Clinical prognostic factors to guide treatment strategy for HPV­positive oropharyngeal cancer using treatment outcomes of induction chemotherapy: A real­world experience.

The role of induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) remains debatable, and suitable candidates for de-escalation treatment in these patients have not been fully identified. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify high-risk candidates for human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive OPC by analyzing patients who underwent IC followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to guide optimal treatment strategies. Patients diagnosed with stage III-IVA OPC and treated with a minimum of two cycles of IC followed by CRT, between 2004 and 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients were restaged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer, 8th edition. The overall response rate and survival outcomes associated with clinical factors based on HPV status were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. The present study analyzed 105 patients with a median age of 60 years (range, 40-76 years). Among 105 patients, 40 (38.1%) were HPV-negative and 65 (61.9%) HPV-positive. In all patients, survival outcomes were notably poorer in patients aged ≥60 years (P=0.006) and those who did not achieve complete response post-CRT (P<0.001), irrespective of the HPV status. The median relative dose intensity of IC was ≥80%, indicating adequate treatment, regardless of age. In contrast to patients with HPV-negative OPC, age ≥60 years (P=0.011) and T4 stage (P=0.019) emerged as substantial poor prognostic factors for survival outcomes in patients with HPV-positive OPC. Patients with HPV-positive OPC were categorized into three groups based on the number of clinical factors at diagnosis (such as age and T4 stage). The progression-free and overall survival showed significant stratification across each group as the number of high-risk factors increased despite IC and CRT. The findings indicated that patients with these high-risk factors require a cautious therapeutic strategy even when they are diagnosed with HPV-positive OPC, and the role of combined modality, including IC, will need to be investigated in a randomized trial to be routinely incorporated into clinical practice.

Deep-Sea Benthic Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Harpacticoid Families as Sentinels of Impact Through Space and Time.

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico, occurred in 2010 at 1525 meters depth, releasing approximately 507 million liters of oil. Research cruises in 2010 and 2011 were conducted to assess the initial and subsequent effects of the oil spill on deep-sea infauna. The spatial-temporal response of the deep-sea meiofaunal harpacticoid community composition to the DWH oil spill was investigated at 34 stations ranging from <1 km to nearly 200 km from the wellhead in 2010 and 2011. The pattern of reduced harpacticoid diversity in impacted zones compared to non-impacted zones in 2010 persisted in 2011. However, an increase in Hill's diversity index (N1) and the family richness across the two years in some of the impacted stations could suggest a first signal of a tentative recovery and an improvement of environmental conditions. The multivariate analysis of harpacticoid family composition revealed the persistence of an impact in 2011 with moderately high values of turnover diversity in the harpacticoid communities through time (37%) and space (38% - 39%). The consistent presence in all years and stations of long-term tolerant families (e.g., Ameiridae), the sharp decrease of fast responding opportunistic families (e.g., Tisbidae), and the increase of more sensitive ones (e.g., Ectinosomatidae, Canthocamptidae, Cletopsyllidae, and Laophontidae) lead to the preliminary conclusion that some initial signals of recovery are evident. However, as impacts were still evident in 2011, and because recruitment and succession rates can be extremely slow in the deep sea, full community recovery had not yet occurred one year after the DWH disaster. This study confirmed that harpacticoid copepod family diversity can offer an accurate assessment of oil-spill impacts on deep-sea benthic communities over space and time as well as a better understanding of the recovery mode of the system after an oil spill event.

Harpacticoid copepods expand the scope and provide family-level indicators of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill deep-sea impacts.

