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Objectives: The reduced survival rate and diminished quality of life (QOL) observed in cancer patients with depression have garnered significant attention in recent years. Oral cancer can cause psychological and social stress because its incidence and treatment not only impair oral functions, such as mastication, swallowing, and articulation, but also disfigure the face. In this study, we investigated the factors that predict worsening psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, in patients with oral cancer. Materials and methods: Thirty-seven patients with oral cancer who underwent radical resection with reconstructive surgery between 2017 and 2022 were enrolled. The Japanese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a screening tool for anxiety and depression, was used to obtain preoperative scores and up to 9-month postoperative scores. Results: The number of patients that exceeded the cut-off values for adjustment disorder and depression was 19 (51.4%) preoperative and 20 (54.1%), 13 (35.1%), and 14 (37.8%) at 3, 6, and 9 postoperative months, respectively. The analysis of covariance showed that the primary site (F = 218.267, p = 0.0216) and marital status (F = 105.758, p = 0.0269) were factors that affected the HADS scores. Conclusion: The risk of postoperative anxiety and depression in patients with oral cancer undergoing radical resection with reconstruction may be increased in patients whose tongue is the primary site and in patients who are single.

Objectives: The development and treatment of oral cancer are highly invasive, either functionally or psychologically, having a significant effect on patients' daily lives. As such, social support is important, but few studies have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate social support for patients with oral cancer and patients' level of social adaptation. Materials and methods: Patients with oral cancer who had undergone resection and reconstruction surgery in our department from February 2017 to June 2021 were included. The Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) was used to evaluate the number of supporters (SSQN) and the satisfaction of patients (SSQS) with social support. The Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS) was used to evaluate the social adaptation of the patients, and their relationships were examined. Results: In total, 30 patients completed the questionnaire. We found a positive correlation between the SSQN and the SASS (rs ​= ​0.485–0.617 and p ​

Objective: Understanding the extent of social reintegration is crucial in providing social support to patients. The incidence and treatment of oral cancer can result in functional and aesthetic impairments that significantly affect the daily lives of patients. Therefore, we aimed to determine the social adaptation status of patients after oral cancer surgery. Methods: Patients who had undergone resection and reconstructive surgery with free flaps for oral cancer between February 2017 and October 2020 and agreed to participate in this study were included. The social adaptation status of patients was assessed using the Japanese version of the Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS-J; higher scores denote better social adaptation) preoperatively and at 3- and 6-months postoperatively. Results: Thirty-four patients completed the SASS-J questionnaire. The median preoperative and 3- and 6-month postoperative SASS-J scores were 34 (26.5–39.25), 33.5 (25–38), and 33.5 (30–40), respectively, and did not differ significantly between these three categories. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of 6-month postoperative SASS-J scores revealed significant differences for both the primary site of cancer (F = 6.6024, p = 0.0007) and marital status (F = 11.6866, p = 0.0019). Furthermore, multiple comparisons for the primary site of cancer indicated that the SASS-J scores of patients with tongue cancer were significantly lower than those of patients with mandibular cancer (p = 0.0178). Conclusions: These results indicate that the postoperative social adaptation status among patients who underwent oral cancer resection with reconstruction is worse in patients with tongue cancer and in those who are unmarried.

Objective: Oral cancer is associated with functional impairment and changes in appearance due to disease progression and/or treatment. It therefore places a heavy psychological burden on patients. Coping styles of patients with cancer may affect their quality of life (QOL). However, there is limited research assessing this association. We aimed to clarify the relationship between coping styles and QOL in patients with oral cancer to underpin personalized patient care. Methods: Patients who underwent surgery with reconstruction for oral cancer between February 2017 and June 2021 were included in this study. Coping styles were assessed preoperatively using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale. Mental and physical QOL was assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6 and 9 months postoperatively, using the Short Form-8 (SF-8) health survey. Results: Twenty-seven patients completed the MAC and SF-8. The median (interquartile range) scores of MAC subscales summary positive adjustment (SPA) and summary negative adjustment were 48.0 (44.0–55.0) and 34.0 (29.0–38.0) points, respectively. The mental component summary (MCS) scores of the SF-8 at the preoperative assessment and 3, 6 and 9 months postoperatively were 47.2 (43.5–50.6), 45.2 (41.2–51.3), 48.4 (43.7–52.0) and 47.7 (43.2–51.0) points, respectively; the physical component summary scores were 47.2 (42.4–51.0), 41.9 (38.4–47.7), 44.8 (41.4–49.9) and 47.0 (42.9–50.0) points, respectively. A positive correlation was noted between the SPA and MCS preoperatively, and 3 and 9 months postoperatively. Conclusions: Coping style may have predictive value for oral cancer patients with low mental QOL.

