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We report on an Er-doped fiber (EDF)-laser-based dual-comb system that allows us to perform triggerless asynchronous optical sampling pump–probe measurements of ultrafast demagnetization and spin precession in magnetic materials. Because the oscillation frequencies of the two frequency-comb light sources are highly stabilized, the pulse-to-pulse timing jitter is sufficiently suppressed, and data accumulation without any trigger signals is possible. To effectively induce spin precession in ferromagnetic thin films, the spectral bandwidth of the output of one of the EDF frequency comb sources is broadened by a highly nonlinear fiber and then amplified at a wavelength of about 1030 nm by a Yb-doped fiber amplifier. The output of the other frequency comb source is converted to about 775 nm by second harmonic generation. We used this system to observe ultrafast demagnetization and spin precession dynamics on the picosecond and nanosecond time scales in a permalloy thin film. This time-domain spectroscopy system is promising for the rapid characterization of spin-wave generation and propagation dynamics in magnetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Mechanosensing and its downstream responses are speculated to involve sensory complexes containing Ca2+-permeable mechanosensitive channels. On recognizing osmotic signals, plant cells initiate activation of a widespread signal transduction network that induces second messengers and triggers inducible defense responses. Characteristic early signaling events include Ca2+ influx, protein phosphorylation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pharmacological analyses show Ca2+ influx mediated by mechanosensitive Ca2+ channels to influence induction of osmotic signals, including ROS generation. However, molecular bases and regulatory mechanisms for early osmotic signaling events remain poorly elucidated. Results We here identified and investigated OsMCA1, the sole rice homolog of putative Ca2+-permeable mechanosensitive channels in Arabidopsis (MCAs). OsMCA1 was specifically localized at the plasma membrane. A promoter-reporter assay suggested that OsMCA1 mRNA is widely expressed in seed embryos, proximal and apical regions of shoots, and mesophyll cells of leaves and roots in rice. Ca2+ uptake was enhanced in OsMCA1-overexpressing suspension-cultured cells, suggesting that OsMCA1 is involved in Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. Hypo-osmotic shock-induced ROS generation mediated by NADPH oxidases was also enhanced in OsMCA1-overexpressing cells. We also generated and characterized OsMCA1-RNAi transgenic plants and cultured cells; OsMCA1-suppressed plants showed retarded growth and shortened rachises, while OsMCA1-suppressed cells carrying Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein aequorin showed partially impaired changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) induced by hypo-osmotic shock and trinitrophenol, an activator of mechanosensitive channels. Conclusions We have identified a sole MCA ortholog in the rice genome and developed both overexpression and suppression lines. Analyses of cultured cells with altered levels of this putative Ca2+-permeable mechanosensitive channel indicate that OsMCA1 is involved in regulation of plasma membrane Ca2+ influx and ROS generation induced by hypo-osmotic stress in cultured rice cells. These findings shed light on our understanding of mechanical sensing pathways.

