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Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential of LINE, a major messaging app and social media platform in Japan, as an effective tool to enhance the health and dietary behaviors of young Japanese women who face health and dietary challenges. Methods A 6-week randomized controlled trial employing an intention-to-treat analysis was conducted on first-year female students (age range, 18–23 years) from one university and two junior colleges in Mie Prefecture. The participants were allocated to either an intervention group (n = 54) or a control (n = 55) group. The intervention group received health information focusing on proper intake and intake methods to maintain an appropriate weight and dietary balance via LINE 18 times over 6 weeks (3 times per week), whereas the control group continued their usual lifestyle without any additional intervention. Results The results revealed a significant increase in the percentage of participants in the intervention group who rated their health as “unhealthy” (from 25.9% to 40.3%). This may be attributed to increased health awareness among the participants, which led to more critical self-assessments—a phenomenon often referred to as the “health awareness paradox.” Despite this increase in perceived unhealthiness, the intervention group showed a significant increase in the intakes of iron, vitamin C, dietary fiber, and potassium, indicating improved nutritional behavior. Conclusion The provision of health information through LINE over a 6-week period demonstrated potential as a tool for health education among young Japanese women. However, the observed increase in “unhealthy” self-rated health underscores the complexity of such interventions, suggesting that while nutritional behavior may improve, increased health awareness can paradoxically lead to more negative self-assessments. Further research is needed to explore the optimal duration and content of health information delivered via social media apps to maximize their effectiveness for health interventions.

Abstract Aim To clarify the details of mothers' employment status after the completion of their child's cancer treatment. Design A cross‐sectional exploratory study. Methods Data are collected from 62 mothers of childhood cancer survivors using self‐report questionnaires. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the statistical significance of factors between the mothers who worked and those who did not work after their child's cancer treatment had been completed. Results Thirty‐two mothers worked after the completion of their child's cancer treatment. There were significant differences in age, education level, employment status at the diagnosis and time elapsed since the diagnosis between the working mothers and non‐working mothers. Twenty‐two non‐working mothers reported that they had some motivation to work, but the most common reason for not working was “To nurse or care for the child with cancer”. Some mothers also stated that they did not work due to anxiety about cancer recurrence.

Key Clinical Message Trichuris trichiura parasitizes only humans through fecal‐oral transmission. In non‐endemic areas, the frequency of endoscopic identification has been increasing due to the increasing number of immigrants from endemic countries. To prevent infection, it is important to pay attention to sanitary conditions such as soil and water sources.

Introduction Thyroid storm is a rare life‐threating condition. We report a case of thyroid storm after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Case presentation A 76‐year‐old man with a left renal tumor and tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava underwent left radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. After the surgery, his postoperative course rapidly deteriorated, including central nervous system disturbance, fever, tachycardia, congestive heart failure, and hepatic manifestation. Thyroid function test revealed perioperative hyperthyroidism. Corticosteroids and inorganic iodide improved his condition, suggesting that he developed thyroid storm after surgery. He was discharged 5 months after surgery and has been free from disease recurrence for more than 2 years. Conclusion Thyroid storm after surgery is rare. However, this postoperative complication is important because it is fatal if not diagnosed and treated properly.

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) with cancer are at risk for developing sexual and reproductive problems; therefore, they have special needs. AYA with cancer treated in both pediatric and adult wards are a minority in Japan; thus, accumulating experience for supporting this unique patient population is difficult for nurses. Hence, this study aimed to clarify nurses’ perceptions on support for sexual and reproductive issues among AYA with cancer. A questionnaire survey was administered to nurses at designated cancer hospitals across Japan who had been working for at least 1 year in a department involved in the treatment or follow-up of patients aged 15–39 years. Nurses were asked regarding their perceptions on support for sexual and reproductive issues faced by AYA with cancer. A total of 865 nurses responded to this survey; nurses affiliated with adult departments, those with more experience in cancer nursing, those affiliated with cancer-related academic and professional societies, and certified nurse specialists or certified nurses significantly recognized insufficient support for sexual and reproductive issues. However, nurses were hesitant and found it difficult to intervene in such issues. Nurses recognized the importance of providing support for sexual and reproductive issues but faced difficulties in addressing them. They need to discuss these issues and improve the care provided to AYA with cancer.

