Managing recurrent thymic epithelial tumors after resection: outcomes and role of re-resection.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare neoplasms that include thymomas, thymic carcinomas (TCs), and thymic neuroendocrine neoplasms (TNENs). These three tumor categories differ in aggressiveness, the incidence of recurrence after resection, the pattern of recurrence, and survival outcomes. Owing to the tumor's rarity, randomized trials have not been performed in the initial treatment setting.

Human collagen type I‑based scaffold retains human‑derived fibroblasts in a patient‑derived tumor xenograft mouse model.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of a recombinant protein based on human collagen type I (RCPhC1) as a scaffold in maintaining the human tumor microenvironment within a patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) model. RCPhC1, synthesized under animal component-free conditions, was explored for its potential to support the human-specific stroma associated with tumor growth. PDTX models were established using resected colorectal cancer liver metastasis specimens, and stromal cell populations from humans and mice were compared using three scaffolds: No scaffold (control), Matrigel and recombinant human collagen type I, across two passages.

Occult breast cancer in an older woman: A case report.

Occult breast cancer (OBC) is a relatively rare clinical condition that can complicate differential diagnosis efforts and delay the administration of specific treatments. The individualized therapy of patients with OBC should be performed based on their clinical symptoms, imaging findings and pathological diagnosis. The present case study describes a 51-year-old woman with a painless left axillary tumor.

Aged garlic extract enhances the production of β‑defensin 4 via activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway in mouse gingiva.

Periodontal disease is recognized as a chronic multifactorial inflammatory condition initiated by dysbiosis within subgingival plaque biofilms. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action, and thus, provide one of the first lines of host defense against oral pathogens. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is effective for preventing the progression of periodontal disease.

Association Between Maximum Lifetime Body Mass Index and Nailfold Capillary Changes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: Microvascular changes, such as crossing nailfold capillaries, could be crucial for linking maximum lifetime body mass index (BMI) and microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the relationship between maximum lifetime BMI and microvascular changes remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between maximum lifetime BMI and the percentage of crossing nailfold capillaries among patients with T2DM.

Brain Abnormalities During Self-Referential Task in Subthreshold Depression: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

Background and aim Subthreshold depression is a potential risk factor for major depressive disorder. Although the neurobiological mechanism underlying major depressive disorder is well-established, the mechanism underlying subthreshold depression has not yet been fully elucidated. We investigated the characteristics of brain abnormalities in participants with subthreshold depression using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) owing to its portability.

Communication Skills and Illness Perception Among Non-Japanese-Speaking Patients in Japan.

Background: Non-Japanese-speaking patients taking medical treatment in Japan face language barriers and lack of language assistance. Language barriers influence all processes from preventive services to treatment, and insufficient communication can affect patient outcomes. Illness perception, which is related to illness-coping behaviors and self-care behaviors, is an important factor for effective treatment, but no studies have investigated the relationship between communication skills and illness perception among non-Japanese-speaking patients.

Efficacy of Cetylpyridinium Chloride Mouthwash on Denture Plaque Reduction and Microbiome Alteration in a Randomized Crossover Trial.

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwash in reducing denture plaque and its impact on the microbial composition of denture plaque. Materials and methods A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial included 29 participants with maxillary complete dentures. Participants used either CPC or a placebo mouthwash for one week each in a crossover design.

Emotional Response to Various Exercise Types in Patients With Mental Disorders.

Objectives This study examined the relationship between different types of exercise bouts and emotional responses in patients with mental disorders. Methods This study utilized an acute pre-/post-interventional design. Patients participated in six types of exercises: yoga, strength training, dual-task exercises, aerobic exercises, multicomponent exercises, and dance.

Skin Rejuvenation Using Autologous Cultured Fibroblast Grafting.

Background: Recently, autologous cultured fibroblast and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies have been attempted for skin rejuvenation. Unlike PRP, grafted fibroblasts not only produce connective tissue but also influence the surrounding environment through a paracrine effect. Fibroblast-derived cytokines interact with and are modulated by neighboring tissue-constituting cells.

Concurrent Bacteremia and Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome: A Report of Two Cases.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). This virus, which is transmitted through ticks, is prevalent in Asian countries, including Japan. This report describes two rare cases of SFTS with concurrent bacteremia.

Artificial removal of the zona pellucida at the pronuclear stage: an exploratory study to improve embryo fragmentation.

Objective: To investigate whether artificial removal of zona pellucida (ZP) at the pronuclear stage improves good-quality embryos and blastocyst development in patients with difficulty conceiving because of severe fragmentation in early-cleavage stage.

Design: Exploratory investigation.

Setting: Reproductive center.

First formal record of the feeding habits of Saileriolidae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomomorpha, Pentatomoidea), with redescription of (Schaefer & Ashlock, 1970), comb. nov. endemic to Vietnam.

