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This paper reports on four of the sources observed in the KAGONMA (KAgoshima Galactic Object survey with the Nobeyama 45-m telescope by Mapping in Ammonia lines) project for which mapping observations have been completed (KAG35, KAG45, KAG64, and KAG71). In this study, we compiled the analysis results of four sources for which mapping observations were completed in the KAGONMA project and statistically investigated the range to which star formation activity affects the molecular gas. In order to investigate the affected range, we analyzed the heating range by focusing on the temperature distribution of the molecular cloud and found that it is within about 3 pc. This suggests that direct star formation feedback in molecular clouds is very spatially limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: The dynamic interplay between cancer cells and the microenvironment involves a wide range of intricate relationships that evolve during different stages of tumor progression. Recent attention has focused on high endothelial venules (HEVs), specialized endothelial cells in tumors with a unique cuboidal shape similar to those in lymph nodes. Previous animal studies have shown that normalization of tumor angiogenesis through anti-VEGFR2 therapy promotes HEV formation. However, few reports exist regarding the relationship between HEVs and preexisting blood vessels or interstitial fibers. In this study, we histologically examined whether tumor vascular structure correlates with HEV neogenesis., Patients and Methods: A total of 109 patients with pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma who had undergone curative lung resection at our Institute between 2012 and 2016 were included. HEVs were identified by anti-peripheral node addressin (PNAd) staining. Immunostaining and Elastica-Masson-Goldner staining were performed on tumor sections and quantified., Results: PNAd-positive cells were identified in 102 (93.6%) patients. Nearly all PNAd-positive cells were located within or near immune cell clusters. We investigated the correlation between microvessel structures or interstitial fibers and the number/density of PNAd-positive vessels, but no significant correlation was found. Since PNAd-positive cells were concentrated in immune cell aggregates, we focused our analysis specifically on these regions. Immune cell aggregates with abundant PNAd-positive vessels had a greater microvessel density along with by rich collagen fiber production, and displayed a more mature morphological phenotype of HEVs., Conclusion: The generation of PNAd-positive cells in tumors is governed by an angiogenetic mechanism distinct from that of broader tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the accumulation of immune cells is associated with increased HEV maturation., (Copyright © 2024, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Cluster of differentiation 155 (CD155) is expressed in many tumor types. CD155 is involved in the immune avoidance of tumor cells and contributes to tumor development and progression. Therefore, CD155 is a novel target for cancer immunotherapy. The clinical significance of CD155 expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) has not been fully elucidated., Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 264 patients with surgically resected LUSC. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate CD155 expression. The association of CD155 expression with clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes was assessed. We also analyzed the relationship between CD155 expression and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes., Results: Among the 264 patients, 137 patients (51.9%) were classified in the high CD155 expression group. High CD155 expression was significantly associated with pleural invasion, vascular invasion, PD-L1 positivity, and high CD3, CD4, and CD8 expressions. In multivariate analysis, the presence of pleural invasion and PD-L1 positivity were independent predictors of high CD155 expression. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that high CD155 expression was significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival and overall survival. In multivariate analysis, high CD155 expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival, but not for disease-free survival. Subgroup analyses revealed that the prognostic effect of CD155 expression was observed in the PD-L1 positive group but not the PD-L1 negative group., Conclusion: Our analysis revealed that high CD155 expression significantly predicted poor prognosis in patients with surgically resected LUSC, especially in patients with PD-L1-positive tumors., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.)

