start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=85 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=2608 end-page=2618 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2002 dt-pub=200209 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A New Route for Preparation of 5-Deoxy-5-(hydroxyphosphinyl)- D-mannopyranose and -L-gulopyranose Derivatives en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Starting from methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-D-mannofuranoside (5), methyl 6-O-benzyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-D-lyxo-hexofuranosid-5-ulose (12) was prepared in three steps. The addition reaction of dimethyl phosphonate to 12, followed by deoxygenation of 5-OH group, provided the 5-deoxy-5-dimethoxyphosphinyl-α-D-mannofuranoside derivative 15a and the β-L-gulofuranoside isomer 15b. Reduction of 15a and 15b with sodium dihydrobis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminate, followed by the action of HCl and then H2O2, afforded the D-mannopyranose (17) and L-gulopyranose analog 21, each having a phosphinyl group in the hemiacetal ring. These were converted to the corresponding 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-acetyl-5-methoxyphosphinyl derivatives 19 and 23, respectively, structures and conformations (4C1 or 1C4, resp.) of which were established by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HanayaTadashi en-aut-sei=Hanaya en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Center of Instrumental Analysis, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=11 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1944754 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20261012 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Navigating inherited “intensive surveillance” within Japan's structural norms of autonomy: maternal identity negotiation among long-term Peruvian migrant mothers (1990?2025) en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: This study examines how Peruvian mothers who have settled in Japan for decades rework their identities as mothers. These women were raised with the belief that being a good mother means constantly watching over and protecting their children. But in Japan, child-rearing pushes children toward independence from a young age. This study asks: What happens when these two different approaches of mothering meet?
Methods: We interviewed 21 Peruvian mothers who had lived in Japan for 17?35 years.
Results: The analysis identified four identity positions to this cultural friction. The first is holding firmly to Peruvian maternal scripts (“Ideological Retention”). The second is following Japanese conventions in public while keeping Peruvian ways at home (“Compartmentalization”). The third is moving away from inherited protective scripts and adopting Japanese norms of independence (“Assimilation”). The fourth is blending elements of both into a maternal self that is “neither the one nor the other” (a “Third Space”).
Discussion: This study helps us understand that migrant mothers do not simply choose between their home and new cultures. Instead, they actively work to create a way of mothering through a process we call Reflexive Continuity that makes sense for their unique situations. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Huaman PalominoKatia Sara en-aut-sei=Huaman Palomino en-aut-mei=Katia Sara kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirataYoshitsugu en-aut-sei=Hirata en-aut-mei=Yoshitsugu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=acculturation kn-keyword=acculturation en-keyword=intensive surveillance kn-keyword=intensive surveillance en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan en-keyword=maternal identity kn-keyword=maternal identity en-keyword=Peruvian migration kn-keyword=Peruvian migration en-keyword=reflexive continuity kn-keyword=reflexive continuity en-keyword=Third Space kn-keyword=Third Space en-keyword=transnational motherhood kn-keyword=transnational motherhood END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=20 article-no= start-page=3393 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20261012 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Japanese Version of the Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Efficacy Scale (CKDSE-J) en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Self-efficacy is an important determinant of self-care among adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Efficacy Scale (CKD-SE) is a disease-specific measure, but its use has not been reported in Japan. This study translated and culturally adapted the CKD-SE into Japanese and conducted an initial psychometric evaluation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Japanese adults with CKD stages G3a?G5 not receiving dialysis. Structural validity and internal consistency were evaluated in 227 participants, and construct validity was evaluated in 222. Structural validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). Results: The original 25-item four-factor CFA showed a poor fit, and ESEM yielded an improper solution involving Item 19. Sequential evaluation resulted in a 23-item structure. The 23-item CFA showed mixed fit, whereas Target ESEM showed improved overall fit (CFI = 0.935, TLI = 0.902, RMSEA = 0.060, SRMR = 0.033). However, several autonomy items showed weak target loadings and cross-loadings. Proposed subscale scores correlated positively with self-care behavior (r = 0.27?0.46), and McDonald’s omega ranged from 0.84 to 0.90. Conclusions: The 23-item CKDSE-J showed improved overall model fit under Target ESEM, but the structural definition of autonomy remained uncertain. Because the structure was refined and evaluated in the same sample, independent replication and further psychometric evaluation are needed. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=GengTingting en-aut-sei=Geng en-aut-mei=Tingting kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KajiwaraYuki en-aut-sei=Kajiwara en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimotoMichiko en-aut-sei=Morimoto en-aut-mei=Michiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Doctor’s Program, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=chronic kidney disease kn-keyword=chronic kidney disease en-keyword=self-efficacy kn-keyword=self-efficacy en-keyword=self-care kn-keyword=self-care en-keyword=cultural adaptation kn-keyword=cultural adaptation en-keyword=psychometric evaluation kn-keyword=psychometric evaluation en-keyword=exploratory structural equation modeling kn-keyword=exploratory structural equation modeling END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20261007 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Temporally structured plasticity in death-feigning behavior in response to nutritional conditions in Tribolium castaneum en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Investment in antipredator behavior and foraging both directly influence fitness, yet these investments are often subject to trade-offs. In income-breeding species, individuals may initially prioritize foraging after adult emergence and subsequently increase investment in antipredator behavior as their nutritional condition improves. In this study, we investigated temporal changes in death-feigning behavior, an antipredator response, in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum from immediately after adult emergence. Both fed and starved individuals exhibited an increase in death-feigning duration with time after emergence. However, in starved individuals, this trend reversed after approximately 15 days, with a marked decline in duration. These results suggest that the increase in investment in death-feigning behavior early in adulthood is relatively inflexible, whereas behavioral responses become highly plastic in response to environmental conditions around day 15. Furthermore, individuals that were fed until day 18 before starvation showed a less pronounced behavioral change than those subjected to starvation from the beginning of the experimental period, suggesting that the timing of environmental exposure may influence subsequent behavioral responses. Together, these findings suggest that behavioral plasticity is not constant over time but is instead structured across developmental stages. We propose a novel conceptual framework, termed temporally structured plasticity (TSP), to describe this pattern. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShibuyaKohjiro en-aut-sei=Shibuya en-aut-mei=Kohjiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumuraKentarou en-aut-sei=Matsumura en-aut-mei=Kentarou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyatakeTakahisa en-aut-sei=Miyatake en-aut-mei=Takahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Avoiding attack kn-keyword=Avoiding attack en-keyword=Beetle kn-keyword=Beetle en-keyword=Playing dead kn-keyword=Playing dead en-keyword=Thanatosis kn-keyword=Thanatosis en-keyword=Post-contact immobility kn-keyword=Post-contact immobility en-keyword=Tonic immobility kn-keyword=Tonic immobility END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20261005 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Experimental evolution of female mating responses to infertile males in Tribolium castaneum en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In many animal populations, infertile males?those unable to reproduce?are commonly present. If females mate exclusively with such males, they fail to produce offspring. How, then, do females deal with this situation? Distinguishing infertile from fertile males both before and after copulation is difficult for females. Here, we tested the hypothesis of bet-hedging polyandry, in which females mitigate the risk of reproductive failure by mating with multiple males, using experimental evolution in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Females were cohabited with males artificially sterilized by sublethal radiation and with untreated males at a 1:1 ratio (sterile:untreated). After more than 15 generations, females from the treatment strains did not avoid mating with infertile males, leading to reduced reproductive success. However, compared with the control strains, females from the treated strains tended to mate with a greater number of males. The results raise the possibility that increased polyandry (mating with multiple males) may evolve rather than relying on pre- or post-copulatory discrimination to mitigate the risk posed by infertile males. Bet-hedging is a strategy that spreads or minimizes risk under uncertainty, and these results are consistent with the hypothesis that polyandry can function as a bet-hedging strategy against uncertain male fertility. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujiiYui en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Yui kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsanoYui en-aut-sei=Asano en-aut-mei=Yui kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoriKenta en-aut-sei=Kori en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumuraKentarou en-aut-sei=Matsumura en-aut-mei=Kentarou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasuiYukio en-aut-sei=Yasui en-aut-mei=Yukio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HimuroChihiro en-aut-sei=Himuro en-aut-mei=Chihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamotoYutaka en-aut-sei=Nakamoto en-aut-mei=Yutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SokeiYoshitaka en-aut-sei=Sokei en-aut-mei=Yoshitaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyatakeTakahisa en-aut-sei=Miyatake en-aut-mei=Takahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Beetle kn-keyword=Beetle en-keyword=Bet-hedging kn-keyword=Bet-hedging en-keyword=Copulation kn-keyword=Copulation en-keyword=Matingbehavior kn-keyword=Matingbehavior en-keyword=Reproductive failure kn-keyword=Reproductive failure END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=132 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20261007 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=No evidence for differential allocation or sex ratio adjustment in response to male attractiveness in the broad-horned flour beetle en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Sexual selection theory predicts that females can enhance the benefits of mate choice by increasing reproductive investment (differential allocation) or by biasing offspring sex ratios toward sons (sex ratio adjustment) when mating with attractive males. Clear empirical support for these hypotheses has been documented in many vertebrate taxa, whereas relatively few studies have tested them in invertebrates. Here, we investigated whether females adjust reproductive investment and offspring sex ratio in response to male attractiveness in the beetle Gnatocerus cornutus. We assessed male attractiveness using copulation latency and examined its associations with female lifetime reproductive success, egg size, and offspring sex ratio under single-mating conditions. Our results, however, provide no support for either the differential allocation or sex ratio adjustment hypotheses: females did not alter reproductive investment or offspring sex ratio according to mate quality. In this species, male sexual phenotypes are strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Such phenotype?genotype mismatches may reduce the reliability of male traits as indicators of genetic quality and increase the likelihood of assessment errors by females. This may explain the absence of maternal allocation in relation to mate attractiveness in G. cornutus. Instead, previous work on this beetle indicates that females can secure genetic benefits by remating with more attractive males and biasing fertilization toward their sperm. Our findings therefore suggest that postcopulatory mechanisms, rather than differential maternal allocation, provide a more effective route for females to secure the benefits of mate choice in G. cornutus. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkadaKensuke en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiyoseKatsuya en-aut-sei=Kiyose en-aut-mei=Katsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsukiMasako en-aut-sei=Katsuki en-aut-mei=Masako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Seibukasei Co., Ltd kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University kn-affil= en-keyword=Fisherian process kn-keyword=Fisherian process en-keyword=good genes kn-keyword=good genes en-keyword=horned beetle kn-keyword=horned beetle en-keyword=life-history evolution kn-keyword=life-history evolution en-keyword=sexual selection kn-keyword=sexual selection END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=7 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=742 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260914 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Rapid fluvial response to meter-scale coseismic coastal uplift during the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The response of river profiles to relative base-level change is a key topic in earth surface processes, but observations capturing these changes on unconsolidated deposits at a 1?10 years timescales are scarce. We monitored geomorphic changes at the Hakka River mouth after the 3.5-meter base-level fall caused by coseismic uplift of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, Japan. Utilizing uncrewed aerial vehicle surveys, we documented a maximum vertical riverbed lowering of 2?m and knickpoint upstream migration of 770-m within the first-year post-earthquake, primarily triggered by erosion during major floods that followed the earthquake. Our findings demonstrate that fluvial terraces can develop within a year or less, following co-seismic coastal uplift. However, the river has not yet reached a renewed graded stage because riverbed armoring resulting from sediment sorting during incision currently inhibits further incision. We suggest that the abandonment of alluvial plains and lowering and widening of the riverbed in the lower 10-km segment will continue over the next decade. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakahashiTakayuki en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguraTakuro en-aut-sei=Ogura en-aut-mei=Takuro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IizukaKotaro en-aut-sei=Iizuka en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasaYoshiya en-aut-sei=Iwasa en-aut-mei=Yoshiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayakawaYuichi S. en-aut-sei=Hayakawa en-aut-mei=Yuichi S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AokiTatsuto en-aut-sei=Aoki en-aut-mei=Tatsuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MattaNobuhisa en-aut-sei=Matta en-aut-mei=Nobuhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Education, University of Teacher Education Fukuoka kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Institute of Human and Social Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Education, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=33 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=315 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260527 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Limited Immune-Mediated Efficacy of Anti-PD-L1/VEGF in EGFR-TKI-Na?ve Egfr-Mutant Lung Cancer with Non-Inflamed Tumor Microenvironment en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show limited efficacy in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung adenocarcinoma due to its non-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME). While quadruple therapy combining chemotherapy, anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies has shown inconsistent results in EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-pretreated patients, whether anti-VEGF therapy can modulate the intrinsic non-inflamed TME remains unknown. We employed an EGFR-TKI-na?ve syngeneic Egfr-mutant mouse model and evaluated effects of anti-VEGF, anti-PD-L1, carboplatin, and paclitaxel as monotherapies and combinations, with TME analysis via immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, and RNA sequencing. Anti-PD-L1 showed no antitumor effect, and adding anti-VEGF failed to convert the TME to an inflamed status. Although paclitaxel?but not carboplatin?combined with low-dose anti-VEGF inhibited tumor growth, adding anti-PD-L1 provided no benefit, indicating the anti-VEGF-A antibody evaluated here has a limited role in sensitizing tumors to anti-PD-L1 regardless of chemotherapy. CD8+ T-cell depletion did not attenuate the effect of paclitaxel plus low-dose anti-VEGF, and IHC and RNA sequencing revealed increased natural killer cell infiltration, suggesting a CD8+ T-cell-independent, innate immune mechanism. These findings provide preclinical evidence that the evaluated anti-VEGF has limited immunomodulatory activity in EGFR-TKI-na?ve Egfr-mutant tumors with a non-inflamed TME, and suggest immunotherapeutic strategies beyond CD8+ T-cell-mediated immunity warrant investigation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HirabaeAtsuko en-aut-sei=Hirabae en-aut-mei=Atsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuribayashiTadahiro en-aut-sei=Kuribayashi en-aut-mei=Tadahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomidaShuta en-aut-sei=Tomida en-aut-mei=Shuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkawaSachi en-aut-sei=Okawa en-aut-mei=Sachi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakasukaTakamasa en-aut-sei=Nakasuka en-aut-mei=Takamasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiiKazuya en-aut-sei=Nishii en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraJun en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakimotoGo en-aut-sei=Makimoto en-aut-mei=Go kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigoHisao en-aut-sei=Higo en-aut-mei=Hisao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=RaiKammei en-aut-sei=Rai en-aut-mei=Kammei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HottaKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoMasamichi en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Masamichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TogashiYosuke en-aut-sei=Togashi en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiuraKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Kiura en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiKadoaki en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Kadoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Product Research Department, Kamakura Research Laboratories, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=EGFR mutation kn-keyword=EGFR mutation en-keyword=non-small cell lung cancer kn-keyword=non-small cell lung cancer en-keyword=syngeneic mouse model kn-keyword=syngeneic mouse model en-keyword=antitumor immunity kn-keyword=antitumor immunity en-keyword=non-inflamed tumor kn-keyword=non-inflamed tumor en-keyword=VEGF kn-keyword=VEGF en-keyword=PD-L1 kn-keyword=PD-L1 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=e84709 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250523 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Phase II Study of Platinum Re-administration in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Following Chemoimmunotherapy Resistance en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Platinum compounds represent standard treatments for various cancers. However, the efficacy of re-administrating platinum compounds has been demonstrated only in ovarian cancer and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), with its utility in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remaining unclear. Given that the prognosis of NSCLC has improved with effective treatments such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we propose a multicenter, single-arm, prospective phase II trial of re-administrating platinum-based combination therapy for NSCLC. Patients with NSCLC who have progressed after chemoimmunotherapy and exhibit a platinum-free interval of 85 days or more will receive carboplatin combination therapy. The drugs combined with carboplatin - pemetrexed, nab-paclitaxel, or gemcitabine - must not have been administered previously. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS), assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Assuming a threshold PFS of 4.2 months and an expected hazard ratio of 0.60, the required sample size is calculated as 40 patients to achieve 70% power with a 5% alpha error. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate, toxicity, and overall survival. This study will clarify the efficacy of re-administrating platinum compounds to patients with NSCLC who have developed resistance to chemoimmunotherapy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HosokawaShinobu en-aut-sei=Hosokawa en-aut-mei=Shinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaToshihide en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Toshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueMasaaki en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Masaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoKeisuke en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KudoKenichiro en-aut-sei=Kudo en-aut-mei=Kenichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaTadashi en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiHaruyuki en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Haruyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasugiMasayuki en-aut-sei=Yasugi en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueKoji en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuyamaShoichi en-aut-sei=Kuyama en-aut-mei=Shoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaTakashi en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzeIsao en-aut-sei=Oze en-aut-mei=Isao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=HottaKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, Kurashiki Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Chest Surgery, Shimonoseki City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Kobe Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi Ube Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Internal Medicine, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, Chugoku Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, Iwakuni Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Division of Molecular Medicine, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=carboplatin kn-keyword=carboplatin en-keyword=clinical trial kn-keyword=clinical trial en-keyword=non-small cell lung cancer kn-keyword=non-small cell lung cancer en-keyword=platinum-free interval kn-keyword=platinum-free interval en-keyword=re-administration kn-keyword=re-administration END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=234 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=112260 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202612 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The eukaryotic host?microbe?phage?nutrition interplay determines the bacterial effectors of supplemental lysine’s health benefits: An experimental cellular senescence model of digestive conditions in older adults en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Recently, the consumption of various forms of the nutritive amino acid lysine (e.g., nutraceuticals and dietary supplements) has increased, particularly among the elderly, as it cannot be synthesized by the human body and plays a crucial role in several cellular physiological processes, including intestinal calcium and iron absorption, proteinogenesis, and fatty acid metabolism. However, the biochemical and immunological events that occur within the eukaryotic host-microbe-phage-nutrition interaction, especially when high amounts of lysine are consumed in nutraceutical or dietary supplement form by the elderly due to age-related requirements, as well as the impact on gut bacteria-derived metabolites, have not yet been fully studied. We hypothesized that (1) within an infectious-inflamed digestive milieu, the metabolism of excess extracellular lysine differs between young and senescent digestive cells, and (2) phages within the milieu exhibit alterations in host-microbe cometabolite signal profiles. To address this, we examined how gut microbes and phages, key regulators of eukaryotic host physiology, influence the immunometabolism of excess lysine. By combining two models of young and senescent digestive cells, the pathogenic P. aeruginosa PAO1, the Pseudomonas phage KPP22, and the anti-inflammatory bacterium Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, and simulating the pathogenesis of the interactive process of excessive lysine ingestion, we developed a five-way screening approach to explore key cell readouts, including viability, integrity, and function of the epithelial barrier, as well as cellular immunometabolic responses to exogenous lysine supplementation in cultures under infectious inflammation. Our findings are consistent with the possibility that host?microbe?microbe interactions involving lysine utilization and cross-feeding may influence the effects of lysine supplementation. These effects, whether beneficial or detrimental, can depend on the bacterial community, including the presence of pathogenic or potentially beneficial bacteria, interactions with intestinal phages, and the physiological conditions and metabolic requirements of the host and individual microbial taxa. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=GhadimiDarab en-aut-sei=Ghadimi en-aut-mei=Darab kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=Bl?merSophia en-aut-sei=Bl?mer en-aut-mei=Sophia kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KAYAAysel ?AH?N en-aut-sei=KAYA en-aut-mei=Aysel ?AH?N kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=Kr?gerSandra en-aut-sei=Kr?ger en-aut-mei=Sandra kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=R?ckenChristoph en-aut-sei=R?cken en-aut-mei=Christoph kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=Sch?ferHeiner en-aut-sei=Sch?fer en-aut-mei=Heiner kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=de HeerGeraldine en-aut-sei=de Heer en-aut-mei=Geraldine kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=JarczakDominik en-aut-sei=Jarczak en-aut-mei=Dominik kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaJumpei en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuzakiShigenobu en-aut-sei=Matsuzaki en-aut-mei=Shigenobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=BockelmannWilhelm en-aut-sei=Bockelmann en-aut-mei=Wilhelm kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Antalya Bilim University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Institute of Pathology, Kiel University, University Hospital, Schleswig-Holstein kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Institute of Pathology, Kiel University, University Hospital, Schleswig-Holstein kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Laboratory of Molecular Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Christian-Albrechts-University & UKSH Campus Kiel kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=University Center for Nutritional Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=University Center for Nutritional Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kochi Gakuen University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Max Rubner-Institut kn-affil= en-keyword=Inflammaging kn-keyword=Inflammaging en-keyword=Lysine kn-keyword=Lysine en-keyword=Host cells kn-keyword=Host cells en-keyword=Phages kn-keyword=Phages en-keyword=Syntrophy kn-keyword=Syntrophy en-keyword=Cell senescence kn-keyword=Cell senescence END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=19 article-no= start-page=8518 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260924 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Impaired Myostatin Function Alters Body Composition Without Detectable Attenuation of Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasiform Dermatitis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease closely associated with obesity and metabolic dysfunction. While excess adiposity is considered a key risk factor, the independent contribution of body composition to psoriatic inflammation remains unclear. Myostatin negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth, and its inhibition leads to muscle hypertrophy and reduced adiposity. In this study, we investigated whether altered body composition due to impaired myostatin function affects imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasiform dermatitis. Wild-type (WT) and dominant-negative myostatin transgenic mice were fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks, followed by topical IMQ treatment to induce dermatitis. Mutant mice exhibited increased skeletal muscle mass and reduced visceral fat compared with WT controls, indicating marked changes in body composition. In WT mice, HFD feeding increased fat mass and tended to aggravate IMQ-induced ear swelling. In contrast, no significant effect of impaired myostatin function on ear thickness, epidermal hyperplasia, or the expression of psoriasis-associated genes was detected, despite reduced visceral fat. Under the present experimental conditions, these changes in body composition were not associated with a detectable attenuation of psoriasiform skin inflammation. Our results suggest that obesity-related psoriasis is influenced by metabolic and immunological factors beyond body composition. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsudaYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorizaneShin en-aut-sei=Morizane en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoYuma en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Yuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabaNobuyasu en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Nobuyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IsekiMasanori en-aut-sei=Iseki en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakezakiDaiki en-aut-sei=Takezaki en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakamiYoshio en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimatsuShin-Ichiro en-aut-sei=Nishimatsu en-aut-mei=Shin-Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhsawaYutaka en-aut-sei=Ohsawa en-aut-mei=Yutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SunadaYoshihide en-aut-sei=Sunada en-aut-mei=Yoshihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MukaiTomoyuki en-aut-sei=Mukai en-aut-mei=Tomoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Natural Sciences, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= en-keyword=psoriasis kn-keyword=psoriasis en-keyword=myostatin kn-keyword=myostatin en-keyword=muscle hypertrophy kn-keyword=muscle hypertrophy en-keyword=obesity kn-keyword=obesity en-keyword=imiquimod kn-keyword=imiquimod en-keyword=high-fat diet kn-keyword=high-fat diet END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=hyag167 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260925 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Early progression after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: association with disease distribution in a single-center retrospective study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an important treatment option for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). However, some patients experience rapid disease progression shortly after ICI initiation, potentially resulting in deterioration of general condition and limited opportunities for subsequent treatment. This study investigated clinicopathological factors associated with early progression after ICI initiation in patients with R/M HNSCC.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 207 patients with R/M HNSCC treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab at a single institution. Early progression was defined as disease progression within 90 days after ICI initiation. Associations between clinicopathological factors and early progression were evaluated using logistic regression analyses.
Results: Early progression was observed in 80 patients (38.6%). In an exploratory survival comparison, patients with early progression had significantly shorter overall survival than those without early progression. Early progression rates increased from distant-only disease to locoregional-only disease and combined locoregional and distant disease. In multivariable analysis, combined locoregional, and distant disease showed the strongest independent association with early progression. Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and hypoalbuminemia were also independently associated with early progression. In contrast, treatment regimen, treatment line, number of lesions, and bulky disease were not significantly associated with early progression.
Conclusion: Disease distribution was associated with early progression after ICI initiation in patients with R/M HNSCC, with combined locoregional and distant disease showing the strongest independent association. These findings suggest that both disease status and host condition may influence failure to achieve adequate disease control shortly after ICI initiation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NodaHiroki en-aut-sei=Noda en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakinoTakuma en-aut-sei=Makino en-aut-mei=Takuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaoiYuto en-aut-sei=Naoi en-aut-mei=Yuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujimotoShohei en-aut-sei=Fujimoto en-aut-mei=Shohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AndoMizuo en-aut-sei=Ando en-aut-mei=Mizuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=head and neck squamous cell carcinoma kn-keyword=head and neck squamous cell carcinoma en-keyword=immune checkpoint inhibitor kn-keyword=immune checkpoint inhibitor en-keyword=early progression kn-keyword=early progression en-keyword=locoregional disease kn-keyword=locoregional disease en-keyword=recurrent/metastatic disease kn-keyword=recurrent/metastatic disease END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260929 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Predicts Short‐ and Long‐Term Outcomes in the Oldest‐Old With Colorectal Cancer: A Multi‐Institutional Analysis of 225 Nonagenarians en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Aim: Surgical outcomes for colorectal cancer (CRC) in nonagenarians remain uncertain due to frailty, comorbidities, and malnutrition. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is associated with surgical outcomes in older patients with CRC, but its prognostic value in nonagenarians is unclear. This study evaluated the GNRI's predictive value for short- and long-term surgical outcomes in this population.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 225 nonagenarians undergoing surgical resection of CRC at 15 institutions between 2011 and 2022. Patients were stratified by GNRI-high/low status using two cutoffs: 98 (Cohort 1) and 86 (Cohort 2). Outcomes included postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and overall survival (OS). Stabilized inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for measured confounding.
Results: The median age was 92?years (female, 64.9%; colon cancer, 79.6%). GNRI-high patients had higher body mass index and albumin levels. Complication rates did not differ between the groups. After adjustment, GNRI-high patients in Cohort 1 had a shorter expected hospital stay (ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.51?0.96; p?=?0.025) but no significant OS difference. In Cohort 2, GNRI-high patients had better OS (p? Conclusions: Preoperative GNRI was associated with hospital stay and OS in nonagenarians undergoing CRC surgery, although the OS association was significant only with the cohort-derived cutoff of 86, which requires external validation, and not with the literature-based cutoff of 98. The GNRI is a simple tool to stratify surgical risk and optimize perioperative nutritional status in this vulnerable population. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ToshimaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Toshima en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TeraishiFuminori en-aut-sei=Teraishi en-aut-mei=Fuminori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakanagaSatoe en-aut-sei=Takanaga en-aut-mei=Satoe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=InadaRyo en-aut-sei=Inada en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtaniTsuyoshi en-aut-sei=Ohtani en-aut-mei=Tsuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaRyosuke en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriNaoto en-aut-sei=Hori en-aut-mei=Naoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShigemitsuKaoru en-aut-sei=Shigemitsu en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoSumiharu en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Sumiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubotaTetsushi en-aut-sei=Kubota en-aut-mei=Tetsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkanoYuka en-aut-sei=Okano en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=NobuhisaTetsuji en-aut-sei=Nobuhisa en-aut-mei=Tetsuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniguchiFumitaka en-aut-sei=Taniguchi en-aut-mei=Fumitaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshikawaWataru en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Wataru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShojiRyohei en-aut-sei=Shoji en-aut-mei=Ryohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsudaTatsuo en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Tatsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmeokaTatsuo en-aut-sei=Umeoka en-aut-mei=Tatsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraToshiyoshi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Toshiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=The Setouchi Colorectal Neoplasm Registration Study Group en-aut-sei=The Setouchi Colorectal Neoplasm Registration Study Group en-aut-mei= kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Kagawa Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Saiseikai Okayama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Tottori Municipal Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Okayama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Kobe Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Onomichi City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Iwakuni Clinical Center kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Fukuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Matsuda Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Matsuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil= kn-affil= en-keyword=colorectal cancer kn-keyword=colorectal cancer en-keyword=geriatric nutritional risk index kn-keyword=geriatric nutritional risk index en-keyword=oldest-old patients kn-keyword=oldest-old patients en-keyword=overall survival kn-keyword=overall survival en-keyword=surgical outcome kn-keyword=surgical outcome END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=30 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250220 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Relationship Between Heated Tobacco Products and Placental Abruption: A Prospective Cohort Study Using Online Questionnaire en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Placental abruption (PA) is a critical obstetric complication, with maternal smoking recognized as a key risk factor. Despite the increased use of heated tobacco products (HTPs), the impact of HTPs remains unclear. This study investigated whether pregnant women using HTPs are at a higher risk of PA than non-users.
Methods: We analyzed data from “the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey,” a prospective, self-reported online survey cohort. Questionnaires were randomly distributed between July 28, 2021, and August 30, 2021. Pregnant respondents in 2021 were invited to complete an additional survey from February 14, 2022, to February 28, 2022. We set the outcome as the absolute risk difference (aRD) and relative risk ratio (rRR) of PA incidence due to smoking HTPs in the first trimester of pregnancy. The sample size included 12 836 participants. We calculated outcomes using a generalized linear model (GLM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). We also performed a Bayesian approach and multiple-bias analysis for sensitivity analysis.
Results: We found the robust aRD of 0.07 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06, 0.09) and the rRR of 11.3 (95% CI: 7.5, 17.0). Multiple bias analyses showed that unmeasurable confounders would need to have at least an rRR?=?14 relationship with both exposure and outcome to disprove the observed association. There has not been post hoc analysis or secondary use of data.
Conclusion: Early pregnancy use of HTPs is associated with an increased risk of PA. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OobaHikaru en-aut-sei=Ooba en-aut-mei=Hikaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakiJota en-aut-sei=Maki en-aut-mei=Jota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TabuchiTakahiro en-aut-sei=Tabuchi en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasuyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Masuyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Placental abruption kn-keyword=Placental abruption en-keyword=Heated tobacco products kn-keyword=Heated tobacco products en-keyword=Pregnancy kn-keyword=Pregnancy en-keyword=Tobacco use kn-keyword=Tobacco use END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=775 end-page=785 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202506 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Single-Arm Phase 2 Study of Sotorasib Plus Carboplatin and Pemetrexed in Patients With Advanced Nonsquamous NSCLC With KRAS G12C Mutation (WJOG14821L, SCARLET) en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: The efficacy and safety of sotorasib plus platinum doublet chemotherapy in KRAS G12C-mutated nonsquamous NSCLC (nonsq NSCLC) have been previously reported with a limited follow-up period.
Methods: SCARLET is a single-arm phase 2 study involving chemotherapy-naive patients with KRAS G12C?mutated nonsq NSCLC. The participants received 960 mg daily plus four cycles of carboplatin (area under the curve = 5)/pemetrexed 500 mg/m2, followed by sotorasib/pemetrexed until disease progression. The primary end point was the overall response rate (ORR) and the secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and safety. Using plasma samples, next-generation sequencing was performed at baseline, 3 weeks, and during disease progression (the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials number 2051210086).
Results: Thirty patients were enrolled between October 2021 and July 2022 with a median follow-up of 14.8 months. ORR was 88.9% (80% confidence interval [CI]: 78.5%?94.8%, 95% CI: 70.8%?97.6%), median PFS was 6.6 months (95% CI: 5.3?16.7 mo), and median overall survival was 20.6 months (95% CI: 8.1 mo?not estimated). Among patients with programmed death-ligand 1 expression levels of 1% or higher and less than 1%, the ORRs were 82.3 and 100%, respectively, and the median PFS was 7.6 and 9.7 months, respectively. Using plasma samples, patients without KRAS G12C at baseline, without KRAS-related pathway co-alterations, or who cleared KRAS G12C at 3 weeks had better median PFS (16.7, 13.9, 8.7 mo, respectively). Tumor protein 53 mutations and EGFR and MET amplification were detected as acquired resistance.
Conclusions: In patients with KRAS G12C-mutated nonsq NSCLC, sotorasib plus carboplatin/pemetrexed reported favorable efficacy, particularly for patients with less than 1% programmed death-ligand 1, with manageable toxicity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AkamatsuHiroaki en-aut-sei=Akamatsu en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakataShinya en-aut-sei=Sakata en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AzumaKoichi en-aut-sei=Azuma en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiokaHiroshige en-aut-sei=Yoshioka en-aut-mei=Hiroshige kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=UemuraTakehiro en-aut-sei=Uemura en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=Tsuchiya-KawanoYuko en-aut-sei=Tsuchiya-Kawano en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=EsumiSeiya en-aut-sei=Esumi en-aut-mei=Seiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurosakiTakashi en-aut-sei=Kurosaki en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoYuki en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoTomohiro en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyozawaRyo en-aut-sei=Toyozawa en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoneshimaYasuto en-aut-sei=Yoneshima en-aut-mei=Yasuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShukuyaTakehito en-aut-sei=Shukuya en-aut-mei=Takehito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=KozukiToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kozuki en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeKana en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Kana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=DagaHaruko en-aut-sei=Daga en-aut-mei=Haruko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoTerufumi en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Terufumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiToshiaki en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsugaMitsuo en-aut-sei=Osuga en-aut-mei=Mitsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=KohYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Koh en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoNobuyuki en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Nobuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Internal Medicine III, Wakayama Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Respirology, Neurology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kansai Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Respiratory Center, Matsusaka Municipal Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, NHO Kyushu Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology and Medicine, NHO Shikoku Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Miyagi Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Center for Biomedical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Internal Medicine III, Wakayama Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Biomedical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Internal Medicine III, Wakayama Medical University kn-affil= en-keyword=KRAS G12C kn-keyword=KRAS G12C en-keyword=Sotorasib kn-keyword=Sotorasib en-keyword=Nonsquamous non?small cell lung cancer kn-keyword=Nonsquamous non?small cell lung cancer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1 end-page=13 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202501 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Skin disorder within 30?days is a favorable prognostic factor in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma treated with necitumumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin: a sub-analysis of the NINJA study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Skin disorders are major adverse events associated with necitumumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin (Neci?+?GC) administration. However, the prognostic effect of skin disorders in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) administered Neci?+?GC is unclear.
Objectives: We examined this prognostic effect in patients with LSCC, and the usefulness of minocycline administration.
Design: This was a sub-analysis of the retrospective multicenter NINJA study.
Methods: We performed a landmark survival analysis according to the presence of skin disorders at Day 30 of treatment and examined the usefulness of minocycline for treating skin disorders.
Results: Among the 93 patients, 62 (66.7%) had a skin disorder at Day 30. Nineteen, 30, and 13 patients experienced Grade 1, 2, and 3 skin disorders, respectively. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with skin disorders at Day 30 were longer than those of patients without skin disorders (median OS: 434 vs 278?days, p?=?0.0201; median PFS: 148 vs 82?days, p?=?0.0835). Multivariable analysis showed that a skin disorder at Day 30 was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (p?=?0.0044) and PFS (p?=?0.0514). Of the 62 patients with skin disorders at Day 30, 38 (61.3%) were taking minocycline, and their time to treatment failure (TTF) was better than that in patients not taking minocycline (median TTF: 148 vs 101?days, p?=?0.0495).
Conclusion: A skin disorder within 30?days was a favorable prognostic factor for patients with LSCC administered Neci?+?GC. Additionally, minocycline administration may be beneficial in patients who develop skin disorders within 30?days. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KinoshitaFumihiko en-aut-sei=Kinoshita en-aut-mei=Fumihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanzawaShigeru en-aut-sei=Tanzawa en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MisumiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Misumi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiokaHiroshige en-aut-sei=Yoshioka en-aut-mei=Hiroshige kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyauchiEisaku en-aut-sei=Miyauchi en-aut-mei=Eisaku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurataYasunori en-aut-sei=Murata en-aut-mei=Yasunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeshitaMasafumi en-aut-sei=Takeshita en-aut-mei=Masafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaguchiMasafumi en-aut-sei=Yamaguchi en-aut-mei=Masafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugawaraShunichi en-aut-sei=Sugawara en-aut-mei=Shunichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawashimaYosuke en-aut-sei=Kawashima en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HashimotoKazuki en-aut-sei=Hashimoto en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriMasahide en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Masahide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyanagaAkihiko en-aut-sei=Miyanaga en-aut-mei=Akihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiAnna en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Anna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaHisashi en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=HondaRyoichi en-aut-sei=Honda en-aut-mei=Ryoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=NojiriMasafumi en-aut-sei=Nojiri en-aut-mei=Masafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoYuki en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoKen en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasudaKen en-aut-sei=Masuda en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=KozukiToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kozuki en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawamuraTakahisa en-aut-sei=Kawamura en-aut-mei=Takahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiTakuji en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Takuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaguchiTeppei en-aut-sei=Yamaguchi en-aut-mei=Teppei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsadaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Asada en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=26 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsumotoSatoshi en-aut-sei=Tetsumoto en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=27 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=28 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeSatoshi en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=29 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmedaYukihiro en-aut-sei=Umeda en-aut-mei=Yukihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=30 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaguchiKakuhiro en-aut-sei=Yamaguchi en-aut-mei=Kakuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=31 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuyamaShoichi en-aut-sei=Kuyama en-aut-mei=Shoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=32 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsurunoKosuke en-aut-sei=Tsuruno en-aut-mei=Kosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=33 ORCID= en-aut-name=MisumiYuki en-aut-sei=Misumi en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=34 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuraishiHiroshi en-aut-sei=Kuraishi en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=35 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaKen en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=36 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaoAkira en-aut-sei=Nakao en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=37 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuboAkihito en-aut-sei=Kubo en-aut-mei=Akihito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=38 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoyamaToshihiko en-aut-sei=Yokoyama en-aut-mei=Toshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=39 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeKana en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Kana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=40 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekiNobuhiko en-aut-sei=Seki en-aut-mei=Nobuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=41 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, NHO Kyushu Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Data Science, National Cancer Center Hospital East kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kansai Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ichinomiya Nishi Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ichinomiya Nishi Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, NHO Kyushu Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sendai Kousei Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sendai Kousei Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, NHO Osaka Toneyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, NHO Osaka Toneyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Asahi General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Division of Thoracic Oncology, Kobe Minimally Invasive Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology and Medicine, NHO Shikoku Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, Osaka International Cancer Institute kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=26 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shizuoka General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=27 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Suita Municipal Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=28 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=29 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=30 en-affil=Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui kn-affil= affil-num=31 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=32 en-affil=Department of Respiratory medicine, NHO Iwakuni Clinical Center kn-affil= affil-num=33 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Iizuka Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=34 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yokohama Municipal Citizen’s Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=35 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagano Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=36 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=37 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=38 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=39 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=40 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Miyagi Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=41 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=adverse event kn-keyword=adverse event en-keyword=lung cancer kn-keyword=lung cancer en-keyword=necitumumab kn-keyword=necitumumab en-keyword=skin disorder kn-keyword=skin disorder en-keyword=squamous cell carcinoma kn-keyword=squamous cell carcinoma END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=75 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=002139 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260313 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Investigation of carbapenem-hydrolysing Klebsiella oxytoca strains lacking detectable carbapenemase genes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) pose a clinical concern due to limited treatment options and plasmid-mediated spread of carbapenemase genes. The modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) is increasingly used in clinical settings to detect CPE.
Gap Statement. Interpretation of mCIM results for isolates with reduced carbapenem susceptibility remains challenging.
Aim. To assess the interpretation of positive mCIM results in Klebsiella oxytoca isolates lacking detectable carbapenemase genes and exhibiting reduced carbapenem susceptibility and to propose a phenotypic testing strategy for accurate evaluation.
Methodology. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing with clavulanic or dipicolinic acid supplementation, phenotypic carbapenemase assays, carbapenem hydrolysis assays and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were conducted on K. oxytoca strains.
Results. K. oxytoca strains were isolated from both blood and urine samples of a patient in a Japanese hospital. Although classified as susceptible by clinical breakpoints, these isolates exhibited reduced susceptibility to carbapenems. Although these strains were mCIM-positive, the zinc-supplemented carbapenem inactivation method did not support the presence of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) activity. MIC reductions in the presence of CVA were consistent with inhibition of a class A β-lactamase. In contrast, dipicolinic acid supplementation did not reduce the meropenem MIC, ruling out MBL production. Furthermore, WGS revealed that both K. oxytoca strains lacked known carbapenemase genes, with blaOXY-2-4 being the only identifiable β-lactamase gene encoding a class A enzyme. No novel β-lactamase genes were identified; however, an enhanced blaOXY-2-4 expression-associated point mutation was found in the promoter region. Both K. oxytoca strains exhibited carbapenem-hydrolysing activity, although to a lesser extent than that of the MBL-producing strain.
Conclusion. We identified K. oxytoca strains that lacked known carbapenemase genes but that yielded positive mCIM results, possibly due to OXY-2 overproduction. Our study findings emphasize the need for cautious mCIM result interpretation for K. oxytoca and highlight the diagnostic value of combined susceptibility testing with clavulanic and dipicolinic acids to distinguish the underlying resistance mechanisms. Combining complementary clinical laboratory tests will enable clarification of the factors underlying mCIM positivity and guide clinical decision-making. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TeraguchiHiroshi en-aut-sei=Teraguchi en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaAyaka en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Ayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WakaiSatoyo en-aut-sei=Wakai en-aut-mei=Satoyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakamiSayoko en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Sayoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaKoki en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Koki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiWataru en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Wataru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamuraNorikazu en-aut-sei=Kitamura en-aut-mei=Norikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugawaraYo en-aut-sei=Sugawara en-aut-mei=Yo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OharaNaoya en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugaiMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Sugai en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=YaharaKoji en-aut-sei=Yahara en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirabayashiAki en-aut-sei=Hirabayashi en-aut-mei=Aki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kindai University Nara Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Dental School, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kindai University Nara Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Dental School, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= en-keyword=blaOXY-2 kn-keyword=blaOXY-2 en-keyword=clavulanic acid kn-keyword=clavulanic acid en-keyword=Klebsiella oxytoca kn-keyword=Klebsiella oxytoca en-keyword=MIC kn-keyword=MIC en-keyword=modified carbapenem inactivation method kn-keyword=modified carbapenem inactivation method END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=5 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=e70208 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Proton‐Radiation‐Tolerant Silicon Photonic Charge Sensor for Spacecraft Applications en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Silicon waveguides are promising platforms for spacecraft potential sensing owing to their compactness and immunity to electromagnetic interference. However, proton-induced optical absorption in operating silicon waveguides has not been quantitatively clarified, despite their direct exposure to the space radiation environment during spacecraft operation. Here, we present a systematic elucidation of proton-radiation effects on a photonic charge sensor based on silicon photonic crystal waveguides. During proton irradiation at 20 keV, we quantitatively evaluate the increase in optical absorption under device operation and find that a fluence of 1.0 ×1014 cm? 2 induces an additional absorption coefficient of approximately 0.41 cm? 1 . We further demonstrate that the sensor retains its ability to measure spacecraft potential even after exposure to a high proton fluence of 1.0 ×1015 cm? 2 , confirming its intrinsic radiation tolerance. These results establish the radiation robustness of silicon-waveguide- based sensing mechanisms and provide the first quantitative basis for implementing photonic charge sensors in radiation-rich spacecraft environments. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakahamaWataru en-aut-sei=Takahama en-aut-mei=Wataru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaKosei en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Kosei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaAyumi en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HojoRikuto en-aut-sei=Hojo en-aut-mei=Rikuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MogamiTomofumi en-aut-sei=Mogami en-aut-mei=Tomofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyodaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Toyoda en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiKohtaku en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Kohtaku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYasushi en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Physics and Electronics, Osaka Metropolitan University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Physics and Electronics, Osaka Metropolitan University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Physics and Electronics, Osaka Metropolitan University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Space Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=ElectrostaticEngineering DEPT, Kasuga Denki INC kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Space Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Research and Development, The Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology,Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=photonic crystal waveguides kn-keyword=photonic crystal waveguides en-keyword=potential sensors kn-keyword=potential sensors en-keyword=radiation-tolerant sensors kn-keyword=radiation-tolerant sensors en-keyword=space silicon photonics kn-keyword=space silicon photonics en-keyword=spacecrafts charging kn-keyword=spacecrafts charging END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=68 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=100819 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202612 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Synaptic transmission in Type III taste cells en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Type III taste cells are the primary taste receptor cells that form conventional chemical synapses with gustatory nerve fibers. Since the first ultrastructural identification of synaptic vesicles in Type III cells, numerous studies have demonstrated that these cells have synapse-associated proteins and vesicular release machinery that is similar to that in the central nervous system.
Highlight: This review summarizes historical and ultrastructural studies describing synaptic vesicles in taste bud cells across a range of animal species. The classical mechanisms of chemical synaptic transmission in the central nervous system are then outlined, followed by review studies demonstrating the expression of synapse-associated proteins in taste bud cells, with particular emphasis on the putative mechanisms of synaptic transmission in Type III taste cells. Finally, the current evidence for candidate neurotransmitters, including 5-hydroxytryptamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and ATP, is discussed.
Conclusion: Although several proteins related to conventional chemical synapses in the central nervous system and some candidate neurotransmitters have been identified in Type III cells, their contributions to sour taste transmission have not been fully elucidated. Further molecular and physiological studies are required to establish their roles in the synaptic transmission of sour taste signals from Type III cells. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TatsukawaHinata en-aut-sei=Tatsukawa en-aut-mei=Hinata kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HorieKengo en-aut-sei=Horie en-aut-mei=Kengo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaRyusuke en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Ryusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Type III cell kn-keyword=Type III cell en-keyword=Conventional chemical synapse kn-keyword=Conventional chemical synapse en-keyword=SNARE complex kn-keyword=SNARE complex en-keyword=Neurotransmitter kn-keyword=Neurotransmitter END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=11 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=26 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250305 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Incidence and survival outcomes of myocarditis and pericardial diseases associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI) induced cardiac immune related adverse events are challenging to study; Leveraging large data bases like TriNetX global health network may provide needed insights.
Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study including patients diagnosed neoplasm and 18 and older when receiving ICI therapy from 1/1/2011 to 12/31/2022. Queried ICD 9/10 codes identified patients experiencing myocarditis, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, and cardiac tamponade within 1 year of ICI initiation. Survival analyses compared one-year overall survival (OS) of patients experiencing cardiac irAEs against propensity score matched populations not experiencing them.
Results In 88,928 identified ICI patients, the incidence of myocarditis(0.48%), pericarditis(0.22%), and cardiac tamponade(0.47%) were less than 1% while pericardial effusion occurred in 4.71% of patients. Hazard ratios (HRs) were significantly higher in all cardiac irAE groups: myocarditis (HR:1.26, 95% CI:1.04?1.54, p?=?0.02), pericarditis (HR:1.36, 95% CI:1.02?1.82, p?=?0.04), pericardial effusion (HR:1.49, 95% CI:1.39?1.59, p? Discussion/conclusion Utilizing a uniquely large cohort of ICI patients, this study further shows the rarity of cardiac inflammatory irAEs and highlights their significant impact on patient survival. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OzakiAya F. en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Aya F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SayerMichael en-aut-sei=Sayer en-aut-mei=Michael kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamanoHirofumi en-aut-sei=Hamano en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagasakaMisako en-aut-sei=Nagasaka en-aut-mei=Misako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=LeeBenjamin J. en-aut-sei=Lee en-aut-mei=Benjamin J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=DohJean en-aut-sei=Doh en-aut-mei=Jean kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaqviAli en-aut-sei=Naqvi en-aut-mei=Ali kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NowrouziNareh en-aut-sei=Nowrouzi en-aut-mei=Nareh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZamamiYoshito en-aut-sei=Zamami en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=PatelPranav M. en-aut-sei=Patel en-aut-mei=Pranav M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California kn-affil= en-keyword=Immune checkpoint inhibitors kn-keyword=Immune checkpoint inhibitors en-keyword=Myocarditis kn-keyword=Myocarditis en-keyword=Cardiotoxicity kn-keyword=Cardiotoxicity en-keyword=Immune-related adverse events kn-keyword=Immune-related adverse events en-keyword=Overall survival kn-keyword=Overall survival END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=31 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=e70681 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260924 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Bridging the Awareness?Action Gap in Disaster Preparedness: A Qualitative Study of Immersive Virtual Reality Learning Among Nursing Students en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Disasters increasingly challenge healthcare systems, highlighting the need to strengthen preparedness among future healthcare professionals. Although disaster risk awareness is important, it does not consistently translate into preparedness behaviours, reflecting the awareness?action gap. Immersive virtual reality (VR) may enhance experiential disaster learning, but how it influences preparedness processes remains insufficiently understood, particularly in healthcare and critical care education.
Aims: To explore how immersive VR-based disaster simulations influence disaster risk perception and preparedness among nursing students, with particular attention to the awareness?action gap and implications for future healthcare and critical care practice.
Study Design: A qualitative descriptive study using immersive VR-based disaster simulations followed by semi-structured interviews. Twelve undergraduate and graduate nursing students in Japan experienced immersive VR simulations depicting floods and landslides. Individual semi-structured interviews explored emotional responses, disaster risk perception, preparedness awareness and anticipated behavioural responses. Data were analysed using Krippendorff's content analysis with researcher triangulation.
Results: Five categories were identified: (1) heightened vulnerability and psychological burden through immersion; (2) persistence of the awareness?action gap despite increased risk perception; (3) enhanced risk recognition and preparedness intentions; (4) recognition of the need for social and structural support systems; and (5) emerging responsibility accompanied by perceived limitations. VR transformed abstract disaster risk into emotionally salient experiences, strengthening threat appraisal and preparedness awareness; however, awareness did not consistently translate into preparedness behaviours, reflecting insufficient coping appraisal and self-efficacy.
Conclusions: Immersive VR may strengthen disaster risk perception and preparedness awareness, but immersive experiences alone may be insufficient to bridge the awareness?action gap. Combining VR with reflective learning, skills-based training and collaborative simulation may strengthen coping appraisal and preparedness action.
Relevance to Clinical Practice: Immersive VR combined with reflective and skills-based learning may support psychological readiness, situational awareness and disaster preparedness competencies among future nurses, including those preparing for critical care practice. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MoriKeiko en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamazakiMiina en-aut-sei=Yamazaki en-aut-mei=Miina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HarunaYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Haruna en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Snowlion. Inc. kn-affil= en-keyword=awareness?action gap kn-keyword=awareness?action gap en-keyword=critical care nursing kn-keyword=critical care nursing en-keyword=disaster preparedness kn-keyword=disaster preparedness en-keyword=disaster risk perception kn-keyword=disaster risk perception en-keyword=nursing students kn-keyword=nursing students en-keyword=simulation-based education kn-keyword=simulation-based education en-keyword=virtual reality kn-keyword=virtual reality END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260821 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Making alliterative collocations memorable: Does vocalisation help? en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Collocations are a key component of second language (L2) mastery. Yet, their acquisition poses major challenges to L2 learners. One potential solution to this difficulty is employing the mnemonic effect of alliteration (e.g., professional practice). In the present study, 230 Japanese EFL university students learnt alliterative and non-alliterative collocations (e.g., primary purpose vs. primary care) under vocalised and non-vocalised conditions in a within-subject design. Vocalisation frequencies were operationalised (none, once, three, and five times) over four weeks to examine potential differences across repetition frequencies. Immediate and delayed productive recall post-test assessed collocational uptake. Results showed that alliterative collocations yielded greater gains than non-alliterative ones when vocalisation was involved, suggesting a conditional benefit of vocalisation in combination with phonological salience. A modest advantage was observed in the three-times vocalisation condition in the immediate post-test; however, it was not reliably maintained at the delayed post-test. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamagataSatoshi en-aut-sei=Yamagata en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AbeMariko en-aut-sei=Abe en-aut-mei=Mariko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=Siyanova-ChanturiaAnna en-aut-sei=Siyanova-Chanturia en-aut-mei=Anna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Victoria University of Wellington kn-affil= en-keyword=collocation kn-keyword=collocation en-keyword=alliteration kn-keyword=alliteration en-keyword=phonological processing kn-keyword=phonological processing en-keyword=priming kn-keyword=priming en-keyword=vocalisation kn-keyword=vocalisation en-keyword=repetition kn-keyword=repetition END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=9 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=1 end-page=15 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250903 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Presentation Quality Assessment through Audience 3D Facial and Head Direction Using Conventional Cameras en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This paper shows the method for evaluating the quality of presentations using information from the audience's facial and head behavior. Existing studies have focused on assessing presentation skills by analyzing presentation materials and the presenter's verbal and non-verbal cues, however, since a presentation is an interaction between the presenter and the audience, the presentation quality is not only influenced by presenter's information but also audience's information such as their background knowledge. This means that the presenter's output alone is not enough for a comprehensive evaluation of the presentation. To address this, we show a method that utilizes videos of the audience recorded during presentations using two cameras: one capturing from the presenter's point of view and the other from around the presentation screen. The 3D position and direction of the audience's face were detected using face detection techniques, which were then used to predict gaze targets, such as the presenter and the presentation screen. The number of times these targets were looked at during the presentation served as feature values for evaluating presentation quality. Using a dataset of 18 presenters and 32 audience members, this paper shows a significant correlation between subjective ratings and behavioral characteristics. It also demonstrates an algorithm that infers the quality of a presentation from these feature values. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ImamuraGoshi en-aut-sei=Imamura en-aut-mei=Goshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakazawaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Nakazawa en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=presentation quality kn-keyword=presentation quality en-keyword=computer vision kn-keyword=computer vision en-keyword=gaze kn-keyword=gaze END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1 end-page=15 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260828 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=MIT/TFE family transcription factors, Mitf and Tfec, redundantly promote pigment cell differentiation and retinal epithelium pigmentation in teleosts en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Transcription factors of the MIT/TFE family?mitfa, mitfb, and tfec?play essential roles in specifying pigment cells derived from neural crest cells in vertebrates. In teleosts, which possess multiple pigment cell types, these factors exhibit partially redundant but largely distinct functions across different pigment lineages. We previously reported that the combined loss of mitfa and mitfb leads to a complete absence of melanophores, xanthophores, and leucophores in medaka.
Results: Here, we describe newly generated hypomorphic alleles of mitfa and mitfb, which result in delayed melanophore development. Using these hypomorphic mutants in combination with a newly generated null allele of tfec, we show that Tfec can partially compensate for the loss of Mitfa and Mitfb in melanophore, xanthophore, and leucophore differentiation. Consistent with previous findings in zebrafish, loss of tfec alone results in the complete absence of iridophores. Importantly, simultaneous null mutations in all three genes cause a complete loss of all four chromatophore types and lead to defective pigmentation of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), which is not derived from the neural crest in both Oryzias species and in zebrafish. Using an RPE-specific marker, we further show that the RPE is specified and structurally intact but fails to melanize.