In the present study, the rare true bug (Schaefer & Ashlock, 1970), (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomomorpha, Pentatomoidea, Saileriolidae), which is endemic to Vietnam, is redescribed and transferred from the genus China & Slater, 1956 to the genus Hsiao, 1964 based on morphological characteristics. Adults and nymphs of this species congregate in groups of several individuals and suck sap from the abaxial side of the leaves of sp. (Lauraceae).

Male medaka continue to mate with females despite sperm depletion.

In animals where males engage in multiple matings, sperm depletion can substantially reduce the reproductive success of both sexes. However, little is known about how successive matings affect sperm depletion, fertilization rates and mating behaviour. Here, we investigated this phenomenon under laboratory conditions.

Recent advances in metal-catalysed oxidation reactions.

Oxidation reactions are vital tools in synthetic organic chemistry. Oxidation of organic species such as alcohols, phenols, aldehydes and ketones provides synthetically valuable organic compounds, especially synthetic intermediates for several biologically active compounds. Some of these synthetic intermediates have shown their synthetic utility in the total synthesis of natural products.

A case of peribronchiolar metaplasia of the lung appearing as a solid nodule on computed tomography.

Peribronchiolar metaplasia is an uncommon lesion characterized by fibrosis and bronchiolar epithelial cell proliferation along the peribronchiolar alveolar walls, primarily in response to bronchiolar and peribronchiolar injuries. Peribronchiolar metaplasia usually appears as ground glass nodules or sub-solid nodules on computed tomography. However, we present an exceptional case of peribronchiolar metaplasia that appeared as a solitary solid nodule on computed tomography.

A mixed-methods study comparing human-led and ChatGPT-driven qualitative analysis in medical education research.

Qualitative research, used to analyse non-numerical data including interview texts, is crucial in understanding medical education processes. However, it is often complex and time-consuming, leading to an interest in technology for streamlining the analysis. This study investigated the applicability of ChatGPT, a large language model, in thematic analysis for medical qualitative research.

Efficacy and safety of endovascular coil embolization for unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms: middle-term clinical and imaging outcomes with 3 years mean follow-up periods, a 16-year experience.

The anatomical characteristics of middle cerebral artery aneurysms make endovascular treatment difficult. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment of unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm in preventing rupture. A retrospective review of patients who underwent coil embolization for unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm between 2006 and 2022 at Nagoya University Hospital with at least 12 months followed up was conducted.

Number and mortality of aortic surgery in Japan.

According to the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery annual surgery survey, the number of aortic surgery has been increasing constantly in the last two decades, with the rates approximately doubling in each decade (5,167, 11,956, and 22,708 cases in 1999, 2009, and 2019, respectively). In 2019, aortic surgery was performed for 11,036 (49%) nondissecting unruptured aneurysm, 730 (3%) ruptured aneurysm, 6,351 (28%) acute type A aortic dissection, 1,412 (6%) chronic type A aortic dissection, 2,385 (11%) acute type B aortic dissection, and 703 (3%) chronic type B aortic dissection cases. The outcomes have been improving annually.

Adenylate cyclase 9 expression level is associated with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and predicts patient prognosis.

Adenylate cyclase family members have recently received attention as novel therapeutic targets. However, the significance of adenylate cyclase 9 (ADCY9) in breast cancer has not been elucidated. Here, we evaluated expression in breast cancer (BC) cell lines, and polymerase chain reaction array analysis was performed to determine the correlations between expression levels and 84 tumor-associated genes.

Association between combined use of epidural analgesia and oxytocin administration during labor and offspring outcomes: a narrative review and proposal.

Studies have suggested that the administration of epidural analgesia (Epi) and oxytocin (OT) during labor affects offspring outcomes. However, the effects of their combined use remain unclear. This article aimed to review the outcomes of offspring exposed to Epi and OT, identify research gaps, and discuss future research directions.

infection successfully treated with oral administration of minocycline and thermotherapy.

We report a case of a woman presenting with an erythematous finger nodule, with a history of exposure to tropical fish. The erythematous nodules subsequently spread proximally from the finger. Initial treatment with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate was unsuccessful, and she developed a drug eruption.

Factors associated with diabetes mellitus and hypertension among adults in the northern rural area, Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has an increasing trend of mortality due to non-communicable diseases but most studies were conducted in urban areas. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with diabetes mellitus and hypertension in a rural area in Afghanistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2019 including 373 people who were 18-79 years old and lived in Andkhoy District, Afghanistan.

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.

A newly proposed endoscopic score system to evaluate the entire small bowel and predict the prognosis in Crohn's disease.

Small bowel stenosis in patients with Crohn's disease leads to abdominal symptoms and can affect prognosis. The Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease for the large bowel has been applied to the small bowel; however, stenosis scoring may be overestimated since it has a long diameter. This retrospective study aimed to devise a new endoscopic scoring system including the small bowel and evaluate whether it predicts the prognosis of Crohn's disease.