Objective: The psychological state of patients with advanced oral cancer should be evaluated as the disease and its treatment are considered to impose immense psychological burden. This study aimed to clarify the psychological state of patients with oral cancer immediately prior to their surgery. Materials and methods: This study included patients with oral cancer scheduled for a free flap reconstruction surgery between February 2017 and October 2020. The Japanese version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), a self-administered assessment used to screen post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, was used to investigate their psychological status. Results: The self-administered IES-R questionnaire was completed by 34 patients. The median IES-R score was 19 points (8−38), and the scores did not differ by background characteristics. Of the 34 patients, 14 (41.2%) had a cutoff value score of 25 points or higher. Discussion: PTSD symptoms may occur in some patients with advanced oral cancer prior to surgery. Support is required to alleviate anxiety regarding the patient's treatment, subsequent life, and prognosis.

Sulfide-based solid electrolytes are desirable for use in all-solid-state batteries owing to their high ionic conductivity and plasticity. However, they generally degrade upon exposure to water and can generate toxic hydrogen sulfide even in dry-room atmospheres. To prevent their degradation, surface stabilization is required and further research into the degradation mechanism is necessary. In the present study, the stability of Li3PS4–LiI glass ceramic (LPSI) has been examined under low-humidity conditions. In contrast to an argyrodite-type solid electrolyte, exposure of LPSI to dry air with a dew point of −20 °C resulted in low H2S-gas generation and reduced ionic conductivity of LPSI. Since the conductivity mostly recovered after vacuum heating at 100 °C, the H2S generation is not considered to be the major reason for the reduction in conductivity. On the contrary, it is suggested that water molecules are present on the LPSI powder particles after dry-air exposure, resulting in the formation of a degraded LPSI layer and low ionic conductivity, and that most of the water molecules are removed during vacuum heating, resulting in the recovery of conductivity. Furthermore, optimal vacuum-heating conditions were obtained from X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed desorption-mass spectrometry measurements, indicating an optimal temperature and heating time of 100 °C and 2 h, respectively. Impedance measurements were used to probe the degradation of the surface layer. The condition of the surface layer was affected by the pellet-forming pressure, and it was easier to detect the degradation of the surface layer when the pellets were formed at low pressures. This paper contributes to the formulation of guidelines for the development of water-resistant solid electrolytes.

Oxidative stress and the ubiquitin–proteasome system play a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease. Although the herbicide paraquat is an environmental factor that is involved in the etiology of Parkinson disease, the role of 26S proteasome in paraquat toxicity remains to be determined. Using PC12 cells overexpressing a fluorescent protein fused to the proteasome degradation signal, we report here that paraquat yielded an inhibitory effect on 26S proteasome activity without an obvious decline in 20S proteasome activity. Relative low concentrations of proteasome inhibitors caused the accumulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which is targeted to the ubiquitin–proteasome system, and activated the antioxidant response element (ARE)-dependent transcription. Paraquat also upregulated the protein level of Nrf2 without increased expression of Nrf2 mRNA, and activated the Nrf2–ARE pathway. Consequently, paraquat induced expression of Nrf2-dependent ARE-driven genes, such as γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, catalase, and hemeoxygenase-1. Knockdown of Nrf2 or inhibition of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and catalase exacerbated paraquat-induced toxicity, whereas suppression of hemeoxygenase-1 did not. These data indicate that the compensatory activation of the Nrf2–ARE pathway via inhibition of 26S proteasome serves as part of a cellular defense mechanism to protect against paraquat toxicity.

