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Abstract We have reported that the FAN score, which consists of the fibrosis-4 (Fib-4) index, albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score, and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), is a prognostic marker for patients receiving pembrolizumab for mUC. However, it remains unclear whether the FAN score is a prognostic factor for platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. We included 126 patients with mUC who received platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. The median PFS and overall survival (OS) were 6.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.5–8.0) and 14.0 months (95% CI 11.1–16.9), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that Fib-4 index (HR 3.85, 95% CI 1.09–13.58, p = 0.036), ALBI score (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.01–2.31, p = 0.045), and NLR (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.14–2.71, p = 0.010) were independently associated with PFS. The FAN score was also associated with PFS (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.62–4.05, p

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major health concern that necessitates appropriate diagnostic approaches for timely intervention. This review critically evaluates the role of liquid biopsy techniques, focusing on blood- and urine-based biomarkers, in overcoming the limitations of conventional diagnostic methods. The 4Kscore test and Prostate Health Index have demonstrated efficacy in distinguishing PCa from benign conditions. Urinary biomarker tests such as PCa antigen 3, MyProstateScore, SelectMDx, and ExoDx Prostate IntelliScore test have revolutionized risk stratification and minimized unnecessary biopsies. Emerging biomarkers, including non-coding RNAs, circulating tumor DNA, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) glycosylation, offer valuable insights into PCa biology, enabling personalized treatment strategies. Advancements in non-invasive liquid biomarkers for PCa diagnosis may facilitate the stratification of patients and avoid unnecessary biopsies, particularly when PSA is in the gray area of 4 to 10 ng/mL.

ABSTRACT Introduction Avelumab, an anti‐programmed death ligand 1 antibody, was approved in combination with axitinib for curatively unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Japan in December 2019. Because the pivotal JAVELIN Renal 101 study included a limited number of Japanese patients, post‐marketing surveillance (PMS) was required to evaluate outcomes (safety and effectiveness) in patients with RCC who received avelumab + axitinib treatment in clinical practice in Japan. Materials and Methods We report data from prospective, noncomparative, multicenter, observational PMS in patients with RCC who received ≥ 1 dose of avelumab. Patients were enrolled between December 2019 (date of regulatory approval) and May 2021. The primary objective was to evaluate safety, defined as adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of safety specifications occurring during an observation period of ≤ 52 weeks for each patient. The secondary objective was to evaluate effectiveness, including best overall response and overall survival (OS). Results In total, 328 patients were included in the safety and effectiveness analysis sets. Overall, 173 patients (52.7%) had ADRs of safety specifications of any grade, most commonly thyroid dysfunction (n = 69 [21.0%]), infusion reaction (n = 65 [19.8%]), and hepatic disorders (n = 45 [13.7%]). Objective responses occurred in 118 patients (36.0%), including complete or partial responses in 13 (4.0%) and 105 (32.0%), respectively; the disease control rate was 75.6%. The 12‐month OS rate was 83.7% (95% CI, 78.9%–87.4%). Discussion This PMS confirmed the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of avelumab + axitinib in patients with RCC in clinical practice in Japan, with a benefit–risk profile comparable to that observed in clinical trials.

Abstract Introduction Avelumab + axitinib was approved in Japan in December 2019 for the treatment of curatively unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) based on results from the JAVELIN Renal 101 trial. Materials and Methods To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of avelumab + axitinib in older patients in general clinical practice in Japan, an ad hoc analysis of data from post‐marketing surveillance (PMS) by age group was conducted. Results The analysis population included 328 patients who had received ≥1 dose of avelumab and were enrolled between December 2019 and May 2021. In total, 100 patients (30.5%) were aged ≤64 years, 130 (39.6%) were aged 65–74 years, and 98 (29.9%) were aged ≥75 years. Within these age groups, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of safety specifications of any grade occurred in 46 (46.0%), 71 (54.6%), and 56 (57.1%), and of grade ≥3 in 13 (13.0%), 23 (17.7%), and 20 (20.4%), respectively. The most common ADRs of safety specifications across all age groups were thyroid dysfunction, infusion reactions, and hepatic function disorders. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in any age group; 12‐month OS rates in patients aged ≤64, 65–74, or ≥75 years were 83.8%, 86.2%, and 80.0%, and objective response rates were 31.0%, 43.8%, and 30.6%, respectively. Discussion Analyses of PMS data show the safety and effectiveness of avelumab + axitinib across all age groups of patients with RCC in general clinical practice in Japan. The favorable benefit–risk profile was generally consistent with that observed in previous clinical trials.

