Conceptual design of the energy-switchable storage ring as a high-brilliance light source over a wide wavelength range.

The energy-switchable storage ring (ESSR) is proposed as a light source that achieves high-brilliance synchrotron radiation across a wide wavelength range, from vacuum ultraviolet to hard X-rays, and efficient power consumption. The ESSR facilitates the effective operation of large-scale systems required for large experimental apparatus and stringent safety management. It also significantly improves research quality by enabling a more precise understanding of sample states, particularly subtle differences in experimental conditions that are difficult to reproduce fully.

Outcomes of Older Patients Undergoing Surgery for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Esophageal cancer is a leading cause of death among males worldwide, including Japan, where squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type. Treatment decisions can be complicated, especially for older patients undergoing esophagectomy, which, while effective, is invasive and incurs significant risks.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of 126 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent open or thoracoscopic esophagectomy between January 2010 and April 2023 was conducted.

Left Upper Lobectomy for Pulmonary Vein Occlusion After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

A 64-year-old man complained of recurrent bloody sputum 6 months after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed left upper pulmonary vein occlusion. Due to challenges in revascularization, lung resection was performed.

The Clinical Outcomes of Preoperative Self-Expandable Metal Stent Placement as Bridge to Surgery for Obstructive Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement for obstructive colorectal cancer (OCRC) is widely performed as a bridge to surgery because of its lower mortality rate than emergency surgery. However, the long-term outcomes remain unclear because of the risk of complications and cancer recurrence. This study investigated the short- and long-term outcomes of SEMS placement for OCRC.

Effect of Monofilament Sutures on Incisional Hernia After Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: A Focus on Patients With Umbilical Hernia.

Background/aim: Incisional hernia (IH) is a common complication of laparoscopic colorectal surgery and is associated with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and smoking. Umbilical hernia is recognized as a strong predictor of IH; however, the effect of suture type on the occurrence of IH remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether the use of monofilament sutures reduced the incidence of IH, particularly in patients with umbilical hernias.

Asciminib in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia: results from the Japanese subgroup of ASC4FIRST.

Introduction: The phase III ASC4FIRST study (NCT04971226) demonstrated superior efficacy and favorable safety and tolerability for asciminib against investigator-selected tyrosine kinase inhibitors (IS-TKI) in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Results of a subgroup analysis in Japanese patients are presented here.

Methods: Adult patients were randomized 1:1 to asciminib or IS-TKI following stratification by European Treatment and Outcome Study long-term survival risk score and prerandomization-selected TKI (imatinib and second-generation [2G] TKI strata).

The Cerebellum as a Predictor: Recent Insights Into Cognitive Control and Extension of Kalman Filter Theory to Cognition.

Traditionally viewed as a motor control center, the cerebellum is increasingly recognized as a crucial component of a neural network that enables adaptive behavior across various domains, including cognition, affect, emotion, and social interactions. Recent clinical studies have linked cerebellar dysfunction to impairments in mentalizing and narrative coherence in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Given that narratives involve the temporal sequencing of causally related events and actions, these findings imply the potential role of the cerebellum in predictive sequence.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in cancer screening participation before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer screening participation remain a public health issue worldwide. We assessed trends in cancer screening participation according to socioeconomic status in Japan between 2013 and 2022, considering the potential impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: Data from the nationally representative Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions (2013-2022: approximately 500,000 persons per survey) were analyzed for age-standardized self-reported cancer screening rates for stomach, lung, colon, breast (aged 40-69 years), and cervical (aged 20-69 years) cancers, stratified by education levels.

A questionnaire-based survey of COVID-19 transmission in dental practice during the pandemic: comparison between the 1st-5th and the 6th-8th surges in Japan.

Objectives: A previous questionnaire survey on infection control measures and infection status among practicing dentists during the 1st-5th surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Japan indicated a low risk of COVID-19 infection spreading through dental care. However, the low number of infected patients during the survey period may have been a contributing factor, and a sharp increase in the number of infected patients was subsequently observed. We re-examined the spread of infections in dental care settings and compared the results with those of previous reports.

Insights into very elderly multiple myeloma treatment from Kansai Myeloma Forum.

Background: With the aging population, there is a growing need for treating multiple myeloma (MM) in elderly patients; however, real-world studies of them are quite limited.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 519 patients diagnosed between 1997 and 2020 in the Kansai Myeloma Forum database to evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel agents available for 80 years and older patients with MM. Patients were divided into groups according to the treatment year: up to 2010 (Group 1), 2011-2015 (Group 2), and 2016-2020 (Group 3).

Prognostic potential of fusion gene analysis using plasma cell-free RNA in malignant bone and soft tissue tumours.

