Exploratory Rat Toxicology and Efficacy of the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Drug Boronotyrosine in a Mouse Model of Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose: Boronotyrosine (BTS) is a potential next-generation boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) drug that exhibits higher solubility and improved tumor boron delivery and retention in mice over boronophenylalanine (BPA), the standard BNCT drug. These characteristics of BTS suggest that clinical protocols used for BPA can be altered to improve BNCT practicality, efficacy, and safety outcomes such as shorter irradiation time or changes in infusion timing and dose. These parameters were tested in a human head and neck cancer mouse xenograft model, and exploratory rat toxicology was conducted to determine maximal safe dosing.

High levels of pericoronary adipose tissue inflammation are associated with coronary atherosclerosis independent of epicardial adipose tissue volume in patients with chronic coronary syndrome.

Aims: This study aimed to assess clinical risks and coronary atherosclerotic burden in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) stratified by pericoronary artery adipose tissue (PCAT) composition and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EAV).

Methods And Results: We retrospectively included 410 CCS patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography. Patients were divided into four groups based on an EAV index ≥ 73.

Successful Sequential Immunotherapy for Multiple Primary Malignancies (Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma): A Case Report.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma are aggressive malignancies, and their coexistence presents a significant treatment challenge. We herein report a rare case of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that was successfully treated with sequential immune checkpoint inhibitors. Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab led to tumor regression, but following a brain infarction, the therapy was switched to durvalumab plus tremelimumab, and durable remission was achieved despite programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) negativity.

Accumulation of Small-Size, Highly Dispersive Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in a Tumor in Both Chorioallantoic Membrane and Mouse Models.

(1) Background: The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model has the potential to contribute to the development of personalized medicine based on individual cancer patients. We previously established the CAM model using patient-derived sarcoma cells. We also used the CAM model for characterization and a comparison with the mouse model by examining the tumor accumulation of small-size, highly dispersive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs).

Surface area outcomes in EUS-guided liver biopsy: a comparative study of Franseen and Fork-tip needles.

Background: The practice of endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) is becoming more common due to its proven safety and effectiveness. For accurate diagnosis, it is vital to secure ample tissue specimens. However, gauging the volume of tissue specimens accurately poses a challenge with existing methods.

Recent advances in the chemistry and biology of plant oxylipin hormones.

Jasmonates, including jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives, are lipid-based signaling molecules critical for plant growth, development, and defense. Among these, jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) has been identified as a bioactive plant hormone that mediates various physiological responses. JA-Ile functions as a 'molecular glue' in protein-protein associations to induce the defense-related gene expression for plant-pathogen and plant-insect communications, and it affects many aspects of plant development and stress responses.

Trans-omics landscape of systemic vasculitis identified matrix metalloproteinase 12 as a novel signature molecule.

Objectives: To identify key molecules involved in the disease pathophysiology of systemic vasculitis through trans-omics analysis, with a specific focus on demonstrating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 12 as a potential biomarker in rheumatic entities.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases from June 2013 until September 2022 were enrolled. We screened vasculitis-specific molecules by combining findings from serum proteome analysis and whole-blood RNA sequencing.

Suppression of Dad1 induces cardiomyocyte death by weakening cell adhesion.

As cardiomyocyte loss causes heart failure, inhibition of cardiomyocyte death may be a therapeutic strategy against heart failure. In this study, we have identified defender against cell death 1 (Dad1) as a candidate regulator of cardiomyocyte death, using complementary DNA microarray and siRNA knockdown screening. Dad1 is a subunit of oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex that is responsible for protein N-glycosylation; however, its function in cardiomyocytes remains unknown.

Recent advances in cancer detection using dynamic, stimuli-responsive supramolecular chemosensors. a focus review.

In current chemistry, supramolecular materials that respond to a wide variety of external stimuli, such as solvents, temperature, light excitation, pH, and mechanical forces (pressure, stress, strain, and tension), have attracted considerable attention; for example, we have developed cyclodextrins, cucurbiturils, pillararenes, calixarenes, crown ether-based chemical sensors, or chemosensors. These supramolecular chemosensors have potential applications in imaging, probing, and cancer detection. Recently, we focused on pressure, particularly solution-state hydrostatic pressure, from the viewpoint of cancer therapy.

Meflin/ISLR is a marker of adipose stem and progenitor cells in mice and humans that suppresses white adipose tissue remodeling and fibrosis.

Identifying specific markers of adipose stem and progenitor cells (ASPCs) in vivo is crucial for understanding the biology of white adipose tissues (WAT). PDGFRα-positive perivascular stromal cells represent the best candidates for ASPCs. This cell lineage differentiates into myofibroblasts that contribute to the impairment of WAT function.

