Effects of sodium copper- and sodium iron-chlorophyllin primers on resin bonding to dentin.

This study evaluated the effects of two chlorophyll derivatives, sodium copper chlorophyllin (Cu-Chl) and sodium iron chlorophyllin (Fe-Chl), on the bond strength between a self-curing luting agent (4-META/MMA-TBB resin) and dentin. Five aqueous primers containing 35% 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate with 0.007% Cu-Chl, 0.07% Cu-Chl, 0.007% Fe-Chl, 0.07% Fe-Chl, or neither Cu-Chl nor Fe-Chl (no-Chl) were prepared. The extracted human dentin surfaces were etched with 10% phosphoric acid (10PA), primed, and bonded to a resin block using the 4-META/MMA-TBB resin. A conventional etching agent (10-3) and 10PA without primer (PA/no-primer) were used as controls. The microtensile bond strength was determined after 48 h. The arithmetic medians for 20 stick specimens were calculated and statistically analyzed using a nonparametric Steel-Dwass test (α = 0.05). The maximum bond strength was achieved in the 0.007% Cu-Chl group, followed by those in the 0.07% Cu-Chl, 0.07% Fe-Chl, 10-3, 0.007% Fe-Chl, no-Chl, and PA/no-primer groups. No significant difference was observed between 0.007% Fe-Chl, 0.07% Fe-Chl, and 10-3. The bond strength to dentin etched with 10PA was influenced by the type and concentration of the chlorophyll derivatives applied. Cu-Chl rather than Fe-Chl should be useful as a component of surface treatment agents for bonding 4-META/MMA-TBB resin to dentin.

Combination therapy with paclitaxel and trastuzumab for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive recurrent serous carcinoma of the uterine cervix: A case report.

Recent studies show increased expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in cervical cancer, but the efficacy of anti-HER2 therapy remains under-researched. Here, we present a case of recurrent HER2-positive serous carcinoma, presumably arising in the cervix, diagnosed by comprehensive genomic profiling, which responded to trastuzumab. The patient underwent a radical hysterectomy with concurrent adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. One year after surgery, the patient experienced recurrence (multiple lymph node metastases). She underwent chemotherapy and subsequent comprehensive genomic profiling, which revealed HER2 positivity. Despite treatment, the lymph node and peritoneal metastases progressed. Therefore, combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and trastuzumab was initiated. Subsequently, the patient's clinical symptoms improved considerably, and good health was maintained for 8 months. This report highlights the importance of comprehensive genomic profiling and targeted therapies when standard treatments fail.

Attitudes toward cancer screening in regional Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic: An anonymous survey.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has raised concerns about the impact of delayed health check-ups and cancer screenings on cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of cancer patients on future screening measures during the pandemic in rural Japan. An anonymized open-data survey was undertaken in Fukui Prefecture, a rural region of Japan, in 2021. Participants were asked about their cancer screening history, screening frequency during the pandemic, and reasons for not undergoing screening. Among the 1262 respondents, the proportion of patients who underwent cancer screening in 2020 during the pandemic was similar to the proportion who underwent regular (annual or biannual) screening in 2019 before the pandemic. Of those who underwent regular screening, 82% still underwent screening in 2020, while only 21% of those who had irregular screenings. The number of respondents who believed they were healthy and did not require screening increased over time, possibly due to restrictions on going out and refraining from activities during the pandemic. This study in rural Japan found that regular cancer screening prior to the pandemic was associated with a more positive attitude toward screening during the pandemic. Raising awareness about the importance of cancer screening and encouraging participation is crucial for promoting positive attitudes in the future. The findings highlight the need for continued efforts to ensure access to screening services during the pandemic and future public health emergencies.

A memory of eS25 loss drives resistance phenotypes.

In order to maintain cellular protein homeostasis, ribosomes are safeguarded against dysregulation by myriad processes. Remarkably, many cell types can withstand genetic lesions of certain ribosomal protein genes, some of which are linked to diverse cellular phenotypes and human disease. Yet the direct and indirect consequences from these lesions are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we studied in vitro and cellular consequences that follow genetic knockout of the ribosomal proteins RPS25 or RACK1 in a human cell line, as both proteins are implicated in direct translational control. Prompted by the unexpected detection of an off-target ribosome alteration in the RPS25 knockout, we closely interrogated cellular phenotypes. We found that multiple RPS25 knockout clones display viral- and toxin-resistance phenotypes that cannot be rescued by functional cDNA expression, suggesting that RPS25 loss elicits a cell state transition. We characterized this state and found that it underlies pleiotropic phenotypes and has a common rewiring of gene expression. Rescuing RPS25 expression by genomic locus repair failed to correct for the phenotypic and expression hysteresis. Our findings illustrate how the elasticity of cells to a ribosome perturbation can drive specific phenotypic outcomes that are indirectly linked to translation and suggests caution in the interpretation of ribosomal protein gene mutation data.

