V-ATPase in glioma stem cells: a novel metabolic vulnerability.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal brain tumor characterized by the glioma stem cell (GSC) niche. The V-ATPase proton pump has been described as a crucial factor in sustaining GSC viability and tumorigenicity. Here we studied how patients-derived GSCs rely on V-ATPase activity to sustain mitochondrial bioenergetics and cell growth.

Association of clinical knowledge with patient care ownership among resident physicians: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan.

Purpose: Both clinical knowledge and patient care ownership (PCO) are crucial to the provision of quality patient care and should be acquired during training. However, the association between these two concepts is under-examined. Here, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study to investigate the association between clinical knowledge and PCO among resident physicians in Japan.

Tucatinib and trastuzumab in HER2-mutated metastatic breast cancer: a phase 2 basket trial.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, also known as ERBB2) signaling promotes cell growth and differentiation, and is overexpressed in several tumor types, including breast, gastric and colorectal cancer. HER2-targeted therapies have shown clinical activity against these tumor types, resulting in regulatory approvals. However, the efficacy of HER2 therapies in tumors with HER2 mutations has not been widely investigated.

Propagation of neuronal micronuclei regulates microglial characteristics.

Microglia-resident immune cells in the central nervous system-undergo morphological and functional changes in response to signals from the local environment and mature into various homeostatic states. However, niche signals underlying microglial differentiation and maturation remain unknown. Here, we show that neuronal micronuclei (MN) transfer to microglia, which is followed by changing microglial characteristics during the postnatal period.

Returning genetic risk information for hereditary cancers to participants in a population-based cohort study in Japan.

Large-scale population cohort studies that collect genomic information are tasked with returning an assessment of genetic risk for hereditary cancers to participants. While several studies have applied to return identified genetic risks to participants, comprehensive surveys of participants' understanding, feelings, and behaviors toward cancer risk remain to be conducted. Here, we report our experience and surveys of returning genetic risks to 100 carriers of pathogenic variants for hereditary cancers identified through whole genome sequencing of 50 000 individuals from the Tohoku Medical Megabank project, a population cohort study.

Prenatal inflammation impairs early CD11c-positive microglia induction and delays myelination in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a form of maternal immune activation (MIA) linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Our previous study identified neurodevelopmental impairments in an MIA mouse model mimicking HCA. Thus, this study investigated the role of CD11c microglia, key contributors to myelination through IGF-1 production, in this pathology.

Prognostic Analysis of Pathological Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring Major EGFR Mutations.

Background: While Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has favorable outcomes with targeted therapy, early-stage prognosis remains influenced by pathological factors and central nervous system (CNS) recurrence. The study aimed to clarify prognostic factors in pathological stage (pStage) I EGFR mutation-positive LUAD.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, 2,191 pStage I LUAD cases with known EGFR status (excluding EGFR testing after recurrence) who received anatomical resection were included from multiple institutions in Japan.

Heat-related impacts on all-cause emergency hospitalisation differ by area deprivation and urbanicity: a time-stratified case-crossover study in Japan.

Background: Climate-related health impacts have been a global public health concern. Identifying vulnerable populations is critical in implementing adaptation strategies. This study aimed to examine how heat-related impacts on all-cause emergency hospitalisations differ by area deprivation and urbanicity.

Consensus and Guidelines on Diagnosis and Management of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV) from the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS).

A panel of 21 international experts are formed by the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society to work out the consensus and guidelines on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). PCV is a common subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and is more prevalent in Asian populations. Recent advancement in imaging technology allows greater understanding of the disease process of PCV.

Enhanced cardiac vagal activity and mood after low-dose hypoxic gas inhalation in healthy young adults.

Developing strategies to enhance cardiac vagal activity (CVA) is essential for improving mood and managing stress. Although hypoxia inhalation may boost CVA, the optimal acute hypoxic conditions remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the hypoxic conditions required to improve CVA and mood following hypoxia.

