First-line pembrolizumab-axitinib versus sunitinib in metastatic RCC: subgroup analysis of patients enrolled in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-426 in Eastern Asia.

Background: The phase 3 open-label KEYNOTE-426 study demonstrated that first-line pembrolizumab plus axitinib improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus sunitinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in a global population. This subgroup analysis investigated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab-axitinib versus sunitinib in patients enrolled in KEYNOTE-426 in East Asia (Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan).

Methods: Adults with clear cell mRCC were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks with oral axitinib 5 mg twice daily or oral sunitinib 50 mg once daily (4 weeks on/2 weeks off).

Ultrasensitive Specific Detection of Anti-influenza A H1N1 Hemagglutinin Monoclonal Antibody Using Silicon Nanowire Field Effect Biosensors.

Rapid and sensitive detection of virus-related antigens and antibodies is crucial for controlling sudden seasonal epidemics and monitoring neutralizing antibody levels after vaccination. However, conventional detection methods still face challenges related to compatibility with rapid, highly sensitive, and compact detection apparatus. In this work, we developed a Si nanowire (SiNW)-based field-effect biosensor by precisely controlling the process conditions to achieve the required electrical properties via complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible nanofabrication processes.

Screening for Predictive Factors of Efficacy of Second-Generation Androgen Receptor Axis-Targeted Agents in Patients With High-Risk Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer.

Background: Differences in the effectiveness of second-generation androgen receptor axis-targeted agents (ARATs) in high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the efficacy of ARATs in patients with high-risk mHSPC and compare their long-term effectiveness.

Methods: Four hundred and sixty-six patients with mHSPC treated with ARATs were retrospectively recruited from our hospital and affiliated hospitals of the Kindai Oncology Study Group and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Oncology Study Group between December 2013 and March 2024.

Feasibility and surgical outcomes of simultaneous urethral reconstruction for synchronous urethral strictures.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and surgical outcomes of simultaneous urethral reconstruction for synchronous urethral strictures (SUS) and analyze the surgical techniques employed for different stricture combinations.

Methods: Twenty-two male patients with SUS who underwent urethral reconstruction between February 2018 and July 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Stricture locations and lengths were evaluated using cystoscopy and urethrography after urethral rest for at least 3 months.

Disruptive multiple cell death pathways of bisphenol-A.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) significantly contribute to health issues by interfering with hormonal functions. Bisphenol A (BPA), a prominent EDC, is extensively utilized as a monomer and plasticizer in producing polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, making it one of the highest-demanded chemicals in commercial use. This is the major component used in plastic products, including bottles, containers, storage items, and food serving ware.

Redo mitral valve replacement with annular reconstruction of left atrial dissection following mitral valve replacement for infective endocarditis: a case report.

Background: Left atrial dissection is a rare and occasionally fatal complication of cardiac surgery and is defined as the creation of a false chamber through a tear in the mitral valve annulus extending into the left atrial wall. Some patients are asymptomatic, while others present with various symptoms, such as chest pain, dyspnea, and even cardiac arrest. Although there is no established management for left atrial dissection, surgery should be considered in patients with hemodynamic disruption.

Context-dependent similarity analysis of analogue series for structure-activity relationship transfer based on a concept from natural language processing.

Analogue series (AS) are generated during compound optimization in medicinal chemistry and are the major source of structure-activity relationship (SAR) information. Pairs of active AS consisting of compounds with corresponding substituents and comparable potency progression represent SAR transfer events for the same target or across different targets. We report a new computational approach to systematically search for SAR transfer series that combines an AS alignment algorithm with context-depending similarity assessment based on vector embeddings adapted from natural language processing.

TFE3-rearranged perivascular epithelioid cell tumors of the head and neck with rare fusion partners: clues to the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant tumors.

Background: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) rarely appear in the head and neck region. This case report describes two transcription factor E3 (TFE3)-rearranged PEComa cases, consisting of one in the orbit and one in the nasal cavity.

Case Presentation: Both cases demonstrated sheet-like or focal nested architecture and comprised epithelioid cells with abundant clear to eosinophilic cytoplasm and vascular stroma.

Acquired sperm hypomethylation by gestational arsenic exposure is re-established in both the paternal and maternal genomes of post-epigenetic reprogramming embryos.

Background: DNA methylation plays a crucial role in mammalian development. While methylome changes acquired in the parental genomes are believed to be erased by epigenetic reprogramming, accumulating evidence suggests that methylome changes in sperm caused by environmental factors are involved in the disease phenotypes of the offspring. These findings imply that acquired sperm methylome changes are transferred to the embryo after epigenetic reprogramming.