Conclusions: These findings indicate that the redundant functions of Mitfa, Mitfb, and Tfec are not only essential for the specification of diverse pigment cell types but also critical for RPE pigmentation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ListerJames en-aut-sei=Lister en-aut-mei=James kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiwakaKeisuke en-aut-sei=Sugiwaka en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraTetsuaki en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Tetsuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaRieko en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Rieko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=GodaMakoto en-aut-sei=Goda en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiHikaru en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Hikaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueChikako en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Chikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasengiKawilarang W. A. en-aut-sei=Masengi en-aut-mei=Kawilarang W. A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamahiraKazunori en-aut-sei=Yamahira en-aut-mei=Kazunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKiyoshi en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Kiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnsaiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Ansai en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KelshRobert N. en-aut-sei=Kelsh en-aut-mei=Robert N. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HibiMasahiko en-aut-sei=Hibi en-aut-mei=Masahiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HashimotoHisashi en-aut-sei=Hashimoto en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Human and Molecular Genetics and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Biological Science, Division of Natural Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, Graduate University of Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) & Laboratory of Bioresources, National Institute for Basic Biology kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=World Medaka Aquarium, Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Institute of Photonics Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Biological Science, Division of Natural Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=R&D Fish Breeding Group, Regional Fish Institute, Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Sam Ratulangi University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, Graduate University of Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) & Laboratory of Bioresources, National Institute for Basic Biology kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Biological Science, Division of Natural Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Biological Science, Division of Natural Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University kn-affil= en-keyword=compound mutants kn-keyword=compound mutants en-keyword=melanization kn-keyword=melanization en-keyword=neural crest kn-keyword=neural crest en-keyword=retina kn-keyword=retina en-keyword=RPE kn-keyword=RPE END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=604 cd-vols= no-issue=18 article-no= start-page=7640 end-page=7662 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260820 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Integrative simulation analysis of myocardial ischaemia?reperfusion injury en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Cardiac ischaemia, reduced coronary blood flow, causes significant damages to the heart, and paradoxically reperfusion, restored flow after ischaemia, often results in more severe injury. Although the mechanisms underlying cardiac ischaemia?reperfusion injury have been intensively investigated, effective therapeutic strategies applicable during reperfusion to mitigate this damage have not been established yet. To obtain more insights into the mechanisms underlying ischaemia?reperfusion injury, and to explore effective methods to relieve reperfusion injury, we developed a comprehensive mathematical model of ventricular myocyte, implementing excitation?contraction (E?C) coupling, cytosolic and mitochondrial pH regulation, pH dependence of major components of E?C coupling and cellular energy metabolism, including mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The mathematical model successfully reproduced experimentally observed findings on cardiac ischaemia?reperfusion injury, such as intracellular and extracellular acidosis, cytosolic Na+ overload, cytosolic Ca2+ overload, mitochondrial dysfunction, action potential shortening and contraction failure. It was found that the reperfusion-induced exacerbation of Na+i, Ca2+i overloads was mainly caused by insufficient production of NADH, which is used in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to synthesize ATP for Na+/K+ pump and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump (SERCA) to expel accumulated cytosolic Na+ and Ca2+, respectively. It was suggested that the preservation of mitochondrial NADH production, attenuation of ATP consumption via SERCA or contraction for a short period or activation of the Na+/K+ pump during reperfusion mitigates reperfusion injury. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShimayoshiTakao en-aut-sei=Shimayoshi en-aut-mei=Takao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiAyako en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Integrative and Systems Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui kn-affil= en-keyword=computational modelling kn-keyword=computational modelling en-keyword=heart kn-keyword=heart en-keyword=ischaemia kn-keyword=ischaemia en-keyword=mitochondria kn-keyword=mitochondria en-keyword=reperfusion kn-keyword=reperfusion END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=9986 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260820 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=RNase-mediated defence and its association with SCCmec in Staphylococcus aureus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The rise of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is a major threat to global health. Resistance often emerges when bacteria acquire foreign DNA elements, such as the SCCmec cassette that makes strains resistant to nearly all β-lactam antibiotics. Yet, not all S. aureus lineages take up these elements equally, raising the question of what prevents some strains from becoming drug-resistant. Here we identify a previously unknown defence factor that explains this mystery in a common skin lineage (ST188), frequently isolated from patients with atopic dermatitis. Such defence factor is encoded by a gene, which we name sadR, that is present in methicillin-susceptible ST188 strains but absent from resistant counterparts. SadR exhibits RNase activity that provides anti-bacteriophage and anti-plasmid defence, thus acting as a barrier to the uptake of mobile genetic elements. Gene sadR is found in methicillin-susceptible strains in S. aureus lineages other than ST188, and is consistently located adjacent to rlmH, the canonical SCCmec integration site. Moreover, SadR homologues are widespread across staphylococci and other bacteria suggesting a previously unrecognised family of RNase-based defence systems. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KondoKohei en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AzamAa Haeruman en-aut-sei=Azam en-aut-mei=Aa Haeruman kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HisatsuneJunzo en-aut-sei=Hisatsune en-aut-mei=Junzo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OjimaShinjiro en-aut-sei=Ojima en-aut-mei=Shinjiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ChiharaKotaro en-aut-sei=Chihara en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TamuraAzumi en-aut-sei=Tamura en-aut-mei=Azumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaWakana en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Wakana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoSatoshi en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KutsunoShoko en-aut-sei=Kutsuno en-aut-mei=Shoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugawaraYo en-aut-sei=Sugawara en-aut-mei=Yo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaJumpei en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=AmagaiMasayuki en-aut-sei=Amagai en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaguchiTetsuo en-aut-sei=Yamaguchi en-aut-mei=Tetsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiYoshikazu en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Yoshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatashiKoichi en-aut-sei=Watashi en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KigaKotaro en-aut-sei=Kiga en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugaiMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Sugai en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Toho University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Toho University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Research Center for Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Drug Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=e110118 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260602 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Routine Generative AI Use and Acceptance of Medical AI: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Healthcare Workers and the Public in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background
Acceptance of medical artificial intelligence (AI) is critical for successful implementation, yet its acceptance may vary by clinical application and stakeholder group. Whether routine use of generative AI (GAI) is associated with acceptance of medical AI remains unclear.
Methods
A cross-sectional web survey was conducted in Japan in November 2025 using web-panel convenience sampling from an online research panel. The small analytic sample comprised 200 participants aged 20-69 years, including 100 healthcare workers and 100 non-healthcare workers. GAI use was assessed using two five-point items (GAI use at work and in daily life) and dichotomized as at least monthly use in either daily life or work versus less than monthly use in both settings, based on prespecified criteria. Acceptance of medical AI was measured for five scenario-based applications - AI-assisted imaging interpretation, AI-based health risk prediction, AI-based treatment recommendations, AI-enabled triage guidance, and AI-assisted robotic surgery - using a four-point acceptability scale; responses were dichotomized as acceptable versus not acceptable. Calibration weights were constructed to approximate Japanese internet users by raking on sex-by-age group and household income, normalized to the analytic sample size, and truncated at prespecified bounds. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated using modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors, stratified by occupation; covariates were selected a priori using a modified disjunctive cause criterion. This study was exploratory; therefore, adjustments for multiple comparisons were not performed.
Results
Among healthcare workers, the lower-use group had a higher prevalence of non-acceptance of AI-based health risk prediction (aPR 6.980, 95% CI 1.412-34.506) and AI-based treatment recommendations (aPR 4.364, 95% CI 1.331-14.305), whereas estimates for imaging interpretation, triage guidance, and robotic surgery remained statistically uncertain. Among non-healthcare workers, the lower-use group had a higher prevalence of non-acceptance of AI-assisted imaging interpretation (aPR 13.906, 95% CI 1.624-119.052), AI-based health risk prediction (aPR 4.861, 95% CI 1.133-20.862), AI-based treatment recommendations (aPR 6.288, 95% CI 1.386-28.530), and AI-assisted robotic surgery (aPR 6.173, 95% CI 1.435-26.561); the adjusted estimate for AI-enabled triage guidance was not statistically supported (aPR 1.840, 95% CI 0.521-6.505). Several estimates had wide confidence intervals, indicating substantial imprecision.
Conclusions
In this small exploratory web-panel convenience sample, lower-frequency GAI use was associated with higher non-acceptance of several medical AI applications. Associations were observed across more applications among non-healthcare workers than among healthcare workers. Because the study was cross-sectional, used convenience sampling, and included imprecise estimates with wide confidence intervals, the findings should not be interpreted causally. Larger studies using longitudinal or interventional designs are needed to clarify temporality and mechanisms. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=generative ai kn-keyword=generative ai en-keyword=healthcare workers kn-keyword=healthcare workers en-keyword=medical ai kn-keyword=medical ai en-keyword=non-healthcare workers kn-keyword=non-healthcare workers en-keyword=technology acceptance kn-keyword=technology acceptance en-keyword=web-based survey kn-keyword=web-based survey END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=60 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260920 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Carbon solubility and liquid?liquid immiscibility in Fe?C?S ternary system up to 6?GPa: implications for the core of small planetary bodies en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=High-pressure, high-temperature experiments were conducted in a multi-anvil press using seven different starting compositions to investigate the phase relations of Fe?C?S liquids at pressures up to 6 GPa and temperatures up to 2000 K. Quenched samples revealed immiscible C-rich and S-rich metallic liquids at 2 and 4 GPa, manifesting as either large immiscible zones or emulsified smaller droplets. On the contrary, no immiscibility was observed at 5 or 6 GPa. At these higher pressures, the carbon solubility limit, significantly reduced by increasing sulfur content in the ternary liquid, prevents the formation of a liquid phase rich in both C and S. Our findings thus indicate that super-liquidus immiscibility in Fe-rich compositions does not occur at pressures above 5 GPa, due to the differential pressure dependence of C solubility and miscibility. The limited C solubility in S-rich liquids at higher pressures effectively suppresses immiscibility. Based on these results, terrestrial planetary bodies with fluid cores at pressures exceeding 5 GPa are unlikely to experience liquid?liquid immiscibility, even when both carbon and sulfur are abundant, as sulfur limits carbon solubility and promotes its exsolution. For the Moon, immiscibility-induced core stratification is not expected, though local emulsification could occur near the core?mantle boundary (CMB). In smaller bodies, a two-liquid Fe?C?S core may form at high temperatures, but progressive cooling may lead to graphite crystallization and the potential development of a graphitic crust. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ZhaoBin en-aut-sei=Zhao en-aut-mei=Bin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorardGuillaume en-aut-sei=Morard en-aut-mei=Guillaume kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ManthilakeGeeth en-aut-sei=Manthilake en-aut-mei=Geeth kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ParisiadesParaskevas en-aut-sei=Parisiades en-aut-mei=Paraskevas kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YangJing en-aut-sei=Yang en-aut-mei=Jing kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FeiYingwei en-aut-sei=Fei en-aut-mei=Yingwei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=Le GodecYann en-aut-sei=Le Godec en-aut-mei=Yann kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoNozomi en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Nozomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshinoTakashi en-aut-sei=Yoshino en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=AntonangeliDaniele en-aut-sei=Antonangeli en-aut-mei=Daniele kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Min?ralogie, de Physique des Mat?riaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Mus?um National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universit? kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Universit? Clermont-Auvergne kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Min?ralogie, de Physique des Mat?riaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Mus?um National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universit? kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Min?ralogie, de Physique des Mat?riaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Mus?um National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universit? kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Min?ralogie, de Physique des Mat?riaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Mus?um National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universit? kn-affil= en-keyword=Iron?carbon?sulfur liquids kn-keyword=Iron?carbon?sulfur liquids en-keyword=Miscibility kn-keyword=Miscibility en-keyword=High pressure and high temperature kn-keyword=High pressure and high temperature en-keyword=Planetary cores kn-keyword=Planetary cores END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=98 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=107057 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2027 dt-pub=202701 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Transcriptional remodeling of local thyroid hormone metabolism is associated with feather growth termination in chicken wing feathers en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Feather elongation is sustained by continuous cell proliferation within the feather follicle; however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for feather growth termination remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated molecular changes associated with feather growth termination by comparing two chicken wing feather types with contrasting growth characteristics: primary wing feathers and primary coverts. Histological and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation analyses demonstrated that primary wing feathers remained in an active growth phase, whereas primary coverts exhibited pulp regression, reduced cell proliferation, and characteristics of growth termination. Gene expression analyses showed that primary coverts exhibited reduced expression of prolactin receptor (PRLR), type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO2), and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), together with marked induction of the thyroid hormone (TH)-inactivating enzyme type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO3). In contrast, primary wing feathers exhibited relatively higher expression of PRLR, DIO2, and IGF2 than primary coverts, while maintaining consistently low DIO3 expression. Reporter assays showed increased IGF2 promoter activity following triiodothyronine (T3) treatment in all three independent experiments, although the increase did not reach statistical significance. Thus, the reporter assay provides only tentative support for T3 responsiveness of the IGF2 promoter, consistent with our previous in vivo and primary-culture findings showing T3-dependent increases in IGF2 expression. These coordinated transcriptional changes are consistent with remodeling of local TH metabolism during the transition from active feather growth to growth termination. While local TH concentrations and direct deiodinase activities remain to be quantified, and the causal relationship between PRL/PRLR signaling and DIO3 induction remains unresolved, this study provides a molecular framework for understanding how local endocrine regulation translates systemic hormonal signals into feather type-specific growth responses during avian feather development. Graphical abstract en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShinoharaMasamichi en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Masamichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NozawaYuri en-aut-sei=Nozawa en-aut-mei=Yuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukuchiHibiki en-aut-sei=Fukuchi en-aut-mei=Hibiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiYu en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AizawaSayaka en-aut-sei=Aizawa en-aut-mei=Sayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiSakae en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Sakae kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Feather growth termination kn-keyword=Feather growth termination en-keyword=Prolactin kn-keyword=Prolactin en-keyword=Thyroid hormone metabolism kn-keyword=Thyroid hormone metabolism en-keyword=DIO3 kn-keyword=DIO3 en-keyword=Chicken kn-keyword=Chicken END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e00714-26 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260915 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Interaction with the N-acetylgalactosamine moiety facilitates pore formation by Cry4Aa toxin, thereby increasing its toxicity en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Cry4Aa is a mosquito-larvicidal toxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis. Cry4Aa exhibits a characteristic architecture comprising three domains (I, II, and III) and functions as a pore-forming toxin, consistent with many previously reported insecticidal Cry toxins. However, the mechanism preceding pore formation by Cry4Aa, including receptor recognition, remains to be elucidated. The present study examined the potential involvement of sugar moieties in the Cry4Aa mode of action, with a particular focus on the process of pore formation. Cry4Aa and the sugar N-acetylgalactosamine exhibited considerably increased binding affinity. Furthermore, N-acetylgalactosamine treatment significantly enhanced the toxicity of Cry4Aa against Culex pipiens mosquito larvae. In the presence of N-acetylgalactosamine, the binding of Cry4Aa to phosphatidylcholine liposomes increased by 1.4-fold. The presence of this sugar did not affect the single-channel conductance of Cry4Aa pores formed in artificial lipid bilayers; however, it did appear to increase the number of Cry4Aa pores per designated area. In silico molecular docking analysis revealed promising binding sites within the cavity, surrounded by the Cry4Aa domains. These results suggest that the interaction of Cry4Aa with N-acetylgalactosamine moieties is a vital step in the process of pore formation. This interaction may induce a conformational change in the Cry4Aa molecule that facilitates its insertion into the target membrane. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HowladerMohammad Tofazzal Hossain en-aut-sei=Howlader en-aut-mei=Mohammad Tofazzal Hossain kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsutsuiTaiyo en-aut-sei=Tsutsui en-aut-mei=Taiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoKouichi en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Kouichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayakawaTohru en-aut-sei=Hayakawa en-aut-mei=Tohru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology Program, School of Engineering, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology Program, School of Engineering, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Bacillus thuringiensisser serovar israelensis kn-keyword=Bacillus thuringiensisser serovar israelensis en-keyword=Cry4Aa toxin kn-keyword=Cry4Aa toxin en-keyword=Culex pipiens mosquito larvae kn-keyword=Culex pipiens mosquito larvae en-keyword=interaction with N-acetylgalactosamine kn-keyword=interaction with N-acetylgalactosamine END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=45 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=485 end-page=494 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202611 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Enhancement of mechanical properties in a cast hypereutectic Al?Si alloy via rapid cooling in heated mold continuous casting en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=To enhance mechanical properties in cast hypereutectic Al?Si alloys, Al?14.5Si samples were produced by the heated mold continuous casting (HMC). The HMC process was conducted under unidirectional solidification at cooling rates (CRs) ranging from 4.6 × 10?1 to 1.3 × 103 K/s, which were obtained by controlling the casting speed (CS). The microstructure basically consisted of α-Al dendrite, Al?Si eutectic and primary Si, while their area fractions (fα-Al, fe, and fp-Si) varied depending on the CR. At the low CR of 4.6 × 10?1 K/s, their area fractions were as follows: fα-Al = 0.2%, fe = 97.3%, and fp-Si = 2.5%, which is the typical microstructural morphology of a hypereutectic Al-Si alloy. In contrast, at the high CR of 1.3 × 103 K/s, those area fractions were altered to fα-Al = 32.3% and fe = 67.7%, while primary Si was strongly suppressed (fp-Si ? 0%) despite the hypereutectic Al?14.5Si alloy. Moreover, at the high CR, the aluminum matrix appears to exhibit a nearly uniform crystal orientation along <101>. These microstructural changes may be related not only to high CR but also the difference in growth kinetics between primary Si and α-Al dendrites. Accordingly, an apparent eutectic composition shifted from 12.6 to 19.7 wt% Si. The atypical microstructural formation led to a significant improvement in the tensile properties: the ultimate tensile strength of 400 MPa and fracture strain of 17%. These tensile properties are more than twice those of the conventional cast hypereutectic Al?14.5Si alloy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakeuchiShuhei en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagawaShota en-aut-sei=Nakagawa en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinzatoYoshifumi en-aut-sei=Shinzato en-aut-mei=Yoshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinodaTadashi en-aut-sei=Minoda en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtsukaNaotaka en-aut-sei=Ohtsuka en-aut-mei=Naotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkayasuMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Okayasu en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Hypereutectic Al?Si alloy kn-keyword=Hypereutectic Al?Si alloy en-keyword=Heated mold continuous casting kn-keyword=Heated mold continuous casting en-keyword=Mechanical property kn-keyword=Mechanical property en-keyword=Microstructural characteristics kn-keyword=Microstructural characteristics en-keyword=Supercooling kn-keyword=Supercooling END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=100037 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202603 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Older patients with LBCL show comparable outcomes to younger patients and product-specific profiles in CAR-T therapy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has emerged as a key treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). However, data on its effectiveness and safety in older populations remain limited, particularly in real-world clinical practice. Moreover, comparative outcomes among different CAR-T products across age groups have not yet been fully characterized. We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using data from the Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. A total of 908 patients who received CAR-T therapy between January 2019 and September 2024 were included. Patients were categorized as younger (aged <65 years) or older (aged ?65 years). Subgroup analyses were performed by CAR-T product (tisagenlecleucel [tisa-cel], lisocabtagene maraleucel [liso-cel], and axicabtagene ciloleucel [axi-cel]). In univariate analysis, 1-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were comparable between younger and older patients (OS, 69.4% vs 65.7% [P = .40]; PFS, 47.9% vs 54.1% [P = .17]). In multivariate analysis, age ?65 years showed no significant association with OS (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-1.21; P = .44). The incidence of immune effector cell?associated neurotoxicity syndrome was significantly higher in older patients (12.7% vs 7.0%; P = .005). Compared with tisa-cel, axi-cel and liso-cel were associated with superior PFS, predominantly in younger patients. Among older patients, axi-cel was associated with higher nonrelapse mortality rate than tisa-cel. CAR-T therapy is feasible and effective for older patients with LBCL. These findings support age-adapted treatment strategies that consider both the efficacy and toxicity of each product. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShibataSho en-aut-sei=Shibata en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AraiYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Arai en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KandaJunya en-aut-sei=Kanda en-aut-mei=Junya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KajiDaisuke en-aut-sei=Kaji en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinakataDaisuke en-aut-sei=Minakata en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitawakiToshio en-aut-sei=Kitawaki en-aut-mei=Toshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimadaKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Shimada en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimoyamaTatsu en-aut-sei=Shimoyama en-aut-mei=Tatsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakitaShinichi en-aut-sei=Makita en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiNobuharu en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Nobuharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoGo en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Go kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakaidaEmiko en-aut-sei=Sakaida en-aut-mei=Emiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakashimaYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Nakashima en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaAkiyo en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Akiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmezawaYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Umezawa en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoJun en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimHaryoon en-aut-sei=Kim en-aut-mei=Haryoon kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=KataokaKeisuke en-aut-sei=Kataoka en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotoHideki en-aut-sei=Goto en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=AtsutaYoshiko en-aut-sei=Atsuta en-aut-mei=Yoshiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoKoji en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Kyoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Kyoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Kyoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Kyoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Hyogo Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Hematology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Division of Transfusion Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Division of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=28 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e70062 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Sexual Dimorphism in Vertebral Number: Developmental Implications Inferred From Vertebral and Body Proportions en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Segmentation is a fundamental feature of vertebrate body plans, and variation in vertebral number contributes substantially to morphological diversity. Although sexual dimorphism in vertebral number has been documented in several vertebrate lineages, its developmental basis remains poorly understood. Here, we report pronounced sexual dimorphism in vertebral number in the western Indian endemic ricefish Oryzias setnai, distributed across ~1800?km. Radiographic analyses of individuals collected throughout its range revealed that vertebral number increased with latitude in both sexes, while males consistently possessed more vertebrae than females irrespective of geographic origin. Size-adjusted analyses showed that this dimorphism is associated with sex differences in head size and position-dependent variation in vertebral length. However, positional allometric analyses demonstrated that both the magnitude and direction of these sex differences vary markedly during growth. In particular, among smaller individuals, posterior vertebrae were relatively shorter in males than in females, suggesting reduced somite length in the posterior body axis of male embryos and potentially reflecting sex-specific differences in the dynamics of somitogenesis. Given that this variation arises between males and females within a single species sharing an essentially identical genetic background, O. setnai provides a rare empirical system not only for linking early developmental processes to intraspecific sexual variation in vertebrate body plans but also as a powerful model to investigate the developmental basis of body plan variation across species. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamahiraKazunori en-aut-sei=Yamahira en-aut-mei=Kazunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnoopV. K. en-aut-sei=Anoop en-aut-mei=V. K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=RaghavanRajeev en-aut-sei=Raghavan en-aut-mei=Rajeev kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaYoshitaka en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Yoshitaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnsaiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Ansai en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=axial patterning kn-keyword=axial patterning en-keyword=developmental mechanisms kn-keyword=developmental mechanisms en-keyword=latitude kn-keyword=latitude en-keyword=Oryzias kn-keyword=Oryzias en-keyword=segmentation interval kn-keyword=segmentation interval en-keyword=vertebral length kn-keyword=vertebral length END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=49 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=983 end-page=988 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260620 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effect of Deuterated Drugs on Safety: Insights from Pharmacovigilance Data Analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. Tetrabenazine (TBZ), a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor, is commonly used to manage chorea; however, it may exhibit fluctuating plasma levels and elicit frequent adverse events. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of TBZ deuteration on its safety profile. We compared the safety profiles of TBZ and deutetrabenazine (DTBZ) in real-world clinical practice using disproportionality analysis and the large-scale pharmacovigilance database, VigiBase?the WHO’s global database of adverse drug reactions. Adverse event signals were assessed using the information component (IC). Seriousness was classified according to clinical outcome, and time to onset (TTO) was analyzed for selected events. TBZ showed signals for disorientation, dystonia, and sleep disorders (IC025 > 0), whereas DTBZ did not. Serious adverse events were reported in 54.7% of TBZ cases and 37.9% of DTBZ cases. The TTO of sleep disorder was also evaluated; however, the number of cases with available TTO information was limited. DTBZ showed fewer adverse event signals and a lower proportion of serious adverse events than TBZ. These findings suggest potential differences in the safety profiles of the two drugs, which may influence tolerability in the treatment of HD. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KitagawaKohei en-aut-sei=Kitagawa en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NawaHideki en-aut-sei=Nawa en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsaiShota en-aut-sei=Asai en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataNaohiro en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Naohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NiimuraTakahiro en-aut-sei=Niimura en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamanoHirofumi en-aut-sei=Hamano en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=GodaMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Goda en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZamamiYoshito en-aut-sei=Zamami en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshizawaKeisuke en-aut-sei=Ishizawa en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama Psychiatric Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shujitsu University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shujitsu University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=deuterated drug kn-keyword=deuterated drug en-keyword=VigiBase kn-keyword=VigiBase en-keyword=heavy drug kn-keyword=heavy drug en-keyword=safety advantage kn-keyword=safety advantage en-keyword=pharmacovigilance analysis kn-keyword=pharmacovigilance analysis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260908 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Biological Resectability in Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Nomogram‐Based Continuous Risk Model to Define Borderline Disease en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Resectability in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is traditionally defined by technical feasibility; however, a biologically based definition of borderline resectable disease has not been established. We evaluated the prognostic impact of KRAS mutation and developed a model for biological risk stratification.
Methods: This multi-institutional retrospective study included 584 patients undergoing initial hepatectomy for CRLM. The impact of KRAS mutation was assessed according to primary tumor sidedness and tumor burden score (TBS). A nomogram predicting overall survival (OS) was constructed using independent prognostic factors and compared with established clinical risk scores.
Results: KRAS mutation was identified in 36.8% of patients and was associated with worse OS (median survival: 47.3 vs. 70.6?months, p?=?0.0006) and recurrence-free survival. This adverse impact was observed in left-sided tumors but not in right-sided tumors. TBS stratified prognosis in KRAS wild-type but not in mutant cases, suggesting that tumor biology may outweigh morphology. A nomogram incorporating KRAS status, TBS, CA19-9, primary nodal status, and extrahepatic disease demonstrated improved discriminatory ability compared with conventional models and stratified recurrence patterns, including extrahepatic recurrence.
Conclusions: The prognostic impact of KRAS mutation depends on tumor sidedness and is independent of tumor morphology. Our nomogram provides a continuous biological risk assessment and may facilitate biological risk stratification and support future refinement of the concept of biologically borderline resectable CRLM. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UmedaYuzo en-aut-sei=Umeda en-aut-mei=Yuzo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiTomokazu en-aut-sei=Fuji en-aut-mei=Tomokazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KojimaToru en-aut-sei=Kojima en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoujimaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Koujima en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsudaTatsuo en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Tatsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatohDaisuke en-aut-sei=Satoh en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=InagakiMasaru en-aut-sei=Inagaki en-aut-mei=Masaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakagiKosei en-aut-sei=Takagi en-aut-mei=Kosei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraToshiyoshi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Toshiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Himeji Red Cross Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Tenwakai Matsuda Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Hiroshima Citizens Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=biology kn-keyword=biology en-keyword=borderline resectable kn-keyword=borderline resectable en-keyword=colorectal liver metastases kn-keyword=colorectal liver metastases en-keyword=genetic profile kn-keyword=genetic profile en-keyword=KRAS kn-keyword=KRAS en-keyword=morphology kn-keyword=morphology END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=e00484-26 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260804 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=High-throughput screening system for antimycobacterial compounds using in vitro infected cells: construction and application to compounds in the ?mura Natural Compound Library en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The global increase in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis strains poses a major threat; consequently, there is an urgent need to identify and develop novel drugs. We have previously presented a simple fibroblast assay (SFA) screening method that enables the simultaneous assessment of antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity toward host cells. This method was developed based on our finding that live (but not dead) Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli exhibit cytotoxic activity against human lung fibroblasts, and that this cytotoxicity, which is proportional to the number of viable bacterial cells, is inhibited by known antimycobacterial drugs. While conventional methods to measure M. tuberculosis growth require 2?4 weeks to detect antibacterial activity; the SFA method enables detection within 2?3 days and can detect compounds that are active within host cells. Here, we applied high-throughput screening, based on assessment of cytotoxicity, to identify candidate antimycobacterial agents. In parallel, by comparing the direct antibacterial activity of compounds in liquid medium (using the broth dilution test) with that observed via SFA, we developed a new SFA-based screening system to select compounds with low cytotoxicity that are active outside or inside the host cells. Using this dual system, we screened 742 compounds from the ?mura Natural Compound Library (Kitasato University, Japan), with 62 hits. Of these, 19 were excluded owing to their toxicity, and six exhibited antibacterial activity only via SFA screening. Four promising antimycobacterial candidates with no cytotoxicity at the 10 μg/mL threshold?aridicin A, lankamycin, streptovaricin, and lariatin A?were identified. identified.This novel system supports the rapid identification of low-cytotoxicity antimycobacterial compounds that are active inside or outside the host cells. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakiiTakemasa en-aut-sei=Takii en-aut-mei=Takemasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimishimaAoi en-aut-sei=Kimishima en-aut-mei=Aoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwatsukiMasato en-aut-sei=Iwatsuki en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OharaNaoya en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsamiYukihiro en-aut-sei=Asami en-aut-mei=Yukihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Mycobacterium Reference and Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=?mura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Kitasato University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=?mura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Kitasato University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=?mura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Kitasato University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=?mura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Kitasato University kn-affil= en-keyword=Mycobacterium tuberculosis kn-keyword=Mycobacterium tuberculosis en-keyword=Mycobacterium avium kn-keyword=Mycobacterium avium en-keyword=Mycobacterium abscessus kn-keyword=Mycobacterium abscessus en-keyword=fibroblasts kn-keyword=fibroblasts en-keyword=the ?mura Natural Compound Library kn-keyword=the ?mura Natural Compound Library en-keyword=antibacterial activity kn-keyword=antibacterial activity END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2026 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=1926696 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Phenotypic Characterization of Porphyromonas gulae Fimbria Mutants en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Porphyromonas gulae has been established as a pathogen in animal periodontal disease and expresses several virulence factors, including fimbriae, lipopolysaccharide, and proteases. P. gulae fimbriae are classified into three genotypes (A, B, and C) based on the fimbrillin (fimA) gene encoding a fimbrial subunit protein. We previously reported that P. gulae organisms with type C fimbriae were clearly more virulent as compared to those with other fimbria types, though the basic function of this is not fully understood. Here, we investigated the function of fimbriae using fimA-deficient mutants. In the present study, bacterial fimbriae were related to biofilm tenacity, whereas biofilm formation was not. Also, P. gulae fimbriae are involved in bacterial adhesion and entry into gingival epithelial cells. The role of P. gulae fimbriae in bacterial pathogenicity was then determined using fimA-deficient mutants with a silkworm infection model. Additionally, P. gulae infection can induce inflammatory responses in gingival epithelial cells and also inhibit cell migration and proliferation. In contrast, a P. gulae fimA-deficient mutant did not cause several of those cellular responses. Together, the results show that fimbriae contribute to the pathogenicity of P. gulae by affecting bacterial functions and host cell interactions. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=InabaHiroaki en-aut-sei=Inaba en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaSho en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OharaNaoya en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NomuraRyota en-aut-sei=Nomura en-aut-mei=Ryota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=Matsumoto-NakanoMichiyo en-aut-sei=Matsumoto-Nakano en-aut-mei=Michiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Microbiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Dentistry, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=biofilm kn-keyword=biofilm en-keyword=cell invasion kn-keyword=cell invasion en-keyword=cell migration kn-keyword=cell migration en-keyword=fimbriae kn-keyword=fimbriae en-keyword=periodontitis kn-keyword=periodontitis en-keyword=Porphyromonas gulae kn-keyword=Porphyromonas gulae en-keyword=silkworm larvae kn-keyword=silkworm larvae END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=12 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=cr.26-0502 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Successful Lung Transplantation after Plasma Exchange in a Patient with High Thermal Amplitude Cold Agglutinins: A Case Report en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=INTRODUCTION: Cold agglutinins (CAs) are immunoglobulin M autoantibodies that induce red blood cell agglutination at low temperatures and may cause hemolytic or thrombotic complications during procedures associated with hypothermia. In lung transplantation (LT), blood may be exposed to low temperatures within the reperfused lung graft and the extracorporeal circulation circuit, potentially increasing the risk of CA-mediated complications. However, the perioperative significance of CAs in this setting remains unclear, and optimal management has not been established. We report a case of successful bilateral LT in a patient with high-thermal-amplitude CAs managed with preoperative plasma exchange (PLEX) and strict intraoperative temperature control.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old man with diffuse panbronchiolitis and secondary pulmonary hypertension was listed for bilateral LT. Preoperative testing incidentally revealed clinically significant CAs, with a titer of 1:128 at 4°C and a thermal amplitude of 30°C. Because intraoperative blood temperature might approach this threshold despite active warming, a single preoperative session of PLEX using 36 units of fresh frozen plasma was performed to reduce the risk of a CA-mediated complication. Bilateral LT was subsequently completed under meticulous temperature management, including extracorporeal circulation maintained at 37.5°C, continuous systematic warming, avoidance of topical ice application, and rewarming of the donor lungs before reperfusion. After surgery, the CA titer decreased to 1:32. The postoperative course was uneventful, without thromboembolic events, primary graft dysfunction, or bronchial complications.
CONCLUSIONS: LT may be performed safely in selected patients with high-thermal-amplitude CAs when careful perioperative temperature control is combined with preoperative PLEX. PLEX should be considered when the anticipated intraoperative temperature is expected to approach the patient’s thermal amplitude threshold. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiyoshiYuya en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Yuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiKentaroh en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Kentaroh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsanoNaomi en-aut-sei=Asano en-aut-mei=Naomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoHaruchika en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Haruchika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShin en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkaharaShuji en-aut-sei=Okahara en-aut-mei=Shuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiMikio en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Mikio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoSeiichiro en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Seiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiNobuharu en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Nobuharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Transfusion and Cell Therapy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Okayama, Japan kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Division of Transfusion and Cell Therapy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=cold agglutinins kn-keyword=cold agglutinins en-keyword=thermal amplitude kn-keyword=thermal amplitude en-keyword= lung transplantation kn-keyword= lung transplantation en-keyword=plasma exchange kn-keyword=plasma exchange en-keyword=extracorporeal circulation kn-keyword=extracorporeal circulation en-keyword=perioperative management kn-keyword=perioperative management END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=757 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=125992 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Multi-criteria evaluation of graphene oxide nanofiltration membranes for decaffeination en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Nanofiltration (NF) offers a promising low-energy approach for producing decaffeinated instant coffee, while requires membranes that balance caffeine removal, water permeance, and retention of key coffee matrix compounds. Here, graphene oxide membranes (GOMs) were modified by sodium alginate (SA) intercalation, Ca2+ crosslinking, and their combined strategy to tune nanochannel structure and separation performance. The results show that membrane modification does not follow a simple monotonic trend; instead, small structural and chemical changes generate competing effects on permeance and selectivity through coupled transport, adsorption, and confinement mechanisms. To identify the most suitable membrane, a multi-criteria evaluation framework (MCEF) combining entropy weighting and TOPSIS was established using five key performance indicators: caffeine removal, flavour-related marker retention index, choline retention, water permeance, and concentration increase. This framework identified CGSM-1 as the best-performing flat membrane, which also showed promising performance in hollow-fibre form. In coffee filtration tests, CGSM-1 reduced caffeine concentration from 24.64 to 12.95?μg/mg, corresponding to a 47.4% reduction, while retaining measurable levels of HMF, trigonelline, NMP, and choline. These findings demonstrate the potential of engineered GOMs for selective caffeine reduction in coffee liquor and provide a practical evaluation strategy for membrane-based decaffeination. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TianYihan en-aut-sei=Tian en-aut-mei=Yihan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=LinTongxi en-aut-sei=Lin en-aut-mei=Tongxi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishinaYuta en-aut-sei=Nishina en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=RenXiaojun en-aut-sei=Ren en-aut-mei=Xiaojun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=JoshiRakesh en-aut-sei=Joshi en-aut-mei=Rakesh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales kn-affil= en-keyword=Multi-criteria evaluation kn-keyword=Multi-criteria evaluation en-keyword=Decaffeination kn-keyword=Decaffeination en-keyword=Graphene oxide kn-keyword=Graphene oxide END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=10 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e0910 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260226 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Hepatocellular carcinoma in Fontan-associated liver disease: Incidence, risk stratification, and surveillance implications en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious complication of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD). However, data on its incidence, risk factors, and outcomes in this rare population are limited. We aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of HCC and evaluate the utility of surveillance in patients with FALD.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients with FALD who were referred to our gastroenterology department. The cumulative incidence of HCC after FALD diagnosis was calculated, and multivariate analysis was used to identify independent risk factors. Overall survival after FALD diagnosis was compared between patients who developed HCC and those who did not.
Results: A total of 120 patients with FALD were followed up for a median period of 50.0 months. The cumulative incidence rates of HCC at 1, 2, and 3 years after FALD diagnosis were 0.9%, 2.7%, and 3.9%, respectively. Elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at FALD diagnosis was independently associated with HCC development (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.04?1.60; p=0.01). There was no significant difference in overall survival between patients with and without HCC in this cohort (log-rank test, p=0.50).
Conclusions: Patients with FALD face a non-negligible risk of developing HCC, thus supporting the need for surveillance. Elevated AFP levels at the time of FALD diagnosis may aid in risk stratification, which enables the targeted monitoring and early detection of HCC. Furthermore, routine surveillance contributes to the excellent prognosis of patients with FALD who develop HCC, thus making their prognosis comparable to that of patients without HCC. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OnishiHideki en-aut-sei=Onishi en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TohNorihisa en-aut-sei=Toh en-aut-mei=Norihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabaKenji en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KotaniYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Kotani en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasaharaShingo en-aut-sei=Kasahara en-aut-mei=Shingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Academic Fields of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Academic Fields of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Academic Fields of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Fields of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=alpha-fetoprotein kn-keyword=alpha-fetoprotein en-keyword=FALD kn-keyword=FALD en-keyword=Fontan procedure kn-keyword=Fontan procedure en-keyword=retrospective cohort study kn-keyword=retrospective cohort study en-keyword=risk stratification kn-keyword=risk stratification END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e044756 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260203 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Long‐Term Outcomes and Risk Factors for Mortality After Single Ventricle Palliation for Asplenia Syndrome en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: This study evaluated the long‐term outcomes of asplenia syndrome with single ventricle palliation, hypothesizing that total anomalous pulmonary vein connection (TAPVC), pulmonary atresia (PA), and greater than or equal to moderate atrioventricular valve regurgitation increase mortality risk.
Methods: This retrospective review analyzed 151 patients with asplenia syndrome who underwent single ventricle palliation between 1990 and 2024. The primary end point was mortality, with risk factors assessed by Cox regression analysis over a mean follow‐up of 9.3?years.
Results: The median age at initial operation was 35?days, including 70 neonates (46%). Overall, 62 (41%) patients died, whereas 66 (44%) patients are alive post‐Fontan completion. Survival probabilities at 1 and 20?years were 75.7% (95% CI, 67.9?81.8) and 53.7% (95% CI, 44.5?62.0), respectively. TAPVC (P=0.014), PA (P=0.007), and greater than or equal to moderate atrioventricular valve regurgitation (P=0.040) emerged as independent risk factors for mortality in the overall cohort. In the TAPVC cohort, independent risk factors for mortality included PA (P=0.019), infracardiac TAPVC (P=0.045), and neonatal TAPVC repair (P=0.018). When stratified by the risk factors of TAPVC, PA, or greater than or equal to moderate atrioventricular valve regurgitation, survival probabilities did not differ between patients with none or 1 of these conditions (P=0.181) but were significantly lower in those with ?2 risk factors (P<0.001, at 15?years: 0, 72.9%; 1, 59.1%; ?2, 32.8%).
Conclusions: Survival after single ventricle palliation for asplenia syndrome remains suboptimal, particularly when TAPVC, PA, and greater than or equal to moderate atrioventricular valve regurgitation are present in combination rather than in isolation. Improved strategies or surgical techniques are required for this complex asplenia syndrome cohort. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KobayashiYasuyuki en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Yasuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SanoShunji en-aut-sei=Sano en-aut-mei=Shunji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokudaYuhei en-aut-sei=Tokuda en-aut-mei=Yuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraAyari en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Ayari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=StaffaSteven J. en-aut-sei=Staffa en-aut-mei=Steven J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZurakowskiDavid en-aut-sei=Zurakowski en-aut-mei=David kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasaharaShingo en-aut-sei=Kasahara en-aut-mei=Shingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KotaniYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Kotani en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Showa Medical University Toyosu Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Harvard Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Harvard Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=asplenia syndrome kn-keyword=asplenia syndrome en-keyword=atrioventricular valve regurgitation kn-keyword=atrioventricular valve regurgitation en-keyword=heterotaxy kn-keyword=heterotaxy en-keyword=pulmonary atresia kn-keyword=pulmonary atresia en-keyword=total anomalous pulmonary vein kn-keyword=total anomalous pulmonary vein END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e70160 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Invasive Group A Streptococcus Infection: Four Case Series of Re‐Emerging Pathogens en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: Group A Streptococcus (GAS), particularly the M1UK lineage, has re-emerged as a major global public health concern following the COVID-19 pandemic, with a rise in invasive GAS (iGAS) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). Although STSS is under national surveillance in Japan, comprehensive molecular monitoring of iGAS infections remains limited, and the clinical characteristics of M1UK-associated iGAS have not been fully elucidated.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed four consecutive iGAS cases requiring intensive care between March and May 2024. Detailed clinical, microbiological, and genomic investigations were performed to characterize the causative strains and their associated virulence profiles.
Results: All patients required respiratory and/or circulatory support with surgical debridement. Three cases involved necrotizing fasciitis, and one involved intra-abdominal infection secondary to ovarian tumor rupture. All four patients received penicillin G and clindamycin as definitive antimicrobial therapy, with two developing severe drug-related adverse events. Genotypic analysis identified three isolates as emm1 strains, including two M1UK lineage strains. The two M1UK isolates commonly harbored multiple superantigen genes. All isolates remained susceptible to β-lactam, clindamycin, and macrolide antibiotics.
Conclusion: This case series documents the identification of the M1UK lineage among critically ill patients with iGAS infections in Japan. Our findings support the need for continued molecular surveillance while reinforcing the importance of prompt surgical source control and appropriate antimicrobial therapy in the management of severe iGAS. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkaharaShuji en-aut-sei=Okahara en-aut-mei=Shuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukushimaShinnosuke en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Shinnosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamaguchiYuto en-aut-sei=Hamaguchi en-aut-mei=Yuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HishiikeMasanobu en-aut-sei=Hishiike en-aut-mei=Masanobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MotoiYohei en-aut-sei=Motoi en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotohKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Gotoh en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiShuma en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Shuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IioKoji en-aut-sei=Iio en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Intensive Care, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Microbiology Division, Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=emm type kn-keyword=emm type en-keyword=Group A Streptococcus kn-keyword=Group A Streptococcus en-keyword=M1UK strain kn-keyword=M1UK strain en-keyword=necrotizing fasciitis kn-keyword=necrotizing fasciitis en-keyword=Streptococcus pyogenes kn-keyword=Streptococcus pyogenes END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=999 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=187 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260303 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Constraining the Effects of Pre- and Post-accretionary Processes on Ryugu Insoluble Organic Matter en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Asteroidal and cometary fragments have been indicated as possible sources of the building blocks of life for the early Earth. Samples returned from the asteroid Ryugu are uncontaminated and contain organic matter. Such samples enable an investigation of the processes that formed and altered extraterrestrial organic matter. Here, the FTIR and Raman responses of insoluble organic matter (IOM) isolated from Ryugu particles and carbonaceous chondrites are reported. Several relationships were observed: (1) a strong positive correlation of CH2/CH3 plotted against aliphatics/C=C; (2) a strong negative correlation of CH2/CH3 plotted against δ15N and δ13C; and (3) strong negative correlations of FTIR band ratios plotted against Raman band parameters and D/G values. The data are not consistent with even moderate heating of the IOM, as indicated by CH2/CH3 ratios that are consistent with unheated carbonaceous chondrites. The C and N isotope data previously collected for each Ryugu particle preclude aqueous alteration based on our understanding of its effects on carbonaceous chondrite IOM. Mixing of several IOM endmembers was considered, but due to the similarities of the particle with the lowest CH2/CH3 ratio to the other particles in terms of its other spectroscopic parameters, this scenario was considered unlikely. Finally, the effects of irradiation were considered, and UV irradiation, in particular, was hypothesised to be the best explanation for the trends observed. Overall, the data highlight the importance of comprehensive data sets for revealing extraterrestrial processes, which could define the nature of organic matter reaching habitable environments, such as those of the Early Earth. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=PotiszilChristian en-aut-sei=Potiszil en-aut-mei=Christian kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamanakaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Yamanaka en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaTsutomu en-aut-sei=Ota en-aut-mei=Tsutomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakaguchiChie en-aut-sei=Sakaguchi en-aut-mei=Chie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitagawaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Kitagawa en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaRyoji en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Ryoji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunihiroTak en-aut-sei=Kunihiro en-aut-mei=Tak kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiKatsura en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Katsura kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraEizo en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Eizo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Pheasant Memorial Laboratory, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=63 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=1278 end-page=1287 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260522 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=First Total Synthesis and Structural Elucidation of Microcystbiopterin C, a Pterin Glycoside From a Microcystis Bloom en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The first total synthesis and unambiguous structural elucidation of microcystbiopterin C, a pterin glycoside isolated from a Microcystis bloom, has been achieved. Two candidate biopterin glycosides (5a and 5b) corresponding to the proposed structures of microcystbiopterin C were synthesized by glycosylation of a suitably protected biopterin derivative 10 with 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-α-L-mannopyranosyl bromide (9) and the corresponding α-D-mannopyranosyl bromide (22), respectively, followed by stepwise deprotection. Detailed comparison of the NMR data and the specific rotation of compounds 5a and 5b with those of the natural product established that microcystbiopterin C possesses the structure of 2′-O-(6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl)biopterin (5b). en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HanayaTadashi en-aut-sei=Hanaya en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasakiKatsuya en-aut-sei=Iwasaki en-aut-mei=Katsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=glycosylation kn-keyword=glycosylation en-keyword=microcystbiopterin C kn-keyword=microcystbiopterin C en-keyword=pteridine kn-keyword=pteridine en-keyword=pterin glycoside kn-keyword=pterin glycoside en-keyword=structural elucidation kn-keyword=structural elucidation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=781 end-page=791 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202512 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Chronic fluoxetine modulates perineuronal nets and inhibitory neuronal function in relation to behavioral outcomes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Chronic fluoxetine administration has been reported to enhance neural plasticity in the adult brain, but the underlying structural correlates remain incompletely understood. In particular, the impact of fluoxetine on aggrecan-positive perineuronal nets (PNNs)?critical regulators of plasticity?is largely unknown. We investigated whether chronic fluoxetine treatment (20?mg/kg/day, i.p., 21 days) alters behavior and PNN expression in adult male C57BL/6?N mice. Behavioral assessments included grip strength, hot plate, light/dark transition, elevated plus-maze, open field, Y-maze, social interaction, tail suspension, Porsolt forced swim, and passive avoidance tests. To evaluate structural plasticity, we performed immunohistochemical analyses of parvalbumin (PV)-positive neurons and PNNs using aggrecan-specific antibodies (Cat-315, AB1031) in the primary somatosensory cortex and hippocampus. Fluoxetine-treated mice exhibited increased exploration and reduced anxiety-like behavior in light/dark transition and elevated plus-maze tests, with no significant changes in grip strength or nociception. They also showed increased locomotor activity (distance and entries) in the Y-maze, but did not significantly alter spontaneous alternation performance, and increased social interaction, the latter possibly reflecting abnormal social behavior. No significant differences were observed in depression-like behavior as assessed by tail suspension and forced swim tests. Passive avoidance performance was impaired, suggesting a decline in cognitive function. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant reduction in aggrecan-positive PNN density, particularly in layer 4 of the primary somatosensory cortex and in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. Our results indicate that chronic fluoxetine administration induces behavioral and structural changes indicative of reactivated neuroplasticity. Importantly, these changes are associated with a region- and layer-specific reduction of aggrecan-positive PNNs, underscoring their critical role in modulating adult cortical plasticity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UenoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Ueno en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitanoEriko en-aut-sei=Kitano en-aut-mei=Eriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriSachiko en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Sachiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYu en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiShinji en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaniKenta en-aut-sei=Wani en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoYosuke en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoMotoi en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Motoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= en-keyword=Fluoxetine kn-keyword=Fluoxetine en-keyword=Neuroplasticity kn-keyword=Neuroplasticity en-keyword=Perineuronal nets kn-keyword=Perineuronal nets en-keyword=Aggrecan kn-keyword=Aggrecan en-keyword=Parvalbumin kn-keyword=Parvalbumin en-keyword=Behavior kn-keyword=Behavior END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=713 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=123411 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260705 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Tungsten(VI) speciation in aqueous fluids at high pressures and high temperatures: in-situ Raman spectroscopy supported by DFT calculations en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Tungsten (W) is mobile in magmatic?hydrothermal and deep subduction zone fluids, and its stable isotopes offer potential as tracers of fluid-rock interactions. We investigated W behavior in aqueous fluids using in-situ Raman spectroscopy on slightly acidic to alkaline Na2WO4 solutions (10?3?10?1 M W) and WO3?H2O/D2O ± NaCl systems up to 1.4 GPa and ?800 °C, with the band assignments supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Raman spectra showed that the ν1 mode of WO42? persisted to the highest P?T conditions in alkaline fluids, while additional high-frequency bands near 950 or 973 cm?1 appeared at elevated T in the studied fluids. Their relative intensities depended on T, pH, and NaCl content; the 973 cm?1 band was only observed above 650 °C in Na-free fluids. Substitution of H2O with D2O did not significantly affect the band frequencies. Based on analogous molybdenum experiments, previous in-situ studies, and thermodynamic models, these high-T bands are assigned to mononuclear species rather than polynuclear species, consistent with the stepwise formation of hydrogentungstate anion, HWO4?, and then neutral tungstic acid, H2WO4, as T increases. DFT vibrational frequency calculations for HWO4?, H2WO4, and their D-substituted species support this interpretation, suggesting tetrahedral HWO4? and higher-coordinated H2WO4 as plausible species. The present study clarifies Raman band assignments for HWO4? and paratungstate A (W7O246?) to address previous ambiguities in the literature, and confirms that polynuclear species play a negligible role in high-T ore-forming fluids. The tetrahedral HWO4? appears to be a predominant transport species in NaCl-bearing metamorphic fluids and may govern stable W isotope fractionation during deep fluid-rock interactions. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakahashiNaoko en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Naoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraMichihiko en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Michihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaShigeru en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KagiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Kagi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Earth Science, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Earth Science, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Geochemical Research Center, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= en-keyword=Tungsten kn-keyword=Tungsten en-keyword=Aqueous speciation kn-keyword=Aqueous speciation en-keyword=Hydrothermal fluids kn-keyword=Hydrothermal fluids en-keyword=Subduction zone kn-keyword=Subduction zone en-keyword=Diamond anvil cell kn-keyword=Diamond anvil cell en-keyword=Raman spectroscopy kn-keyword=Raman spectroscopy en-keyword=DFT calculations kn-keyword=DFT calculations END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=59 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=104678 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2027 dt-pub=202701 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Impact of correcting beam hardening and detector response function in photon-counting X-ray imaging when using anti-coincidence mode en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=X-ray imaging using photon-counting detectors (PCDs) allows for the calculation of quantitative images such as the effective atomic number (?eff). However, physical phenomena such as characteristic X-ray emission and charge sharing can cause incomplete total absorption events during signal generation, which reduces the accuracy of X-ray penetration analysis. To solve the problem, an anti-coincidence mode (ACM) has been developed, but complete correction has not been established. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of ?eff image when the proposed software-based corrections, namely beam hardening and response function corrections, are added to the hardware-based correction of the ACM. The response function was calculated using the Monte-Carlo simulation code. In a simulation study, we analyzed a phantom composed of virtual materials with ?eff values of 4?16. While sufficient accuracy cannot be achieved by applying only the ACM, it was demonstrated that low-noise ?eff images can be obtained by applying our correction. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that ?eff images of food samples can be generated by using actual non-destructive testing equipment with a 10?m/min transportation speed. In conclusion, our correction procedure can maximize the performance of PCDs, and our findings are essential for promoting imaging techniques concerning quantitative images. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HayashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishigamiRina en-aut-sei=Nishigami en-aut-mei=Rina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiDaiki en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasueTakuya en-aut-sei=Kasue en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimotoNatsumi en-aut-sei=Kimoto en-aut-mei=Natsumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsaharaTakashi en-aut-sei=Asahara en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=X-ray non-destructive testing kn-keyword=X-ray non-destructive testing en-keyword=Photon-counting detector kn-keyword=Photon-counting detector en-keyword=Coincidence summing kn-keyword=Coincidence summing en-keyword=CdTe detector kn-keyword=CdTe detector en-keyword=X-ray imaging kn-keyword=X-ray imaging END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=46 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=5141 end-page=5154 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Antiproteinuric Effect of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Aim: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce proteinuria in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. However, their effect on vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor-induced proteinuria remains unclear. This study evaluated the prophylactic effect of SGLT2i on bevacizumab-induced proteinuria in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.
Patients and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included patients with HCC who started therapy with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab between September 2020 and December 2023. The primary outcome was the time to exacerbation of proteinuria from baseline within 6 months after treatment initiation according to SGLT2i use. Secondary outcomes included the development of grade ?2 proteinuria.
Results: A total of 188 patients were included, of whom 29 received SGLT2i. No significant difference in the time to exacerbation of proteinuria was observed between the SGLT2i and non-SGLT2i groups considering the overall population (median: 157 vs. 116 days, p=0.95). Multivariate analysis identified diabetes with systolic blood pressure ?130 mmHg as an independent risk factor for proteinuria exacerbation (hazard ratio=2.19, 95% confidence interval=1.18-4.06, p=0.013), whereas SGLT2i use was not significantly associated with proteinuria exacerbation. In patients with both diabetes and systolic blood pressure ?130 mmHg, SGLT2i significantly prolonged the time to proteinuria exacerbation.
Conclusion: SGLT2i may suppress proteinuria progression only in high-risk patients with HCC complicated by diabetes and hypertension. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HORITOMOKI en-aut-sei=HORI en-aut-mei=TOMOKI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YAMAMOTOKAZUHIRO en-aut-sei=YAMAMOTO en-aut-mei=KAZUHIRO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AOIHIROSHI en-aut-sei=AOI en-aut-mei=HIROSHI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KOIZUMIYUSUKE en-aut-sei=KOIZUMI en-aut-mei=YUSUKE kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KUROMATSUMAKOTO en-aut-sei=KUROMATSU en-aut-mei=MAKOTO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FUKUIAIKO en-aut-sei=FUKUI en-aut-mei=AIKO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OKAMOTOHIROYO en-aut-sei=OKAMOTO en-aut-mei=HIROYO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HIRATAATSUSHI en-aut-sei=HIRATA en-aut-mei=ATSUSHI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SHINMORIKENTARO en-aut-sei=SHINMORI en-aut-mei=KENTARO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IMANAKAYUKI en-aut-sei=IMANAKA en-aut-mei=YUKI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NAMBAMIYU en-aut-sei=NAMBA en-aut-mei=MIYU kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KITAMURASYUNSUKE en-aut-sei=KITAMURA en-aut-mei=SYUNSUKE kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=NAKANISHIKEISUKE en-aut-sei=NAKANISHI en-aut-mei=KEISUKE kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=TSUSHIMAHIDEO en-aut-sei=TSUSHIMA en-aut-mei=HIDEO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=YANOIKUKO en-aut-sei=YANO en-aut-mei=IKUKO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=MORIYAKEI en-aut-sei=MORIYA en-aut-mei=KEI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=MATSUIMASARU en-aut-sei=MATSUI en-aut-mei=MASARU kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=IKUSHIMASHIGEKI en-aut-sei=IKUSHIMA en-aut-mei=SHIGEKI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Integrated Clinical and Basic Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Nara Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Nara Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Tenri Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kindai University Nara Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kindai University Nara Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kindai University Nara Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Yamatotakada Municipal Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Yamatotakada Municipal Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Nara Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Nara Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center kn-affil= en-keyword=Hepatocellular carcinoma kn-keyword=Hepatocellular carcinoma en-keyword=bevacizumab kn-keyword=bevacizumab en-keyword=proteinuria kn-keyword=proteinuria en-keyword=sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitors kn-keyword=sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitors END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=17 article-no= start-page=2822 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260902 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Granular Swollen Epithelial Cells in Native Kidney Biopsies: Prevalence, Clinicopathological Associations and Kidney Outcomes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Granular swollen epithelial cells (GSECs) have been described primarily in mitochondrial cytopathies, in which they are regarded as a characteristic pathological finding that may aid in the diagnosis of mitochondrial dysfunction; however, their prevalence and clinical significance in native kidney disease remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinicopathological associations, and prognostic significance of GSECs in native kidney biopsy specimens. Methods: Among 1165 adults who underwent native kidney biopsy between 2011 and 2024, 501 patients with evaluable medullary tissue were included in this retrospective cohort study. GSECs were defined as enlarged tubular epithelial cells with conspicuous granular cytoplasm in medullary tubules, and cases were classified as GSEC-positive when at least one unequivocal GSEC was identified. Clinical and histopathological characteristics were compared between groups, and kidney outcomes were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The mean baseline eGFR was 60.8 ± 26.3 mL/min/1.73 m2, and the median urinary protein excretion was 1.1 g/gCr. During a median follow-up of 2.3 years, 112 patients (22.3%) reached the composite kidney outcome. GSECs were identified in 18% of native kidney biopsy specimens containing evaluable medullary tissue, and were observed across a broad spectrum of kidney diseases. GSEC positivity was associated with older age and underlying pathological diagnoses but was not associated with baseline kidney function or proteinuria. Kaplan?Meier and multivariable Cox analyses revealed no significant association between GSECs and kidney prognosis. Conclusions: GSECs are not specific to kidney allografts and are observed in a subset of diverse native kidney diseases. Although associated with certain clinical characteristics, no independent association between GSECs and kidney outcomes was observed in this cohort. These findings suggest that GSECs may reflect disease-dependent biological responses to tubular epithelial stress, potentially related to metabolic or mitochondrial alterations, rather than a marker of progressive kidney injury. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UchidaNaruhiko en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Naruhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiKenji en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanohHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Nakanoh en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukushimaKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamuraShinji en-aut-sei=Kitamura en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=granular swollen epithelial cells kn-keyword=granular swollen epithelial cells en-keyword=native kidney biopsy kn-keyword=native kidney biopsy en-keyword=kidney outcomes kn-keyword=kidney outcomes en-keyword=renal medulla kn-keyword=renal medulla en-keyword=mitochondria kn-keyword=mitochondria END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=112 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=102428 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202610 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Adaptive oligodendrogenesis regulates blood-hypothalamus barrier permeability, hypothalamic glucose sensing and systemic glucose homeostasis in male mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objective: Brain glucose sensing is critical for survival during hypoglycaemia, yet how glucose-sensing neurons access circulating glucose concentrations to maintain glucose homeostasis remains poorly understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that adult oligodendrogenesis in the median eminence (ME) is responsive to changes in blood glucose levels and contributes to hypothalamic glucose sensing through regulation of the blood-hypothalamus barrier.