Background: Nivolumab is the standard treatment for platinum-refractory recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M-HNSCC). Several studies have reported the efficacy of paclitaxel plus cetuximab (PC) combination therapy in this patient population., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with platinum-refractory R/M-HNSCC treated with nivolumab or PC at our institution between January 2015 and March 2022. Eligibility criteria included histologically confirmed HNSCC, ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2, with platinum-refractory R/M disease, defined as recurrence or disease progression within 6 months after platinum-based definitive chemoradiotherapy., Results: The baseline characteristics of the 56 patients (21 PC/35 nivolumab) were ECOG PS 1-2 (76/54%), metastatic sites ≥ 2 (33/46%), local recurrence (62/23%), and median tumor size (43.2/26.2 mm). Median progression-free survival (mPFS) tended to favor PC over nivolumab (4.3/2.7 months, hazard ratio [HR]: 0.7, p = 0.41), and median overall survival tended to be inferior for PC (8.0/23.2 months, HR: 1.58, p = 0.20). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for several relevant factors. The objective response rate was numerically higher with PC (31/19%). Grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent with PC (29/6%), and the most prevalent were leukopenia (19%) for PC and liver dysfunction (6%) for nivolumab. Subsequent treatment with PC and nivolumab was administered to 75% and 72% of patients, respectively; the mPFS of these patients was significantly lower with PC (1.6/9.2 months, HR: 9.9, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Both PC and nivolumab are viable treatment options for platinum-refractory R/M-HNSCC, though their efficacy and safety profiles should be carefully considered., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: Shigenori Kadowaki has received honoraria from Ono, Taiho, Daiichi-Sankyo, Merck KgaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Chugai, Bayer, Eisai, and Novartis, and research funding from Ono, Taiho, MSD, Nobel, Jansen, Bayer, Eli Lilly, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Abbvie, and AstraZeneca. Bayer, Eisai, and Novartis. Toshiki Masuishi has received honoraria from Eli Lilly, and research funding from Amgen and Syneos Health. Yukiya Narita has received has honoraria from Taiho, Eli Lilly, Daiichi-Sankyo, Ono, and BMS, and research funding from AstraZeneca, Taiho, Daiichi-Sankyo, Ono, and BMS. Hiroya Taniguchi has received honoraria from Eli Lilly, Ono, and Takeda, and research funding from Takeda, and Daiichi-Sankyo. Masashi Ando has received honoraria from Eisai, Ono, Chugai, and Taiho. Nobuhiro Hanai has received honoraria from Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Rakuten Medical, Ono, and Merck Biopharma, and research funding from Rakuten Medical, MSD, Chugai, and Adlai Nortye. Kei Muro has received honoraria from BMS, Ono, MSD, Taiho, Takeda, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Eli Lilly, and research funding from Astellas, Amgen, Sanofi, Novartis, Paraxel International, PRA Hearth Sciences, Taiho, MSD, Chugai, and Ono., (© 2025. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.)

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) cell separation technology is an effective means of separating target cells which are only marginally present in a wide variety of cells. To develop highly efficient cell separation devices, detailed analysis of the nonuniform electric field's intensity distribution within the device is needed, as it affects separation performance. Here we analytically expressed the distributions of the electric field and DEP force in a parallel-plate cell separation DEP device by employing electrostatic analysis through the Fourier series method. The solution was approximated by extrapolating a novel approximate equation as a boundary condition for the potential between adjacent fingers of interdigitated electrodes and changing the underlying differential equation into a solvable form. The distributions of the potential and electric fields obtained by the analytical solution were compared with those from numerical simulations using finite element method software to verify their accuracy. As a result, it was found that the two agreed well, and the analytical solution was obtained with good accuracy. Three-dimensional fluorescence imaging analysis was performed using live non-tumorigenic human mammary (MCF10A) cells. The distribution of cell clusters adsorbed on the interdigitated electrodes was compared with the analytically obtained distribution of the DEP force, and the mechanism underlying cell adsorption on the electrode surface was discussed. Furthermore, parametric analysis using the width and spacing of these electrodes as variables revealed that spacing is crucial for determining DEP force. The results suggested that for cell separation devices using interdigitated electrodes, optimization by adjusting electrode spacing could significantly enhance device performance.

Background: Prognostic factors from neck dissection for regional recurrent or residual head and neck cancer remain undetermined., Aims/objectives: We studied whether continuous variables from pathologic lymph nodes of salvage neck dissection could estimate survival outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC)., Materials and Methods: Pathologic continuous variables from neck dissection without primary tumor resection in 184 patients with HNSCC were retrospectively evaluated. Cutoff values from both lymph node density (LND) and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) as the variables were applied to death estimation. Uni-/multivariate survival analyses adjusting for pathologic N classification and extranodal extension were evaluated by log-rank test or Cox's proportional hazard model, respectively., Results: LND ≥ 0.14 and LODDS ≥ -1.72 were significantly related to univariate shorter survival outcomes. Multivariate analysis indicated a significant association between LND ≥ 0.14 and shorter overall (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-3.58), local recurrence-free (HR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.06-5.16), regional recurrence-free (HR = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.27-4.25), and distant metastasis-free survival (HR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.31-3.61)., Conclusions and Significance: Based on the obtained results, increased LND was a poor prognostic factor following salvage neck dissection.