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout and oil spill began on April 20, 2010 in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) deep sea (1525 m). Previous studies documented an impacted area of deep-sea floor totaling 321 km2 and were based on taxonomy at the macrofauna family level and the meiofauna major taxonomic level. In the present study, finer taxonomic resolution of the meiofauna community was employed, specifically harpacticoid copepod family biodiversity. Severe or moderate impacts to harpacticoid family biodiversity were observed at 35 of 95 sampling stations, covering an estimated area of 2864 km2, 8.9 times greater impacted area than previously reported. Sensitive and tolerant harpacticoid families were observed in the impact zone. The present study greatly expands the understanding of DWH deep-sea impacts in 2010 and demonstrates that the harpacticoid family-level response is the most sensitive indicator (reported to date) of this oil spill pollution event.

Case report: Pembrolizumab as an alternative to atezolizumab following a severe infusion reaction.

The emergence of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the field of oncology, providing promising results in various malignancies. However, ICIs can sometimes lead to severe injection reactions, requiring alternative treatment options. In this case report, we introduce a case of a severe infusion reaction induced by atezolizumab. After atezolizumab infusion, the patient experienced symptoms that were suggestive of anaphylactic shock, including chest tightness, low blood pressure, and loss of consciousness, all of which were restored by immediate administration of steroid, antihistamine, and epinephrine. When selecting a new ICI, we were concerned about cross-reactivity with atezolizumab. As such, we conducted a skin test to establish the underlying mechanism of the previous reaction to atezolizumab infusion, the results of which were highly suggestive of Ig-E-mediated hypersensitivity. The skin test for pembrolizumab, another ICI, was negative. Therefore, we replaced atezolizumab with pembrolizumab, and the infusion proceeded safely. To date, the patient has undergone 13 cycles of pembrolizumab, and the disease has remained stable. This case demonstrates that patients who exhibit severe injection reactions to ICIs can continue treatment safely, without cross-reactions, with alternative ICIs. This case will help provide patients who have experienced drug-related hypersensitivity reactions with a choice to use alternative ICIs, thus expanding their options for chemotherapy.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy versus systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: To investigate the effects of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with or without systemic chemotherapy compared to systemic chemotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Following a registered protocol (PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023386780 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023386780), a comprehensive search was performed using reputable databases and registries up to December 26, 2022, with no language, publication date, or status restrictions. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of HAIC with or without systemic chemotherapy versus systemic therapy alone were included. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events. The secondary outcomes included the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). A random-effects model was used, and the certainty of the evidence was rated using GRADE. Results: Seven RCTs involving 1,010 patients were included. All trials utilized sorafenib as the comparator. Five trials (690 patients) compared HAIC plus sorafenib to sorafenib alone, while two trials (320 patients) compared HAIC to sorafenib. The results indicate that HAIC, with or without sorafenib, may increase OS, PFS, and ORR compared with sorafenib alone. HAIC may enhance DCR, but the evidence is very uncertain. Adverse events were comparable between HAIC plus sorafenib and sorafenib alone. However, adverse events might be decreased in HAIC alone. Discussion: HAIC with or without systemic chemotherapy may improve survival outcomes and response rates of patients with HCC. Since the current body of evidence is moderate to very low, more robust randomized trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of HAIC. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=386780, identifier CRD42023386780.

Prediction models of grip strength in adults above 65 years using Korean National Physical Fitness Award Data from 2009 to 2019.

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the best machine learning (ML) regression model for predicting grip strength in adults above 65 years using various independent variables, such as body composition, blood pressure, and physical performance. METHODS: The data comprised 107,290 participants, of whom 33.3% were male and 66.7% were female in Korean National Fitness Award Data from 2009 to 2019. The dependent variable was grip strength, which was calculated as the mean of right and left grip strength values. RESULTS: The results showed that the CatBoost Regressor had the lowest mean squared error (M [Formula: see text] SE:16.659 ± 0.549) and highest R2 value (M [Formula: see text] SE:0.719 ± 0.009) among the seven prediction models tested. The importance of independent variables in facilitating model learning was also determined, with the Figure-of-8 walk test being the most significant. These findings suggest that walking ability and grip strength are closely related, and the Figure-of- 8 walk test is a reasonable indicator of grip strength in older adults. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study can be used to develop more accurate predictive models of grip strength in older adults.