Background: To address the need for short-term prognostic methods using objective measures, we developed a method to predict a 2- or 3-week prognosis using only six clinical tests (known as the WPCBAL score). However, the method has not yet been directly compared with globally accepted prognostic methods., Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of the WPCBAL score by comparing it with other prediction methods., Setting/subjects: A prospective observational study was conducted with patients admitted to the palliative care unit of a Municipal Hospital in Japan between November 2017 and May 2021., Measurements: The primary endpoint was each prediction method's accuracy-the WPCBAL score, Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI), Palliative Prognostic Score (PaP), Delirium-Palliative Prognostic Score (D-PaP), and Prognosis in Palliative Care Study predictor models (PiPS-A, PiPS-B)-in predicting a prognosis at 2 or 3 weeks. The secondary endpoints were sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and each prediction method's feasibility rate., Results: In total, 181 patients were included in this study. For the 3-week prognosis, the PaP had the highest accuracy (0.746), followed by the D-PaP (0.735), WPCBAL (0.696), PPI (0.652), and GPS (0.575). For the 2-week prognosis, the PiPS-B had the highest accuracy (0.702), followed by the WPCBAL (0.696) and PiPS-A (0.641)., Conclusions: The WPCBAL score's accuracy in predicting a 2- or 3-week prognosis was comparable to that of commonly used prognostic methods, thus suggesting its usefulness as a short-term prognostic method., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Background: Intramuscular hemangioma is an uncommon benign tumor found mainly in the limbs of adolescents and young adults. The local recurrence rate is high, ranging from 30 to 50%, necessitating wide local excision of intercostal intramuscular hemangiomas. However, preoperative diagnosis of intramuscular hemangiomas is challenging. Herein, we report a rare case of an intramuscular hemangioma arising from the chest wall., Case Presentation: A healthy 29-year-old asymptomatic man was referred to our hospital after an abnormal shadow was observed on his chest radiography. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 30-mm-sized mass in the right second intercostal space. Neoplastic lesions, such as schwannomas or solitary fibrous tumors, were included in the preoperative differential diagnosis. Tumor resection was performed using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The tumor, which had a smooth surface covered with parietal pleura, was dissected from the external intercostal muscle and costal bone. Postoperative histopathological examination revealed proliferation of spindle-shaped endothelial cells arranged in a capillary vascular structure accompanied by entrapped smooth muscle fibers, adipose tissue, and muscle vessels. The final diagnosis was an intramuscular hemangioma with negative surgical margins. There was no evidence of recurrence during the 1-year postoperative follow-up period., Conclusion: Intramuscular hemangiomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chest wall tumors, particularly in young people, owing to their potential for recurrence. Moreover, postoperative follow-up may be necessary for resected intramuscular intercostal hemangiomas., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This preclinical study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of interstitial PDT (i-PDT) for malignant gliomas arising deep within the brain, which are difficult to remove. C6 glioma cells were implanted into the basal ganglia of rats, and 3 weeks later, the second-generation photosensitizer talaporfin sodium (TPS) was administered intraperitoneally. Ninety minutes after administration, a prototype fine plastic optical fiber was punctured into the tumor tissue, and semiconductor laser light was irradiated into the tumor from a 2-mm cylindrical light-emitting source under various conditions. The brain was removed 24 h after the i-PDT and analyzed pathologically. The optical fiber was able to puncture the tumor center in all cases, enabling i-PDT to be performed. Histological analysis showed that tumor necrosis was induced in areas close to the light source, correlating with the irradiation energy dose, whereas apoptosis was induced at some distance from the light source. Irradiation using high energy levels resulted in tissue swelling from strong tumor necrosis, and irradiation at 75 J/cm 2 was most suitable for inducing apoptosis. An experimental system of i-PDT using TPS was established using malignant glioma cells transplanted into the rat brain. Tumor cell death, which correlated with the light propagation, was induced in tumor tissue.

