Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 subvariants, including BA.4 and BA.5.

After the global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, some BA.2 subvariants, including BA.2.9.1, BA.2.11, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5, emerged in multiple countries. Our statistical analysis showed that the effective reproduction numbers of these BA.2 subvariants are greater than that of the original BA.2. Neutralization experiments revealed that the immunity induced by BA.1/2 infections is less effective against BA.4/5. Cell culture experiments showed that BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 replicate more efficiently in human alveolar epithelial cells than BA.2, and particularly, BA.4/5 is more fusogenic than BA.2. We further provided the structure of the BA.4/5 spike receptor-binding domain that binds to human ACE2 and considered how the substitutions in the BA.4/5 spike play roles in ACE2 binding and immune evasion. Moreover, experiments using hamsters suggested that BA.4/5 is more pathogenic than BA.2. Our multiscale investigations suggest that the risk of BA.2 subvariants, particularly BA.4/5, to global health is greater than that of original BA.2.

Prediction of Pathologic Complete Response in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Preoperative Serum Small Ribonucleic Acid Obtained After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The authors hypothesized that small ribonucleic acid (sRNA) obtained from blood samples after neoadjuvant therapy from patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT) could serve as a novel biomarker for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR). METHODS: This study included 99 patients treated with esophagectomy after NACRT between March 2010 and October 2021 whose blood samples were collected between the end of NACRT and surgery. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to analyze sRNAs from the blood samples. A predictive model for pCR comprising micro-RNA isoforms (isomiR), transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived sRNAs (tsRNAs), and clinical factors was constructed using cross-validation. RESULTS: Of the 99 patients, pCR was diagnosed for 30 and non-pCR for 69 of the patients. Among sRNAs, the isomiRs of let-7b and miR-93 and the tsRNA group derived from tRNA-Gly-CCC/GCC were identified as predictive factors. The clinical factors included a decrease in the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) at the primary site, clinical complete response post-NACRT, preoperative biopsy, and post-NACRT carcinoembryonic antigen levels. The combined predictive model for pCR (C-PM) was established using the three sRNAs and four clinical factors. The area under the curve for the C-PM was 0.84, which was a significant factor in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 89.41; 95 % confidence interval 8.1-987.5; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic complete response after NACRT can be predicted by a predictive model constructed from preoperative clinical factors obtained via minimally invasive procedures and sRNA identified by NGS. Preoperative pCR prediction may influence treatment decision-making after NACRT.

Endobronchial spread of adenocarcinoma is a distinct pattern of invasion and associated with inferior clinical outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma.

AIM: The spread of lung adenocarcinoma cells into the bronchi and bronchioles is not well documented. We termed this histological finding "endobronchial spreading of adenocarcinoma" (EBSA) and investigated its prevalence and clinical significance. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed 320 resected specimens from patients diagnosed with invasive adenocarcinoma, and EBSA was observed in 144 patients (45%). EBSA was significantly associated with advanced pathological stage, higher histological grade, larger tumour invasion, lymphovascular infiltration, and spread through air spaces. Patients with EBSA had significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in univariate analysis (P < 0.001). In a subgroup analysis of patient with small-sized (invasion size ≤30 mm) adenocarcinoma in the localized stage, EBSA was an independent inferior prognostic indicator in multivariate analysis. In a subgroup analysis of patients with small-sized Grade 1 nonmucinous adenocarcinoma (n = 61), EBSA was observed in 11 patients, and the presence of EBSA was associated with significantly shorter RFS and CSS (P = 0.026 and P = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that EBSA is a significant risk factor for disease recurrence and cancer-related deaths. EBSA can be regarded as a distinctive pattern of invasion and its recognition can be beneficial in the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Impact of magnetic resonance imaging-related geometric distortion of dose distribution in fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases.