Effect of Resistance Training with Different Set Structures on Neurotrophic Factors and Obesity-Related Biomarkers in Middle-Aged Korean Women with Obesity.

This 12-week study investigates the effects of resistance training with different set structures on the plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and obesity-related markers in middle-aged Korean women with obesity. A total of 40 middle-aged women with obesity (mean age, 59.87 ± 2.80 years) were enrolled in this study; only 31 women were able to complete the 12-week exercise period. The participants were randomly divided into the following four groups: control (CON, n = 8), drop set system (Drop, n = 8), descending set system (Descend, n = 7), and ascending set system (Ascend, n = 8). Body composition was recorded, and blood samples were obtained and evaluated before and after the 12-week exercise period intervention. Two groups showed no significant differences in body weight, body fat percentage, and body mass index before and after the 12-week exercise period. However, significant differences were observed in the blood levels of BDNF, NGF, adiponectin, leptin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). BDNF and NGF showed significant differences in both time and interaction effects. Post hoc analysis revealed that the Drop group had higher BDNF and NFG levels than those of the Ascend and CON groups, while there was a significant increase in the levels of these biomarkers in the Descend and Drop groups in the time comparison. Adiponectin levels also showed significant differences in both time and interaction effects. Post hoc analysis revealed that the Drop and Descend groups had higher adiponectin levels than those of the CON group. Leptin levels decreased significantly in the Descend and Drop groups over time. GLP-1 levels showed no significant differences between the groups; however, there were significant differences in both time and interaction effects. Post hoc analysis revealed that the Drop group had lower GLP-1 levels than those of the CON group. This study suggests that resistance training with different set structures can have varying effects on the blood levels of different biomarkers in middle-aged women with obesity. These findings have implications for exercise prescription, and may provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the beneficial outcomes of resistance training in middle-aged Korean women with obesity.

Benefits of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Clinical T3-4N0 Rectal Cancer After Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy.

While the guidelines for adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for colon cancer are relatively standardized, those for early rectal cancer are still lacking. We therefore evaluated the role of AC in clinical stage II rectal cancer treatment after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Patients diagnosed with early rectal cancer (defined by clinical stage T3/4, N0) who completed CRT followed by surgery were enrolled in this retrospective study. To evaluate the role of AC, we analyzed the risk of recurrence and survival based on clinicopathologic parameters and adjuvant chemotherapy. Of the 112 patients, 11 patients (9.8%) experienced recurrence and five patients (4.8%) died. In a multivariate analysis, circumferential resection margin involvement (CRM+) on magnetic resonance imaging at diagnosis, CRM involvement following neoadjuvant therapy (ypCRM+), tumor regression grade (≤G1) and no-AC were considered poor prognostic factors for recurrence free survival (RFS). In addition, ypCRM+ and no-AC were associated with poor overall survival (OS) in the multivariate analysis. AC including 5-FU monotherapy demonstrated the benefits of reduced recurrence and prolonged survival in clinical stage II rectal cancer, even in pathologic stage following neoadjuvant therapy (ypStage) 0-I. Further prospective studies are needed to verify the benefit of each regimen of AC and the development of a method that can accurately predict CRM status before surgery, and a vigorous treatment that can induce CRM non-involvement (CRM-) should be considered even in early stages of rectal cancer.

Systematic metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the enhanced production of cinnamaldehyde.