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) with cancer are at risk for developing sexual and reproductive problems; therefore, they have special needs. AYA with cancer treated in both pediatric and adult wards are a minority in Japan; thus, accumulating experience for supporting this unique patient population is difficult for nurses. Hence, this study aimed to clarify nurses' perceptions on support for sexual and reproductive issues among AYA with cancer. A questionnaire survey was administered to nurses at designated cancer hospitals across Japan who had been working for at least 1 year in a department involved in the treatment or follow-up of patients aged 15-39 years. Nurses were asked regarding their perceptions on support for sexual and reproductive issues faced by AYA with cancer. A total of 865 nurses responded to this survey; nurses affiliated with adult departments, those with more experience in cancer nursing, those affiliated with cancer-related academic and professional societies, and certified nurse specialists or certified nurses significantly recognized insufficient support for sexual and reproductive issues. However, nurses were hesitant and found it difficult to intervene in such issues. Nurses recognized the importance of providing support for sexual and reproductive issues but faced difficulties in addressing them. They need to discuss these issues and improve the care provided to AYA with cancer.

Although the routine use of immunohistochemistry has improved the accuracy of histopathologic diagnosis in clinical practice, new methods for discovering novel diagnostic markers are still needed. We sought new diagnostic markers for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) using a reverse translational approach with limited archival tissues from a very rare case. Total RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of a synchronous collision tumor consisting of MPM and pulmonary adenocarcinoma (PAC) was employed for gene expression profiling (GEP) analysis. Among the 54 genes selected by GEP analysis, we finally identified the following two candidate MPM marker genes: PHGDH and TRIM29. Immunohistochemical analysis of 48 MM and 20 PAC cases showed that both PHGDH and TRIM29 had sensitivity and specificity almost equivalent to those of calretinin (sensitivity 50% and 46% vs. 63%, and specificity 95% and 100% vs. 100%, respectively). Importantly, of the 23 epithelioid MMs, all 3 calretinin-negative cases were positive for TRIM29. These two markers may be diagnostically useful for immunohistochemical distinction between MPMs and PACs. This successful reverse translational approach based on FFPE samples from one very rare case encourages the further use of such samples for the development of novel diagnostic markers.

Abstract Background Muir–Torre syndrome (MTS) is a rare autosomal dominant genodermatosis caused by mutations in mismatch repair genes. It is characterized by the presence of at least one sebaceous skin tumor associated with internal malignancies. Whether positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is useful for the detection of malignancies in patients with MTS has not been determined. We herein report two cases in which PET/CT was useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of internal malignancies in patients with MTS. Case presentation In case 1, a 57-year-old woman underwent excision of a sebaceous carcinoma on the left upper eyelid. She underwent follow-up PET/CT once yearly thereafter. Forty-two months after the eyelid surgery, PET/CT showed intense tracer uptake in the right lower abdomen. An ascending colon tumor was identified, and examination of a biopsy specimen showed adenocarcinoma. In case 2, a 77-year-old man presented for evaluation of three continuous papules with telangiectasia on his right cheek. Examination of a skin biopsy specimen of the cheek papule revealed a sebaceous carcinoma. He underwent PET/CT to detect other malignancies. PET/CT showed intense tracer uptake in the sigmoid colon. A sigmoid colon tumor was identified, and examination of a biopsy specimen showed adenocarcinoma. Both patients underwent resection of their tumors, and both were still free of recurrence of the sebaceous and colon carcinomas at the time of this writing. Conclusion PET/CT is a reliable imaging modality for the detection of internal malignancies and is useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of MTS.

Current tumor therapies, including immunotherapies, focus on passive eradication or at least reduction of the tumor mass. However, cancer patients quite often suffer from tumor relapse or metastasis after such treatments. To overcome these problems, we have developed a natural killer T (NKT) cell-targeted immunotherapy focusing on active engagement of the patient’s immune system, but not directly targeting the tumor cells themselves. NKT cells express an invariant antigen receptor α chain encoded by Trav11 (Vα14)-Traj18 (Jα18) gene segments in mice and TRAV10 (Vα24)-TRAJ18 (Jα18) in humans and recognize glycolipid ligand in conjunction with a monomorphic CD1d molecule. The NKT cells play a pivotal role in the orchestration of antitumor immune responses by mediating adjuvant effects that activate various antitumor effector cells of both innate and adaptive immune systems and also aid in establishing a long-term memory response. Here, we established NKT cell-targeted therapy using a newly discovered NKT cell glycolipid ligand, RK, which has a stronger capacity to stimulate both human and mouse NKT cells compared to previous NKT cell ligand. Moreover, RK mediates strong adjuvant effects in activating various effector cell types and establishes long-term memory responses, resulting in the continuous attack on the tumor that confers long-lasting and potent antitumor effects. Since the NKT cell ligand presented by the monomorphic CD1d can be used for all humans irrespective of HLA types, and also because NKT cell-targeted therapy does not directly target tumor cells, this therapy can potentially be applied to all cancer patients and any tumor types.