Methods: We used glycemic challenges and hypoinsulinaemic clamp studies to identify the effect of systemic changes in glycaemia on hypothalamic oligodendrocyte lineage cells. We used conditional knockout mouse models to dissect the respective contributions of adult oligodendrogenesis and new myelin formation to glucose homeostasis in adult male mice. Analyses combined immunofluorescence, serial electron microscopy, whole-brain tissue clearing, and transcriptomic analyses.
Results: We found that adult oligodendrogenesis in the median eminence (ME) is modulated by changes in circulating glucose levels and rapidly upregulated by hypoglycaemia. Genetic blockade of new oligodendrocyte production in adult male mice impairs the regulation of glucose homeostasis, the integrity of the ME blood-hypothalamus barrier, and hypothalamic glucose sensing. Unexpectedly, functional integrity of adult-formed myelin is not required for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Instead, we show that blockade of adult oligodendrogenesis disrupts hypothalamic expression of A disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS4), a metallopeptidase whose brain expression is restricted to the oligodendrocyte lineage and whose ME expression requires ongoing adult oligodendrogenesis. We show that ADAMTS4 regulates hypothalamic perineuronal net deposition, vascular permeability and glucose sensing. Finally, we show that ME ADAMTS4 expression is regulated by changes in peripheral glycaemia and is dysregulated in diabetes, providing a mechanism by which ME oligodendrocytes contribute to the regulation of glucose homeostasis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BullerSophie en-aut-sei=Buller en-aut-mei=Sophie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=StaricoffEmily O. en-aut-sei=Staricoff en-aut-mei=Emily O. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=RichesChristine en-aut-sei=Riches en-aut-mei=Christine kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsangAnthony en-aut-sei=Tsang en-aut-mei=Anthony kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=GiavaraGiada en-aut-sei=Giavara en-aut-mei=Giada kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=JosipovicMasa en-aut-sei=Josipovic en-aut-mei=Masa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkemuraKentaro en-aut-sei=Ikemura en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OpokuGabriel en-aut-sei=Opoku en-aut-mei=Gabriel kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoIkumi en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Ikumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirohataSatoshi en-aut-sei=Hirohata en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=StenzelSaskia en-aut-sei=Stenzel en-aut-mei=Saskia kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=NayarStuart G. en-aut-sei=Nayar en-aut-mei=Stuart G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=Ramos VegaMarta en-aut-sei=Ramos Vega en-aut-mei=Marta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=Hecksher-S?rensenJacob en-aut-sei=Hecksher-S?rensen en-aut-mei=Jacob kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TimmlerSebastian en-aut-sei=Timmler en-aut-mei=Sebastian kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=DowsettGeorgina K.C. en-aut-sei=Dowsett en-aut-mei=Georgina K.C. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=LamBrian Y.H. en-aut-sei=Lam en-aut-mei=Brian Y.H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=YeoGiles S.H. en-aut-sei=Yeo en-aut-mei=Giles S.H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=AlongeKimberly M. en-aut-sei=Alonge en-aut-mei=Kimberly M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=LiHuiliang en-aut-sei=Li en-aut-mei=Huiliang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=RichardsonWilliam D. en-aut-sei=Richardson en-aut-mei=William D. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=EvansMark L. en-aut-sei=Evans en-aut-mei=Mark L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=BlouetClemence en-aut-sei=Blouet en-aut-mei=Clemence kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=GUBRA kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=GUBRA kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Diabetes Institute, University of Washington kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge kn-affil= en-keyword=Oligodendrogenesis kn-keyword=Oligodendrogenesis en-keyword=Median eminence kn-keyword=Median eminence en-keyword=Blood-hypothalamus barrier kn-keyword=Blood-hypothalamus barrier en-keyword=ADAMTS4 kn-keyword=ADAMTS4 en-keyword=Glucose sensing kn-keyword=Glucose sensing en-keyword=Hypoglycaemia kn-keyword=Hypoglycaemia END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=100628 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202611 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Clinical phenotypes and the risk factors of mild pulmonary hypertension en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: The definition of pulmonary hypertension (PH) was revised as mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >20?mmHg from ?25?mmHg in the recent PH guidelines; however, the characteristics of PH patients with mPAP 21?24 mmHg have not been well described.
Methods: A total of 1080 individuals who underwent right heart catheterization (2018?2022) was categorized into 3 groups by mPAP: no PH with mPAP ?20?mmHg, mild PH with mPAP 21?24 mmHg, and conventional PH with mPAP ?25?mmHg. We assessed PH subtypes of hemodynamic and clinical classification and compared survival outcomes (all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, lung transplant) using Cox models.
Results: Of them, 391 patients (36.2%) were diagnosed as PH including mild PH (n = 137) and conventional PH (n = 254). Phenotypically, mild PH was predominantly characterized by pre-capillary hemodynamics and Group 2 clinical classification. Mild PH is associated with an intermediate prognosis: outcomes are more favorable than in conventional PH but inferior to no PH (HR 1.74 [95% CI 1.15?2.61]). While the two PH phenotypes appear to share comorbidity-related factors, hemodynamic parameters were associated with survival outcomes not in mild PH but in conventional PH.
Conclusions: The observation that mild PH constitutes approximately one-third of overall PH cases carries substantial clinical weight. The newly identified mild PH cohort was characterized mainly by pre-capillary and Group 2 subtypes. While mild PH is associated with an intermediate prognosis, comorbidities appear to be the primary determinant of outcomes in this group, unlike in conventional PH where hemodynamics play a larger role. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TayaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Taya en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=EjiriKentaro en-aut-sei=Ejiri en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkagiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Akagi en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukudaYoshitake en-aut-sei=Fukuda en-aut-mei=Yoshitake kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanezawaMisaki en-aut-sei=Kanezawa en-aut-mei=Misaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakayaYoichi en-aut-sei=Takaya en-aut-mei=Yoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiToru en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKazufumi en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Kazufumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuasaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Yuasa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=mild pulmonary hypertension kn-keyword=mild pulmonary hypertension en-keyword=prognosis kn-keyword=prognosis en-keyword=risk factor kn-keyword=risk factor END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=25 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=e70502 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260420 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=UNC45B Reduction With Aging: A Myofiber-Intrinsic Promoting Factor for Sarcopenia en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Skeletal muscle mass and force decline with age, and the loss of muscle force precedes muscle atrophy. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the myosin co-chaperone, uncoordinated mutant number-45 myosin chaperone B (UNC45B), in regulating muscle mass and force. UNC45B expression decreased in mouse gastrocnemius muscle with age, particularly at 24?months old, and adeno-associated virus vector-mediated knockdown of Unc45b in 3-month-old mouse triceps surae muscle first reduced plantar flexor torque and then decreased gastrocnemius muscle mass. In addition, Unc45b knockdown in the triceps surae muscle resulted in lower bone mineral density. While maximum Ca2+-activated force in mechanically skinned fibers was not affected by Unc45b knockdown, Unc45b knockdown decreased the ratio of depolarization-induced force to the maximum Ca2+-activated force. We established tamoxifen-inducible skeletal muscle-specific Unc45b knockout (Unc45b imKO) mice to investigate whether the muscle atrophy and weakness due to the loss of Unc45b impacts metabolism and behavior. We found that Unc45b imKO reduced muscle mass and force at a whole-body level, but did not influence systemic glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, or the respiratory exchange ratio. However, Unc45b imKO mice reduced the amount of deeper non-rapid eye movement sleep, locomotor activity, and body temperature during the sleep phase. We conclude that UNC45B is essential for maintaining fast-twitch muscle mass and muscle force. In addition, Unc45b deficiency-mediated muscle loss is also associated with bone fragility, decreased body temperature, and impaired sleep quality. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MishimaTaiga en-aut-sei=Mishima en-aut-mei=Taiga kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagamuneTaiga en-aut-sei=Nagamune en-aut-mei=Taiga kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TadaSaori en-aut-sei=Tada en-aut-mei=Saori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeDaiki en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokudaNao en-aut-sei=Tokuda en-aut-mei=Nao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaTakashi en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=Hashimoto‐HachiyaAkiko en-aut-sei=Hashimoto‐Hachiya en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=Higo‐YamamotoSayaka en-aut-sei=Higo‐Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Sayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KidoKohei en-aut-sei=Kido en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaokaNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Nagaoka en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedoAoi en-aut-sei=Ikedo en-aut-mei=Aoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImaiYuuki en-aut-sei=Imai en-aut-mei=Yuuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaRyo en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizunoSeiya en-aut-sei=Mizuno en-aut-mei=Seiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiSatoru en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=OishiKatsutaka en-aut-sei=Oishi en-aut-mei=Katsutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=AtoSatoru en-aut-sei=Ato en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgasawaraRiki en-aut-sei=Ogasawara en-aut-mei=Riki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Sport and Health Sciences, Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Dental School, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Division of Integrative Pathophysiology, Proteo‐Science Center, PIAS, Ehime University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Division of Integrative Pathophysiology, Proteo‐Science Center, PIAS, Ehime University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Division of Regenerative Medicine, Transborder Medical Research Center, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Laboratory Animal Resource Center in Transborder Medical Research Center, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Laboratory Animal Resource Center in Transborder Medical Research Center, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Faculty of Medical Science, Nippon Sport Science University kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) kn-affil= en-keyword=chaperone kn-keyword=chaperone en-keyword=muscle atrophy kn-keyword=muscle atrophy en-keyword=muscle force kn-keyword=muscle force en-keyword=sarcopenia kn-keyword=sarcopenia END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260810 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Incidental detection of cancers during population-based endoscopic gastric cancer screening in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy traverses the full upper aerodigestive tract, unlike radiography, potentially enabling incidental detection of non-gastric malignancies. However, its population-level incidental detection rate for non-gastric upper aerodigestive tract cancers has not been systematically quantified. The aim of this study was to compare endoscopic screening with radiography and quantify detection of non-gastric upper aerodigestive tract cancers in a population-based setting.
Methods This population-based cohort study was conducted by linking the Okayama City municipal gastric cancer screening registry with the Kokuho Database (KDB) for fiscal years 2016?2021. Among 36,326 participants contributing 64,822 screening examinations (40,832 radiography; 23,990 endoscopy), diagnoses of oral cavity, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and esophageal cancer occurring within 2 months of screening were ascertained from the KDB. Generalized estimating equations with modified Poisson regression were used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) comparing endoscopy with radiography.
Results Endoscopic screening was significantly associated with higher composite incidental detection rates for non-gastric upper aerodigestive tract cancers (95.9 vs. 34.3 per 100,000 examinations; aRR 2.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50?5.76; p?=?0.002). Specifically, esophageal cancer detection was markedly higher with endoscopy (83.4 vs. 17.1 per 100,000; aRR 5.16, 95% CI 2.16?12.32; p? Conclusions Endoscopic gastric cancer screening is associated with substantially higher incidental detection of non-gastric upper aerodigestive tract cancers, particularly esophageal cancer. These findings suggest an additional detection value for endoscopy that extends beyond its primary gastric cancer target in organized screening programs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UraguchiKensuke en-aut-sei=Uraguchi en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaKenta en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoNaomi en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Naomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AndoMizuo en-aut-sei=Ando en-aut-mei=Mizuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujimotoKenji en-aut-sei=Fujimoto en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayaseShunsaku en-aut-sei=Hayase en-aut-mei=Shunsaku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YorifujiTakashi en-aut-sei=Yorifuji en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Practical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Occupational Health Data Science Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Epidemiology, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=Gastric cancer screening kn-keyword=Gastric cancer screening en-keyword=Endoscopy kn-keyword=Endoscopy en-keyword=Radiography kn-keyword=Radiography en-keyword=Early detection of cancer kn-keyword=Early detection of cancer en-keyword=Esophageal neoplasms kn-keyword=Esophageal neoplasms END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=26 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260828 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The Antioxidant Activity of α-Tocopherol Metabolites in Comparison with the Parent Compound in Hepatocytes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=α-Tocopherol (αT) is the major form of vitamin E. Although it is metabolized in the liver when high levels of αT are present, the function of its metabolites has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the αT metabolites, α-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman (αCEHC) and α-carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychroman (αCMBHC), in comparison with their parent compound. The pretreatment with αT and its metabolites showed a cytoprotective effect on the cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide in the mouse hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect, in vitro assays and assessments of antioxidant-related genes and proteins were conducted. The in vitro assays showed that these compounds showed little scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide but exhibited scavenging activity against DPPH radicals. On the other hand, assessments of antioxidant-related genes and proteins showed that αT and its metabolites significantly upregulated the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) possibly through activation of the transcript factor Nrf2. Moreover, the cytoprotective effects of αT and its metabolites against hydrogen peroxide were counteracted by HO-1 inhibitors. These results suggest that not only αT but also its metabolites are potential cytoprotective factors against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity, and that their effects are exerted not through a direct action of scavenging hydrogen peroxide in the body, but rather through the regulation of gene expression. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NishioTomoka en-aut-sei=Nishio en-aut-mei=Tomoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AmakoKasumi en-aut-sei=Amako en-aut-mei=Kasumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriyaDaiki en-aut-sei=Moriya en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MunemasaShintaro en-aut-sei=Munemasa en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurataYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Murata en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=α-tocopherol kn-keyword=α-tocopherol en-keyword=α-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman kn-keyword=α-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman en-keyword=α-carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychroman kn-keyword=α-carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychroman en-keyword=metabolite kn-keyword=metabolite en-keyword=antioxidant activity kn-keyword=antioxidant activity END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=1178 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260123 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Chloride-Transporting OsHKT1;1 Splice Variants and Their Expression Profiles Under Salinity Stress in Rice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=OsHKT1;1, a member of the high-affinity K+ transporter (HKT) family, plays a key role in Na+ homeostasis and salinity tolerance in rice. In our previous study, multiple potential OsHKT1;1 splicing variants were identified, as well as the full-length (FL) OsHKT1;1 transcript from the salt-tolerant rice Pokkali. However, most previous studies focused solely on the full-length protein, leaving the transport functions of splice variants largely unexamined. In this study, we focused on the splice variant OsHKT1;1-V2 and compared its function and gene expression with those of OsHKT1;1-FL. Two-electrode voltage clamp experiments using Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that the 1st start codon of OsHKT1;1-V2 is functional to exhibit bidirectional currents in bath solutions containing NaCl. Unlike the Na+-selective feature of OsHKT1;1-FL, OsHKT1;1-V2 primarily mediated Cl? transport with weak Na+ selectivity, which was supported by the higher Cl? accumulation in OsHKT1;1-V2?expressing oocytes. Subcellular localization analyses using oocytes and Arabidopsis mesophyll cells indicated plasma membrane localization of OsHKT1;1-V2, similar to OsHKT1;1-FL. Functional assays using a yeast mutant further indicated that OsHKT1;1-FL, but not OsHKT1;1-V2, mediates Na+ uptake. The same OsHKT1;1 variants were identified in the japonica cultivar Nipponbare, and OsHKT1;1-V2 of the cultivar showed Cl? transport properties similar to the one from Pokkali. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed higher abundance of OsHKT1;1-FL transcripts in Nipponbare than in Pokkali with markedly lower OsHKT1;1-V2 levels in Pokkali under salt stress. This study provides a new insight into HKT-mediated ion homeostasis under salinity stress. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ImranShahin en-aut-sei=Imran en-aut-mei=Shahin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnoShuntaro en-aut-sei=Ono en-aut-mei=Shuntaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HorieRie en-aut-sei=Horie en-aut-mei=Rie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsuharaMaki en-aut-sei=Katsuhara en-aut-mei=Maki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HorieTomoaki en-aut-sei=Horie en-aut-mei=Tomoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Okayama, Japan kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University kn-affil= en-keyword=heterologous expression systems kn-keyword=heterologous expression systems en-keyword=Na+ selectivity kn-keyword=Na+ selectivity en-keyword=Cl? selectivity kn-keyword=Cl? selectivity en-keyword=rice kn-keyword=rice END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e70101 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260826 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Critical role of cellular communication network factor 1 in early osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells primed by low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound and bone morphogenetic protein 2 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=There is a known reciprocal inhibitory relationship between adipogenesis and osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Our previous study showed that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) did not promote osteogenesis of a murine MSC line C3H10T1/2, although LIPUS treatment suppressed adipogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of a combination of an osteoinductive factor such as bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) and LIPUS treatment on osteogenesis. This combination significantly upregulated the gene expressions of BMP receptors and RUNX2, which is a key early osteogenic transcription factor. Interestingly, cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) was significantly increased at the mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, Runx2 expression was increased by a recombinant CCN1 protein and decreased in CRISPR-Cas9-generated Ccn1 knockout (KO) cells treated with the combination of LIPUS treatment and BMP-2. Moreover, Runx2 expression was recovered through the transfection of a Ccn1 expression plasmid into Ccn1 KO cells. These findings indicate that treatment with the combination of LIPUS treatment and BMP-2 promoted CCN1 production, and the CCN1 regulates the Runx2 expression in C3H10T1/2 cells, thus suggesting that CCN1 induced by mechanical stimulation and an osteoinductive factor plays a pivotal role in osteogenesis of MSCs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=PaingHsu Myat en-aut-sei=Paing en-aut-mei=Hsu Myat kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubotaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Kubota en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakigawaMasaharu en-aut-sei=Takigawa en-aut-mei=Masaharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubokiTakuo en-aut-sei=Kuboki en-aut-mei=Takuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishidaTakashi en-aut-sei=Nishida en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=BMP‐2 kn-keyword=BMP‐2 en-keyword=CCN1 kn-keyword=CCN1 en-keyword=low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) kn-keyword=low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) en-keyword=mesenchymal stem cells kn-keyword=mesenchymal stem cells en-keyword=osteogenic differentiation kn-keyword=osteogenic differentiation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=79 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=141 end-page=149 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260901 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Organ-specific modulation of antioxidant functions by combined voluntary exercise and radon inhalation in mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Radon inhalation as well as voluntary exercise increase anti?oxidant function in experimental animals. However, the combined effects of radon inhalation and exercise on antioxidant functions have not yet been investigated. In this study, we examined the effects of combined voluntary wheel running (VWR) and radon inhalation on antioxidant functions in various organs of mice. Mice were individually housed in cages equipped with running wheels, and allowed voluntary exercise for 5, 15, or 25 days, followed by radon inhalation at 2,000 Bq/m3 for 24???h. Antioxidant function was enhanced by the combined treatment in the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and stomach, with responses varying according to exercise duration. In contrast, antioxidant function was reduced in the lungs and heart. No clear interaction effects of the combined treatment were observed in the liver, small intestine, colon, and brain. These findings suggest that the combined effects of voluntary exercise and radon inhalation on antioxidant functions are organ-specific and can be categorized into distinct response patterns across tissues. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakenakaReiju en-aut-sei=Takenaka en-aut-mei=Reiju kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaAyumi en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyanagaShogo en-aut-sei=Miyanaga en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaoeShota en-aut-sei=Naoe en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotoShuna en-aut-sei=Goto en-aut-mei=Shuna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaganoMitsuki en-aut-sei=Nagano en-aut-mei=Mitsuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanoKotaro en-aut-sei=Tano en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanzakiNorie en-aut-sei=Kanzaki en-aut-mei=Norie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakodaAkihiro en-aut-sei=Sakoda en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaokaKiyonori en-aut-sei=Yamaoka en-aut-mei=Kiyonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KataokaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Kataoka en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=radon kn-keyword=radon en-keyword=voluntary wheel running kn-keyword=voluntary wheel running en-keyword=antioxidant function kn-keyword=antioxidant function en-keyword=oxidative stress kn-keyword=oxidative stress END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=137 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=103183 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Activation phosphorylation and dephosphorylation dynamics of Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Iα in HeLa cells en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Ca??/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaMKI), a multifunctional CaM-activated protein kinase, is involved in various Ca?? signaling pathways including neuronal development. Here, we characterize the phosphorylation at Thr177 (an activation Thr residue) and subsequent dephosphorylation dynamics of CaMKIα in HeLa cells upon physiological stimulation that elevates intracellular Ca??. ATP induced CaMKIα phosphorylation within 5?10 min; phosphorylation was then blocked by CaMKK inhibitor TIM-063, or by the depletion of extracellular Ca??. This was followed by gradual dephosphorylation to basal levels within 30?60 min. Histamine induced CaMKIα phosphorylation, peaking within 3?4 min; this process was abolished by treatment with either TIM-063 or intracellular Ca?? chelation using BAPTA-AM and thapsigargin; however, not by extracellular Ca?? depletion. CaMKIα was then rapidly dephosphorylated to basal levels within 10 min. Consistently, histamine-induced (but not ATP-induced) CaMKIα phosphorylation was absent in triple IP? receptor-knockout HeLa cells. Dephosphorylation of CaMKIα after ATP-induced phosphorylation was unaffected by okadaic acid or CaMK phosphatase (CaMKP, known as PPM1F) inhibitors (ANS and ANDS). We found that HeLa cell extracts contained Mg2+/Mn2+-dependent CaMKIα dephosphorylation activity that was insensitive to ANS and ANDS. Furthermore, co-expression of PP2Cα fully abolished ATP-, histamine-, or ionomycin-stimulated CaMKIα phosphorylation, which is consistent with in vitro dephosphorylation of CaMKIα at Thr177 by recombinant PP2Cα. Taken together, these results reveal that agonist-induced Ca?? influx from the extracellular space or release from intracellular stores transiently activates CaMKK-CaMKIα signaling in HeLa cells, which is shut off by dephosphorylation catalyzed by PP2Cα as a promising candidate for CaMKIα phosphatase. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ChenYerun en-aut-sei=Chen en-aut-mei=Yerun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MikiMasao en-aut-sei=Miki en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MagariMasaki en-aut-sei=Magari en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtsukaSatomi en-aut-sei=Ohtsuka en-aut-mei=Satomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=EtoMasumi en-aut-sei=Eto en-aut-mei=Masumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshidaAtsuhiko en-aut-sei=Ishida en-aut-mei=Atsuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuizuFutoshi en-aut-sei=Suizu en-aut-mei=Futoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizutaniAkihiro en-aut-sei=Mizutani en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=AndoHideaki en-aut-sei=Ando en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MikoshibaKatsuhiko en-aut-sei=Mikoshiba en-aut-mei=Katsuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokumitsuHiroshi en-aut-sei=Tokumitsu en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Applied Cell Biology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Applied Cell Biology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Applied Cell Biology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Applied Cell Biology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Okayama University of Science kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Laboratory of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Clinical Examination Department, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Showa Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology, RIKEN Center for Brain Science kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Applied Cell Biology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=CaMKIα kn-keyword=CaMKIα en-keyword=CaMKK kn-keyword=CaMKK en-keyword=PP2Cα kn-keyword=PP2Cα en-keyword=Phosphorylation kn-keyword=Phosphorylation en-keyword=Dephosphorylation kn-keyword=Dephosphorylation en-keyword=Ca2+-signaling kn-keyword=Ca2+-signaling END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=e0086926 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260901 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Combinations of long terminal repeat and tax protein substitutions influence bovine leukemia virus transmission through altered viral productivity en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection imposes a substantial economic burden on the global cattle industry. Although proviral load (PVL) in blood influences transmission, the effects of viral genetic variations, including the high viral production-associated long terminal repeat (LTR) substitution at nucleotide position 175 (LTR175), on herd-level dynamics remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of specific substitutions on the regulation of viral productivity and transmission. Longitudinal monitoring of a single farm (herd size: 50?68 cows; 438 samples collected) over a 7-year period revealed that viral strains carrying cytosine at LTR175 (LTR175C) significantly increased in frequency, becoming dominant over wild-type strains carrying thymidine. In contrast, amino acid substitutions in the Tax protein at positions 69 (Tax69) and 73 (Tax73) modified viral transactivation independent of LTR175. Structural modeling via AlphaFold2 predicted that Tax69 and Tax73 mutations alter protein properties, suggesting modulation of transactivation activity. Consistent with this prediction, in vitro assays confirmed that the substitutions modified viral production by regulating transactivation independent of LTR175. Moreover, high viral-productivity haplotypes containing LTR175C and Tax73Q (glutamine at amino acid residue 73) exhibited a transmission advantage within the herd, even when host PVL levels were not significantly elevated. These findings suggest that cellular-level viral productivity is one of the key determinants of transmission fitness. Overall, this study revealed a regulatory interaction between the LTR and Tax protein that optimizes viral spread and highlights the need for control strategies that account for viral genetic substitutions. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MurakamiHironobu en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Hironobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoReiichiro en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Reiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaJumpei en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SogawaKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Sogawa en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshidaHiroho en-aut-sei=Ishida en-aut-mei=Hiroho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaiMakoto en-aut-sei=Nagai en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=School of Life and EnvironmentaScience, Azabu University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University kn-affil= en-keyword=bovine leukemia virus kn-keyword=bovine leukemia virus en-keyword=substitution kn-keyword=substitution en-keyword=transmission kn-keyword=transmission en-keyword=haplotype kn-keyword=haplotype en-keyword=molecular clone kn-keyword=molecular clone en-keyword=proviral load kn-keyword=proviral load en-keyword=reverse genetics kn-keyword=reverse genetics END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=11 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=100639 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Interbacterial antagonism mediates plant growth modulation by rhizosphere synthetic communities in barley en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Microbial communities in plant roots are shaped by complex interbacterial interactions, yet how these interactions translate into plant fitness remains poorly understood. In this study, 127 bacterial isolates were obtained from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) roots of two cultivars grown in a non-fertilized field, representing 45 genera and 72 species. Screening identified isolates with growth-promoting, growth-reducing, and neutral phenotypes. Co-inoculation experiments using synthetic communities (SynComs) demonstrated that growth-promoting isolates effectively cancelled the inhibitory effects of growth-reducing isolates on barley seedling growth. Mechanistic investigation revealed that growth-promoting isolates Variovorax sp. 14F-2.1 and Pseudomonas sp. 37A kill growth-reducing isolates Flavobacterium sp. 2D-1 through direct cell-to-cell contact. Deletion of the Type VI secretion system (T6SS) gene tssA in Variovorax sp. 14F-2.1 substantially reduced this activity, implicating T6SS as a key antagonistic mechanism. Phytohormone profiling revealed that growth-promoting and neutral isolates, but not growth-reducing isolates, produce cytokinins, and only Variovorax sp. 14F-2.1 could degrade IAA, suggesting a potential hormonal basis for differential growth effects. A two-year field microbiome study showed that fertilization regimen and seasonal sampling times were dominant drivers of rhizosphere community composition, while bacterial inoculation had limited and inconsistent effects on microbial diversity and plant growth under field conditions. These results demonstrate that interbacterial antagonism is a key determinant of community-level plant growth outcomes and highlight the complexity of translating laboratory inoculant effects to field settings. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MahamudMd Asif en-aut-sei=Mahamud en-aut-mei=Md Asif kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=PichaikarnRungnapa en-aut-sei=Pichaikarn en-aut-mei=Rungnapa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=LatifMuhammad Ammar en-aut-sei=Latif en-aut-mei=Muhammad Ammar kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraTakakazu en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Takakazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriIzumi C en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Izumi C kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaishoDaisuke en-aut-sei=Saisho en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=UngcharoenwiwatPakpimol en-aut-sei=Ungcharoenwiwat en-aut-mei=Pakpimol kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniAkio en-aut-sei=Tani en-aut-mei=Akio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=School of Science, Walailak University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=School of Science, Walailak University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Barley kn-keyword=Barley en-keyword=Rhizosphere microbiome kn-keyword=Rhizosphere microbiome en-keyword=SynCom kn-keyword=SynCom en-keyword=Bacterial antagonism kn-keyword=Bacterial antagonism en-keyword=Type VI secretion system kn-keyword=Type VI secretion system en-keyword=Phytohormone kn-keyword=Phytohormone END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=67 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=107906 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202610 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Clinical characteristics and therapeutic dilemmas in nocardiosis: Insights from a case series en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: Nocardiosis often requires prolonged antimicrobial therapy, and trimethoprim?sulfamethoxazole (TMP?SMX) is considered the cornerstone of treatment. However, TMP?SMX?related adverse events frequently complicate long-term therapy, and real-world data regarding treatment continuity and outcomes remain limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients with Nocardia species isolated from clinical specimens at a tertiary-care academic hospital in Japan between January 2015 and April 2025. Clinical characteristics, antimicrobial therapy, adverse events, and outcomes were reviewed.
Results: Eleven cases were enrolled, with a median age of 65 years. The cohort comprised seven patients with severe nocardiosis (disseminated disease, brain abscess, and pneumonia in transplant recipients) and four patients with mild nocardiosis (cutaneous infection and pneumonia). Nine patients received TMP?SMX as part of the initial regimen, of whom seven required modification of therapy within 1 day to 3 months because of adverse events. Following modification of TMP?SMX, patients were treated with alternative regimens, including fluoroquinolone?and minocycline-based therapies, as well as β-lactam?containing combinations. Importantly, no cases of treatment failure or death were observed, and no relapses were identified during the available follow-up period, even among patients with those clinically complex diseases.
Conclusions: Although TMP?SMX is the first-line therapy for nocardiosis, the majority of our patients did not tolerate the drug. Nevertheless, favorable outcomes were observed with alternative regimens, even in patients with clinically complex disease, suggesting that alternative regimens may be reasonable options when TMP?SMX is not tolerated. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AkazawaHidemasa en-aut-sei=Akazawa en-aut-mei=Hidemasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukushimaShinnosuke en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Shinnosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyaharaTomoyuki en-aut-sei=Miyahara en-aut-mei=Tomoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujiShuma en-aut-sei=Tsuji en-aut-mei=Shuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotohKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Gotoh en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaSakura en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Sakura kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IioKoji en-aut-sei=Iio en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Microbiology Division, Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Microbiology Division, Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Nocardiosis kn-keyword=Nocardiosis en-keyword=Treatment kn-keyword=Treatment en-keyword=Trimethoprim?sulfamethoxazole kn-keyword=Trimethoprim?sulfamethoxazole en-keyword=Alternative therapy kn-keyword=Alternative therapy en-keyword=Dose modification kn-keyword=Dose modification END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=1867 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=149598 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202611 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Cryo-EM structure of photosystem II D1-V185T mutant from Thermosynechococcus vestitus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Photosystem II (PSII) catalyzes water oxidation into electrons, protons and dioxygen at its catalytic center, a Mn4CaO5 cluster, utilizing light energy. An amino acid residue D1-V185 in the D1 protein is located close to the Mn4CaO5 cluster, and plays a critical role in its catalytic function. In this research we purified PSII dimers from a D1-V185T mutant of Thermosynechococcus vestitus and analyzed its structure using low-damage cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at a resolution of 1.88 ?. The results revealed the presence of multi-conformations at the mutation site. Unlike the wild-type valine, which does not allow water molecules to be able to form hydrogen-bonds with it, both conformations of the mutant formed hydrogen bonds with nearby water molecules, which leads to rearrangement of the hydrogen bond networks in the O1 and Cl-1 channels. In conformation-A, the mutated Thr residue forms a hydrogen bond with a water molecule W6, which creates a new channel that bypasses the original O1 channel. Due to the hydrophilic OH group of Thr, the side-chain of D1-Glu189 was attracted and shifted toward the mutant Thr residue. In conformation-B, it forms a hydrogen bond with a water molecule W9 in the Cl-1 channel, bringing W9 closer and thereby disrupting the hydrogen bond network of the Cl-1 channel. In addition, multi-conformations of D2-K317, which is a ligand of Cl-1, were found in the mutant. These changes alter the environment surrounding the Cl-1 ion and Mn4CaO5, thereby affecting the PSII water-oxidation activity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=JiangHaowei en-aut-sei=Jiang en-aut-mei=Haowei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakajimaYoshiki en-aut-sei=Nakajima en-aut-mei=Yoshiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkitaFusamichi en-aut-sei=Akita en-aut-mei=Fusamichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=LiHongjie en-aut-sei=Li en-aut-mei=Hongjie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoKoji en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiuraMiwa en-aut-sei=Sugiura en-aut-mei=Miwa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShenJian-Ren en-aut-sei=Shen en-aut-mei=Jian-Ren kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Transformative Science, School of Life Science and Technology and Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, ShanghaiTech University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Proteo-Science Research Center, Ehime University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Advanced Research Field and Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Photosystem II kn-keyword=Photosystem II en-keyword=Oxygen-evolving complex kn-keyword=Oxygen-evolving complex en-keyword=Water-oxidation kn-keyword=Water-oxidation en-keyword=Structure kn-keyword=Structure en-keyword=Mutant kn-keyword=Mutant en-keyword=Cryo-EM kn-keyword=Cryo-EM en-keyword=Thermosynechococcus vestitus kn-keyword=Thermosynechococcus vestitus END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=22258 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260711 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Microstructural changes in irradiated teeth revealed by swept-source optical coherence tomography en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Radiation-induced caries is a late complication of radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Although direct irradiation-induced changes in tooth structure may contribute to its development, these changes have not been fully characterized. This study evaluated irradiation-associated microstructural alterations and tissue density changes in human teeth using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Eight extracted fully impacted human third molars were assigned to irradiated and non-irradiated groups (n?=?4 each). The irradiated group received X-rays at a total dose of 70 Gy, a clinically relevant dose in definitive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. A total of 64 SS-OCT cross-sectional images were obtained and analyzed, with 32 images from each group, including 16 from the coronal area on the occlusal side and 16 from the cervical area. Microcrack-like features were observed in 100% (16/16) of irradiated and 31.3% (5/16) of non-irradiated images in the coronal area on the occlusal side, and in 43.8% (7/16) and 0% (0/16) of images in the cervical area, respectively. Attenuation coefficients were significantly higher in irradiated enamel and dentin. These findings suggest that irradiation-induced microstructural changes in extracted human teeth in vitro may contribute to increased susceptibility to radiation-induced caries. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuzakiKumiko en-aut-sei=Matsuzaki en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuzakiHidenobu en-aut-sei=Matsuzaki en-aut-mei=Hidenobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TabataTomoko en-aut-sei=Tabata en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AoyamaHideki en-aut-sei=Aoyama en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshioKotaro en-aut-sei=Yoshio en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KosakiHirotaka en-aut-sei=Kosaki en-aut-mei=Hirotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OharaNaoko en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Naoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SadrAlireza en-aut-sei=Sadr en-aut-mei=Alireza kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SogaYoshihiko en-aut-sei=Soga en-aut-mei=Yoshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimadaYasushi en-aut-sei=Shimada en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Division of Hospital Dentistry, Central Clinical Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral Diagnosis and Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Cariology and Operative Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Central Division of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Hospital Dentistry, Central Clinical Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Biomimetics Biomaterials Biophotonics Biomechanics & Technology Laboratory, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Magnuson Health Sciences Center, University of Washington kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Division of Hospital Dentistry, Central Clinical Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Cariology and Operative Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= en-keyword=Radiation-induced caries kn-keyword=Radiation-induced caries en-keyword=Dental enamel kn-keyword=Dental enamel en-keyword=Dentin kn-keyword=Dentin en-keyword=Radiation effects kn-keyword=Radiation effects en-keyword=Swept-source optical coherence tomography kn-keyword=Swept-source optical coherence tomography END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=138 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=58 end-page=61 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260803 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=A case of autoamputated primary uterine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with Pola-R-CHP therapy and CNS recurrence prophylaxis kn-title=自然脱落した子宮原発 DLBCL に対して Pola-R-CHP 療法と CNS 再発予防を行った１例 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=　A 55-year-old woman presented to her local physician with the chief complaint of genital bleeding. A 22×19-mm mass was noted on the patient's cervix, and during the internal examination the mass auto-amputated. The pathological examination of the auto-amputated mass revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). An examination by F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) showed FDG uptake at physiological levels in the cervix, with no abnormal uptake in other organs. Cervical tissue was sampled after the spontaneous detachment of the cervical mass, and the biopsy of the cervical mass did not reveal findings suggestive of lymphoma. Six courses of chemotherapy with polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone (Pola-R-CHP) plus an intramedually injection of methotrexate, cytarabine, and predonisolone (IT-triple), followed by two courses of high-dose intrathecal methotrexate (HD-MTX) were adiministered, and the patient has remained recurrence-free for the more than 8 months since the completion of this treatment. Primary uterine DLBCL is an extremely rare disease with a high rate of recurrence in the central nervous system and a poor prognosis. Our search of the relevant literature identified very few reports describing the prognoses of cases with spontaneous tumor detachment. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OsadaHikaru en-aut-sei=Osada en-aut-mei=Hikaru kn-aut-name=長田晃 kn-aut-sei=長田 kn-aut-mei=晃 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraMaiko en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Maiko kn-aut-name=木村真衣子 kn-aut-sei=木村 kn-aut-mei=真衣子 aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MuneishiManaka en-aut-sei=Muneishi en-aut-mei=Manaka kn-aut-name=宗石愛花 kn-aut-sei=宗石 kn-aut-mei=愛花 aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurayamaKozo en-aut-sei=Murayama en-aut-mei=Kozo kn-aut-name=村山晃三 kn-aut-sei=村山 kn-aut-mei=晃三 aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NiiyaDaigo en-aut-sei=Niiya en-aut-mei=Daigo kn-aut-name=新谷大悟 kn-aut-sei=新谷 kn-aut-mei=大悟 aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiMakoto en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name=竹内誠 kn-aut-sei=竹内 kn-aut-mei=誠 aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name=藤井総一郎 kn-aut-sei=藤井 kn-aut-mei=総一郎 aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil=岡山赤十字病院　血液内科 affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil=岡山赤十字病院　血液内科 affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil=岡山赤十字病院　血液内科 affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil=岡山赤十字病院　血液内科 affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil=岡山赤十字病院　血液内科 affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil=岡山赤十字病院　血液内科 affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil=岡山赤十字病院　血液内科 en-keyword=びまん性大細胞型Ｂ細胞リンパ腫 (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) kn-keyword=びまん性大細胞型Ｂ細胞リンパ腫 (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) en-keyword=子宮原発リンパ腫 (primary uterine lymphoma) kn-keyword=子宮原発リンパ腫 (primary uterine lymphoma) en-keyword=Pola-R-CHP療法 (Pola-R-CHP regimen) kn-keyword=Pola-R-CHP療法 (Pola-R-CHP regimen) en-keyword=HD-MTX療法 (HD-MTX regimen) kn-keyword=HD-MTX療法 (HD-MTX regimen) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=270 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=157237 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Synergistic effects of gas-to-liquid pilot ignition and high rates of nitrogen-based simulated EGR on PREMIER combustion in dual-fuel hydrogen engines en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Hydrogen-fueled compression-ignition engines offer a pathway to decarbonize heavy-duty propulsion but face a trade-off between thermal efficiency, NOx emissions, and narrow knock-free windows. Although EGR dilution and pilot-fuel reactivity control have each been studied independently, their combined effect on hydrogen PREMIER (PREmixed Mixture Ignition in the End-gas Region) combustion has not been systematically characterized. This study addresses that gap by comparing diesel and high-cetane Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) pilot fuels in a supercharged hydrogen dual-fuel engine, while varying nitrogen addition to isolate the inert dilution effect of simulated EGR (0?50%). GTL's superior ignitability shortened ignition delay and enhanced combustion stability versus diesel. Increasing inert EGR (nitrogen) dilution suppressed NOx by over 90% (360 to 30?ppm) via reduced peak temperatures, while sustaining knock-free PREMIER combustion and achieving a peak indicated thermal efficiency of 43.55% at ?0.80?MPa IMEP. Coupling pilot-fuel reactivity control with EGR dilution enables safe, clean, high-efficiency hydrogen dual-fuel. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MustafiNirendra Nath en-aut-sei=Mustafi en-aut-mei=Nirendra Nath kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaharaNobuyuki en-aut-sei=Kawahara en-aut-mei=Nobuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobashiYoshimitsu en-aut-sei=Kobashi en-aut-mei=Yoshimitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Dual-fuel hydrogen engine kn-keyword=Dual-fuel hydrogen engine en-keyword=PREMIER combustion kn-keyword=PREMIER combustion en-keyword=Gas-to-Liquid kn-keyword=Gas-to-Liquid en-keyword=Exhaust gas recirculation kn-keyword=Exhaust gas recirculation en-keyword=NOx suppression kn-keyword=NOx suppression en-keyword=End-gas auto-ignition kn-keyword=End-gas auto-ignition END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=31 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=979 end-page=988 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260416 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Efficacy of bepotastine compared with hydroxyzine in preventing rituximab-induced infusion-related reactions in non-hodgkin lymphoma patients: a phase II, double-blind, multicenter, and randomized trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background This study evaluated the efficacy of hydroxyzine and bepotastine, first- and second-generation H1 receptor antagonists (H1RA), as pretreatments to prevent infusion-related reactions (IRRs) during the initial rituximab infusion in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Methods In this double-blind, multicenter, randomized phase II study, 40 patients received hydroxyzine or bepotastine with acetaminophen 30 min before rituximab infusion. Primary endpoint was incidence of???grade 2 IRRs based on the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Secondary endpoints included IRRs severity, time to IRR onset, and H1RA-induced drowsiness.
Results Incidence of???grade 2 IRRs was 52.4% and 31.6% for the hydroxyzine (n?=?21) and bepotastine (n?=?19) groups, respectively (P?=?0.184). Distribution of initial and maximum IRR grades in the two groups was not statistically significant (P?=?0.846 and 0.555). Median time (range) to IRR onset in the two groups was 67 (12?112) and 62 (10?119) min, respectively (P?=?0.981). Median visual analog scale score (range and 75th percentile) for drowsiness was 37 (0?100, 46) and 12 (0?100, 29) mm in the two groups, respectively (P?=?0.138). Incidence of???grade 2 IRRs in the absence of bone marrow infiltration was 43.8% and 14.3% in the two groups, respectively (P?=?0.118), and no group differences were observed with bone marrow infiltration.
Conclusions Bepotastine did not show significant superiority over hydroxyzine in preventing rituximab-induced IRRs due to the small sample size. Nevertheless, this exploratory study provides insight for further confirmatory studies.
Trial registration number and date of registration jRCTs051220169; February 14, 2023. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KitahiroYumi en-aut-sei=Kitahiro en-aut-mei=Yumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinamiHironobu en-aut-sei=Minami en-aut-mei=Hironobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YakushijinKimikazu en-aut-sei=Yakushijin en-aut-mei=Kimikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurataKeiji en-aut-sei=Kurata en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakaiRina en-aut-sei=Sakai en-aut-mei=Rina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaekiMiki en-aut-sei=Saeki en-aut-mei=Miki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=Okazoe-HirakawaYuri en-aut-sei=Okazoe-Hirakawa en-aut-mei=Yuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IidaKotaro en-aut-sei=Iida en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MuraseNatsuko en-aut-sei=Murase en-aut-mei=Natsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HarimaIsamu en-aut-sei=Harima en-aut-mei=Isamu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamuraNaoko en-aut-sei=Kitamura en-aut-mei=Naoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoharaKotaro en-aut-sei=Itohara en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmuraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Omura en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoTakeshi en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakakuraHidetomo en-aut-sei=Takakura en-aut-mei=Hidetomo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitaoAkihito en-aut-sei=Kitao en-aut-mei=Akihito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiMasako en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Masako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimoyamaManabu en-aut-sei=Shimoyama en-aut-mei=Manabu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkunoMamoru en-aut-sei=Okuno en-aut-mei=Mamoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanoIkuko en-aut-sei=Yano en-aut-mei=Ikuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Integrated Clinical and Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, Kobe University Hospital and Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kita-Harima Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kita-Harima Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kita-Harima Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kita-Harima Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kohnan Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kohnan Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Rituximab kn-keyword=Rituximab en-keyword=Infusion-related reactions kn-keyword=Infusion-related reactions en-keyword=Non-Hodgkin lymphoma kn-keyword=Non-Hodgkin lymphoma en-keyword=Bepotastine kn-keyword=Bepotastine en-keyword=Hydroxyzine kn-keyword=Hydroxyzine en-keyword=Drowsiness kn-keyword=Drowsiness END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=15 article-no= start-page=2302 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260724 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The Impact of Cold Storage and Seasonality on Raw Cow Milk Microbiota, Assessed by Conventional and Viability PCR en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The microbiota of healthy Holstein cow’s milk was analyzed to evaluate the effects of immediate (freezing at the farm: on-site workflow) and delayed processing (freezing after cool transport: laboratory workflow) and to investigate seasonal changes in September, November, and January. Propidium monoazide (PMA) was also used to distinguish between viable and non-viable cells. Microbiota composition differed between the laboratory and the on-site workflow. After cool transport, the abundances of Lactobacillus and Turicibacter increased, while those of Streptococcus, Bradyrhizobium, and Acinetobacter decreased. Based on the β-diversity assessment, the difference between viable and non-viable cells was marginal compared with the difference between on-site and laboratory workflows. In the subsequent on-site workflow experiment, seasonal variation was clearly demonstrated. The relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Turicibacter, and Bacillus were high in September; Staphylococcus, Phenylobacterium, and Bradyrhizobium in November; and Phyllobacterium in January. The seasonal effect was greater than the PMA treatment effect. Despite the study’s limitations, such as a limited number of milk samples and data from only one farm with a single management system, our findings indicate that storage and transport at low temperatures could lead to inaccurate assessments, particularly of opportunistic environmental microbiota. Viability PCR could help improve our understanding of the factors involved but would not substantially alter the raw milk microbiota. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TranPhong Dinh en-aut-sei=Tran en-aut-mei=Phong Dinh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsurutaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Tsuruta en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishinoNaoki en-aut-sei=Nishino en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=cow milk kn-keyword=cow milk en-keyword=cold storage kn-keyword=cold storage en-keyword=microbiota kn-keyword=microbiota en-keyword=seasonal variation kn-keyword=seasonal variation en-keyword=viability kn-keyword=viability END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=29 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=116256 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Posterior shift of Shh-Fgf signaling in axolotl limb regeneration drives sequential digit formation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Do conserved morphogen modules generate a given form only via a single spatiotemporal deployment, or can alternative deployments yield the same morphology? Axolotl limb regeneration provides a tractable test bed. SHH and FGF8, universally used in limb formation across vertebrates, also operate in axolotl, although the spatial domain of Fgf8 differs markedly from that in amniotes. A mutual Shh/Fgf feedback loop is likewise conserved. Here, we show that, in axolotl, the active domain of this loop shifts progressively posterior as digit formation proceeds. In step with this anterior-to-posterior displacement, digit-forming regions are sequentially induced posteriorly, explaining the axolotl’s reversed order relative to the amniote posterior-to-anterior sequence. These findings indicate that conserved molecular toolkits can overcome differences in spatial deployment to produce equivalent final limb architectures, demonstrating that there is not a single route to a target morphology. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FurukawaSaya en-aut-sei=Furukawa en-aut-mei=Saya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoSakiya en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Sakiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakayamaHaruki en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Haruki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiAyaka en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Ayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatohAkira en-aut-sei=Satoh en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Molecular biology kn-keyword=Molecular biology en-keyword=Evolutionary biology kn-keyword=Evolutionary biology en-keyword=Developmental biology kn-keyword=Developmental biology END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=29 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=117125 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202608 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Brain circadian clock neurons drive fitness advantages in Drosophila en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The adaptive significance of circadian clocks is widely assumed due to their ubiquity; yet, direct empirical evidence remains scarce. Evaluating these benefits is often confounded by pleiotropic effects in conventional circadian null mutants. To address this, we selectively altered the circadian period exclusively within brain clock neurons in Drosophila melanogaster. Multi-generational competition assays revealed that flies with aberrant rhythms exhibit a significant fitness disadvantage under standard light-dark (LD 12:12) cycles. This disadvantage was abolished under constant light, confirming that the selection pressure is specifically mediated by the circadian clock. Furthermore, paternity assays conducted under LD 12:12 indicated that the timing of brain clock neurons influences male reproductive success, providing a potential mechanistic link between clock-controlled behavior and fitness. Intriguingly, we found that these fitness costs are highly photoperiod-dependent. Under short-day conditions (LD 8:16), the short-period strain (dbtS) maintained a significantly higher overall frequency than the long-period strain (dbtL). Our behavioral observations suggest that this difference may be associated with the quality of activity rhythms; specifically, dbtS lacked defined morning peaks and showed suppressed nocturnal activity, potentially narrowing its window for reproductive interactions compared to dbtL. These findings illustrate that the circadian system does not merely track a 24-h cycle but functions as a flexible feature that enables flies to cope with changing day lengths by aligning their mating behavior with the most favorable time of day. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AikawaSae en-aut-sei=Aikawa en-aut-mei=Sae kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TamuraShoichiro en-aut-sei=Tamura en-aut-mei=Shoichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MimuraMakiko en-aut-sei=Mimura en-aut-mei=Makiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiiTaishi en-aut-sei=Yoshii en-aut-mei=Taishi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=activity rhythms kn-keyword=activity rhythms en-keyword=clock neurons kn-keyword=clock neurons en-keyword=Drosophila kn-keyword=Drosophila en-keyword=adaptive advantage kn-keyword=adaptive advantage en-keyword=reproductive success kn-keyword=reproductive success en-keyword=resonance hypothesis kn-keyword=resonance hypothesis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260819 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Micro-segregation of Primary Si in ADC14 (Al?17Si?4Cu) Alloy Produced by Unidirectional Continuous Casting en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=An upgrading approach for hypereutectic Al?Si alloys was investigated through controlled segregation of Si using a unidirectional casting process. The precipitation behavior and spatial distribution of primary Si in the hypereutectic ADC14 (Al?17Si?4Cu) alloy were systematically examined at different casting speeds (0.06, 1.9, and 10 mm/s). Microstructural observations revealed that high casting speed suppresses primary Si formation due to rapid solidification, whereas intermediate speed leads to a relatively uniform distribution of primary Si. In contrast, low casting speed combined with a holding period for 2 min promotes pronounced segregation and coarsening of primary Si in localized regions. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed significant fluctuations in Si concentration along the casting direction, particularly after process interruption. Based on these results, a preliminary upgrading process was proposed, involving the selective removal of Si-enriched regions followed by remelting. This approach resulted in a reduction of Si content to approximately 13.9 wt.%, corresponding to a decrease of about 3%. The results demonstrate that controlling solidification behavior to induce phase separation provides a promising and energy-efficient strategy for upgrading recycled Al?Si alloys. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakeuchiShuhei en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagawaShota en-aut-sei=Nakagawa en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinzatoYoshifumi en-aut-sei=Shinzato en-aut-mei=Yoshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MinodaTadashi en-aut-sei=Minoda en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtsukaNaotaka en-aut-sei=Ohtsuka en-aut-mei=Naotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkayasuMitsuhiro en-aut-sei=Okayasu en-aut-mei=Mitsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=UACJ Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=upgrading technique kn-keyword=upgrading technique en-keyword=Al?Si alloy kn-keyword=Al?Si alloy en-keyword=primary Si kn-keyword=primary Si en-keyword=segregation kn-keyword=segregation en-keyword=unidirectional solidification kn-keyword=unidirectional solidification END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=127 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e71081 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202608 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=AHG1?AFP interaction as a regulatory node in the ABA response during seed germination en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Seed dormancy and germination are tightly regulated by complex signaling networks that integrate internal and external cues, including the endogenous phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). ABA HYPERSENSITIVE GERMINATION 1 (AHG1), a group A type 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C), is thought to modulate the activity of transcription factors such as ABA INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5) in seeds and during germination. AHG1 is regulated by DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 (DOG1), a key regulator of seed dormancy, through physical interaction. We previously reported that AHG1 also interacts with ABI FIVE BINDING PROTEIN 2 (AFP2), a member of the AFP family; however, the molecular basis of AHG1?AFP coordination has remained unclear. In this study, we show that AHG1 interacts with all AFP family members and that AFP3 binds AHG1 and ABI5 through adjacent but distinct amino acid residues within its C-domain, allowing simultaneous association with both proteins. In addition, AHG1 modulates the phosphorylation status of AFP3 at Ser60 in a DOG1-dependent manner, suggesting that DOG1?AHG1 regulates AFP3 post-translationally. Transcriptomic analyses of AHG1- or AFP3-overexpressing lines revealed that these factors are associated with the regulation of a shared set of ABA-responsive genes, including AFPs, and that AFP3 overexpression is predominantly associated with altered expression of genes involved in transcriptional regulation. Large-scale protein interaction analyses showed that AFPs interact with multiple classes of transcription factors, suggesting their involvement in diverse regulatory pathways, including ABA signaling. Together, these findings demonstrate that DOG1 regulates ABI5 function and modulates ABA responses, at least in part, by controlling AHG1-mediated dephosphorylation of AFPs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NishimuraNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UshiyamaSho en-aut-sei=Ushiyama en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtagiriMasato en-aut-sei=Otagiri en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatohKouji en-aut-sei=Satoh en-aut-mei=Kouji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiNahomi en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Nahomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IrisaTomoko en-aut-sei=Irisa en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsudaNobutaka en-aut-sei=Mitsuda en-aut-mei=Nobutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmezawaTaishi en-aut-sei=Umezawa en-aut-mei=Taishi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraHideki en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NemotoKeiichirou en-aut-sei=Nemoto en-aut-mei=Keiichirou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsuchiyaWataru en-aut-sei=Tsuchiya en-aut-mei=Wataru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanoRyoichi en-aut-sei=Yano en-aut-mei=Ryoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=SawasakiTatsuya en-aut-sei=Sawasaki en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamazakiToshimasa en-aut-sei=Yamazaki en-aut-mei=Toshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirayamaTakashi en-aut-sei=Hirayama en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Biomanufacturing Process Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Graduate School of Advanced Interdisciplinary Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Proteo-Science Center, PIAS, Ehime University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Research Center for Advanced Analysis, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Research Center for Advanced Analysis, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Proteo-Science Center, PIAS, Ehime University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Research Center for Advanced Analysis National Agriculture and Food Research Organization Tsukuba Ibaraki 305‐8518 Japan kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Research Center for Advanced Analysis, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= en-keyword=ABA kn-keyword=ABA en-keyword=AHG1 kn-keyword=AHG1 en-keyword=AFP kn-keyword=AFP en-keyword=ABI5 kn-keyword=ABI5 en-keyword=DOG1 kn-keyword=DOG1 en-keyword=seed dormancy kn-keyword=seed dormancy en-keyword=seed germination kn-keyword=seed germination en-keyword=Arabidopsis thaliana kn-keyword=Arabidopsis thaliana END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=384 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=114996 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Alternative transcription of the mouse Gh gene identifies an immune-associated transcript with species-specific structural divergence en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Growth hormone (GH) in mice is primarily expressed in the anterior pituitary, although Gh expression has been reported in extrapituitary tissues, including immune organs. However, the structure of immune-associated Gh transcripts remains poorly characterized. To determine whether splenic Gh transcripts differ from pituitary Gh mRNA, 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) analyses were performed. While 3′ RACE showed a shared polyadenylation site, 5′ RACE identified a novel exon located approximately 2 kb upstream of the conventional exon 1, generating a transcript (spl-Gh mRNA) with a distinct first exon but shared downstream exons with pituitary Gh mRNA (pit-Gh mRNA). RT-PCR analysis revealed that spl-Gh mRNA is predominantly expressed in immune tissues such as spleen and bone marrow, and its distribution did not correlate with Pit-1 mRNA expression. Quantitative RT-PCR further demonstrated that spl-Gh mRNA was expressed at levels comparable to those of pit-Gh mRNA in the mouse spleen, indicating that spl-Gh is one of the major Gh transcript forms in this tissue. Sequence analysis indicated that spl-Gh mRNA is predicted to retain coding potential for a GH protein. Comparative genomic analyses further demonstrated that genomic features associated with the spl-Gh transcriptional unit are conserved only in a subset of closely related Mus species. In contrast, although a spl-Gh?related transcript was detected in rat spleen, no properly spliced mouse-like transcript was identified under the present experimental conditions. The detected transcript exhibited intron retention and an in-frame stop codon, suggesting that it is unlikely to produce a functional GH protein. These findings identify a distinct immune-associated Gh transcript generated through alternative transcription of the mouse Gh gene and suggest that immune-associated Gh transcriptional mechanisms have undergone species-specific divergence among rodents. Together, these findings reveal previously unrecognized complexity in Gh gene regulation and highlight species-specific differences in immune-associated Gh transcripts. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FukushimaAi en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Ai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiYu en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukuchiHibiki en-aut-sei=Fukuchi en-aut-mei=Hibiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=EgoshiSakura en-aut-sei=Egoshi en-aut-mei=Sakura kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoHirotaka en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Hirotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AizawaSayaka en-aut-sei=Aizawa en-aut-mei=Sayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiSakae en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Sakae kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Growth hormone kn-keyword=Growth hormone en-keyword=Alternative transcription kn-keyword=Alternative transcription en-keyword=Immune-associated transcript kn-keyword=Immune-associated transcript en-keyword=Extrapituitary expression kn-keyword=Extrapituitary expression en-keyword=Species-specific divergence kn-keyword=Species-specific divergence en-keyword=Mouse kn-keyword=Mouse END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=13 article-no= start-page=4866 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260623 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Changing Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Burden in North Africa and the Middle East, 1990?2023: A Joinpoint Analysis of GBD 2023 Data en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden decreased in the North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region between 1990 and 2019. This study used Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data to examine whether trends in mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), incidence, and prevalence continued through 2023 across all 21 NAME countries. Methods: We analysed age-standardised CVD mortality, incidence, prevalence, and DALY rates from 1990 to 2023. Joinpoint regression identified changes in temporal trends and calculated the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Age-standardised CVD mortality decreased from 579.6 per 100,000 in 1990 to 358.2 in 2023 (AAPC: ?1.42%; 95% CI: ?1.48 to ?1.35). However, no significant reduction occurred between 2019 and 2023 (APC: ?0.33%; 95% CI: ?1.37 to 1.75). DALY, incidence, and prevalence rates followed similar patterns, with no significant decline in the final years of this study. Egypt was the only country with a long-term increase in CVD mortality, which accelerated after 2020 (APC: +5.20%; 95% CI: 1.20 to 12.87). High systolic blood pressure, dietary risks, lead exposure, and air pollution were the leading modifiable risk factors. Conclusions: The earlier decline in CVD burden in the NAME region did not clearly continue after 2019. The region is currently off track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 by 2030. Future progress may depend on improved blood pressure control, lipid management, dietary habits, and environmental risk reduction. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OuddoudHanane en-aut-sei=Ouddoud en-aut-mei=Hanane kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=LescanoJudah Israel Ong en-aut-sei=Lescano en-aut-mei=Judah Israel Ong kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=BelangoyKeith Pardillada en-aut-sei=Belangoy en-aut-mei=Keith Pardillada kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraYoshito en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaradaKo en-aut-sei=Harada en-aut-mei=Ko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=VuQuynh Thi en-aut-sei=Vu en-aut-mei=Quynh Thi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataNaohiro en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Naohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakedaTatsuaki en-aut-sei=Takeda en-aut-mei=Tatsuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZamamiYoshito en-aut-sei=Zamami en-aut-mei=Yoshito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoyamaToshihiro en-aut-sei=Koyama en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Education and Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Health Data Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=cardiovascular diseases kn-keyword=cardiovascular diseases en-keyword=global burden of disease kn-keyword=global burden of disease en-keyword=North Africa and Middle East kn-keyword=North Africa and Middle East en-keyword=risk factors kn-keyword=risk factors en-keyword=joinpoint regression kn-keyword=joinpoint regression END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=43 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=1302 end-page=1313 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250410 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Trastuzumab-Pertuzumab Plus Eribulin or Taxane as First-Line Chemotherapy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2?Positive Locally Advanced/Metastatic Breast Cancer: The Randomized Noninferiority Phase III EMERALD Trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose Trastuzumab-pertuzumab (HP) plus taxane is a current standard first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)+ breast cancer (BC). We investigated noninferiority of eribulin to a taxane when combined with dual HER2 blockade as first-line systemic treatment for locally advanced/metastatic HER2+ BC.