Cinnamaldehyde (CAD) derived from cinnamon bark has received much attention for its potential as a nematicide and food additive. Previously, we have succeeded in developing an Escherichia coli strain (YHP05) capable of synthesizing cinnamaldehyde; however, the production titer (75 mg/L) was not sufficient for commercialization. Herein, to develop an economical and sustainable production bioprocess, we further engineered the YHP05 strain for non-auxotrophic, antibiotic-free, inducer-free hyperproduction of CAD using systematic metabolic engineering. First, the conversion of trans-cinnamic acid (t-CA) to CAD was improved by the co-expression of carboxylic acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) genes. Second, to prevent the spontaneous conversion of CAD to cinnamyl alcohol, 10 endogenous reductase and dehydrogenase genes were deleted. Third, all expression cassettes were integrated into the chromosomal DNA using an auto-inducible system for antibiotic- and inducer-free production. Subsequently, to facilitate CAD production, available pools of cofactors (NADPH, CoA, and ATP) were increased, and acetate pathways were deleted. With the final antibiotic-, plasmid-, and inducer-free strain (H-11MPmR), fed-batch cultivations combined with in situ product recovery (ISPR) were performed, and the production titer of CAD as high as 3.8 g/L could be achieved with 49.1 mg/L/h productivity, which is the highest CAD titer ever reported.

Translucency and masking ability of translucent zirconia; comparison with conventional zirconia and lithium disilicate.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate translucency and masking ability of translucent zirconia compared to conventional zirconia and lithium disilicate materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of zirconia blocks with different yttria contents (3Y, 4Y, 5.5Y) and LS blocks (Rosetta SM) were used. Ten specimens for each group were fabricated with 10 mm diameter, with both 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm thicknesses (± 0.02 mm). All groups of zirconia specimens were sintered and polished according to the manufacturer's instructions. To calculate the translucency parameter (TP), CIELAB value was measured with a spectrophotometer on black and white backgrounds. To investigate the color masking abilities, background shades of A2, normal dentin, discolored dentin, and titanium were used. The color difference (ΔE) was calculated with the CIELAB values of A2 shade background as a reference compared with the values in the various backgrounds. One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were conducted (P < .05). RESULTS: The TP values of zirconia specimens increased as the yttria content increased. All materials used in the study were able to adequately mask normal dentin shade (ΔE < 5.5), but were incapable of masking severely discolored dentin (ΔE > 5.5). On the titanium background, all materials of 1.5 mm thickness were able to mask the background shade, but with a thickness of 0.8 mm, only 3Y-TZP and 4Y-PSZ were able to mask titanium background. CONCLUSION: All zirconia materials and lithium disilicate specimens used in this study were unable to adequately mask the shade of severely discolored dentin. It is recommended to use 3Y-TZP or 4Y-PSZ with a sufficient thickness of 0.8 mm or more to mask titanium.

Aptasensor for Detection of Influenza-A in Human Saliva.

Access to low-cost, rapid, individualized diagnostics at point-of-care and point-of-need is vital to minimize the impact of highly infectious viruses, such as influenza. Herein, a biosensor for detecting hemagglutinin (HA), an abundant capsid protein in H1N1 viruses, is demonstrated. A gold working electrode was functionalized with a thiol-modified, HA-binding aptamer derivatized with a methylene blue modification for redox reporting. The aptamer was characterized by surface plasmon resonance to confirm its biorecognition activity for HA. The aptasensor was characterized by square wave voltammetry to quantify the sensor's response to varying concentrations of HA. The sensor exhibited a lower limit of detection of 1.5 pM with linear detection of up to 1.2 nM in both Tris buffer and simulated human saliva, thus encompassing the clinically relevant HA range in saliva. Average sensitivity was measured at 21.083 nA·nM-1in Tris and 14.5 nA·nM-1in artificial saliva across clinically relevant HA titers. Sensor stability across time was also investigated, providing a preliminary understanding of the translational viability of the aptasensors for mobile and remote diagnostic applications.

