Functional reorganization of brain regions supporting artificial grammar learning across the first half year of life.

Pre-babbling infants can track nonadjacent dependencies (NADs) in the auditory domain. While this forms a crucial prerequisite for language acquisition, the neurodevelopmental origins of this ability remain unknown. We applied functional near-infrared spectroscopy in neonates and 6- to 7-month-old infants to investigate the neural substrate supporting NAD learning and detection using tone sequences in an artificial grammar learning paradigm. Detection of NADs was indicated by left prefrontal activation in neonates while by left supramarginal gyrus (SMG), superior temporal gyrus (STG), and inferior frontal gyrus activation in 6- to 7-month-olds. Functional connectivity analyses further indicated that the neonate activation pattern during the test phase benefited from a brain network consisting of prefrontal regions, left SMG and STG during the rest and learning phases. These findings suggest a left-hemispheric learning-related functional brain network may emerge at birth and serve as the foundation for the later engagement of these regions for NAD detection, thus, providing a neural basis for language acquisition.

An Interleukin-33-Mast Cell-Interleukin-2 Axis Suppresses Papain-Induced Allergic Inflammation by Promoting Regulatory T Cell Numbers.

House dust mite-derived proteases contribute to allergic disorders in part by disrupting epithelial barrier function. Interleukin-33 (IL-33), produced by lung cells after exposure to protease allergens, can induce innate-type airway eosinophilia by activating natural helper (NH) cells, a member of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), to secrete Th2 type-cytokines. Because IL-33 also can induce mast cells (MCs) to secrete Th2 type-cytokines, MCs are thought to cooperate with NH cells in enhancing protease or IL-33-mediated innate-type airway eosinophilia. However, we found that MC-deficient Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice exhibited exacerbated protease-induced lung inflammation associated with reduced numbers of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Moreover, IL-2 produced by IL-33-stimulated MCs promoted expansion of numbers of Treg cells, thereby suppressing development of papain- or IL-33-induced airway eosinophilia. We have thus identified a unique anti-inflammatory pathway that can limit induction of innate-type allergic airway inflammation mediated by NH cells.

The emerging emetogenicity of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS­102) from patient self-reporting: a multicenter, prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) is an oral anticancer drug with adequate efficacy in unresectable colorectal cancer, but frequently also induces chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). To investigate the occurrence of CINV and antiemetic therapy in patients with colorectal cancer treated with TAS-102 (JASCC-CINV 2001). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, observational study in patients with colorectal cancer who received TAS-102 without dose reduction for the first time. Primary endpoint was the incidence of vomiting during the overall period. Secondary endpoints were the incidence of nausea, significant nausea, anorexia, other adverse events (constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, fatigue, dysgeusia) and patient satisfaction. Patient diaries were used for primary and secondary endpoints. All adverse events were subjectively assessed using PRO-CTCAE ver 1.0. and CTCAE ver 5.0. RESULTS: Data from 100 of the 119 enrolled patients were analyzed. The incidence of vomiting, nausea, and significant nausea was 13%, 67%, and 36%, respectively. The incidence of vomiting in patients with and without prophylactic antiemetic therapy were 20.8% and 10.5%, respectively. Prophylactic antiemetics were given to 24% of patients, of whom 70% received D2 antagonists. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that experience of CINV in previous treatment tended to be associated with vomiting (hazard ratio [HR]: 7.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87-58.5, P = 0.07), whereas prophylactic antiemetic administration was not (HR: 1.61, 95 CI: 0.50-5.21, P = 0.43). With regard to patient satisfaction, the proportion of patients who were "very satisfied," "satisfied," "slightly satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" was 81.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The low incidence of vomiting and high patient satisfaction suggest that TAS-102 does not require the use of uniform prophylactic antiemetic treatments. However, patients with the experience of CINV in previous treatment might require prophylactic antiemetic treatment.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection and urinary tract abnormalities in young children: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Studies investigating the role of urinary tract abnormalities in the development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in young children are limited. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to determine whether there is an association between CAUTI and urinary tract abnormalities. METHODS: We performed abdominal imaging studies on all patients aged <6 years with CAUTI admitted to the pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and high care unit (HCU) at Keio university or Fukuoka Children's Hospital from April 1, 2018 to July 31, 2022. Among 40 children who developed CAUTI, 13 (33 %) had abnormal urogenital images. Further, two case-control studies were conducted before and after propensity score matching, and the groups were compared using multivariable logistic regression models to analyze the effects of various factors on CAUTI development. RESULTS: In the multivariate logistic regression models, abnormal urogenital images (OR 5.30 [95 % CI, 2.40-11.7] and OR 3.44 [95 % CI, 1.16-9.93]) and duration of catheterization >10 days (OR 2.76 [95 % CI, 1.28-5.96] and OR 3.44 [95 % CI, 1.16-9.93]) were found to be significantly associated with development of CAUTI, both before (39 cases, 459 controls) and after propensity score matching (36 cases, 72 controls). Further, CAUTI in young children in the PICU or HCU was significantly associated with imaging abnormalities of the urinary tract. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that not only the presence of catheters, but also urinary tract malformations may contribute to the development of CAUTI in young children.