PURPOSE: The geometric distortion related to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in a diagnostic radiology (MRDR) and radiotherapy (MRRT) setup is evaluated, and the dosimetric impact of MR distortion on fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in patients with brain metastases is simulated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anthropomorphic skull phantom was scanned using a 1.5­T MR scanner, and the magnitude of MR distortion was calculated with (MRDR-DC and MRRT-DC) and without (MRDR-nDC and MRRT-nDC) distortion-correction algorithms. Automated noncoplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (HyperArc, HA; Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA) plans were generated for 53 patients with 186 brain metastases. The MR distortion at each gross tumor volume (GTV) was calculated using the distance between the center of the GTV and the MR image isocenter (MIC) and the quadratic regression curve derived from the phantom study (MRRT-DC and MRRT-nDC). Subsequently, the radiation isocenter of the HA plans was shifted according to the MR distortion at each GTV (HADC and HAnDC). RESULTS: The median MR distortions were approximately 0.1 mm when the distance from the MIC was < 30 mm, whereas the median distortion varied widely when the distance was > 60 mm (0.23, 0.47, 0.37, and 0.57 mm in MRDR-DC, MRDR-nDC, MRRT-DC, and MRRT-nDC, respectively). The dose to the 98% of the GTV volume (D98%) decreased as the distance from the MIC increased. In the HADC plans, the relative dose difference of D98% was less than 5% when the GTV was located within 70 mm from the MIC, whereas the underdose of GTV exceeded 5% when it was 48 mm (-26.5% at maximum) away from the MIC in the HAnDC plans. CONCLUSION: Use of a distortion-correction algorithm in the studied MR diagnoses is essential, and the dosimetric impact of MR distortion is not negligible, particularly for tumors located far away from the MIC.

Recent treatment and prognosis in 643 patients with extramammary Paget's disease.

Information about extramammary Paget's (EMPD) treatment is limited because of the rarity of the disease. The prognosis differs between in situ EMPD and invasive EMPD; therefore, therapy should be planned according to the disease stage. We collected data on 643 EMPD cases treated between 2015 and 2019 in Japan and assessed recent trends in EMPD treatment and prognosis based on the EMPD-oriented TNM staging. Among the 643 patients, 317 had stage 0 (49.3%), 185 had stage I (28.8%), 51 had stage II (7.9%), 18 had stage IIIA (2.8%), 48 had stage IIIB (7.5%) and 24 had stage IV (3.7%) disease. Each stage showed a distinct survival curve, with the exception of stages II and IIIA. Curative surgery was most common in patients with stage 0-III disease. Chemotherapy was the first-line therapy, mainly in patients with stage IIIB and IV disease, most commonly with docetaxel (DTX), followed by DTX + tegafur gimeracil oteracil potassium (TS-1) and TS-1. Patients with local disease exhibited a 4.4% recurrence rate. Univariate analysis revealed no prognostic differences according to age, sex or primary tumour site. SLNB was not related to disease-specific survival. In multivariate analysis, female sex significantly predicted local relapse in stage 0-I (HR 3.09; 95% CI, 1.13-8.43), and initial treatment with curative surgery was significantly protective in terms of disease-specific survival in stage II-IIIA (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.04-0.71) and stage IIIB-IV (HR 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05-0.51). Further clinical studies are needed to improve the prognosis of patients with stage II-IV EMPD.

Observation of the Superstructure in Fe5-xGeTe2 by X-ray Fluorescence Holography.

Fe5-xGeTe2 is a two-dimensional van der Waals material that exhibits ferromagnetic order with a high Curie temperature (TC) of around room temperature. In addition to TC, two magnetic transitions occur with decreasing temperature, and a charge-ordered state is observed at low temperatures. We employed Ge Kα X-ray fluorescence holography (XFH) for Fe5-xGeTe2 to directly investigate the local structure in the charge-ordered state, i.e., the 3×3 superstructure. The Ge Kα XFH results revealed local atomic structures around the Ge atom, thus clarifying the simultaneous locations and arrangements of the Te, Fe, and Ge atoms. The atomic positions relative to the Ge atom are useful for understanding the coexistence of the ideal 1 × 1 structure and 3×3 superstructure found in the charge-ordered state.

Pressure Dependence of the Structural and Superconducting Properties of the Bi-Based Superconductor Bi2Pd3Se2.