Background: Liquid biopsy, which facilitates minimally invasive analysis of body fluid samples, has considerable potential as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in various cancers. Analysis of circulating tumour cells, circulating tumour DNA, and exosomes in liquid biopsies has advantages and disadvantages. However, their utility in rare cancers, such as malignant bone and soft tissue tumours, remains unknown.

Utility of High-positioning Pelvic Pads in Laparoscopic Sigmoid Colon and Rectal Surgeries.

Background/aim: The increased use of robotic rectal surgery has raised concerns regarding the increase in postoperative complications, , compartment syndrome, associated with factors such as the Trendelenburg position, use of the adjustable lithotomy stirrup, and prolonged surgical duration. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the utility of high-positioning pelvic pads during laparoscopic rectal and sigmoid colon surgeries, which is employed in our institution to maintain a stable body position with reduced head-down tilt.

Patients And Methods: We included patients who underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy and rectal resection at Shinshu University Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021.

Subspace analysis identifies low-dimensional interactions between cortical and subcortical brain regions in social reward computation.

Animals living in social environments evaluate rewards given to themselves and others. We previously showed that single-unit activities in cortical (the medial prefrontal cortex, MPFC) and subcortical (the dopaminergic midbrain nuclei, DA, and the lateral hypothalamus, LH) regions reflect social reward computation. Extending the single-neuron analyses, this study employs matrix and tensor decomposition methods to characterize population activity within single regions and interactions between pairs of regions.

Gingival Metastasis After Surgery for Early-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma.

A 69-year-old male patient underwent a left upper lung lobectomy and nodal dissection for left upper lung adenocarcinoma. His pathologic stage was pT2aN0M0, stage 1B. He received oral tegafur/uracil for adjuvant chemotherapy and visited our hospital every 2 months.

[A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Simultaneous Bone Metastasis Successfully Treated with Multidisciplinary Therapy].

The patient was a 52-year-old male, who, after experiencing lower back pain, underwent further investigation and was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma with sacral metastasis. The hepatocellular carcinoma was a 9 cm tumor with a risk of rupture. Liver resection was performed, and lenvatinib was initiated at a dose of 4 mg/day postoperatively.

[Educational inequalities in mortality by prefectures in Japan: National census-linked mortality data, 2010-2015].

Objectives　To examine a comprehensive monitoring framework for health inequalities in Japan, this study aimed to quantify educational inequalities in mortality and its regional variations, which are widely used internationally as outcome measures of health inequalities.Methods　Individual data were obtained from the 2010 Population Census and Vital Statistics death records (2010-2015). We used the combination of "sex," "birth month/year," "municipality of residence," "marital status," and "age of spouse (married individuals only)" as a linkage key.

Refractory Chylous Ascites Leading to Chylothorax Following Extended Right Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Chylous ascites, a rare but severe complication of abdominal surgery, often results from lymphatic vessel damage during procedures, such as extended resection and lymphadenectomy. Although conservative management through dietary modifications and medications is the primary approach, refractory cases may lead to severe complications including nutritional deficiencies and even death. Herein, we report a case of refractory chylous ascites that progressed to chylothorax after extended right hepatectomy with lymph node dissection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Comparative study of electron transport through aromatic molecules on gold nanoparticles: insights from soft X-ray spectroscopy of condensed nanoparticle films flat monolayer films.

Understanding electron transport in self-assembled monolayers on metal nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial for developing NP-based nanodevices. This study investigates ultrafast electron transport through aromatic molecules on NP surfaces resonant Auger electron spectroscopy (RAES) with a core-hole-clock (CHC) approach. Aromatic molecule-coated Au NPs are deposited to form condensed NP films, and flat monolayers are prepared for comparison.

CD34 and CD34 MM cells show different immune-checkpoint molecule expression profiles: high expression of CD112 and CD137 ligand on CD34 MM cells.

Despite the introduction of new drugs, multiple myeloma (MM) still remains incurable. We previously reported that CD34 MM cells, which are clonogenic and self-renewing, are therapy-resistant and persist as a major component of minimal residual disease, expanding during relapse. To investigate the effects of immunotherapies such as immune-checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T therapy, and bispecific antibodies on CD34 MM cells, we analyzed immune profiles of both MM cells and T cells from MM patients using microarrays and flow cytometry.

Changes in Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Descriptive Analysis of National Health Statistics up to 2022.

Background: Amidst the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Japan has faced a significant public health challenge, evident from the significant increase in mortality rates since 2021. This study described the variations in all-cause and cause-specific changes in mortality up to 2022 in Japan.

Methods: This study used official Vital Statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to assess the impact of the pandemic on mortality trends.

The impact of renal function on initial therapy in transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma patients.

The prognosis for multiple myeloma (MM) patients has improved with the advent of new drugs, but the prognosis with renal impairment (RI) is poor. The choice of treatment in such cases is critical, but there are no set criteria. We examined the impact of RI on initial therapy in transplant-ineligible MM patients.