Final analyses of the prospective controlled trial on the efficacy of uracil and tegafur/leucovorin as an adjuvant treatment for stage II colon cancer with risk factors for recurrence using propensity score-based methods (JFMC46-1201).

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk stage II colon cancer (CC) has not been well established. Using propensity score matching, we previously reported that the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was significantly higher in patients treated with uracil and tegafur plus leucovorin (UFT/LV) against surgery alone. We report the final results, including updated 5-year overall survival (OS) rates and risk factor analysis outcomes. METHODS: In total, 1902 high-risk stage II CC patients with T4, perforation/penetration, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma/mucinous carcinoma, and/or < 12 dissected lymph nodes were enrolled in this prospective, non-randomized controlled study based on their self-selected treatment. Oral UFT/LV therapy was administered for six months after surgery. RESULTS: Of the 1880 eligible patients, 402 in Group A (surgery alone) and 804 in Group B (UFT/LV) were propensity score-matched. The 5-year DFS rate was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (P = 0.0008). The 5-year OS rates were not significantly different between groups. The inverse probability of treatment weighting revealed significantly higher 5-year DFS (P = 0.0006) and 5-year OS (P = 0.0122) rates in group B than in group A. Multivariate analyses revealed that male sex, age ≥ 70 years, T4, < 12 dissected lymph nodes, and no adjuvant chemotherapy were significant risk factors for DFS and/or OS. CONCLUSION: The follow-up data from our prospective non-randomized controlled study revealed a considerable survival advantage in DFS offered by adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT/LV administered for six months over surgery alone in individuals with high-risk stage II CC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs031180155 (date of registration: 25/02/2019), UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000007783 (date of registration: 18/04/2012).

Technical outcomes of robotic-assisted surgery versus laparoscopic surgery for rectal tumors: a single-center safety and feasibility study.

PURPOSE: Robot-assisted surgery has a multi-joint function, which improves manipulation of the deep pelvic region and contributes significantly to perioperative safety. However, the superiority of robot-assisted surgery to laparoscopic surgery remains controversial. This study compared the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery for rectal tumors. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study included 273 patients with rectal tumors who underwent surgery with anastomosis between 2017 and 2021. In total, 169 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery (Lap group), and 104 underwent robot-assisted surgery (Robot group). Postoperative complications were compared via propensity score matching based on inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). RESULTS: The postoperative complication rates based on the Clavien-Dindo classification (Lap vs. Robot group) were as follows: grade ≥ II, 29.0% vs. 19.2%; grade ≥ III, 10.7% vs. 5.8%; anastomotic leakage (AL), 6.5% vs. 4.8%; and urinary dysfunction (UD), 12.1% vs. 3.8%. After adjusting for the IPTW method, although AL rates did not differ significantly between groups, postoperative complications of both grade ≥ II (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-0.87, p < 0.01) and grade ≥ III (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16-0.53, p < 0.01) were significantly less frequent in the Robot group than in the Lap group. Furthermore, urinary dysfunction also tended to be less frequent in the Robot group than in the Lap group (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.38-1.00; p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted surgery for rectal tumors provides better short-term outcomes than laparoscopic surgery, supporting its use as a safer approach.