The Oshima cherry (Cerasus speciosa), which is endemic to Japan, has significant cultural and horticultural value. In this study, we present a near complete telomere-to-telomere genome assembly for C. speciosa, derived from the old growth "Sakurakkabu" tree on Izu Oshima Island. Using Illumina short-read, PacBio long-read, and Hi-C sequencing, we constructed a 269.3 Mbp genome assembly with a contig N50 of 32.0 Mbp. We examined the distribution of repetitive sequences in the assembled genome and identified regions that appeared to be centromeric. Detailed structural analysis of these putative centromeric regions revealed that the centromeric regions of C. speciosa comprised repetitive sequences with monomer lengths of 166 or 167 bp. Comparative genomic analysis with Prunus sensu lato genome revealed structural variations and conserved syntenic regions. This high-quality reference genome provides a crucial tool for studying the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of Cerasus species, facilitating advancements in horticultural research and the preservation of this iconic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nocturnal polyuria is a major cause of nocturia, which affects quality of life. Aging-related decreases in nitric oxide production have been reported to contribute to salt-induced nocturnal polyuria. We posited that enhanced nitric oxide production from exercise could mitigate salt-induced nocturnal polyuria. To validate, we assessed the impact of 4 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise on intrarenal renin-angiotensin system activity and salt-induced polyuria during inactive periods in 80-week-old mice. The moderate-intensity exercise group (Mod-Ex) had increased nitric oxide production and suppressed intrarenal renin-angiotensin system compared to the sedentary group (Sed) (renal angiotensinogen level: Sed vs. Mod-Ex, 1.101 ± 0.077 vs. 0.630 ± 0.048 arbitrary unit, P = 0.002). This exercise also alleviated salt-induced polyuria during inactive periods (diurnal polyuria index: Sed vs. Mod-Ex, 0.292 ± 0.027 vs. 0.193 ± 0.023, P = 0.018). These effects were neutralized by suppression of nitric oxide production by oral administration of Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, an nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor. These findings indicate that exercise-induced improvements in salt-induced polyuria during inactive periods are caused by increases in nitric oxide production. In summary, increasing nitric oxide production may serve as a treatment method for salt-induced nocturnal polyuria in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tactile perception plays a crucial role in the perception of products and consumer preferences. This perception process is structured in hierarchical layers comprising a sensory layer (soft and smooth) and an affective layer (comfort and luxury). In this study, we attempted to predict the evaluation score of sensory and affective tactile perceptions of materials using a biomimetic multimodal tactile sensor that mimics the active touch behavior of humans and measures physical parameters such as force, vibration, and temperature. We conducted sensory and affective descriptor evaluations on 32 materials, including cosmetics, textiles, and leather. Using the physical parameters obtained by the biomimetic multimodal tactile sensor as explanatory variables, we predicted the scores of the sensory and affective descriptors in 10 regression models. The bagging regressor demonstrated the best performance, achieving a coefficient of determination (R2) of >0.6 for fourteen of nineteen sensory and eight of twelve affective descriptors. The present model exhibited particularly high prediction accuracy for sensory descriptors such as "moist" and "elastic", and for affective descriptors such as "pleasant" and "like". These findings suggest a method to support efficient tactile design in product development across various industries by predicting tactile descriptor scores using physical parameters from a biomimetic tactile sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]