A review of novel methods to assist digital planning and execution of osteotomy for upper limb deformities.

Corrective osteotomy for upper limb deformities caused by fractures, trauma, or degeneration necessitates detailed preoperative planning to ensure accurate anatomical alignment, restore limb length, and correct angular deformities. This review evaluates the effectiveness of a three-dimensional (3D) preoperative planning program and an image fusion system designed for intraoperative guidance during corrective osteotomy procedures. The application processes and clinical outcomes observed with these technologies in various surgical scenarios involving the upper extremities were summarized.

The association between type 2 diabetes and asthma incidence: a longitudinal analysis considering genetic susceptibility.

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and asthma is rising, yet evidence regarding the relationship between T2D and asthma, particularly in the context of genetic predispositions, remains limited.

Methods: This study utilized data from the UK Biobank longitudinal cohort, involving 388,775 participants. A polygenic risk score (PRS) for asthma was derived from genome-wide association studies summary.

Behavior changes to promote preconception health: a systematic review.

Background: Preconception care is expected to prevent diseases, promote health, and improve pregnancy outcomes. Although a consensus exists on the efficacy of folic acid supplementation and preconception vaccination, evidence regarding comprehensive approaches to preconception care targeting the general population remains lacking. We aimed to identify and examine preconception care programs delivered to reproductive-aged women and men to promote behavioral change.

Temporal changes of tibial eminence after bi-cruciate retaining total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Bicruciate-retaining (BCR) prostheses have been introduced to recreate normal knee movements by preserving both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. One of the surgical procedures essential to the success of BCR total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is preservation of the tibial eminence. However, in our clinical experience, we found that a well-preserved tibial eminence changed its shape chronologically after the operation.

Dyadic effects of illness perception and maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation strategies on the fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients and spouses: an actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

Purpose: Breast cancer, as a stressful event, profoundly impacts the entire family, especially patients and their spouses. This study used a dyadic analysis approach to explore the dyadic effects of illness perception on the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and whether maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation strategies acted as a mediator in breast cancer patient-spouse dyads.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, and 202 dyads of breast cancer patients and their spouses were enrolled.

Preoperative CT lymph node size as a predictor of nodal metastasis in resectable Colon cancer: a retrospective study of 694 patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of measuring lymph node size on preoperative CT imaging to predict pathological lymph node metastasis in patients with colon cancer to enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve treatment planning by establishing more reliable assessment methods for lymph node metastasis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1,056 patients who underwent colorectal resection at our institution between January 2004 and March 2020. From this cohort, 694 patients with resectable colon cancer were included in the study.

Continuous high-soy protein soymilk intake affects ordinary walking speed in the Japanese pre-frail and frail elderly: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: To investigate whether continuous intervention using soymilk containing high soy protein improves physical frailty, a randomized controlled trial was conducted among the Japanese pre-frail and frail elderly.

Methods: Japanese pre-frail and frail elderly participants (n = 73) were randomly assigned to the high-soy protein and control groups, who then ingested soymilk containing 14.5 g/200 ml and 3.

Association between edaravone use and activities of daily living in older patients with atherothrombotic stroke: an observational study using Japanese real-world data.

Background: Edaravone is marketed in nine countries, although only Japan has approved edaravone for improvement of neurological symptom, disability of activities of daily living (ADL), and functional disability associated with acute stroke. This study aimed to elucidate the association of edaravone use with ADL using real-world data of older patients with atherothrombotic stroke.

Methods: This retrospective observational research using the Medical Data Vision database in Japan included patients aged 65 years and older who had acute ischemic stroke of the atherothrombotic subtype.

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.

Clinical and radiological features of gastric and small intestinal anisakiasis: comparison with gastric ulcers and crohn's disease.

Purpose: To compare the clinical and radiological features of gastric and small intestinal anisakiasis with those of gastric ulcers and Crohn's disease.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 205 cases of anisakiasis (148 gastric; 53 small intestinal) were identified between July 2003 and February 2022. The control groups included 130 and 31 patients with gastric ulcers and Crohn's disease, respectively.

Multistage deep learning for classification of Helicobacter pylori infection status using endoscopic images.

Background: The automated classification of Helicobacter pylori infection status is gaining attention, distinguishing among uninfected (no history of H. pylori infection), current infection, and post-eradication. However, this classification has relatively low performance, primarily due to the intricate nature of the task.