Methods In the phase III EMERALD trial (target sample size, 480; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03264547/UMIN000027938), patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive eribulin 1.4 mg/m2 once daily on days 1 and 8 (eribulin group) or a taxane (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 once on day 1 or paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 once daily on days 1, 8, and 15; taxane group) intravenously in a 21-day cycle, each with HP on day 1. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS; intention-to-treat population). Secondary end points included objective response rate, overall survival (OS), patient-reported quality of life (QoL), and safety. Noninferiority was tested using the stratified Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for PFS events, with a noninferiority HR margin of 1.33.
Results Between August 2017 and June 2021, 446 patients (median age, 56.0 years) were enrolled. The median PFS was 14.0 and 12.9 months in the eribulin group (n = 224) and taxane group (n = 222 [docetaxel/paclitaxel, n = 186/36]), respectively (HR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.76 to 1.19]), which confirmed the noninferiority of the study regimen. The median OS was 65.3 months in the taxane group but has not been reached in the eribulin group. Median time to QoL deterioration was numerically longer with eribulin than with taxane. Adverse event (AE) rates were similar, despite the longer duration of eribulin use. Infusion reaction, skin-related AEs, diarrhea, and edema were more common with taxane, whereas neutropenia was more common with eribulin.
Conclusion The results suggested that eribulin + HP is an option for first-line treatment of locally advanced/metastatic HER2+ BC. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamashitaToshinari en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Toshinari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SajiShigehira en-aut-sei=Saji en-aut-mei=Shigehira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakanoToshimi en-aut-sei=Takano en-aut-mei=Toshimi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaitoYoichi en-aut-sei=Naito en-aut-mei=Yoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsuneizumiMichiko en-aut-sei=Tsuneizumi en-aut-mei=Michiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshimuraAkiyo en-aut-sei=Yoshimura en-aut-mei=Akiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiMasato en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsurutaniJunji en-aut-sei=Tsurutani en-aut-mei=Junji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataniTsuguo en-aut-sei=Iwatani en-aut-mei=Tsuguo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitadaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Kitada en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TadaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Tada en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriNatsuko en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Natsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiguchiToru en-aut-sei=Higuchi en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasaTsutomu en-aut-sei=Iwasa en-aut-mei=Tsutomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakiKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoizumiKei en-aut-sei=Koizumi en-aut-mei=Kei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaHiroki en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaYohei en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasudaNorikazu en-aut-sei=Masuda en-aut-mei=Norikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Fukushima Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Internal Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital East kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery, Shizuoka General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Breast Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery, Hokkaido University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Advanced Cancer Translational Research Institute, Showa University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Breast Disease Center, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Tohoku University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Breast Unit, Japanese Red Cross Saitama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Surgery 1, Division of Breast Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Medical HQs, Eisai Co, Ltd kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Medical HQs, Eisai Co, Ltd kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Biomedical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=30 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e70025 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202505 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Polished Rice Regulates Maturation but Not Survival of Secondary Cells in Drosophila Male Accessory Gland en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In Drosophila males, the accessory gland is responsive to nutrient signal-dependent regulation of fertility/fecundity. The accessory gland is composed of two types of binucleated epithelial cells, about 1000 main cells and 60 secondary cells (SCs). The transcription factors Defective proventriculus (Dve), Abdominal-B, and Ecdysone receptors (EcRs) are strongly expressed in adult SCs. In response to nutrient conditions during development, coordinated action between Dve and ecdysone signaling determines the optimal number of SCs and regulates their maturation. A downstream effector of ecdysone signaling, Ftz-F1, is crucial in this process. Another downstream effector, Polished rice (Pri), is small peptides of 11 or 32 amino acids. Here we show that pri is required for maturation of SCs and for male fecundity, whereas it is not involved in determination of the number of SCs. We provide evidence that Pri acts downstream of Ftz-F1 to regulate maturation but not survival of SCs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OtsuneShinichi en-aut-sei=Otsune en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukaMirai en-aut-sei=Matsuka en-aut-mei=Mirai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShirakashiChisato en-aut-sei=Shirakashi en-aut-mei=Chisato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZhangXuanshuo en-aut-sei=Zhang en-aut-mei=Xuanshuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagoshiHideki en-aut-sei=Nakagoshi en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Drosophila kn-keyword=Drosophila en-keyword=ecdysone kn-keyword=ecdysone en-keyword=fecundity kn-keyword=fecundity en-keyword=fertility kn-keyword=fertility en-keyword=nutrition kn-keyword=nutrition en-keyword=steroid kn-keyword=steroid END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260625 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Identification of Critical Amino Acid Residues Required for the Polar Localization of a Rice Manganese Transporter en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Rice has developed an efficient system for manganese (Mn) uptake, mediated by two distinct transporters, OsNramp5 and OsMTP9. These transporters exhibit polar localization at the root exodermis and endodermis; however, the mechanisms underlying their polar localization and their role in Mn uptake remain unclear. Here, we identified key amino acid residues critical for the polar localization of OsNramp5 at the distal side. Through analysis of chimeric proteins between OsNramp5 and its non-polar homologues, we found that the C-terminal cytosolic region of OsNramp5 is essential for its polar localization. Site-directed mutagenesis further revealed that aspartate 500 and four valine residues at positions 494, 495, 498 and 506 are crucial for polarity. Substitution of these valine residues with isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, or threonine partially or fully maintained polar localization, whereas substitution with alanine, serine, or asparagine resulted in loss of polarity. These findings suggest that β-branching and high hydrophobicity of amino acid side chains are likely required for OsNramp5 polarity. Furthermore, we found that adaptor protein 2-dependent clathrin-mediated endocytosis is not involved in the polar localization of OsNramp5. Finally, we provided experimental evidence showing the significant role of OsNramp5 polarity in efficient Mn uptake in rice; plants expressing non-polarly localized OsNramp5 exhibited reduced Mn uptake compared to those with polarly localized OsNramp5. In addition, we found that cadmium accumulation in shoots could be reduced by manipulating OsNramp5 polarity in combination with its overexpression, without a growth penalty. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KonishiNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Konishi en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaJian Feng en-aut-sei=Ma en-aut-mei=Jian Feng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=amino acid residue kn-keyword=amino acid residue en-keyword=clathrin-mediated endocytosis kn-keyword=clathrin-mediated endocytosis en-keyword=Mn kn-keyword=Mn en-keyword=OsNramp5 kn-keyword=OsNramp5 en-keyword=polar localization kn-keyword=polar localization en-keyword=rice kn-keyword=rice en-keyword=root kn-keyword=root en-keyword=transporter kn-keyword=transporter END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=36 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=97 end-page=112 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250725 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Vaccination in paediatric, adolescent, and transitional-age rheumatic diseases: a systematic review en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of vaccination in patients with paediatric, adolescent, and transitional-age rheumatic diseases as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement.
Methods: An independent investigator systematically searched PubMed to identify relevant studies published by September 2022. The search results were divided into vaccines or toxoids for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcus, influenza virus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus, poliovirus, measles virus, mumps virus, rubella virus, varicella zoster virus, and tuberculosis.
Results: A meta-analysis was not feasible due to the lack of randomized controlled trials with standardized patient backgrounds and conditions. Non-live vaccines are generally immunogenic and safe for patients with rheumatic diseases. In contrast, live attenuated vaccines should usually be withheld in patients on immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, biologics, or Janus kinase inhibitors. However, for necessary immunizations against measles, rubella, mumps, or varicella, live attenuated vaccines may be considered for patients receiving low-dose corticosteroids, methotrexate, or tumour necrosis factor inhibitors.
Conclusions This review highlights the significant gap in evidence for paediatric populations compared with adults, particularly concerning new biological therapies and Janus kinase inhibitors. Further evidence is needed regarding vaccination in paediatric patients with rheumatic diseases. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OhnishiTakuma en-aut-sei=Ohnishi en-aut-mei=Takuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=WakiguchiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Wakiguchi en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshimoriShingo en-aut-sei=Ishimori en-aut-mei=Shingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItohNaohiro en-aut-sei=Itoh en-aut-mei=Naohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YashiroMasato en-aut-sei=Yashiro en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamazakiSusumu en-aut-sei=Yamazaki en-aut-mei=Susumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkafujiIkuo en-aut-sei=Okafuji en-aut-mei=Ikuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtomoYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Ohtomo en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiIchiro en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of General Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Oita University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, University of Fukui kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Nerima Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Center for Pediatric Allergy and Rheumatology, KKR Sapporo Medical Center kn-affil= en-keyword=Bacille Calmette?Gu?rin kn-keyword=Bacille Calmette?Gu?rin en-keyword=diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine kn-keyword=diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine en-keyword=hepatitis A virus vaccine kn-keyword=hepatitis A virus vaccine en-keyword=hepatitis B virus vaccine kn-keyword=hepatitis B virus vaccine en-keyword=human papillomavirus vaccine kn-keyword=human papillomavirus vaccine en-keyword=inactivated polio vaccine kn-keyword=inactivated polio vaccine en-keyword=influenza vaccine kn-keyword=influenza vaccine en-keyword=measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine kn-keyword=measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine en-keyword=pneumococcal vaccine kn-keyword=pneumococcal vaccine en-keyword=varicella zoster virus vaccine kn-keyword=varicella zoster virus vaccine END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=131 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=e2025JB033593 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202608 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effect of Fluorine on the Stability of Dense Hydrous Mg Silicates With Implications for the Deep Water Cycle en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Water is believed to be transported, at least locally, into the Earth's deep mantle via hydrous minerals. Fluorine not only tends to interact with water but also influences the stability of hydrous minerals. Thus, knowledge of its stability could be important in understanding the deep-water cycle. In this study, we conducted high-pressure experiments to investigate the stability of dense hydrous Mg silicates in the presence of fluorine at pressures ranging from 9 to 23 GPa. In the presence of even small amounts of fluorine, clinohumite or phase E survives up to approximately 17 GPa, allowing it to exist without dehydration at temperatures by about 200°C higher than a fluorine-free system. At pressures above 18 GPa, superhydrous phase B stabilizes as a major fluorine host. Fluorine partitions very little into phase D, leaving its stability field unchanged, but the stability field of superhydrous phase B extends to temperatures above 1400°C, thereby enabling the hydrous phase in the dragged wedge mantle just above the slab to have transport potential into the lower mantle. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshinoTakashi en-aut-sei=Yoshino en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiaoYunfan en-aut-sei=Miao en-aut-mei=Yunfan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SajiSatheesh T. en-aut-sei=Saji en-aut-mei=Satheesh T. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkutaDaijo en-aut-sei=Ikuta en-aut-mei=Daijo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoNozomi en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Nozomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiTakayuki en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HeXuejing en-aut-sei=He en-aut-mei=Xuejing kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaTsutomu en-aut-sei=Ota en-aut-mei=Tsutomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunihiroTakuya en-aut-sei=Kunihiro en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Geochemical Research Center Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=dense hydrous Mg silicates kn-keyword=dense hydrous Mg silicates en-keyword=fluorine kn-keyword=fluorine en-keyword=water kn-keyword=water en-keyword=transition zone kn-keyword=transition zone en-keyword=superhydrous phase B kn-keyword=superhydrous phase B en-keyword=phase relation kn-keyword=phase relation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=259 end-page=264 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202608 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Spinous Process Plate Fixation Alone for an AO Spine Osteoporotic Fracture (OF) 5 Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)-Associated Thoracolumbar Fracture in a Nonagenarian en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) predisposes the spine to highly unstable fractures because of long lever-arm biomechanics. Unstable injuries, including AO Spine Osteoporotic Fracture (OF) type 5, are typically treated with long-segment posterior instrumentation; however, pedicle-screw fixation may be infeasible in very elderly patients with severe osteoporosis, critically narrow pedicles, and/or significant comorbidities. A 93-year-old Japanese woman presented with severe back pain without apparent trauma. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a T12 fracture with DISH, classified as OF5. The pedicles were critically narrow (3.7-4.1 mm), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry confirmed severe osteoporosis. Because conventional pedicle-screw fixation was considered technically unsafe and excessively invasive, limited posterior stabilization was performed using a single spinous process plate spanning T10-L1. The operative time was 48 min and the estimated blood loss was 10 ml. Immediate postoperative CT confirmed appropriate implant positioning and maintained alignment. At the 1-year follow-up, CT demonstrated solid bony union with preserved alignment and no implant failure; the patient had remained pain-free and ambulatory. This case demonstrates that spinous process-plate fixation can be a minimally invasive salvage option for carefully selected very-elderly patients with DISH when pedicle-screw instrumentation is not feasible. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YabunoSatoru en-aut-sei=Yabuno en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YunokiMasatoshi en-aut-sei=Yunoki en-aut-mei=Masatoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiSaori en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Saori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirashitaKoji en-aut-sei=Hirashita en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurosurgery, Kagawa Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurosurgery, Kagawa Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurosurgery, Kagawa Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurosurgery, Kagawa Rosai Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=DISH kn-keyword=DISH en-keyword=vertebral fracture kn-keyword=vertebral fracture en-keyword=osteoporosis kn-keyword=osteoporosis en-keyword=spinous process plate kn-keyword=spinous process plate END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=88 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=1239 end-page=1245 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Comparison of three irradiation ways with Monte Carlo calculation for the feline lymphoma with orthovoltage radiation therapy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Although orthovoltage radiation therapy remains widely used in veterinary medicine in Japan due to its affordability and operational simplicity, accurate calculation of dose distribution is challenging. Treatment planning varies between practitioners and tends to rely on empirical methods. This study aimed to compare the effects of three different orthovoltage beam directions on dose distribution in feline nasal lymphoma using Monte Carlo simulations. CT images from five clinical cases were analyzed using three irradiation plans: Plan A (beam directed perpendicularly to the hard palate), Plan B (perpendicularly to the nasal bridge), and Plan C (from the oral cavity). Each plan used a 4 × 4 cm field and delivered a 10 Gy dose at 280 kVp. Doses to the tumor, brain, and both eyes were calculated. Mean dose for the tumor did not significantly differ among the three plans. Plan B resulted in significantly higher doses to the ipsilateral eye compared to Plan C, but delivered the lowest brain dose. Depth-dose analysis revealed a peak just above the bone at the beam entrance, followed by a sharp attenuation in all plans. These findings suggest that beam direction substantially affects dose distribution in orthovoltage therapy, particularly for organs at risk including superficial bones and overlying skin. Meticulous planning is essential to ensure sufficient tumor dose coverage while mitigating and distributing adverse effects, especially in complex regions like the feline nasal cavity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NEMOTOYuki en-aut-sei=NEMOTO en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TANABEYoshinori en-aut-sei=TANABE en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ONIZUKARyouta en-aut-sei=ONIZUKA en-aut-mei=Ryouta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NAKAICHIMunekazu en-aut-sei=NAKAICHI en-aut-mei=Munekazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Veterinary Radiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Kokura Memorial Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Veterinary Radiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University kn-affil= en-keyword=feline kn-keyword=feline en-keyword=Monte Carlo kn-keyword=Monte Carlo en-keyword=nasal lymphoma kn-keyword=nasal lymphoma en-keyword=orthovoltage kn-keyword=orthovoltage END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=141 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=254 end-page=261 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Transient loss of wakefulness with falls in temporal lobe epilepsy: A retrospective single-centre study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: Focal impaired awareness seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) typically involve behavioural arrest and automatisms with preserved posture. However, some patients can exhibit a transient loss of wakefulness with fall without any overt motor manifestations, a phenomenon previously described as “temporal lobe syncope.” However, previous reports did not always rigorously exclude FBTCS or ictal asystole. Herein, we aimed to reappraise this semiology by excluding these conditions using simultaneous video-electroencephalogram (VEEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG), clarifying its clinical characteristics.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed 65 patients with drug-resistant TLE who underwent surgery between April 2017 and December 2025. Seizures with transient loss of wakefulness with fall were defined as events without generalized motor manifestations or ECG changes, such as bradycardia or asystole. Outcomes were assessed using the ILAE seizure outcome classification.
Results: Three of 65 patients exhibited seizures characterised by transient loss of wakefulness with fall. All patients were clinically diagnosed with left TLE, and these seizures developed at least 10 years after epilepsy onset. Simultaneous VEEG and ECG excluded ictal asystole and FBTCS as the causes of the falls. One patient achieved seizure freedom after anterior temporal lobectomy, whereas the other two patients did not achieve seizure freedom after surgery.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that transient loss of wakefulness in TLE patients may represent a distinct seizure semiology that should be differentiated from impaired awareness and from other causes of fall. Although the underlying mechanism remains uncertain, distinguishing wakefulness from awareness may provide a useful conceptual framework for understanding disorders of consciousness during epileptic seizures. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IzumiharaKohei en-aut-sei=Izumihara en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakiTatsuya en-aut-sei=Sasaki en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiYosuke en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanimotoShun en-aut-sei=Tanimoto en-aut-mei=Shun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaijoTomoya en-aut-sei=Saijo en-aut-mei=Tomoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinKyohei en-aut-sei=Kin en-aut-mei=Kyohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShota en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Temporal lobe epilepsy kn-keyword=Temporal lobe epilepsy en-keyword=Semiology kn-keyword=Semiology en-keyword=Drug-resistant epilepsy kn-keyword=Drug-resistant epilepsy en-keyword=Wakefulness kn-keyword=Wakefulness en-keyword=Temporal lobe syncope kn-keyword=Temporal lobe syncope END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=33 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=e70553 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260731 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Burden of Lower Urinary Tract and Genital Symptoms in Young Transgender Men: Prevalence and Impact on Daily Life en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and genital symptoms among transgender men in Japan, and to evaluate their impact on daily life, including limitations resulting from concerns about toilet accessibility.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, single-center survey of assigned-female-at-birth individuals aged 16?years or older who had been approved for gender-affirming hormone therapy at our gender center. A self-administered questionnaire included the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score (CLSS), vaginal and urethral symptom items, toilet use outside the home, preferences regarding male urinals, and activity restriction related to toilet access. Data were analyzed descriptively, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results: Data from 322 participants (median age 33?years) were analyzed. Overall, 80% reported at least one LUTS, 46% reported at least one bothersome symptom, and 14% had a CLSS global quality-of-life (QOL) score of ??4. Vaginal symptoms occurred in 13% of participants, and 2% reported post-micturition leakage. Most participants (62%) did not use male urinals but wished to use them. Activity restriction due to toilet-related concerns, defined as avoiding or limiting activities such as travel, shopping, or going to the cinema, was reported by 20%, and higher total CLSS was associated with both activity restriction and poor urinary-related QOL.
Conclusions: LUTS and genital symptoms are common in young transgender men, and greater LUTS burden is linked to urinary-related QOL impairment and toilet-related activity restriction. These findings highlight the need for targeted clinical care and improved accessibility of public toilets for transgender men. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KobayashiTomoko en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriwakeTakatoshi en-aut-sei=Moriwake en-aut-mei=Takatoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TominagaYusuke en-aut-sei=Tominaga en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiNariaki en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Nariaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Horii en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsuboiIchiro en-aut-sei=Tsuboi en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshinagaKasumi en-aut-sei=Yoshinaga en-aut-mei=Kasumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamanoiTomoaki en-aut-sei=Yamanoi en-aut-mei=Tomoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawadaTatsushi en-aut-sei=Kawada en-aut-mei=Tatsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SadahiraTakuya en-aut-sei=Sadahira en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataTakehiro en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraShingo en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Shingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=BekkuKensuke en-aut-sei=Bekku en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoYuko en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueMiyabi en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Miyabi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeMasami en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Masami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiAyano en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Ayano kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeToyohiko en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Toyohiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakiMotoo en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Motoo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Miyakekai Good-Life Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Miyabi Urogyne Clinic Okayama Japan kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Okayama University Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=lower urinary tract symptoms kn-keyword=lower urinary tract symptoms en-keyword=transgender men kn-keyword=transgender men en-keyword=urinary-related activity restriction kn-keyword=urinary-related activity restriction en-keyword=vaginal symptoms kn-keyword=vaginal symptoms END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=41 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=19516 end-page=19529 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202611 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Structural Design of Litz Wires for Reducing AC Transport Current Loss Using an Equivalent Circuit Model Considering the Path of All Strands en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Litz wires are generally fabricated based on the proprietary know-how of wire manufacturers. Therefore, the design guidelines for the conductor structure of low-loss Litz wires have not been clearly established. In this study, we investigated the effect of differences in the conductor structure on the AC resistance using the equivalent circuit model considering the path of all strands. Moreover, we proposed design guidelines for the conductor structure of Litz wires to reduce AC resistance originating from strand paths. Furthermore, we prototyped Litz wires according to the proposed design guidelines and compared the AC resistance of the proposed Litz wires with that of commercial Litz wires. As a result, the AC resistance of the prototyped Litz wires according to the proposed design guidelines was reduced compared to that of the commercial Litz wires. Moreover, the quality factor of the spiral coil using the proposed Litz wire was higher than that using the commercial Litz wire. From the above results, we experimentally clarified that the proposed design guidelines for the conductor structure of Litz wires are effective in reducing the AC resistance originating from strand paths. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=InoueRyota en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Ryota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UedaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Ueda en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimSeokBeom en-aut-sei=Kim en-aut-mei=SeokBeom kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=AC resistance kn-keyword=AC resistance en-keyword=copper loss kn-keyword=copper loss en-keyword=equivalent circuit kn-keyword=equivalent circuit en-keyword=Litz wire kn-keyword=Litz wire en-keyword=spiral coil kn-keyword=spiral coil END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=21 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=e0340963 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260113 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Fertility-sparing surgery with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early and locally advanced cervical cancer: A clinical protocol en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Fertility preservation remains a critical concern in young women with early or locally advanced cervical cancer, as standard radical treatments compromise reproductive potential. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, oncological safety, and reproductive outcomes of fertility-sparing treatment involving neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cervical conization and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy. This single-center, prospective, open-label, single-arm, Phase II interventional study will assess patients with FIGO stage IB2?IB3 cervical cancer (FIGO stage 2018) desiring fertility preservation. Eligible patients will receive three cycles of dose-dense paclitaxel and carboplatin (dd-TC), followed by conization and laparoscopic lymphadenectomy. The primary endpoint is successful uterine preservation. Patients requiring concurrent chemoradiotherapy due to inadequate treatment response will not be considered successful. Secondary endpoints include 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), quality of life assessments, menstrual and ovulatory resumption, pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage, and preterm birth. Adverse events will be graded according to CTCAE v5.0. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TaniokaMomoko en-aut-sei=Tanioka en-aut-mei=Momoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaoShoji en-aut-sei=Nagao en-aut-mei=Shoji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IdaNaoyuki en-aut-sei=Ida en-aut-mei=Naoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaYui en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Yui kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujikawaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Fujikawa en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImataniRyoko en-aut-sei=Imatani en-aut-mei=Ryoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniYoshinori en-aut-sei=Tani en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiharaHanako en-aut-sei=Sugihara en-aut-mei=Hanako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaHirofumi en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaragaJunko en-aut-sei=Haraga en-aut-mei=Junko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaChikako en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Chikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKeiichiro en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Keiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasuyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Masuyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=61 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=1988 end-page=1991 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202609 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Stomatal Traits in Strawberry Cultivars: Variation among Plant Parts and Associations with Growth and Yield en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Stomatal traits are important determinants of photosynthesis and water use; however, their variation among plant parts and cultivars and their relationships with growth and yield in strawberry remain unclear. This study characterized stomatal density and guard cell length among plant parts and across 34 cultivars and examined their associations with growth and yield. Stomata were found not only on the abaxial leaf surface but also on petioles and calyces and occasionally on the adaxial surface of leaves. Both traits varied widely among cultivars and decreased between November and May. Stomatal density was significantly negatively correlated with plant height, estimated leaf area, and total yield in both seasons, whereas guard cell length showed no significant association with these traits. These results suggest that stomatal density may be a more relevant indicator of growth and yield in strawberries and that characterizing stomatal traits across plant parts and cultivars may support breeding and cultivation research. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Hikawa-EndoMinori en-aut-sei=Hikawa-Endo en-aut-mei=Minori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamanakaRyosuke en-aut-sei=Yamanaka en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanoTakayoshi en-aut-sei=Yano en-aut-mei=Takayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Western Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Western Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO kn-affil= en-keyword=stomatal density kn-keyword=stomatal density en-keyword=guard cell length kn-keyword=guard cell length en-keyword=plant growth kn-keyword=plant growth en-keyword=yield kn-keyword=yield END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=66 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=122 end-page=129 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=RHOA G17V mutation analysis redirecting diagnosis: nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma with classic Hodgkin lymphoma feature en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma (nTFHL) may present with Hodgkin/Reed?Sternberg (HRS)-like cells and can morphologically mimic classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), although these entities are usually distinguishable. We report an unusual case showing marked morphologic and molecular overlap with CHL, creating a diagnostic challenge but ultimately considered biologically consistent with nTFHL.
An 81-year-old woman presented with stage IV disease involving the bone marrow and markedly elevated serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels. Excisional lymph node biopsy revealed scattered HRS cells in a T-cell?rich background, with strong CD30 and PD-L1 expression and weak PAX5 positivity, findings consistent with CHL. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated copy-number alterations at the 9p24.1 locus in HRS cells, further supporting molecular features characteristic of CHL.
However, the presence of two T-follicular helper markers, detection of the RHOA p.Gly17Val (G17V) mutation, and oligoclonal T-cell receptor rearrangements with shared peaks in lymph node and bone marrow indicated an underlying nTFHL. The differential therapeutic response also supported a diagnosis of nTFHL, which could not have been established on morphology alone.
In this case, although the HRS cells displayed morphological, immunophenotypic, and molecular features highly suggestive of CHL, the biological nature of the lesion was consistent with nTFHL. Compared with previously reported cases of nTFHL with HRS-like cells, this case more closely resembled CHL and may represent a distinct subset best described as “nTFHL with CHL features,” a concept warranting greater recognition among pathologists and clinicians. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamadaRio en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Rio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraMidori Filiz en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Midori Filiz kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishikoriAsami en-aut-sei=Nishikori en-aut-mei=Asami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukumiTakuya en-aut-sei=Fukumi en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhsawaKumiko en-aut-sei=Ohsawa en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MomoseShuji en-aut-sei=Momose en-aut-mei=Shuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoYasuharu en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Yasuharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Molecular Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=classic Hodgkin lymphoma kn-keyword=classic Hodgkin lymphoma en-keyword=nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma kn-keyword=nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma en-keyword=RHOA mutation kn-keyword=RHOA mutation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=e66070 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240803 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Navigation-Guided C-arm-Free Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Comparative Study of Cage Orientation and Screw Insertion Accuracy Against the Conventional C-arm-Assisted Technique en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is a widely utilized technique in spine surgery. This study compares the efficacy and safety of MIS-TLIF performed with traditional C-arm fluoroscopy and C-arm-free O-arm navigation. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to compare cage positioning between C-arm-free and C-arm techniques for MIS- TLIF.
Methods: A retrospective, comparative analysis was conducted on 43 patients undergoing MIS-TLIF. The group was divided based on the utilization of C-arm fluoroscopy or C-arm-free O-arm navigation. Key parameters analyzed included cage orientation, screw insertion accuracy, operative efficiency, and postoperative recovery. Radiographic measurements were used to assess surgical precision and perioperative complications were documented.
Results: The study encompassed 43 patients, with no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the two groups. Surgical time and blood loss were comparable between C-arm-free and C-arm groups. O-arm navigation significantly reduced pedicle screw misplacement (p=0.024). Cage positioning differed between groups (p=0.0063): O-arm cages were mostly mid-center, while C-arm cages were more anterior-center. Such differences in the cage location did not cause any impact on clinical outcome. No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications (screw loosenings, dural tears, surgical site infections) between groups. The Oswestry Disability Index scores at the final follow-up showed no significant difference between the O-arm and C-arm groups, indicating similar levels of postoperative disability.
Conclusion: Despite the clinically insignificant difference in cage placement between C-arm-free and C-arm dependent, C-arm-free MIS-TLIF significantly improves screw placement accuracy and reduces radiation exposure to operating stuff. This suggests its potential as a valuable tool for safer and more precise spinal fusion surgery. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UotaniKoji en-aut-sei=Uotani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaMasato en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KumawatChetan en-aut-sei=Kumawat en-aut-mei=Chetan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=GunjotikarSharvari en-aut-sei=Gunjotikar en-aut-mei=Sharvari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinoharaKensuke en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomatsubaraTadashi en-aut-sei=Komatsubara en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=AratakiShinya en-aut-sei=Arataki en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Navigation-Guided C-arm-Free Minimally Invasive Transforaminal kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Navigation-Guided C-arm-Free Minimally Invasive Transforaminal kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Navigation-Guided C-arm-Free Minimally Invasive Transforaminal kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=navigation kn-keyword=navigation en-keyword=o-arm kn-keyword=o-arm en-keyword=c-arm free kn-keyword=c-arm free en-keyword=mis-tlif kn-keyword=mis-tlif en-keyword=spine surgery kn-keyword=spine surgery END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e81104 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250324 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of Pemafibrate and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester on Endothelial Function in Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia and Coronary Artery Disease: A Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Open-Label Randomised Controlled Trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Despite intensive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering therapies effectively reducing cardiovascular events, residual cardiovascular risks remain significant, with hypertriglyceridemia being an important contributing factor. Pemafibrate, a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, has shown strong triglyceride-lowering effects and potential vascular benefits. Similarly, eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) has demonstrated cardiovascular protective effects, particularly in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. However, the comparative impact of these agents on endothelial function, a key marker of atherosclerotic progression, has not been thoroughly evaluated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The PRIME (PRospective comparIson of peMafibrate and Eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester on vascular functions for hypertriglyceridemia) trial is a multi-center, open-label, randomised trial designed to compare the effects of pemafibrate and EPA on endothelial function in patients with CAD and hypertriglyceridemia. Patients receiving statin therapy with fasting triglyceride levels ?150 mg/dL will be randomised into two groups: pemafibrate (0.2 mg/day, with possible dose escalation to 0.4 mg/day) or EPA (1800 mg/day, with possible dose escalation to 2700 mg/day). Endothelial function will be assessed with reactive hyperemia index (RHI). The primary endpoint is the change in RHI at 12 weeks. The secondary endpoints include the changes in RHI at 24 weeks, correlations between changes in RHI and changes in lipid biomarkers, and changes in biochemical parameters at 12 and 24 weeks. This study investigates the comparative effects of pemafibrate and EPA on endothelial function, addressing an unmet need in managing residual cardiovascular risk in patients with CAD. The findings will contribute to the optimisation of treatment strategies in patients with CAD and hypertriglyceridemia. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiyoshiTrou en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Trou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuzawaYasushi en-aut-sei=Matsuzawa en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiMasayuki en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuasaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Yuasa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiyamaSeigo en-aut-sei=Sugiyama en-aut-mei=Seigo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Cardiovascular Medicine, Kumamoto University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Cardiology, Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Cardiovascular Medicine, Jinnouchi Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=cardiovascular risk kn-keyword=cardiovascular risk en-keyword=eicosapentaenoic acid kn-keyword=eicosapentaenoic acid en-keyword=endothelial function kn-keyword=endothelial function en-keyword=pemafibrate kn-keyword=pemafibrate en-keyword=triglyceride kn-keyword=triglyceride END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=e84919 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250527 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Association Between Initial Symptoms and Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: The clinical presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ranges from localized respiratory symptoms such as cough and sore throat to systemic symptoms such as fever and fatigue. To our knowledge, no study has assessed severe disease risk by dividing onset symptoms into localized respiratory and other symptoms. We aimed to determine whether the risk of severe COVID-19 differs depending on whether the symptoms at onset are limited to local respiratory symptoms.
Method: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study. The patients were classified into localized respiratory or systemic symptom groups based on the symptoms at onset. Demographic data, blood biomarkers, and clinical outcomes, including mortality, intubation, admission to the intensive care unit, and time to discharge, were compared. This study included 100 adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between July 2020 and August 2021.
Result: Twelve patients were classified into the localized respiratory symptom group and the remaining 88 into the systemic symptom group. No significant differences between the groups were observed in the baseline characteristics, blood biomarkers, or clinical outcomes. The mortality rates were 0.0% and 4.6%, respectively. The median durations to discharge were 11 and 10 days, respectively (p=0.512). The levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, including interleukin-6 and hydroperoxides, were similar between the groups.
Conclusion: The symptom type at disease onset was not significantly associated with differences in clinical outcomes. Comprehensive assessments beyond initial symptoms are crucial for predicting disease progression and optimizing management strategies. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsugeMitsuru en-aut-sei=Tsuge en-aut-mei=Mitsuru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaKou en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Kou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KudoKenichiro en-aut-sei=Kudo en-aut-mei=Kenichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanimotoYasushi en-aut-sei=Tanimoto en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NousoKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Nouso en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OdaNaohiro en-aut-sei=Oda en-aut-mei=Naohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsumuneSho en-aut-sei=Mitsumune en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraGoro en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Goro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaHaruto en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Haruto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakataIchiro en-aut-sei=Takata en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniguchiAkihiko en-aut-sei=Taniguchi en-aut-mei=Akihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsukaharaKohei en-aut-sei=Tsukahara en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=AokageToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Aokage en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsukaharaHirokazu en-aut-sei=Tsukahara en-aut-mei=Hirokazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization (NHO) Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization (NHO) Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Okayama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization (NHO) Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization (NHO) Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Emergency, Critical Care, and Disaster Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Emergency Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=clinical outcome kn-keyword=clinical outcome en-keyword=covid-19 kn-keyword=covid-19 en-keyword=localized respiratory symptom kn-keyword=localized respiratory symptom en-keyword=severe disease risk kn-keyword=severe disease risk en-keyword=systemic symptom kn-keyword=systemic symptom END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=e73170 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202608 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Black Hairy Tongue in a 54‐Day‐Old Infant: A Case Report en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Black hairy tongue is a benign condition caused by elongation and defective desquamation of the filiform papillae, and it is uncommon in neonates and infants. We report a case in a 54-day-old girl who presented with a black lesion on the tongue dorsum. The lesion had first been noted at the 1-month medical checkup and persisted despite observation. At presentation, a localized blackish-brown lesion with accentuated filiform papillae was observed on the tongue dorsum and could not be wiped off with gauze. Oral candidiasis was considered in the differential diagnosis, but microbiological examination detected no Candida species. A clinical diagnosis of black hairy tongue was made, and the parents were instructed to gently clean the tongue dorsum with gauze and a sponge brush. The lesion resolved within 2?weeks without recurrence. Recognition of this benign entity may help avoid unnecessary treatment in infants. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MasuiMasanori en-aut-sei=Masui en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoYumi en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Yumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunisadaYuki en-aut-sei=Kunisada en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IbaragiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Ibaragi en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=black hairy tongue kn-keyword=black hairy tongue en-keyword=case report kn-keyword=case report en-keyword=infant kn-keyword=infant en-keyword=oral hygiene kn-keyword=oral hygiene END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=88 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260731 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Early-Stage Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Adolescents and Young Adults Compared with Older Patients Exhibits Distinct Clinicopathological Features en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose This study aimed to compare the clinicopathological features of stage I?II oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) between adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and older patients, and to identify prognostic factors in AYA OSCC.
Methods Forty-eight AYA patients aged 15?39 years and 69 older patients aged???65 years with surgically treated stage I?II OSCC were retrospectively analyzed. Histological evaluation, survival analysis, immunohistochemistry for p53, p16, and MTAP, high-risk HPV RNA in situ hybridization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization for CDKN2A and MTAP were performed.
Results Compared with older patients, OSCCs in AYAs were more frequently located on the tongue (93.7% vs. 47.8%) and more often exhibited a superficial spreading growth pattern (60.4% vs. 31.8%). AYA tumors more frequently showed modified WPOI-1, high tumor budding, and abnormal p53 immunophenotypes (85.4% vs. 68.1%). AYA patients showed significantly better overall and disease-free survival than older patients. Within the AYA group, depth of invasion (DOI)?>?5 mm was associated with distant metastasis and poorer overall and disease-free survival. Postoperative lymph node metastasis occurred in 31.2% of AYAs. Univariable analysis suggested that clinical stage II, tumor thickness?>?5 mm, DOI?>?5 mm, and tumor budding scores 1?2 were associated with postoperative lymph node metastasis. Molecular status, including p53, p16/CDKN2A, and MTAP, did not provide robust prognostic stratification.
Conclusion Early-stage AYA OSCC exhibits distinct clinicopathological features. DOI was the strongest prognostic indicator, whereas clinical stage, tumor thickness, and tumor budding may provide additional prognostic information regarding the risk of late nodal metastasis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OnoSawako en-aut-sei=Ono en-aut-mei=Sawako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiroseKatsutoshi en-aut-sei=Hirose en-aut-mei=Katsutoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiHotaka en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Hotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AbeTatsuya en-aut-sei=Abe en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SukegawaShintaro en-aut-sei=Sukegawa en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasuiMasanori en-aut-sei=Masui en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaChihoko en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Chihoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IsomuraMadoka en-aut-sei=Isomura en-aut-mei=Madoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TachibanaYuri en-aut-sei=Tachibana en-aut-mei=Yuri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnoJunya en-aut-sei=Ono en-aut-mei=Junya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimadaKatsumitsu en-aut-sei=Shimada en-aut-mei=Katsumitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagatsukaHitoshi en-aut-sei=Nagatsuka en-aut-mei=Hitoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoHidetaka en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Hidetaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral Pathology, Osaka Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Pathology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pathology Informatics, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Pathology, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, School of Dentistry, Matsumoto Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck kn-keyword=Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck en-keyword=Mouth neoplasms kn-keyword=Mouth neoplasms en-keyword=Adolescent kn-keyword=Adolescent en-keyword=Young adult kn-keyword=Young adult en-keyword=Prognosis kn-keyword=Prognosis en-keyword=Immunohistochemistry kn-keyword=Immunohistochemistry en-keyword=Tumor suppressor protein p53 kn-keyword=Tumor suppressor protein p53 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=66 cd-vols= no-issue=12 article-no= start-page=1811 end-page=1822 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250828 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=ABA receptor isoforms differently regulate stomatal movements and generation of reactive oxygen species in ABA signaling in Arabidopsis guard cells en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=ABA signaling in stomatal guard cells is crucial for plants to cope with abiotic stress condition. Pyrabactin is a synthetic agonist of ABA that has a selective affinity to limited isoforms of ABA receptors. Here, we investigated the differential utilization of downstream signaling events in guard cell ABA signaling under specific receptor isoforms taking advantage of pyrabactin affinity. Pyrabactin-induced stomatal closure as well as ABA, while it did not inhibit stomatal opening. Plasma membrane inwardly rectifying K+ channel was not regulated by pyrabactin, while H+-ATPase activation was negatively regulated by pyrabactin. Pharmacological and molecular genetic evidence supported that reactive oxygen species production occurred differentially between the closure-inducing and opening-inhibiting signals in guard cells. These findings offer a previously unidentified mechanism for ABA signaling events promoting closure induction and opening inhibition of stomata, which were distinct from each other and governed by different ABA receptor isoforms discriminable by their affinity for pyrabactin. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YinYe en-aut-sei=Yin en-aut-mei=Ye kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiYuki en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SirajamMonira en-aut-sei=Sirajam en-aut-mei=Monira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShaiekOumayma en-aut-sei=Shaiek en-aut-mei=Oumayma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MunemasaShintaro en-aut-sei=Munemasa en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinoshitaToshinori en-aut-sei=Kinoshita en-aut-mei=Toshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurataYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Murata en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriIzumi C en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Izumi C kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=e70673 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202607 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Potential of quantitative X‐ray imaging from photon‐counting CT: A novel analysis based on effective atomic number and physical density en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Conventional CT assessment of lung lesions is based mainly on morphological features. CT values represent relative X-ray attenuation that does not directly reflect tissue composition and/or physical density. Quantitative imaging using photon-counting CT (PC-CT) has the potential to provide quantitative parameters, such as effective atomic number (Zeff) and effective physical density (ρeff).
Purpose: The purpose is to develop and demonstrate the potential of an algorithm that generates both the Zeff and ρeff images, derived directly from virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) acquired with a clinical PC-CT system.
Methods: The ρeff image was generated by fitting a database of mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) to the measured linear attenuation coefficients (μ), which were obtained from two VMIs at 70 and 100 keV. As an effective material, Zeff information was also determined and fed back into the ρeff calculation. An in-house low-density phantom was scanned for quantitative evaluation of ρeff. In addition, to demonstrate the applicability of our procedure to actual clinical imaging, representative chest PC-CT images from patients were analyzed.
Results: In experiments using low-density phantoms, the CT values did not necessarily correlate with Zeff values, but they showed a very good correlation with the ρeff values. The ρeff values calculated using our procedure correlated well with the correct values of ρ. A relative root mean square error of ρeff calculation was 5.5%. Furthermore, we found that in pulmonary diagnosis, image contrast information from ρeff makes it easier to identify and distinguish lesions compared to that from Zeff.
Conclusions: The proposed procedure directly generated Zeff and ρeff images from PC-CT data and enabled quantitative interpretation of CT value in terms of elemental composition and physical density. In this study, the feasibility of generating Zeff and ρeff images was demonstrated. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AsaharaTakashi en-aut-sei=Asahara en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishigamiRina en-aut-sei=Nishigami en-aut-mei=Rina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimotoNatsumi en-aut-sei=Kimoto en-aut-mei=Natsumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitaniMana en-aut-sei=Mitani en-aut-mei=Mana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimitsuYusuke en-aut-sei=Morimitsu en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkagiNoriaki en-aut-sei=Akagi en-aut-mei=Noriaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigakiFumiyo en-aut-sei=Higaki en-aut-mei=Fumiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IguchiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Iguchi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirakiTakao en-aut-sei=Hiraki en-aut-mei=Takao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation Kanazawa University Kanazawa Ishikawa Japan kn-affil= en-keyword=computed tomography kn-keyword=computed tomography en-keyword=density image kn-keyword=density image en-keyword=photon-counting kn-keyword=photon-counting en-keyword=virtual monoenergetic image kn-keyword=virtual monoenergetic image en-keyword=X-ray diagnosis kn-keyword=X-ray diagnosis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=65 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=104504 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202610 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Association of initial interface formation time with CD34+ collection efficiency in continuous mononuclear cell collection: A retrospective study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Factors influencing CD34+ cell collection efficiency (CE) during peripheral blood stem cell harvesting have been investigated; however, the impact of procedural management remains unclear. In continuous mononuclear cell (CMNC) collection, a stable cell?plasma interface (IF) is formed through channel priming, initial IF establishment, and mononuclear cell (MNC) collection. Although IF instability is known to impair CE, the adequacy of initial IF formation has not been examined as an independent factor. Therefore, we focused on the time required for initial IF formation and its association with CE.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 291 Spectra Optia CMNC procedures (52 autologous and 239 allogeneic) performed between 2016 and 2025. Initial interface formation time (IFT) was defined as the interval from the start of the procedure to transition to MNC collection. CE2 was defined as the ratio of collected CD34+ cells to the product of pre-apheresis peripheral blood CD34+ cell concentration and processed blood volume. Results: CE2 was lower in autologous than in allogeneic collections (41.3% vs. 59.2%) and was associated with longer IFT (median, 18 vs. 15?min). CE2 correlated with white blood cell count (r?=??0.24), hematocrit (r?=?0.36), and IFT (r?=??0.23; all p? Conclusion: IFT is independently associated with CE2 and provides insight into the early dynamics of IF formation during leukapheresis, highlighting an underexplored procedural aspect of CE. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MurakamiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiKeiko en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamuraWataru en-aut-sei=Kitamura en-aut-mei=Wataru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkeuchiKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Ikeuchi en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimonoJoji en-aut-sei=Shimono en-aut-mei=Joji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaFumio en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Fumio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiNobuharu en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Nobuharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=CD34+CE2 kn-keyword=CD34+CE2 en-keyword=Continuous mononuclear cell collection kn-keyword=Continuous mononuclear cell collection en-keyword=Spectra Optia kn-keyword=Spectra Optia en-keyword=Interface formation time kn-keyword=Interface formation time en-keyword=Leukapheresis kn-keyword=Leukapheresis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=83 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=565 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260730 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Osmotic pressure, correlation lengths and viscosity of aqueous pullulan solutions beyond the overlap concentration en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We investigate the thermodynamic, scattering, and flow properties of pullulan, a flexible non-ionic polysaccharide in aqueous solution, focusing on semidilute and concentrated solutions. We review dilute solution data for the intrinsic viscosity and radius of gyration and hydrodynamic radius of aqueous pullulan and find the Kuhn length and thermal blob size, below which the polymer chain is nearly ideal, to be 3 nm and 20 nm, respectively. We establish the scaling laws for static correlation length, specific viscosity, osmotic pressure, and osmotic compressibility across dilute, semidilute, and concentrated regions, finding that the scaling exponents align well with theoretical predictions but the crossover concentrations obtained from different methods are not consistent. The ratio between the osmotic and Ornstein?Zernike correlation lengths ξΠ/ξOZ is approximately 2.5 for aqueous solutions, similar to that observed in polystyrene in a theta solvent. This similarity may arise because the crossover concentration between the semidilute and concentrated regions c?? is close to the overlap concentration c?. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MengLingzi en-aut-sei=Meng en-aut-mei=Lingzi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwatoRene en-aut-sei=Iwato en-aut-mei=Rene kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeTakaichi en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Takaichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=LopezCarlos G. en-aut-sei=Lopez en-aut-mei=Carlos G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University kn-affil= en-keyword=Pullulan kn-keyword=Pullulan en-keyword=Osmotic pressure kn-keyword=Osmotic pressure en-keyword=Correlation length kn-keyword=Correlation length en-keyword=Semidilute solutions kn-keyword=Semidilute solutions en-keyword=Concentrated solutions kn-keyword=Concentrated solutions en-keyword=Viscosity kn-keyword=Viscosity en-keyword=SAXS kn-keyword=SAXS en-keyword=SANS kn-keyword=SANS en-keyword=DLS kn-keyword=DLS END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=541 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=113868 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202506 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Development of a novel histidine-rich glycoprotein measurement system as a biomarker for sepsis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein concentration is a marker of sepsis severity. In this study, we generated selective and specific monoclonal antibodies against histidine-rich glycoprotein for use in a prototype enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based in vitro diagnostic system. First, we investigated the properties of monoclonal antibodies produced by 21 hybridomas that we developed using immunized mice, and we identified monoclonal antibodies 69-1A and 75-2D to be the most suitable combination for use in the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Wild-type histidine-rich glycoprotein (Form-1, 75 kDa) with a proline residue at amino acid position 204 is the most common isoform of the protein in humans, followed by its variant (Form-2, 77 kDa), which has a serine residue at position 204.