In utero Exposure to Valproic Acid throughout Pregnancy Causes Phenotypes of Autism in Offspring Mice.

Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug that inhibits the epileptic activity of neurons mainly by inhibiting sodium channels and GABA transaminase. VPA is also known to inhibit histone deacetylases, which epigenetically modify the cell proliferation/differentiation characteristics of stem/progenitor cells within developing tissues. Recent clinical studies in humans have indicated that VPA exposure in utero increases the risk of autistic features and intellectual disabilities in offspring; we have previously reported that low-dose VPA exposure in utero throughout pregnancy increases the production of projection neurons from neuronal stem/progenitor cells that are distributed in the superficial neocortical layers of the fetal brain. In the present study, we found that in utero VPA-exposed mice exhibited abnormal social interaction, changes in cognitive function, hypersensitivity to pain/heat, and impaired locomotor activity, all of which are characteristic symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in humans. Taken together, our findings indicate that VPA exposure in utero throughout pregnancy alters higher brain function and predisposes individuals to phenotypes that resemble autism and intellectual disability. Furthermore, these symptoms are likely to be due to neocortical dysgenesis that was caused by an increased number of projection neurons in specific layers of the neocortex.

Prognostic impact of severe neutropenia in colorectal cancer patients treated with TAS-102 and bevacizumab, addressing immortal-time bias.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported an association between severe neutropenia and long-term survival in patients treated with trifluridine-tipiracil (TAS-102). Because some of these studies failed to address immortality time bias, however, their findings should be interpreted with caution. Additionally, the association between severe neutropenia and survival in patients receiving TAS-102 in combination with bevacizumab (Bmab) remains unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study in patients with colorectal cancer who received Bmab + TAS-102. We compared overall survival (OS) between patients who developed grade ≥ 3 neutropenia during the treatment period and those who did not. To account for immortal time bias, we used two approaches, time-varying Cox regression and landmark analysis. RESULTS: Median OS was 15.3 months [95% CI: 14.1-NA] in patients with grade ≥ 3 neutropenia and 10.0 months [95% CI: 8.1-NA] in those without. In time-varying Cox regression, onset grade ≥ 3 neutropenia was significantly related to longer survival after adjustment for age and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score. Additionally, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-day landmark analysis showed that grade ≥ 3 neutropenia was associated with longer survival after adjustment for age and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, with respective HRs of 0.30 [0.10-0.90], 0.65 [0.30-1.42], 0.39 [0.17-0.90], and 0.41 [0.18-0.95]. CONCLUSION: We identified an association between long-term survival and the development of severe neutropenia during the early cycle of Bmab + TAS-102 using an approach that addressed immortality time bias.

Prognostic factors in patients with high-risk stage II colon cancer after curative resection: a post hoc analysis of the JFMC46-1201 trial.

PURPOSE: The goal of the current study was to identify prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in high-risk stage II colon cancer. METHODS: The subjects were patients with histologically confirmed stage II colon cancer undergoing R0 resection who met at least one of the following criteria: T4, perforation/penetration, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, and < 12 examined lymph nodes. Patients self-selected surgery alone or a 6-month oral uracil and tegafur plus leucovorin (UFT/LV) regimen. Serum CEA mRNA at ≥ 24 h after surgery and < 2 weeks after registration was also examined as a potential prognostic factor for stage II colon cancer. This study is registered with UMIN-CTR (protocol ID: UMIN000007783). RESULTS: 1880 were included in the analysis to identify prognostic factors for DFS and OS in patients with high-risk stage II colon cancer. In multivariate analyses, gender, depth of tumor invasion, extent of lymph node dissection, number of examined lymph nodes, and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (POAC) emerged as significant independent prognostic factors for DFS. Similarly, multivariate analysis showed that age, gender, depth of tumor invasion, perforation/penetration, extent of lymph node dissection, number of examined lymph nodes, and POAC were significant independent prognostic factors for OS. Univariate analyses showed no significant difference in DFS or OS for CEA mRNA-positive and mRNA-negative cases. CONCLUSION: This study showed that gender, depth of tumor invasion, extent of lymph node dissection, number of examined lymph nodes, and lack of use of POAC were significant independent prognostic factors in stage II colon cancer.