The efficacy of a novel zinc-containing desensitizer CAREDYNE Shield for cervical dentin hypersensitivity: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a novel zinc-containing desensitizer, CAREDYNE Shield, was developed. This new type of desensitizer induces chemical occlusion of dentinal tubules for desensitization and releases zinc ion for root caries prevention. Despite these features, its clinical effectiveness in the improvement of cervical dentine hypersensitivity remains to be elucidated. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CAREDYNE Shield in patients with CDH. METHODS: Forty CDH teeth which matched the eligibility criteria were randomly allocated to two groups in a 1:1 ratio: the CAREDYNE Shield group (intervention group) and the Nanoseal group (control group). The pain intensity in response to air stimuli, gingival condition, and oral hygiene status of CDH teeth were assessed before and at 4 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was the reduction of pain intensity in response to air stimuli from baseline to 4 weeks after intervention. RESULTS: From November 2019 to April 2021, 24 participants with 40 teeth were enrolled in this study and 33 teeth in 20 participants were assessed at 4 weeks after treatment. A significant reduction of pain in response to air stimuli was observed in both groups; however, no significant difference was observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that CAREDYNE Shield is effective for CDH and its effectiveness is similar to Nanoseal. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), UMIN000038072. Registered on 21st September 2019, https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000043331.

Development of a novel and rapid measurement system for growth differentiation factor-15, progranulin, and osteopontin in uterine sarcoma.

Uterine sarcomas are rare and aggressive gynecologic tumors with poor prognosis; therefore, early diagnosis is crucial for therapy. However, it is very difficult to distinguish uterine sarcomas from leiomyomas which are common benign uterine tumors. Therefore, the development of a diagnostic method that utilizes reliable biomarkers to distinguish uterine sarcomas from leiomyomas is important so as to identify the rare tumors. The candidate factors as novel biomarkers were searched for in public databases and a pilot study was performed for confirmation. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), progranulin, and osteopontin were identified as candidate biomarkers for diagnosing uterine sarcoma. Thus, developing a rapid and easy method to measure these factors could help establish a screening system for uterine sarcomas. In this study, we developed a novel measurement system for these factors using a compact chemical luminescence immunological automatic analyzer POCubeTM. This assay system, which is based on the flow-through membrane immunoassay, completes the whole process and generates results within 15 min. Serum concentrations of these factors measured via POCubeTM correlated well with those measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (r = 0.994 for GDF15, r = 0.992 for progranulin, and r = 0.976 for osteopontin). The POCubeTM system provides rapid and easy measurement of these factors, thereby facilitating uterine sarcoma diagnosis.

PABPN1 suppresses TDP-43 toxicity in ALS disease models.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a major disease protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative diseases. Both the cytoplasmic accumulation of toxic ubiquitinated and hyperphosphorylated TDP-43 fragments and the loss of normal TDP-43 from the nucleus may contribute to the disease progression by impairing normal RNA and protein homeostasis. Therefore, both the removal of pathological protein and the rescue of TDP-43 mislocalization may be critical for halting or reversing TDP-43 proteinopathies. Here, we report poly(A)-binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) as a novel TDP-43 interaction partner that acts as a potent suppressor of TDP-43 toxicity. Overexpression of full-length PABPN1 but not a truncated version lacking the nuclear localization signal protects from pathogenic TDP-43-mediated toxicity, promotes the degradation of pathological TDP-43 and restores normal solubility and nuclear localization of endogenous TDP-43. Reduced levels of PABPN1 enhances the phenotypes in several cell culture and Drosophila models of ALS and results in the cytoplasmic mislocalization of TDP-43. Moreover, PABPN1 rescues the dysregulated stress granule (SG) dynamics and facilitates the removal of persistent SGs in TDP-43-mediated disease conditions. These findings demonstrate a role for PABPN1 in rescuing several cytopathological features of TDP-43 proteinopathy by increasing the turnover of pathologic proteins.

Fragile X protein mitigates TDP-43 toxicity by remodeling RNA granules and restoring translation.