The epitope mapping was examined for the HRG amino acid sequence with 69-1A and 75-2D mAbs to achieve the identification of respective specific binding domains, though the other kinds of mAbs showed considerably complex domains. The identified epitopes recognized by 69-1A and 75-2D monoclonal antibodies did not span position 204. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation-immunoblotting analysis showed that the 69-1A and 75-2D monoclonal antibodies could bind to both Form-1 and Form-2 in human plasma samples. Thus, these two new antibodies can be used to clearly detect both forms of histidine-rich glycoproteins in human plasma samples. In our analysis of clinical samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using various combinations of our newly synthesized antibodies, we found that the histidine-rich glycoprotein concentration was significantly lower in plasma samples from septic patients than in those from healthy volunteers (p < 0.01). Thus, our novel analysis system using the new antibodies is expected to be a useful tool for sepsis research, and it may be adapted as an in vitro diagnostic tool for many other kinds of diseases in the future. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UchiumiTakaoki en-aut-sei=Uchiumi en-aut-mei=Takaoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiboriMasahiro en-aut-sei=Nishibori en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimatsuHiroshi en-aut-sei=Morimatsu en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueYoko en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Yoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiHiroshi en-aut-sei=Nishi en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaNorio en-aut-sei=Ota en-aut-mei=Norio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Diagnostic Drug Office, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Translational Research and Drug Development, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Diagnostic Drug Office, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Diagnostic Drug Office, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Diagnostic Drug Office, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. kn-affil= en-keyword=Histidine-rich glycoprotein kn-keyword=Histidine-rich glycoprotein en-keyword=Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kn-keyword=Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay en-keyword=In vitro diagnostics kn-keyword=In vitro diagnostics en-keyword=Sepsis kn-keyword=Sepsis en-keyword=Anti-human histidine-rich glycoprotein mouse monoclonal antibody kn-keyword=Anti-human histidine-rich glycoprotein mouse monoclonal antibody END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=8 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=100152 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Immersion is not enough: Design quality as the key determinant of perceived effectiveness and usage intention in educational virtual reality en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) are increasingly used to support conceptual understanding in science education, yet perceived learning benefits depend on the quality of system design rather than immersion alone. This study investigates how four design-quality dimensions?Visual and Technological Design (VT), Aesthetic Quality (AQ), Curriculum Alignment (CA), and Digital Feasibility (DF)?influence learners' Perceived Effectiveness (PE) and Intention to Use (IU) the VARIASI VR simulation, which visualizes particle behavior across phase states of matter. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, quantitative data from 60 participants were analyzed using PLS-SEM, followed by reflexive thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Results show that VT, AQ, CA, and DF each significantly predict PE, demonstrating that learners' perception of effectiveness depends on the coordinated alignment of conceptual clarity, emotional resonance, and system reliability. However, none of these dimensions directly predicted IU, and the PE → IU relationship was positive but marginal, reflecting learners’ need for procedural guidance and comfort to sustain voluntary adoption. Qualitative findings reveal that while VR enhanced conceptual clarity and engagement, continued use depended on familiarity, scaffolding, and physical comfort. The study highlights that effective VR-based science learning experiences emerge when immersive environments are not only well-designed but pedagogically framed to support confidence and sustained use. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SamsudinAchmad en-aut-sei=Samsudin en-aut-mei=Achmad kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ZahranMuhammad en-aut-sei=Zahran en-aut-mei=Muhammad kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NugrahaEki en-aut-sei=Nugraha en-aut-mei=Eki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NasbeyHadi en-aut-sei=Nasbey en-aut-mei=Hadi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SozbilirMustafa en-aut-sei=Sozbilir en-aut-mei=Mustafa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=RahmanNor Farahwahidah Abdul en-aut-sei=Rahman en-aut-mei=Nor Farahwahidah Abdul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IrieTakashi en-aut-sei=Irie en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Universitas Negeri Jakarta kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Atat?rk University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Universiti Teknologi Malaysia kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Virtual reality kn-keyword=Virtual reality en-keyword=Science education kn-keyword=Science education en-keyword=Immersive learning kn-keyword=Immersive learning en-keyword=Design quality kn-keyword=Design quality en-keyword=PLS-SEM kn-keyword=PLS-SEM en-keyword=Technology adoption kn-keyword=Technology adoption END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=49 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=1992 end-page=2003 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260514 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effect of population-approach programs promoting salt reduction and potassium intake in Japan: the Population-based Sodium/Potassium Improvement Program (PoSPIP) en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Reducing sodium intake in populations is essential, but insufficient for preventing and managing high blood pressure, while the importance of increasing potassium intake is overlooked. We investigated the effects of 1-year population-approach programs (2021?2022) promoting salt reduction and potassium intake using urinalysis feedback and food environment improvement. This retrospective observational study included 7649 participants (mean age, 54.0 years; 45.3% women) from 11 municipalities and 4 workplaces. Outcomes in intensive support programs?including urinary sodium, potassium, and sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio measurements with feedback, dietary promotion, and food environment improvement?were compared with standard support programs providing usual health guidance. In linear regression adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, and medical history, the reduction in urinary Na/K ratio was greater in the intensive support group (n?=?4064) than in the standard support group (n?=?3585) (mean difference ?0.14 [95% confidence interval, ?0.27 to ?0.01]). Although estimated potassium intake decreased in both groups, the decline was smaller in the intensive support group (mean difference 31 [12 to 51] mg/day). Estimated salt intake did not differ between the groups. The intensive support group showed greater increases in diastolic blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and smaller increases in blood glucose, as well as greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c and Salt Check Sheet scores. Mean differences between the groups for endpoints were not heterogeneous across intensive support program types. Our findings support the development of hypertension prevention and management strategies that promote healthier dietary behaviors and can be implemented in community and workplace settings, with broad public health applicability. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HisamatsuTakashi en-aut-sei=Hisamatsu en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KinutaMinako en-aut-sei=Kinuta en-aut-mei=Minako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhkuboTakayoshi en-aut-sei=Ohkubo en-aut-mei=Takayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsuchihashiTakuya en-aut-sei=Tsuchihashi en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshitaKatsushi en-aut-sei=Yoshita en-aut-mei=Katsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakemiYukari en-aut-sei=Takemi en-aut-mei=Yukari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayabuchiHitomi en-aut-sei=Hayabuchi en-aut-mei=Hitomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamiYukiko en-aut-sei=Okami en-aut-mei=Yukiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitaokaKaori en-aut-sei=Kitaoka en-aut-mei=Kaori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakaguchiKeiko en-aut-sei=Sakaguchi en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HozawaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Hozawa en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamuraTomonori en-aut-sei=Okamura en-aut-mei=Tomonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItohHiroshi en-aut-sei=Itoh en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=RakugiHiromi en-aut-sei=Rakugi en-aut-mei=Hiromi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=NodeKoichi en-aut-sei=Node en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiuraKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Miura en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Cardiovascular Center, Steel Memorial Yawata Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Public Health, Nutrition, School of Human Life and Ecology, Osaka Metropolitan University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Faculty of Nutrition, Kagawa Nutrition University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Health and Environmental Sciences, Fukuoka Women’s University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Gunma University Center for Food Science and Wellness kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Faculty of Nursing and Nutrition, Shukutoku University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Japanese Society of Hypertension kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Japanese Society of Hypertension kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Japanese Society of Hypertension kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science kn-affil= en-keyword=Implemental hypertension kn-keyword=Implemental hypertension en-keyword=Sodium kn-keyword=Sodium en-keyword=Potassium kn-keyword=Potassium en-keyword=Urinalysis kn-keyword=Urinalysis en-keyword=Food environment kn-keyword=Food environment END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260722 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Dissociation between globe shape-induced rectus muscle pulley displacement and abduction limitation in patients aged 40?years and older with high myopic strabismus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose We hypothesized that high myopia (HM)-induced globe deformation displaces rectus muscle (RM) pulleys, contributing to mild ocular motility restriction. This study investigated the effects of globe shape on RM pulley positions in older Japanese patients with acquired strabismus (AS) and mild motility restriction?defined as the ability to abduct both eyes beyond the midline.
Methods In this retrospective case series, 28 patients (mean age?±?standard deviation: 61.2?±?9.0 years) with adult-onset AS were included: 6 patients with (LAB group) and 22 patients without abduction limitation (NLAB group). In each subject, the eye with the longer axial length (AL???26 mm), measured using an AL measurement apparatus, was analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RM pulley positions relative to the globe center and equatorial diameter (ED) were measured; the ED-to-AL ratio (EAR) was calculated. We compared these parameters between groups and analyzed correlations of globe-shape factors (EAR, AL, and ED) with pulley positions and age.
Results No significant differences in EAR, AL, ED, or pulley positions were detected between LAB and NLAB groups, possibly owing to the limited sample size and group imbalance, in the analyzed eyes. However, as EAR decreased (prolate deformation), the superior rectus (SR) pulley (r?=?0.68, P? Conclusions In older Japanese patients with HM and AS, prolate globe deformation was associated with age and significantly correlated with SR and IR pulley positions. While the direct relationship between these structural changes and the clinical degree of mild abduction limitation requires further investigation in larger cohorts, EAR sensitively reflected age-related morphological shifts; thus, when used in conjunction with AL, EAR may represent a readily measurable MRI-based parameter associated with restrictive motility tendencies in strabismus with high myopia. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KonoReika en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Reika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamasakiIchiro en-aut-sei=Hamasaki en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KishimotoFumiko en-aut-sei=Kishimoto en-aut-mei=Fumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShibataKiyo en-aut-sei=Shibata en-aut-mei=Kiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorisawaShin en-aut-sei=Morisawa en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorizaneYuki en-aut-sei=Morizane en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Lino Eye Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Ophthalmology, Ibara City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Lino Eye Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Heavy eye syndrome kn-keyword=Heavy eye syndrome en-keyword=High myopia kn-keyword=High myopia en-keyword=Magnetic resonance imaging kn-keyword=Magnetic resonance imaging en-keyword=Prolate deformation kn-keyword=Prolate deformation en-keyword=Rectus muscle pulley kn-keyword=Rectus muscle pulley en-keyword=Strabismus kn-keyword=Strabismus END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=e70289 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260331 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Recurrence of Pulmonary Hypertension After Unilateral Lung Transplantation: Histological Evidence of Vasoconstrictive Mechanism en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is widely recognized as a disease driven by both vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling. Vasoconstriction is thought to play a predominant role in the early stages of PH, whereas the contribution of vascular remodeling increases as the disease progresses. However, clinical or histological evidence of this pathological progression has not been reported. We describe a case of recurrent PH after unilateral right lung transplantation, ultimately requiring bilateral transplantation 9 years later, and discuss the pathogenesis of PH based on histological findings in the transplanted normal lungs and changes in pulmonary blood flow observed by lung perfusion scintigraphy. Serial lung perfusion scintigraphy revealed a dynamic shift in pulmonary blood flow, initially favoring the transplanted lung, followed by a gradual decline. Histological examination demonstrated that the right lung of the second transplantation showed minimal vascular remodeling. These findings provide compelling evidence that vasoconstriction was the predominant contributor to PH after the first transplantation, offering unique insight into early PH pathobiology. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AkagiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Akagi en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoMegumi en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Megumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchimuraKoichi en-aut-sei=Ichimura en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoSeiichiro en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Seiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=EjiriKentaro en-aut-sei=Ejiri en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraKazufumi en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Kazufumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuasaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Yuasa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Organ Transplant Center, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Center for Advanced Heart Failure, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=pulmonary arterial hypertension kn-keyword=pulmonary arterial hypertension en-keyword=vascular remodeling kn-keyword=vascular remodeling en-keyword=vasoconstriction kn-keyword=vasoconstriction END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=33 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=228 end-page=236 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260201 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=A Case of Acquired LCAT Deficiency with the Discrepancy between Spontaneous Resolution of Proteinuria and Continually Low HDL Cholesterol Levels en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=A 79-year-old Chinese man was referred for nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria 4.4 g/day). In blood tests, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was undetectable, and the esterified cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio was very low. Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was also undetectable. Since he had neither corneal opacity nor pathological mutations in the LCAT gene and anti-LCAT antibodies were detected in serum, a diagnosis of acquired LCAT deficiency was made. Renal biopsy revealed glomerulopathy associated with LCAT deficiency and membranous nephropathy (MN). Since the patient’s proteinuria did not improve despite prescribing an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), we suggested the prescription of prednisolone, but he returned to China due to the expiration of his residence visa for Japan. One year after the initial visit, his proteinuria had improved to 0.9 g/day without immunosuppressive therapy. However, his HDL cholesterol level was still low at around 3 mg/dL, indicating a discrepancy between remission of nephrotic syndrome and lack of improvement in lipid levels.
Of the 11 patients with acquired LCAT deficiency reported to date, 4 with undetectable LCAT activity and MN on renal biopsy required immunosuppressive therapy to alleviate proteinuria. The present patient was prescribed only an ARB according to his preference, which happened to be consistent with the MN treatment guideline that states, “Wait 6 months for spontaneous remission while using maximal antiproteinuric therapy.” The clinical course of acquired LCAT deficiency varies, and further case reports are needed to determine the necessity of immunosuppressive therapy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuoMiki en-aut-sei=Matsuo en-aut-mei=Miki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguraMasatsune en-aut-sei=Ogura en-aut-mei=Masatsune kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaMasayuki en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArisatoTetsuya en-aut-sei=Arisato en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KishidaMasatsugu en-aut-sei=Kishida en-aut-mei=Masatsugu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=Harada-ShibaMariko en-aut-sei=Harada-Shiba en-aut-mei=Mariko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaJun en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoteKoutaro en-aut-sei=Yokote en-aut-mei=Koutaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaFumiki en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Fumiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Clinical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Medical Science, Juntendo University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Center for Advanced Medicine, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Cardiovascular Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center kn-affil= en-keyword=Acquired LCAT deficiency kn-keyword=Acquired LCAT deficiency en-keyword=HDL deficiency kn-keyword=HDL deficiency en-keyword=Nephrotic syndrome kn-keyword=Nephrotic syndrome en-keyword=Membranous glomerulonephritis kn-keyword=Membranous glomerulonephritis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=87 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=429 end-page=433 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Cardio-ankle vascular index as a screening tool for coronary artery disease in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common hepatic disorder that significantly increases cardiovascular risk. However, no established screening method exists for detecting subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in this high-risk population. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a blood pressure?independent measure of arterial stiffness, may offer a non-invasive tool for early detection of coronary atherosclerosis.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 295 patients with MASLD who underwent both CAVI measurement and coronary computed tomography angiography at a single center. Significant CAD was defined as ?50?% luminal stenosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate diagnostic performance. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent associations between elevated CAVI and CAD. The incremental predictive value of CAVI was assessed using net reclassification improvement (NRI).
Results: Of the 295 patients, 110 (37.3?%) had significant CAD. Patients with CAD had significantly higher CAVI values (9.0 vs. 8.7, p?=?0.007). The area under the ROC curve for CAVI predicting CAD was 0.614. A CAVI cut-off of 8.6 provided a sensitivity of 66.4?% and a specificity of 56.8?%. CAVI ?8.0 was independently associated with CAD (OR 3.44, 95?% CI: 1.06?11.2, p?=?0.040). Adding CAVI to a conventional risk model improved risk reclassification (NRI 0.4236, p? Conclusions: CAVI is independently associated with significant coronary stenosis in MASLD patients and may serve as a non-invasive screening tool to enhance cardiovascular risk stratification. Its moderate diagnostic accuracy suggests utility as a component of a multifactorial risk assessment strategy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakashimaMitsutaka en-aut-sei=Nakashima en-aut-mei=Mitsutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiToru en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UekiYuta en-aut-sei=Ueki en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiharaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Nishihara en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MikiTakashi en-aut-sei=Miki en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaraShohei en-aut-sei=Hara en-aut-mei=Shohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchikawaKeishi en-aut-sei=Ichikawa en-aut-mei=Keishi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsawaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Osawa en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuasaShinsuke en-aut-sei=Yuasa en-aut-mei=Shinsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Internal Medicine 3, Kawasaki Medical School General Medicine Centre kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Cardio-ankle vascular index kn-keyword=Cardio-ankle vascular index en-keyword=Steatotic liver kn-keyword=Steatotic liver en-keyword=Coronary artery disease kn-keyword=Coronary artery disease en-keyword=Arterial stiffness kn-keyword=Arterial stiffness en-keyword=Screening kn-keyword=Screening END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260707 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Sex differences and contest experience shape walking patterns in the broad-horned flour beetle en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Animal movement patterns vary widely across species, and sex differences are often expected because males typically need to encounter multiple females and acquire resources. In species where males engage in male?male combat using exaggerated weapons, variation in weapon size and contest outcomes is known to influence male reproductive strategies, and may therefore also affect movement behavior. However, sex-specific and male-specific differences in locomotor behavior, particularly in relation to weapon size and social interactions, remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated walking trajectories in the broad-horned flour beetle (Gnatocerus cornutus) to test for (1) sex differences, (2) associations between male weapon size and movement behavior, and (3) the effects of male?male combat. Males exhibited more tortuous and localized movement, whereas females showed straighter and more spatially extensive trajectories. Following contests, all males showed a reduction in activity regardless of contest outcome; however, winners and losers exhibited divergent changes in movement patterns, with winners showing straighter and more spatially extensive trajectories and losers showing more tortuous and localized trajectories. In contrast, body-size-corrected weapon size was not associated with any aspect of walking behavior. These results indicate that locomotor behavior in G. cornutus varies with sex and contest experience, and that variation in walking behavior is more closely associated with social experience than with weapon morphology. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsumuraKentarou en-aut-sei=Matsumura en-aut-mei=Kentarou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HashiokaSora en-aut-sei=Hashioka en-aut-mei=Sora kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagayaNaohisa en-aut-sei=Nagaya en-aut-mei=Naohisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisawaRyusuke en-aut-sei=Fujisawa en-aut-mei=Ryusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyatakeTakahisa en-aut-sei=Miyatake en-aut-mei=Takahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Information Science and Engineering, Kyoto Sangyo University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Kitakyushu, kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Turning angle kn-keyword=Turning angle en-keyword= Acceleration kn-keyword= Acceleration en-keyword=Male-male combat kn-keyword=Male-male combat en-keyword=Weapon kn-keyword=Weapon en-keyword=ANTAM kn-keyword=ANTAM END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=65 cd-vols= no-issue=8 article-no= start-page=1172 end-page=1177 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260415 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Autopsy Case of a Disseminated Cytomegalovirus Infection with a Cutaneous Ulcer Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=A 60-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis and an impaired consciousness was referred to our hospital. Prior to transfer, the patient underwent intensified immunosuppressive therapy under a diagnosis of rheumatoid vasculitis that had developed in her buttocks. Upon hospitalization, she developed severe multiorgan failure and hemophagocytic syndrome. Four days after admission, both blood cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia and the DNA load were markedly elevated. Despite intensive care, the patient died. Later, a histopathological examination revealed that the cutaneous manifestation represented CMV disease, not rheumatoid vasculitis, as was initially suspected. Failure to identify CMV as the underlying cause may result in the inappropriate administration of immunosuppressive therapy, potentially worsening the patient's condition. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OguniKohei en-aut-sei=Oguni en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoYukichika en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Yukichika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshidaTomoharu en-aut-sei=Ishida en-aut-mei=Tomoharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhkiTomoka en-aut-sei=Ohki en-aut-mei=Tomoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaFumio en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Fumio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=autopsy kn-keyword=autopsy en-keyword=cytomegalovirus kn-keyword=cytomegalovirus en-keyword=cutaneous cytomegalovirus kn-keyword=cutaneous cytomegalovirus en-keyword=virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome kn-keyword=virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome en-keyword=rheumatoid vasculitis kn-keyword=rheumatoid vasculitis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=58 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=105422 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202604 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Pathological features of residual head and neck cancer after near-infrared photoimmunotherapy: implications of an unfavorable tumor immune microenvironment en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy has been approved in Japan for unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer. While this therapy theoretically induces selective necrosis of epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing tumor cells following administration of cetuximab sarotalocan sodium and irradiation with 690-nm light, residual disease is not uncommon in clinical practice. The mechanisms underlying such persistence remain poorly understood.
Methods: We examined two patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who underwent salvage resection due to residual disease after four cycles of near-infrared photoimmunotherapy. Resected specimens were subjected to histopathological evaluation, including immunohistochemistry for epidermal growth factor receptor, cluster of differentiation 8, programmed cell death protein 1, and forkhead box P3 proteins.
Results: In both cases, residual tumor cells were predominantly localized in the superficial mucosal layers, while deeper layers were replaced by fibrosis. All residual tumors retained expression of epidermal growth factor receptor. Lymphocytic infiltration was sparse, with scattered cluster of differentiation 8-positive cells but few programmed cell death protein 1-positive or forkhead box P3-positive lymphocytes. These findings suggest that the tumor microenvironment surrounding residual tumors may have been unfavorable for the induction of robust antitumor immune responses.
Conclusion: Residual tumors after near-infrared photoimmunotherapy can occur despite adequate laser irradiation and epidermal growth factor receptor expression. Our observations imply that insufficient immune activation within the tumor microenvironment may contribute to treatment resistance. Further characterization of the post-photoimmunotherapy tumor microenvironment will be essential to better understand treatment mechanisms and to optimize therapeutic efficacy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MakinoTakuma en-aut-sei=Makino en-aut-mei=Takuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoYasuharu en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Yasuharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishikoriAsami en-aut-sei=Nishikori en-aut-mei=Asami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaoiYuto en-aut-sei=Naoi en-aut-mei=Yuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AndoMizuo en-aut-sei=Ando en-aut-mei=Mizuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hematopathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=NIR-PIT kn-keyword=NIR-PIT en-keyword=EGFR kn-keyword=EGFR en-keyword=CD8 kn-keyword=CD8 en-keyword=PD-1 kn-keyword=PD-1 en-keyword=FOXP3 kn-keyword=FOXP3 en-keyword=Tumor microenvironment kn-keyword=Tumor microenvironment en-keyword=Photoimmunotherapy kn-keyword=Photoimmunotherapy en-keyword=Head and neck cancer kn-keyword=Head and neck cancer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=112 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=104642 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Relationship between the Hounsfield Unit value of the greater trochanter and the risk of greater trochanteric fractures in anterolateral muscle-sparing minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: No previous studies have investigated the association between the risk of greater trochanteric fractures and the Hounsfield Unit (HU) of the greater trochanter in muscle-sparing minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (MIS-THA). This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for greater trochanteric fractures in anterolateral MIS-THA.
Hypothesis: Lower HU values of the greater trochanter are associated with a higher risk of intraoperative and early postoperative greater trochanteric fractures.
Patients and methods: This single-center retrospective observational study included 223 patients (257 hips) who underwent primary THA for osteoarthritis or osteonecrosis between January 2010 and August 2024 using a minimally invasive anterolateral approach in the lateral position. All surgeries were performed by four surgeons. Preoperative CT was used to reconstruct coronal sections including the femoral head center and proximal femoral axis, and cancellous HU values of the greater trochanter were measured. Postoperative CT (1 week) with metal artifact reduction was routinely performed; fractures were defined as cortical fracture lines on 3D-reconstructed CT and assessed by two independent orthopedic surgeons. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of fractures.
Results: The incidence of greater trochanteric fractures was 6.6% (17/257 hips). Twelve of these fractures (70.6%) were recognized intraoperatively or immediately postoperatively. Full hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated stems were associated with an increased fracture risk compared with other designs (relative risk [RR], 2.68; 95% CI, 1.07?6.68). Age, sex, BMI, ASA physical status, and diagnosis were not significantly associated with fractures. Multivariate analysis identified lower HU values (odds ratio [OR], 0.973; p < 0.0001) and full HA-coated stems (OR, 13.3; p = 0.04) as independent predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined an optimal cut-off of 72.0 HU (sensitivity, 0.941; specificity, 0.742), with a value ?72.0 HU demonstrating high predictive power (RR, 36.7; p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: Preoperative measurement of HU values in the greater trochanter is a useful screening tool for identifying patients at increased risk of fractures in anterolateral MIS-THA. While an HU value of ? 72.0 necessitates careful intraoperative management and increased vigilance, it should be interpreted as an indicator of risk rather than a definitive predictor of fracture due to its moderate specificity.
Level of evidence: IV; retrospective study. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkudaRyuichiro en-aut-sei=Okuda en-aut-mei=Ryuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsunagaTomonori en-aut-sei=Tetsunaga en-aut-mei=Tomonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaKazuki en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsunagaTomoko en-aut-sei=Tetsunaga en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueTomohiro en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasadaYasutaka en-aut-sei=Masada en-aut-mei=Yasutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoTetsuya en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoShin en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiYuki en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Musculoskeletal Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Periprosthetic fracture kn-keyword=Periprosthetic fracture en-keyword=Anterolateral approach kn-keyword=Anterolateral approach en-keyword=Direct anterior approach kn-keyword=Direct anterior approach en-keyword=Bone density kn-keyword=Bone density en-keyword=Hip prosthesis kn-keyword=Hip prosthesis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=9 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=838 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260418 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=In vivo activities of E1 elements in the insulin promoter en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In this study, we evaluated the in vivo activity of the E1 element within the insulin promoter region. While we successfully obtained mice carrying a deletion exclusively in the E1 element of Ins2 (2E mice), we were unable to obtain mice with a deletion limited to the E1 element of Ins1. To assess the role of the E1 element in Ins1, we compared the mice carrying deletions in the GG2-GG1/A2-C1 elements with or without an additional E1 element deletion (1GC/1GCE mice). 1GCE2E mice developed diabetes. In contrast, 1GCE23 mice (without deletion in the E1 element of Ins2) did not develop diabetes, suggesting that the E1 element of Ins2 is critical for transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, 1GC2E mice (presence of the E1 element of Ins1) developed diabetes. However, the severity of the disease was milder in 1GC2E mice than in 1GCE2E mice, indicating that the E1 element of Ins1 also contributes to transcriptional regulation. These data suggest that the E1 elements in both Ins1/2 promoters are regulated for the in vivo transcription of insulin genes in mice. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NoguchiHirofumi en-aut-sei=Noguchi en-aut-mei=Hirofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=Miyagi-ShiohiraChika en-aut-sei=Miyagi-Shiohira en-aut-mei=Chika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SadahiraTakuya en-aut-sei=Sadahira en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeMasami en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Masami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitohIssei en-aut-sei=Saitoh en-aut-mei=Issei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Asahi University School of Dentistry kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=1050 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260423 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Differences in understanding of explanations and risk perception between dental staff and patients: a questionnaire study at a university hospital en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background and purpose: Proper self-care necessitates behavioral changes, underpinned by correct knowledge. Oral health literacy (OHL) research constitutes a fundamental foundation for fostering effective self-care practices. However, the extent of the awareness gap between patients and dental staff regarding explanations provided during treatment remains unknown. This descriptive study was conducted to serve as an initial step in bridging this gap.
Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 92 dental staff members and 205 patients at university hospitals, with responses from 72 staff members and 157 patients.
Results: In the category assessing understanding of explanations (patient vs. dental staff), patients’ self-assessed understanding exceeded the dental staff’s estimates in three aspects: disease name (p?=?0.03, r?=?0.17), treatment period (p?=?0.01, r?=?0.21), and pain relief (p?=?0.01, r?=?0.19). Regarding health self-awareness, the high-scoring group significantly outperformed the low-scoring group in explaining treatment risks (p?=?0.03, r?=?0.21) and understanding (p?=?0.01, r?=?0.23). Nevertheless, patients’ risk recognition was higher than that of dental staff in three aspects: root canal treatment (p? Conclusion: Dental staff should not be satisfied merely with having "explained" something to the patient; they must engage in a confirmation process to verify the patient's correct understanding of the information or to identify excessive anxiety. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OtomoShiho en-aut-sei=Otomo en-aut-mei=Shiho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisakiMaoko en-aut-sei=Fujisaki en-aut-mei=Maoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanagaseRisako en-aut-sei=Yanagase en-aut-mei=Risako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NoritakeKanako en-aut-sei=Noritake en-aut-mei=Kanako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanagiYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Yanagi en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiharaTaro en-aut-sei=Sugihara en-aut-mei=Taro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo kn-affil= en-keyword=Dental care kn-keyword=Dental care en-keyword=Dentist-patient relations kn-keyword=Dentist-patient relations en-keyword=Recognition gaps kn-keyword=Recognition gaps en-keyword=Oral health literacy kn-keyword=Oral health literacy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=34 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=1 end-page=10 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Similar functional outcomes but different remodeling patterns: A minimum 5-years radiographic comparison of short fit-and-fill stem and quadrangular taper stem en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: ACTIS and CORAIL are cementless titanium femoral stems with hydroxyapatite (HA) coating but differing macro-geometries: ACTIS features a variable triple-taper with a medial collar, whereas CORAIL is a straight double-tapered design available with or without a collar. We compared mid-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of these stems with a minimum 5-years follow-up.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 114 primary total hip arthroplasties using ACTIS (63 hips) or CORAIL (51 hips). Clinical outcomes and standardized radiographic parameters were assessed and compared between groups.
Results: The canal-fill ratio (CFR) was significantly greater at the proximal, middle, and distal levels in the ACTIS group. Spot-weld formation was more frequent with ACTIS than with CORAIL (58.7% vs 35.3%). In logistic regression, proximal CFR significantly predicted spot-weld formation for ACTIS, with an optimal cutoff of 66.2% (sensitivity 91.9%, specificity 72.0%). Rates of subsidence, radiolucent lines, and pedestal formation did not differ significantly between groups. No severe stress shielding was observed with ACTIS, whereas three CORAIL hips demonstrated severe stress shielding (0% vs 5.9%). Clinical scores improved significantly in both groups, with no significant between-group differences at final follow-up.
Conclusions: Both stems yielded favorable radiographic and clinical mid-term outcomes. In ACTIS, greater proximal canal fill was associated with radiographic osseointegration, suggesting proximal CFR as a probabilistic radiographic marker of stem ingrowth. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MasadaYasutaka en-aut-sei=Masada en-aut-mei=Yasutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsunagaTomonori en-aut-sei=Tetsunaga en-aut-mei=Tomonori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraKazuo en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Kazuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaKazuki en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueTomohiro en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkudaRyuichiro en-aut-sei=Okuda en-aut-mei=Ryuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsunagaTomoko en-aut-sei=Tetsunaga en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiYuki en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Musculoskeletal Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama City General Medical Center, Okayama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Center for Education in Medicine and Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Medicine, Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=total hip arthroplasty kn-keyword=total hip arthroplasty en-keyword=ACTIS kn-keyword=ACTIS en-keyword=CORAIL kn-keyword=CORAIL en-keyword=mid-term outcome kn-keyword=mid-term outcome en-keyword=retrospective study kn-keyword=retrospective study END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=5862 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260428 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The role of Pth1r in posterior cranium cartilage regulation and craniosynostosis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Craniosynostosis is a major craniofacial congenital disorder that causes developmental complications. During normal cranial development, intramembranous ossification forms the flat bones and sutures, while cartilage appears transiently in the posterior calvarial region. However, in craniosynostosis, premature suture fusion disturbs normal calvarial morphogenesis. To clarify the role of transient cartilage in this morphogenetic disruption, we investigated its molecular regulation and pathology in mice, focusing on parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (Pth1r) signaling. Conditional deletion of Pth1r in the cranial mesenchyme unexpectedly caused acrocephalic dysmorphology and craniosynostosis, with altered cartilage differentiation. Occipito?interparietal synostosis consistently occurred in Pth1r-ablated Gli1+ and Acan+ lineages, but not after adult Gli1-CreERT2 deletion, indicating a developmental role. Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq analysis revealed nine mesenchymal subsets, with mutant cells showing abnormal chondrocyte differentiation and upregulated Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling. These findings indicate that Pth1r maintains proper chondrogenic regulation during calvarial development, and its loss induces craniosynostosis through Ihh overactivation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=AmanoKatsuhiko en-aut-sei=Amano en-aut-mei=Katsuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkuzakiDaisuke en-aut-sei=Okuzaki en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujimotoYuji en-aut-sei=Fujimoto en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=LiuYu-Chen en-aut-sei=Liu en-aut-mei=Yu-Chen kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KogoMikihiko en-aut-sei=Kogo en-aut-mei=Mikihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IidaSeiji en-aut-sei=Iida en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Laboratory of Human Immunology (Single Cell Genomics), WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Laboratory of Human Immunology (Single Cell Genomics), WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Laboratory of Human Immunology (Single Cell Genomics), WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=The First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=46 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=ruag033 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202607 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Estimating the distributional expansion of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae) in South Korea using environmental DNA analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is a globally invasive species that poses serious threats to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In South Korea, established populations of P. clarkii have been documented from the Jiseokcheon River in the Yeongsangang River basin since 2018; however, information on its current nationwide distribution remains limited. We conducted environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys at 19 sites across 11 river systems in South Korea, including sites with no prior distributional records, to evaluate the current distribution and potential range expansion of P. clarkii. Water samples collected during July-August 2024 were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) with two species-specific primer-probe sets targeting the mitochondrial COI gene. Procambarus clarkii eDNA was detected at three sites in the Yeongsangang River basin, whereas no eDNA was detected in the other surveyed river systems. Notably, P. clarkii eDNA was not detected at a site in the Mangyeonggang River system despite previous reports of individuals and eDNA data sampled there, indicating a possible local population decline or very low abundance. By contrast, detections within the Yeongsangang River basin, together with elevated eDNA concentrations at some sites, are consistent with localized upstream expansion and increased local abundance. The concordant results from the two primer-probe sets, together with Sterivex-based on-site filtration, support the reliability of the applied eDNA framework. These findings identify the Yeongsangang River basin as the current primary focus of the P. clarkii invasion in South Korea, with evidence consistent with localized upstream expansion and increasing abundance, and provide baseline data for early detection and long-term monitoring, as well as for developing management strategies. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HamSeong-Nam en-aut-sei=Ham en-aut-mei=Seong-Nam kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriuchiKaito en-aut-sei=Moriuchi en-aut-mei=Kaito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakataKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Nakata en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Crustacea kn-keyword=Crustacea en-keyword=early detection kn-keyword=early detection en-keyword=eDNA kn-keyword=eDNA en-keyword=freshwater ecosystems kn-keyword=freshwater ecosystems en-keyword=red swamp crayfish kn-keyword=red swamp crayfish END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=hyag102 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260703 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Impact of pre-existing schizophrenia spectrum disorder on the receipt of invasive and systemic therapy for gastric cancer: a multicenter nationwide cohort study in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) experience higher cancer mortality, partly because of later-stage diagnosis and lower rates of recommended treatments. While treatment disparities have been reported across several cancer types, no study has specifically examined stage-appropriate treatment for gastric cancer among patients with SSD.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide Hospital-Based Cancer Registry linked to administrative data in Japan. Patients who received initial treatment for gastric cancer between 2018 and 2021 were included. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the association between SSD and the receipt of stage-appropriate cancer treatments, adjusting for age, sex, clinical stage, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and Barthel Index.
Results: Among 189?447 patients from 709 hospitals, 1312 had SSD. Patients with SSD were more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages. In crude analysis, SSD was associated with lower rates of surgical or endoscopic treatment; however, this association was not statistically significant after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75?1.08). In contrast, SSD was independently associated with lower rates of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for pathological stage II/III disease (aOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45?0.91) and systemic therapy for stage IV disease (aOR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.28?0.47).
Conclusions: Among patients with gastric cancer, SSD was associated with reduced receipt of systemic therapy but not surgical or endoscopic treatment. Efforts to improve early detection among patients with SSD may be important for reducing treatment disparities, alongside strengthened support for systemic therapy to ensure equitable access to guideline-recommended gastric cancer care. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KhantMyo Min en-aut-sei=Khant en-aut-mei=Myo Min kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraMasaki en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaYuto en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Yuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiiTaisuke en-aut-sei=Ishii en-aut-mei=Taisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeTomone en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Tomone kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukaoTakashi en-aut-sei=Fukao en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujimoriMaiko en-aut-sei=Fujimori en-aut-mei=Maiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakayaNaoki en-aut-sei=Nakaya en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawamuraToshihiko en-aut-sei=Kawamura en-aut-mei=Toshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukiKoji en-aut-sei=Otsuki en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KakiuchiYoshihiko en-aut-sei=Kakiuchi en-aut-mei=Yoshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimazuTaichi en-aut-sei=Shimazu en-aut-mei=Taichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HinotsuShiro en-aut-sei=Hinotsu en-aut-mei=Shiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchitomiYosuke en-aut-sei=Uchitomi en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=InagakiMasatoshi en-aut-sei=Inagaki en-aut-mei=Masatoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Health Services Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Health Services Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Survivorship Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Informatics, Shimane University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Division of Behavioral Sciences, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Biostatistics and Data Management, Sapporo Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Cancer Survivorship and Digital Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University kn-affil= en-keyword=healthcare disparities kn-keyword=healthcare disparities en-keyword=schizophrenia Spectrum and other psychotic disorders kn-keyword=schizophrenia Spectrum and other psychotic disorders en-keyword=stomach neoplasms kn-keyword=stomach neoplasms END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=136 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=e195021 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260310 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Spatial single-cell proteotyping reveals immunotherapy-resistant features within the complex tumor microenvironment of metastatic NSCLC en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=BACKGROUND. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the programmed cell death 1 axis have revolutionized metastatic non?small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) treatment. However, disease progression remains a concern, and the role of the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) in treatment failure is not fully understood.
METHODS. In this biomarker study involving 103 patients with mNSCLC, including 81 patients who received ICI treatment, we evaluated the association between heterogeneous immune cell subsets and ICI efficacy through single-cell spatial profiling of pretreatment tumor tissue, using a 29-marker multiplex IHC platform built for in-depth dissection of the TME.
RESULTS. Among various types of intratumoral lymphocytes, including Th1, Treg, and NK cells, only CD8+ T cells (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes [TILs]) were associated with ICI efficacy. Computational tissue segmentation underscored the importance of direct physical interactions between CD8+ TILs and cancer cells for ICI efficacy. TIL phenotyping identified CD39/CD103/Ki-67 positivity as a hallmark of exhausted yet functional tumor-reactive CD8+ TILs. Immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts were independent unfavorable adversaries. High CD73 expression on cancer cells was suggested to confer tolerance to ICI in EGFR/ALK-oncogene+ NSCLC, potentially through M2-TAM accumulation and aberrant angiogenesis.
CONCLUSION. Our study delineates the clinical relevance of heterogeneous immune cell subsets in ICI-treated mNSCLC, aiding the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IsomotoKohsuke en-aut-sei=Isomoto en-aut-mei=Kohsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HarataniKoji en-aut-sei=Haratani en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujikawaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Tsujikawa en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomidaShuta en-aut-sei=Tomida en-aut-mei=Shuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakutaniYusuke en-aut-sei=Makutani en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakedaMasayuki en-aut-sei=Takeda en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YonesakaKimio en-aut-sei=Yonesaka en-aut-mei=Kimio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaKaoru en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasaTsutomu en-aut-sei=Iwasa en-aut-mei=Tsutomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakaiKazuko en-aut-sei=Sakai en-aut-mei=Kazuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishioKazuto en-aut-sei=Nishio en-aut-mei=Kazuto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoAkihiko en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Akihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakagawaKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Nakagawa en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiHidetoshi en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Hidetoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Surgery, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Genome Biology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Genome Biology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=19282 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260427 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Dual-calibration RT-qPCR reveals distinct dnaK1/2/3 and groEL1/2 expression dynamics under heat and acid stress in the sinefungin producer Streptomyces incarnatus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Streptomyces incarnatus NRRL8089 produces sinefungin, a nucleoside antibiotic whose yield is enhanced under defined environmental stresses. Here, dual-calibration RT-qPCR was used to resolve paralogue-specific expression dynamics of the dnaK and groE chaperone systems under heat and acid stress conditions that increase sinefungin titres. The canonical dnaK1?dnaJ1 and groES?groEL1 operons exhibited moderate induction, whereas monocistronic paralogues (dnaK2, dnaK3 and groEL2) showed markedly higher inducibility, with up to ~?125-fold increases relative to baseline expression. Promoter analyses revealed conserved inverted repeats and differences in predicted secondary-structure stability, suggesting that promoter architecture contributes to paralogue-specific responsiveness. Structural modelling indicated divergence among DnaK paralogues in regions associated with substrate interaction, whereas GroEL paralogues retained a conserved overall scaffold, consistent with kinetic rather than structural differentiation. Together, these findings indicate that duplicated paralogues are not functionally redundant but are differentially regulated to partition proteostasis capacity under stress. This paralogue-specific regulation may provide a framework linking environmental perturbation to secondary-metabolite production in actinomycetes. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Xiao-HuiZhao en-aut-sei=Xiao-Hui en-aut-mei=Zhao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuboMao en-aut-sei=Kubo en-aut-mei=Mao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamagataHaruka en-aut-sei=Yamagata en-aut-mei=Haruka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakashimaYuriko en-aut-sei=Nakashima en-aut-mei=Yuriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasunumaTomohisa en-aut-sei=Hasunuma en-aut-mei=Tomohisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanaoTadayoshi en-aut-sei=Kanao en-aut-mei=Tadayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TamuraTakashi en-aut-sei=Tamura en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Heat shock kn-keyword=Heat shock en-keyword=Acid stress kn-keyword=Acid stress en-keyword=dnaK kn-keyword=dnaK en-keyword=hspR kn-keyword=hspR en-keyword=groES kn-keyword=groES en-keyword=groEL kn-keyword=groEL en-keyword=Sinefungin kn-keyword=Sinefungin en-keyword=Streptomyces incarnatus kn-keyword=Streptomyces incarnatus END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=87 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=680 end-page=684 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of heat stress on gene expression associated with antioxidant capacity of bovine early antral follicles en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Heat exposure at the physiological level of oocyte-cumulus-granulosa cell complexes (OCGCs) during in vitro growth (IVG) culture decreases the reduced glutathione (GSH) level of oocytes, an antioxidant, but its mechanism has been unclear. We subjected OCGCs to IVG for 4, 8, or 12 days and investigated the effects of heat exposure on the gene expression of cumulus-granulosa cells associated with antioxidant capacity. Heat exposure did not alter the expression of genes related to GSH synthesis or reuse. Conversely, heat exposure increased mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase 2 and decreased that of glutathione peroxidase 1, which are antioxidant enzymes. Ultimately, heat exposure alters the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in growing follicles, which may indirectly decrease the GSH level of oocytes. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KAWANOKohei en-aut-sei=KAWANO en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SAKAGUCHIKenichiro en-aut-sei=SAKAGUCHI en-aut-mei=Kenichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FURUKAWAEri en-aut-sei=FURUKAWA en-aut-mei=Eri kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NINPETCHNattapong en-aut-sei=NINPETCH en-aut-mei=Nattapong kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YANAGAWAYojiro en-aut-sei=YANAGAWA en-aut-mei=Yojiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KATAGIRISeiji en-aut-sei=KATAGIRI en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Laboratory of Veterinary Theriogenology, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= en-keyword=antioxidant capacity kn-keyword=antioxidant capacity en-keyword=bovine kn-keyword=bovine en-keyword=early antral follicle kn-keyword=early antral follicle en-keyword=in vitro growth kn-keyword=in vitro growth en-keyword=oxidative stress kn-keyword=oxidative stress END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=206 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=e00307-24 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241024 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Overexpression of diglucosyldiacylglycerol synthase leads to daptomycin resistance in Bacillus subtilis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin exhibits bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria by forming a complex with phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and lipid II in the cell membrane, causing membrane perforation. With the emergence of daptomycin-resistant bacteria, understanding the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to daptomycin has gained great importance. In this study, we aimed to identify the genetic factors contributing to daptomycin resistance in Bacillus subtilis, a model Gram-positive bacterium. Our findings demonstrated that overexpression of ugtP, which encodes diglucosyldiacylglycerol synthase, induces daptomycin resistance in B. subtilis. Specifically, overexpression of ugtP resulted in increased levels of diglucosyldiacylglycerol (Glc2DAG) and decreased levels of acidic phospholipids cardiolipin and PG, as well as the basic phospholipid lysylphosphatidylglycerol. However, ugtP overexpression did not alter the cell surface charge and the susceptibility to the cationic antimicrobial peptide nisin or the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. Furthermore, by serial passaging in the presence of daptomycin, we obtained daptomycin-resistant mutants carrying ugtP mutations. These mutants showed increased levels of Glc2DAG and a >4-fold increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration of daptomycin. These results suggest that increased Glc2DAG levels, driven by ugtP overexpression, modify the phospholipid composition and confer daptomycin resistance in B. subtilis without altering the cell surface charge of the bacteria. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamamotoRyogo en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Ryogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshikawaKazuya en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiYusuke en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurutaKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Furuta en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiShin-Ichi en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Shin-Ichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaitoChikara en-aut-sei=Kaito en-aut-mei=Chikara kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=diglucosyldiacylglycerol kn-keyword=diglucosyldiacylglycerol en-keyword=daptomycin kn-keyword=daptomycin en-keyword=phospholipid kn-keyword=phospholipid END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=171 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=18 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251210 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Novel Escherichia coli phages representing a distinct genus within the subfamily Stephanstirmvirinae: genome and host range characteristics en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Bacteriophages play crucial roles in microbial ecosystems and have potential for biotechnological applications. However, our understanding of culturable phages remains limited. In this study, we characterized six novel Escherichia coli phages isolated from pig farm wastewater and urban sewage, using comprehensive genomic, morphological, and host-range analysis. Using multiple comparative approaches, including gene-sharing network analysis, average nucleotide identity (ANI), and nucleotide intergenomic similarity (NIS), we demonstrated that five of these phages form a distinct group within the subfamily Stephanstirmvirinae, potentially representing a novel genus, for which we propose the name "Wecvirus”. We further propose that these phages, each of which exhibits a unique host range pattern, should be classified in two distinct species within the proposed genus. This host specificity is reflected in differences in the amino acid sequences of tail fibers, which are crucial for infection. The remaining phage, which was not classified as a wecvirus, exhibited characteristics that challenged the current classification criteria, highlighting the need for more-flexible taxonomic approaches. These findings expand our understanding of phage diversity within the subfamily Stephanstirmvirinae and contribute to the evolving phage taxonomy framework. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KanekoTomoyoshi en-aut-sei=Kaneko en-aut-mei=Tomoyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaJumpei en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsakaToshifumi en-aut-sei=Osaka en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsunedaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Tsuneda en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=520 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=41 end-page=52 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202504 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Tunicate-specific protein Epi-1 is essential for conferring hydrophilicity to the larval tunic in the ascidian Ciona en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Animals must avoid adhesion to objects in the environment to maintain their mobility and independence. The marine invertebrate chordate ascidians are characterized by an acellular matrix tunic enveloping their entire body for protection and swimming. The tunic of ascidian larvae consists of a surface cuticle layer and inner matrix layer. Hydrophilic substances coat the cuticle; this modification is thought to be for preventing adhesion. However, the molecule responsible for regulating this modification has not been clarified. We here found that the tunicate-specific protein Epi-1 is responsible for preventing adhesiveness of the tunic in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis Type A. Ciona mutants with homozygous knockouts of Epi-1 exhibited adhesion to plastic plates and to other individuals. The cuticle of the Epi-1 mutants was fragile, and it lost the glycosaminoglycans supplied by test cells, the accessory cells that normally attach to the tunic surface. Although it has an apparent signal peptide for membrane trafficking, we showed that the Epi-1 protein is localized to the cytosol of the epidermal cells. Our study suggests that the emergence of the tunicate-specific protein Epi-1 made the tunic less adhesive, providing a selective advantage for the last common tunicate ancestor. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KuroiwaKazu en-aut-sei=Kuroiwa en-aut-mei=Kazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=Mita-YoshidaKaoru en-aut-sei=Mita-Yoshida en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HozumiAkiko en-aut-sei=Hozumi en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishinoAtsuo S. en-aut-sei=Nishino en-aut-mei=Atsuo S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakuraYasunori en-aut-sei=Sasakura en-aut-mei=Yasunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= en-keyword=Ascidian kn-keyword=Ascidian en-keyword=Ciona kn-keyword=Ciona en-keyword=Tunic kn-keyword=Tunic en-keyword=Epidermis kn-keyword=Epidermis en-keyword=Cellulose kn-keyword=Cellulose en-keyword=Glycosaminoglycan kn-keyword=Glycosaminoglycan END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=88 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=1199 end-page=1202 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240711 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Evaluation of quercetin as a potential cytoprotector against acetaldehyde using the cultured hepatocyte model with aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme deficiency en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Protective effect of quercetin against acetaldehyde was evaluated using the cultured hepatocyte models with aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isozyme deficiency (aldh2-kd and aldh1a1-kd). The quercetin-induced cytoprotection against acetaldehyde in the ALDH1A1-deficient mutant (aldh1a1-kd) was weaker than that in the wild type. Furthermore, quercetin did not enhance the ALDH activity in aldh1a1-kd cells, suggesting that ALDH1A1 is involved in quercetin-induced cytoprotection. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=XuYuhang en-aut-sei=Xu en-aut-mei=Yuhang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SawamotoTakeshi en-aut-sei=Sawamoto en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SunRuitong en-aut-sei=Sun en-aut-mei=Ruitong kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshikuraAki en-aut-sei=Ishikura en-aut-mei=Aki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MunemasaShintaro en-aut-sei=Munemasa en-aut-mei=Shintaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurataYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Murata en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatohAyano en-aut-sei=Satoh en-aut-mei=Ayano kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoAkiko en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Saga University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=quercetin kn-keyword=quercetin en-keyword=acetaldehyde kn-keyword=acetaldehyde en-keyword=aldehyde dehydrogenase kn-keyword=aldehyde dehydrogenase en-keyword=cytoprotection kn-keyword=cytoprotection END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue=11 article-no= start-page=8052 end-page=8058 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Enhanced capacity of aluminum-ion batteries by adjusting the average pore size of the porous carbon cathode en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used but with the increasing scarcity and uneven distribution of global lithium resources, there is a need to explore alternative battery technologies. Due to its abundance, low cost, and high theoretical capacity, aluminum is a strong candidate for metal anodes, making aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) an area of considerable interest. Current mainstream research focuses on ionic liquid electrolytes, which offer a wide electrochemical window and high ionic conductivity. Carbon materials are ideal cathode candidates due to their low cost, abundance, and high voltage platform. AIBs using carbon materials typically exhibit low discharge capacity. This study addressed the challenge of improving the discharge capacity of carbon-based cathodes in AIBs. By using porous carbon (PC) materials with varying specific surface areas, average pore sizes, and total pore volumes as cathodes, average pore size was found to impact capacity. This contradicts the contention that larger specific surface areas result in higher capacities. There is a key difference in ion behavior: whereas aluminum chloride ions intercalate into layered graphite structures, they do not intercalate into PC materials but are adsorbed to the surface. By adjusting the average pore size, it is possible to increase the discharge capacity of AIBs, challenging the traditional emphasis on specific surface area. This research does not fully solve the problem of low discharge capacity in carbon-based cathodes, but provides a new perspective on the role of pore size in enhancing battery performance, offering valuable insights for future electrode design. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ChenYifeng en-aut-sei=Chen en-aut-mei=Yifeng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiHiroo en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Hiroo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukumotoShu en-aut-sei=Fukumoto en-aut-mei=Shu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoChiyu en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Chiyu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishikawaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Nishikawa en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmezawaShigeyuki en-aut-sei=Umezawa en-aut-mei=Shigeyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiYasuhiko en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Yasuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Comprehensive Technical Solutions, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Seiwa Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=43 cd-vols= no-issue=16 article-no= start-page=1886 end-page=1897 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202506 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Methotrexate, Doxorubicin, and Cisplatin Versus Methotrexate, Doxorubicin, and Cisplatin + Ifosfamide in Poor Responders to Preoperative Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Osteosarcoma (JCOG0905): A Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized Trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose Our previous NECO phase II studies on high-grade osteosarcoma suggested that administering ifosfamide (IF; 16 g/m2 [4g/m2 once on day 1, then 2g/m2 once on days 2-7] × six) to patients showing a poor response (PrRsp) to preoperative chemotherapy with methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MAP) improves their prognoses. In this Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) study, JCOG0905, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of IF in patients with PrRsp.
Methods JCOG0905 is a multicenter, open-label, multi-institutional, randomized trial. Eligible patients (50 years and younger) had resectable, high-grade osteosarcoma (stage II or III, Union for International Cancer Control TNM) of the extremities, limb girdles, and thoracic wall. After two MAP cycles and tumor resection, patients with PrRsp were randomly assigned to either the MAP or MAP plus 15 g/m2 (3g/m2 once daily on days 1-5) × six IF (MAP + IF [MAPIF]) group. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS); secondary end points were overall survival (OS) and safety. The planned sample size was 100 patients with a one-sided α of .1 and a power of 0.7, assuming a 3-year DFS of 50% and 65% for MAP and MAPIF, respectively. This trial is registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT; jRCTs031180126).
Results Of the 287 patients registered between February 2010 and August 2020, 51 and 52 patients with PrRsp were assigned to the MAP and MAPIF groups, respectively. As of March 2022, DFS did not differ between groups (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05 [95% CI, 0.55 to 1.98]) and OS was numerically inferior in the MAPIF group (HR, 1.48 [95% CI, 0.68 to 3.22]). Nine and zero patients in the MAPIF and MAP groups discontinued treatment because of adverse events, respectively.
Conclusion Evidence from JCOG0905 does not support the addition of IF for patients with PrRsp. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HiragaHiroaki en-aut-sei=Hiraga en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MachidaRyunosuke en-aut-sei=Machida en-aut-mei=Ryunosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiAkira en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KunisadaToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kunisada en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YonemotoTsukasa en-aut-sei=Yonemoto en-aut-mei=Tsukasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=EndoMakoto en-aut-sei=Endo en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishidaYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Nishida en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaganoAkihito en-aut-sei=Nagano en-aut-mei=Akihito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=AeKeisuke en-aut-sei=Ae en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaShinichirou en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Shinichirou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsanumaKunihiro en-aut-sei=Asanuma en-aut-mei=Kunihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToguchidaJunya en-aut-sei=Toguchida en-aut-mei=Junya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurutaTaisuke en-aut-sei=Furuta en-aut-mei=Taisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakayamaRobert en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Robert kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkisueToshihiro en-aut-sei=Akisue en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirumaToru en-aut-sei=Hiruma en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriiTakeshi en-aut-sei=Morii en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraHideki en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiraokaKoji en-aut-sei=Hiraoka en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeyamaMasanobu en-aut-sei=Takeyama en-aut-mei=Masanobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=EmoriMakoto en-aut-sei=Emori en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsukushiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Tsukushi en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=HatanoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Hatano en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawashimaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Kawashima en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=IsuKazuo en-aut-sei=Isu en-aut-mei=Kazuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=26 ORCID= en-aut-name=KataokaTomoko en-aut-sei=Kataoka en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=27 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukudaHaruhiko en-aut-sei=Fukuda en-aut-mei=Haruhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=28 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwamotoYukihide en-aut-sei=Iwamoto en-aut-mei=Yukihide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=29 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=30 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Musculoskeletal Oncology, NHO Hokkaido Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Japan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center/Operations Office, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Musculoskeletal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Tissue Regeneration, Center for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research and Application, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Surgery, Kanagawa Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyorin University kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Kagawa University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Kurume University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Yokohama City University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Aichi Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Musculoskeletal Oncology, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Higashi Sapporo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=26 en-affil=Advanced Medical Sciences, Oita University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=27 en-affil=Japan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center/Operations Office, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=28 en-affil=Japan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center/Operations Office, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=29 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyushu Rosai Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=30 en-affil=Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=392 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=1051 end-page=1097 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250228 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Global well-posedness and scattering in weighted space for nonlinear Schr?dinger equations below the Strauss exponent without gauge-invariance en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In this paper, we consider the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation (NLS) with a general homogeneous nonlinearity in dimensions up to three. We assume that the degree (i.e., power) of the nonlinearity is such that the equation is mass-subcritical and short-range. We establish global well-posedness (GWP) and scattering for small data in the standard weighted space for a class of homogeneous nonlinearities, including non-gauge-invariant ones. Additionally, we include the case where the degree is less than or equal to the Strauss exponent. When the nonlinearity is not gauge-invariant, the standard Duhamel formulation fails to work effectively in the weighted Sobolev space; for instance, the Duhamel term may not be well-defined as a Bochner integral. To address this issue, we introduce an alternative formulation that allows us to establish GWP and scattering, even in the presence of poor time continuity of the Duhamel term. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KawamotoMasaki en-aut-sei=Kawamoto en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasakiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Masaki en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyazakiHayato en-aut-sei=Miyazaki en-aut-mei=Hayato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Mathematics, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Teacher Training Courses, Faculty of Education, Kagawa University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=46 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=1643 end-page=1652 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20240809 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Radiological assessment of the dissection area in supraomohyoid neck dissection en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose The current supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) is performed above the omohyoid muscle to dissect levels I, II, and III in the levels of cervical lymph nodes. However, the anatomical boundary between levels III and IV is the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage. We investigated the anatomical relationship between the omohyoid muscle and cricoid cartilage using contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) images to assess the validity of the current SOHND.
Methods CE-CT images of the head and neck regions in patients were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: “malignant tumors” and “others”. The vertebral levels corresponding to the positions of anatomical structures such as the intersection of the omohyoid muscle and internal jugular vein (OM-IJ), and the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage (CC), were recorded.
