Temperature dependence of the protective effect of pressurized dissolution of xenon gas during cold storage of cells.

BACKGROUND: The preservation period afforded by cold storage of cells is short. However, the use of rare gases for cold storage as a means of extending the period of preservation would be highly beneficial. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of temperature on the protective effect of cold storage of cells using pressurized dissolution of xenon gas, with particular focus on the inhibition of substance transport by viscosity. METHODS: Human dermal fibroblast monolayers incubated in a culture dish for 48 h were used as a test sample, with culture medium used as a preservation solution. Samples were placed into a pressure-resistant vessel, which was pressurized with xenon gas at 0 or 0.5 MPa, and cells were stored at 0 to 5 °C for 18 h. Cell activity was evaluated by tetrazolium salt assay. The viscosity of the medium under pressurization at each storage temperature was estimated. RESULTS: The maximum protective effect against cell damage of cold storage with pressurized dissolution of xenon gas was observed at 4 °C. An increase in estimated viscosity by pressurization was correlated with increased cell activity at 4 °C. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the temperature dependence of the protective effect against cell damage of cold storage with pressurized dissolution of xenon gas revealed that the most effective temperature is 4 °C. The data also suggest that increased viscosity due to pressurization plays a role in the protective effect.

Outcomes of patients with initially unresectable pancreatic cancer who underwent conversion surgery after FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy: A multicenter retrospective cohort study (PC-CURE-1).

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of conversion surgery (CS) after FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) chemotherapy in patients with initially unresectable pancreatic cancer (PC) remains unclear. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled patients, between 2014 and 2018, with initially locally advanced or metastatic PC who were considered candidates for CS following FOLFIRINOX or GnP chemotherapy. They were classified into surgery (207 patients [194 resection and 13 exploratory laparotomy only]) and continued chemotherapy (10 patients, control) groups. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) from the day of diagnosis of potentially curative resection on imaging studies, with an expected hazard ratio (HR) of 0.7. RESULTS: OS in the surgery group was longer than that in the control group (HR, 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24-0.93). The median OS was 34.4 (95% CI: 27.9-43.4) and 19.8 (95% CI: 14.9-31.1) months in the surgery and control groups, respectively. The Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ IIIa postoperative complication and in-hospital mortality rates were 19.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative chemotherapy duration was not associated with OS. CONCLUSIONS: CS, following a favorable response to FOLFIRINOX or GnP chemotherapy, improved initially unresectable PC prognosis (specifically, OS), regardless of the chemotherapy duration.

Synthesis and Application of Planar Chiral NHC/Rh Complexes Bearing CoC4Ph4 Group.

Sandwich compound-based planar chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands having a bulky η5-cyclopentadienyl-cobalt-η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene core were developed, and their donor strengths were evaluated by determining the Tolman electronic parameter (TEP) of the Rh dicarbonyl complex. The TEP was high at 2048 cm-1, as expected for an NHC ligand. The utility of the carbenes as chiral ligands was examined in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening reaction of oxabenzonorbornadienes with benzylamine, and the corresponding products were obtained with moderate enantioselectivities (up to 66% ee).

Ramucirumab in second­line advanced colorectal cancer therapy: A study on therapeutic outcomes and hepatic sinusoidal platelet aggregation.

The present study investigated the role of ramucirumab (RAM) in treating liver metastases (LMs) as a second-line or salvage treatment in patients with advanced CRC. Of the 36 patients, 21 (58%) received RAM plus folinic acid, fluorouracil and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) as second-line treatment, whereas 15 (42%) received it in a salvage setting. The median overall survival time was 23 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 12-34 months] for those in the second-line treatment group and 8 months (95% CI, 5-19 months) for those in the salvage treatment group. Of the 36 patients, 14 (39%) underwent surgical resection of LMs during chemotherapy. A total of 6 patients underwent surgical resection for LMs for the first time during second-line RAM plus FOLFIRI (RAM-LM); of the remaining 8 patients, 6 underwent resection of LMs during first-line bevacizumab (BEV)-based chemotherapy (BEV-LM). Immunohistochemical analysis of CD42b showed that the platelet aggregation score (CD42b score), which ranges from 0 (absence of deposition) to 3 (presence of linear deposition), tended to decrease with the increasing duration of treatment with both RAM and BEV. Although there was no significant difference in the mean duration of anti-VEGF antibody treatment between the BEV-LM and RAM-LM groups, the median CD42b score was higher in the RAM-LM group (median CD42b score, 3; range, 0-3) compared with that in the BEV-LM group (median CD42b score, 1; range, 0-3; P=0.01), suggesting that RAM induces a different degree of platelet aggregation in liver sinusoids compared to BEV.

