Search

Abstract Pembrolizumab-containing regimens are the standard first-line treatment for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M HNSCC). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) have been reported to be important prognostic factors in a variety of carcinomas, but none have been investigated in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy or in first-line treatment. Seventy-four patients with R/M HNSCC received pembrolizumab-containing regimens at Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan, from April 2020 to March 2023. Patient characteristics, tumor response, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and laboratory findings were reviewed. Associations between NLR, CAR, and survival outcomes were analyzed. The 1-year OS and 1-year PFS rates were 60.4% and 18.1%, respectively. The disease control rate was 66.2%. In multivariate analysis, low NLR (

Ureteral obstruction after urinary diversion is not a rare complication, and the treatment is generally the ureteral stent placement via antegrade approach via the nephrostomy. We present a case of 64-year-old man with history of total pelvic resection and urinary diversion for local recurrence of rectal cancer who presented bilateral ureteral obstruction due to postoperative adhesion. First, bilateral nephrostomies were performed. The antegrade approach via nephrostomy could not break through the obstruction in the left side. Therefore, antegrade and retrograde approaches were attempted, and the internal-external drainage catheter could be placed by the rendezvous technique using bilateral microcatheters and microguidewires. The patient was able to avoid a permanent nephrostomy and continues to undergo regular internal drainage catheter exchange. Permanent nephrostomy considerably reduces the patient's quality of life, and in cases of tight obstruction, rendezvous techniques can be used.

Objectives: To investigate the significance of lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLND) in resectable stage IV low rectal cancers, reviewing the treatment outcomes from a single cancer center dedicated to LPLND. Methods: Consecutive 56 patients with stage IV low rectal cancers who underwent primary tumor resection (PTR) between 2007 and 2022 were identified. Sixteen patients with non-curative PTR were excluded, and 40 with curative PTR were analyzed. Results: The dominant metastatic organ was the liver in 30 (75.0%) patients, followed by the lung in 9 (22.5%). Seven (17.5%) patients had multiple organ metastasis. Five of 40 patients had cT1bN0 or cT2N0 disease, 8 did not receive LPLND for other reasons, and accordingly, 27 (67.5%) finally received LPLND. A total of 15 patients (37.5% of all 40 cases and 55.5% of 27 LPLND cases) had LPLN metastasis. Six (15.0%) patients had bilateral metastasis, and 6 (15.0%) had LD3 metastasis. Eight (20.0%) patients developed local recurrence (LR), and the 5Y-LR rate was 22.3%. Twelve (30.0%) patients underwent preceding chemotherapy before PTR, 26 (65.0%) received chemotherapy after PTR, and 23 (57.5%) achieved complete resection. Twelve (52.2%) of 23 patients developed distant recurrence after complete resection. 5Y-overall survival for all patients was 42.4%. Conclusions: A high rate of LPLN metastasis implies the significance of management for LPLN metastasis; meanwhile, an unsatisfactory complete resection rate and overall survival implies that LPLN metastasis in this cohort should be dealt with as a systemic disease.

Abstract Background Cutis laxa constitutes a diverse group of connective tissue diseases, both inherited and acquired, characterized by loose skin and varying systemic involvement, including pulmonary lesions. While cutis laxa has been linked to conditions like emphysema, asthma, and bronchiectasis, the specific pathological and radiological characteristics underlying pulmonary complications related to cutis laxa remain unclear. Case presentation A 36-year-old woman, diagnosed with cutis laxa at birth, presented to our outpatient clinic with severe obstructive ventilatory impairment, evident in pulmonary function tests (expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC): 34.85%; %residual volume [RV]: 186.5%; %total lung capacity [TLC]: 129.2%). Pulmonary function tests also indicated small airway disease (%FEF50%, 7.9%; %FEF75%, 5.7%; and %FEF25–75%, 6.8%). Computed tomography (CT) revealed the lack of normal increase in lung attenuation on expiratory CT scan, with no discernible emphysematous changes. Exome sequencing was performed to confirm the association between the pulmonary lesions and cutis laxa, revealing a frameshift variant in exon 30 of the elastin gene (ELN). Further analysis employing a parametric response map revealed a longitudinal increase in the percentage of functional small airway disease (fSAD) from 37.84% to 46.61% over the 8-year follow-up, despite the absence of overt changes in CT findings, specifically the lack of normal increase in lung attenuation on expiratory CT scan. Over the same follow-up interval, there was a modest reduction of 25.6 mL/year in FEV1 coupled with a significant increase in %RV. Pulmonary function test metrics, reflective of small airway disease, exhibited a continual decline; specifically, %FEF50%, %FEF75%, and %FEF25–75% diminished from 7.9% to 7.0%, 5.7% to 4.6%, and 6.8% to 5.4%, respectively. Conclusions This case highlighted an instance of autosomal dominant cutis laxa arising from a frameshift variant in exon 30 of ELN, accompanied by small airway disease. Comprehensive investigation, utilizing quantitative CT analysis, revealed a longitudinal increase in fSAD percentage with a mild reduction in FEV1. These findings indicate that elastin deficiency may not only diminish elastic fibers in the skin but also be implicated in small airway disease by impacting components of the extracellular matrix in the lungs.