Geriatric functional assessment for decision-making on adjuvant chemotherapy in older colon cancer patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite the increasing need for geriatric assessment prior to chemotherapy, the method for this assessment remains inadequate for older cancer patients. We aimed to propose a simple assessment method to predict the performance of adjuvant chemotherapy in older patients after colon cancer surgery. METHODS: This prospective study included patients over 65 years of age who were scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy after colon cancer surgery. Before initiating chemotherapy, their functional status was assessed on the basis of activities of daily living (ADL)/instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). These parameters were analyzed with clinical characteristics and the patterns of adjuvant chemotherapy. The focus was on the completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients with a median age of 72 years were analyzed. Among them, 54 (61%) were non-impaired and 35 (39%) were impaired regarding their ADL/IADL classification. Low body mass index and impairment of ADL/IADLs were significantly associated with chemotherapy interruption. Among toxicities, fatigue and hand-foot syndrome were independent prognostic factors for chemotherapy interruption. Impairments of ADL/IADL were significantly associated with fatigue regardless of age. Based on age and ADL/IADL stratification, younger patients (≤ 72 years) and/or those who were ADL/IADL non-impaired were significantly more likely to complete adjuvant chemotherapy than older patients (> 72 years) and ADL/IADL impaired patients (p = 0.038). This was regardless of the chemotherapy regimen. CONCLUSION: Functional assessment using ADL/IADL is a convenient method to predict chemotherapy toxicity and performance. These results suggested that routine screening for ADL/IADLs could guide appropriate patient selection for the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy and predict expected outcomes.

Production of Cinnamaldehyde through Whole-Cell Bioconversion from trans-Cinnamic Acid Using Engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Cinnamaldehyde (CAD) has various applications in foods and pharmaceuticals and has gained prominence as a potent nematicide in agricultural research owing to its nematicidal activity. However, conventional methods of CAD production, including extraction from plants or organic chemical synthesis, are environmentally hazardous and limit its utilization for downstream applications. Here, we engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum as a whole-cell biocatalyst for the efficient bioconversion of trans-cinnamic acid (t-CA) into CAD. An expression module of Mycobacterium phlei carboxylic acid reductase was constructed for the conversion of t-CA to CAD. Additionally, the putative dehydrogenase-related genes (dkgA, adhC, and cg1176) responsible for the conversion of CAD to cinnamyl alcohol were deleted from the engineered C. glutamicum strain to prevent the loss of CAD. Furthermore, as the conversion is NADPH-dependent, we investigated the conversion efficiency by exchanging the putative promoter region for the zwf gene, which encodes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, with a strong promoter to increase the NADPH pool. Finally, a bioconversion platform using C. glutamicum as a whole-cell biocatalyst was developed by deleting the vdh gene, which is involved in the reverse conversion of CAD to t-CA. Taken together, a 100% conversion yield of 1.1 g/L CAD from 1.2 g/L t-CA was obtained within 30 min.

Aptamer duo-based portable electrochemical biosensors for early diagnosis of periodontal disease.

Recently, point-of-care tests (POCT) have gained much attention due to their convenient, fast, simple, and easy characteristics. For POCT, portability is an essential feature. In this study, we have successfully fabricated a portable mini-potentiostat. Using chronoamperometry, electrical signals of this portable mini-potentiostat were measured, and the analytical performance of electrochemical aptasensors was compared with a benchtop potentiostat. The electrochemical signals measured by mini-potentiostat can be displayed on the screen of a smartphone. To verify the analytical performance of this portable electrochemical aptasensor platform with a mini-potentiostat, two well-known model protein biomarkers, vaspin, a type 2 diabetes biomarker, and thrombin, a biomarker for pulmonary metastasis and cardiovascular disease, were confirmed to be detected by using corresponding aptamer duo. After solid verification of this portable electrochemical aptasensor platform, we have successfully implemented this portable mini-potentiostat system to develop a portable sandwich-type binding pair of aptamers-based electrochemical biosensor, which can diagnose periodontal disease by measuring ODAM biomarker. The linear range of this ODAM biosensor was 0 to 15 nM with a detection limit of 0.02 nM and 1 nM in buffer and saliva, respectively. The sensitivity of this biosensor has been greatly enhanced, compared to previously developed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or lateral flow assay (LFA) based aptasensors. This study showed that this new portable aptamer duo-based biosensor is expected to diagnose the early stage of periodontal diseases from real samples, such as saliva or gingival crevicular fluid in a short time as a point-of-care (POC) testing.