Despite the human 5-HT5A receptor being cloned in 1994, the biological function of this receptor has not been extensively characterized due to a lack of specific ligands. We recently reported that the selective 5-HT5A receptor antagonist ASP5736 ameliorated cognitive impairment in several animal models of schizophrenia. Given that areas of the brain with high levels of 5-HT5A receptor expression, such as the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, have important functions in cognition and memory, we evaluated the chemically diverse, potent and brain-penetrating 5-HT5A receptor antagonists ASP5736, AS2030680, and AS2674723 in rodent models of cognitive dysfunction associated with dementia. Each of these compounds exhibited a high affinity for recombinant 5-HT5A receptors that was comparable to that of the non-selective ligand of this receptor, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although each compound had a low affinity for other receptors, 5-HT5A was the only receptor for which all three compounds had a high affinity. Each of the three compounds ameliorated scopolamine-induced working memory deficit in mice and improved reference memory impairment in aged rats at similar doses. Further, ASP5736 decreased the binding of LSD to 5-HT5A receptors in the olfactory bulb of rats in a dose-dependent manner and occupied 15%–50% of brain 5-HT5A receptors at behaviorally effective doses. These results indicate that the 5-HT5A receptor is involved in learning and memory and that treatment with 5-HT5A receptor antagonists might be broadly effective for cognitive impairment associated with not only schizophrenia but also dementia.

CD109, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein, is expressed at high levels in some human tumors including squamous cell carcinomas. As CD109 is reportedly cleaved by furin and its soluble form is secreted into culture medium in vitro, we hypothesized that CD109 could serve as a tumor marker in vivo. In this study, we investigated CD109 as a novel serum tumor marker using transgenic mice that overexpress mouse CD109 (mCD109-TG mice) and tumor xenografted mice inoculated with human CD109 (hCD109)-overexpressing HEK293 cells. In sera and urine of mCD109-TG mice, mCD109 was detected using western blotting. In xenografted mice, hCD109 secreted from inoculated tumors was detected in sera, using western blotting and CD109 ELISA. Concentrations of tumor-secreted CD109 increased proportionally as tumors enlarged. Concentrations of secreted CD109 decreased notably by 17 h after tumor resection, and became undetectable 48 h after resection. The half-life of tumor-secreted CD109 was about 5.86±0.17 h. These results indicate that CD109 is present in serum as a soluble form, and suggest its potential as a novel tumor marker in patients with cancers that express CD109.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a low five-year survival rate because of its high rate of recurrence and metastasis. After surgical resection or radiation, the main treatments for HNSCC, patients sometimes experience functional or aesthetic disorders. Therefore, there is a great demand for the development of non-surgical treatment strategies to improve clinical outcomes and patients' quality of life. One such non-surgical treatment is mild hyperthermia (mHT). Many studies have investigated combination treatments with mHT and immune checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical settings. However, there have been no detailed reports on the effects of mHT on immune checkpoint molecules. Here, we investigated the effects of mHT on the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly on programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), in SCCVII cells and a squamous cell carcinoma mouse model. First, we found that PD-L1 mRNA levels and surface PD-L1 expression significantly increased after mHT. Second, a single tumor model was used to determine the effect of HT on the TME. mHT enhanced the accumulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, elevated PD-L1 expression in the TME, and decreased the PD-1 positive rate of CD4+ T cells. Finally, using a bilateral tumor model, we found that anti-PD-L1 monotherapy and combination therapy resulted in longer survival than the isotype control or mHT monotherapy. Moreover, the combination therapy resulted in a significantly higher survival rate than anti-PD-L1 monotherapy. In conclusion, our findings elucidate changes in PD-L1 expression in the TME and strengthen the rationale for mHT and PD-L1 blockade combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease in which antigenpresenting Langerhans cells proliferate abnormally. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 22-month-old boy who presented with left cheek swelling. A palpable bony bulge was noted at the left mandibular angle and a malignant tumor was suspected. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an area of bone resorption from the left mandibular angle to the mandibular branch. Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT revealed accumulation in the left mandible, left femoral diaphysis, and L1 vertebra. The patient was diagnosed with multiple-bone LCH and underwent chemotherapy. Conclusion: Four years after treatment, the patient is doing well and has no recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the effect of mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) on wound healing. It discusses the materials and methods used in the study, macroscopic observation of wound healing, results of the histologic analysis and the advantages with the use of MSC-CM over MSCs.

