Spatially resolved gene expression profiling of tumor microenvironment reveals key steps of lung adenocarcinoma development.

The interaction of tumor cells and their microenvironment is thought to be a key factor in tumor development. We present spatial RNA profiles obtained from 30 lung adenocarcinoma patients at the non-invasive and later invasive stages. We use spatial transcriptome sequencing data in conjunction with in situ RNA profiling to conduct higher resolution analyses.

Impact of Angiographically Detected Residual Trabeculation After Left Atrial Appendage Closure Using the WATCHMAN Device: Insight From the OCEAN-LAAC Registry.

Background: Research on the impact of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is limited.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and clinical implications of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after LAAC using the WATCHMAN device.

Methods: We analyzed 1350 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing LAAC using the WATCHMAN device from the OCEAN-LAAC registry, which is a prospective ongoing, multicenter Japanese registry.

Update on Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Asian Patients.

Background: Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is of greater concern in Asians, considering their relatively smaller annular sizes compared with Westerners. However, the prognostic significance of PPM in Asian populations has not been demonstrated.

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of PPM after TAVR in Asian patients.

Optimization Processes of Clinical Chelation-Based Radiopharmaceuticals for Pathway-Directed Targeted Radionuclide Therapy in Oncology.

Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) for internal pathway-directed treatment is a game changer for precision medicine. TRT improves tumor control while minimizing damage to healthy tissue and extends the survival for patients with cancer. The application of theranostic-paired TRT along with cellular phenotype and genotype correlative analysis has the potential for malignant disease management.

A phase 2 clinical trial of luspatercept in non-transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Luspatercept has shown durable clinical efficacy for the treatment of anemia in transfusion-dependent patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). We report the results of a prespecified primary analysis of a phase 2 trial of luspatercept in non-transfusion-dependent (NTD) Japanese patients with anemia due to LR-MDS. Luspatercept (starting dose 1.

Clinical Outcomes Following Low-Dose Second-Generation "Ranger" Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease.

Purpose: To reveal the rate of 1-year freedom from restenosis and to determine the factors associated with the restenosis risk in femoropopliteal (FP) lesions treated with a Ranger drug-coated balloon (DCB) in real-world clinical settings.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective observational study enrolled 1131 patients and 1453 de novo or restenotic FP lesions (mean age=75±9 years; female=35.3%, mean lesion length=19.

Increased cell killing effect in neutron capture enhanced proton beam therapy.

Thermal neutrons generated in the body during proton beam therapy (PBT) can be used to cause boron neutron capture reactions and have recently been proposed as neutron capture enhanced PBT (NCEPBT). However, the cell killing effect of NCEPBT remains underexplored. Here, we show an increase in the cell killing effect of NCEPBT.

Resuscitation Attempt and Outcomes in Patients With Asystole Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Importance: Little is known about the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in patients with asystole in countries where prehospital resuscitation is not withheld or terminated.

Objective: To investigate the secular trends in the patient outcomes and advanced life support (ALS) procedures and evaluate the association of ALS procedures with favorable outcomes among patients with OHCA and asystole.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study analyzed data from a nationwide prospective OHCA registry in Japan.

Genetic legacy of ancient hunter-gatherer Jomon in Japanese populations.

The tripartite ancestral structure is a recently proposed model for the genetic origin of modern Japanese, comprising indigenous Jomon hunter-gatherers and two additional continental ancestors from Northeast Asia and East Asia. To investigate the impact of the tripartite structure on genetic and phenotypic variation today, we conducted biobank-scale analyses by merging Biobank Japan (BBJ; n = 171,287) with ancient Japanese and Eurasian genomes (n = 22). We demonstrate the applicability of the tripartite model to Japanese populations throughout the archipelago, with an extremely strong correlation between Jomon ancestry and genomic variation among individuals.

Cardioimmunology in Health and Diseases: Impairment of the Cardio-Spleno-Bone Marrow Axis Following Myocardial Infarction in Diabetes Mellitus.

A comprehensive understanding of the cardio-spleen-bone marrow immune cell axis is essential for elucidating the alterations occurring during the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study investigates the dynamics of immune cell kinetics in DM after myocardial infarction (MI) over time. MI was induced in diabetic and healthy control groups using C57BL/N6 mice, with sacrifices occurring at days 1, 3, 7, and 28 post-MI to collect heart, peripheral blood (PB), spleen, and bone marrow (BM) samples.

Association Between Direct Oral Anticoagulant Score and Bleeding Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) Score can predict bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation taking DOACs; however, it lacks external validation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between the DOAC Score and bleeding events in patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Methods And Results: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement, as registered in a Japanese multicenter registry.

Risk Factors for Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction After Liver Cancer Surgery.

Background/aim: Although the frequency of small bowel obstructions after liver surgery is generally considered low, previous studies have followed-up patients for less than a year, thus the incidence of small bowel obstructions several years after surgery is unknown. Furthermore, the rise in laparoscopic surgeries and the use of adhesion prevention materials may influence the occurrence of small bowel obstructions. This  study aimed to assess the incidence of small bowel obstructions within a five-year period following liver surgery and identify the associated risk factors.

Intravenous Regeneration-associated Cell Transplantation Enhances Tissue Recovery in Mice with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Previously, we reported that transplantation of regeneration-associated cells (RACs) via the ipsilateral external carotid artery reduced stroke volume in mice with permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). However, intracarotid arterial transplantation is invasive and requires skill, and severe complications may occur, such as thromboembolism, infection, and decreased cerebral blood flow. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of intravenous injection of RACs in reducing stroke volume and increasing anti-inflammatory and angiogenic factors in mice with focal cerebral ischemia.

The 1st World Congress of Nuclear Medicine and Biology held in Japan: a historical review with personal reminiscences.

The 1st World Congress of Nuclear Medicine and Biology was held from September 30 to October 4 1974 in Japan. This was an epoch-making event in the history of Nuclear Medicine in Japan as well as in the World. The huge success of the meeting contributed a lot to the rapid and remarkable progress of nuclear medicine thereafter.