The structural and superconducting properties of the Bi-based compound Bi2Pd3Se2 were investigated over a wide pressure range. The prepared Bi2Pd3Se2 sample was a superconductor with a superconducting transition temperature, Tc, of approximately 3.0 K, which differed from a previous report (Tc of less than 1.0 K). At ambient pressure, the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the Bi2Pd3Se2 sample was consistent with that previously reported for Bi2Pd3Se2. The Rietveld method was used to refine the crystal structure, which had a space group of C2/m (No. 12), as reported previously. This compound showed no clear anomaly due to the charge-density-wave (CDW) transition, as seen from the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility. However, the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity indicated a clear anomaly, presumably because of the CDW transition in the low-pressure range; the CDW transition temperature was approximately 230 K. The XRD patterns of the Bi2Pd3Se2 sample were measured at 0.160-22.7 GPa, and the patterns were well analyzed by both the Le Bail and Rietveld refinement methods, showing no structural phase transitions in the above pressure range. The pressure dependence of Tc of Bi2Pd3Se2 was recorded based on the temperature dependence of the electrical resistance, which showed an almost constant Tc at 0-13.7 GPa, and the Tc-pressure (p) behavior was fully discussed.

Structural and Superconducting Properties of Bi2Rh3(Se1-xSx)2 (x = 0-1.0).

The structural and superconducting properties of the Bi-based superconductor Bi2Rh3(Se1-xSx)2 were investigated over a wide pressure range. Bi2Rh3Se2 is a superconductor with a superconducting transition temperature, Tc, of less than ∼1.0 K, whereas Bi2Rh3S2 is a nonsuperconductor. The former shows a clear charge density wave (CDW) phase transition at 240 K and the latter shows a first-order structural phase transition at 165 K, providing the supercell structure. Both compounds have the same crystal structure at ambient temperature and pressure (monoclinic, space group of C2/m (No. 12)). This implies the possible formation of solid solution-like phases Bi2Rh3(Se1-xSx)2. In this study, we prepared Bi2Rh3(Se1-xSx)2 (x = 0-1.0) and investigated its superconducting properties and phase transitions at different x values. Because the superconducting properties and temperature causing the phase transition (Tpt) are quite different between Bi2Rh3Se2 and Bi2Rh3S2, their variation against x is quite intriguing from the viewpoint of the pursuit of physical properties via the replacement of Se with S. In this study, the features of the superconductivity and crystal structure against x were fully explored to depict the phase diagram. Moreover, we investigated the pressure (p) dependence of superconductivity and phase transition (CDW or the first-order structural transition) to clarify the interplay between the two ordered states.

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron EG.5.1 variant.

In middle to late 2023, a sublineage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron XBB, EG.5.1 (a progeny of XBB.1.9.2), is spreading rapidly around the world. We performed multiscale investigations, including phylogenetic analysis, epidemic dynamics modeling, infection experiments using pseudoviruses, clinical isolates, and recombinant viruses in cell cultures and experimental animals, and the use of human sera and antiviral compounds, to reveal the virological features of the newly emerging EG.5.1 variant. Our phylogenetic analysis and epidemic dynamics modeling suggested that two hallmark substitutions of EG.5.1, S:F456L and ORF9b:I5T are critical to its increased viral fitness. Experimental investigations on the growth kinetics, sensitivity to clinically available antivirals, fusogenicity, and pathogenicity of EG.5.1 suggested that the virological features of EG.5.1 are comparable to those of XBB.1.5. However, cryo-electron microscopy revealed structural differences between the spike proteins of EG.5.1 and XBB.1.5. We further assessed the impact of ORF9b:I5T on viral features, but it was almost negligible in our experimental setup. Our multiscale investigations provide knowledge for understanding the evolutionary traits of newly emerging pathogenic viruses, including EG.5.1, in the human population.

Characterization of carotid plaques using chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging.