Abstract  Remarkably, bathing in hot springs containing high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) influences cardiovascular function more than bathing in fresh water. The CO2-enriched water in hot springs generally contains many salts, whose interactions remain unknown. We separately evaluated the actions of individual factors in CO2-enriched water and confirmed that CO2 and NaCl have combined effects on blood pressure fluctuations in anesthetized rats. Animals equipped with sensor probes to monitor body temperature, skin blood flow and arterial blood pressure were immersed in bathwater (35�C) containing CO2 with NaCl, KCl or sucrose. The effects of these factors on cardiovascular function were evaluated using power-spectral analysis of fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate. Compared with immersion in tap water, heart rate and skin vascular resistance were reduced during immersion in CO2-enriched water irrespective of the presence of other components. In terms of the very low frequency range (0.02–0.195 Hz), the power of blood pressure fluctuation during immersion was significantly reduced when the CO2-enriched water contained more than 1.5% NaCl but was not influenced by other components of similar osmotic pressure and the same specific gravity. The results indicated that the coexistence of CO2 and sodium ions in bathwater reduce blood pressure fluctuations, and suggested that this combination effect of CO2 and salt contributes to the sedative effect on human cardiovascular functions while bathing in CO2-hot springs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??Like humans, the heart rate (HR) of anesthetized rats immersed in CO2-water is lower than that when immersed in tap water at the same temperature. To investigate the afferent signal pathway in the mechanism of HR reduction, Wistar rats were anesthetized with urethane and then the spinal cord was transected between T4and T5. The animals were immersed up to the axilla in a bathtub of tap-water (CO2contents: 10?20?mg?l?1) or of CO2-water (965?1,400?mg?l?1) at 35?C while recording HR, arterial blood pressure, and arterial blood gas parameters (PaCO2,PaO2, pH). Arterial blood gas parameters did not change during immersion, irrespective of CO2concentration of the bath water, whereas the HR was reduced in the CO2-water bath. The inhalation of CO2-mixed gas (5 % CO2, 20 % O2, 75 % N2) resulted in increased levels of blood gases and an increased HR during immersion in all types of water tested. The HR reduction observed in sham transected control animals immersed in CO2-water disappeared after subsequent spinal cord transection. These results show that the dominant afferent signal pathway to the brain, which is involved in inducing the reduced HR during immersion in CO2-water, is located in the neuronal route and not in the bloodstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease do not fully explain the accelerated atherosclerosis present in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The goal of this study was to identify the association of clinical and laboratory factors including seropositivity for Chlamydia pneumoniae determined by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the presence of coronary artery disease identified by coronary angiography in ESRD patients.Methods. We prospectively enrolled 161 consecutive ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis for >6 months (106 men, 55 women; mean age 63.1±10.2 years; mean dialysis duration 91.3±90.1 months). All patients underwent coronary angiography within 1 week after blood sampling. The associations of coronary artery disease with clinical parameters including C. pneumoniae IgA and IgG seropositivity were analysed using multiple logistic regression models.Results. Coronary stenosis >50% was found in 102 of 161 haemodialysis patients (63.4%). Of the 102 patients, 75.5% were asymptomatic. Seropositivity for C. pneumoniae IgA was found in patients with coronary stenosis (77 out of 102, 75.5%) more frequently (P<0.001) than in patients without coronary stenosis (10 out of 59, 16.9%). Seropositivity for C. pneumoniae IgA but not IgG was strongly associated with the presence of coronary stenosis in multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 18.440; 95% confidence interval, 7.500–45.337), independently of the Framingham coronary risk factors, factors peculiar to ESRD or serum C-reactive protein levels.Conclusions.C. pneumoniae IgA seropositivity determined by ELISA is an independent laboratory factor indicating the presence of coronary artery stenosis in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Patients