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed treatment. We report a successful case of NIR-PIT for post-irradiation locoregionally recurrent oropharyngeal cancer at the tongue base. A 60-year-old man following primary treatment for oropharyngeal cancer at the tongue base by endoscopy (rT1N0M0). He had been treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. NIR-PIT was performed under general anesthesia at the tongue base. Successful therapeutic effects were obtained with no postoperative functional impairment. This case report highlights two important management issues: tracheostomy and pain management after NIR-PIT. NIR-PIT for head and neck cancer will provide a curative treatment option for the locoregional recurrent or unresectable disease following radiotherapy and surgery. It was considered important to ensure sufficient optical tissue penetration range, control pain in the perioperative period, and take measures to prevent edema in the airway., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Ethics Review Board of Wakayama Medical University issued approval 4178. After review by the ethical committee, the case report was approved. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Tamagawa et al.)

Background: Facial sensory nerves play vital roles in daily functions like self-protection, facial expressions, speaking, and eating. Severing the infraorbital nerve (ION) during partial maxillectomy via the Weber-Ferguson incision can lead to sensory disturbances. This study presents immediate ION reconstruction using artificial nerve conduits and its short-term outcomes., Methods: This retrospective study included three patients (mean age: 67.0 years) undergoing immediate ION reconstruction after partial maxillectomy via the Weber-Ferguson incision. Sensory recovery was evaluated using the Semmes-Weinstein and two-point discrimination (2PD) tests. A reference group of five patients who underwent total maxillectomy without ION reconstruction was also assessed., Results: No postoperative complications were observed during the 15.3-month follow-up. Sensory recovery varied among patients, with one achieving normal perception at 24 months, another showing diminished light touch at 13 months, and the third experiencing diminished protective sensation at 7 months postoperatively. In comparison, the reference group showed lower sensory recovery. Two patients showed improvements in 2PD test results at 24 and 13 months, whereas one showed no recovery at 7 months. No patients in the reference group showed improvement., Conclusion: Immediate ION reconstruction using artificial nerve conduits after partial maxillectomy appears feasible, as evidenced by acceptable sensory recovery in the short term., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Pembrolizumab alone or combined with chemotherapy is the standard of care for first-line treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) with positive programmed death-ligand 1 combined positive scores. However, data on second-line chemotherapy following pembrolizumab are scarce., Methods: A single-center, retrospective study was conducted to determine the efficacies of pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatments and the efficacy of second-line chemotherapy for patients with R/M HNSCC who were refractory or intolerant to first-line treatment., Results: Fifty-four patients were treated with pembrolizumab, and 29 received second-line therapy, with 27 opting for cetuximab-containing regimens. The median progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and PFS on next-line therapy for first-line treatment were 4.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-8.7), 22.1 (95% CI, 12.6-not reached), and 15.6 months (95% CI, 9.7-not reached) in the pembrolizumab group and 5.4 (95% CI, 3.3-6.8), 15.8 (95% CI, 8.6-not reached), and 13.7 months (95% CI, 8.1-not reached) in the pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy group, respectively. The overall response rate and median PFS for second-line treatment were 48.3% (95% CI, 30.4-67.0) and 6.1 months (95% CI, 2.30-8.84). The median OS for patients who received second-line treatment was 18.4 months, which was superior to the median OS of 6.0 months for patients who received the best supportive care (log-rank p = 0.10)., Conclusion: This study indicates that cetuximab-containing second-line chemotherapy can improve outcomes in R/M HNSCC, even after first-line therapy failure or intolerance., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.)