PURPOSE: The preoperative assessment of carotid plaques is necessary to render revascularization safe and effective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST)-MRI, particularly amide proton transfer (APT) imaging as a preoperative carotid plaque diagnostic tool. METHODS: We recorded the APT signal intensity on concentration maps of 34 patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. Plaques were categorized into group A (APT signal intensity ≥ 1.90 E-04; n = 12) and group B (APT signal intensity < 1.90 E-04; n = 22). Excised plaques were subjected to histopathological assessment and, using the classification promulgated by the American Heart Association, they were classified as intraplaque hemorrhage-positive [type VI-positive (tVI+)] and -negative [no intraplaque hemorrhage (tVI-)]. RESULTS: Of the 34 patients, 22 (64.7%) harbored tVI+- and 12 (35.3%) had tVI- plaques. The median APT signals were significantly higher in tVI+- than tIVI- patients (2.43 E-04 (IQR = 0.98-4.00 E-04) vs 0.54 E-04 (IQR = 0.14-1.09 E-04), p < .001). Histopathologically, the number of patients with tVI+ plaques was significantly greater in group A (100%, n = 12) than group B (45%, n = 22) (p < .01). The number of symptomatic patients or asymptomatic patients with worsening stenosis was also significantly greater in group A than group B (75% vs 36%, p < .01). CONCLUSION: In unstable plaques with intraplaque hemorrhage and in patients with symptoms or progressive stenosis, the ATP signals were significantly elevated. CEST-MRI studies has the potential for the preoperative assessment of the plaques' characteristics.

Changes in Microbial Ecosystems and Serum Metabolomics by Diet Supplementation With Enramycin in Weaning Piglets.

Antibiotics are used in swine production for growth promotion and disease prevention, raising concerns about environmental contamination and antibiotic resistance. In this study, we investigated the effects of enramycin supplementation on piglet growth, gut microbiota and blood metabolites. Enramycin promotes piglet growth and temporarily reduces diarrhoea. Gut microbiota analysis revealed changes in microbial composition, including an increase in the abundance of Limosilactobacillus reuteri. Metabolomic analysis has identified elevated levels of dimethylglycine, a known growth-promoting factor, in the enramycin group. Liver gene expression analysis revealed increased mRNA levels of ALDH and dimethylglycine dehydrogenase, which are enzymes involved in dimethylglycine metabolism. The enramycin-treated group had a higher concentration of acetic acid in caecal contents, and their caecal acetic acid concentrations were positively correlated with the abundance of L. reuteri and the content of serum dimethylglycine, respectively. These findings suggest that the promotion effect of enramycin on piglet growth is related to the gut microbiota, blood metabolites and liver gene expression, which provide insights into antibiotic alternatives for swine production.

[Analysis of the Effect of Nutritional Status on Pain Treatment in Cancer Patients Using Oral Opioid Analgesics].

In cancer patients, pain control is reportedly affected by the quality of their nutritional status as the disease progresses. We conducted a study of patients who were continuously using oral opioid analgesics for the treatment of cancer pain at Chibaken Saiseikai Narashino Hospital from September 2020 to August 2022. Patient characteristics and pain treatments were compared between the well-nourished group(mGPS 0 or 1, n=20)and poorly nourished group(mGPS 2, n=47). Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of sex and the presence or absence of concomitant analgesic adjuvant(p<0.05). According to the multivariate analysis, the presence or absence of concomitant analgesic adjuvant was a significant related factor, with an odds ratio of 11.409(95% confidence interval: 2.645-49.217, p=0.001). For patients in the poorly nourished group who were able to maintain a general condition that allowed for oral administration, treatment was continued without affecting pain control. In the well-nourished group, most patients used gabapentinoids as an analgesic adjuvant, whereas in the poorly nourished group, avoidable side effects, such as dizziness and lightheadedness, might affect the patient's quality of life.

Efficacy of radical reactions of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals in organic synthesis.

Isocyanide is a promising synthetic reagent not only as a one-carbon homologation reagent but also as a nitrogen source for nitrogen-containing molecules. Because of their isoelectronic structure with carbon monoxide, isocyanides also react with nucleophiles, electrophiles, carbon radicals, and transition metal reagents, and are widely used in organic synthesis. On the other hand, the use of isocyanides in reactions with heteroatom radicals is limited. However, the reaction of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals is a promising synthetic tool for the construction of nitrogen-containing organic molecules modified with a variety of heteroatoms. In this Perspective, we review the addition and cyclization reactions of heteroatom radicals with isocyanides and discuss the synthetic prospects of the reaction of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals.

Transition-metal-free synthesis of arylboronates via thermal generation of aryl radicals from triarylbismuthines in air.