Background: Signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) is an immune checkpoint molecule expressed on macrophages that functions to inhibit phagocytosis by binding to CD47 expressed on tumor cells. SIRPα has attracted increasing attention as a novel target for cancer immunotherapy; however, the expression and immune function of SIRPα in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the clinical importance of SIRPα expression in LUSC and to explore the factors that elevate SIRPα expression., Patients and Methods: Primary LUSC specimens surgically resected from 172 patients underwent immunohistochemical evaluation of the association of SIRPα expression on tumor-associated macrophages with clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we analyzed the association of SIRPα expression with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). In vitro, monocytes were treated with cytokines, and SIRPα protein expression was assessed by flow cytometry., Results: There were no differences in SIRPα expression and clinicopathological factors. High SIRPα expression was significantly associated with PD-L1-positive expression, and high CD8, PD-1, and CD163 expression. The high SIRPα expression group showed significantly shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). On multivariate analysis, high SIRPα expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for RFS and OS. The expression of SIRPα protein in monocytes was upregulated by treatment with IFNγ., Conclusion: Our analysis revealed that high SIRPα expression significantly predicts poor prognosis in patients with surgically resected LUSC., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Introduction: High recurrence rate following curative surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents a major clinical challenge. Understanding the site and timing of recurrence and their impact on post-recurrence survival (PRS) is important for optimal postoperative surveillance and therapeutic intervention. In this study, we investigated the influence of the time to recurrence (TTR) and initial recurrence site on PRS., Materials and Methods: This multicentre prospective cohort study included patients who experienced recurrence after NSCLC resection between 2010 and 2015. The relationship between TTR and initial recurrence site, and their impact on PRS, was further evaluated. The hazard ratio (HR) for PRS was analysed using the Cox proportional hazards model., Results: Among 495 patients, the median TTR was 14 (range, 1-158) months; the mode of recurrence was 11 months. Early recurrence within 6 months was observed in 17 % of patients, and 68 % of patients showed recurrence within 2 years post-surgery. The HR for PRS was the highest in patients with a TTR within 6 months, and a noticeable decline was observed after the first 6 months. The HRs of TTRs beyond 2 years were not significantly different. The liver was a significantly unfavourable prognostic site for metastases (HR 2.2; P = 0.01), and metastases frequently recurred within 6 months after surgery. The timing of brain metastasis did not significantly impact the PRS., Conclusion: Earlier recurrence after surgery was associated with shorter PRS. In contrast, recurrences occurring >2 years after surgery do not significantly affect PRS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two different intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulse doses in patients with severe microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA)., Methods: We emulated a target trial using observational data from the nationwide registry in Japan. Patients with severe glomerulonephritis or diffuse alveolar haemorrhage were selected and pseudo-randomized into three groups using propensity score-based overlap weighting as follows: non-IVMP, IVMP 0.5 g/day and IVMP 1.0 g/day. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcomes were composite all-cause mortality and kidney failure, severe relapse and serious infection from 2 to 48 weeks after treatment initiation. To estimate the treatment effects, the Cox proportional hazard model and Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model were used., Results: In this emulated target trial, of 201 eligible patients (MPA, 175; GPA, 26), 6 (3%) died, 4 (2.0%) had kidney failure, 11 (5.5%) had severe relapse, and 40 (19.9%) had severe infections. Hazard ratios (HR) for IVMP 0.5 g/day and IVMP 1.0 g/day pulse groups compared with non-IVMP pulse were as follows: all-cause mortality 0.46 (95% CI: 0.07, 2.81) and 0.07 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.41), respectively; all-cause mortality/kidney failure 1.18 (95% CI: 0.26, 5.31) and 0.59 (95% CI: 0.08, 4.52), respectively; subdistribution HRs for severe relapse were 1.26 (95% CI: 0.12, 13.70) and 3.36 (95% CI: 0.49, 23.29), respectively; and for serious infection 1.88 (95% CI: 0.76, 4.65) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.28, 3.13), respectively., Conclusion: IVMP 1.0 g/day pulse may improve 48-week mortality in patients with severe MPA/GPA., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: The preoperative serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration is a prognostic factor for malignant diseases. We investigated the significance of CK in surgically resected thymic epithelial tumors and the relationship between CK and clinicopathological factors., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between preoperative CK levels and prognosis in 120 patients with thymic epithelial tumors who underwent surgical resection at two centers. The cutoff for CK was determined by the standard value in our institution (<62 IU/L for men and <45 IU/L for women). The paravertebral muscle at the Th12 level was used to assess skeletal muscle area to investigate sarcopenia., Results: Eighteen patients (15.0%) were categorized into the low CK group. The CK level was not associated with age, sex, performance status, myasthenia gravis, and pathological findings. Preoperative serum albumin and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in the low CK group than in the normal CK group (both P<0.001). Moreover, the Th12 muscle index was lower in the low CK group (P=0.03), indicating that low CK was related to sarcopenia. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis illustrated that patients in the low CK group had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than those in the normal CK group (P=0.03 and P=0.002, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified low CK as an independent prognostic factor for DFS (P=0.03) and OS (P=0.005)., Conclusions: Preoperative serum CK might reflect the host nutritional status in patients with resected thymic epithelial tumors; therefore, CK could be a biomarker of postoperative prognosis., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-23-1797/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To identify the optimal dose of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) for induction therapy for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis., Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients with antibody-associated vasculitis who received IVCY every 2-3 weeks during the remission induction phase. The associations of the IVCY dose with infection-free survival and relapse-free survival were analysed using a Cox regression model. We compared patients in three categories: very low-dose (VLD), low-dose (LD), and conventional dose (CD) (<7.5 mg/kg, 7.5-12.5 mg/kg, and >12.5 mg/kg, respectively). The non-linear association between IVCY dose and the outcomes was also evaluated., Results: Of the 80 patients (median age 72 years), 12, 42, and 26 underwent the VLD, LD, and CD regimens, respectively, of whom 4, 3, and 7 developed infection or died. The adjusted hazard ratios for infection or death were 4.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-19.8) for VLD and 5.1 (95% CI 1.21-21.3) for CD, compared with LD. We found the hazard ratio for infection or death increased when the initial IVCY dose exceeded 9 mg/kg. Relapse-free survival did not differ clearly., Conclusion: Low-dose IVCY (7.5-12.5 mg/kg) may result in fewer infections and similar relapse rates compared with the conventional regimen (>12.5 mg/kg)., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: Glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) is an antioxidant enzyme with an important role in tumor progression in various cancers. However, the clinical significance of GPX2 in lung adenocarcinoma has not been clarified., Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze GPX2 mRNA expression. Then, we conducted immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess GPX2 expression in specimens acquired from 351 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery at Kyushu University from 2003 to 2012. We investigated the association between GPX2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics and further analyzed the prognostic relevance., Results: qRT-PCR revealed that GPX2 mRNA expression was notably higher in tumor cells than in normal tissues. IHC revealed that high GPX2 expression (n = 175, 49.9%) was significantly correlated with male sex, smoking, advanced pathological stage, and the presence of pleural, lymphatic, and vascular invasion. Patients with high GPX2 expression exhibited significantly shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival. Multivariate analysis identified high GPX2 expression as an independent prognostic factor of RFS., Conclusions: GPX2 expression was significantly associated with pathological malignancy. It is conceivable that high GPX2 expression reflects tumor malignancy. Therefore, high GPX2 expression is a significant prognostic factor of poor prognosis for completely resected lung adenocarcinoma., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: Cluster of differentiation (CD) 155 is a transmembrane protein that belongs to the nectin-like molecule family, which is widely overexpressed in several types of cancer. However, the clinical significance of CD155 in pathologic stage I lung adenocarcinoma remains poorly understood., Methods: We analyzed 320 patients diagnosed with pathologic stage I lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical treatment at Kyushu University Hospital between 2006 and 2015. The number of tumor cells expressing CD155 was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and patients were categorized into high and low CD155 expression groups. We compared the clinical and pathologic characteristics and clinical outcomes between these groups., Results: Mutation status of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) was determined in 237 patients. A total of 106 patients (33.1%) had EGFR wild-type, and 131 patients (40.9%) had EGFR mutant-type. CD155 expression was classified as high in 77 patients (24.1%) and as low in 243 (75.9%) as low. Multivariate analysis identified pleural invasion and EGFR wild-type as independent predictors of high CD155 expression. The Kaplan-Meier plot demonstrated significantly poorer recurrence-free survival and overall survival in the high CD155 group compared with the low CD155 group. Multivariate analysis showed high CD155 expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for recurrence-free and overall survival. Subgroup analyses revealed that a prognostic difference related to CD155 expression was observed only in patients with EGFR wild-type but not in those with EGFR mutant-type., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that high expression of CD155 is associated with EGFR wild-type and could serve as a valuable prognostic marker in pathologic stage I lung adenocarcinoma, particularly in cases without EGFR mutation., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with various lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD). Additionally, EBV infection has correlated with diverse autoimmune diseases. However, the association between EBV and systemic small vessel vasculitis (SVV) remains controversial. Here, we report a case of SVV with pauci-immune glomerulonephritis accompanied by an EBV-positive polymorphic B-cell LPD, not otherwise specified. The intricate distinction between EBV-positive B-cell LPD and SVV was difficult, as both diseases demonstrated similar clinical presentations. Lymph node and kidney biopsies facilitated the accurate diagnosis of these two conditions. The administration of high-dose prednisolone, combined with rituximab, proved efficacious, with no instances of relapse over the subsequent 2-year period. This case indicates an association between EBV-positive B-cell LPD and SVV. The diligent execution of biopsies is a crucial diagnostic and interpretive strategy, generating precise comprehension of this condition and guiding its appropriate therapeutic management., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site–for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

During early development, the enteric nervous system forms from the migration of enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) from the foregut to the hindgut, where they undergo proliferation and differentiation facilitated by interactions with enteric mesenchymal cells (EMCs). This study investigates the impact on ENCC migration of EMC-ENCC communication mediated by GFRA1b expressed in EMCs. GFRA1-expressing cells in day 11-12 (E11-12) mouse embryos differentiated into smooth muscle cells from E12 onwards. Observations at E12-13.5 revealed high levels of GFRA1 expression on the anti-mesenteric side of the hindgut, correlating with enhanced ENCC migration. This indicates that GFRA1 in EMCs plays a role in ENCC migration during development. Examining GFRA1 isoforms, we found high levels of GFRA1b, which lacks amino acids 140-144, in EMCs. To assess the impact of GFRA1 isoforms on EMC-ENCC communication, we conducted neurosphere drop assays. This revealed that GFRA1b-expressing cells promoted GDNF-dependent extension and increased neurite density in ENCC neurospheres. Co-culture of ENCC mimetic cells expressing RET and GFRA1a with EMC mimetic cells expressing GFRA1a, GFRA1b, or vector alone showed that only GFRA1b-expressing co-cultured cells sustained RET phosphorylation in ENCC-mimetic cells for over 120 min upon GDNF stimulation. Our study provides evidence that GFRA1b-mediated cell-to-cell communication plays a critical role in ENCC motility in enteric nervous system development. These findings contribute to understanding the cellular interactions and signaling mechanisms that underlie enteric nervous system formation and highlight potential therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal motility disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purposes: Polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets, fibrin glue, and staple line reinforcement are frequently used to prevent air leakage during lung resection. However, the optimal staple-line reinforcement method remains unclear., Methods: Cranial lung lobes of pigs were used to evaluate different staple line reinforcement methods (n = 6). Ventilator-assisted manometry was used to measure the maximum resistance pressure at the time of rupture of the lung tissue after stapling., Results: The mean maximum resistance pressures at the time of lung tissue rupture after using the stapler alone, stapler with PGA sheet and fibrin glue, and stapler with reinforcement were 38.0 cmH 2 O, 51.3 cmH 2 O, and 62.7 cmH 2 O, respectively. A significant increase in the maximum resistance pressure was observed with stapler reinforcement (P < 0.001), while the differences between the other groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.055, P = 0.111). A histological assessment revealed disruption of alveolar structures near the needle-stitching site in the stapler alone, and in the stapler with PGA sheet and fibrin glue groups. Pleural rupture near the staple line was observed in the stapler with reinforcement group., Conclusions: The maximum resistance pressure before air leakage was significantly higher when using a stapler with reinforcement than when using a stapler alone., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.)

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) retain the original tumor's characteristics to a large degree and allow direct evaluation of the drug sensitivity, thereby emerging as a valuable resource for both basic and preclinical researches. Whereas most past studies stereotypically adopted a single PDO as an avatar of the patient, it remains to be investigated whether this assumption can be justified even for the tumor with spatial diversity. To address this issue, we established and characterized multiple PDOs originating from various sites of a patient with advanced uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS). Specifically, cancer cells were separately sampled from three sites; resected UCS tumor tissue, the peritoneal lavage fluid, and an intra-uterine brushing of the tumor. The three derived PDOs were morphologically undistinguishable, displaying typical carcinoma organoids-like appearance, but two of them proliferated at a faster rate. The primary tumor harbored mutations in TP53 and STK11 along with amplifications in CCNE1, ERBB2, and KRAS. These two mutations and the CCNE1 amplification were detected in all PDOs, while either KRAS or ERBB2 amplification was selectively observed in each PDO in a mutually exclusive manner. Observed intra-tumor heterogeneity in HER2 expression was differentially reproduced in the PDOs, which mirrored each PDO's sensitivity to HER2 inhibitors. Inter-PDO heterogeneity was also evident in sensitivity to standard cytotoxic agents. Lastly, a drug screening identified four candidate reagents commonly effective to all PDOs. Collectively, we showed that multiple PDOs could help reproduce the spatial diversity of a tumor and serve as a valuable resource in UCS research in many respects., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Human Cell Society.)