Background/aim: Although gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) prolongs survival in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC) compared with fluorouracil plus cisplatin, no study has evaluated the efficacy and safety of GC in nonendemic regions, including Japan, yet. Therefore, we assessed the safety and efficacy of GC in Japanese patients with R/M NPC., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with R/M NPC who received GC treatment at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital from January 2017 to March 2020. The main eligibility criteria were histologically confirmed NPC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0-2, and locally recurrent disease unsuitable for local treatment or metastatic disease. The regimen was administered every 3 weeks (gemcitabine, 1,000 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8; cisplatin, 80 mg/m 2 on day 1)., Results: Fourteen patients (median age, 58 years) were included in the study. Two patients had an ECOG PS of 2 and 11 exhibited nonkeratinizing histology. Of the eight patients with measurable lesions, one exhibited complete response and seven exhibited partial response, with an objective response rate of 75%. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 7.7 and 24.2 months, respectively. Common grade 3 or 4 adverse events included neutropenia (64%), thrombocytopenia (14%), and febrile neutropenia (14%). The median relative dose intensity of gemcitabine and cisplatin was 62% and 60%, respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred., Conclusion: The GC regimen demonstrates promising activity and is tolerable in Japanese patients with R/M NPC., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Total pharyngolaryngectomy (TPL) is standard treatment for hypopharyngeal cancer. However, extensive thyroidectomy and paratracheal nodal dissection (PTND) can cause hypoparathyroidism. We sought to determine the optimum extent of resection., Methods: We analyzed the clinicopathological information of 161 pyriform sinus cancer patients undergoing TPL from 25 Japanese institutions. Rates of recurrence and risk factors for hypoparathyroidism, as well as incidence of pathological contralateral level VI nodal metastasis and stomal recurrence, were investigated., Results: The extent of thyroidectomy and nodal dissection were not independent risk factors for recurrence. Incidences of contralateral level VI nodal involvement and stomal recurrence were 1.8% and 1.2%, respectively. Patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy/ipsilateral PTND did not develop stomal recurrence and had the lowest incidence of hypoparathyroidism. Prognosis in patients without tracheostomy prior to hemithyroidectomy/ipsilateral PTND was comparable to that with more extensive resections., Conclusions: Hemithyroidectomy/ipsilateral PTND may be sufficient for pyriform sinus cancer cases without tracheostomy., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) for head and neck cancer is a recently developed therapy. However, there is limited data on patients receiving NIR-PIT in real clinical settings., Methods: Seven NIR-PIT sessions were administered to five patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Serum damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) (HMGB1 and Hsp70 levels), and cytokine and chemokine production, were compared before and after NIR-PIT., Results: The serum concentration of HMGB1 increased after NIR-PIT (p = 0.031, Wilcoxon test) in all patients except one who did not achieve a clinical response. Chemokines MIP-1α (CCL3) and MIP-1β (CCL4) increased significantly 1-3 days after treatment (CCL3, p = 0.0036; CCL4, p = 0.0016, Wilcoxon test). A low pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was associated with a better response to therapy and survival., Conclusions: The release of DAMPs, and cytokine/chemokine production, were detected in the patients' peripheral blood. The baseline NLR may predict patient outcomes in response to NIR-PIT., (© 2023 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: We aimed to define the indications for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), the third option for cervical treatment in oral cancer with negative cervical lymph nodes., Methods: The greatest depth of invasion (DOI) and long diameter (LD) of the primary site were used as exposures. SLN metastasis was considered the outcome., Results: In three trials conducted between 2009 and 2016, 158 patients were eligible and reassigned to this study group. The scatterplot based on the respective values of DOI and LD would eventually be divided into three sections. In cases of sections T1, T2, and T3, the proportions of SLN metastasis positivity were 21.3%, 35.3%, and 51.2%, respectively. In certain cases of T1 with 2 mm < DOI ≤ 5 mm and 8 mm < LD ≤ 20 mm, the proportion of SLN metastasis positivity was 40.9%., Conclusions: SLNB-navigated or assisted neck dissection can be added as an effective procedure for N0 neck control., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for tongue base lesions located above the operative field is predominantly an upward procedure, which makes surgery difficult., Methods: To illustrate our technique for this procedure, we report the case of an 82-year-old male with a p16-negative oropharyngeal carcinoma of the tongue base who underwent TORS. The field of view was turned upside down, and the operation switched the typical left- and right-arm functions. The daVinci Xi was docked, the 0° endoscope was rotated 180°, and the first arm was switched to the right hand and the third arm to the left hand., Results: Although the lesion extended from the tongue base to the soft palate and mobile tongue, the planned resection line was followed., Conclusions: This technique improves operability by allowing downward manipulation and preventing the left and right arms from crossing. Further validation of the technique's effectiveness and safety is needed., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background/aim: The Warburg effect of cancer has been applied to detect various carcinomas though the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT). 