A simple and versatile synthesis of arylboronates has been achieved by using triarylbismuthines as aryl radical sources under transition-metal-free and open-air conditions. Conventional methods required photoirradiation or electrolysis to generate aryl radicals from triarylbismuthines. In this study, it was found that simply heating the solution of triarylbismuthines in benzotrifluoride (BTF) in air successfully led to the generation of aryl radicals, and the subsequent reaction with bis(pinacolato)diboron afforded a variety of arylboronates in moderate to good yields.

Characterization of thraustochytrid-specific sterol O-acyltransferase: modification of DGAT2-like enzyme to increase the sterol production in Aurantiochytrium limacinum mh0186.

IMPORTANCE: Since the global market for sterols and vitamin D are grown with a high compound annual growth rate, a sustainable source of these compounds is required to keep up with the increasing demand. Thraustochytrid is a marine oleaginous microorganism that can synthesize several sterols, which are stored as SE in lipid droplets. DGAT2C is an unconventional SE synthase specific to thraustochytrids. Although the primary structure of DGAT2C shows high similarities with that of DGAT, DGAT2C utilizes sterol as an acceptor substrate instead of diacylglycerol. In this study, we examined more detailed enzymatic properties, intracellular localization, and structure-activity relationship of DGAT2C. Furthermore, we successfully developed a method to increase sterol and provitamin D3 productivity of thraustochytrid by more than threefold in the process of elucidating the function of the DGAT2C-specific N-terminal region. Our findings could lead to sustainable sterol and vitamin D production using thraustochytrid.

Involvement of gap junctions in the increased contraction of bovine oviducts at pre-ovulation observed in vitro.

In brief: Spontaneous contraction of oviductal smooth muscle is essential for gamete transport to the fertilization site in mammals. This study sheds light on the mechanism of elevated contraction amplitude in the bovine oviductal isthmus just before ovulation. Abstract: Rhythmic contraction of the oviducts is essential for transporting gametes and embryos at peri-ovulation; however, its regulatory mechanism during the estrous cycle is unclear. Meanwhile, it is reported that ion currents regulate muscle contraction. Our study aimed to clarify the involvement of ion channels and gap junctions in regulating oviductal motility during the estrous cycle in cattle. The isthmic sections of bovine oviducts collected just after ovulation (0-4 days after ovulation), at the mid-late luteal stage (10-17 days), and at the follicular stage (1-3 days before ovulation) were used in the experiments. The frequency and amplitude of contraction of the oviductal strips in the longitudinal direction were examined using the Magnus system. The frequency was not different among the estrous stages. Conversely, the amplitude was significantly higher at the follicular stage. The blockers of voltage-dependent calcium channels, both IP3 receptor and ryanodine receptors, chloride channel, and gap junction reduced the amplitude. Additionally, mRNA and protein expression of GJA1, a component of the gap junction, in the smooth muscle tissues of the oviductal isthmus were significantly higher in the follicular stage. In addition, estradiol-17ß (E2; 1.0 ng/mL) significantly increased GJA1 mRNA expression in cultured smooth muscle tissues after 24 h and GJA1 protein expression in cultured smooth muscle cells after 48 h. These results suggest that local levels of E2 in the oviductal isthmus ipsilateral to an ovary with a dominant follicle support the increased contraction amplitude of bovine ipsilateral oviducts by elevating the gap junction expression.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Addition of Organosulfur Compounds to Alkynes and Alkenes: Catalysis and Catalyst Poisons.

The addition of heteroatom compounds to alkynes and alkenes is an atom-efficient method of carbon-heteroatom bond formation and is widely used as a fundamental synthetic method for the construction of functional molecules. Nevertheless, examples of transition-metal-catalyzed addition reactions of group 16 heteroatom compounds to carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds have been limited due to the widespread belief that organic sulfur and selenium compounds are representative catalyst poisons. In recent decades, however, several seminal catalytic reactions of sulfur compounds have been developed, providing important insights into catalysis and poisons. Therefore, this paper focuses on the transition-metal-catalyzed addition of organosulfur compounds to alkynes and alkenes, gains comprehensive insights into the catalysis and catalyst poisons, and proposes concepts for the development of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of group 16 heteroatom compounds.