Two distinct modes of action of molecular glues in the plant hormone co-receptor COI1-JAZ system.

The plant hormone (3, 7)-jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine ((3, 7)-JA-Ile) is perceived by the COI1-JAZ co-receptor in , leading to the activation of gene expression for plant defense responses, growth, development, and other processes. Therefore, understanding the interaction between the COI1-JAZ co-receptor and its ligands is essential for the development of COI1-JAZ agonists and antagonists as potent chemical tools for regulating (3, 7)-JA-Ile signaling. This study demonstrated that COI1-JAZ has two independent modes of ligand perception using a differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) assay.

Tissue responses to everolimus-eluting stents implanted in severely calcified lesions following atherectomy.

Histopathological examination has revealed that stents on severely calcified plaques were associated with delayed vascular healing. Although atherectomy devices can increase the number of malapposed struts, tissue responses to implanted drug eluting stents in atherectomy patients remain largely unknown. This retrospective observational study included 30 patients who underwent atherectomy and everolimus-eluting stent (EES) deployment for severely calcified coronary lesions (biodegradable polymer EES (BP-EES), n = 15; durable polymer EES (DP-EES), n  = 15).

Secondary right atrial thrombosis in three dogs: Antithrombotics therapy and echocardiographic follow-up.

Three dogs were diagnosed with right atrial thrombosis, thought to be secondary to systemic diseases. Specifically, two cases had hyperadrenocorticism and one case was diagnosed with pancreatitis with acute renal injury. In all cases, the thrombi were found within the right atrium, necessitating a differentiation from cardiac neoplasia.

Difference in the ligand affinity among redundant plant hormone receptors of rice OsCOI1a/1b/2-OsJAZs.

(3R, 7S)-jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) is a lipid-derived plant hormone that regulates plant responses, including biotic/abiotic stress adaptation. In the plant cells, JA-Ile is perceived by COI1-JAZ co-receptor by causing protein-protein interaction between COI1 and JAZ proteins to trigger gene expressions. In this study, we focused on Oryza sativa, a model monocot and an important crop, with 45 possible OsCOI-OsJAZ co-receptor pairs composed of three OsCOI homologs (OsCOI1a, OsCOI1b, and OsCOI2) and 15 OsJAZ homologs.

Changes in the molecular profiles of large-vessel vasculitis treated with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and Janus kinase inhibitors.

Giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis are two types of primary large-vessel vasculitis (LVV). Although glucocorticoids (GC) are the standard treatment for LVV, the disease relapse rates are high. Recent clinical trials on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have demonstrated their efficacy in reducing LVV relapse rates and GC dosages.

Novel anti-reflux biliary metal stent with a distal tapered end for distal malignant biliary obstruction: a feasibility study.

We developed a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) with a distal tapered end to reproduce the physiological bile flow with a pressure gradient due to the difference in the diameter. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the newly developed distal tapered covered metal stent (TMS) for distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO). This single-center, prospective, single-arm study was conducted in patients with DMBO.

Organosilica nanoparticles containing sodium borocaptate (BSH) provide new prospects for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT): efficient cellular uptake and enhanced BNCT efficacy.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a method based on the fission of boron-10 upon neutron irradiation, has emerged as an attractive option for radiation therapy. To date, the main drugs used in BNCT are 4-boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (BSH). While BPA has been extensively tested in clinical trials, the use of BSH has been limited, mainly due to its poor cellular uptake.

Histological improvement in chronic hepatitis C-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome by glecaprevir and pibrentasvir.

A 60-year-old man with type-2 diabetes and chronic hepatitis C (HCV) was diagnosed with single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of 67 mm in the hepatic posterior right lobe. Lenvatinib 8 mg was initiated but discontinued because of grade 3 liver injury. The patient continued to have prolonged liver injury and persistently high immunoglobulin G levels.

Longitudinal monitoring of circulating immune cell phenotypes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a necrotizing multiorgan autoimmune disease that affects small- to medium-sized blood vessels. Despite the improvements in treatments, half of the patients with AAV still experience disease relapses. In this review, we focus on peripheral leukocyte properties and phenotypes in patients with AAV.

Distinct gene signatures of monocytes and B cells in patients with giant cell arteritis: a longitudinal transcriptome analysis.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a primary large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) of unknown origin. Its management is a challenge due to the late onset of disease symptoms and frequent relapse; therefore, clarifying the pathophysiology of GCA is essential to improving treatment. This study aimed to identify the transition of molecular signatures in immune cells relevant to GCA pathogenesis by analyzing longitudinal transcriptome data in patients.