RNA dysregulation is a newly recognized disease mechanism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we identify Drosophila fragile X mental retardation protein (dFMRP) as a robust genetic modifier of TDP-43-dependent toxicity in a Drosophila model of ALS. We find that dFMRP overexpression (dFMRP OE) mitigates TDP-43 dependent locomotor defects and reduced lifespan in Drosophila. TDP-43 and FMRP form a complex in flies and human cells. In motor neurons, TDP-43 expression increases the association of dFMRP with stress granules and colocalizes with polyA binding protein in a variant-dependent manner. Furthermore, dFMRP dosage modulates TDP-43 solubility and molecular mobility with overexpression of dFMRP resulting in a significant reduction of TDP-43 in the aggregate fraction. Polysome fractionation experiments indicate that dFMRP OE also relieves the translation inhibition of futsch mRNA, a TDP-43 target mRNA, which regulates neuromuscular synapse architecture. Restoration of futsch translation by dFMRP OE mitigates Futsch-dependent morphological phenotypes at the neuromuscular junction including synaptic size and presence of satellite boutons. Our data suggest a model whereby dFMRP is neuroprotective by remodeling TDP-43 containing RNA granules, reducing aggregation and restoring the translation of specific mRNAs in motor neurons.

Functional roles of fish collagen peptides on bone regeneration.

Fish collagen peptides (FCP) derived from the skin, bones and scales are commercially used as a functional food or dietary supplement for hypertension and diabetes. However, there is limited evidence on the effects of FCP on the osteoblast function in contrast to evidence of the effects on wound healing, diabetes and bone regeneration, which have been obtained from animal studies. In this narrative review, we expound on the availability of FCP by basic research using osteoblasts. Low-concentration FCP upregulates the expression of osteoblast proliferation, differentiation and collagen modifying enzyme-related genes. Furthermore, it could accelerate matrix mineralization. FCP may have potential utility as a biomaterial to improve collagen quality and promote mineralization through the mitogen-activated protein kinase and Smad cascades. However, there are few clinical studies on bone regeneration in human subjects. It is desirable to be applied clinically through clinical study as soon as possible, based on the results from basic research.

Copper content in ascitic fluid is associated with angiogenesis and progression in ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ascites is associated with the poor prognosis of malignant tumors. The biological importance of the changes in the content of trace elements in the ascitic fluid is unknown. Herein, we analyzed trace elements in the ascitic fluid of patients with ovarian tumors and used cultured cells to determine the copper (Cu)-induced changes in gene expression in ovarian cancer. METHODS: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to compare ascitic fluid trace element levels in patients with benign ovarian tumors (n = 22) and borderline/malignant tumors (n = 5) for primary screening. Cu levels were validated using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in 88 benign, 11 borderline, and 25 malignant ovarian tumor patients. To confirm Cu-induced gene expression changes, microarray analysis was performed for Cu-treated OVCAR3, A2780, and Met5A cells. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in the cell supernatant or ascitic fluid (ovarian cancer samples) was measured using ELISA. RESULTS: ICP-MS showed that Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, and Mo levels significantly increased in patients with malignant/borderline ovarian tumors compared to those in patients with benign ovarian tumors. AAS showed that malignant ovarian tumors were independently associated with elevated levels of Cu in ascites adjusted for age, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, and supplement use (p < 0.001). Microarray analysis of both Cu-treated ovarian cancer cell lines OVCAR3 and A2780 and the mesothelial cell line Met-5A revealed the upregulation of the angiogenesis biological process. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA demonstrated that an increased Cu content significantly enhanced VEGF mRNA expression and protein secretion in OVCAR3, A2780, and Met-5A cells. VEGF levels and clinical stages of the tumors correlated with the ascitic fluid Cu content in patients with malignant ovarian tumors (correlation coefficient 0.445, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.069-0.710, p = 0.023 and correlation coefficient 0.406, 95 % CI: 0.022-0.686, p = 0.040, respectively). CONCLUSION: Cu levels significantly increased in patients with malignant ovarian cancer. Cu induced angiogenic effects in ovarian cancer and mesothelial cells, which affected ascites fluid production. This study clarifies the link between elevated Cu in ascites and malignant ovarian tumor progression. Strategies to decrease Cu levels in the ascitic fluid may help downregulate VEGF expression, thereby improving the prognosis of ovarian malignancies.