Risk factors for adverse events associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial pharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Superficial pharyngeal cancer can be treated with curative intent while preserving function using minimally invasive peroral endoscopic resection techniques such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, severe adverse events occasionally occur, such as laryngeal edema requiring temporary tracheotomy and fistula formation. Therefore, we investigated the risk factors for adverse events associated with ESD for superficial pharyngeal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a single institution, and 63 patients who underwent ESD were enrolled. The primary outcome was the risk factors for adverse events associated with ESD. The secondary outcomes were adverse events associated with ESD and their frequency. RESULTS: The overall adverse event rate was 15.9% (10/63). The incidence of laryngeal edema requiring prophylactic temporary tracheotomy was 11.1%, while laryngeal edema requiring emergency temporary tracheotomy, postoperative bleeding, aspiration pneumonia, fistula, abscess, and stricture formation occurred in 1.6% of patients, respectively. Logistic regression analyses showed that a history of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer was a risk factor for adverse events (odds ratio [OR], 16.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.04-91.34; p = 0.001). After adjusting the model for differences in the baseline risk factors using the inverse probability of treatment weighting method, the adverse events were found to increase in association with a history of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (OR, 39.66; 95% CI,5.85-268.72; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: History of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer is an independent risk factor for adverse events associated with ESD for superficial pharyngeal cancer. Among adverse events, laryngeal edema requiring prophylactic temporary tracheotomy was particularly high.

PTEN loss in intraductal carcinoma of the prostate has low incidence in Japanese patients.

Clinical and genomic features of prostate cancer (PCa) vary considerably between Asian and Western populations. PTEN loss is the most frequent abnormality in intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) in Western populations. However, its prevalence and significance in Asian populations have not yet been well studied. In the present study, we evaluated PTEN expression in IDC-P in a Japanese population and its association with ERG expression. This study included 45 and 59 patients with PCa with and without IDC-P, respectively, who underwent radical prostatectomy. PTEN loss was observed in 10 patients with PCa with IDC-P (22%) and nine patients with PCa without IDC-P (17%). ERG expression was relatively frequent in patients with PCa with PTEN loss, although a significant difference was not observed. The co-occurrence of PTEN loss and ERG expression was observed in four patients with PCa with IDC-P and one without IDC-P. PTEN loss and ERG expression did not affect progression-free survival, regardless of the presence of IDC-P. The frequency of PTEN loss in IDC-P is lower in Asian patients than in Western patients. Our results indicate that mechanisms underlying IDC-P in Asian populations are different from those of Western populations.

Assessment of satisfaction with antiretroviral drugs and the need for long-acting injectable medicines among people living with HIV in Japan and its associated factors: a prospective multicenter cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Long-acting injectable formulations for HIV infection have been approved and are now available in Japan. Although not currently recommended as first-line drugs in Japanese or overseas guidelines, use of such formulations may increase, in accordance with patient conditions and preference. We determine the level of satisfaction with current anti-HIV drugs and analyzed the preferences of patients who favor long-acting injectable drugs based on their satisfaction level with the present anti-HIV drugs. METHODS: People living with HIV (PLWH) who had received antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least one month and consented to the study between 1 April and 31 December 2021 were included in a survey conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The content of the survey included satisfaction with seven items (tablet size, ease and feeling when taking the medicine, color, taste, portability, daily oral therapy, and co-payment) related to the anti-HIV drugs they were taking and their need for future drugs (dosage form, frequency of dosing, long-acting injectable, etc.). In addition, factors related to the need for long-acting injectable medications were analyzed with regard to the relationship with satisfaction with anti-HIV drugs. RESULTS: Overall, 667 patients available for analysis were included in this study. Satisfaction with anti-HIV drugs was highest with regard to "co-payment" and lowest with "daily oral therapy". Regarding the need for long-acting injectable medications, logistic regression analysis indicated that tablet size and daily oral therapy were significant predictors of patient preference for a once-every-eight-weeks intramuscular formulation in terms of their requirement for long-acting injectable medications (tablet size, OR = 2.14, 95%CI 1.030-4.430, p = 0.042; and daily oral therapy, OR = 1.75, 95%CI 1.010-3.030, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Patients currently receiving anti-HIV drugs who express dissatisfaction with tablet size and daily oral therapy may prefer a long-acting injectable formulation, taking into consideration patient age, employment status, ART history, frequency of daily dosage and concomitant medications other than ART.