Abstract Chronic fibrotic tissue disrupts various organ functions. Despite significant advances in therapies, mortality and morbidity due to heart failure remain high, resulting in poor quality of life. Beyond the cardiomyocyte-centric view of heart failure, it is now accepted that alterations in the interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) also play a major role in the development of heart failure. Here, we show that protein kinase N (PKN) is expressed in cardiac fibroblasts. Furthermore, PKN mediates the conversion of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, which plays a central role in secreting large amounts of ECM proteins via p38 phosphorylation signaling. Fibroblast-specific deletion of PKN led to a reduction of myocardial fibrotic changes and cardiac dysfunction in mice models of ischemia-reperfusion or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Our results indicate that PKN is a therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis in heart failure.

Abstract Paleoclimate model simulations provide reference data to help interpret the geological record and offer a unique opportunity to evaluate the performance of current models under diverse boundary conditions. Here, we present a dataset of 35 climate model simulations of the warm early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO; ~ 50 million years ago) and corresponding preindustrial reference experiments. To streamline the use of the data, we apply standardised naming conventions and quality checks across eight modelling groups that have carried out coordinated simulations as part of the Deep-Time Model Intercomparison Project (DeepMIP). Gridded model fields can be downloaded from an online repository or accessed through a new web application that provides interactive data exploration. Local model data can be extracted in CSV format or visualised online for streamlined model-data comparisons. Additionally, processing and visualisation code templates may serve as a starting point for advanced analysis. The dataset and online platform aim to simplify accessing and handling complex data, prevent common processing issues, and facilitate the sharing of climate model data across disciplines.

Abstract Background Polypharmacy is an escalating public health concern across various healthcare settings worldwide. We aimed to comprehensively investigate postoperative complications after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer and explore their association with polypharmacy. As laparoscopic surgery is widespread, clarifying the association between polypharmacy and postoperative complications is clinically important. Methods We retrospectively surveyed the medical charts of adult inpatients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer at Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital between April 2019 and March 2023. Postoperative complications were determined using the Clavien–Dindo classification. We explored the factors related to postoperative complications and calculated the cut-off values for the number of medication ingredients. Results Among the 236 patients, 32 (13.6%) developed postoperative complications. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the number of regularly used medication ingredients (odds ratio = 1.160, 95% confidence interval 1.050–1.270, p = 0.002) was identified as a factor related to postoperative complications. The identified cut-off value for complications was 10 ingredients. Patients using 10 or more ingredients had approximately 3.5 times higher occurrence of postoperative complications than those using fewer than 10 ingredients (33.3% vs. 9.3%, p