Diagnostic Value of 18F-FDG PET/MRI for Revised 2018 FIGO Staging in Patients with Cervical Cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of PET/MRI with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in cervical cancer based on the revised 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients with biopsy-proven primary cervical cancer underwent pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/MRI, CT, and pelvic MRI. The diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/MRI and MRI for assessing extent of the primary tumor and 18F-FDG PET/MRI and CT for assessing nodal and distant metastases was evaluated by two experienced readers. Histopathological and follow-up imaging results were used as the gold standard. McNemar test was employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Accuracy for the invasion of vagina, parametrium, side wall, and adjacent organs was 97.2%, 93.1%, 97.2%, and 100% for 18F-FDG PET/MRI; and 97.2%, 91.7%, 97.2%, and 100% for pelvic MRI, respectively (p > 0.05). Patient-based accuracy for metastasis to pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes and distant organs was 95.8%, 98.6%, and 100% for 18F-FDG PET/MRI; and 83.3%, 95.8%, and 97.2% for CT, respectively; metastasis to pelvic lymph nodes was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Lesion-based sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for lymph nodes were 83.3%, 95.9%, and 94.8% for 18F-FDG PET/MRI; and 29.2%, 98.9% and 93.1% for CT, respectively; sensitivity was statistically significant (p < 0.001). After excluding patients diagnosed by conization, accuracy for revised FIGO staging 2018 was significantly better for 18F-FDG PET/MRI (82.1%) than for CT and MRI (60.7%) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET/MRI offers higher diagnostic value for revised 2018 FIGO staging, suggesting that 18F-FDG PET/MRI might provide an optimal diagnostic strategy for preoperative staging.

Prognostic Value of 16α-18F-Fluoro-17ß-Estradiol PET as a Predictor of Disease Outcome in Endometrial Cancer: A Prospective Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of 16α-18F-fluoro-17ß-estradiol (18F-FES) PET to predict prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer (EC). Methods: In total, 67 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I-IV EC underwent 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT before treatment. The SUVmean of the primary tumor was compared with the clinical characteristics, and the relationships between SUV and progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival were analyzed. Results:18F-FES SUV was significantly associated with stage, histology, lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI), and lymph node metastasis, and 18F-FDG SUV was significantly associated with stage, myometrial invasion, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that 18F-FES SUV could significantly detect tumor progression and survival, with areas under the curve of 0.813 and 0.790, respectively, whereas 18F-FDG SUV could detect them with areas under the curve of 0.557 and 0.635, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that patients with a low 18F-FES SUV had significantly poor PFS (P < 0.001) and overall survival (P = 0.001) compared with patients with a high SUV, whereas 18F-FDG showed no significant differences. In a subanalysis of 27 patients with a low risk of recurrence (FIGO stage IA endometrioid carcinoma [grade 1 or 2] without LVSI), those with a low 18F-FES SUV also had poorer PFS than those with a high SUV (P = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, an 18F-FES SUV of less than 2.63 (P = 0.037; hazard ratio, 10.727; 95% CI, 1.16-99.35) and FIGO stages III and IV (P = 0.042; hazard ratio, 8.838; 95% CI, 1.09-71.84) were significantly associated with PFS. Conclusion: A low 18F-FES for the primary tumor was strongly associated with prognostic factors of EC such as LVSI and lymph node metastasis, and a low 18F-FES SUV was an independent prognostic factor for PFS in patients with EC. These data suggest that pretreatment 18F-FES PET might be useful in determining the appropriate treatment for patients with EC.

Long-term clinical and radiographic evaluation of the effectiveness of direct pulp capping materials: A meta-analysis.

The aim of this review is to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of calcium silicate-based cement (CS) and calcium hydroxide (CH) for direct pulp capping (DPC) to human pulp-exposed permanent teeth. An electronic search and manual search were performed on 21 June 2019. Long-term clinical and radiographic evaluations of the effectiveness of CS and CH for DPC to human pulp-exposed teeth were included, and data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment and meta-analyses were performed. From 645 identified articles, 7 articles met the eligibility criteria. The meta-analyses comparing CS with CH and Biodentine with mineral trioxide aggregates (MTA) on DPC success rate were performed, and significant difference was observed between CS and CH (risk ratio=1.20; p=0.005), whereas no significant difference was observed between Biodentine and MTA. CS seems to be a more effective and predictable DPC material than CH; however, these analyses are based on the studies judged at high risk of bias.

Diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/MRI for staging in patients with endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative accurate assessment of endometrial cancer can assist in the planning of additional surgical options, and in predicting the prognosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of non-contrast PET/MRI with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) for assessment in preoperative staging of endometrial cancer. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with biopsy-proven endometrial cancer underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/MRI, contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) and pelvic dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (ceMRI) for initial staging. The diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/MRI and ceMRI for assessing the extent of the primary tumor (T stage), and 18F-FDG PET/MRI and ceCT for assessing nodal (N stage) and distant (M stage) metastasis, was evaluated by two experienced readers. Histopathological and follow-up imaging results were used as the gold standard. The McNemar test was employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Accuracy for T status was 77.8 and 75.0% for 18F-FDG PET/MRI and ceMRI, respectively. Patient-based accuracy for detecting regional nodal and distant metastasis was 91.3 and 81.8% for 18F-FDG PET/MRI, and 87.0 and 81.8% for ceCT. None of these parameters was statistically significant (p > 0.05). Lesion-based sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting regional nodal metastasis were 100, 96.9 and 97.0% for 18F-FDG PET/MRI, and 14.3, 97.6 and 93.3% for ceCT; sensitivity was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Non-contrast 18F-FDG PET/MRI, which combines the individual advantages of PET and MRI, offers a high diagnostic value equivalent to that of ceMRI for assessment of the primary tumor, and equivalent to that of ceCT for the assessment of nodal and distant metastatic staging, in patients with endometrial cancer. These findings suggest that 18F-FDG PET/MRI might provide an alternative diagnostic strategy to conventional imaging modalities in the preoperative staging of endometrial cancer.

Diagnostic value of [18F]FDG PET/MRI for staging in patients with ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of PET/MRI with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) in ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants comprised 103 patients with suspected ovarian cancer underwent pretreatment [18F]FDG PET/MRI, contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) and pelvic dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (ceMRI). Diagnostic performance of [18F]FDG PET/MRI and ceMRI for assessing the characterization and the extent of the primary tumor (T stage) and [18F]FDG PET/MRI and ceCT for assessing nodal (N stage) and distant (M stage) metastases was evaluated by two experienced readers. Histopathological and follow-up imaging results were used as the gold standard. The McNemar test was employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Accuracy for the characterization of suspected ovarian cancer was significantly better for [18F]FDG PET/MRI (92.5%) [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-0.95] than for ceMRI (80.6%) (95% CI 0.72-0.83) (p < 0.05). Accuracy for T status was 96.4% (95% CI 0.96-0.96) and 92.9% (95% CI 0.93-0.93) for [18F]FDG PET/MRI and ceMRI/ceCT, respectively. Patient-based accuracies for N and M status were 100% (95% CI 0.88-1.00) and 100% (95% CI 0.88-1.00) for [18F]FDG PET/MRI and 85.2% (95% CI 0.76-0.85) and 30.8% (95% CI 0.19-0.31) for ceCT and M staging representing significant differences (p < 0.01). Lesion-based sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for N status were 78.6% (95% CI 0.57-0.91), 95.7% (95% CI 0.93-0.97) and 93.9% (95% CI 0.89-0.97) for [18F]FDG PET/MRI and 42.9% (95% CI 0.24-0.58), 96.6% (95% CI 0.94-0.98) and 90.8% (95% CI 0.87-0.94) for ceCT. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]FDG PET/MRI offers better sensitivity and specificity for the characterization and M staging than ceMRI and ceCT, and diagnostic value for T and N staging equivalent to ceMRI and ceCT, suggesting that [18F]FDG PET/MRI might represent a useful diagnostic alternative to conventional imaging modalities in ovarian cancer.