with diabetic nephropathy are likely to have neurological complications including cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, which is related to increased risk of mortality. We investigated whether cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in diabetic haemodialysis patients.Methods. Holter electrocardiography was carried out for 24 h with time and frequency domain analyses of heart rate variability in 154 diabetic (age 62±11 years) and 63 non-diabetic haemodialysis patients (62±10 years). The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was determined by echocardiography. We used the percentage of differences exceeding 50 ms between adjacent normal RR intervals (pNN50) in time domain analysis and the power in the high-frequency range (HF: 0.15–0.40 Hz) in frequency domain analysis as indicators of parasympathetic activity.Results. The mean LVMI was greater in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (168±63 vs 144±54 g/m2, P<0.01). LVMI inversely correlated with pNN50 (r = −0.270, P = 0.0007, n = 154) and HF (r = −0.277, P = 0.0005, n = 154) in diabetic patients, but not in non-diabetic patients. By multiple logistic analysis, LVH was strongly associated with pNN50 (odds ratio 0.088; 0, <2%; 1, ≥2%) and HF (odds ratio 0.058; 0, <500 ms2; 1, ≥500 ms2) in diabetic patients.Conclusions. Impaired parasympathetic activity, which indicates cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, was associated with the presence of LVH in diabetic haemodialysis patients. The co-existence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and LVH may be one of the key factors for the high incidence of cardiovascular events in diabetic haemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with advanced N3 cervical lymph node metastases in an 80-year-old female is reported. The patient was treated with a combination of radiotherapy (2 Gy/day, total 60 Gy), superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy via a superficial temporal artery and a femoral artery (docetaxel, total 124 mg; cisplatin, total 135 mg), and four sessions of hyperthermia for cervical lymph node metastases. The tumor responded well to therapy, and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in both primary and neck lesions disappeared on positron emission tomography-computed tomography. The patient has shown no clinical or radiological evidence of local recurrence or distant metastases 6 years after the end of treatment. Advanced oral cancer patients with N3 cervical lymph node metastases are particularly difficult to treat and have a poor prognosis. This method of thermochemoradiotherapy seems a promising modality for patients with N3 cervical lymph node metastases of oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background aims. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe inflammatory disorder characterized by acute respiratory failure, resulting from severe, destructive lung inflammation and irreversible lung fibrosis. We evaluated the use of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) or SHED-derived serum-free conditioned medium (SHEDCM) as treatments for bleomycin (BLM)-induced mice acute lung injury (ALI), exhibiting several pathogenic features associated with the human disease ARDS. Methods. Mice with BLM-induced ALI with or without SHED or SHED-CM treatment were examined for weight loss and survival. The lung tissue was characterized by histological and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The effects of SHED-CM on macrophage differentiation in vitro were also assessed. Results. A single intravenous administration of either SHEDs or SHED-CM attenuated the lung injury and weight loss in BLM-treated mice and improved their survival rate. Similar recovery levels were seen in the SHEDs and SHED-CM treatment groups, suggesting that SHED improves AO by paracrine mechanisms. SHED-CM contained multiple therapeutic factors involved in lung-regenerative mechanisms. Importantly, SHED-CM attenuated the BLM-induced pro-inflammatory response and generated an anti-inflammatory/tissue-regenerating environment, accompanied by the induction of anti-inflammatory M2-like lung macrophages. Furthermore, SHED-CM promoted the in vitro differentiation of bone marrow--derived macrophages into M2-like cells, which expressed high levels of Arginasel, CD206 and Ym-1. Discussion. Our results suggest that SFIED-secreted factors provide multifaceted therapeutic effects, including a strong M2-inducing activity, for treating BLM-induced ALI. This work may open new avenues for research on stem cell--based ARDS therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]