Gasification-MILD combustion technology with ash-sludge recirculation for reducing multi-phase net dioxin discharges from a waste incineration.

This study addresses the challenge of reducing "net" toxic pollutant discharge, specifically dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), while minimizing the energy consumption and costs associated with detoxification. Our research focuses on reintroducing fly ash and scrubber sludge (ASR) into a hazardous waste thermal treatment system equipped with gasification-intense low oxygen dilution (GASMILD) and an advanced air pollution control system (APCS). This approach yielded a remarkable PCDD/F removal efficiency exceeding 99.

Comparative cardiovascular safety of romosozumab versus bisphosphonates in Japanese patients with osteoporosis: a new-user, active comparator design with instrumental variable analyses.

This study analyzed the association of romosozumab, a human monoclonal antibody with bone-forming and bone resorption-inhibiting effects, and bisphosphonates with the development of cardiovascular disease among patients with osteoporosis. A new-user design was employed to address selection bias, and instrumental variable analysis was used to address confounding by indication. Japanese patients aged ≥40 years, diagnosed with osteoporosis or experienced a fragility fracture, were admitted to medical facilities covered by a commercial administrative claims database, and newly prescribed romosozumab or bisphosphonates after the commercialization of romosozumab in Japan (March 4, 2019) were included based on verification of a 180-day washout period.

Automated xeno-free chondrogenic differentiation from human embryonic stem cells: Enhancing efficiency and ensuring high-quality mass production.

Introduction: Repairing damaged cartilage poses significant challenges, particularly in cases of congenital cartilage defects such as microtia or congenital tracheal stenosis, or as a consequence of traumatic injury, as the regenerative potential of cartilage is inherently limited. Stem cell therapy and tissue engineering offer promising approaches to overcome these limitations in cartilage healing. However, the challenge lies in the size of cartilage-containing organs, which necessitates a large quantity of cells to fill the damaged areas.

Resource availability for CNS tumor diagnostics in the Asian Oceanian region: A survey by the Asian Oceanian Society of Neuropathology committee for Adapting Diagnostic Approaches for Practical Taxonomy in Resource-Restrained Regions (AOSNP-ADAPTR).

The shift toward a histo-molecular approach in World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors (WHO CNS5) emphasizes the critical role of molecular testing, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and DNA methylation profiling, for accurate diagnosis. However, implementing these advanced techniques is particularly challenging in resource-constrained countries. To address this, the Asian Oceanian Society of Neuropathology committee for Adapting Diagnostic Approaches for Practical Taxonomy in Resource-Restrained Regions (AOSNP-ADAPTR) was initiated to help pathologists in resource-limited regions to implement WHO CNS5 diagnoses using simpler diagnostic tools, mainly immunohistochemistry.

MicroRNA in neuroexosome as a potential biomarker for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a complication of chronic inflammation caused by HIV infection that impairs cognitive and motor functions. HAND can occur at any age, regardless of the duration of infection, even in people living with HIV (PLWH) whose blood viral load is controlled by antiretroviral therapy. The diagnosis of HAND requires a battery of neuropsychological tests, which is time-consuming and burdensome, limiting its effectiveness for screening PLWH.

Modeling tritium release to the atmosphere during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and application to estimating post-accident water system transit times.

During the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident on March 11, 2011, radionuclides such as tritium were released into the environment across Japan, obscuring the natural background signal of tritium in precipitation. This anthropogenic component was rapidly washed out by precipitation according to measurements in Japan. However, the impact of the accident on the natural tritium-based estimation of water system transit times in Fukushima and other prefectures in Japan remains uncertain.

Ion permeability profiles of renal paracellular channel-forming claudins.

Aim: Members of the claudin protein family are the major constituents of tight junction strands and determine the permeability properties of the paracellular pathway. In the kidney, each nephron segment expresses a distinct subset of claudins that form either barriers against paracellular solute transport or charge- and size-selective paracellular channels. It was the aim of the present study to determine and compare the permeation properties of these renal paracellular ion channel-forming claudins.