Assessment of Arterial Involvement in Pancreatic Cancer: Utility of Reconstructed CT Images Perpendicular to Artery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of reconstructed CT images perpendicular to the artery for assessing arterial involvement from pancreatic cancer and compare the interobserver variability between it and the current diagnostic imaging method. This retrospective study included patients with pancreatic cancer in the pancreatic body or tail who underwent preoperative pancreatic protocol CT and distal pancreatectomy. Five radiologists used axial and coronal CT images (current method) and perpendicular reconstructed CT images (proposed method) to determine if the degree of solid soft-tissue contact with the splenic artery was ≤180° or >180°. The generalized estimating equations were used to compare the diagnostic performance of solid soft-tissue contact >180° between the current and proposed methods. Fleiss' ĸ statistics were used to assess interobserver variability. The sensitivity and negative predictive value for diagnosing solid soft-tissue contact >180° were higher (p < 0.001 for each) and the specificity (p = 0.003) and positive predictive value (p = 0.003) were lower in the proposed method than the current method. Interobserver variability was improved in the proposed method compared with the current method (ĸ = 0.87 vs. 0.67). Reconstructed CT images perpendicular to the artery showed higher sensitivity and negative predictive value for diagnosing solid soft-tissue contact >180° than the current method and demonstrated improved interobserver variability.

Semiconducting Carbon Nanotube Extraction Enabled by Alkylated Cellulose Wrapping.

With the growing demand for postsilicon electronics, the purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in terms of their chirality, which defines their atomic and electronic structure, is becoming increasingly important. Herein, we demonstrate the selective extraction of high-quality semiconducting SWCNTs using alkyl cellulose as a dispersant in organic solvents. We investigated the separation factors of dispersant structures, such as the degree of substitution (DS) and molecular weight, and clarified the appropriate dispersant structures, such as moderately substituted hexyl cellulose, for selective semiconducting SWCNT extraction. Due to the improved purity and quality of the semiconducting SWCNTs obtained by this method, their films exhibit excellent thermoelectric power factors, outperforming not only unsorted SWCNTs but also conducting polymer-sorted SWCNTs. This sorting technology paves the way for supplying high-quality semiconducting SWCNTs in a viable manner.

Characterization of the Ultraviolet-B Absorption Band of Carotenoids Using Solvent-dependent Shifts in Steady-State and Transient Absorption Spectra.

The versatile functions of carotenoids in biological systems are associated with the extended π-electron conjugation system. Strong visible absorption resulting from the optically allowed S2 (1Bu+) state and the low-lying optically forbidden S1 (2Ag-) state examined. Carotenoids also exhibit an absorption band in the ultraviolet-B region; however, the origin of this band (hereafter referred to as Suv state) is not well characterized. The Suv state is a candidate for the destination level of the well-known S1 → Sn transient absorption; however, an obvious energy mismatch has been observed. In this study, we examined the steady-state and picosecond transient absorption spectra of lycopene in various solvents. The Suv absorption of carotenoids with diverse conjugation lengths was also examined. The dependence of the energies on solvent polarizability and conjugation length revealed that both Suv and Sn are the "second" Bu+ state. The absorption spectrum for lycopene at 200 K revealed an additional vibrational band, which may be the vibrational origin of the S0 → Suv band. Considering the slow vibrational relaxation of the 2Ag- state, the S1 → Sn transition may represent the 2Ag- (v = 1) → 2Bu+ (v = 0) transition, and the energetic contradiction can be resolved.

In vitro comparison of the leakage of carbon dioxide and iodine contrast media in a bleeding model.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the hydrodynamic values of carbon dioxide (CO2) and iodine contrast media for bleeding detection using an in vitro model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We created a bleeding model with large and small wounds in simulated blood vessels. We connected a syringe to the bleeding model and the blood pressure transducer, filling the circuit with CO2 and iodine contrast media. The syringe's piston was pressed, and the flow rate and intravascular pressure of the CO2 and iodine contrast media leaking from the bleeding model were measured. We compared each leaked contrast medium's volume, sphere-equivalent diameter, and sphere-equivalent area. These values were analyzed to compare the visibility of the leakage objectively. RESULTS: At a constant flow rate, the intravascular pressure required for the model to leak was lower for the CO2 than that for the iodine contrast medium. The CO2 contrast medium leakage volume, equivalent circle diameter, and equivalent circle area were greater than those of the iodine one. These values indicate higher CO2 visibility during fluoroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: In the bleeding model, a CO2 contrast medium may be more prone to leakage than the iodine one in large and small wounds. Regarding visibility, a CO2 contrast medium may be more likely to detect leakage than an iodine one.

