Association Between Liver Fibrosis Assessed by the Aspartate Aminotransferase-To-Platelet Ratio Index and Outcomes of Esophageal Cancer Surgery.

Background: Although liver cirrhosis is widely recognized as a risk factor for postoperative complications following esophagectomy, the impact of liver fibrosis other than overt cirrhosis on surgical outcomes remains unclear. We investigated the association between the preoperative aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), a useful indicator of liver fibrosis, and surgical outcomes following esophagectomy.

Methods: A total of 516 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were retrospectively reviewed and divided into high (≥ 0.

Distribution of Lymph Node Metastasis and Prognosis in Duodenal Bulb Tumors: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: The optimal surgical procedure for primary duodenal cancer has not been established because of its low incidence. The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution of lymph node (LN) metastasis in duodenal bulb tumors. Specifically, in tumors with submucosal invasion, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of distal gastrectomy with duodenal bulb resection combined with lymphadenectomy of regional gastric LNs.

Prediction model of ipsilateral level II lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a predictive model for ipsilateral level II lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) using machine learning techniques. The necessity of level II dissection in lateral neck dissection (LND) remains debated, and accurate prediction of metastasis at this level could help refine surgical decision-making and minimize unnecessary dissection.

Methods: A retrospective review of 138 patients with PTC who underwent initial LND with curative intent was performed.

First experiences with multiple bilateral insertions of a newly developed microcatheter-compatible endovascular electroencephalogram electrode for humans with epilepsy.

Identifying epileptogenic zones non-invasively is challenging due to signal interference by the scalp and skull, necessitating invasive methods like subdural recordings and stereoelectroencephalography. Recent microcatheter advancements suggest that a microcatheter-compatible endovascular EEG (eEEG) device could overcome these barriers. We developed a thin, flexible eEEG electrode, the EP-01, for use with current microcatheters.

Significance of homologous recombinant deficiency as a biomarker for drug sensitivity in colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a substantial global health concern due to its limited treatment options, especially for oxaliplatin (L-OHP) regimen resistance. This study used organoid-based screening methodologies to evaluate drug responses in CRC while validating the approach with patient-derived CRC organoids and investigating potential biomarkers.

Methods: Patient-derived organoids were created from CRC surgical specimens, and drug screening were performed.

Impacts on Postoperative Bleeding of Surgery for Head and Neck Malignancies While Continuing Antithrombotic Agents.

 Perioperative management of antithrombotic agents may affect bleeding and lead to thromboembolic complications, but there is no consensus on optimal protocol in head and neck surgery.  To explore the effect of antithrombotic agents on postoperative bleeding.  We compared clinical characteristics, type of surgery, antithrombotic agents, continued use of medication or not, and frequency of postoperative bleeding among patients who were receiving antithrombotic therapy at the time of their decision to undergo surgery for head and neck malignancies, from 2008 to 2022.

CRISPR/Cas9 improves targeted knock-in efficiency in .

is an important fungus in food and industrial enzyme production. In , targeted knock-in transformation is primarily limited to homologous recombination (HR)-based systems, in which non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ)-disruptant hosts are required. However, preparation of hosts and transformation templates for such systems is laborious, in addition to other disadvantages.

Denosumab-induced hypocalcemia in patients with solid tumors and renal dysfunction: a multicenter, retrospective, observational study.

Background: Bone metastases are frequently observed in advanced cancer, and bone modifying agents are used to prevent or treat skeletal-related events. Zoledronic acid is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment (Ccr < 30 mL/min), but it is not completely known whether denosumab can be used in them. We aimed to determine the association between renal function and hypocalcemia development during denosumab treatment.

Effect of yeast chromosome II aneuploidy on malate production in sake brewing.

Chromosome aneuploidy is a common phenomenon in industrial yeast. Aneuploidy is considered one of the strategies to enhance the industrial properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. However, the effects of chromosomal aneuploidy on the brewing properties of sake have not been extensively studied.

The iron chelator deferriferrichrysin induces paraptosis via extracellular signal-related kinase activation in cancer cells.

Cancer cells generally exhibit increased iron uptake, which contributes to their abnormal growth and metastatic ability. Iron chelators have thus recently attracted attention as potential anticancer agents. Here, we show that deferriferrichrysin (Dfcy), a natural product from Aspergillus oryzae acts as an iron chelator to induce paraptosis (a programmed cell death pathway characterized by ER dilation) in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and H1299 human lung cancer cells.

Development of sake yeast breeding and analysis of genes related to its various phenotypes.

Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice and water, fermented by the filamentous fungi Aspergillus oryzae and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast strains, also called sake yeasts, with high alcohol yield and the ability to produce desired flavor compounds in the sake, have been isolated from the environment for more than a century. Furthermore, numerous methods to breed sake yeasts without genetic modification have been developed.