Drain fluid and serum amylase concentration ratio is the most reliable indicator for predicting postoperative pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a major complication of pancreatic surgery. Drain fluid amylase concentration (DAC) is considered a predictive indicator of POPF. However, other indicators related to postoperative drain fluid amylase status exist, and the most reliable indicator for predicting POPF remains unclear. The object of this study is to identify the single most accurate indicator related to drain fluid amylase status of POPF after distal pancreatectomy (DP). METHODS: This single-institution retrospective study included 122 patients who underwent DP. The study was conducted between 2010 and 2022 at Gifu University Hospital. We statistically analyzed DAC, drain fluid amylase amount (DAA) calculated by multiplying DAC and daily drainage volume, and drain and serum amylase concentration ratio (DSACR) to assess the correlation with POPF. RESULTS: Based on the definition and grading of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula, 24.6 (%) of the 122 patients had Grades B and C POPF. The result of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting POPF after DP, DSACR had the highest area under curve(AUC) value among DAC, DAA, and DSACR both POD1 and POD3. The cutoff value of DSACR on POD1 was 17 (AUC 0.69, sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 58.2%, and accuracy 63.6%). The cutoff value of DSACR on POD3 was 22 (AUC 0.77, sensitivity 77.7%, specificity 73.3%, and accuracy 73.6%). Overall, DSACR on POD3 had the highest AUC value. Furthermore, a multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that pancreatic texture (soft; odds ratio [OR] 9.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.22-44.19; p < 0.01) and DSACR on POD3 (> 22; OR 8.76; 95% CI 2.78-31.59; p < 0.001) were independently associated with POPF after DP. CONCLUSIONS: DSACR is the most reliable indicator of drain fluid amylase status for predicting POPF after DP.

Short-term outcomes associated with the use of a new powered circular stapler for rectal reconstructions: a retrospective study comparing it to manual circular staplers using inverse probability of treatment weight analysis.

BACKGROUND: The most common postoperative complication in malignant rectal surgery is anastomotic leakage (AL). AL after anterior or low anterior resection in rectal tumors is a fatal postoperative complication. Recently, the first automated suture circular stapler, which is expected to reduce the incidence of AL, (J&J). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included a total of 248 rectal tumor patients who underwent double stapler technique (DST) anastomotic procedures in the department of gastroenterological surgery /pediatric surgery at Gifu University School of Medicine from January 2017 to December 2021. The experience of a single institution utilizing the The Echelon circular™ stapler (ECP stapler:Manual VS Automatic) in rectal surgery cases was evaluated retrospectively from maintained database. RESULT: One hundred thirty-nine patients (58.4%) were performed by manual circular stapling, 99 patients (41.6%) by powerd circular stapling. Diverting stoma was performed in 45 cases (32.4%) by manual circular stapling, 42 patients (42.4%) by powerd circular stapling Postoperative complications were occurred clavien-dindo grade II or higher in 57 cases (23.9%) and grade III or higher in 20 cases (8.4%). Anastomotic leakage occurred in 14 patients (5.9%) within all grades. After IPTW, the variables of patient characteristics was SMD ≤ 0.2 (Table.3), and there was a significant difference in anastomotic leakage (Odds Ratio (OR), 0.57; 95% Confidence Interval(CI), 0.34-0.98; p = 0.041). In addition, there was no significant difference in postoperative complications in grade II or higher (OR, 0.88; 95%CI, 0.65-1.19; p = 0.417) and grade III or higher (OR, 0.46; 95%CI, 0.29-0.74; p = 0.001) were significantly remarkable lower in powered circular stapling group. CONCLUSION: In this IPTW comparison of patients undergoing rectal reconstructions, the ECP trial cohort had lower risks of several surgical complications AL and statistically signifcant lower rates of ileus/bowel obstruction, infection, and bleeding as Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade II and III as compared with for whom manual circular staplers were used.

Naldemedine-induced opioid withdrawal with restlessness as the predominant symptom in a palliative care setting.