Results The OM-IJ was located around the seventh cervical to the first thoracic vertebra. There was a significant difference between the malignant tumor and others groups in females (p?=?0.036). The CC was located around the sixth to seventh cervical vertebrae. There was a significant sex difference in each group (malignant tumor: p? Conclusion This study provides clear anatomical evidence showing the difference between the SOHND dissection area and levels I, II, and III. It could be considered that in most cases SOHND invades level IV, not just levels I, II, and III, especially in female patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakeshitaYohei en-aut-sei=Takeshita en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwanagaJoe en-aut-sei=Iwanaga en-aut-mei=Joe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhyamaYoshio en-aut-sei=Ohyama en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IbaragiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Ibaragi en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsushitaYuki en-aut-sei=Matsushita en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TubbsR. Shane en-aut-sei=Tubbs en-aut-mei=R. Shane kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitagawaNorio en-aut-sei=Kitagawa en-aut-mei=Norio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawazuToshiyuki en-aut-sei=Kawazu en-aut-mei=Toshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HisatomiMiki en-aut-sei=Hisatomi en-aut-mei=Miki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaShunsuke en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujikuraMamiko en-aut-sei=Fujikura en-aut-mei=Mamiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsaumiJunichi en-aut-sei=Asaumi en-aut-mei=Junichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Clinical Anatomy Research Association in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Clinical Anatomy Research Association in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Clinical Anatomy Research Association in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Clinical Anatomy Research Association in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Clinical Anatomy Research Association in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Anatomy kn-keyword=Anatomy en-keyword=Omohyoid muscle kn-keyword=Omohyoid muscle en-keyword=Computed tomography kn-keyword=Computed tomography en-keyword=Neck dissection kn-keyword=Neck dissection en-keyword=Vertebra kn-keyword=Vertebra en-keyword=Cancer kn-keyword=Cancer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=100 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=66 end-page=77 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2024 dt-pub=20241120 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Different impacts of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor administration on allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant outcomes for adult acute myeloid leukemia according to graft type en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We retrospectively evaluated the impacts of using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and its timing on posttransplant outcomes for 9766 adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) between 2013 and 2022 using a Japanese database. We separately evaluated three distinct cohorts based on graft type: 3248 received bone marrow transplantation (BMT), 3066 received peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), and 3452 received single-unit cord blood transplantation (CBT). Multivariate analysis showed that G-CSF administration significantly accelerated neutrophil recovery after BMT, PBSCT, and CBT. However, it was associated with a higher risk of grades II?IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) across all graft types. Moreover, an increased incidence of overall chronic GVHD was observed with G-CSF administration in BMT and CBT patients, but not in PBSCT patients. G-CSF administration significantly improved overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) only following CBT. Regarding the timing of G-CSF, in comparison with late initiation of G-CSF (Days 5?10), early initiation (Days 0?4) did not provide benefits for hematopoietic recovery regardless of graft type. In contrast, late initiation was significantly associated with a lower risk of grades II?IV acute GVHD and better OS and LFS in CBT patients. These data demonstrated that G-CSF administration accelerated neutrophil recovery and increased the risk of grades II?IV acute GVHD across all graft types, but significantly improved survival outcomes but only following CBT. Therefore, routine use of G-CSF should be considered for CBT in adult patients with AML. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KonumaTakaaki en-aut-sei=Konuma en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KamedaKazuaki en-aut-sei=Kameda en-aut-mei=Kazuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaKaoru en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoTadakazu en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Tadakazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraFumihiko en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Fumihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakasoneHideki en-aut-sei=Nakasone en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OuchiFumihiko en-aut-sei=Ouchi en-aut-mei=Fumihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaNaoyuki en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Naoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaMasatsugu en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Masatsugu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishidaTetsuya en-aut-sei=Nishida en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukudaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Fukuda en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaYuta en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=Sakata‐YanagimotoMamiko en-aut-sei=Sakata‐Yanagimoto en-aut-mei=Mamiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnizukaMakoto en-aut-sei=Onizuka en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=SawaMasashi en-aut-sei=Sawa en-aut-mei=Masashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaShuichi en-aut-sei=Ota en-aut-mei=Shuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsadaNoboru en-aut-sei=Asada en-aut-mei=Noboru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraShin‐Ichiro en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Shin‐Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshimaruFumihiko en-aut-sei=Ishimaru en-aut-mei=Fumihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshimitsuMakoto en-aut-sei=Yoshimitsu en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=KandaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Kanda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhbikiMarie en-aut-sei=Ohbiki en-aut-mei=Marie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=AtsutaYoshiko en-aut-sei=Atsuta en-aut-mei=Yoshiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanadaMasamitsu en-aut-sei=Yanada en-aut-mei=Masamitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Hematology Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Kanagawa Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Hokkaido University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Hematology, University of Tsukuba Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Tokai University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Anjo Kosei Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Hyogo Medical University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Technical Department, Japanese Red Cross Society Blood Service Headquarters kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Rheumatology, Kagoshima University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya City University East Medical Center kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=30 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=497 end-page=503 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250205 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Five-year outcomes with gefitinib induction and chemoradiotherapy in EGFR-mutant stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: LOGIK0902/OLCSG0905 phase II study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background We previously showed the 2-year OS rate, the primary endpoint, of 90% in a phase II trial of gefitinib induction followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in unresectable, stage III, EGFR-mutant, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, neither long-term survival data nor late-phase adverse event profiles have been presented.
Patients and methods Patients with unresectable, EGFR-mutant, stage III NSCLC were administered gefitinib monotherapy for 8 weeks. After confirming no disease progression during induction therapy, cisplatin and docetaxel on days 1, 8, 29, and 36 with concurrent radiotherapy at a total dose of 60 Gy were subsequently administered.
Results In the enrolled twenty patients, the 5-year OS rate and median survival time were 70.0% [95% confidence interval: 45.1?85.3] and 5.5 years [4.91-NE], respectively, whereas 5-year PFS rate and median PFS time were 15.0% (3.7?33.5) and 1.4 years [0.69?2.29], respectively. Efficacy did not seem influenced even if radiation field was re-planed in response to the effect of gefitinib induction. As for late adverse events, pulmonary fibrosis occurred in 7 patients (35%). The median time from completion of CRT to the occurrence of the event was 245 days. All were grade 1, and there was no evidence of cavitation of the lesions or chronic infections such as Aspergillus infection during the course of the disease. One case of small cell lung cancer occurred during the period.
Conclusions With longer follow-up time, we demonstrated favorable efficacy with tolerable toxicity profiles in the EGFR-TKI induction followed by standard CRT in EGFR-mutant, stage III, NSCLC.
Trial registration numbers UMIN00005086. https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr.cgi?function=brows&action=brows&recptno=R000006047&type=summary&language=EjRCTs071180036. https://jrct.niph.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCTs071180036 en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HottaKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaekiSho en-aut-sei=Saeki en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakataShinya en-aut-sei=Sakata en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamaguchiMasafumi en-aut-sei=Yamaguchi en-aut-mei=Masafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaradaDaijiro en-aut-sei=Harada en-aut-mei=Daijiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=BesshoAkihiro en-aut-sei=Bessho en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaKentaro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueKoji en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueKoji en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=GembaKenichi en-aut-sei=Gemba en-aut-mei=Kenichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuboToshio en-aut-sei=Kubo en-aut-mei=Toshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoAkiko en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeHiromi en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Hiromi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=KishimotoJunji en-aut-sei=Kishimoto en-aut-mei=Junji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShioyamaYoshiyuki en-aut-sei=Shioyama en-aut-mei=Yoshiyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatsuiKuniaki en-aut-sei=Katsui en-aut-mei=Kuniaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugioKenji en-aut-sei=Sugio en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiuraKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Kiura en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, NHO Kyushu Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chugoku Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Research and Development of Next Generation Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Radiation Oncology, Ion Beam Therapy Center, SAGA HIMAT Foundation kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Thoracic and Breast Surgery, Oita University kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Non-small-cell lung cancer kn-keyword=Non-small-cell lung cancer en-keyword=Locally advanced setting kn-keyword=Locally advanced setting en-keyword=Chemoradiation kn-keyword=Chemoradiation en-keyword=Epidermal growth factor receptor kn-keyword=Epidermal growth factor receptor END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1 end-page=4 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Indicators for Monitoring Recovery From Surgery to Discharge Using Accelerometer in Patients With Esophageal Cancer en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Esophageal cancer is a highly invasive malignancy necessitating esophagectomy, which is associated with considerable postoperative morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols recommend early mobilization to facilitate recovery; however, objectively assessing physical activity during hospitalization remains challenging. Traditional methods, such as the 6-min walk test or patient-reported questionnaires can be burdensome, or may not accurately reflect recovery. Accelerometer-based measurement provides a low-burden, objective approach, but previous studies focused on the immediate postoperative period or long after discharge, leaving the recovery trajectory from surgery to discharge underexplored. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamaneTakahiro en-aut-sei=Yamane en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraYoshikazu en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Yoshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TetsutaniManami en-aut-sei=Tetsutani en-aut-mei=Manami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamuraShota en-aut-sei=Yamamura en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoAiru en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Airu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanumaMoe en-aut-sei=Tanuma en-aut-mei=Moe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HonjohMina en-aut-sei=Honjoh en-aut-mei=Mina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriwakiYoshiko en-aut-sei=Moriwaki en-aut-mei=Yoshiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=NomaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Noma en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeShunsuke en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Shunsuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaNaoaki en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Naoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuokaYoshikazu en-aut-sei=Matsuoka en-aut-mei=Yoshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaMizuki en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Mizuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimatsuHiroshi en-aut-sei=Morimatsu en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biomedical Informatics, Okayama University Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Biomedical Informatics, Okayama University Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=actigraphy kn-keyword=actigraphy en-keyword=esophageal cancer kn-keyword=esophageal cancer en-keyword=monitoring indicator kn-keyword=monitoring indicator en-keyword=physical activity kn-keyword=physical activity en-keyword=postoperative recovery kn-keyword=postoperative recovery en-keyword=surgery‐to‐discharge kn-keyword=surgery‐to‐discharge END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=36 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=1142 end-page=1155.e6 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202603 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Compound starch granule formation in grass seeds is associated with distinct temporal patterns of gene expression en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=There is extensive interspecies variation in starch granule morphology in the endosperm of grass species, but the factors underpinning this variation are poorly understood. The two major granule morphology types among species are simple and compound granules, where simple granules arise from a single initiation per amyloplast, and compound granules form from multiple granule initiations. Here, we carried out an extensive survey of seed starch morphology, examining specimens from 105 species within the Pooideae using electron microscopy. This not only expanded our current knowledge of the diversity of starch granule types but also confirmed the homoplasy of simple and compound starch granules. We then selected species representing independent origins of simple (Brachyelytrum japonicum, Phaenosperma globosa, and Brachypodium distachyon) and compound granules (Nardus stricta, Melica altissima, and Calamagrostis brachytricha) for analysis of starch structure and gene expression. There were no clear patterns in starch content, amylopectin structure, or amylose content that could distinguish the two granule types. However, comparative transcriptomics over seed development revealed gene expression patterns associated with granule type, most notably increasing expression of STARCH SYNTHASE 3a (SS3a), STARCH BRANCHING ENZYME 1 (SBE1), and limit dextrinases (LDAs) between 3 and 9 days post anthesis in species with compound granules. Mutation of these genes in rice, which natively produces compound granules, resulted in altered granule shape and/or size. Our work highlights differences in gene expression that could contribute to natural variation in granule morphology within the Pooideae while providing important new starch phenotype and gene expression datasets that can be widely used to study endosperm development. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=Watson-LazowskiAlexander en-aut-sei=Watson-Lazowski en-aut-mei=Alexander kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FeikeDoreen en-aut-sei=Feike en-aut-mei=Doreen kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NgaiQi Yang en-aut-sei=Ngai en-aut-mei=Qi Yang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=EschLara en-aut-sei=Esch en-aut-mei=Lara kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaNaoko en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Naoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsushimaRyo en-aut-sei=Matsushima en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SmithAlison M. en-aut-sei=Smith en-aut-mei=Alison M. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SeungDavid en-aut-sei=Seung en-aut-mei=David kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biological Production, Akita Prefectural University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park kn-affil= en-keyword=amylopectin kn-keyword=amylopectin en-keyword=amylose kn-keyword=amylose en-keyword=endosperm kn-keyword=endosperm en-keyword=grasses kn-keyword=grasses en-keyword=starch kn-keyword=starch en-keyword=starch granule kn-keyword=starch granule en-keyword=transcriptomics kn-keyword=transcriptomics END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=208 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=e00103-26 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260521 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Knockout of tusA confers cationic antimicrobial resistance via fur and omp genes in Escherichia coli en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=tRNA 2-thiouridine synthesizing protein A (TusA), a sulfur-carrier protein, plays a crucial role in tRNA sulfur modification. Several studies have reported that tusA deficiency affects iron?sulfur (Fe?S) homeostasis in addition to tRNA sulfur modification, resulting in pleiotropic phenotypes. In this study, we analyzed the phenotype of tusA-deficient Escherichia coli and its underlying mechanisms. Although the Keio tusA knockout strain showed increased swimming motility and flagellar biosynthesis, these phenotypes were not restored by tusA complementation. Genome resequencing of the original Keio tusA knockout strain identified an unintended secondary mutation in lrhA, a transcriptional regulator of flagellar and chemotaxis genes. This secondary mutation impaired lrhA function, contributing to enhanced flagellar synthesis and swimming motility, as well as altered global gene expression. A tusA knockout strain in which the secondary mutation was corrected (ΔtusA) exhibited reduced swimming motility compared with the wild-type strain, despite showing no abnormalities in flagellar formation. Furthermore, ΔtusA displayed increased resistance to cationic antibacterial agents, including cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetylpyridinium chloride, and protamine sulfate. The reduced motility caused by tusA deletion was observed independently of Fur, a global regulator of iron homeostasis, whereas resistance to cationic antibacterial agents was abolished in the fur knockout background. In addition, altered expression of outer membrane protein (omp) genes was observed in ΔtusA, and deletion of these omp genes abolished resistance to cationic antibacterial agents. Together, these results indicate that, by disentangling the phenotypic effects of tusA deletion from those of the unintended secondary mutation, loss of tusA confers resistance to cationic antibacterial agents through a Fur-dependent and Omp-dependent mechanism. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IshikawaKazuya en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakataKiho en-aut-sei=Nakata en-aut-mei=Kiho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaKoichiro en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=UnemeMio en-aut-sei=Uneme en-aut-mei=Mio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurutaKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Furuta en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaitoChikara en-aut-sei=Kaito en-aut-mei=Chikara kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=tusA kn-keyword=tusA en-keyword=fur kn-keyword=fur en-keyword=Escherichia coli kn-keyword=Escherichia coli en-keyword=cationic antimicrobial agents kn-keyword=cationic antimicrobial agents END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=5 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=12 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250320 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=The Early Response After Radiation Therapy on Three-Dimensional Oral Cancer Model Using Patient-Derived Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are an important component of the tumor microenvironment, have been reported to have an adverse effect on conventional radiotherapy. This study aims to elucidate the effects of CAFs in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using a three-dimensional (3D) oral cancer model. Methods: Three-dimensional cancer models were fabricated using patient-derived CAFs or patient-derived normal oral fibroblasts (NOFs) and a human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line. Each 3D cancer model was performed with either a conventional X-ray treatment or BNCT and additionally analyzed histomorphologically. Results: The 3D oral cancer-CAFs model demonstrated a greater depth of cancer cell invasion than the 3D oral cancer-NOFs model. Radiation therapy for the 3D oral cancer models indicated a trend for decreasing cancer cell invasion and cell number with dose dependence in both X-ray and BNCT. In comparison with X-rays, BNCT showed a consistent increase in the number of NOFs and a significant reduction in the number of CAFs. Conclusions: BNCT for the 3D oral cancer model was shown to be effective against cancer cells and CAFs but not against NOFs, indicating its usefulness as a minimally invasive treatment for advanced cancer. Furthermore, it is indicated that the 3D oral cancer-CAFs model is a valuable tool to evaluate cancer treatment and research, particularly in high-grade malignant tumors with invasion. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamamotoIzumi en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Izumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IgawaKazuyo en-aut-sei=Igawa en-aut-mei=Kazuyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoNatsuko en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Natsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakuraiYoshinori en-aut-sei=Sakurai en-aut-mei=Yoshinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujimuraAtsushi en-aut-sei=Fujimura en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakabatakeKiyofumi en-aut-sei=Takabatake en-aut-mei=Kiyofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HuangPeng en-aut-sei=Huang en-aut-mei=Peng kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MichiueHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Michiue en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IbaragiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Ibaragi en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IzumiKenji en-aut-sei=Izumi en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Particle Radiation Oncology Center, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Particle Radiation Oncology Center, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Biomimetics, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University kn-affil= en-keyword=3D model kn-keyword=3D model en-keyword=oral cancer kn-keyword=oral cancer en-keyword=patient-derived cells kn-keyword=patient-derived cells en-keyword=cancer-associated fibroblasts kn-keyword=cancer-associated fibroblasts en-keyword=radiation treatment kn-keyword=radiation treatment en-keyword=boron neutron capture therapy kn-keyword=boron neutron capture therapy en-keyword=malignant tumors kn-keyword=malignant tumors END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=11 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=001363 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250408 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Whole-genome-based characterization of Escherichia albertii strains isolated from paediatric diarrhoeal cases in Kolkata, India en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Escherichia albertii is a Gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacterium that causes diarrhoea in humans. This study shows the isolation of E. albertii from hospitalized paediatric diarrhoeal cases and genome-based characteristics with putative virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance. E. albertii isolates were identified by species-specific PCR, targeting the gene encoding cytolethal distending toxin (Ea-cdt). The genome of E. albertii was sequenced to identify (i) genes encoding virulence factors (ii) antibiotic resistance-encoding genes, including the mobile genetic elements and (iii) core gene-based phylogenetic relationships and pan-genome features. A total of 10 (1.2%) E. albertii isolates were isolated from 854 faecal samples, of which 6 (60%) were found as the sole pathogen and the remaining 4 (40%) were identified along with other pathogens, such as enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, rotavirus and adenovirus. Patients from whom E. albertii was isolated presented cholera-like diarrhoea, i.e. with watery stool (60%) with moderate dehydration (100%), fever (20%) and abdominal pain (20%). The antimicrobial susceptibility testing of E. albertii showed that most of the isolates were susceptible or reduced susceptible to most of the antibiotics except resistance to erythromycin (80%), tetracycline (50%), nalidixic acid (40%), ampicillin (40%), doxycycline (30%) and ceftriaxone (20%). In the whole-genome sequence, E. albertii isolates revealed several virulence-encoding genes, namely the intimin (eae, E. coli attaching and effacing), the cytolethal distending toxin type II subunit A (cdt-IIA), adhesion (paa, porcine attaching- and effacing-associated), non-LEE (locus of enterocyte effacement) encoded effector A (nleA) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) conferring resistance to tetracycline (tetA, tetR), sulphonamides (sul2), fluoroquinolones (qnrS) and beta-lactamases (blaCTX-M, blaTEM). The SNP-based phylogenetic analysis of 647 whole genomes of E. albertii isolates from the National Center for Biotechnology Information databases did not reveal any comparable clustering pattern based on the biological source and place of isolation. The genome of some of the E. albertii was closely related to those of the isolates from China and the United Kingdom. The PFGE patterns revealed that most of the E. albertii isolates were distinct clones. This study reports on the extensive genome analysis of diarrhoea-associated E. albertii harbouring multiple virulence and ARGs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ChowdhuryGoutam en-aut-sei=Chowdhury en-aut-mei=Goutam kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoshikoYuki en-aut-sei=Hoshiko en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkunoMiki en-aut-sei=Okuno en-aut-mei=Miki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitaharaKei en-aut-sei=Kitahara en-aut-mei=Kei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AlbertM John en-aut-sei=Albert en-aut-mei=M John kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiShin-ichi en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Shin-ichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguraYoshitoshi en-aut-sei=Ogura en-aut-mei=Yoshitoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=DuttaShanta en-aut-sei=Dutta en-aut-mei=Shanta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=RamamurthyThandavarayan en-aut-sei=Ramamurthy en-aut-mei=Thandavarayan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MukhopadhyayAsish K. en-aut-sei=Mukhopadhyay en-aut-mei=Asish K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Collaborative Research Centre of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Collaborative Research Centre of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Kuwait University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Division of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Division of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Division of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases kn-affil= en-keyword=antimicrobial resistance kn-keyword=antimicrobial resistance en-keyword=diarrhoea kn-keyword=diarrhoea en-keyword=E. albertii kn-keyword=E. albertii en-keyword=virulence kn-keyword=virulence en-keyword=whole-genome sequence kn-keyword=whole-genome sequence END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=301 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=108273 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202503 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Taste receptor type 1 member 3 in osteoclasts regulates osteoclastogenesis via detection of glucose en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The taste system extends beyond the oral cavity, with various taste receptors found in extraoral organs. Mice deficient in the taste receptor type 1 (TAS1R) family member, TAS1R3, and fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet showed high bone mass without altering food consumption. However, the underlying mechanisms, including the cell types responsible for TAS1R3 expression, remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate the expression and function of TAS1R3 in osteoclasts, which are responsible for bone resorption. The expression of Tas1r3, but not Tas1r1 or Tas1r2, is evoked during osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclastogenesis-related genes were downregulated in TAS1R3-deficient mice, whereas the opposite phenotypes were elicited by TAS1R3 overexpression. Contrary to the common heterodimerization with TAS1R1 or TAS1R2, TAS1R3 formed a homodimer that functioned to detect glucose, enhance p38 phosphorylation, and induce osteoclastogenesis. These results provide novel insights into the role of TAS1R3 in bone metabolism and suggest that TAS1R3 may be a viable target for therapeutic agents in bone metabolic diseases. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshimuraAnna en-aut-sei=Yoshimura en-aut-mei=Anna kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsubaraTakuma en-aut-sei=Matsubara en-aut-mei=Takuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KodamaNao en-aut-sei=Kodama en-aut-mei=Nao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KakutaYoshimitsu en-aut-sei=Kakuta en-aut-mei=Yoshimitsu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasudaKazuma en-aut-sei=Yasuda en-aut-mei=Kazuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaRyusuke en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Ryusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaminumaOsamu en-aut-sei=Kaminuma en-aut-mei=Osamu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HosomiShuhei en-aut-sei=Hosomi en-aut-mei=Shuhei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinkawaHiroji en-aut-sei=Shinkawa en-aut-mei=Hiroji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YuanQuan en-aut-sei=Yuan en-aut-mei=Quan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawamotoTatsuo en-aut-sei=Kawamoto en-aut-mei=Tatsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=KokabuShoichiro en-aut-sei=Kokabu en-aut-mei=Shoichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Division of Molecular Signaling and Biochemistry, Kyushu Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Division of Molecular Signaling and Biochemistry, Kyushu Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Molecular Signaling and Biochemistry, Kyushu Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Laboratory of Structural Biology, Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Division of Molecular Signaling and Biochemistry, Kyushu Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Disease Model, Research Institute of Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Division of Orofacial Functions and Orthodontics, Kyushu Dental University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Division of Molecular Signaling and Biochemistry, Kyushu Dental University kn-affil= en-keyword=glucose kn-keyword=glucose en-keyword=osteoclasts kn-keyword=osteoclasts en-keyword=p38 kn-keyword=p38 en-keyword=TAS1R3 kn-keyword=TAS1R3 en-keyword=taste receptor kn-keyword=taste receptor END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=236 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=112768 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202610 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=An algorithm to calculate physical density of biomedical objects having 3 ? Zeff ? 20: an application study using clinical photon-counting computed tomography equipment en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Recently, photon-counting computed tomography (PC-CT) devices have become clinically available for X-ray diagnosis, and developments of analysis algorithms to generate various quantitative images have focused attention. This study proposes an algorithm to calculate the effective physical density (ρeff) of biological objects having an effective atomic number (Zeff) of 3?20. In our procedure, ρeff was determined when fitting the interaction cross sections (σs) to the measured linear attenuation coefficients (μs), which were determined from virtual monochromatic images (VMIs). In this process, the Zeff was analyzed in advance, and this information was fed back to the ρeff analysis. A key feature of our procedure is that it does not require calibration processes based on specific substances, which allow us to analyze any substance without making assumptions.
To validate the availability of the proposed algorithm, we conducted an experiment using a clinical PC-CT scanner. A multi-energy CT phantom, a water phantom, an in-house low-density phantom, food samples, and a chest phantom were scanned. The results showed that our procedure can calculate ρeff of water with an uncertainty of 4.5%. The academic significance of the present research results lies in demonstrating that the factors contributing to contrast, previously obtained from CT values, can be physically interpreted using information from Zeff and ρeff. This analysis cannot be performed with conventional single-energy CT scanners and is possible with PC-CT and dual-energy CT scanners. Our novel procedure is expected to provide useful additional information in X-ray diagnosis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HayashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishigamiRina en-aut-sei=Nishigami en-aut-mei=Rina kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsaharaTakashi en-aut-sei=Asahara en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimotoNatsumi en-aut-sei=Kimoto en-aut-mei=Natsumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiDaiki en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitaniMana en-aut-sei=Mitani en-aut-mei=Mana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkagiNoriaki en-aut-sei=Akagi en-aut-mei=Noriaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigakiFumiyo en-aut-sei=Higaki en-aut-mei=Fumiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IguchiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Iguchi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Junshin Gakuen University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Support Department, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Computed tomography kn-keyword=Computed tomography en-keyword=Photon counting kn-keyword=Photon counting en-keyword=Physical density image kn-keyword=Physical density image en-keyword=Virtual monochromatic image kn-keyword=Virtual monochromatic image en-keyword=Diagnostic X-rays kn-keyword=Diagnostic X-rays END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=12 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260616 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Interfacial Bond Strength of Resin Cement to Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Using Experimental Primers Doping Multifunctional Methacrylate and Acrylate Monomers en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer with low surface energy, chemical inertness, and a highly crystalline structure, which limit durable adhesion to resin-based materials and require improved bonding strategies. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of incorporating multifunctional methacrylate (TMPTMA) and acrylate monomers (A-TMPT and A-DPH) into an experimental primer on the 24 h shear bond strength (SBS) of resin cement to PEEK (n = 6 per group). Experimental primers were prepared by adding varying amounts (100?500 ?L) of each multifunctional monomer to a UDMA/MMA-based primer, and SBS was measured after cementation with a dual-cure resin cement. TMPTMA-containing primers produced median SBS values of approximately 10?12 MPa, while acrylate-based primers showed slightly higher values, particularly at higher concentrations, reaching up to ~15.8 MPa; however, no statistically significant improvement over the control group was observed (p > 0.05). Failure modes were predominantly mixed across all conditions. These findings indicate that multifunctional monomers, despite their potential to enhance cross-link density and wetting, do not substantially overcome the intrinsic adhesion-resistant nature of polished PEEK. The results underscore that monomer modification alone is insufficient and that effective adhesion to PEEK likely requires integrated strategies combining chemical activation with mechanical surface conditioning. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MaruoYukinori en-aut-sei=Maruo en-aut-mei=Yukinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaKumiko en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IrieMasao en-aut-sei=Irie en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagaokaNoriyuki en-aut-sei=Nagaoka en-aut-mei=Noriyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KodamaNaoki en-aut-sei=Kodama en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaYuki en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuwaharaMiho en-aut-sei=Kuwahara en-aut-mei=Miho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkiyamaKentaro en-aut-sei=Akiyama en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University Dental School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Advanced Research Center for Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Okayama University Dental School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=PEEK kn-keyword=PEEK en-keyword=functional monomer kn-keyword=functional monomer en-keyword=bond strength kn-keyword=bond strength en-keyword=methacrylate kn-keyword=methacrylate en-keyword=acrylate kn-keyword=acrylate END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=992 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260612 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=UGT76B1 and 41 Additional Arabidopsis UDP-Glycosyltransferases Show No Detectable In Vitro Glycosylation Activity Toward N-Hydroxypipecolic Acid en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) is a key mobile signal in systemic acquired resistance in plants, and its glycosylation has been proposed to regulate immune signaling. Previous studies have demonstrated that the UDP-glycosyltransferase UGT76B1, known as an SA glycosyltransferase in Arabidopsis thaliana, also catalyzes NHP glycosylation. In this study, we re-evaluated NHP glycosylation activity of UGT76B1 using an in vitro enzyme-coupled fluorescence assay that quantitatively detects UDP released during UDP-sugar-dependent glycosylation. Unexpectedly, our biochemical analyses demonstrated that UGT76B1 lacks genuine glycosylation activity toward NHP under the in vitro assay conditions tested, although this system clearly detected UGT76B1 activity toward salicylic acid (SA), as well as the activities of UGT74F1 and UGT72B1 toward SA and hydroquinone, respectively. To explore potential UGTs responsible for NHP glycosylation, we evaluated the enzymatic activities of 41 UGT candidates successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, which are selected based on transcriptomic responses to tenoxicam treatment, molecular docking simulations using AlphaFold3/AutoDock Vina, phylogenetic criteria, and previous reports. Within this selected and successfully expressed UGT panel, none exhibited authentic NHP glycosylation activity, although this does not preclude the possibility that other members of the Arabidopsis UGT family possess NHP glycosyltransferase activity. Our findings challenge the prevailing view that UGT76B1 is the primary glycosyltransferase for NHP in A. thaliana and indicate that NHP metabolism may rely on undiscovered non-canonical enzymes or distinct metabolic pathways that warrant further investigation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BaoJiyuan en-aut-sei=Bao en-aut-mei=Jiyuan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchiyamaTaiga en-aut-sei=Uchiyama en-aut-mei=Taiga kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KusunokiKazuki en-aut-sei=Kusunoki en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinoharaYuka en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanigawaYurika en-aut-sei=Tanigawa en-aut-mei=Yurika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeMegumi en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Megumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakataNanami en-aut-sei=Sakata en-aut-mei=Nanami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuiHidenori en-aut-sei=Matsui en-aut-mei=Hidenori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyodaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Toyoda en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchinoseYuki en-aut-sei=Ichinose en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NoutoshiYoshiteru en-aut-sei=Noutoshi en-aut-mei=Yoshiteru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=School of Agriculture, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=UGT76B1 kn-keyword=UGT76B1 en-keyword=N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) kn-keyword=N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) en-keyword=salicylic acid (SA) kn-keyword=salicylic acid (SA) en-keyword=glycosyltransferase kn-keyword=glycosyltransferase en-keyword=plant immunity kn-keyword=plant immunity END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=225 end-page=228 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Determination of the Side Responsible for Bilateral Pneumothorax due to Pleural Communication en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax associated with pleuro-pleural communication is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, most commonly occurring after major thoracic surgery. We report the case of an 81-year-old man with severe emphysema and a history of esophagectomy who presented with sudden-onset dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed bilateral pneumothorax with pleuro-pleural communication. Although bilateral chest tube drainage was performed, the primary side of air leakage could not be identified preoperatively. After induction of general anesthesia, a double-lumen endotracheal tube clamping test identified the right pleural cavity as the source of air leakage, thereby enabling appropriate thoracoscopic surgery. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SuzawaKen en-aut-sei=Suzawa en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoHaruchika en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Haruchika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakajimaKumi en-aut-sei=Nakajima en-aut-mei=Kumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShin en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TorigoeHidejiro en-aut-sei=Torigoe en-aut-mei=Hidejiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShienKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Shien en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiKentaroh en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Kentaroh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiMikio en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Mikio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoSeiichiro en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Seiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax kn-keyword=simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax en-keyword=pleuro-pleural communication kn-keyword=pleuro-pleural communication END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=179 end-page=184 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Oral Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Paclitaxel-Associated Peripheral Neuropathy: A Retrospective Study at Okayama University Hospital en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This retrospective study investigated whether eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduces paclitaxel-associated chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and acute neuropathic pain in dyslipidemic cancer patients. The medical records of cancer patients treated with paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel at Okayama University Hospital between January 2018 and December 2022 were reviewed. Patients receiving concomitant therapy for dyslipidemia were categorized as EPA users or non-EPA users. Numbness and pain severity were extracted from medical records. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade for peripheral neuropathy and pain; groups were analyzed using the Mann?Whitney U test. Of 184 eligible patients, 18 received EPA. Bleeding events were more frequent in the EPA group; however, changes in numbness and pain did not differ significantly between groups at any time point. Overall, EPA did not show a preventive effect on paclitaxel-associated CIPN or acute neuropathic pain. Future studies should evaluate EPA in combination with other neuroprotective agents to better define its potential role in CIPN prevention. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MoritaAyako en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaHideki en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=eicosapentaenoic acid kn-keyword=eicosapentaenoic acid en-keyword=cancer patients kn-keyword=cancer patients en-keyword=chemotherapy kn-keyword=chemotherapy en-keyword=peripheral neuropathy kn-keyword=peripheral neuropathy en-keyword=cancer pain kn-keyword=cancer pain END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=169 end-page=178 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Peripheral Blood T-Cell Receptor Repertoire and Host Immune Background in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The association between peripheral blood T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and chemotherapy response remains unclear. We evaluated peripheral blood TCR repertoire and gut microbiota in 21 breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) who were enrolled in the SBP-14 prospective cohort study between October 2019 and March 2022. We analyzed stool samples obtained pre-NAC and peripheral blood samples obtained pre- and post-NAC. The primary endpoint was the association between baseline peripheral blood TCR repertoire and treatment response. Eleven patients (52%) had hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. All patients received anthracyclines and taxanes, with anti-HER2 therapy for HER2-positive disease. TCR diversity (TCR alpha chain [TRA], p=0.095; TCR beta chain [TRB], p=0.051) and clonality (TRA, p=0.271; TRB, p=0.500) were not significantly associated with treatment response. Gut microbiota diversity was not correlated with TCR diversity (TRA: ρ=0.046, p=0.845; TRB: ρ=0.021, p=0.929); however, three bacterial orders (Erysipelotrichales, Bacillales, and Pasteurellales) were significantly associated with TCR repertoire. Baseline TCR repertoire was not associated with treatment response in this cohort of breast cancer patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakamuraYuki en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwamotoTakayuki en-aut-sei=Iwamoto en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KajiwaraYukiko en-aut-sei=Kajiwara en-aut-mei=Yukiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HidaAkira en-aut-sei=Hida en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamotoShogo en-aut-sei=Nakamoto en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiYuichiro en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Yuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShienTadahiko en-aut-sei=Shien en-aut-mei=Tadahiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaMasahiko en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Masahiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiharaHiroyoshi en-aut-sei=Doihara en-aut-mei=Hiroyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgataRyohei en-aut-sei=Ogata en-aut-mei=Ryohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KoikeYoshikazu en-aut-sei=Koike en-aut-mei=Yoshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=NomuraTsunehisa en-aut-sei=Nomura en-aut-mei=Tsunehisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaKatsuhiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Katsuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakashimaKazutaka en-aut-sei=Nakashima en-aut-mei=Kazutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamatsujiTomoki en-aut-sei=Yamatsuji en-aut-mei=Tomoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TairaNaruto en-aut-sei=Taira en-aut-mei=Naruto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Breast Surgery, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Matsuyama Shimin Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Breast Endocrine Surgery, Kagawa Prefectural Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Fukuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of General Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of General Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of General Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School General Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=TCR repertoire kn-keyword=TCR repertoire en-keyword=gut microbiota kn-keyword=gut microbiota en-keyword=neoadjuvant chemotherapy kn-keyword=neoadjuvant chemotherapy en-keyword=breast cancer kn-keyword=breast cancer END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=80 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=159 end-page=168 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Self-Reported Adolescent Menstrual Symptoms and Delayed Gynecologic Consultation among Japanese Women with Endometriosis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Endometriosis symptoms often first appear during adolescence, yet delays in seeking gynecologic consultation remain a persistent challenge worldwide. Despite growing international evidence, the specific patterns of symptom recognition and consultation delay among Japanese women ? particularly in relation to self-monitoring behaviors and cultural barriers ? remain poorly understood. This study aimed to provide foundational data to guide menstrual education and preconception care strategies by conducting a cross-sectional online survey with retrospective recall among women with endometriosis to assess menstrual characteristics and symptom patterns from adolescence to initial care seeking. The survey was conducted in Japan in January 2024 and enrolled 166 women with endometriosis and 200 controls. Participants reported current and adolescent menstrual characteristics, symptom recognition, analgesic and low-dose estrogen?progestin use, school/work impact, and age at first gynecologic consultation for menstrual problems. Women with endometriosis reported heavier bleeding, stronger pain, and greater school/work absence than controls, both currently and retrospectively. The median age at first recognition of heavy bleeding or school/work absence was 16 years, whereas consultation occurred at approximately 21-23 years, indicating a consultation delay of 5-6 years. Notably, while self-monitoring of symptoms was more frequent among women with endometriosis, it only modestly shortened consultation delays. This study provides evidence from Japan that consultation delay persists despite active self-monitoring of symptoms, highlighting the influence of educational and cultural barriers on health-seeking behavior. These findings underscore the importance of integrating menstrual education with clinical guidance to promote timely gynecologic consultation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IkedaTomoko en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Tomoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakatsukaMikiya en-aut-sei=Nakatsuka en-aut-mei=Mikiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=endometriosis kn-keyword=endometriosis en-keyword=adolescence kn-keyword=adolescence en-keyword=menstrual disorders kn-keyword=menstrual disorders en-keyword=consultation delay kn-keyword=consultation delay en-keyword=health-seeking behavior kn-keyword=health-seeking behavior END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260617 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Age-related changes in the orbital pulley array of older Japanese adults with acquired exotropia en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: To evaluate age-related changes in the orbital pulley array using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older Japanese adults with acquired exotropia (XT) compared with young healthy participants (YHP).
Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional case series, MRI images of 30 eyes from fifteen patients (age???60 years) with distance XT and no high myopia were compared with those of 14 eyes from seven YHP. Rectus muscle (RM) pulley positions relative to the globe center were assessed. The lateral rectus muscle?superior rectus (LR?SR) band was evaluated for rupture.
Results: Mean age of patients with XT was 73.7?±?5.5 years. Compared with YHP, patients with XT showed significant inferior displacement of the lateral rectus (LR) pulley (?3.6?±?1.2 mm vs. ??2.0?±?1.1 mm, p? Conclusion: Older Japanese adults with XT exhibit localized pulley displacement and LR?SR band rupture. These structural changes differ from the global sagging observed in sagging eye syndrome and may contribute to the pathogenesis of acquired exotropia in older adults. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KonoReika en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Reika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamasakiIchiro en-aut-sei=Hamasaki en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KishimotoFumiko en-aut-sei=Kishimoto en-aut-mei=Fumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShibataKiyo en-aut-sei=Shibata en-aut-mei=Kiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorisawaShin en-aut-sei=Morisawa en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorizaneYuki en-aut-sei=Morizane en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology,, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Lino Eye Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Ophthalmology, Ibara City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Lino Eye Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology,, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Ophthalmology,, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=135 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=747 end-page=759 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260401 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Characteristics of cross-modal negative BOLD responses in the human sensory subcortex and cortex en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a noninvasive method for measuring human brain activity based on blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses. Although many studies have reported positive BOLD responses evoked by sensory stimuli, others have reported negative BOLD responses (NBRs) in the sensory cortex when stimuli from different sensory modalities are presented (i.e., cross-modal NBRs). We conducted an fMRI experiment to better understand the characteristics of cross-modal NBRs in subcortical and cortical regions. Auditory and visual stimuli were presented unilaterally to one ear and to either the left or right visual field, respectively. The lateral geniculate nucleus and medial geniculate nucleus did not show a significant cross-modal NBR. In contrast, the primary auditory cortex showed a significant cross-modal NBR when visual stimuli were presented in either the contralateral or ipsilateral visual fields. Finally, we found that the cross-modal NBR in the early visual cortex was highly variable across subjects and did not exhibit consistent trends. However, each subject’s data exhibited considerable split-half reliability. Our results suggest that cross-modal NBR in the auditory cortex likely reflects mechanisms such as interhemispheric suppression, rather than those coordinated within the same hemisphere.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrated that the human primary auditory cortex showed a significant cross-modal negative BOLD response bilaterally, regardless of the visual field in which the visual stimuli were presented. This result suggests that the cross-modal negative BOLD response is not an epiphenomenon of visual cortex activation predominantly observed in the contralateral hemisphere, but is more likely to reflect interhemispheric suppression mechanisms. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiyataToshikazu en-aut-sei=Miyata en-aut-mei=Toshikazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukunagaMasaki en-aut-sei=Fukunaga en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=LuoJunxiang en-aut-sei=Luo en-aut-mei=Junxiang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YokoiIsao en-aut-sei=Yokoi en-aut-mei=Isao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoTetsuya en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiokaAyumi en-aut-sei=Yoshioka en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=YangJiajia en-aut-sei=Yang en-aut-mei=Jiajia kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaTomoyo en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Tomoyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakemuraHiromasa en-aut-sei=Takemura en-aut-mei=Hiromasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Division of Sensory and Cognitive Brain Mapping, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Section of Brain Function Information, National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Division of Sensory and Cognitive Brain Mapping, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Section of Brain Function Information, National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Section of Brain Function Information, National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Division of Sensory and Cognitive Brain Mapping, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=auditory system kn-keyword=auditory system en-keyword=cross-modal kn-keyword=cross-modal en-keyword=functional MRI kn-keyword=functional MRI en-keyword=visual system kn-keyword=visual system END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260521 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Stimulator of interferon genes agonist augmented antitumor immunity of osimertinib in Egfr ‐mutated lung?cancer en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) lack effective immunotherapy due to a noninflamed tumor microenvironment (TME). We previously reported that EGFR tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor (TKI) induced CD8+ T-cell immunity, which was insufficient for tumor eradication. We evaluated the potential of combining EGFR-TKI with stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists in activating a systemic antitumor response. Using a syngeneic mouse model of genetically engineered Egfr-mutant NSCLC, we evaluated the antitumor effects of STING agonist ADU-S100, alone and combined with osimertinib. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were used to assess the TME. Osimertinib alone enhanced CD8+ T-cell infiltration but not Natural Killer (NK) cell infiltration. ADU-S100 injection alone modestly suppressed tumor growth with increasing CD8+/NK cell infiltration in the TME, but lacked an abscopal effect. Combining ADU-S100 with osimertinib significantly enhanced the antitumor effects and CD8+/NK cell infiltration. Depletion of either CD8+ or NK cells reduced the combination effect. Crucially, the combination induced an abscopal effect accompanied by PD-1+/CD8+ cell infiltration. Combining osimertinib with a STING agonist augmented innate and adaptive immunity, inducing systemic antitumor responses in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NishimuraJun en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuribayashiTadahiro en-aut-sei=Kuribayashi en-aut-mei=Tadahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=Br?gelmannJohannes en-aut-sei=Br?gelmann en-aut-mei=Johannes kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkawaSachi en-aut-sei=Okawa en-aut-mei=Sachi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaokaMasataka en-aut-sei=Taoka en-aut-mei=Masataka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriShunta en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Shunta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraTomoka en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Tomoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakaaki en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakimotoGo en-aut-sei=Makimoto en-aut-mei=Go kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=RaiKammei en-aut-sei=Rai en-aut-mei=Kammei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaRyohei en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Ryohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HottaKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TabataMasahiro en-aut-sei=Tabata en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TogashiYosuke en-aut-sei=Togashi en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=SosMartin L. en-aut-sei=Sos en-aut-mei=Martin L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiuraKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Kiura en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiKadoaki en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Kadoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Translational Genomics Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne Germany kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Division of Experimental Chemotherapy, Cancer Chemotherapy Centre, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Translational Genomics Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne Germany kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=abscopal effect kn-keyword=abscopal effect en-keyword=CD8+ T cells kn-keyword=CD8+ T cells en-keyword=EGFR mutation kn-keyword=EGFR mutation en-keyword=EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor kn-keyword=EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor en-keyword=NK cells kn-keyword=NK cells en-keyword=stimulator of interferon genes kn-keyword=stimulator of interferon genes END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=419 end-page=427 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260501 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Predictors for Recurrences Within One Year Following Radical Nephrectomy for Non-metastatic Renal Cell Carcinomas en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Aim: This study aimed to identify predictors of rapid recurrence following radical nephrectomy for non-metastatic renal cell carcinomas.
Patients and Methods: Patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma who underwent radical nephrectomy between 2014 and 2024 at Okayama University Hospital were included. Rapid recurrence was defined as local or distant metastasis occurring within one year after radical nephrectomy, whereas recurrences occurring beyond one year were classified as non-rapid.
Results: Among a total of 194 patients, 37 (19%) experienced recurrence during a median follow-up of 37 months, with 16 (43%) being classified as experiencing rapid recurrence. The multivariate Cox hazard model revealed that microscopic venous invasion and a size of 60 mm or larger were predictors of rapid recurrence (hazard ratio=4.1, 95% confidence interval=1.5-11.4, p=0.006, and hazard ratio=8.0, 95% confidence interval=2.6-25.0, p<0.001, respectively). Dividing the entire cohort into four groups based on the presence of the two risk factors (0, 1: venous invasion, 1: tumor size, and 2), the median PFS was not estimable, 87, 67, and 7 months, respectively (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Microscopic venous invasion and tumor size of 60 mm or larger were identified as independent predictors of rapid recurrence following radical nephrectomy for non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=BEKKUKENSUKE en-aut-sei=BEKKU en-aut-mei=KENSUKE kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YAMANOITOMOAKI en-aut-sei=YAMANOI en-aut-mei=TOMOAKI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KAWADATATSUSHI en-aut-sei=KAWADA en-aut-mei=TATSUSHI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TOMINAGAYUSUKE en-aut-sei=TOMINAGA en-aut-mei=YUSUKE kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SADAHIRATAKUYA en-aut-sei=SADAHIRA en-aut-mei=TAKUYA kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KATAYAMASATOSHI en-aut-sei=KATAYAMA en-aut-mei=SATOSHI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IWATATAKEHIRO en-aut-sei=IWATA en-aut-mei=TAKEHIRO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NISHIMURASHINGO en-aut-sei=NISHIMURA en-aut-mei=SHINGO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ARAKIMOTOO en-aut-sei=ARAKI en-aut-mei=MOTOO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Renal cell carcinoma kn-keyword=Renal cell carcinoma en-keyword=adjuvant therapy kn-keyword=adjuvant therapy en-keyword=radical nephrectomy kn-keyword=radical nephrectomy en-keyword=early recurrence kn-keyword=early recurrence en-keyword=metastases kn-keyword=metastases END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=41 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=ivag139 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Lung Segmental Perfusion Defect Is Associated With Airway Complications After Living-Donor Lobar Lung Transplantation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=PURPOSE: Airway complications (ACs) are potentially fatal after lung transplantation (LT). Although bronchial blood flow to the graft is supplied mainly from the pulmonary circulation after LT, lung segmental perfusion defects (LSPDs) are occasionally identified on lung perfusion scintigraphy (Q-scinti) after living-donor lobar LT (LDLLT). Lung segmental perfusion defects may impair bronchial healing and contribute to the development of ACs. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between LSPD and AC after LDLLT.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 86 recipients who underwent LDLLT and 163 living donors at our institution from October 1998 to December 2023. Transplanted lungs that developed AC were classified as the AC group, whereas those without AC were classified as the non-AC group. Blood flow in the transplanted lungs was evaluated using Q-scinti after LDLLT.
RESULTS: AC developed in 8 (4.9%) of 163 transplanted lungs after LDLLT. Although there were no significant differences in recipient-related variables between the 2 groups, LSPD was detected significantly more frequently in the AC group (n?=?8) than in the non-AC group (n?=?155) (50.0% vs 6.5%, P?=?.002). Furthermore, transplanted lungs showing LSPD were associated with significantly higher grades of the pulmonary interlobar fissures at the time of living-donor lobectomy (P?=?.025). Overall survival did not differ between patients with and without AC after LDLLT.
CONCLUSIONS: LSPD on Q-scinti, which may develop in grafts with incomplete interlobar fissures during living-donor lobectomy, is associated with the development of AC after LDLLT.
CLINICAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Okayama University Hospital (approval date: August 23, 2024; 2409-027). en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ImanishiKentaro en-aut-sei=Imanishi en-aut-mei=Kentaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoSeiichiro en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Seiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=RyukoTsuyoshi en-aut-sei=Ryuko en-aut-mei=Tsuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomiokaYasuaki en-aut-sei=Tomioka en-aut-mei=Yasuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShin en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzawaKen en-aut-sei=Suzawa en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShienKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Shien en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiKentaroh en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Kentaroh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiMikio en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Mikio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=airway complication kn-keyword=airway complication en-keyword=interlobar fissure kn-keyword=interlobar fissure en-keyword=living-donor lobar lung transplantation kn-keyword=living-donor lobar lung transplantation en-keyword=lung perfusion scintigraphy kn-keyword=lung perfusion scintigraphy en-keyword=lung transplantation kn-keyword=lung transplantation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=102635 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Epidemiological and molecular characteristics of human-biting ticks in areas endemic to Japanese spotted fever: a prospective study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have become a great health concern worldwide. This study aimed to clarify the pathogenic and potentially pathogenic microorganisms carried by ticks that bite humans and to assess the risk of acquiring tick-borne infections in regions endemic for Japanese spotted fever. Tick specimens were prospectively collected from patients who presented with tick bites at 10 medical institutions in the Hiroshima, Okayama, and Kagawa prefectures, Japan between May 2023 and December 2024. The evaluated parameters included the estimated bite location, date of bite, patient age, tick species identification, and presence of TBD-associated pathogens in the collected ticks. Overall, 191 ticks were collected from 181 patients. Among patients with known sex, females were slightly more prevalent than males, and 45.9% of the patients were aged ? 70 years. Seasonal distribution demonstrated a peak incidence from April to July, with the highest number of cases observed in June (29.3%). Amblyomma testudinarium was the predominant species, accounting for 152 (79.6%) ticks, followed by Haemaphysalis hystricis (7.3%) and Haemaphysalis longicornis (6.8%). Nymphs represented the majority (83.8%), whereas adults and larvae accounted for 14.6% and 1.0%, respectively. A total of 27 ticks (14.1%) carried Rickettsia species, including two identified species (Rickettsia tamurae and Rickettsia monacensis) and one unclassified Rickettsia species. However, molecular analysis did not detect any known human pathogenic organisms, including Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species, Francisella tularensis, or Rickettsia japonica. Further epidemiological data regarding the abundance of tick-borne pathogens will provide valuable surveillance information with significant clinical utility for disease diagnosis and management. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FukushimaShinnosuke en-aut-sei=Fukushima en-aut-mei=Shinnosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SunamiHiroshi en-aut-sei=Sunami en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamotoKenta en-aut-sei=Nakamoto en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkazawaHidemasa en-aut-sei=Akazawa en-aut-mei=Hidemasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HidaniYoshimi en-aut-sei=Hidani en-aut-mei=Yoshimi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KidaKouji en-aut-sei=Kida en-aut-mei=Kouji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsurumiGo en-aut-sei=Tsurumi en-aut-mei=Go kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HagiyaHideharu en-aut-sei=Hagiya en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Sumiyoshi Fujii Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Numakuma Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Okayama Prefectural Institute for Environmental Science and Public Health kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Okayama Prefectural Institute for Environmental Science and Public Health kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil= kn-affil= en-keyword=Epidemiology kn-keyword=Epidemiology en-keyword=Japanese spotted fever kn-keyword=Japanese spotted fever en-keyword=Rickettsia species kn-keyword=Rickettsia species en-keyword=Tick bite kn-keyword=Tick bite en-keyword=Tick-borne disease kn-keyword=Tick-borne disease END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=18 article-no= start-page=3038 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250917 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Outcomes of Robotic Pancreatectomy in the Octogenarian: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Objectives: Due to the increasing incidence of pancreatic and periampullary cancers with advancing age, coupled with the growing evidence supporting minimally invasive pancreatectomy, the demand for such procedures is rising. However, data on the feasibility of robotic pancreatectomy in octogenarian patients remain scant. This study aimed to investigate overall outcomes of robotic pancreatectomy and evaluate its safety and feasibility in octogenarian patients. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted, including 380 patients who underwent robotic pancreatectomy at two high-volume centers in Japan from April 2020 to December 2024. Using prospectively collected data, we compared outcomes between younger patients (<80 years) and octogenarian patients (?80 years). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of age on postoperative outcomes. Results: Among the 380 patients, with a median age of 72 (interquartile range: 61?77) years, 213 underwent robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD), and 167 underwent robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP). Octogenarian patients were found to have more comorbidities and a higher incidence of malignant diseases. Octogenarians experienced significantly longer hospital stays post-RPD (22 [octogenarian; n = 36] vs. 14 [younger; n = 177] days, p < 0.001) and post-RDP (14 [n = 23] vs. 10.5 [n = 144] days, p = 0.02), yet their perioperative outcomes were comparable. Multivariable analyses indicated that age (?80 years) was not a significant risk factor for major complications following robotic pancreatectomy (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.59?2.84; p = 0.479). Conclusions: This multicenter study conducted at high-volume centers suggests that robotic pancreatectomy can be safely performed in carefully selected octogenarian patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakagiKosei en-aut-sei=Takagi en-aut-mei=Kosei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaYuichiro en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Yuichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiTomokazu en-aut-sei=Fuji en-aut-mei=Tomokazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaharaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Takahara en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YasuiKazuya en-aut-sei=Yasui en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiyamaTakeyoshi en-aut-sei=Nishiyama en-aut-mei=Takeyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=UyamaIchiro en-aut-sei=Uyama en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SudaKoichi en-aut-sei=Suda en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraToshiyoshi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Toshiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil= Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil= Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil= Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil= Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil= Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil= Department of Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery, Fujita Health University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil= Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil= Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=robotic pancreatectomy kn-keyword=robotic pancreatectomy en-keyword=pancreatoduodenectomy kn-keyword=pancreatoduodenectomy en-keyword=distal pancreatectomy kn-keyword=distal pancreatectomy en-keyword=elderly patients kn-keyword=elderly patients END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=68 cd-vols= no-issue=4-5 article-no= start-page=e70061 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Computer‐Aided Sperm Analysis Protocol for Evaluating Sperm Motility in Japanese Medaka en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Changes in sperm motility can serve as an early indicator of reproductive effects caused by environmental chemicals or genetic perturbations. However, sperm motility is highly sensitive to external factors such as osmolarity, ionic composition, and the timing of measurement after activation, making it challenging to obtain consistent and reproducible measurements. Here, we present a standardized protocol for assessing sperm motility in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) using a sperm motility analysis system (SMAS), an application for computer-aided sperm motility analysis (CASA). This protocol details the procedures for sperm collection, activation, and quantitative motility assessment, with particular focus on changes in the percentage of motile sperm post activation and the effects of sperm cryopreservation. We demonstrate time-dependent declines in sperm motility and velocity, and highlight the importance of early post-activation measurements to accurately capture peak motility. Notably, cryopreservation significantly accelerated the decline in sperm motility rate without affecting the initial proportion of motile sperm. To enable reliable comparisons among experimental groups, we recommend standardizing the initiation time after sperm activation by using CASA, and show that measurements should be initiated within 1?min after activation to obtain consistent and reliable data. This standardized SMAS-based protocol provides a robust and reproducible framework for sperm motility analysis in medaka and will be valuable not only for studies in reproductive biology, toxicology, and environmental risk assessment but also for applied research, such as breeding of aquacultural fishes. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KuroyanagiMiwa en-aut-sei=Kuroyanagi en-aut-mei=Miwa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnsaiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Ansai en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoKeigo en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Keigo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoAi en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Ai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamazakiTouko en-aut-sei=Yamazaki en-aut-mei=Touko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KameiYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Kamei en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeEiji en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Eiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKiyoshi en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Kiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OginoYukiko en-aut-sei=Ogino en-aut-mei=Yukiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Advanced Aquaculture Science, Faculty of Marine Bioscience and Technology, Fukui Prefectural University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Faculty of Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Laboratory of Aquatic Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Interuniversity Bio-Backup Project Center, National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB) kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Laboratory of Bioresources, National Institutes of Natural Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Optics and Bioimaging Facility, NIBB kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Basic Biology Program, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI) kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Laboratory of Bioresources, National Institutes of Natural Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Laboratory of Aquatic Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University kn-affil= en-keyword=computer-aided sperm motility analysis (CASA) kn-keyword=computer-aided sperm motility analysis (CASA) en-keyword=medaka kn-keyword=medaka en-keyword=sperm motility kn-keyword=sperm motility en-keyword=sperm motility analysis system (SMAS) kn-keyword=sperm motility analysis system (SMAS) END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=10 article-no= start-page=3702 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260511 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Exploratory Analysis of Serum IGF-I Levels and Symptom Trajectories in Long COVID During the Omicron Period en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Although several risk factors have been reported for long COVID (LC), reliable biomarkers for this illness remain lacking. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, a major mediator of growth hormones, plays an important role in metabolism, neuroprotection, and systemic homeostasis, and therefore may be useful in predicting the severity and prognosis of LC. Methods: This study included patients who visited a specialized clinic for long COVID between 2022 and 2025 during the Omicron period and had serum IGF-I measurements taken. IGF-I levels were expressed as age- and sex-adjusted standard deviation scores (IGF-I SD), and patients were classified into low (SD < ?1.0), normal (?1.0 ? SD < 1.0), and high (SD ? 1.0) groups. Clinical characteristics, patient-reported outcomes, laboratory data, and follow-up duration were analyzed. Results: A total of 811 patients were included (median 42 years; 52.5% female). Compared with the normal group, the low-IGF-I group exhibited higher fatigue (FAS: 37.0 vs. 34.0; p < 0.05) and depressive (SDS: 50.0 vs. 49.0; p < 0.05) status. Multivariable linear regression analyses identified lower IGF-I SD as independently associated with higher scores of both FAS and SDS. IGF-I SD values showed negative correlations with ferritin (ρ = ?0.125, p < 0.05) and TSH (ρ = ?0.202, p < 0.01) and positive correlations with albumin (ρ = 0.227, p < 0.01) and FT4 (ρ = 0.165, p < 0.01). Among the 237 patients who completed follow-up, the median duration from the initial visit to recovery tended to be longer in the low-IGF-I group (221 days) compared with the normal (191 days) and high (109 days) groups, although these differences were not statistically significant overall. In patients aged < 50 years, the low-IGF-I group showed a relatively longer follow-up duration (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the low-IGF-I group had a longer time to recovery compared to the high-IGF-I group (p < 0.05), and this difference was more pronounced in patients under 50 years of age, with significant differences observed among the three IGF-I groups. Conclusions: Lower IGF-I levels in LC may be associated with greater fatigue and depressive symptoms and longer recovery time, particularly in younger patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of these findings. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SuyamaAtsuhito en-aut-sei=Suyama en-aut-mei=Atsuhito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaYuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokumasuKazuki en-aut-sei=Tokumasu en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakuradaYasue en-aut-sei=Sakurada en-aut-mei=Yasue kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsudaYui en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Yui kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HondaHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Honda en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SoejimaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Soejima en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaToru en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaseRyosuke en-aut-sei=Takase en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmuraDaisuke en-aut-sei=Omura en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=OguniKohei en-aut-sei=Oguni en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=UedaKeigo en-aut-sei=Ueda en-aut-mei=Keigo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaFumio en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Fumio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=COVID-19 kn-keyword=COVID-19 en-keyword=fatigue kn-keyword=fatigue en-keyword=IGF-I kn-keyword=IGF-I en-keyword=long COVID kn-keyword=long COVID en-keyword=recovery kn-keyword=recovery END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=46 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=BSR20260010 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Tubulogenesis of bovine uterine glands by epidermal growth factor and collagen I in 3D culture systems en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Uterine glands are endometrial exocrine epithelia that support early embryo development. Their secretions are particularly essential for conceptus elongation in cattle. Uterine glands develop from the luminal epithelium and elongate into the stromal layer toward the myometrium. This process is regulated by growth factors, WNT proteins, and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM); however, the precise mechanisms that govern bovine uterine gland morphogenesis remain unclear. In this study, we determined how these signaling factors and ECM components affect the tubular formation of bovine uterine gland fragments in 3D culture systems. Uterine gland fragments were enzymatically isolated from bovine endometria and 3D-cultured in Matrigel with or without growth factors (EGF, FGF1, FGF2, FGF7, FGF10, and IGF-1) and WNT (WNT3A, WNT5A, and WNT7A) proteins. Of these, only EGF stimulated the elongation of uterine gland fragments and eventually induced the formation of uterine gland-like structures. EGF-induced tubulogenesis was accompanied by a rapid increase in cell proliferation and alterations in cell?ECM interactions. The supplementation of collagen I with Matrigel further promoted the elongation of the tubular structures. Although the addition of collagen I did not alter the gene expression profiles of the uterine gland-like structures, the integrin-ROCK pathway contributed to the collagen-induced enhancement of elongation. Our findings clarified that EGF and collagen I, but not FGFs, IGF-1, or WNTs, are key regulators for the tubular formation of 3D-cultured bovine uterine gland fragments. This 3D culture system provides a new platform to examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying bovine uterine gland morphogenesis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SuginoYosuke en-aut-sei=Sugino en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchikawaRei en-aut-sei=Ichikawa en-aut-mei=Rei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuyamaShuichi en-aut-sei=Matsuyama en-aut-mei=Shuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoYuki en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawanoKohei en-aut-sei=Kawano en-aut-mei=Kohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraKoji en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=3D cell culture kn-keyword=3D cell culture en-keyword=bovine, collagen I kn-keyword=bovine, collagen I en-keyword=epidermal growth factor kn-keyword=epidermal growth factor en-keyword=tubular structure kn-keyword=tubular structure en-keyword=uterine gland kn-keyword=uterine gland END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Switchable photoluminescence of europium(iii) complexes with chromonylhydrazones en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Europium(III) complexes bearing 4-hydroxy- or 4-methyl-N′-((6-methyl-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methylene)benzohydrazide (HL1 or HL2) showed characteristic EuIII 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0?4) luminescence both in acetonitrile and in solid states with relatively high Φtot values. The luminescence was quenched not only by adding triethylamine in acetonitrile, but also by heating the solid sample, and recovered by adding perchloric acid in solution or by diffusion of HCl vapor to the resulting solid sample. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KameiAsahi en-aut-sei=Kamei en-aut-mei=Asahi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaitoDaisuke en-aut-sei=Saito en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakaharaKazuma en-aut-sei=Takahara en-aut-mei=Kazuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NoseKeito en-aut-sei=Nose en-aut-mei=Keito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoHideki en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaMasaki en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Masaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoMasako en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Masako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzukiTakayoshi en-aut-sei=Suzuki en-aut-mei=Takayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Science, University of Hyogo kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Science, The University of Osaka kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Kwansei Gakuin University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2026 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=8863202 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Selective ARID1A Loss Restricted to the Undifferentiated Component of a Mismatch Repair‐Deficient Gastric Carcinoma: A Case Report en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) gastric carcinomas often harbor ARID1A alteration, but a sharply demarcated undifferentiated/rhabdoid component with selective ARID1A loss is uncommon and may create a diagnostic dilemma. An 80-year-old man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for anemia, which revealed a circumferential Borrmann Type 3 lesion in the gastric body, and distal gastrectomy was performed. Histologically, the tumor was composed predominantly of undifferentiated carcinoma with focal rhabdoid features and a minute well-differentiated adenocarcinoma component, with an abrupt transition between the two. Immunohistochemistry showed loss of nuclear MLH1 and PMS2 in both components, whereas loss of ARID1A expression was confined to the undifferentiated component; SMARCB1 (INI1), SMARCA2 (BRM), and SMARCA4 (BRG1) were retained. EBER in situ hybridization was negative. Because gene-level testing, MSI testing, and MLH1 promoter methylation analysis were not performed, the molecular basis of the dMMR phenotype and ARID1A loss could not be determined. The restricted scope of molecular testing limits the ability to draw broad or generalizable conclusions and to fully establish clinicopathological correlations. The value of this report is, therefore, not mechanistic proof but recognition of a practical morphologic-immunophenotypic observation: When a gastric carcinoma shows a sharply demarcated shift from differentiated to undifferentiated/rhabdoid morphology, dMMR should be considered, and selective ARID1A loss in the undifferentiated component may be associated with dedifferentiation. These findings should be interpreted with caution as preliminary, hypothesis-generating observations that require validation in larger studies with more extensive molecular profiling. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OmoteRika en-aut-sei=Omote en-aut-mei=Rika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamanoRyosuke en-aut-sei=Hamano en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaShinya en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanaiHiroyuki en-aut-sei=Yanai en-aut-mei=Hiroyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Pathology, NHO Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Surgery, NHO Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Surgery, NHO Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=ARID1A kn-keyword=ARID1A en-keyword=carcinoma kn-keyword=carcinoma en-keyword=DNA mismatch repair deficiency kn-keyword=DNA mismatch repair deficiency en-keyword=rhabdoid features kn-keyword=rhabdoid features en-keyword=stomach neoplasms kn-keyword=stomach neoplasms en-keyword=SWI/SNF complex kn-keyword=SWI/SNF complex en-keyword=undifferentiated kn-keyword=undifferentiated END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=148 end-page=159 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202606 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Behavioral effects of a chronic envy-like stress paradigm in mice using an adjacent cage model en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Social comparison and envy are significant psychosocial stressors in humans and are known to be involved in the onset and persistence of psychiatric disorders. However, animal models capable of experimentally reproducing the effects of indirect social comparison without physical contact are limited. In this study, we used a newly developed "adjacent-cage paradigm" to investigate whether chronic vicarious exposure to conspecifics in different environments induces envy-like stress in mice.
Methods: Male C57BL/6?N mice served as observers, while demonstrator mice were assigned to one of four conditions: (1) an environment enriched with objects, (2) an igloo, (3) a tube, or (4) social isolation. Observers were continuously exposed to these adjacent cages for 21 days. Subsequently, a comprehensive battery of behavioral tests was conducted to assess general health, anxiety-like behavior, spatial memory, social behavior, and depression-like behavior.
Results: In the objects condition, a decrease in time spent in the light compartment of the light/dark box indicated an increase in anxiety-like behavior. In the isolation condition, the mean duration per social interaction was shortened, suggesting a qualitative change in social behavior. The igloo condition resulted in reduced immobility time in the forced swim test, suggesting a possible alteration in stress coping behavior. Furthermore, increased nociceptive sensitivity was observed in the hot plate test under both the objects and isolation conditions.
Conclusion: Although the envy-like stress paradigm did not affect many behavioral indices, it did cause condition-dependent and limited behavioral changes. This suggests that the paradigm may serve as a novel model for capturing psychological and context-dependent social stress, which differs from conventional physical stress models. Elucidating the neural basis of this paradigm is expected to contribute to the understanding of how social comparison affects mental health in modern society. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UenoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Ueno en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitanoEriko en-aut-sei=Kitano en-aut-mei=Eriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYu en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriSachiko en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Sachiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiShinji en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaniKenta en-aut-sei=Wani en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoYosuke en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoMotoi en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Motoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= en-keyword=envy-like stress kn-keyword=envy-like stress en-keyword=social comparison kn-keyword=social comparison en-keyword=psychosocial stress kn-keyword=psychosocial stress en-keyword=mouse model kn-keyword=mouse model en-keyword=anxiety-like behavior kn-keyword=anxiety-like behavior END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=44248 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251219 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Post-weaning maternal presence exerts a protective effect against social isolation-induced behavioural alterations in mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Parental “watchful presence” is considered an important factor influencing behavioural and emotional development in offspring across mammalian species, including humans. However, the effects of such parental presence remain insufficiently understood, even in human studies. In laboratory mice, offspring are typically weaned at approximately three weeks of age, leaving the impact of post-weaning maternal presence on behavioural development largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate whether maternal presence in an adjacent cage after weaning can attenuate behavioural effects of social isolation stress in mice. Furthermore, we sought to assess whether this experimental paradigm could serve as a novel animal model for studying the effects of parental watchful presence, with potential relevance to human parent?child relationship research. Mouse pups were weaned at postnatal day 21 and housed either adjacent to their mother (maternal presence group) or without maternal presence (control group). The pups were subsequently housed either in groups with littermates or individually until eight weeks of age. After maturation, behavioural tests were conducted to assess locomotor activity, anxiety-like behaviour, social behaviour, and depression-like behaviour. In group-housed mice, maternal presence did not influence behavioural outcomes. However, in individually housed mice, maternal presence partially attenuated social isolation-induced behavioural alterations, suggesting a subtle protective effect, including hyperlocomotion, reduced anxiety-like behaviour, and abnormal social interactions. Our findings demonstrate that maternal presence during the post-weaning period can offer a protective effect against certain behavioural abnormalities induced by social isolation stress in mice.　This simple adjacent-cage paradigm provides a novel and practical model for elucidating the impact of parental watchful presence on behavioural and emotional development, offering insights relevant to the understanding of parent?child relationships in humans. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=UenoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Ueno en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitanoEriko en-aut-sei=Kitano en-aut-mei=Eriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYu en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriSachiko en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Sachiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MurakamiShinji en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=WaniKenta en-aut-sei=Wani en-aut-mei=Kenta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoYosuke en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoMotoi en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Motoi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshiharaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Ishihara en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= en-keyword=Maternal presence kn-keyword=Maternal presence en-keyword=Social isolation kn-keyword=Social isolation en-keyword=Post-weaning period kn-keyword=Post-weaning period en-keyword=Resilience kn-keyword=Resilience en-keyword=Mice kn-keyword=Mice END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=827 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=154001 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202608 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Staphylococcus aureus activates dendrite elongation in dendritic cells en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Dendritic cells (DCs) are thought to extend dendrites to enhance the efficiency of antigen uptake and presentation. We previously reported that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate and valerate, promote dendrite extension in DCs. In this study, we found that the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus also induces dendrite extension in DCs and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Dendrite extension in DC2.4?cells was induced not only by live S. aureus but also by heat-killed bacteria and purified peptidoglycan (PGN). DC2.4?cells lacking TLR2 or its adaptor protein MyD88 extend dendrites in response to SCFAs, but failed to extend dendrites in response to S. aureus. Furthermore, inhibitors of ERK, PI3K, and Cdc42 suppressed dendrite extension triggered by S. aureus. Co-stimulation with S. aureus and butyrate enhanced dendrite extension beyond either stimulus alone. DC2.4?cells co-stimulated with S. aureus and butyrate also showed increased uptake of insoluble beads and, upon co-culture with T cells, induced elevated production of IL-17 and IL-10 by T cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that S. aureus activates ERK/PI3K/Cdc42 signaling through TLR2 recognition of PGN to drive dendrite extension in DCs. In addition, S. aureus promotes dendrite extension in DCs via a pathway distinct from that of SCFAs, thereby acting cooperatively with SCFAs to enhance immune responses. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KobataKai en-aut-sei=Kobata en-aut-mei=Kai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurutaKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Furuta en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkeyaYuki en-aut-sei=Ikeya en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ChishakiYohei en-aut-sei=Chishaki en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshikawaKazuya en-aut-sei=Ishikawa en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KaitoChikara en-aut-sei=Kaito en-aut-mei=Chikara kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Staphylococcus aureus kn-keyword=Staphylococcus aureus en-keyword=Dendritic cells kn-keyword=Dendritic cells en-keyword=Dendrite elongation kn-keyword=Dendrite elongation en-keyword=Peptidoglycan: TLR2/MyD88 signaling kn-keyword=Peptidoglycan: TLR2/MyD88 signaling en-keyword=ERK/PI3K/Cdc42 pathway kn-keyword=ERK/PI3K/Cdc42 pathway en-keyword=Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) kn-keyword=Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) en-keyword=Butyrate kn-keyword=Butyrate en-keyword=Host?microbe interactions kn-keyword=Host?microbe interactions en-keyword=Antigen presentation kn-keyword=Antigen presentation en-keyword=T-cell activation kn-keyword=T-cell activation en-keyword=IL-17 kn-keyword=IL-17 en-keyword=IL-10 kn-keyword=IL-10 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=2645 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260313 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Minimal Association Between Immunoglobulin A Coating and Gut Microbiota Alterations Induced by High-Fat Diets with Distinct Fatty Acid Compositions en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=High-fat diets (HFDs) containing dietary fats with different fatty acid (FA) compositions alter gut microbiota composition in a fat-source-dependent manner. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and unabsorbed lipids in the distal gut are potential regulators of the gut microbiota. However, their roles in mediating gut microbiota alterations induced by dietary fats with different FA compositions remain unclear. This study aims to examine the associations of these two factors with fat-source-dependent gut microbiota alterations. BALB/c mice were fed a normal diet, a high-lard diet, a high-olive oil diet, or a high-soybean oil diet for 27 weeks. Fecal samples were collected to assess microbiota composition, the IgA coating index (ICI)?which quantifies the extent of IgA coating on gut microbiota?and fecal fatty acid concentrations. At the phylum level, the concentration of fecal total long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) was positively correlated with the relative abundance (RA) of Bacillota and negatively correlated with that of Bacteroidota. In addition, a trend toward a positive association between the RA and the ICI was observed for Bacillota but not for Bacteroidota. At the genus level, the RAs of 12 taxa were positively correlated with fecal LCFA concentrations, whereas those of 6 taxa were negatively correlated. Although the RAs of most taxa appeared to be influenced by unabsorbed lipids and additional factors, only four Bacillota genera exhibited a positive correlation between the RA and the ICI. Our observations suggest that IgA coating of the gut microbiota may have a minimal association with fat-source-specific alterations in gut microbiota composition during HFD intake. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TeraokaMao en-aut-sei=Teraoka en-aut-mei=Mao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishinoNaoki en-aut-sei=Nishino en-aut-mei=Naoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WangTianyang en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=Tianyang kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=ChenKuiyi en-aut-sei=Chen en-aut-mei=Kuiyi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsurutaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Tsuruta en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil= Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil= Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil= Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil= Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=immunoglobulin A kn-keyword=immunoglobulin A en-keyword=high-fat diet kn-keyword=high-fat diet en-keyword=gut microbiota kn-keyword=gut microbiota en-keyword=fatty acid composition kn-keyword=fatty acid composition END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=46 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260512 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Revised taxonomy reveals sustained introgression and secondary contact in ancient lake ricefishes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Biotic diversification in ancient lakes is shaped by complex geological histories and genetic exchange among populations. The Malili Lake system on Sulawesi Island represents a classic natural laboratory for studying freshwater fish evolution and harbors multiple endemic Oryzias species that diversified under repeated hydrological reorganizations. Previous genomic analyses inferred that two sympatric species in Lake Towuti (O. profundicola and O. loxolepis) experienced a single ancient introgression event from a “ghost lineage” derived from O. marmoratus inhabiting another lake. However, recent taxonomic re-evaluation has revealed the presence of an extant O. marmoratus population within Lake Towuti itself. This finding suggests that the putative ghost lineage may in fact represent a living population co-occurring in the lake, calling for a re-examination of the introgression history and speciation mode in Lake Towuti.
Results By incorporating newly generated ddRAD-seq data from the true O. marmoratus in Lake Towuti, we reanalyzed phylogenetic relationships and population genetic structure among Malili Lake Oryzias. Previously reported major phylogenetic relationships and inter-lake introgression patterns were largely reproduced. In contrast, TreeMix and f4-statistic analyses revealed that introgression signals previously attributed to a “ghost lineage” into O. profundicola and O. loxolepis instead originated from the extant O. marmoratus population coexisting within Lake Towuti. Demographic model comparisons explicitly incorporating within-lake gene flow further supported a scenario in which O. profundicola and O. loxolepis diverged in allopatry, subsequently came into secondary contact within Lake Towuti, and later experienced additional gene flow following secondary contact with O. marmoratus that entered the lake.
Conclusion Our results demonstrate that introgression from the O. marmoratus lineage into O. profundicola and O. loxolepis was not a single ancient event, but rather a more sustained process. This finding highlights the critical importance of taxonomic resolution for accurately inferring introgression and divergence history. Comparative studies across other ancient lakes on Sulawesi will be valuable for understanding how the timing and nature of gene flow from third lineages influence patterns of population divergence and the strength of reproductive isolation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YashimaYuki en-aut-sei=Yashima en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NofriantoAndy B. en-aut-sei=Nofrianto en-aut-mei=Andy B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NuryadiHandung en-aut-sei=Nuryadi en-aut-mei=Handung kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KakiokaRyo en-aut-sei=Kakioka en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiHirozumi en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Hirozumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnsaiSatoshi en-aut-sei=Ansai en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MandagiIxchel F. en-aut-sei=Mandagi en-aut-mei=Ixchel F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasengiKawilarang W. A. en-aut-sei=Masengi en-aut-mei=Kawilarang W. A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=LawelleSjamsu A. en-aut-sei=Lawelle en-aut-mei=Sjamsu A. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaganoAtsushi J. en-aut-sei=Nagano en-aut-mei=Atsushi J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KusumiJunko en-aut-sei=Kusumi en-aut-mei=Junko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamahiraKazunori en-aut-sei=Yamahira en-aut-mei=Kazunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Applied Aquabiology, National Fisheries University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=The Natural History Museum and Institute kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Sam Ratulangi University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Sam Ratulangi University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Halu Oleo University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus kn-affil= en-keyword=Demography kn-keyword=Demography en-keyword=Hybridization kn-keyword=Hybridization en-keyword=Malili Lakes kn-keyword=Malili Lakes en-keyword=Oryzias kn-keyword=Oryzias en-keyword=Speciation kn-keyword=Speciation en-keyword=Sulawesi kn-keyword=Sulawesi END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=52641 end-page=52653 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Programmable Clock Distribution Using Switching Matrices for Field Programmable Gate Arrays en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Every digital systems using very large scale integration require clock distributions, for which a dedicated clock tree or a mesh clock is frequently used. Field programmable gate arrays have numerous general-purpose programmable wires based on switching matrices to connect the outputs and inputs of look-up tables and input?output ports. However, field programmable gate arrays never use numerous general-purpose programmable wires for their clock distributions to satisfy the clock skew margin similarly to very large scale integrations. Field programmable gate arrays also use dedicated clock trees, although their programmability is not high. Currently, field programmable gate arrays can support multiple dedicated clock routing or multiple clock trees. Unfortunately, the number of clock trees is fixed. They remain limited to a small number. Even if an application requires many clock distributions, such a clock distribution cannot be supported in current field programmable gate arrays. This paper therefore presents a proposal of a more flexible clock distribution method based on wiring channels and switching matrices. The method uses general-purpose programmable wires. In addition, to resolve clock skew increase difficulties, we have introduced a new flip-flop with a two-phase clock signal. This paper presents simulation results obtained using the proposed clock distribution method on an originally designed field programmable gate array. In addition, experimentally obtained results indicate that the proposed clock distribution method can function correctly on a Cyclone V field programmable gate array. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OguraAyumu en-aut-sei=Ogura en-aut-mei=Ayumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeMinoru en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Minoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeNobuya en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Nobuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Clock distribution kn-keyword=Clock distribution en-keyword=field programmable gate array (FPGA) kn-keyword=field programmable gate array (FPGA) en-keyword=programmable device kn-keyword=programmable device en-keyword=two-phase clock kn-keyword=two-phase clock END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=49 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=496 end-page=502 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260314 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Bortezomib Induces Apoptosis via Upregulation of Abhd4 in Peripheral Nerve Cells en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Bortezomib, a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor, is widely used to treat multiple myeloma and other hematological malignancies. Despite its therapeutic efficacy, bortezomib causes peripheral neuropathy (PN) in approximately 20?30% of patients, often leading to dose reduction or discontinuation. Preventive or therapeutic approaches to bortezomib-induced PN are currently unavailable, as its precise mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we compared the effects of bortezomib and the second-generation proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib on peripheral nerve cells to identify candidate molecules involved in PN development. Transcriptome profiling of differentiated F11 cells, a hybridoma of a rat embryonic dorsal root ganglion and mouse neuroblastoma cell line N18TG2, revealed that bortezomib selectively upregulated α/β-hydrolase containing domain 4 (Abhd4), whereas carfilzomib did not. This finding was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting, which demonstrated consistent increases in Abhd4 mRNA and protein levels following bortezomib treatment. Functional analysis further revealed that Abhd4 overexpression promoted early apoptosis, suggesting a mechanistic link between bortezomib-induced Abhd4 elevation and neuronal vulnerability. Therefore, these results suggest that Abhd4 represents a candidate molecular signature associated with bortezomib-induced PN. Although further in vivo validation is needed, these findings warrant further investigation of Abhd4 as a potential contributor to bortezomib-induced PN. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KonishiYusuke en-aut-sei=Konishi en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmuraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Omura en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=IjichiTakeshi en-aut-sei=Ijichi en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiguchiHiroki en-aut-sei=Nishiguchi en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayakawaRyunosuke en-aut-sei=Hayakawa en-aut-mei=Ryunosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitahiroYumi en-aut-sei=Kitahiro en-aut-mei=Yumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ItoharaKotaro en-aut-sei=Itohara en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanoIkuko en-aut-sei=Yano en-aut-mei=Ikuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Education and Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, Kobe Pharmaceutical University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Integrated Clinical and Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Pharmacy, Kobe University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=bortezomib kn-keyword=bortezomib en-keyword=carfilzomib kn-keyword=carfilzomib en-keyword=peripheral neuropathy kn-keyword=peripheral neuropathy en-keyword=multiple myeloma kn-keyword=multiple myeloma en-keyword=proteasome inhibitor kn-keyword=proteasome inhibitor END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=46 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=407 end-page=414 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20251230 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Impact of Polymeric Formula on Outcomes in Robotic Pancreatectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background/Aim: Evidence regarding the benefits of nutritional therapy after robotic pancreatectomy is limited. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of a polymeric formula (PF) on preventing body weight loss (BWL) following robotic pancreatectomy.
Patients and Methods: This single-center, open-label, randomized trial was conducted to assign 46 patients undergoing robotic pancreatectomy in a 1:1 ratio to either the PF (ISOCAL Clear) or control group. The primary endpoint was the percentage of BWL on postoperative days 14 and 28. The secondary endpoints were postoperative outcomes.
Results: Of the 52 eligible patients between December 2023 and November 2024, 46 were analyzed using intention-to-treat principles: 23 in the ISOCAL group and 23 in the control group. The %BWL was significantly lower in the ISOCAL group compared with that in the control group on postoperative days 14 (4.8±3.5% vs. 6.6±3.2%, p=0.02) and 28 (6.4±3.0% vs. 8.4±3.5%, p=0.047). Postoperative outcomes, including major complications (p=0.55) and hospital stay (p=0.83), did not differ significantly between the groups.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of administering PF to patients undergoing robotic pancreatectomy. The results showed the beneficial effects of PF on mitigating BWL without compromising short-term outcomes. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TAKAGIKOSEI en-aut-sei=TAKAGI en-aut-mei=KOSEI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FUJITOMOKAZU en-aut-sei=FUJI en-aut-mei=TOMOKAZU kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YASUIKAZUYA en-aut-sei=YASUI en-aut-mei=KAZUYA kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YAMADAMOTOHIKO en-aut-sei=YAMADA en-aut-mei=MOTOHIKO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NISHIYAMATAKEYOSHI en-aut-sei=NISHIYAMA en-aut-mei=TAKEYOSHI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NAGAIYASUO en-aut-sei=NAGAI en-aut-mei=YASUO kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HASHIMOTOMASASHI en-aut-sei=HASHIMOTO en-aut-mei=MASASHI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MITSUHASHITOSHIHARU en-aut-sei=MITSUHASHI en-aut-mei=TOSHIHARU kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=FUJIWARATOSHIYOSHI en-aut-sei=FUJIWARA en-aut-mei=TOSHIYOSHI kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Robotic pancreatectomy kn-keyword=Robotic pancreatectomy en-keyword=nutrition kn-keyword=nutrition en-keyword=polymeric formula kn-keyword=polymeric formula en-keyword=outcomes kn-keyword=outcomes END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e105091 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260312 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Septic Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint Complicated by Dislocation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (SATMJ) is a rare but potentially serious condition, and standardized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies have not been established. We present the case of a 70-year-old man who developed acute right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, swelling, mandibular deviation, and inability to achieve mouth closure. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed right TMJ dislocation, joint effusion, degenerative changes, and anterior disc displacement with effusion. Aspiration of the joint yielded neutrophil-predominant purulent fluid, although bacterial cultures were negative. The patient was treated empirically with intravenous ceftriaxone followed by oral clindamycin and amoxicillin, resulting in rapid symptom resolution, and the dislocation spontaneously reduced without surgical intervention. No recurrence was observed during three months of follow-up. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with culture-negative SATMJ, supports the role of early empirical antibiotic therapy, and suggests that chronic joint instability due to habitual dislocation may predispose the TMJ to infection. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KanemotoHideka en-aut-sei=Kanemoto en-aut-mei=Hideka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ObataKyoichi en-aut-sei=Obata en-aut-mei=Kyoichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeshitaYohei en-aut-sei=Takeshita en-aut-mei=Yohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=UmemoriKoki en-aut-sei=Umemori en-aut-mei=Koki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=IbaragiSoichiro en-aut-sei=Ibaragi en-aut-mei=Soichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences Center kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=antibiotics kn-keyword=antibiotics en-keyword=culture-negative infection kn-keyword=culture-negative infection en-keyword=joint dislocation kn-keyword=joint dislocation en-keyword=septic arthritis kn-keyword=septic arthritis en-keyword=temporomandibular joint kn-keyword=temporomandibular joint END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=75 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=121 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260324 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Immunological effects of amivantamab in EGFR or MET-expressing non-small cell lung cancer en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations represent one of the most frequent oncogenic driver in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Amivantamab, a bispecific antibody targeting EGFR and MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase (MET), has demonstrated clinical benefit in EGFR-mutant NSCLC through dual blockade, but its immunological role in human clinical specimens, especially tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), has not been directly evaluated.
Methods We analyzed surgically resected tumor samples from 40 patients with NSCLC to investigate immune responses and their associations with EGFR and MET expression. TILs were characterized by flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). To assess the immunomodulatory potential of amivantamab, fresh tumor digests containing live tumor cells and TILs were cultured ex vivo with CD3 and CD28 stimulation in the absence or presence of amivantamab, followed by FCM. EGFR and MET expression were also evaluated by IHC.
Results EGFR mutations and high EGFR protein expression were associated with a trend toward reduced CD8? T-cell and dendritic cell (DC) infiltration. In ex vivo TIL assays, exposure to amivantamab significantly activated CD8? T cells, such as programmed cell death-1 expression and cytokine production, and promoted DC maturation. These effects were most pronounced in tumors with high EGFR or MET protein expression rather than EGFR mutations.
Conclusions This study provides the first direct evidence from ex vivo fresh TIL assays using human NSCLC clinical specimens that amivantamab can activate immune responses. EGFR and MET expression may serve as potential biomarkers for amivantamab-induced immune responses. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshichikaRyo en-aut-sei=Yoshichika en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MukoharaFumiaki en-aut-sei=Mukohara en-aut-mei=Fumiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamadaKotaro en-aut-sei=Yamada en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagasakiJoji en-aut-sei=Nagasaki en-aut-mei=Joji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeHiroko en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Hiroko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=UedaYouki en-aut-sei=Ueda en-aut-mei=Youki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SuzawaKen en-aut-sei=Suzawa en-aut-mei=Ken kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShienKazuhiko en-aut-sei=Shien en-aut-mei=Kazuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshinoTakamasa en-aut-sei=Ishino en-aut-mei=Takamasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=TogashiYosuke en-aut-sei=Togashi en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Non-small cell lung cancer kn-keyword=Non-small cell lung cancer en-keyword=Amivantamab kn-keyword=Amivantamab en-keyword=Antitumor immunity kn-keyword=Antitumor immunity en-keyword=EGFR kn-keyword=EGFR en-keyword=MET kn-keyword=MET END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=7 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=100926 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202603 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Potential Immune Microenvironment Biomarkers in SCLC: J-TAIL-2 Observational Study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: Effective predictors of response to atezolizumab plus carboplatin/etoposide (CE) therapy in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) remain limited. This exploratory analysis from J-TAIL-2 aimed to identify markers of survival benefit with atezolizumab plus CE therapy in ES-SCLC.
Methods: J-TAIL-2 (ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT04501497) was a multicenter observational study that enrolled patients receiving atezolizumab plus CE (ES-SCLC cohort) in clinical practice in Japan per local label and treatment guidelines. In this exploratory analysis, the association of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density and SCLC subtypes (SCLC-A [ASCL1 dominant], SCLC-N [NEUROD1 dominant], SCLC-P [ASCL1/NEUROD1 double-negative with POU2F3 expression], and SCLC-O [ASCL1/NEUROD1 double-negative not otherwise specified]) with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated. SCLC subtyping was performed by immunohistochemistry.
Results: SCLC samples (n = 100; data cutoff, February 3, 2023) were categorized as SCLC-A (73%), SCLC-N (16%), SCLC-P (8%), and SCLC-O (3%). Among 96 patients who received first-line atezolizumab plus CE, median age was 72 (range, 39?87) years and 81% were male. Furthermore, 56 patients were classified into the CD8+ TIL-high subgroup and 40 into the TIL-low subgroup. Median (m)PFS with atezolizumab plus CE was 6.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.5?7.5) in the TIL-high versus 4.4 months (95% CI: 4.0?5.1) in the TIL-low subgroup (p = 0.01); mOS was 18.4 (95% CI: 11.8?not estimable) versus 10.8 months (95% CI: 7.7?16.2; p = 0.04). mOS and mPFS were not significantly different between SCLC subtypes but were numerically shorter in the SCLC-N group.
Conclusions: CD8+ TIL density is a potential biomarker of clinical benefit in ES-SCLC and may facilitate patient selection for atezolizumab combination therapy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ShirasawaMasayuki en-aut-sei=Shirasawa en-aut-mei=Masayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishioMakoto en-aut-sei=Nishio en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiKadoaki en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Kadoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OsoegawaAtsushi en-aut-sei=Osoegawa en-aut-mei=Atsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KikuchiEiki en-aut-sei=Kikuchi en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraHideharu en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Hideharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotoYasushi en-aut-sei=Goto en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShimizuJunichi en-aut-sei=Shimizu en-aut-mei=Junichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyauchiEisaku en-aut-sei=Miyauchi en-aut-mei=Eisaku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiokaHiroshige en-aut-sei=Yoshioka en-aut-mei=Hiroshige kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshinoIchiro en-aut-sei=Yoshino en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=MisumiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Misumi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=YatabeYasushi en-aut-sei=Yatabe en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaTatsuya en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=KashimaJumpei en-aut-sei=Kashima en-aut-mei=Jumpei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkiMasahide en-aut-sei=Oki en-aut-mei=Masahide kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=AshimuraHisao en-aut-sei=Ashimura en-aut-mei=Hisao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiYuki en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaMisa en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Misa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=GemmaAkihiko en-aut-sei=Gemma en-aut-mei=Akihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Thoracic and Breast Surgery, Oita University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kansai Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Data Science, National Cancer Center Hospital East kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, NHO Nagoya Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Nippon Medical School kn-affil= en-keyword=Small cell kn-keyword=Small cell en-keyword=Lung cancer kn-keyword=Lung cancer en-keyword=Atezolizumab kn-keyword=Atezolizumab en-keyword=Chemotherapy kn-keyword=Chemotherapy en-keyword=Immune microenvironment kn-keyword=Immune microenvironment END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=117 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=1260 end-page=1272 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260227 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=TGF-β Inhibitor Potentiates Osimertinib-Induced Anti-Tumor Immunity in Egfr-Mutant Lung Cancer en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Immunotherapy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains challenging. We previously found that EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors induced antitumor immunity but also triggered immunosuppressive cytokines, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), in Egfr-mutant lung cancer. Here, we investigate whether TGF-β inhibition potentiates osimertinib-induced antitumor immunity using a syngeneic mouse model of Egfr-mutated lung cancer, with cancer cells subcutaneously transplanted into wild-type C57BL/6J mice. We evaluated the antitumor effect of the combination therapy with osimertinib and either nintedanib (an indirect TGF-β inhibitor) or vactosertib (a specific TGF-β type I receptor kinase inhibitor). Changes in the tumor microenvironment during treatment were assessed using immunohistochemical staining, western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. We found that TGF-β expression was upregulated in the tumor treated with osimertinib. Nintedanib monotherapy showed no significant antitumor effect, whereas osimertinib combined with nintedanib significantly potentiates the antitumor effect compared with osimertinib monotherapy in vivo. Crucially, no additive effect of nintedanib on osimertinib monotherapy was observed in vitro. Combination therapy with osimertinib and nintedanib significantly increased effector T cells (CD8+CD44+CD62L?) and Granzyme B+ areas and decreased CD206+ cells, while significantly decreasing TGF-β and SMAD2/3 expression. Similar effects were observed with vactosertib but not with a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor. In conclusion, combination therapy with osimertinib and TGF-β inhibitors potentiates osimertinib-induced antitumor immunity. These findings highlight a novel therapeutic strategy for EGFR-mutated NSCLC and warrant further clinical investigation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KuribayashiTadahiro en-aut-sei=Kuribayashi en-aut-mei=Tadahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraJun en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkawaSachi en-aut-sei=Okawa en-aut-mei=Sachi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaokaMasataka en-aut-sei=Taoka en-aut-mei=Masataka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriShunta en-aut-sei=Mori en-aut-mei=Shunta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakaaki en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraTomoka en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Tomoka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoritaAyako en-aut-sei=Morita en-aut-mei=Ayako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaraNaofumi en-aut-sei=Hara en-aut-mei=Naofumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NinomiyaKiichiro en-aut-sei=Ninomiya en-aut-mei=Kiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MakimotoGo en-aut-sei=Makimoto en-aut-mei=Go kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=RaiKammei en-aut-sei=Rai en-aut-mei=Kammei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchiharaEiki en-aut-sei=Ichihara en-aut-mei=Eiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HottaKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TogashiYosuke en-aut-sei=Togashi en-aut-mei=Yosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=KiuraKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Kiura en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiKadoaki en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Kadoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=EGFR kn-keyword=EGFR en-keyword=lung cancer kn-keyword=lung cancer en-keyword=nintedanib kn-keyword=nintedanib en-keyword=osimertinib kn-keyword=osimertinib en-keyword=TGF-β kn-keyword=TGF-β END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=26 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=329 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260131 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=High-risk soft-tissue sarcomas in elderly patients: does perioperative radiotherapy improve local control and prognosis? en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Aims Accumulating evidence suggests that advanced age is associated with poor local control and prognosis in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs), highlighting the need to optimise treatment for this age group. However, real-world data on treatment details and outcomes in elderly patients are limited. This study aimed to clarify the role of perioperative radiotherapy (RT) for treating high-risk STSs in elderly patients.
Methods Patients aged???70 years who underwent surgery for localised, high-grade, deep-seated non-small round cell STSs measuring???5 cm were included in the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Registry in Japan. Patients with small-round cell STSs or myxoid liposarcomas, or those who received perioperative chemotherapy or intraoperative RT, were excluded.
Results Among the 1,214 patients who met the criteria, 47 (4%), 219 (18%), and 2 (0.2%) received neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and both neoadjuvant and adjuvant RT, respectively. The 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 72.7% and 64.7%, respectively. Tumour size???10 cm, intralesional margin, and local recurrence were associated with poorer DSS; however, perioperative RT did not affect DSS. The 5- and 10-year cumulative probabilities of local recurrence (LR) were 14.6% and 19.5%, respectively. Trunk wall tumours, dedifferentiated liposarcomas, marginal margins, and intralesional margins were associated with a higher probability of LR. Adjuvant RT was associated with a reduced LR probability in patients with intralesional (p = 0.005) or marginal margins (p?=?0.044); however, no such benefit was observed in patients with wide margins, who constituted the majority of the cohort, resulting in no significant association between perioperative RT and LR in overall analyses. In the propensity score-matched cohort, no significant differences in DSS or cumulative probability of LR were observed between patients with and without perioperative RT.
Conclusion Adjuvant RT was associated with reduced LR rates in elderly patients with high-risk STSs who had intralesional or marginal margins. However, because most patients achieved wide margins and no benefit of perioperative RT was observed in this group, RT was not associated with reduced LR or improved survival in the overall or propensity score?matched analyses. Prospective trials are warranted to define the role of perioperative RT in elderly patients with high-risk STSs. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujiwaraTomohiro en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NezuYutaka en-aut-sei=Nezu en-aut-mei=Yutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TajimaTakashi en-aut-sei=Tajima en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiwaShinji en-aut-sei=Miwa en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KojimaToshio en-aut-sei=Kojima en-aut-mei=Toshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraShuichi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Shuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiAkira en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaKazuhiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Kazuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Centre for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yokohama City University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, National Cancer Centre Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Advanced Medical Sciences, Oita University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Soft-tissue sarcoma kn-keyword=Soft-tissue sarcoma en-keyword=High-risk kn-keyword=High-risk en-keyword=Surgery kn-keyword=Surgery en-keyword=Perioperative radiotherapy kn-keyword=Perioperative radiotherapy en-keyword=Elderly patients kn-keyword=Elderly patients END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue=12 article-no= start-page=2134 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260615 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Toward Convergence in Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning: Best-Response Space Shrinking as a Sufficient Condition en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We study convergence in multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) through the lens of sufficient conditions, using a single-point-of-failure analysis applied to multi-agent policy iteration integrated with linear programming (MAPI-LP), where results are proven for pure coordination games, and extension to broader settings is conjectured. We identify two sufficient conditions for convergence to Markov Perfect Equilibrium (MPE). The first is stability in best-response space that emerges from value monotonicity. The second, monotonic best-response space shrinking (MBRSS), is a novel condition requiring that each agent’s best-response space contracts monotonically across iterations until it collapses to a stable space. Furthermore, we show that MBRSS does not necessarily imply monotonic improvement in this setting. However, value monotonicity and stability in best-response space imply each other when a complementary condition is applied. Building on this hierarchical relationship, we propose conjectures on sufficient condition relationships in both serial and parallel MARL. In addition, we propose conjectures on generalized MBRSS to arbitrary finite repeated games and validation of stability in best-response space. We further discuss connections between MBRSS and existing related frameworks, and outline directions toward a taxonomy of sufficient conditions for MARL convergence. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ManatphaiboonNatchanon en-aut-sei=Manatphaiboon en-aut-mei=Natchanon kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MondenAkito en-aut-sei=Monden en-aut-mei=Akito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=Y?celZeynep en-aut-sei=Y?cel en-aut-mei=Zeynep kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’Foscari University of Venice kn-affil= en-keyword=sufficient condition kn-keyword=sufficient condition en-keyword=convergence analysis kn-keyword=convergence analysis en-keyword=Markov perfect equilibrium kn-keyword=Markov perfect equilibrium en-keyword=multi-agent reinforcement learning kn-keyword=multi-agent reinforcement learning en-keyword=best-response dynamics kn-keyword=best-response dynamics END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=21 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e0339600 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260312 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Early administration of renin?angiotensin system inhibitors improves survival and cardiac remodeling in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a major cardiovascular disease that accounts for 50% of all cases of heart failure. Patients with HFpEF have limited therapeutic options because of the complex pathogenesis of this disease. Decreased nitric oxide (NO) levels and increased renin?angiotensin system (RAS) activity may be associated with HFpEF pathogenesis. However, whether soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators and RAS inhibitors protect against HFpEF remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of RAS inhibitors captopril (Cap) and/or sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) and sGC stimulator vericiguat (Ver) on HFpEF progression. HFpEF was induced in 8-week-old male Wistar rats through intake of L-arginine methyl ester and a high-fat diet. Results showed that the survival rate after 8 weeks of treatment was 100% in the normal diet (Cont group), Cap, and Sac/Val groups, whereas it was approximately 20% in the HFpEF and Ver groups. No significant differences in the left ventricular systolic function were found. In addition, histochemistry revealed that myocardial hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis obviously increased in the HFpEF group but not in the Cap and Sac/Val groups compared with the Cont group. Furthermore, RNA sequencing analysis showed that the expression of genes related to inflammatory response, hypertrophy, and extracellular matrix?receptor interaction increased in the HFpEF group and decreased in the Cap and Sac/Val groups. In conclusion, early administration of Cap or Sac/Val may reduce the risk of developing HFpEF by inhibiting the RAS pathway rather than the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KonoYuka en-aut-sei=Kono en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SonodaKunihiro en-aut-sei=Sonoda en-aut-mei=Kunihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhtakeKazuo en-aut-sei=Ohtake en-aut-mei=Kazuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaAkinobu en-aut-sei=Ota en-aut-mei=Akinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoShusei en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Shusei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakayamaHinako en-aut-sei=Nakayama en-aut-mei=Hinako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukuokaTaketo en-aut-sei=Fukuoka en-aut-mei=Taketo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiYuki en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TagoHaruka en-aut-sei=Tago en-aut-mei=Haruka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeNobuhisa en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Nobuhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoIkumi en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Ikumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirohataSatoshi en-aut-sei=Hirohata en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitamoriKazuya en-aut-sei=Kitamori en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=WatanabeShogo en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Collage of Human Life and Environment, Kinjo Gakuin University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Josai University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Collage of Human Life and Environment, Kinjo Gakuin University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Academic Field of Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Academic Field of Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Collage of Human Life and Environment, Kinjo Gakuin University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Academic Field of Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=8 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1759690 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260309 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Development of a generative AI agent for family support in implementing family-based treatment for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: Family-based treatment (FBT) is a first-line psychotherapy for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, families must understand the principles of FBT, provide meal support, and manage their children's pathological behaviors. Difficulties occur outside clinic hours when it is impossible to consult professionals. This “support gap” increases caregivers’ psychological distress and threatens their treatment continuity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first domain-specific generative artificial intelligence (AI) agent designed to provide situation-specific, FBT-concordant advice and psychological support.
Methods: The system integrates three components: (1) an FBT-specific knowledge base constructed from treatment manuals, family guides, guideline-compliant resources, and a clinical Q&A corpus; (2) a multistage natural language processing pipeline using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), with intent and sentiment analyses; and (3) safety guardrails that prohibit unsolicited numerical goals or direct hospitalization recommendations and standardized escalation to clinicians. When strong negative emotions are detected, empowerment messages are dynamically incorporated to maintain caregivers’ confidence. Six clinicians with expertise with pediatric mental health authored queries that simulated common FBT-related concerns and evaluated each response for clinical appropriateness and safety, and classified problems as information insufficiency, not FBT concordant, or escalation insufficiency.
Results: Of the 477 queries, 57.0% were FBT-related, 24.5% were general AN, 16.5% were parental psychological distress, and 1.8% were related to other topics. The clinically appropriate response rate was 91.6% (437/477), including 92.3% for FBT-related questions, 88.0% for general knowledge, 93.7% for psychological distress, and 100.0% for other questions. Clinically inappropriate responses (8.4%) were mainly attributable to information insufficiency; not FBT concordant (1.8% of FBT-related responses) and escalation insufficiency (0.6% of all dialogs) rarely occurred.
Discussion: In this expert review, the safety-gated RAG system predominantly generated FBT-concordant responses that provided meal-level guidance and empathic empowerment-oriented support to families. By proceduralizing complex FBT concepts and presenting multiple response options for pathological behaviors, the system translates FBT principles into practical guidance supporting refeeding adherence, preserving family self-efficacy, and suggesting that domain-specific AI may help bridge structural limitations in FBT. Usability studies and randomized controlled trials are warranted to determine their impact on caregiver burden, self-efficacy, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HanzawaMana en-aut-sei=Hanzawa en-aut-mei=Mana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaseiJoe en-aut-sei=Hasei en-aut-mei=Joe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaAyumi en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaChie en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Chie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShigeyasuYoshie en-aut-sei=Shigeyasu en-aut-mei=Yoshie kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiiChikako en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Chikako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriuchiMakiko en-aut-sei=Horiuchi en-aut-mei=Makiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiharaAkiko en-aut-sei=Sugihara en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiKoichi en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakaharaRyuichi en-aut-sei=Nakahara en-aut-mei=Ryuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaHideki en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Hideki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiYasushi en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yasushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=OzakiToshifumi en-aut-sei=Ozaki en-aut-mei=Toshifumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsukaharaHirokazu en-aut-sei=Tsukahara en-aut-mei=Hirokazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital Medical Center for Children kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Support Technology Development, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital Medical Center for Children kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital Medical Center for Children kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital Medical Center for Children kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital Medical Center for Children kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Clinical Psychology Section, Department of Medical Support, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital Medical Center for Children kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Life Natural Science and Technology, Graduate School of Environmental, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Musculoskeletal Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=NEC Corporation kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital Medical Center for Children kn-affil= en-keyword=anorexia nervosa kn-keyword=anorexia nervosa en-keyword=caregiver burden kn-keyword=caregiver burden en-keyword=family support kn-keyword=family support en-keyword=family-based treatment kn-keyword=family-based treatment en-keyword=generative AI agent kn-keyword=generative AI agent en-keyword=large language model kn-keyword=large language model en-keyword=retrieval-augmented generation kn-keyword=retrieval-augmented generation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=181 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=55 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260610 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Electrical conductivity of geikielite (MgTiO3) at lunar mantle conditions: the role of metastable defect states and thermal history en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The electrical conductivity of geikielite (MgTiO3), the Mg endmember of the ilmenite group, was investigated at mantle pressures of 2 and 4.3 GPa and temperatures up to 1850 K using a Kawai-type multi-anvil apparatus. Electrical conductivity increases by more than seven orders of magnitude between 800 and 1700 K and exhibits two distinct conduction regimes separated by a transition at ~?1500?1700 K. The high-temperature regime is characterized by large activation enthalpies (ΔH???1.8?2.3 eV), whereas the low-temperature regime shows much lower values (ΔH???0.19?0.31 eV). Stepwise annealing experiments reveal a pronounced thermal-history dependence: repeated heating to progressively higher maximum temperatures (Tmax) produces metastable conductivity states, enhancing low-temperature conductivity by up to six orders of magnitude and systematically reducing activation enthalpy. This behavior indicates activation and freezing-in of defect-related charge carriers. Negative activation volumes further support a hopping-type conduction mechanism. Although Ti?? was not directly detected, the combination of reducing experimental conditions, Al?? impurities (~?0.35 wt% Al?O?), low activation energies, and strong thermal memory is most consistent with small-polaron hopping involving Ti???Ti?? pairs. At lunar core?mantle boundary temperatures, geikielite reaches conductivities of 10??10? S/m, exceeding those of olivine and overlapping estimates for the lunar low-velocity zone. Our results demonstrate that solid-state Ti-rich oxides can produce high electrical conductivity without partial melting, providing new constraints on the thermochemical evolution and electromagnetic structure of the lunar interior. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshinoTakashi en-aut-sei=Yoshino en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamazakiDaisuke en-aut-sei=Yamazaki en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Electrical conductivity kn-keyword=Electrical conductivity en-keyword=Geikielite kn-keyword=Geikielite en-keyword=High-pressure and high-temperature experiment kn-keyword=High-pressure and high-temperature experiment en-keyword=Ilmenite kn-keyword=Ilmenite en-keyword=Metastable defect states kn-keyword=Metastable defect states END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=pcag055 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260428 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Involvement of tRNA thiolation in uORF-mediated translational regulation during Xylogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Post-transcriptional modification of tRNAs is an important mechanism for regulating translation efficiency and cellular homeostasis, yet its contribution to upstream open reading frame (uORF)-mediated translational control remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the role of tRNA thiolation in thermospermine-dependent regulation of xylem development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using a suppressor screen of the thermospermine-deficient mutant acaulis5 (acl5), which exhibits dwarfism and excessive xylem differentiation, we identified suppressor-of-acl502 (sac502) as a recessive loss-of-function allele of CTU2, a gene encoding a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the wobble uridine modification 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine. Mutations in other components of the same modification pathway, including ROL5 and TRM9, similarly suppressed the acl5 phenotype. Translational analyses using 5′ leader-GUS reporter constructs revealed that the ctu2 mutation did not enhance translation of the mRNA containing a thermospermine-responsive uORF of SAC51, but instead significantly reduced translation of that of SACL3, a member of the SAC51 family, and that of LONESOME HIGHWAY (LHW), which contains another conserved uORF in the 5′ leader region. Polysome profiling further demonstrated decreased association of SACL3 and LHW mRNAs with actively translating ribosomes in ctu2. Genetic interaction analyses supported the conclusion that the suppression of excessive xylem formation in acl5 by ctu2 is attributable to reduced LHW activity. In addition, ctu2 mutants displayed increased sensitivity to exogenous thermospermine, resembling the response of lhw mutants. Together, our results reveal that tRNA thiolation contributes to uORF-mediated translational regulation of key developmental regulators and identify tRNA modification as an important regulatory layer controlling vascular development. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NishiiYuichi en-aut-sei=Nishii en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakiDaichi en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Daichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SaraumiMitsuru en-aut-sei=Saraumi en-aut-mei=Mitsuru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiTaku en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Taku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Arabidopsis kn-keyword=Arabidopsis en-keyword=mRNA translation kn-keyword=mRNA translation en-keyword=thermospermine kn-keyword=thermospermine en-keyword=tRNA thiolation kn-keyword=tRNA thiolation en-keyword=uOR kn-keyword=uOR END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=26007 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260601 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Understory Vegetation Structure in Remnant Natural Forests and Acacia Plantations on Coastal Sand Dunes in North Central Vietnam en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In the coastal sand dune forests of North Central Vietnam, vegetation has been seriously damaged by war and overexploitation. To recover ecosystem functions, including sand stabilisation under harsh environments, exotic species like Acacia spp. have been planted as a monoculture. However, the long-term sustainability of this practice remains unclear. To assess the long-term effectiveness of revegetation with Acacia spp., this study aims to understand the differences and similarities in ecological characteristics of remnant natural forests and Acacia plantations on the coastal sand dune of North Central Vietnam by comparing understory vegetation structure and environmental conditions. We investigated the understory vegetation (height < 130 cm) in a total of 54 quadrants (1 m × 1 m), including nine natural forests and nine Acacia plantations. We compared diversity indices by mixed ANOVA and examined the differences in the understory vegetation structure between the two forest types through PERMANOVA. We also determined some abiotic environmental factors (e.g. light and soil water availability, and soil pH). We identified 951 individuals, with 792 found in natural forests and 159 in plantations. The species found in natural forests were well-distributed among Liana phanerophytes (Lp), Microphanerophytes (Mi), Mega-Mesophanerophytes (MM), and Cryptophytes (Cr). In contrast, species found in plantations were predominantly Cr, Hemicryptophytes (Hm), and MM. All diversity indices were significantly higher in natural forests (P < 0.05), and the NMDS analysis confirmed significant differences in the understory vegetation structure between natural forests and plantations. Only soil pH was significantly lower in natural forests (P < 0.05), while none of the environmental factors had a statistically significant impact on the variations in understory vegetation structure. Our results indicate that succession by native tree species does not seem to occur naturally in Acacia plantations. Hence, to restore and sustainably develop coastal sand dune forests in North Central Vietnam, it is essential to establish a scientifically based strategy for managing and protecting the remaining natural remnant forest areas. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=DoanTuan Quoc en-aut-sei=Doan en-aut-mei=Tuan Quoc kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoTetsuya K. en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Tetsuya K. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=DinhTai Tien en-aut-sei=Dinh en-aut-mei=Tai Tien kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=LeHung Thai en-aut-sei=Le en-aut-mei=Hung Thai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoTuan Ngoc Anh en-aut-sei=Ho en-aut-mei=Tuan Ngoc Anh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MikiNaoko H. en-aut-sei=Miki en-aut-mei=Naoko H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoHoang Thai Dac en-aut-sei=Ho en-aut-mei=Hoang Thai Dac kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirobeMuneto en-aut-sei=Hirobe en-aut-mei=Muneto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Ibaraki University, Graduate School of Science and Engineering kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Hue Union of Science and Technology Associations (HUSTA) kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Hue University, University of Agriculture and Forestry kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Hue Union of Science and Technology Associations (HUSTA) kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Hue Union of Science and Technology Associations (HUSTA) kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= en-keyword=natural forest kn-keyword=natural forest en-keyword=Acacia plantation kn-keyword=Acacia plantation en-keyword=coastal sand dunes forest kn-keyword=coastal sand dunes forest en-keyword=diversity kn-keyword=diversity en-keyword=understory vegetation kn-keyword=understory vegetation en-keyword=life forms kn-keyword=life forms en-keyword=environmental factor kn-keyword=environmental factor END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=105 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=244 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260414 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Donor selection for patients with HLA-homozygous haplotypes in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=HLA homozygous haplotypes occur worldwide, but outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using alternative donor sources remain uncertain. We retrospectively analyzed the Japanese national transplantation registry to compare outcomes after first allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with HLA homozygous haplotypes. Donors were classified as homo-to-homo, defined as HLA-matched, or hetero-to-homo, defined as allele-level mismatches at HLA-A, -B, -C, and/or -DRB1 restricted to the host-versus-graft direction. The unrelated donor homo-to-homo group served as the reference. We included 691 patients: related donor homo-to-homo (n?=?121), related donor hetero-to-homo (n?=?76), unrelated donor homo-to-homo (n?=?374), unrelated donor hetero-to-homo (n?=?22), cord blood homo-to-homo (n?=?40), and cord blood hetero-to-homo (n?=?58). Compared with the unrelated donor homo-to-homo group, overall survival was inferior in the cord blood homo-to-homo group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11?2.64; P?=?0.015), whereas the unrelated donor hetero-to-homo group showed a nonsignificant trend toward inferior overall survival (adjusted HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 0.97?3.22; P?=?0.061). In this Japanese cohort, cord blood homo-to-homo transplantation was associated with inferior overall survival, whereas related donor hetero-to-homo and cord blood hetero-to-homo transplantation were not. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the retrospective design and long study period, and require validation in contemporary, ethnically diverse cohorts. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshinagaNoriyoshi en-aut-sei=Yoshinaga en-aut-mei=Noriyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasakiMakoto en-aut-sei=Iwasaki en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoKoji en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraFumihiko en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Fumihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirayamaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Hirayama en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanayaMinoru en-aut-sei=Kanaya en-aut-mei=Minoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorishimaSatoko en-aut-sei=Morishima en-aut-mei=Satoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaNaoyuki en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Naoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=DokiNoriko en-aut-sei=Doki en-aut-mei=Noriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukudaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Fukuda en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KandaYoshinobu en-aut-sei=Kanda en-aut-mei=Yoshinobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishidaTetsuya en-aut-sei=Nishida en-aut-mei=Tetsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=HasegawaYuta en-aut-sei=Hasegawa en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=KakoShinichi en-aut-sei=Kako en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaMasatsugu en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Masatsugu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurokawaMineo en-aut-sei=Kurokawa en-aut-mei=Mineo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=AsadaNoboru en-aut-sei=Asada en-aut-mei=Noboru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakitaToshiro en-aut-sei=Kawakita en-aut-mei=Toshiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=KataokaKeisuke en-aut-sei=Kataoka en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=KondoYukio en-aut-sei=Kondo en-aut-mei=Yukio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImadaKazunori en-aut-sei=Imada en-aut-mei=Kazunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=21 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchinoheTatsuo en-aut-sei=Ichinohe en-aut-mei=Tatsuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=22 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnizukaMakoto en-aut-sei=Onizuka en-aut-mei=Makoto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=23 ORCID= en-aut-name=AtsutaYoshiko en-aut-sei=Atsuta en-aut-mei=Yoshiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=24 ORCID= en-aut-name=KandaJunya en-aut-sei=Kanda en-aut-mei=Junya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=25 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Blood Disorders Center, Aiiku Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Central Japan Cord Blood Bank kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Federation of National Public Service Personnel Mutual Aid Associations Toranomon Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Hematology Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Cancer Center Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Hokkaido University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Kanagawa Cancer Center kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Cell Therapy and Transplantation Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Hematology, NHO Kumamoto Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=21 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Osaka Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=22 en-affil=Department of Hematology and Oncology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=23 en-affil=Department of Hematology/Oncology, Tokai University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=24 en-affil=Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation kn-affil= affil-num=25 en-affil=Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University kn-affil= en-keyword=HLA-homozygous haplotypes kn-keyword=HLA-homozygous haplotypes en-keyword=Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation kn-keyword=Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation en-keyword=Donor source kn-keyword=Donor source en-keyword=Host-versus-graft direction mismatch kn-keyword=Host-versus-graft direction mismatch END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260526 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Optimizing low-dose rituximab protocol for ABO-mismatched kidney transplantation: long-term outcomes in a single-center retrospective cohort study en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background ABO-mismatched kidney transplantation (KTx) expands donor availability but increases risks of antibody-mediated rejection and passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS). While rituximab (Rit) potentially mitigates these complications, conventional high-dose regimens (375 mg/m2) elevate infectious and hematologic toxicity. We implemented low-dose Rit induction (200 mg/body) for desensitization in minor/major ABO-mismatched and DSA-positive KTx, evaluating its efficacy and safety over 15-years.