Erdheim-Chester Disease with Pancreatic Enlargement Observed Using Contrast-enhanced Endoscopic Ultrasonography.

We herein report an unusual case of Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD), a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and emphasize its unique presentation and diagnostic challenges. Our patient exhibited uncommon symptoms and significant organ involvement, particularly pancreatic enlargement that is not typically associated with ECD. Contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CEH-EUS) and EUS-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) play crucial roles in the comprehensive assessment of the disease, demonstrating their superiority in identifying and characterizing elusive ECD lesions. This is the first report to document pancreatic lesions in patients with ECD evaluated using CEH-EUS. EUS-FNA is valuable for diagnosing rare diseases, including ECD, with diffuse pancreatic enlargement.

A novel primary stability test method for artificial acetabular shells considering vertical load during level walking and shell position.

Uncemented acetabular shell primary stability is essential for optimal clinical outcomes. Push-out testing, rotation testing, and lever-out testing are major evaluation methods of primary stability between the shell and bone. However, these test methods do not consider shell loads during daily activity and shell installation angle. This study proposes a novel evaluation method of acetabular shell primary stability considering load during level walking and acetabular installation angles such as inclination and anteversion. To achieve this, a novel primary stability test apparatus was designed with a shell position of 40° acetabular inclination and 20° anteversion. The vertical load, corresponding to walking load, was set to 3 kN according to ISO 14242-1, which is the wear test standard for artificial hip joints. The vertical load was applied by an air cylinder controlled by a pressure-type electro-pneumatic proportional valve, with the vertical load value monitored by a load cell. Torque was measured when angular displacement was applied in the direction of extension during the application of vertical load. For comparison, we also measured torque using the traditional lever-out test. The novel primary stability test yielded significantly higher primary stabilities; 5.4 times greater than the lever-out test results. The novel primary stability test failure mode was more similar to the clinical failure than the traditional lever-out test. It is suggested that this novel primary stability test method, applying physiological walking loads and extension motions to the acetabular shell, better reflects in vivo primary stability than the traditional lever-out test.

Effect of soft denture liners on complete denture treatments: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review examined the effectiveness of soft denture relining (SDR) materials. STUDY SELECTION: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and ICHUSHI was conducted up to July 26, 2020. Target outcomes were patient satisfaction, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL), masticatory ability (MA), denture functional duration, residual ridge resorption (RRR), and microbial contamination. An organization specializing in literature searches performed the reference searches, and two reviewers independently selected the literature sources, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias. The reviewers resolved any disagreements concerning the assortment of literature sources through discussion. SDR included acrylic- and silicone-based materials, which were evaluated separately. RESULTS: Reviewers selected 7, 5, 11, 1, 4, and 6 studies to assess patient satisfaction, OHRQOL, MA, functional duration, RRR, and microbial contamination, respectively. The results confirmed that SDR improved patient satisfaction, OHRQOL, MA, and RRR. However, the functional duration of SDR material is shorter than that of hard denture relining (HDR) or acrylic resin material. Furthermore, SDR material is more susceptible to microbial contamination in the long term. The risk of bias for the included studies tended to be high because of specific issues (difficulty in blinding SDR versus HDR). CONCLUSIONS: For patients who wear complete dentures, SDR often provides beneficial outcomes such as pain reduction and recovery from MA. However, caution should be exercised regarding their use owing to insufficient functional duration and the possibility of microbial contamination during long-term use.

Synthesis of [1]Benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophenes through Iodine-Mediated Sulfur Insertion Reaction.

[1]Benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophenes (BTBTs) are important molecules that have been extensively studied as high-performance organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Therefore, it is important to develop a simple synthetic method for these molecules. In this paper, a synthetic method to obtain the BTBTs from 2-arylbenzo[b]thiophenes and elemental sulfur, in which two C-S bonds are formed at once, is described. In this method, molecular iodine plays a very important role as an additive. The role of iodine is discussed in the presumed reaction pathways.

Comparison of masticatory muscle activity between young adults and elderly participants using a novel standardized bite device.