Abstract Particles containing alpha (α) nuclides were identified from sediment in stagnant water in the Unit 3 reactor building of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDiNPS). We analyzed different concentrations of α-nuclide samples collected at two sampling sites, the torus room and the main steam isolation valve (MSIV) room. The solids in the stagnant water samples were classified, and the uranium (U) and total alpha concentrations of each fraction were measured by dissolution followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and α-spectrometry. Most of the α-nuclides in the stagnant water samples from the torus and MSIV rooms were in particle fractions larger than 10 μm. We detected uranium-bearing particles ranging from sub-µm to 10 µm in size by scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM–EDX) observations. The chemical forms of U particles were determined in U–Zr oxides, oxidized UO2, and U3O8 with micro-Raman spectroscopy. Other short-lived α-nuclides (plutonium [Pu], americium [Am], and curium [Cm]) were detected by alpha track detection, and the particles with α-nuclides was characterized by SEM–EDX analysis. α-nuclide-containing particles with several tens to several 100 µm in size mainly comprised iron (Fe) oxyhydroxides. In addition, we detected adsorbed U onto Fe oxyhydroxide particles in the MSIV room sample, which indicated nuclear fuel dissolution and secondary U accumulation. This study clarifies the major characteristics of U and other α-nuclides in sediment in stagnant water in the FDiNPS Unit 3 reactor building, which significantly contribute to the consideration of removal methods for particles containing α-nuclides in the stagnant water.

Abstract The underlying mechanisms of atherosclerosis, the second leading cause of death among Werner syndrome (WS) patients, are not fully understood. Here, we establish an in vitro co-culture system using macrophages (iMφs), vascular endothelial cells (iVECs), and vascular smooth muscle cells (iVSMCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. In co-culture, WS-iMφs induces endothelial dysfunction in WS-iVECs and characteristics of the synthetic phenotype in WS-iVSMCs. Transcriptomics and open chromatin analysis reveal accelerated activation of type I interferon signaling and reduced chromatin accessibility of several transcriptional binding sites required for cellular homeostasis in WS-iMφs. Furthermore, the H3K9me3 levels show an inverse correlation with retrotransposable elements, and retrotransposable element-derived double-stranded RNA activates the DExH-box helicase 58 (DHX58)-dependent cytoplasmic RNA sensing pathway in WS-iMφs. Conversely, silencing type I interferon signaling in WS-iMφs rescues cell proliferation and suppresses cellular senescence and inflammation. These findings suggest that Mφ-specific inhibition of type I interferon signaling could be targeted to treat atherosclerosis in WS patients.

Abstract Titanium (Ti) is an attractive material, abundant in nature and possessing superior mechanical and chemical properties. However, its widespread use is significantly hampered by the strong affinity between titanium and oxygen (O), resulting in elevated manufacturing costs during the refining, melting, and casting processes. The current work introduces a high-throughput technique that effectively reduces the oxygen content in molten titanium to a level suitable for structural material applications (1000 mass ppm, equivalent to 0.1 mass%). This technique aspires to streamline the mass production of titanium by seamlessly integrating the refining, melting, and casting processes. The developed method leverages the high affinity of rare-earth metals, such as yttrium (Y), for oxygen. This method utilizes the formation reaction of their oxyhalides (YOF) to directly remove oxygen from liquid titanium, resulting in titanium with a significantly reduced oxygen content of 200 mass ppm. This technique enables the direct conversion of titanium oxide feeds into low-oxygen titanium without requiring conversion into intermediate compounds. Additionally, this process offers a pathway for the upgrade recycling of high-oxygen-content titanium scrap directly into low-oxygen titanium. Consequently, this technology holds the potential to dramatically lower titanium production costs, thereby facilitating its more widespread utilization.

Abstract The mid-Piacenzian warm period (MPWP, ~3.264–3.025 Ma) has gained widespread interest due to its partial analogy with future climate. However, quantitative data–model comparison of East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) precipitation during the MPWP is relatively rare, especially due to problems in decoding the imprint of physical processes to climate signals in the records. In this study, pollen-based precipitation records are reconstructed and compared to the multi-model ensemble mean of the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2 (PlioMIP2). We find spatially consistent precipitation increase in most simulations but a spatially divergent change in MPWP records. We reconcile proxy data and simulation by decomposing physical processes that control precipitation. Our results 1) reveal thermodynamic control of an overall enhancement of EASM precipitation and 2) highlight a distinct control of thermodynamic and dynamical processes on increases of tropical and subtropical EASM precipitation, reflecting the two pathways of water vapor supply that enhance EASM precipitation, respectively.