18F-FDG-PET/CT in lung cancer predicted the mutation status of epidermoid growth factor receptor (EGFR). This study aimed to investigate whether 18F-FDG uptake parameters were significantly related to EGFR mutation status in patients with sinonasal tract squamous cell carcinoma (STSCC)., Patients and Methods: Twenty-nine tumor specimens of primary STSCC from patients with definitive treatment were collected., Results: The 18F-FDG uptake from primary tumors was not different between mutant- and wild-status of EGFR on either Mann-Whitney U-test or the receiver operating curve. A metabolic tumor volume of ≥25 with the minimum p-value from the log-rank test for STSCC-specific survival was associated with a significantly shorter STSCC-specific, disease-free, local recurrence-free survival on the univariate and multivariate analyses adjusted for the clinical stage, treatment, and EGFR status., Conclusion: 18F-FDG-PET/CT did not predict mutation of the EGFR status in STSCC., (Copyright © 2023 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

This sentinel node (SN) biopsy trial aimed to assess its effectiveness in identifying predictive factors of micrometastases and to determine whether elective neck dissection is necessary in oral squamous cell carcinoma. This retrospective study included 55 patients from three previous trials, with positive SNs. The relationship between the sizes of the metastatic focus and metastasis in non-sentinel node (NSN) was investigated. Four of the 55 largest metastatic focus were isolated tumor cells, and the remaining 51 were ranged from 0.2 to 15 mm, with a median of 2.6 mm. The difference of prevalence between 46 negative- and 9 positive-NSN was statistically significant with regard to age, long diameter of primary site and number of cases with regional recurrence. In comparing the size of largest metastatic focus dividing the number of positive SN, with metastaic focus range of < 3.0 mm in one-positive SN group, there were 18 (33%) negative-NSN and no positive-NSN. Regarding prognosis, 3-year overall survival rate of this group (n = 18) and other (n = 37) were 94% and 73% (p = 0.04), and 3-year recurrence free survival rate of this group and other were 94% and 51% (p = 0.03), respectively. Absolutely a further prospective clinical trial would be needed, micrometastases may be defined as solitary SN metastasis with < 3.0 mm of metastatic focus, and approximately 33% of neck dissections could be avoided using these criteria., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: Superior thyroid artery (SThA) is a common recipient artery in free tissue transfer even after total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy (TPLE) with hemithyroidectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of SThA as a recipient vessel affect thyroid function in patients undergoing TPLE with hemithyroidectomy., Methods: From 2011 to 2020, 91 patients who underwent free jejunum transfer after TPLE with hemithyroidectomy were divided into two groups. In Group1 (n = 47), the contralateral SThA was used for the anastomosis. In Group2 (n = 44), other vessels were used. Retrospective chart review was performed comparing postoperative thyroid function between two groups., Results: In group1, 17 patients presented hypothyroidism, 21 presented latent hypothyroidism and 9 presented no thyroid dysfunction comparing 15, 19, and 10 respectively in group 2. There were no significant differences between the two groups., Conclusion: Even after hemithyroidectomy, with inferior thyroid arteries are preserved, the SThA can be used as a recipient vessel., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:557-561, 2023., (© 2022 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a new cancer treatment based on a different mechanism from conventional treatments that combines the administration of a photoabsorber and laser illumination. PIT has two characteristics: a high selectivity of target cells and the possibility of effects beyond the illuminated area. It is thus a potentially effective treatment for a wide variety of cancers., Case Presentation: We herein report a patient with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with superficial cervical lymph node recurrence. Intraoperative ultrasound confirmed the localization of the lesion and major vessels near the tumor. We punctured the tumor with catheters of laser illumination under ultrasound guidance. Laser illumination was able to be performed safely without causing serious adverse events, and the effect on the illuminated site was fully exhibited., Conclusions: Ultrasound allows for the intraoperative monitoring of each localized area and the puncture status easily in real-time. Accurate utilization of ultrasound is extremely important in PIT., (© 2023. Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB).)