before referral, the patient had sudden-onset loin pain while banging and kicking on a door in a holding cell at a police station.

Assessment of the transscleral removal technique for subretinal proliferative tissues during vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To provide insights into the transscleral removal technique for subretinal proliferative tissues (SRP).

Study Design: Retrospective, single-center case series.

Methods: Patients who underwent transscleral removal of SRP during vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) were included.

Effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelation for calcific band keratopathy on corneal topography assessed by fourier harmonic analysis.

Purpose: Chemical chelation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is an established treatment for calcific band keratopathy (CBK), whereas removal of calcium deposits from the subepithelial layer of the cornea may cause corneal irregularity. Using Fourier harmonic analysis, we analyzed the corneal topography in eyes with CBK treated by EDTA chelation.

Study Design: Retrospective, single-center study.

Correlation between internal limiting membrane preservation and sub-epiretinal membrane space during epiretinal membrane surgery.

Purpose: Internal limiting membrane (ILM) is usually peeled simultaneously with epiretinal membrane (ERM), however, in eyes with glaucoma and ERM, ILM is preserved in order to prevent nerve fiber damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate if a new approach for ERM is effective to keep ILM during surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective consecutive case series.

Efficacy of switching to brolucizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration refractory to faricimab.

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of switching to intravitreal brolucizumab (IVBr) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) which did not achieve a dry macula even with 4- or 8-week intervals of intravitreal faricimab (IVF).

Study Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 33 eyes of 33 consecutive patients with nAMD who switched to IVBr from IVF, assessing best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal thickness (FT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), and exudative status at baseline and after the switch.

Reversed anatomy in transanal lateral lymph node dissection: landmarks and pitfalls.

Lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) is getting global attention as an a surgical option to reduce local recurrence in locally advanced rectal cancer. As the transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) is gaining popularity worldwide, a novel LLND approach was established adopting a two-team approach that combines the transabdominal and transanal approaches using the TaTME technique. This narrative review describes the advantages, anatomical landmarks, surgical techniques, and pitfalls of transanal LLND (TaLLND).

Modeling Innate Immunity Causing Chronic Inflammation and Tissue Damage.

Mathematical models of immune responses have traditionally focused on adaptive immunity and pathogen-immune dynamics. However, recent advances in immunology have highlighted the critical role of innate immunity. In response to physical damage or pathogen attacks, innate immune cells circulating throughout the body rapidly migrate from blood vessels and accumulate at the site of injury, triggering inflammation.

Efficacy of ramucirumab combined with erlotinib or osimertinib in untreated EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with asymptomatic brain metastases: insights from molecular biomarkers in the RELAY-brain trial.

Background: The RELAY-Brain trial examined the clinical utility and survival impacts of ramucirumab (RAM) combined with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-TKI in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastases. Although RAM combined with erlotinib (ERL) is known to have clinical benefits, the benefits in patients with baseline brain metastases remain unclear. This report examined the long-term follow-up data (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs2051190027) of the same patients, analyzing relevant biomarkers from tumor and plasma samples.

Survival outcomes of surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage small cell and large cell lung cancer: a novel focus on tumors less than 1 cm.

Background: The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) remains unclear, particularly for small tumors. This study assesses the survival benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection with a novel focus on tumors less than 1 cm.

Materials And Methods: Data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was extracted for patients with SCLC (n = 11,962) and LCNEC (n = 6821) who underwent surgical resection between 2004 and 2020.