OBJECTIVES: Opioid analgesics play a central role in cancer pain treatment; however, it has been reported that opioid-induced constipation (OIC) develops in 80% of patients using opioid analgesics and leads to a decrease in quality of life. Naldemedine improves constipation without affecting the analgesic action of opioid analgesics via peripheral µ-opioid receptors. METHODS: We report a terminally ill cancer patient who was diagnosed with opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS) based on symptoms centered around restlessness and sweating that developed 43 days after administration of naldemedine for OIC. RESULTS: The patient was a 78-year-old woman who was diagnosed with stage IVB uterine sarcoma in October, 1 year prior to her visit to our clinic,  and underwent chemotherapy after surgery, but the disease became progressive. Thereafter, metastasis to the fourth thoracic vertebrae (Th4) was identified, and loxoprofen and acetaminophen were started for pain at the metastatic site. Oxycodone hydrochloride hydrate 10 mg/day was additionally administered on postoperative day 11, followed by naldemedine 0.2 mg/day for OIC. On the 43rd day after administration, the patient began to wander the hospital ward in a wheelchair and became noticeably restless. OWS due to naldemedine administration was suspected, and naldemedine was discontinued. The symptoms improved 7 days later, and no similar symptoms were observed thereafter. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Patients receiving palliative care often exhibit psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depression, but OWS due to naldemedine should also be considered as a potential cause.

Genetic and functional analyses of TBX4 reveal novel mechanisms underlying pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal disease, with approximately 10% of cases associated with genetic variants. Recent genetic studies have reported pathogenic variants in the TBX4 gene in patients with PAH, especially in patients with childhood-onset of the disease, but the pathogenesis of PAH caused by TBX4 variant has not been fully uncovered. METHODS: We analysed the TBX4 gene in 75 Japanese patients with sporadic or familial PAH using a PCR-based bidirectional sequencing method. Detected variants were evaluated using in silico analyses as well as in vitro analyses including luciferase assay, immunocytochemistry and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) whether they have altered function. We also analysed the function of TBX4 using mouse embryonic lung explants with inhibition of Tbx4 expression. RESULTS: Putative pathogenic variants were detected in three cases (4.0%). Our in vitro functional analyses revealed that TBX4 directly regulates the transcriptional activity of fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), whereas the identified TBX4 variant proteins failed to activate the FGF10 gene because of disruption of nuclear localisation signal or poor DNA-binding affinity. Furthermore, ex vivo inhibition of Tbx4 resulted in insufficiency of lung morphogenesis along with specific downregulation of Tie2 and Kruppel-like factor 4 expression. CONCLUSION: Our results implicate variants in TBX4 as a genetic cause of PAH in a subset of the Japanese population. Variants in TBX4 may lead to PAH through insufficient lung morphogenesis by disrupting the TBX4-mediated direct regulation of FGF10 signalling and pulmonary vascular endothelial dysfunction involving PAH-related molecules.

Prospective observational study of the efficacy of oral uracil and tegafur plus leucovorin for stage II colon cancer with risk factors for recurrence using propensity score matching (JFMC46-1201).

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk stage II colon cancer (CC) has not been well established. We compared the effects of surgery with and without oral uracil and tegafur plus leucovorin (UFT/LV) in patients with high-risk stage II CC, adjusting for potential risk factors. METHODS: We enrolled patients with histologically confirmed stage II colon adenocarcinoma with at least one of the following conditions: T4 disease, perforation/penetration, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma/mucinous carcinoma, or < 12 dissected lymph nodes. Patients chose to be non-randomized or randomized to undergo surgery alone (NR-Group S or R-Group S) or surgery followed by 6 months of UFT/LV (NR-Group U or R-Group U). The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) after adjusting for previously reported risk factors using propensity score matching (1:2) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) in the non-randomized arm. RESULTS: Overall, 1,902 (98%) and 36 (2%) patients were enrolled in the non-randomized and randomized arms, respectively. There were too few patients in the randomized arm and these were therefore excluded from the analysis. Of the 1,902 patients, 402 in NR-Group S and 804 in NR-Group U were propensity score-matched. The 3-year DFS rate (95% confidence interval) was significantly higher in NR-Group U (80.9% [77.9%-83.4%]) than in NR-Group S (74.0% [69.3%-78.0%]) (hazard ratio, 0.64 [0.50-0.83]; P = 0.0006). The 3-year overall survival rate was not significantly different between NR-Group S and NR-Group U. Significantly higher 3-year DFS (P = 0.0013) and overall survival (P = 0.0315) rates were observed in NR-Group U compared with NR-Group S using IPTW. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT/LV showed a significant survival benefit over surgery alone in patients with high-risk stage II CC characterized by at least one of the following conditions: T4 disease, perforation/penetration, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma/mucinous carcinoma, or < 12 dissected lymph nodes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs031180155 (date of registration: 25/02/2019) (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000007783 , date of registration: 18/04/2012).