OBJECTIVES: Standardized bite training is required to prevent oral hypofunction in elderly individuals. We aimed to compare masticatory muscle activity between 24 young adults and 16 pre-elderly individuals during a biting task using a novel standardized bite device (BD). METHODS: The BD was made of silicone rubber and included a high-force or low-force plate spring or no plate spring (dummy). The compressive stiffness of the material in each BD was measured using a texture analyzer. All participants performed a biting task 50-times at a rate of 1/s each using the three types of BDs on the right first molar. Electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded bilaterally from the masseter and temporalis muscles. The variability of each biting training session was calculated as the coefficient of variance (CV) from the EMG activity during each biting task for each muscle. Masticatory muscle fatigue was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS). RESULTS: Compressive stiffness was significantly different between each BD (P < 0.001). The CV and NRS scores were not significantly different between the groups. The EMG activities during each bite task in all muscles were not significantly different for any measurement item between the age groups. The EMG activities of high- and low-force BDs in the right temporalis (ipsilateral) muscle were significantly higher than those of the dummy BD (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compressive stiffness of the BD affected EMG activity only in the ipsilateral temporalis muscle, but not in the masseter or contralateral temporalis muscles, without any age effect.

Analysis of definite awake bruxism using a portable electromyography device.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare awake bruxism events between subjective and objective evaluations using a questionnaire survey and a modified portable electromyography (EMG) device, and to examine correlations between sleep quality and awake bruxism. METHODS: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and awareness of awake bruxism as clarified via interviews were conducted on 34 participants as subjective evaluations. The EMG device was used to record left temporal muscle activity for 6.5 h (from 09:00 to 15:30) and the number of awake bruxism episodes per hour. The participants were then classified into "bruxer" and "non-bruxer" groups based on the number of awake bruxism episodes. RESULTS: The mean number of awake bruxism episodes per hour was 33.6 ± 21.4, and 23% of the participants who reported having no awareness of awake bruxism in the interviews were defined as "bruxers" in the objective evaluations. In the bruxer group, positive correlations were found between the number of awake bruxism episodes and both ESS and PSQI scores. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that objective measurements using a portable EMG device can increase the diagnostic accuracy for awake bruxism, and that sleep quality is a major risk factor for awake bruxism.

Days of the week and 90-day mortality after esophagectomy: analysis of 33,980 patients from the National Clinical Database.

PURPOSE: The effect of the days of the week on the short-term outcomes after elective surgeries has been suggested; however, such data on esophagectomies remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between the day of the week and mortality rates after elective esophagectomy using a large-scale clinical database in Japan. METHODS: The data of elective esophagectomies, registered in the National Clinical Database in Japan, for esophageal cancer treatment between 2012 and 2017 were analyzed. We hypothesized that the later days of the week could have higher odds ratios of death after elective esophagectomy. With 22 relevant clinical variables and days of surgery, 90-day mortality was evaluated using hierarchical logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Ninety-day mortality rates among 33,980 patients undergoing elective esophagectomy were 1.8% (range, 1.5-2.1%). Surgeries were largely concentrated on earlier days of the week, whereas esophagectomies performed on Fridays accounted for only 11.1% of all cases. Before risk adjustment, lower odds ratios of 90-day mortality were found on Tuesday and a tendency towards lower odds ratios on Thursday. In the hierarchical logistic regression model, 21 independent factors of 90-day mortality were identified. However, the adjusted odds ratios of 90-day mortality for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were 0.87, 1.09, 0.85, and 0.88, respectively, revealing no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The results imply that the variation in 90-day mortality rates after esophagectomy on different days of the week may be attributed to differing preoperative risk factors of the patient group rather than the disparity in medical care provided.

Production of infectious reporter murine norovirus by VP2 trans-complementation.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) causes gastroenteritis, a disease with no effective therapy or vaccine, and does not grow well in culture. Murine norovirus (MNV) easily replicates in cell cultures and small animals and has often been used as a model to elucidate the structural and functional characteristics of HuNoV. An MNV plasmid-based reverse genetics system was developed to produce the modified recombinant virus. In this study, we attempted to construct the recombinant virus by integrating a foreign gene into MNV ORF3, which encodes the minor structural protein VP2. Deletion of VP2 expression abolished infectious particles from MNV cDNA clones, and supplying exogenous VP2 to the cells rescued the infectivity of cDNA clones without VP2 expression. In addition, the coding sequence of C-terminal ORF3 was essential for cDNA clones compensated with VP2 to produce infectious particles. Furthermore, the recombinant virus with exogenous reporter genes in place of the dispensable region of ORF3 was propagated when VP2 was constitutively supplied. Our findings indicate that foreign genes can be transduced into the norovirus ORF3 region when VP2 is supplied and that successive propagation of modified recombinant norovirus could lead to the development of norovirus-based vaccines or therapeutics.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we revealed that some of the coding regions of ORF3 could be replaced by a foreign gene and infectious virus could be produced when VP2 was supplied. Propagation of this virus depended on VP2 being supplied in trans, indicating that this virus could infect only once. Our findings help to elucidate the functions of VP2 in the virus lifecycle and to develop other caliciviral vectors for recombinant attenuated live enteric virus vaccines or therapeutics tools.