The efficacy of the novel zinc-containing desensitizer CAREDYNE Shield on dentin hypersensitivity: a study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a condition characterized by short and sharp episodes of pain which will arise in response to tactile, chemical, thermal, evaporative or osmotic stimuli. The painful symptoms cause discomfort in patients and reduce their quality of life. Recently, the novel zinc-containing desensitizer CAREDYNE Shield has been developed as a new type of desensitizer that acts by inducing chemical occlusion of dentinal tubules, and releasing zinc ion for root caries prevention. However, the clinical effectiveness of CAREDYNE Shield on DH remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of CAREDYNE Shield on DH by comparing with that of another desensitizer, Nanoseal, commonly used in Japan. METHODS/DESIGN: This study protocol is a two-arm, parallel, pilot randomized controlled trial. Forty DH patients will be randomly allocated to two groups. Participants in the intervention group will be treated with CAREDYNE Shield, while those in the control group will be treated with Nanoseal. The primary outcome is the reduction of pain intensity in response to air stimuli measured with a 5-point verbal response scale from baseline to 4 weeks after the intervention, and Fisher's exact test will be used for analyses. DISCUSSION: CAREDYNE Shield can be casually applied to subgingival areas and proximal surfaces because it reacts with only tooth substance. Furthermore, zinc has been reported to reduce the demineralization of enamel and dentin and inhibit biofilm formation, plaque growth and dentin-collagen degradation. Therefore, CAREDYNE Shield may be expected to be a useful novel desensitizer that acts not only as a desensitizer but also as a root caries inhibitor. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), ID: UMIN000038072. Registered on 21 September 2019. TRIAL STATUS: This study (protocol version number: version 1.4.0; approved on 22 October 2019) is ongoing. The recruitment of participants began in December 2019 and will be continued until November 2020 (Hanke, Am Dent Assoc 27:1379-1393, 1940).

Long-term clinical and radiographic evaluation of the effectiveness of direct pulp-capping materials.

The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of different direct pulp-capping (DPC) materials for human pulp-exposed teeth. An electronic search was performed on 20 February 2018. Long-term clinical and radiographic evaluations of the effectiveness of different DPC materials for use on human pulp-exposed teeth were included. Risk-of-bias assessment and data extraction were performed. From the 496 identified articles, 15 met the eligibility criteria. Among the studies included in those articles, a total of 1,322 teeth were treated with 12 types of DPC materials, and 1,136 teeth were evaluated at a final follow-up examination. For mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide (CH), the number of included studies, the number of treated teeth, and the mean follow-up period of studies were almost equal, and the success rates of MTA was superior to CH. Therefore, MTA is likely to be a more effective and predictable material for DPC compared to CH. However, the results were based on the included studies, which were all judged to have a high risk of bias. Therefore, more long-term clinical and radiographic studies designed with lower risk of bias are needed. Moreover, the other 10 materials were only investigated by a small number of studies; therefore, further studies are required.

Predictive Value of 16α-[18F]-Fluoro-17ß-Estradiol PET as a Biomarker of Progestin Therapy Resistance in Patients With Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia and Low-Grade Endometrial Cancer.

For early-stage endometrial cancer patients who wish to preserve fertility, progestin treatment is effective. However, repeated endometrial curettage to evaluate treatment response may cause infertility. The clinical courses of 3 patients who were treated with fertility-sparing progestin treatment and underwent serial F-FES PET before and after treatment are presented. The SUVmean decreased greatly in patients with pathologically complete response (44.2%, 46.2%), whereas there was only a small change (22.5%) in the patient with pathologically stable disease who finally underwent hysterectomy. F-FES PET can be a noninvasive method to evaluate response to fertility-sparing progestin treatment.

Role of diagnostic laparoscopy in patients with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ovary with cancerous peritonitis: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is a very rare ovarian neoplasm that has a poor clinical outcome even in the early stage, and there is as yet no established treatment. Diagnostic laparoscopy has been used to determine the possibility of primary optimal cytoreductive surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. However, the role of diagnostic laparoscopy is still unclear in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma due to its rarity. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old woman with abdominal distention was referred to our hospital. She was strongly suspected of having advanced ovarian cancer because of a huge pelvic mass, massive ascites, and their appearance on medical imaging. However, cytological examinations from ascitic fluid by abdominal paracentesis did not show any malignant cells. She underwent diagnostic laparoscopy to evaluate the possibility of primary optimal cytoreductive surgery, and only tissue sampling was performed for pathological diagnosis because of the countless disseminated lesions of various sizes in the intraperitoneal organs. The patient had no postoperative complications, leading to the early start of postoperative chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: To date, there have been no systematic reviews that focused on determining the treatment strategy using laparoscopy. Diagnostic laparoscopy can be helpful to determine the optimal treatment, including primary debulking surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or best supportive care, assisting in decision-making particularly for patients with advanced large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with carcinomatous peritonitis.

RPS25 is required for efficient RAN translation of C9orf72 and other neurodegenerative disease-associated nucleotide repeats.

Nucleotide repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene are the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Unconventional translation (RAN translation) of C9orf72 repeats generates dipeptide repeat proteins that can cause neurodegeneration. We performed a genetic screen for regulators of RAN translation and identified small ribosomal protein subunit 25 (RPS25), presenting a potential therapeutic target for C9orf72-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by nucleotide repeat expansions.