To investigate the therapeutic potential of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for malignant gliomas arising in unresectable sites, we investigated the effect of tumor tissue damage by interstitial PDT (i-PDT) using talaporfin sodium (TPS) in a mouse glioma model in which C6 glioma cells were implanted subcutaneously. A kinetic study of TPS demonstrated that a dose of 10 mg/kg and 90 min after administration was appropriate dose and timing for i-PDT. Performing i-PDT using a small-diameter plastic optical fiber demonstrated that an irradiation energy density of 100 J/cm 2 or higher was required to achieve therapeutic effects over the entire tumor tissue. The tissue damage induced apoptosis in the area close to the light source, whereas vascular effects, such as fibrin thrombus formation occurred in the area slightly distant from the light source. Furthermore, when irradiating at the same energy density, irradiation at a lower power density for a longer period of time was more effective than irradiation at a higher power density for a shorter time. When performing i-PDT, it is important to consider the rate of delivery of the irradiation light into the tumor tissue and to set irradiation conditions that achieve an optimal balance between cytotoxic and vascular effects., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A 31-year-old man with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) had undergone resection of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) on the buttock 3 months previously. He subsequently underwent mechanical thrombectomy for a hyperacute left middle cerebral artery embolism. Histopathologically, the emboli comprised neurofilament-positive pleomorphic tumor cells with geographic necrosis and conspicuous mitosis and were identified as MPNST. The patient died of respiratory failure due to lung MPNST metastasis on day 15 of hospitalization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a spontaneous cerebral embolism due to MPNST in a NF-1 patient.

Aim: Cerium oxide, particularly in nanoparticle form (nanoceria), has been investigated for biomedical applications as a promising new agent for treating several pathologies. The aim of the present study was to characterize the pharmacologic effects of nanoceria in an animal model of chronic kidney disease., Methods: We created the chronic kidney disease animal model by feeding rats a 0.25% adenine diet. Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: normal diet, 0.25% adenine diet, or adenine diet containing three different doses or durations of nanoceria treatment. Blood was collected weekly from the tail veins of each rat and analyzed for renal function markers. After 5 weeks, various biochemical markers in serum, plasma, and urine were also analyzed., Results: In the adenine-treated group, body weight was significantly decreased, and the kidneys lost much of their healthy reddish color and became lumpy and white in appearance. In addition, levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and plasma uremic toxins were significantly increased in adenine-treated rats compared with controls. Renal functional and structural damage in adenine diet model rats tended to be ameliorated by nanoceria ingestion. The high-dose cerium-treated group maintained reddish areas in the kidneys, and the increases in biomarker levels of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and inorganic phosphorus were markedly reduced, regardless of treatment duration., Conclusions: Ingestion of nanoceria may be effective for improving or preventing renal damage caused by adenine. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 88-95., (© 2023 The Authors. Geriatrics & Gerontology International published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Geriatrics Society.)

Background: For malignant glioma, intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) using talaporfin sodium is a powerful tool for local tumor control, when gross total removal is performed. However, the efficacy of PDT for non-totally resectable malignant glioma has not been clearly confirmed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of PDT using talaporfin sodium for non-totally resectable malignant glioma., Methods: Eighteen patients with malignant glioma (16 new onset, 2 recurrent) in whom gross total removal was judged to be difficult from the images obtained before surgery were evaluated. Fifteen patients had glioblastoma (14 newly diagnosed, 1 recurrent), and 3 patients had anaplastic oligodendroglioma (2 newly diagnosed, 1 recurrent). The whole resection cavity was subjected to PDT during the surgery. For newly diagnosed glioblastoma, postoperative therapy involved the combined use of radiation and temozolomide. Bevacizumab treatment was also started at an early stage after surgery., Results: In some patients, reduction of the residual tumor was observed at an early stage of chemoradiotherapy after the surgery, suggesting the positive effect of PDT. Recurrence occurred in 15 of the 18 patients during the course of treatment. Distant recurrence occurred in 8 of these 15 patients, despite good local tumor control. In the 14 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, the median progression-free survival was almost 10.5 months, and the median overall survival was almost 16.9 months., Conclusions: PDT for malignant glioma is expected to slightly improve local tumor control for non-totally resectable lesions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest in association with this study., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)