Methods This single-center retrospective cohort (May 2009?April 2024) analyzed 161 adult KTx recipients: Rit (n?=?107) and Non-Rit (n?=?54) groups. All received tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone, and basiliximab; high-risk patients also underwent plasmapheresis. Outcomes included graft survival, biopsy-proven acute rejection, de novo donor-specific antibody (DSA) formation, infection, severe neutropenia, and PLS.
Results 1-year graft survival was 100% in both groups. 5-year death-censored graft survival was 95.8% (Rit) vs 95.9% (Non-Rit), respectively (log-rank P?=?0.43). Biopsy-proven acute rejection (7.5% vs 3.7%, P?=?0.50) and de novo DSA production were equivalent (Class I: 5.5% vs 2.2%; Class II: 6.6% vs 8.7%; both P?=?1.00), with lower mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) in the Rit group. Cytomegalovirus disease, urinary tract infection and fungal infection rates were comparable between both groups. Grade 4 neutropenia was not associated with Rit (OR 2.65; 95% CI 0.63?11.0; P?=?0.18). Blood transfusion for hemoglobin declines occurred in 5.6% vs 7.4%, with preserved haptoglobin in all cases, indicating no PLS.
Conclusions Low-dose Rit induction achieves excellent graft survival and effective PLS prevention, without increasing toxicity, supporting its adoption as an optimal desensitization strategy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamanoiTomoaki en-aut-sei=Yamanoi en-aut-mei=Tomoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekitoTakanori en-aut-sei=Sekito en-aut-mei=Takanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TokunagaMoto en-aut-sei=Tokunaga en-aut-mei=Moto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsuboiIchiro en-aut-sei=Tsuboi en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshinagaKasumi en-aut-sei=Yoshinaga en-aut-mei=Kasumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruyamaYuki en-aut-sei=Maruyama en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawadaTatsushi en-aut-sei=Kawada en-aut-mei=Tatsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KubotaRisa en-aut-sei=Kubota en-aut-mei=Risa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=TominagaYusuke en-aut-sei=Tominaga en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SadahiraTakuya en-aut-sei=Sadahira en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatayamaSatoshi en-aut-sei=Katayama en-aut-mei=Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwataTakehiro en-aut-sei=Iwata en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishimuraShingo en-aut-sei=Nishimura en-aut-mei=Shingo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=BekkuKensuke en-aut-sei=Bekku en-aut-mei=Kensuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnishiYasuhiro en-aut-sei=Onishi en-aut-mei=Yasuhiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiHidemi en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Hidemi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanabeKatsuyuki en-aut-sei=Tanabe en-aut-mei=Katsuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorinagaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Morinaga en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=WadaKoichiro en-aut-sei=Wada en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= en-aut-name=ArakiMotoo en-aut-sei=Araki en-aut-mei=Motoo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=20 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Urology, NHO Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Urology, NHO Okayama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Urology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=20 en-affil=Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Kidney transplantation kn-keyword=Kidney transplantation en-keyword=ABO-mismatch kn-keyword=ABO-mismatch en-keyword=Low-dose rituximab kn-keyword=Low-dose rituximab en-keyword=Graft survival kn-keyword=Graft survival en-keyword=Passenger lymphocyte syndrome kn-keyword=Passenger lymphocyte syndrome END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=17 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=1850114 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260529 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Bee larvae ameliorate andropause-like symptoms via a hormone-independent, antioxidant mechanism en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH), also known as the male menopause, is characterized by a decline in sexual function as well as various physical and psychological symptoms, including anxiety. Although bee larvae have historically been utilized as a traditional food and medicine, their efficacy and physiological mechanisms of action against male menopausal symptoms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of bee larvae (BL) on sexual and anxiety-like behaviors using two rodent models of the male menopause: aged rats and castrated mice. In the aged rat model (64 weeks old), dietary BL supplementation for 4 weeks significantly attenuated the age-associated decline in ejaculation frequency compared to controls, while no significant effects were observed on mount or intromission frequencies. Notably, plasma analysis revealed no significant differences in testosterone or dihydrotestosterone levels between the BL and control groups. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we evaluated sexual function using a castrated mouse model. While BL supplementation did not affect sexual behavior in intact mice, post-castration BL treatment significantly shortened intromission latency without altering mount frequency. In the elevated plus maze test, BL significantly alleviated castration-induced anxiety-like behaviors and improved exploratory activity. Furthermore, in vitro assays demonstrated that the BL extract exerts potent protective effects against oxidative stress, a pathological factor contributing to both erectile dysfunction and anxiety. These results suggest that BL improves erectile function and anxiety via hormone-independent mechanisms, potentially by mitigating oxidative stress in vascular and neural tissues. Thus, bee larvae represent a promising functional food for ameliorating the multi-faceted physical and psychological symptoms associated with male menopause. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ItoTakashi en-aut-sei=Ito en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkumuraNobuaki en-aut-sei=Okumura en-aut-mei=Nobuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtiTakumi en-aut-sei=Oti en-aut-mei=Takumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoHirotaka en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Hirotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biology, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Institute for Bee Products & Health Science, Yamada Bee Company, Inc. kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Biology, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Biology, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=anxiety kn-keyword=anxiety en-keyword=bee larvae kn-keyword=bee larvae en-keyword=late-onset hypogonadism kn-keyword=late-onset hypogonadism en-keyword=oxidative stress kn-keyword=oxidative stress en-keyword=sexual behavior kn-keyword=sexual behavior END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260325 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=脳震盪の間隔の延長は青年期ラットにおける認知機能障害の可能性を低減する kn-title=Long intervals between repetitive concussions reduce risk of cognitive impairment and limit microglial activation, astrogliosis, and tauopathy in adolescent rats en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HIRATAYuichi en-aut-sei=HIRATA en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name=平田雄一 kn-aut-sei=平田 kn-aut-mei=雄一 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学大学院医歯薬学総合研究科 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260325 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=アスコクロリン誘導体はIL-9産生CD8T細胞を誘導する kn-title=Induction of IL-9-producing CD8+ T cells by ascochlorin derivatives en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IMANONatsumi en-aut-sei=IMANO en-aut-mei=Natsumi kn-aut-name=今野なつみ kn-aut-sei=今野 kn-aut-mei=なつみ aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学大学院医歯薬学総合研究科 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260325 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title=骨骼筋再生における筋衞星細胞TRPV2の役割 kn-title=TRPV2 in muscle satellite cells is crucial for skeletal muscle remodelling　 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=CHENYANZHU en-aut-sei=CHEN en-aut-mei=YANZHU kn-aut-name=?彦竹 kn-aut-sei=? kn-aut-mei=彦竹 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学大学院医歯薬学総合研究科 END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=53 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e2026GL122541 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260520 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Discovery of Repeating Shallow Moonquakes in the Apollo Lunar Seismic Data en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Shallow moonquakes have been considered unique due to their large magnitudes and affinities with intraplate earthquakes. However, the small number of detections (<80 events) has prevented detailed characterization. In this study, I identified a pair of repeating shallow moonquakes by analyzing a recently updated moonquake data set. Relative-phase assessment revealed that these events exhibit a consistent fault-slip direction despite their occurrence at opposite tidal phases. This differs from what was observed for repeating deep moonquakes, which are closely related to tides, implying that tidal stress does not dominantly control fault-slip initiation of the repeating shallow moonquakes. Also, the identified repeating shallow moonquakes exhibit a similar relationship between seismic moment and the spatial scale of the slip area to earthquakes. This may indicate that earthquake-like fault physics operates on the Moon, albeit with a different driving mechanism than on Earth. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OnoderaKeisuke en-aut-sei=Onodera en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=lunar seismology kn-keyword=lunar seismology en-keyword=tectonism kn-keyword=tectonism en-keyword=Moon kn-keyword=Moon en-keyword=Apollo kn-keyword=Apollo en-keyword=planetary seismology kn-keyword=planetary seismology en-keyword=fault physics kn-keyword=fault physics END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=19 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202605 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Second-look endoscopy does not reduce delayed bleeding after endoscopic papillectomy: a multicenter propensity score-matched analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Delayed bleeding is a frequent and serious complication after endoscopic papillectomy (EP). Second-look endoscopy (SLE) is often scheduled on the following day for wound assessment and prophylactic hemostasis, but its clinical value remains unclear.
Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of SLE in preventing delayed bleeding after EP.
Design: This study was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 132 consecutive patients who underwent EP at nine high-volume centers between 2003 and 2024 (SLE group, n?=?73; non-SLE group, n?=?59). Propensity score matching was performed to balance baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was delayed bleeding, and secondary outcomes were risk factors, the impact of prophylactic hemostasis during SLE, and hospital stay.
Results: After matching, 43 patients were included in each group. The incidence of delayed bleeding did not differ between the SLE and non-SLE groups (14% vs 9%, p?=?0.50). Multivariate analysis identified a lack of preventive clipping closure as the only independent risk factor (odds ratio 15, 95% confidence interval 1.3?177, p?=?0.030). Prophylactic hemostasis during SLE did not reduce bleeding but was associated with prolonged hospitalization (13 vs 9?days, p?=?0.012).
Conclusion: Routine SLE after EP does not reduce delayed bleeding. Moreover, prophylactic hemostasis in asymptomatic patients may unnecessarily prolong hospitalization. Hemostasis should be reserved for patients who develop clinical signs of bleeding. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujiiYuki en-aut-sei=Fujii en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoKazuyuki en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Kazuyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=UekiToru en-aut-sei=Ueki en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HimeiHitomi en-aut-sei=Himei en-aut-mei=Hitomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakakiharaIchiro en-aut-sei=Sakakihara en-aut-mei=Ichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=UetaEijiro en-aut-sei=Ueta en-aut-mei=Eijiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyokawaTatsuya en-aut-sei=Toyokawa en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaradaRyo en-aut-sei=Harada en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OgawaTaiji en-aut-sei=Ogawa en-aut-mei=Taiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomodaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Tomoda en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoHironari en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Hironari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoRyosuke en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Ryosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumiAkihiro en-aut-sei=Matsumi en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyamotoKazuya en-aut-sei=Miyamoto en-aut-mei=Kazuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=UchidaDaisuke en-aut-sei=Uchida en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=HoriguchiShigeru en-aut-sei=Horiguchi en-aut-mei=Shigeru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsutsumiKoichiro en-aut-sei=Tsutsumi en-aut-mei=Koichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtsukaMotoyuki en-aut-sei=Otsuka en-aut-mei=Motoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=19 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Endoscopy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Endoscopy, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuyama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Iwakuni Clinical Center kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, NHO Fukuyama Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Okayama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology, Okayama City Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=19 en-affil=Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=delayed bleeding kn-keyword=delayed bleeding en-keyword=endoscopic papillectomy kn-keyword=endoscopic papillectomy en-keyword=post-resection site kn-keyword=post-resection site en-keyword=prophylactic hemostasis kn-keyword=prophylactic hemostasis en-keyword=second-look endoscopy kn-keyword=second-look endoscopy END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=373 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=fnag055 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Intercellular signal transduction within the mother cell compartment during Bacillus subtilis sporulation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Intercellular signaling contributes to the spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. The mother cell transcription factor σE is initially produced as an inactive precursor protein pro-σE and activated by the processing enzyme SpoIIGA in response to the forespore-produced putative signaling molecule SpoIIR. However, the mechanism underlying the SpoIIR-mediated signal transduction remains poorly understood. In this study, we showed that the spoIIR-positive, spoIIGA-deleted strain was able to induce SpoIIGA-dependent pro-σE processing in co-cultured spoIIR-deleted, spoIIGA-positive strains. This signaling was dependent on SpoIIR expression and did not involve DNA transfer. Extracellular materials including secreted proteins and membrane vesicles were unlikely to be involved in this signaling pathway. Interestingly, cessation of co-incubation shaking enhanced the signaling, while the addition of membrane-solubilizing detergent abolished it. In addition, SpoIIR signaling did not necessitate release from the forespore membrane or extracellular translocation. A SpoIIR variant lacking the putative signal peptide-like hydrophobic domain produced solely in the mother cell compartment was still able to activate pro-σE. Overall, the study findings suggested that the forespore-produced SpoIIR is neither secreted nor externally translocated. Instead, SpoIIR appeared to be transferred into the mother cell compartment and interacts with the SpoIIGA cytoplasmic domain to trigger pro-σE processing. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KuwabaraNobuki en-aut-sei=Kuwabara en-aut-mei=Nobuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=AnzueMasato en-aut-sei=Anzue en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiShin-ichi en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Shin-ichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatoTsutomu en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Tsutomu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=ImamuraDaisuke en-aut-sei=Imamura en-aut-mei=Daisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Research Center for Intestinal Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Research Center for Intestinal Health Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Bacillus subtilis kn-keyword=Bacillus subtilis en-keyword=sporulation kn-keyword=sporulation en-keyword=sigma cascade kn-keyword=sigma cascade en-keyword=intercellular signal transduction kn-keyword=intercellular signal transduction END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=ra.2025-0153 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Current Status of Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Chronic Subdural Hematoma: An International Perspective Including Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is gaining global prevalence as a minimally invasive treatment aimed at serving as an adjunct to or method of avoiding surgery; however, its optimal positioning remains unclear. This study outlines the current status of MMAE in Japan, Germany, and the United States based on nationwide survey reports, recently published consensus guidelines, and meta-analyses including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM; EMBOLISE, STEM, and MAGIC-MT) and examines its efficacy and limitations. Real-world clinical data from Japan, Germany, and the United States indicate that MMAE is primarily used as an adjunctive therapy following surgery for older and high-risk or recurrent cases, or as a stand-alone therapy in selected cases to safely reduce the risk of recurrence and reoperation. While a multidisciplinary consensus statement takes a cautious stance that limits MMAE to recurrent or inoperable cases such as those at high risk associated with interrupting antithrombotic medication, the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology guidelines published after the RCTs strongly recommend the concurrent use of MMAE with standard therapy in de novo cases. Meta-analyses integrating the 3 NEJM trials and other RCTs showed that MMAE suppressed recurrence and reoperation versus standard treatment, with particularly pronounced effects in the nonsurgical (conservative treatment) group; however, the additive effect was limited in the surgical adjunct group. No improvement in functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score) was observed. Cost-effectiveness analyses suggest that, while MMAE reduces reoperations, routine implementation for all cases is difficult to justify economically because of high procedural costs, indicating the need to narrow the indication to populations at high risk of recurrence. In conclusion, although MMAE is an effective treatment option, the current evidence does not support its uniform introduction in all patients with CSDH. Thus, it is necessary to individualize and adapt the indications for specific patient subgroups, such as those at high risk of recurrence or those for whom surgery is difficult. Finally, we propose a pragmatic treatment strategy for MMAE stratified by disease stage (de novo vs. recurrent) and clinical severity to guide the individualized selection of adjunctive and stand-alone embolization. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KawakamiMasato en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiuKenji en-aut-sei=Sugiu en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiramatsuMasafumi en-aut-sei=Hiramatsu en-aut-mei=Masafumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HarumaJun en-aut-sei=Haruma en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KimuraRyu en-aut-sei=Kimura en-aut-mei=Ryu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SoutomeYuta en-aut-sei=Soutome en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujitaJuntaro en-aut-sei=Fujita en-aut-mei=Juntaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirataYuichi en-aut-sei=Hirata en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabaFukiko en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Fukiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShota en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shota kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=middle meningeal artery embolization kn-keyword=middle meningeal artery embolization en-keyword=chronic subdural hematoma kn-keyword=chronic subdural hematoma en-keyword=current status kn-keyword=current status END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260520 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Appropriate dose reduction using photon-counting detector CT for temporal bone imaging: phantom and clinical studies with helical acquisition en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Purpose: To determine the extent of possible dose reduction with photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) while maintaining image quality equivalent to that of energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) images at standard dose in the temporal bone.
Materials and methods: PCD-CT and EID-CT imaging quality were compared by visual evaluation of clinical temporal bone images and visual scores with Welch’s t-test at standard dose. A head phantom was used to evaluate imaging quality under dose reduction. The detectability index (d’) of the PCD-CT images at various dose levels and the EID-CT images at standard dose was evaluated. Dose reduction limit with PCD-CT used in the subsequent clinical evaluation was determined as the lowest dose with image quality equal to or better than EID-CT. The clinical equivalence of PCD-CT image quality at the determined reduced dose to that with EID-CT at standard dose was evaluated using visual scores. Equivalence was determined if the 95% confidence intervals of differences did not exceed the equivalence margin of ±1.
Results: At standard doses, PCD-CT images demonstrated significantly higher visual scores than EID-CT images (3.73 vs. 2.56 for incudomalleolar joint, 3.75 vs. 2.63 for stapes, 3.54 vs. 2.52 for cochlea, and 3.58 vs. 2.46 for facial nerve canal; all P 0.001). In the phantom study, the d’ value was 0.15 with EID-CT at standard dose and was 0.12 and 0.17 with PCD-CT at 25% and 50% of the standard dose, respectively. Clinically, the mean visual scores of PCD-CT images at 50% of the standard dose were equivalent to EID-CT images at standard dose in all regions (3.58 vs. 3.12 for incudomalleolar joint, 3.46 vs. 3.19 for stapes, 3.50 vs. 3.08 for cochlea, 3.58 vs. 3.27 for facial nerve canal).
Conclusion: PCD-CT may preserve image quality even at 50% of the standard dose in the temporal bone. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakahashiYuka en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigakiFumiyo en-aut-sei=Higaki en-aut-mei=Fumiyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraYuko en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Yuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigakiToru en-aut-sei=Higaki en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugayaAkiko en-aut-sei=Sugaya en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsuhashiToshiharu en-aut-sei=Mitsuhashi en-aut-mei=Toshiharu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KitayamaTakahiro en-aut-sei=Kitayama en-aut-mei=Takahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimitsuYusuke en-aut-sei=Morimitsu en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=InoueTomohiro en-aut-sei=Inoue en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkagiNoriaki en-aut-sei=Akagi en-aut-mei=Noriaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuiYusuke en-aut-sei=Matsui en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=IguchiToshihiro en-aut-sei=Iguchi en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=AwaiKazuo en-aut-sei=Awai en-aut-mei=Kazuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirakiTakao en-aut-sei=Hiraki en-aut-mei=Takao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Medical Development Field, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hiroshima University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Radiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=PCD-CT kn-keyword=PCD-CT en-keyword=EID-CT kn-keyword=EID-CT en-keyword=Dose reduction kn-keyword=Dose reduction en-keyword=Temporal bone CT kn-keyword=Temporal bone CT en-keyword=Incudomalleolar joint kn-keyword=Incudomalleolar joint en-keyword=Stapes kn-keyword=Stapes END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=209 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=117914 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202608 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=PPy-coated wire actuators for micromechanostimulation of cells ? identification of immediate-early responsive mechanoregulatory genes in osteoblasts en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Mechanotransduction, i.e., the conversion of mechanical cues into biochemical signals, is essential for bone development, remodeling, and adaptation. Although mechanical loading is known to regulate osteoblast function and bone homeostasis, dissecting the early and sustained mechanotransductive responses at the microscale remains challenging due to limitations of existing in vitro models. Here, we report the development and application of a mechanostimulation system comprising a polypyrrole (PPy)-based wire actuator that expands and contracts (4 μm in radius) upon electrical actuation and enables precise, localized micromechanical stimulation of a small number of cells within standard culture formats. Using this system, we applied short-term (30 min) cyclic (Cyc30) or static (Stat30), as well as prolonged (120 min) cyclic (Cyc120) stimulations to two osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1 or KUSA-A1). Subsequent transcriptomic profiling and computational network analyses revealed that Cyc30 was not capable of inducing significant changes in mRNA expression, suggesting cellular adaptation to short-term cyclic loading. In contrast, Stat30 induced the upregulation of Fos, Btg2, Egr1, and Fosl1, all known genes associated with mechanotransduction, supporting the validity and reproducibility of our experimental mechanostimulation system. Notably, two long non-coding RNAs (B930036N10Rik and 5430431A17Rik) were identified for the first time as being upregulated in response to Stat30 stimuli. Among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upregulated by Cyc120 stimuli, Hmox1, a stress-inducible enzyme known for its roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and promoting survival, was the only DEG repeatedly observed across the Cyc30/Cyc120 and Stat30/Cyc120 comparisons in both cell types, potentially emerging as a key stress-response gene under prolonged mechanical loading. Collectively, these results establish the PPy-based microactuator as a powerful tool for microscale mechanobiology, and provide molecular insight into immediate-early responsive transcriptional programs underlying osteoblastic mechanoadaptation conserved across different cell types. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ChenJiamin en-aut-sei=Chen en-aut-mei=Jiamin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=Ortega-SantosAmaia B. en-aut-sei=Ortega-Santos en-aut-mei=Amaia B. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayanoSatoru en-aut-sei=Hayano en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=WangZiyi en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=Ziyi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MartinezJose G. en-aut-sei=Martinez en-aut-mei=Jose G. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HaraEmilio Satoshi en-aut-sei=Hara en-aut-mei=Emilio Satoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=JagerEdwin W.H. en-aut-sei=Jager en-aut-mei=Edwin W.H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KamiokaHiroshi en-aut-sei=Kamioka en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Link?ping University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Link?ping University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Advanced International and Information Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Link?ping University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Orthodontics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=Mechanotransduction kn-keyword=Mechanotransduction en-keyword=Mechanostimulation kn-keyword=Mechanostimulation en-keyword=Osteoblasts kn-keyword=Osteoblasts en-keyword=Polypyrrole kn-keyword=Polypyrrole END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=185 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=391 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260513 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction following IL-4/IL-13 receptor blockade by dupilumab en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The purpose of the study is to review reported cases of dupilumab-associated drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) and consider possible immunologic mechanisms. This short review aims to raise awareness of dupilumab-associated DISR and discuss safety considerations in pediatric patients.
Conclusion: Dupilumab is a human monoclonal antibody that reduces inflammation driven by T helper 2 (Th2) cells and is used to treat type 2 inflammatory disorders, including atopic dermatitis. The most common adverse reactions during the first year of treatment are local reactions at the injection site, conjunctivitis, and headache. Although DISR is rare, it has been documented in dupilumab-treated patients. We hypothesized that dupilumab shifts the Th1/Th2 equilibrium toward Th1 and granulomatous inflammation, which may present as DISR. We identified and reviewed 10 recently reported DISR cases and observed that reported features of DISR?including uveitis, optic neuritis and meningoencephalitis, bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, and histopathologically noncaseating granulomas?can mimic systemic sarcoidosis. Discontinuation of dupilumab resulted in favorable outcomes in most reported DISR cases; however, symptoms worsened in some cases and sequelae became a concern. Case reports of DISR have so far been limited to adults or adolescents, but awareness of potential adverse effects of dupilumab remains important in pediatric patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YasuiKozo en-aut-sei=Yasui en-aut-mei=Kozo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YashiroMasato en-aut-sei=Yashiro en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pediatrics, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University Hospital Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine kn-affil= en-keyword=Dupilumab kn-keyword=Dupilumab en-keyword=Sarcoidosis kn-keyword=Sarcoidosis en-keyword=IL-4 kn-keyword=IL-4 en-keyword=IL-13 kn-keyword=IL-13 en-keyword=Th1-Th2 balance kn-keyword=Th1-Th2 balance END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=31 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=e70500 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202604 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Early sedation intensity and psychological outcomes in critically ill adults en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background: Long-term psychological impairment is a major concern for intensive care unit (ICU) survivors. Early deep sedation during mechanical ventilation has been associated with poor short-term outcomes and mortality after ICU discharge; however, its relationship with psychological outcomes remains unclear.
Aim: To investigate sedation intensity during the first 24?h of mechanical ventilation and its association with psychological impairment 3 months after ICU discharge.
Study Design: This retrospective ancillary analysis of a single-centre cohort study was conducted in two general ICUs at a university hospital in Japan. Eligible patients stayed in the ICU for more than 48?h and received mechanical ventilation for more than 8?h. Sedation intensity was quantified using the Sedation Index (SI) and Agitation Index (AI) derived from Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale scores during the first 24?h. Psychological impairment 3 months post-ICU discharge was assessed based on symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. Associations were examined using hierarchical logistic regression.
Results: Among 130 participants, the median age was 64?years, and the median ventilation duration was 14?h. The median SI was 3.0; 47% had SI >?3, and 8.5% had AI >?0. Sedation intensity showed no significant association with psychological impairment (SI: adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 90% confidence interval [CI] 0.57?1.33, p?=?0.59; AI: adjusted OR 0.21, 90% CI 0.01?3.08, p?=?0.34). However, any agitation during the ICU stay was associated with psychological outcomes (adjusted OR 2.61, 90% CI 1.16?5.88, p?=?0.05).
Conclusions: This study did not identify a statistically significant association between early sedation intensity and psychological impairment 3 months after ICU discharge.
Relevance to Clinical Practice: Critical care nurses should carefully titrate sedation from the initiation of mechanical ventilation to avoid unnecessary deep sedation, considering sedation intensity over time, while actively assessing agitation and its underlying causes. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IwataniMikiko en-aut-sei=Iwatani en-aut-mei=Mikiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorimotoMichiko en-aut-sei=Morimoto en-aut-mei=Michiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University Hospital; Graduate School of Health Sciences, Doctoral Program, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Faculty of Health Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=anxiety kn-keyword=anxiety en-keyword=depression kn-keyword=depression en-keyword=post-intensive care syndrome kn-keyword=post-intensive care syndrome en-keyword=post-traumatic stress disorder kn-keyword=post-traumatic stress disorder en-keyword=sedation intensity kn-keyword=sedation intensity END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=13650 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260316 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Sex-related differences in blood concentrations and emergence profiles following total intravenous anesthesia with remimazolam and remifentanil en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Remimazolam is a novel, short-acting benzodiazepine, which is characterized by rapid onset and quick recovery. The clinical efficacy and metabolism of many intravenous anesthetics are known to be influenced by sex; however, the effects of sex on the anesthetic efficacy and metabolism of remimazolam remain unclear. This prospective observational study examined sex-related differences in pharmacokinetics and emergence profiles after total intravenous anesthesia was induced with remimazolam and remifentanil in patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery. Thirty-five American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status 1 adults (19 females, 16 males), aged 18?49 years, received standardized dosing based on their actual body weights. Serum remimazolam concentrations were measured at the end of administration and immediately before extubation using high-performance liquid chromatography. Although the emergence time did not differ significantly between the sexes, the mean emergence time of the females was approximately 80 s shorter. Serum remimazolam concentrations were significantly lower in females at both measurement time points (p? Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 11 patients who developed acute AMR within three months after LTx at Okayama University Hospital between 2013 and 2023. Diagnosis (ISHLT possible AMR) was based on acute graft dysfunction unresponsive to steroids, positive DSA, and exclusion of infection, without histological confirmation due to procedural risk. rATG (1.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days) was administered, along with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasma exchange (PLEX), and rituximab when indicated. Outcomes included DSA clearance, clinical response, survival, and adverse events.
Results: Remission was achieved in 64% of patients, with 36% not requiring PLEX and 64% not receiving rituximab. Early rATG treatment correlated with favorable outcomes, whereas delayed therapy resulted in poorer responses. Six patients (55%) survived without chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) for over one year. Adverse events included cytomegalovirus infection (91%), bacterial pneumonia (36%), fungal infection (18%), and malignancy (18%).
Conclusions: rATG was effective for acute possible AMR management, particularly when initiated early. Some patients achieved remission without adjunct therapy, indicating rATG's potent immunosuppressive activity. However, frequent infectious complications emphasize the need for optimized dosing and further studies to validate its safety and long-term efficacy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiyoshiKentaroh en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Kentaroh kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaniShinji en-aut-sei=Otani en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugimotoSeiichiro en-aut-sei=Sugimoto en-aut-mei=Seiichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaShin en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkazakiMikio en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Mikio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyookaShinichi en-aut-sei=Toyooka en-aut-mei=Shinichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= en-keyword=Anti-thymocyte globulin kn-keyword=Anti-thymocyte globulin en-keyword=Acute antibody-mediated rejection kn-keyword=Acute antibody-mediated rejection en-keyword=Treatment kn-keyword=Treatment en-keyword=Lung transplantation kn-keyword=Lung transplantation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=16 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=11550 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260302 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Pseudohypoxia induced by iron chelators preserves working memory performance in aged mice en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Pseudohypoxia refers to a physiological condition wherein hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is pharmacologically upregulated under normoxia, thereby modulating immune responses. We hypothesized that pseudohypoxia, induced by iron chelators, may similarly potentiate systemic immune responses in aged mice, concurrently triggering neuro-regenerative signaling pathways and enhancing cognitive performance. In this study, aged mice (43?48 weeks old) were orally administered two iron chelators, Super Polyphenol 10 (SP10) or Roxadustat, to induce a pseudohypoxia. An 8-week oral regimen of SP10 and Roxadustat significantly preserved working memory, as assessed by the Y-maze test (YMT). White blood cell counts and hippocampal volume, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were elevated in the treatment groups relative to controls. Pseudohypoxia induced by SP10 tended to enhance neuro-regenerative signaling, specifically involving the Tau and JNK pathways, and potentially modulated Doublecortin (DCX) expression, although statistical significance was limited by sample size. Importantly, inflammatory markers, such as ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), were not elevated by treatment. Collectively, these findings suggest that pseudohypoxia induced by iron chelators preserves working memory performance accompanied by leukocytosis, without concomitant neuroinflammation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OharaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwasakiYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Iwasaki en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KasaiTomonari en-aut-sei=Kasai en-aut-mei=Tomonari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaToru en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KomakiShiho en-aut-sei=Komaki en-aut-mei=Shiho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaYusuke en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisawaMasayoshi en-aut-sei=Fujisawa en-aut-mei=Masayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukawaAkihiro en-aut-sei=Matsukawa en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Health Service Section, Environment Health & Safety Intelligence Department, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Applied Energy, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Hypoxia-inducible factor kn-keyword=Hypoxia-inducible factor en-keyword=Working memory kn-keyword=Working memory en-keyword=Hippocampus kn-keyword=Hippocampus en-keyword=Iron kn-keyword=Iron END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=e202501237 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260403 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Informatics‐Driven and Automated Optimization in Flow Electrochemical Synthesis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Electrochemical synthesis has emerged as a powerful platform for environmentally sustainable chemical transformations. When integrated with flow chemistry, electrosynthetic processes exhibit enhanced scalability, making them suitable for industrial applications. Recently, the integration of electrochemical flow systems with informatics techniques has accelerated the optimization of reaction conditions. Data-driven strategies facilitate rapid exploration of multidimensional parameter spaces, enabling identification of optimal reaction conditions with high efficiency. These advances have enabled the development of automated optimization systems. This review highlights recent progress in combining electrosynthesis, flow chemistry, and computational tools, focusing on representative examples that illustrate efficient optimization protocols and autonomous reaction development. By showcasing these developments, we discuss how the integration of these technologies is driving innovation in electrochemical synthesis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SatoEisuke en-aut-sei=Sato en-aut-mei=Eisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TaniAkine en-aut-sei=Tani en-aut-mei=Akine kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakahamaTomohiro en-aut-sei=Nakahama en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MitsudoKoichi en-aut-sei=Mitsudo en-aut-mei=Koichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugaSeiji en-aut-sei=Suga en-aut-mei=Seiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=artificial intelligence kn-keyword=artificial intelligence en-keyword=electrochemical synthesis kn-keyword=electrochemical synthesis en-keyword=flow synthesis kn-keyword=flow synthesis en-keyword=laboratory automation kn-keyword=laboratory automation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=380 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=114924 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202604 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Constitutive activation of MC1R in the large-billed crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) and its potential role in black plumage en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Melanin-based plumage coloration in birds is largely regulated by the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), a G protein?coupled receptor that promotes eumelanin synthesis via cAMP signaling. In domestic chickens, constitutively activating mutations such as the MC1R^E (E92K) allele cause melanistic phenotypes, demonstrating that persistent MC1R activation can drive generalized darkening. However, to our knowledge, no experimental study has directly demonstrated constitutive MC1R activation in wild birds exhibiting uniformly black plumage. We investigated the sequence and signaling properties of MC1R from the Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), a species with strongly eumelanin-dominant plumage. Crow MC1R exhibited elevated basal cAMP signaling and minimal responsiveness to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in both stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells and transient CRE-luciferase assays in HEK293T cells, demonstrating ligand-independent activation comparable to that observed in the melanizing chicken MC1R^E (E92K) allele. Comparative sequence analysis identified multiple substitutions conserved across Corvus species. Among these, E12K and E18K were functionally evaluated based on prior associations with melanism in other birds. Although E12K modestly increased basal signaling in chicken MC1R, E18K alone or in combination with E12K did not reproduce crow-level constitutive activity, and reciprocal substitutions in crow MC1R failed to abolish ligand-independent activation. These findings demonstrate that crow MC1R possesses constitutive activity and suggest that this phenotype reflects lineage-specific modifications rather than a single activating substitution. Our results provide experimental evidence that constitutive MC1R activation is a plausible molecular mechanism that may contribute to the black plumage in the Large-billed Crow, although a direct causal relationship remains to be established. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NakanoSaya en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Saya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TashiroYuichi en-aut-sei=Tashiro en-aut-mei=Yuichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=FukuchiHibiki en-aut-sei=Fukuchi en-aut-mei=Hibiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AizawaSayaka en-aut-sei=Aizawa en-aut-mei=Sayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakeuchiSakae en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Sakae kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=MC1R kn-keyword=MC1R en-keyword=Constitutive activation kn-keyword=Constitutive activation en-keyword=Ligand-independent signaling kn-keyword=Ligand-independent signaling en-keyword=Melanism kn-keyword=Melanism en-keyword=Plumage coloration kn-keyword=Plumage coloration en-keyword=Corvus macrorhynchos kn-keyword=Corvus macrorhynchos END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=29 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=115137 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202604 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Multifaceted role of POU5F1P1 in regulating its parental stem cell gene, POU5F1 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The human-specific retrogene POU5F1P1 (OCT4-Pseudogene1; OCT4-PG1), derived from stem cell factor POU5F1 (OCT4A), is predicted to encode an OCT4A-like protein; however, its function remains unclear. This study investigated OCT4-PG1 expression, translational control, and its role in endometrial cancer and stem cell regulation. Quantitative analyses revealed that elevated OCT4A, but not OCT4-PG1, expression correlated with clinical risk factors associated with poor prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer. OCT4-PG1 is under strong translational suppression mediated by its untranslated region and does not function as a protein under normal conditions. Instead, it acts as a non-coding RNA that suppresses OCT4A translation. Structural analyses showed that a single amino acid deletion (Gln259) destabilizes the OCT4-PG1 protein, thereby preventing its tumorigenic and transcriptional functions. Nevertheless, OCT4-PG1 forms heterodimers with OCT4A or SOX2, enhancing the regulatory activity of OCT4A. These findings highlight the regulatory role of pseudogenes in cancer and stem cell biology, with implications for therapies targeting OCT4A-related pathways. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IrieKyohei en-aut-sei=Irie en-aut-mei=Kyohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KosakaMitsuko en-aut-sei=Kosaka en-aut-mei=Mitsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizunoNobuhiko en-aut-sei=Mizuno en-aut-mei=Nobuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OmaeRyo en-aut-sei=Omae en-aut-mei=Ryo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakataniYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Nakatani en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=OoSandi Myat Noe en-aut-sei=Oo en-aut-mei=Sandi Myat Noe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasuyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Masuyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaguchiAyano en-aut-sei=Kawaguchi en-aut-mei=Ayano kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=9 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=189 end-page=197 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=2026 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Relationship between Maternal Body Composition during Pregnancy and Newborn Birth Weight in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the changes in maternal body composition during pregnancy in Japanese women and the relationship between maternal body composition and newborn birth weight using pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) in all trimesters.
Methods: A total of 1,851 pregnant Japanese women were enrolled in this study. Body composition was measured using TANITA MC-190EM. The associations between newborn birth weight and maternal BMI, fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), total body water (TBW), muscle mass (MM), FM gain, FFM gain, and weight gain were evaluated.
Results: The participants’ age and pre-pregnancy BMI were 34.1 years and 21.4 kg/m2, respectively. Among the patients, 13.4%, 73.0%, 10.3%, and 3.3% were underweight, average weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. The FM showed no significant change from the second to third trimesters in the underweight, overweight, and obese groups. Moreover, the FM in the overweight and obese groups did not change during any period. The FFM, TBW, and MM significantly increased from the first to second and second to third trimesters. In BMI-stratified multivariate regression analyses, FFM in the normal and overweight groups was positively associated with birth weight, whereas FM gain was negatively associated in the underweight and normal groups. No significant associations were observed in the obese group.
Conclusions: Changes in maternal body composition during pregnancy in Japanese women varied by pre-pregnancy BMI. Associations with birth weight also differed by BMI group. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these relationships and investigate the mechanisms. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=EtoEriko en-aut-sei=Eto en-aut-mei=Eriko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KatoMasakazu en-aut-sei=Kato en-aut-mei=Masakazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KirinoSatoe en-aut-sei=Kirino en-aut-mei=Satoe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KuriyamaChiaki en-aut-sei=Kuriyama en-aut-mei=Chiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakataShujiro en-aut-sei=Sakata en-aut-mei=Shujiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakatoHikari en-aut-sei=Nakato en-aut-mei=Hikari kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MishimaSakurako en-aut-sei=Mishima en-aut-mei=Sakurako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhiraAkiko en-aut-sei=Ohira en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasuyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Masuyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=maternal body composition kn-keyword=maternal body composition en-keyword=newborn birth weight kn-keyword=newborn birth weight en-keyword=pre-pregnancy body mass index kn-keyword=pre-pregnancy body mass index en-keyword=fat-free mass kn-keyword=fat-free mass en-keyword=fat mass gain kn-keyword=fat mass gain END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=2308 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260228 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Aerobic Exercise Attenuates Epidermal Hyperplasia in an Obesity-Associated Psoriasiform Dermatitis Model en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Obesity is an important risk factor for psoriasis, and clinical studies indicate that exercise interventions can improve disease severity. However, the mechanisms by which exercise influences psoriatic pathogenesis remain insufficiently understood. To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on obesity-associated psoriasis, wild-type mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 7 weeks to induce obesity and subsequently underwent moderate-intensity treadmill running for 3 weeks. Psoriasiform dermatitis was induced by daily topical application of imiquimod (IMQ) to the skin for five consecutive days. HFD increased body weight, epididymal fat mass, and serum cholesterol. HFD-fed mice developed more severe IMQ-induced psoriatic skin changes compared with normal diet-fed mice. Treadmill exercise modestly reduced body weight gain and attenuated epidermal hyperplasia in HFD-fed mice. In contrast, inflammatory cytokine expression, including Tnfa, Il17a, and Il23a, showed modest increases in the skin of HFD-fed exercised mice, which did not parallel the improvement in epidermal hyperplasia. Overall, these findings indicate that while obesity exacerbates psoriasiform dermatitis, aerobic exercise ameliorates epidermal hyperplasia in obese mice without corresponding changes in inflammatory cytokine expression in the skin, suggesting that exercise may influence psoriatic skin changes through multiple metabolic and immunological pathways. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsudaYoshihiro en-aut-sei=Matsuda en-aut-mei=Yoshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorizaneShin en-aut-sei=Morizane en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakezakiDaiki en-aut-sei=Takezaki en-aut-mei=Daiki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoYuma en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Yuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=BabaNobuyasu en-aut-sei=Baba en-aut-mei=Nobuyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IsekiMasanori en-aut-sei=Iseki en-aut-mei=Masanori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawakamiYoshio en-aut-sei=Kawakami en-aut-mei=Yoshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiomiTatsushi en-aut-sei=Shiomi en-aut-mei=Tatsushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MukaiTomoyuki en-aut-sei=Mukai en-aut-mei=Tomoyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pathology, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Kawasaki Medical School kn-affil= en-keyword=psoriasis kn-keyword=psoriasis en-keyword=obesity kn-keyword=obesity en-keyword=aerobic exercise kn-keyword=aerobic exercise en-keyword=imiquimod kn-keyword=imiquimod en-keyword=high-fat diet kn-keyword=high-fat diet END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=49 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=364 end-page=370 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260221 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Functional Transport Properties of Human Zinc Transporter 1: Kinetics and pH-Dependency en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Intracellular zinc (Zn2+) homeostasis is essential for physiological and pathological processes and is strictly regulated by Zn2+ transporters. Zinc transporter 1 (ZnT1) is a ubiquitously expressed plasma membrane-localized Zn transporter that exports Zn2+ from the cytoplasm to the extracellular space. However, the functional transport properties regarding kinetics and driving forces of ZnT1 remain debatable. In this study, we established a cell-free proteoliposome assay system and demonstrated that ZnT1 transports Zn2+ with high affinity in pH-dependent and pH-independent manners. The Km and Vmax of pH-dependent Zn2+ transport were 0.40 μM and 15.13 nmol/min/mg protein, and those of pH-independent Zn2+ transport were 0.52 μM and 8.88 nmol/min/mg protein (low concentrations of Zn2+), 3.02 μM and 17.59 nmol/min/mg protein (high concentrations of Zn2+), respectively, suggesting biphasic kinetic components of Zn2+ transport. Even without pH gradient formation, ZnT1 exhibits potent Zn2+ transport activity. In pH dependency, Zn2+ transport activity was higher at an inside pH of 6.0 than at 6.5?7.5 for proteoliposomes, despite the same ΔpH of 0.5?1.5. The Zn2+ transport activity decreased at an outside pH of 8.0, despite an increase in ΔpH. Although previous studies have proposed that ZnT1-mediated Zn2+ transport activity is driven by a calcium (Ca2+) gradient and not by a pH gradient, Ca2+ does not enhance Zn2+ transport activity in the presence or absence of a pH gradient. These results strongly suggest that ZnT1 protein transports Zn2+ optimally at a specific pH and exports excess intracellular Zn2+ even without ΔpH. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YoshiokaYuma en-aut-sei=Yoshioka en-aut-mei=Yuma kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyajiTakaaki en-aut-sei=Miyaji en-aut-mei=Takaaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Molecular Membrane Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Molecular Membrane Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=zinc transporter 1 kn-keyword=zinc transporter 1 en-keyword=SLC30A1 kn-keyword=SLC30A1 en-keyword=zinc kn-keyword=zinc en-keyword=pH kn-keyword=pH en-keyword=proteoliposome kn-keyword=proteoliposome END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=18 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=810 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260326 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effect of Universal Adhesives on Resin Cement?Fiber Post?Core Materials en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This study evaluated eleven resin cements used as core build-up materials by examining the following properties: (a) push-out force between root dentin and the fiber post; (b) pull-out force between the fiber post and the core build-up material; (c) shear bond strength of the resin cement to root dentin; (d) flexural strength of the resin cement; and (e) flexural modulus of elasticity of the resin cement. The purpose of this investigation was to clarify the relationships between recently available universal adhesives, core build-up materials, resin cements, and fiber posts. All experiments were performed at two evaluation periods: after 1 day of water storage (Base) and after 20,000 thermocycles (TC 20k). For the push-out test, simulated post spaces were prepared in single-rooted human premolars. The specimens were sectioned perpendicular to the long axis into 2 mm-thick slices and then subjected to push-out testing to assess the bond strength of the dentin?resin cement?fiber post complex. No significant differences in bonding performance were found between Base and TC 20k. These findings suggest that universal adhesives used for pretreatment of multiple substrates in fiber post cementation can provide not only strong but also durable adhesion over time. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=IrieMasao en-aut-sei=Irie en-aut-mei=Masao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaMasahiro en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaruoYukinori en-aut-sei=Maruo en-aut-mei=Yukinori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AkiyamaKenraro en-aut-sei=Akiyama en-aut-mei=Kenraro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiharaKumiko en-aut-sei=Yoshihara en-aut-mei=Kumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsujimotoAkimasa en-aut-sei=Tsujimoto en-aut-mei=Akimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumotoTakuya en-aut-sei=Matsumoto en-aut-mei=Takuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Dental Biomaterials, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Prosthodontics, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Aichi Gakuin University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Biomaterials, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=bonding performance kn-keyword=bonding performance en-keyword=universal adhesive kn-keyword=universal adhesive en-keyword=fiber post kn-keyword=fiber post en-keyword=luting materials kn-keyword=luting materials en-keyword=root dentin kn-keyword=root dentin END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=831 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260114 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Porphyromonas gingivalis Vesicles Control Osteoclast?Macrophage Lineage Fate en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), a keystone pathogen of chronic periodontitis, releases outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that act as nanoscale vehicles to disseminate virulence factors within periodontal tissues and systemically beyond the oral cavity. Although Pg-OMVs are increasingly recognized as critical mediators of host?pathogen interactions, their effects on the differentiation and function of monocyte?macrophage/osteoclast lineage cells remain unclear. Here, we examined the impact of Pg-OMVs on the differentiation of RAW264.7 monocyte/macrophage-like cells into osteoclasts (OC) and/or macrophages (MΦ) in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). OMVs were isolated from Pg W83 and applied to RANKL-primed RAW264.7 cells using three distinct stimulation schedules: (1) simultaneous treatment with Pg-OMVs and RANKL at Day 0; (2) RANKL priming at Day 0 followed by Pg-OMV stimulation at Day 1; and (3) RANKL priming at Day 0 followed by Pg-OMV stimulation at Day 3. In all schedules, cells were cultured for 7 days from the initial RANKL exposure. Remarkably, simultaneous exposure to Pg-OMVs and RANKL (Schedule 1) markedly suppressed osteoclastogenesis (OC-genesis) while promoting M1 macrophage polarization. In contrast, delayed Pg-OMV stimulation of RANKL-primed cells (Schedules 2 and 3) significantly enhanced OC-genesis while reducing M1 polarization. These schedule-dependent effects were consistent with altered expression of osteoclastogenic markers, including dc-stamp, oc-stamp, nfatc1, and acp5. Importantly, a monoclonal antibody against OC-STAMP counteracted the Pg-OMV-induced upregulation of OC-genesis in Schedules 2 and 3. Furthermore, levels of Pg-OMV phagocytosis were inversely correlated with osteoclast formation. Finally, co-stimulation with RANKL and Pg-OMVs (Schedule 1) enhanced macrophage migratory capacity, whereas delayed stimulation with Pg-OMVs (Schedules 2 and 3) did not. Collectively, these findings indicate that Pg-OMVs exert stage-specific effects on the OC/MΦ lineage: stimulation at early stages of RANKL priming suppresses OC-genesis and promotes M1 polarization, whereas stimulation at later stages enhances OC-genesis without inducing M1 differentiation. Thus, Pg-OMVs may critically influence the fate of the OC/MΦ unit in periodontal lesions, contributing to disease progression and tissue destruction. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=LeonElizabeth en-aut-sei=Leon en-aut-mei=Elizabeth kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraShin en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Shin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShindoSatoru en-aut-sei=Shindo en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=PastoreMaria Rita en-aut-sei=Pastore en-aut-mei=Maria Rita kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KumagaiTomoki en-aut-sei=Kumagai en-aut-mei=Tomoki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=HeidariAlireza en-aut-sei=Heidari en-aut-mei=Alireza kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=AbdolahiniaElaheh Dalir en-aut-sei=Abdolahinia en-aut-mei=Elaheh Dalir kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=UedaTomoya en-aut-sei=Ueda en-aut-mei=Tomoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=MemidaTakumi en-aut-sei=Memida en-aut-mei=Takumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=Duran-PinedoAna en-aut-sei=Duran-Pinedo en-aut-mei=Ana kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=Frias-LopezJorge en-aut-sei=Frias-Lopez en-aut-mei=Jorge kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HanXiaozhe en-aut-sei=Han en-aut-mei=Xiaozhe kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=ChenXin en-aut-sei=Chen en-aut-mei=Xin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=HuangShengyuan en-aut-sei=Huang en-aut-mei=Shengyuan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=CaoGuoqin en-aut-sei=Cao en-aut-mei=Guoqin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= en-aut-name=RuizSunniva en-aut-sei=Ruiz en-aut-mei=Sunniva kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=16 ORCID= en-aut-name=PotempaJan en-aut-sei=Potempa en-aut-mei=Jan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=17 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawaiToshihisa en-aut-sei=Kawai en-aut-mei=Toshihisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=18 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=16 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University kn-affil= affil-num=17 en-affil=Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville kn-affil= affil-num=18 en-affil=Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA kn-affil= en-keyword=Porphyromonas gingivalis kn-keyword=Porphyromonas gingivalis en-keyword=outer membrane vesicle kn-keyword=outer membrane vesicle en-keyword=periodontitis pathogenesis kn-keyword=periodontitis pathogenesis en-keyword=macrophage polarization kn-keyword=macrophage polarization en-keyword=osteoclastogenesis kn-keyword=osteoclastogenesis en-keyword=OC/MΦ unit kn-keyword=OC/MΦ unit END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page=3143 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260330 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=CXCR2-Dependent Infiltration of Tumor-Associated Neutrophils Is Linked to Enhanced CD8+ T Cell Effector Function and Reduced Lung Metastasis in 4T1 Breast Cancer en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by prominent neutrophil infiltration; however, its significance remains controversial. Here, we investigated the role of neutrophil chemoattractant receptors in TNBC progression and metastasis. In contrast to wild-type (WT), Fpr1?/?, and Fpr2?/? mice, neutrophils were almost completely absent in 4T1 tumors from Cxcr2?/? mice, indicating a dominant role for CXCR2 in the recruitment of tumor-associated neutrophils, leading us to use Cxcr2?/? mice for further studies. Primary tumor growth was comparable between WT and Cxcr2?/? mice, whereas lung metastasis was significantly increased in Cxcr2?/? mice, with reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and cytotoxic molecules, including granzyme B and perforin, in primary tumors and metastatic lungs of Cxcr2?/? mice. In vitro, WT, but not Cxcr2?/?, neutrophils enhanced CD8+ T cell activation, partly via ICAM-1, and directly induced tumor cell death, supporting their anti-tumor function. To assess clinical relevance, transcriptomic data were analyzed. High neutrophil infiltration combined with elevated CXCR2 expression, and to a lesser extent CXCR1 expression, was associated with improved prognosis in patients with basal-like BC that largely overlaps with TNBC. Collectively, these findings suggest that CXCR2-mediated neutrophil recruitment exerts protective, anti-tumor effects and may represent a new prognostic marker for TNBC patients. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=LiTiantian en-aut-sei=Li en-aut-mei=Tiantian kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshimuraTeizo en-aut-sei=Yoshimura en-aut-mei=Teizo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TianMiao en-aut-sei=Tian en-aut-mei=Miao kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishidaGakushi en-aut-sei=Nishida en-aut-mei=Gakushi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=LiChunning en-aut-sei=Li en-aut-mei=Chunning kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisawaMasayoshi en-aut-sei=Fujisawa en-aut-mei=Masayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=OharaToshiaki en-aut-sei=Ohara en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukawaAkihiro en-aut-sei=Matsukawa en-aut-mei=Akihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=breast cancer kn-keyword=breast cancer en-keyword=neutrophils kn-keyword=neutrophils en-keyword=CD8+ T cells kn-keyword=CD8+ T cells en-keyword=chemokines kn-keyword=chemokines en-keyword=chemokine receptors kn-keyword=chemokine receptors en-keyword=tumor microenvironment kn-keyword=tumor microenvironment END