Effect of clinical experience and training with visual feedback on standardized palpation outcomes-Potential implications for assessment of jaw muscle sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of muscle pain and sensitivity by manual palpation is an important part of the clinical examination in patients with myalgia. However, the effects of clinical experience and visual feedback on palpation of the masticatory muscles with or without a palpometer are not known. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effects of clinical experience and visual feedback on the accuracy of palpation in standardized settings. METHODS: Thirty-two dentists (age 35 ± 11 years) classified as either specialists (n = 16) or generalists (n = 16) participated in this experiment. All dentists were instructed to target force levels of 500- or 1000-gf, as determined on an electronic scale using either standardized palpometers or manual palpation (MP). All dentists participated in four different tests: MP, MP with visual feedback (MPVF), palpometer (PAL) and PAL with visual feedback (PALVF). Actual force values for each type of palpation from 0 to 2, 2 to 5 and 0 to 5 s were analysed by calculating target force level. RESULTS: The relative differences during 2-5 and 0-5 s with 1000 gf were significantly lower for generalists than for specialists (p < .05). In generalists and specialists, the coefficients of variation and the relative differences during 2-5 s were significantly lower for PAL and PALVF than for MP (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the use of a palpometer, but not clinical experience with palpation of masticatory muscles, increases the accuracy of palpation, and ≥2 s of palpation with a palpometer is optimal for masticatory muscles.

5-year follow-up results of a JCOG1104 (OPAS-1) phase III non-inferiority trial to compare 4 courses and 8 courses of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy for pathological stage II gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 for 1 year (corresponding to eight courses) is the standard treatment for pathological stage II gastric cancer. The phase III trial (JCOG1104) investigating the non-inferiority of four courses of S-1 to eight courses was terminated due to futility at the first interim analysis. To confirm the primary results, we reported the results after a 5-years follow-up in JCOG1104. METHODS: Patients histologically diagnosed with stage II gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy were randomly assigned to receive S-1 for eight or four courses. In detail, 80 mg/m2/day S-1 was administered for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest as a single course. RESULTS: Between February 16, 2012, and March 19, 2017, 590 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to 8-course (295 patients) and 4-course (295 patients) regimens. After a 5-years follow-up, the relapse-free survival at 3 years was 92.2% for the 8-course arm and 90.1% for the 4-course arm, and that at 5 years was 87.7% for the 8-course arm and 85.6% for the 4-course arm (hazard ratio 1.265, 95% CI 0.846-1.892). The overall survival at 3 years was 94.9% for the 8-course arm, 93.2% for the 4-course arm, and that at 5 years was 89.7% for the 8-course arm, and 88.6% for the 4-course arm (HR 1.121, 95% CI 0.719-1.749). CONCLUSIONS: The survival of the four-course arm was slightly but consistently inferior to that of the eight-course arm. Eight-course S-1 should thus remain the standard adjuvant chemotherapy for pathological stage II gastric cancer.

[Resection of Chest Wall Metastasis from Rectal Mucinous Carcinoma-A Case Report].

An 81-year-old woman with rectal mucinous carcinoma underwent a laparoscopic low anterior resection in February 2019, followed by chemotherapy using XELOX plus Bev. The adjuvant chemotherapy was discontinued due to interstitial pneumonia. During a follow-up consultation 2 years later, chest computed tomography(CT)imaging revealed a nodule in her right lung(S9). Based on a radiological diagnosis of metastasis and considering her history of rectal cancer, a partial resection of the right lung was executed. One year after the pulmonary resection, a growing nodule in her right lateral chest wall was detected. A metastatic chest wall tumor was suspected, and a right chest wall tumor resection at the 5th and 6th ribs was performed. A rectal mucinous carcinoma metastasis was diagnosed using histopathological examination. The postoperative course was good, and she was discharged from hospital on the 10th day. To conclude, there are few reported cases of rectal cancer chest wall metastasis, and a further accumulation of similar cases is necessary for the development of treatment options.