Differential age-dependent development of inter-area brain connectivity in term and preterm neonates.

BACKGROUND: Among preterm infants, higher morbidities of neurological disturbances and developmental delays are critical issues. Resting-state networks (RSNs) in the brain are suitable measures for assessing higher-level neurocognition. Since investigating task-related brain activity is difficult in neonates, assessment of RSNs provides invaluable insight into their neurocognitive development. METHODS: The participants, 32 term and 71 preterm neonates, were divided into three groups based on gestational age (GA) at birth. Cerebral hemodynamic activity of RSNs was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy in the temporal, frontal, and parietal regions. RESULTS: High-GA preterm infants (GA ≥ 30 weeks) had a significantly stronger RSN than low-GA preterm infants and term infants. Regression analyses of RSNs as a function of postnatal age (PNA) revealed a steeper regression line in the high-GA preterm and term infants than in the low-GA infants, particularly for inter-area brain connectivity between the frontal and left temporal areas. CONCLUSIONS: Slower PNA-dependent development of the frontal-temporal network found only in the low-GA group suggests that significant brain growth optimal in the intrauterine environment takes place before 30 weeks of gestation. The present study suggests a likely reason for the high incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment in early preterm infants. IMPACT: Resting-state fNIRS measurements in three neonate groups differing in gestational age (GA) showed stronger networks in the high-GA preterm infants than in the term and low-GA infants, which was partly explained by postnatal age (PNA). Regression analyses revealed a similar PNA-dependence in the development of the inter-area networks in the frontal and temporal lobes in the high-GA and term infants, and significantly slower development in the low-GA infants. These results suggest that optimal intrauterine brain growth takes place before 30 weeks of gestation. This explains one of the reasons for the high incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment in early preterm infants.

Gastric carcinosarcoma with FGFR2 amplification under long-term control with pazopanib: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Gastric carcinosarcoma is most frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage when the tumor is generally large with invasion into other organs, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. Standard chemotherapy has not been established, and surgery is the only curative treatment. Here, we present a case of postoperative recurrence of gastric carcinosarcoma under long-term tumor control with pazopanib. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of nausea and vomiting. Computed tomography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a type 1 tumor arising from the gastric antrum and extending into the duodenal bulb. He underwent distal gastrectomy (D2) with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Histopathologically, the tumor had mixed adenocarcinoma and sarcoma components. According to the tumor-node-metastasis classification, the diagnosis was primary gastric carcinosarcoma pT1bN1M0 stage IB. Liver metastasis was detected 2 months after surgery; multiple lung metastases were detected 17 month after surgery. A genomic profiling test was performed using liver specimens as the patient became refractory to chemotherapy commonly used for gastric cancer, and the test revealed FGFR2 amplification along with TP53 R209*, AKT3 N127D, NOTCH1 A2036T, and POLD1 M161I. The patient was treated with pazopanib (800 mg/daily), and the tumor growth was controlled for 11 months. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of postoperative recurrence of gastric carcinosarcoma under long-term tumor control with pazopanib. This case suggested that pazopanib may be effective in treating gastric carcinosarcoma.

Serum diamine oxidase activity derived from response to chemotherapy affects adverse events and serum amino acid levels.