Continuous Strain Modulation of Moiré Superlattice Symmetry From Triangle to Rectangle.

Moiré superlattices formed in van der Waals (vdW) bilayers of 2D materials provide an ideal platform for studying previously undescribed physics, including correlated electronic states and moiré excitons, owing to the wide-range tunability of their lattice constants. However, their crystal symmetry is fixed by the monolayer structure, and the lack of a straightforward technique for modulating the symmetry of moiré superlattices has impeded progress in this field. Herein, a simple, room-temperature, ambient method for controlling superlattice symmetry is reported.

Ultrasmall α-MnO with Low Aspect Ratio: Applications to Electrochemical Multivalent-Ion Intercalation Hosts and Aerobic Oxidation Catalysts.

Hollandite-type α-MnO exhibits exceptional promise in current industrial applications and in advancing next-generation green energy technologies, such as multivalent (Mg, Ca, and Zn) ion battery cathodes and aerobic oxidation catalysts. Considering the slow diffusion of multivalent cations within α-MnO tunnels and the catalytic activity at edge surfaces, ultrasmall α-MnO particles with a lower aspect ratio are expected to unlock the full potential. In this study, ultrasmall α-MnO (<10 nm) with a low aspect ratio (c/a ≈ 2) is synthesized using a newly developed alcohol solution process.

Explainable machine learning framework for cataracts recognition using visual features.

Cataract is the leading ocular disease of blindness and visual impairment globally. Deep neural networks (DNNs) have achieved promising cataracts recognition performance based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) images; however, they have poor explanations, limiting their clinical applications. In contrast, visual features extracted from original AS-OCT images and their transform forms (e.

Response of negative ion beamlet width and axis deflection to RF field in beam extraction region.

Beam-divergence characteristics of single negative ion beamlet have been experimentally investigated with a superimposition of a controlled perturbation of a radio frequency wave (RF) field in a filament-arc discharge negative ion source. Oscillations of a negative-ion beamlet width and axis responding to the RF perturbation were observed, which may be a cause of the larger beam divergence angle of the RF negative ion source for ITER. It is pointed out that the oscillation of the beamlet width depends on the perveance and on an RF frequency such that the oscillation is suppressed at perveance-matched conditions and at low RF frequency.

Removal of dissolved organic carbon in the West Pacific hadal zones.

The deep oceans are environments of complex carbon dynamics that have the potential to significantly impact the global carbon cycle. However, the role of hadal zones, particularly hadal trenches (water depth > 6 km), in the oceanic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) cycle is not thoroughly investigated. Here we report distinct DOC signatures in the Japan Trench bottom water.

Recommendations for mitochondria transfer and transplantation nomenclature and characterization.

Intercellular mitochondria transfer is an evolutionarily conserved process in which one cell delivers some of their mitochondria to another cell in the absence of cell division. This process has diverse functions depending on the cell types involved and physiological or disease context. Although mitochondria transfer was first shown to provide metabolic support to acceptor cells, recent studies have revealed diverse functions of mitochondria transfer, including, but not limited to, the maintenance of mitochondria quality of the donor cell and the regulation of tissue homeostasis and remodelling.

Rational engineering of DNA-nanoparticle motor with high speed and processivity comparable to motor proteins.

DNA-nanoparticle motor is a burnt-bridge Brownian ratchet moving on RNA-modified surface driven by Ribonuclease H (RNase H), and one of the fastest nanoscale artificial motors. However, its speed is still much lower than those of motor proteins. Here we resolve elementary processes of motion and reveal long pauses caused by slow RNase H binding are the bottleneck.

Structure and function of a β-1,2-galactosidase from Bacteroides xylanisolvens, an intestinal bacterium.

Galactosides are major carbohydrates that are found in plant cell walls and various prebiotic oligosaccharides. Studying the detailed biochemical functions of β-galactosidases in degrading these carbohydrates is important. In particular, identifying β-galactosidases with new substrate specificities could help in the production of potentially beneficial oligosaccharides.