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Background/Aim: The landscape of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including immune checkpoint inhibitors, has expanded significantly. However, unresectable HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) continue to face a poor prognosis. This investigation examined the survival outcomes and determinants influencing survival rates in advanced HCC patients with PVTT undergoing treatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ+BEV) or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). Patients and Methods: Between December 2003 and June 2023, 48 advanced HCC with PVTT underwent treatment with either ATZ+BEV (16 patients) or HAIC (32 patients). Results: The analysis revealed no significant disparities in overall survival (OS) or treatment efficacy between the ATZ+BEV and HAIC groups (ATZ+BEV: 10.0 months, HAIC: 15.3 months). Treatment with either ATZ+BEV or HAIC resulted in minimal alterations in the ALBI score and preserved hepatic function. Independent prognostic factors for OS, identified via multivariate logistic regression, included serum a-fetoprotein levels >400 ng/ml [hazard ratio (HR)=1.94; p=0.001], the existence of more than five tumors (HR=1.55; p=0.043), and the Child-Pugh score (HR=2.53; p=0.002). Conclusion: This investigation revealed no significant variance in OS and response rates between patients receiving ATZ+BEV and those treated with HAIC. The survival of advanced HCC patients with PVTT is intricately linked to the preservation of liver function, emphasizing the necessity for additional research to enhance treatment approaches for this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous article, we observed and measured a spontaneous growth in the coronal direction of the keratinized tissues present around implants. This growth involved both free margins and interdental papillae, and we indicated our hypothesis on the probable cause of this still-unexplained phenomenon. The growth of oral soft tissues involves several other structures, such as the linea alba and tongue indentation. Our idea holds that growth of these tissues is generated by the negative intraoral pressure created in the oral phase of swallowing and the subsequent resting position, which through the resulting suction causes a shift of these soft structures in the gaps around the dental crowns. Other hypotheses have been suggested in the past to understand this phenomenon of soft tissue growth, which still lacks data supporting etiological evidence. The purpose of this article is to thoroughly analyze and verify our model by comparing the clinical observations with citations and examples from the literature, combined with notions of physiology, biology, and physics that help in clarifying these events. To better explain the mechanisms of oral soft tissue growth, photographs of clinical cases paradigmatic of the phenomenon are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study published in the journal Allergy investigated the potential immune-regulating genes that may alleviate Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) symptoms through the intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YIT 0132 (LP0132), a type of lactic acid bacteria. The study found that the downregulation of IDO1 and upregulation of FOXP3 may be associated with the alleviation of JCPsis symptoms by LP0132 intake. However, the study did not compare results with individuals without JCPsis and did not clarify the gene expression profile in immune cells or local changes in mucosa. The study was funded by Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. and the authors declare no conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone with various important physiological functions. The unique feature of ghrelin is its serine 3 acyl-modification, which is essential for ghrelin activity. The major form of ghrelin is modified with n-octanoic acid (C8:0) by ghrelin O-acyltransferase. Various acyl modifications have been reported in different species. However, the underlying mechanism by which ghrelin is modified with various fatty acids remains to be elucidated. Herein, we report the purification of bovine, porcine, and equine ghrelins. The major active form of bovine ghrelin was a 27-amino acid peptide with an n-octanoyl (C8:0) modification at Ser3. The major active form of porcine and equine ghrelin was a 28-amino acid peptide. However, porcine ghrelin was modified with n-octanol (C8:0), whereas equine ghrelin was modified with n-butanol (C4:0) at Ser3. This study indicates the existence of structural divergence in ghrelin and suggests that it is necessary to measure the minor and major forms of ghrelin to fully understand its physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically includes neutrophilic airway inflammation and eosinophilic inflammation in some cases. Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) suppresses eosinophilic inflammation of the airway and reduces acute exacerbation (AE). The present study investigated the relationship between ICS and AE in patients with COPD classified by blood eosinophil counts. Methods Overall, 244 patients with COPD were retrospectively evaluated between 2014 and 2017 and classified into two groups based on blood eosinophil counts ([greater than or equal to] 300/[mu]L and < 300/[mu]L). These patients were then reclassified into subgroups of those with and without ICS. Differences in the characteristics and incidence of AE and pneumonia with AE in each subgroup were evaluated retrospectively. Results All patients with ICS used 320 [mu]g budesonide twice daily. In the group with blood eosinophil counts [greater than or equal to] 300/[mu]L, patients with ICS had a significantly lower incidence of AE than those without ICS (P = 0.023). Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed in incidence of AE in the group with blood eosinophil counts < 300/[mu]L. In the group with blood eosinophil counts < 300/[mu]L, patients with ICS had a higher incidence of pneumonia with AE (P = 0.009). Conversely, no significant differences were observed in the group with blood eosinophil counts [greater than or equal to] 300/[mu]L. Conclusions ICS significantly reduced AE in COPD patients with blood eosinophil counts [greater than or equal to] 300/[mu]L. Meanwhile, ICS significantly increased pneumonia rate in patients with blood eosinophil count < 300/[mu]L. Blood eosinophil count may be a useful indicator to identify the benefits and risks of ICS in COPD., Author(s): Zenya Saito [sup.1], Masahiro Yoshida [sup.1], Ayako Kojima [sup.1], Kentaro Tamura [sup.1], Tsukasa Hasegawa [sup.1], Kazuyoshi Kuwano [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, [...]

Sandy materials with or without a non-plastic fines content, including sand recovered from Urayasu City after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, were employed and solidified with CaCO3 produced by a bacterial species named Sporosarcina pasteurii in a study. The solidified materials were prepared in a triaxialcell and then subjected to undrained cyclic loading. The results were analyzed to provide insight into the effectiveness of MICP to sand with a non-plastic fines content in mitigating the liquefaction potential.

Context: Quadriceps strength is considered a key contributor to performance in various athletic tasks. Yet, past research has reported conflicting results based on population, with little data available in highly trained female athletes. Design: Cross-sectional. Method: To examine how athletic performance relates to quadriceps strength and neural function, we measured the quadriceps maximum voluntary isometric contraction force (MVIC) and rate of force development over 0 to 50 ms (rate of force development [RFD]0−50ms), and various performance measures in 34 highly trained female athletes. Results: Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the quadriceps variables explained 16 of 21 performance variables (R2 =.08–.36, P ≤.10). Squat performance related to RFD0−50ms alone (R2 =.17–.20, P <.05; βRFD = 0.41 to 0.45, P <.05) but only MVIC explained the variance in sprinting and vertical jump performance (R2 =.08–.34, P ≤.10; βMVIC = −0.51 to 0.58, P ≤.10). The broad jump model included both parameters and their interaction (R2 =.20, P =.08; βRFD = 0.06, P =.76; βMVIC = −0.39, P =.03; βRFD×MVIC = −0.24, P =.10). Conclusion: The contribution of the quadriceps MVIC or RFD0–50ms varies in size and nature depending on the task or leg dominance. While quadriceps are significant contributors to performance, because our models leave most of the variance in performance unexplained, rehabilitation and performance professionals should refrain from interpreting peak athletic performance as a reflection of knee-extensors function in highly trained female athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]