Production of trans-cinnamic acid by whole-cell bioconversion from L-phenylalanine in engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum.

BACKGROUND: trans-cinnamic acid (t-CA) is a phenylpropanoid with a broad spectrum of biological activities including antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and it also has high potential in food and cosmetic applications. Although significant progress has been made in the production of t-CA using microorganisms, its relatively low product titers still need to be improved. In this study, we engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum as a whole-cell catalyst for the bioconversion of L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) into t-CA and developed a repeated bioconversion process. RESULTS: An expression module based on a phenylalanine ammonia lyase-encoding gene from Streptomyces maritimus (SmPAL), which mediates the conversion of L-Phe into t-CA, was constructed in C. glutamicum. Using the strong promoter PH36 and ribosome binding site (RBS) (in front of gene 10 of the T7 phage), and a high-copy number plasmid, SmPAL could be expressed to levels as high as 39.1% of the total proteins in C. glutamicum. Next, to improve t-CA production at an industrial scale, reaction conditions including temperature and pH were optimized; t-CA production reached up to 6.7 mM/h in a bioreactor under optimal conditions (50 °C and pH 8.5, using NaOH as base solution). Finally, a recycling system was developed by coupling membrane filtration with the bioreactor, and the engineered C. glutamicum successfully produced 13.7 mM of t-CA (24.3 g) from 18.2 mM of L-Phe (36 g) and thus with a yield of 75% (0.75 mol/mol) through repetitive supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a highly efficient bioconversion process using C. glutamicum as a biocatalyst and a micromembrane-based cell recycling system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on t-CA production in C. glutamicum, and this robust platform will contribute to the development of an industrially relevant platform for the production of t-CA using microorganisms.

Treadmill exercise improves spatial learning ability by increasing cell proliferation in offspring born to maternal rats receiving stress during pregnancy.

Prenatal stress causes learning deficits by inhibiting neurogenesis in the hippocampus. We studied the effects of maternal treadmill running or offspring treadmill running on the spatial learning ability of adolescent offspring rats or adult offspring rats born to maternal rats that received stress during pregnancy. For this study, spatial learning ability was measured by radial 8-arm maze task. Immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and Western blot for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were also conducted. Stress was induced by exposing pregnant rats to hound in an enclosed room. Maternal treadmill running or treadmill running of offspring improved spatial learning ability of adolescent and adult offspring rats born to maternal rats receiving stress during pregnancy. Maternal treadmill running or treadmill running of offspring increased hippocampal cell proliferation of adolescent and adult offspring rats born to maternal rats receiving stress during pregnancy. Maternal treadmill running or treadmill running of offspring increased BDNF and TrkB expression in the hippocampus of adolescent and adult offspring rats born to maternal rats receiving stress during pregnancy. Maternal treadmill running or treadmill running of offspring inhibited Bax expression and increased Bcl-2 expression in the hippocampus of adolescent and adult offspring rats born to maternal rats receiving stress during pregnancy. Mother's exercise during pregnancy or child's exercise after childbirth can improve the spatial learning ability deteriorated due to stress during pregnancy.

Skyrmion Phase in MnSi Thin Films Grown on Sapphire by a Conventional Sputtering.

Topologically protected chiral skyrmions are an intriguing spin texture that has attracted much attention because of fundamental research and future spintronic applications. MnSi with a non-centrosymmetric structure is a well-known material hosting a skyrmion phase. To date, the preparation of MnSi crystals has been investigated by using special instruments with an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. Here, we introduce a facile way to grow MnSi films on a sapphire substrate using a relatively low vacuum environment of conventional magnetron sputtering. Although the as-grown MnSi films have a polycrystalline nature, a stable skyrmion phase in a broad range of temperatures and magnetic fields is observed via magnetotransport properties including phenomenological scaling analysis of the Hall resistivity contribution. Our findings provide not only a general way to prepare the materials possessing skyrmion phases but also insight into further research to stimulate more degrees of freedom in our inquisitiveness.