PURPOSE: The relationship between activity of the small intestinal villi and the effectiveness of chemotherapy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate how serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity affects antitumor effects, adverse events, and amino acid absorption. METHODS: We performed a single-center prospective cohort study that enrolled 50 patients with esophageal cancer (EC) receiving docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil therapy. We determined the cut-off value of serum DAO activity contributing to a response to chemotherapy using a generalized additive model. Additionally, we compared adverse events, inflammatory markers, blood amino acid levels, and quality of life between the high and low DAO activity groups during chemotherapy. RESULTS: The cut-off value of serum DAO activity at the first visit that contributed to a chemotherapy response was 6.5 units/L. Leukopenia and neutropenia of grade ≥ 3 were significantly higher in the DAO low (< 6.5 units/L) group (p = 0.044, 0.017, respectively). Interleukin-6 was significantly lower in the DAO high (≥ 6.5 units/L) group at the first visit and at 4 weeks after the end of chemotherapy (p = 0.039, 0.011, respectively). Glutamine was higher in the DAO high group at all measurement points during chemotherapy. Fatigue was significantly lower in the DAO high group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum DAO activity may be a predictor of the response to chemotherapy in patients with EC. The absorption capacity of amino acids was maintained in the group with high DAO activity, which may have contributed to the anti-inflammatory effect and provided a background for reducing adverse events.

The first case report of pediatric acute appendicitis caused by "Candidatus Actinobaculum timonae".

A 14-year-old boy presented to the hospital with pain in the right lower abdomen. His condition was diagnosed as acute appendicitis. An emergency operation was performed, and histopathological examination revealed an actinomycete-related organism in the excised appendicitis specimen. On 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, "Candidatus Actinobaculum timonae" was identified, which is the first known case in a pediatric patient.

Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of malignant ascites: section summary in Clinical Practice Guideline for peritoneal dissemination (2021).

Patients with peritoneal dissemination (PD) caused by abdominal malignancies are often associated with massive ascites, which shows extremely dismal prognosis because of the discontinuation of systemic chemotherapy mostly due to poor performance status. Many treatment methods, such as simple drainage, peritoneovenous shunting (PVS) and cell-free and concentrated reinfusion therapy (CART), have been used for symptom relief. However, the clinical efficacies of these methods have not been fully investigated yet. Recently, we developed the Clinical Practice Guideline for PD caused by various malignancies according to "Minds Clinical Practice Guideline Development Guide 2017". In this guideline, we systematically reviewed information on clinical diagnosis and treatments for PD using PubMed databases (2000 - 2020), and clarified the degree of recommendation for clinical questions (CQ). The evidence level was divided into groups by study design and quality. The literature level and a body of evidence were evaluated in reference to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Based on the results of systematic review, the strength of the recommendations was evaluated at a consensus meeting of the Guideline Committee. This is the English synopsis of the part of treatment of malignant ascites in Clinical Practice Guideline for PD, 2021 in Japanese. The guidelines summarize the general aspect of the treatment of malignant ascites and statements with recommendation strengths, evidence levels, agreement rates and future perspective for four raised clinical questions.

Right top pulmonary vein is a venous anomaly of which surgeons should be aware in subcarinal dissection for thoracoscopic esophagectomy: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: A right top pulmonary vein (RTPV) that crosses behind the right main or intermediate bronchus is a variation of the superior posterior pulmonary vein in the right upper lobe. Damage or ligation of this abnormal vessel can lead to massive intraoperative bleeding and serious complications, such as congestion of the posterior segment of the right upper lobe and cardiac tamponade. Subcarinal lymph node dissection is mandatory in radical thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, and the RTPV is an anomalous vessel of which thoracic surgeons should be aware. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old man underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (T3N1M0). An anomaly of the superior posterior pulmonary vein in the right lobe was recognized on preoperative computed tomography imaging. With simulation and intraoperative navigation using three-dimensional imaging of the same view as that observed during the operation, radical subcarinal dissection could be performed with preservation of the RTPV. CONCLUSION: In our review of the relevant literature, the incidence of RTPV ranged from 0.28 to 9.3%, and its mean vascular diameter was 7.0 mm at the maximum and 2.2 ± 0.72 mm at the minimum, with the right superior pulmonary vein being a relatively common inflow site. Our case in which the RTPV ran dorsal to the right main bronchus is very rare. In radical subcarinal dissection of thoracoscopic esophagectomy, it is important to recognize the posterior pericardial plane and release the ventral fixation of these lymph nodes to free space for the back side. This is also true in the case of RTPV, which should be noted to avoid injury. In cases involving an RTPV larger than 4.5 mm, ligation should be avoided, and preoperative recognition of the exact run of this abnormal vessel using three-dimensional imaging can be very useful.