Size-tunable PEG-grafted copolymers as a polymeric nanoruler for passive targeting muscle tissues.

Muscle-targeted drug delivery is a major challenge in nanomedicine. The extravasation of nanomedicines (or nanoparticles) from the bloodstream into muscle tissues is hindered by the continuous endothelium, the so-called blood-muscle barrier. This study aimed to evaluate the optimal size of macromolecular drugs for extravasation (or passive targeting) into muscle tissues.

Electrochemical antioxidant capacity measurement: a downsized system and its application to agricultural crops.

An on-site electrochemical antioxidant capacity measurement system was developed using a screen print electrode (SPE) and circuit tester. The antioxidant capacities of eight antioxidants were evaluated with the handheld electrochemical antioxidant capacity measurement system to compare with those measured with spectroscopic methods, namely, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, as well as the reported electrochemical method with three conventional electrodes (a glassy carbon electrode, Ag/AgCl electrode and platinum wire electrode) and a potentiostat. Additionally, the potential shifts were proportional to the logarithm of the antioxidant concentration, which obeyed the Nernstian equation.

Retrospective multicentre study on the effectiveness of first-line direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus genotype-1.

What Is Known And Objective: In Japan, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir are recommended as first-line treatments for patients with untreated hepatitis C virus genotype 1. Although they have demonstrated a high efficacy in clinical trials, there are no direct comparative studies. Clarification of their effectiveness and safety in real-world clinical practice is required.

A novel milk-clotting enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae and A. luchuensis is an aspartic endopeptidase PepE presumed to be a vacuolar enzyme.

Aspergillus oryzae RIB40 has 11 aspartic endopeptidase genes. We searched for milk-clotting enzymes based on the homology of the deduced amino acid sequence with chymosins. As a result, we identified a milk-clotting enzyme in A.

High-Level Production of Isoleucine and Fusel Alcohol by Expression of the Feedback Inhibition-Insensitive Threonine Deaminase in .

A variety of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with intracellular accumulation of isoleucine (Ile) would be a promising strain for developing a distinct kind of sake, a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage, because Ile-derived volatile compounds have a great impact on the flavor and taste of fermented foods. In this study, we isolated an Ile-accumulating mutant (strain K9-I48) derived from a diploid sake yeast of S. cerevisiae by conventional mutagenesis.

Aspergillus oryzae FaeA is responsible for the release of ferulic acid, a precursor of off-odor 4-vinylguaiacol in sake brewing.

4-Vinylguaiacol (4-VG) is one of the most common off-flavors found in sake. 4-VG is produced from its precursor, ferulic acid, which is a component of the cell wall of the rice endosperm. The release of ferulic acid in sake brewing is thought to be mediated by feruloyl esterase produced by either Aspergillus oryzae or Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Isolation and analysis of a sake yeast mutant with phenylalanine accumulation.

Unlabelled: Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage brewed by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Since the consumption and connoisseurship of sake has spread around the world, the development of new sake yeast strains to meet the demand for unique sakes has been promoted. Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that is used to produce proteins and important signaling molecules involved in feelings of pleasure.

Oryzapsins, the orthologs of yeast yapsin in Aspergillus oryzae, affect ergosterol synthesis.

The oryzapsin genes opsA and opsB in Aspergillus oryzae encoding glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored aspartic endopeptidase are homologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yapsins. We recently found another homolog, opsC, in the A. oryzae genome database, which was suggested to be a pseudogene.

Mutation in gene coding for glucose-induced degradation-deficient protein contributes to high malate production in yeast strain No. 28 and No. 77 used for industrial brewing of sake.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces organic acids including malate during alcohol fermentation. Since malate contributes to the pleasant flavor of sake, high-malate-producing yeast strain No. 28 and No.

Polyoxometalates in Imidazolim-based Ionic Liquids: Acceptor Number and Polarity Estimated from Their Voltammetric Behaviour.

The selection of an appropriate solvent is essential for achieving high yields and selectivity in chemical reactions. The chemical and physical parameters of organic solvents have been classified into several groups, and solvents can be compared with each other with respect to these properties. The acceptor number (A), donor number (D) and polarity (E) have been widely accepted and used for theoretically and quantitatively evaluating the properties of organic solvents.

An Organoid Biobank of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms Enables Genotype-Phenotype Mapping.

Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) that consists of neuroendocrine tumor and neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a lethal but under-investigated disease owing to its rarity. To fill the scarcity of clinically relevant models of GEP-NEN, we here established 25 lines of NEN organoids and performed their comprehensive molecular characterization. GEP-NEN organoids recapitulated pathohistological and functional phenotypes of the original tumors.