Venetoclax with Azacitidine Induced Tumor Lysis Syndrome in an Elderly Patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report.

Combination treatment with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) and venetoclax is being used increasingly in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Venetoclax with HMAs has been reported to be associated with tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) in AML patients with high leukemic burden. We present a case of an elderly AML patient with low leukemic burden who developed TLS while receiving venetoclax and azacitidine (AZA). A 74-year-old man with newly diagnosed AML with NPM1 mutation received combination therapy with venetoclax and AZA in an outpatient clinic. Within 12 hours after starting venetoclax and AZA, the patient was admitted to the emergency room with fever, general weakness, and laboratory findings consistent with TLS. Based on our results, we recommend monitoring at the start of the treatment with venetoclax and HMAs to prevent and control TLS regardless of the leukemic burden and favorable genetic risk.

Observational Study of Peritoneal Washing Cytology-Positive Gastric Cancer without Gross Peritoneal Metastasis in Patients who Underwent Radical D2 Gastrectomy.

Background The clinical features and therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer with positive peritoneal washing cytology but without visible gross peritoneal metastasis have not been defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and clinical prognostic value of postoperative chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients with positive peritoneal washing cytology without gross peritoneal metastasis who underwent radical D2 gastrectomy in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Materials and Methods Intraoperative peritoneal washing cytology was performed in 285 patients who underwent radical D2 gastrectomy between April 2004 and May 2016. Of them, 88 patients with positive cytology but without gross peritoneal metastasis were included in the study. In total, 64 patients received postoperative chemotherapy, whereas 24 patients underwent surgery only. Results Most gastric cancer patients with positive cytology without gross peritoneal metastasis demonstrated pT4 and/or pN3 disease. Postoperative chemotherapy improved DFS and OS compared to surgery only in gastric cancer patients with positive cytology without gross peritoneal metastasis (median DFS 11.63 vs. 6.98 months, p < 0.001; median OS 25.50 vs. 12.11 months, p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses of gastric cancer patients with positive cytology without gross peritoneal metastasis, no chemotherapy was the strongest clinical factor for poorer DFS (hazard ratio [HR] 3.76, p < 0.001) or OS (HR 4.37, p < 0.001). Conclusion Postoperative chemotherapy improves the survival outcome compared to surgery alone in gastric cancer patients with positive peritoneal washing cytology but without visible gross peritoneal metastasis who underwent radical D2 gastrectomy.

Integrative description of Diosaccus koreanus sp. nov. (Hexanauplia, Harpacticoida, Miraciidae) and integrative information on further Korean species.

A new species of Diosaccus Boeck, 1873 (Arthropoda, Hexanauplia, Harpacticoida) was recently discovered in Korean waters. The species was previously recognized as D. ezoensis Itô, 1974 in Korea but, here, is described as a new species, D. koreanus sp. nov., based on the following features: 1) second inner seta on exopod of fifth thoracopod apparently longest in female, 2) outer margin of distal endopodal segment of second thoracopod ornamented with long setules in male, 3) caudal seta VII located halfway from base of rami (vs. on anterior extremity in D. ezoensis), and 4) sixth thoracopod with three setae in female (vs. 2 setae in D. ezoensis). In addition, there is also a mitochondrial COI sequence difference of more than 19.93% with D. ezoensis registered in NCBI. A key to Diosaccus species of the world is also provided, and new morphological features and DNA sequences are presented for two other harpacticoid species, Parathalestris verrucosa Itô, 1970 and Peltidium quinquesetosum Song & Yun, 1999. In order to clearly identify harpacticoids at the species level, both morphological and DNA sequence characteristics should be considered.