Organo-halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are lightweight and low cost, and they offer high power conversion efficiencies. PSCs have proven to be useful in terrestrial applications. In addition, ...they are particularly attractive for space applications because they can offer a higher radiation tolerance than GaAs and Si solar cells. This paper evaluates the damage coefficient for minority-carrier diffusion length K L of perovskite crystals after 1 MeV electron irradiation by time-resolved photoluminescence measurements to investigate the reason for their high radiation tolerance. Results show that perovskite crystals have a lower damage coefficient K L than that of InP crystals with a high radiation tolerance. On the other hand, first-principles calculations indicate that the displacement energy of perovskite crystals is as low as that of Si, which does not have a high radiation tolerance. The present results suggest that the annealing effect occurs for PSCs at room temperature.
A 29-year-old man with severe ulcerative colitis and gastroduodenitis was initially treated with oral mesalamine and high-dose intravenous steroid therapy; however, his epigastralgia and vomiting did ...not improve. After initiating infliximab, the patient experienced prompt improvement in symptoms and inflammation. Although steroids were effective for the colon, they proved ineffective for gastroduodenal lesions, highlighting the necessity for molecular-targeted agents, such as infliximab, in these cases. The timing for administering such agents should be carefully considered.
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel fully covered self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) with dumbbell-shaped flare ends for the palliation of distal biliary obstruction (DBO) due to ...unresectable pancreatic cancer (UPC). Patients with DBO due to UPC who received the novel HILZO fully covered stent (HFS), the WALLFLEX partially covered stent (WPS) or fully covered stent (WFS) were analyzed. The incidence of recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), time to RBO (TRBO), and the incidence of complications were compared among the three SEMS groups. Eighty-four patients (HFS, n = 36; WPS, n = 20; WFS, n = 28) were included. The incidence of RBO was low in the HFS group (versus the WPS and WFS group, p = 0.033 and 0.023, respectively). TRBO in the HFS group was longer than that in the WFS group (p = 0.049). Placement of the HFS was an independent factor for long TRBO in multivariable analysis (p = 0.040). The incidence of pancreatitis and cholecystitis in the HFS group was low (one for each). It is recommended to use the HFS for the palliation of DBO due to UPC from the viewpoint of the low incidence of RBO and complications.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that transtibial pullout repair led to favorable midterm outcomes in patients with medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) although medial meniscal extrusion ...(MME) continued to be present. It has been unclear whether these residual postoperative MMEs existed after the pullout repair or had progressed at the very short-term evaluation after surgery. We sought to determine which characteristics of patients with MMPRTs influence the incidence of postoperative MME. The cases of 23 patients whose date of injury was known were analyzed. All patients underwent MMPRT pullout fixation. Preoperative and 3-month postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed. MME was retrospectively assessed on the mid-coronal plane of MRI scans. The preoperative and postoperative MME values were 4.2±1.2 mm and 4.3±1.5 mm, respectively (p=0.559). Pullout repair surgery was performed significantly earlier after the MMPRT-specific injury in patients whose postoperative MME improved compared to the patients whose MME did not improve (p<0.001). Our findings demonstrated that an early transtibial pullout repair of an MMPRT was more effective in reducing MME than a late repair. Surgeons should not miss the optimal timing for the pullout repair of an MMPRT, considering the period from the injury and the preoperative MME.
Purpose Fluidity in the sit-to-walk task has been quantitatively measured with three-dimensional motion analysis system. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of an ...accelerometer-based method for estimating fluidity in community-dwelling elderly individuals. Subjects and Methods Seventeen community-dwelling elderly females performed a sit-to-walk task. The motion was recorded by an accelerometer, a three-dimensional motion analysis system and a foot pressure sensor simultaneously. The timings of events determined from the acceleration waveform were compared to the timings determined from the three-dimensional motion analysis data (task onset, maximum trunk inclination) or foot pressure sensor data (first heel strike). Regression analysis was used to estimate the fluidity index from the duration between events. Results The characteristics of the acceleration waveform were similar to those previously reported in younger adults. Comparisons of event timings from accelerometer and motion analysis system data indicated no systematic bias. Regression analysis showed that the duration from maximum trunk inclination to the first heel strike was the best predictor of fluidity index. Conclusion An accelerometer-based method using the duration between characteristic events may be used to precisely and conveniently assess fluidity in a sit-to-walk task in a community setting.
Introduction
Metastasectomy of oligometastatic prostate cancer has the potential to contribute to improving prognosis. We report on a case of metastasectomy of solitary liver tumor after radical ...prostatectomy.
Case presentation
An 80‐year‐old man underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, followed by radiotherapy after the operation because of increased serum prostate‐specific antigen levels of 0.529 ng/mL. Levels increased further to 0.997 ng/mL even after salvage therapy. The patient then received androgen deprivation therapy. Levels remained stable for 3 years, but rapidly increased to 19.781 ng/mL in the following 6 months. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a solitary liver tumor, and no metastasis to other sites was identified. The patient underwent liver segmentectomy. Microscopic examination of excised specimens revealed prostate cancer cells. Five years after surgery, serum prostate‐specific antigen maintained to the lowest level so far.
Conclusion
Metastasectomy might be a beneficial therapeutic option to improve the prognosis for solitary metastasis from prostate cancer.
Enzalutamide (ENZ) is used in the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The quality of life (QoL) of CRPC patients during ENZ treatment is very important, but ...predictive markers of QoL have not been identified. We investigated the relationship between the serum testosterone (T) level before ENZ treatment and QoL changes in CRPC patients.
This prospective study was conducted between 2014 and 2018 at Gunma University Hospital and related facilities. We analyzed 95 patients in whom QoL could be evaluated using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) questionnaire at baseline, and after 4 and 12 weeks of ENZ treatment. Serum T levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
The study population of 95 patients had a median age of 72 years and median prostate-specific antigen level of 21.6 ng/mL. The median overall survival from the commencement of ENZ treatment was 26.8 months. The median serum T level before ENZ treatment was 50.0 pg/mL. The mean total FACT-P scores at baseline, and after 4 and 12 weeks of ENZ treatment, were 95.8, 91.7, and 90.1, respectively. Differences in FACT-P scores between the high T level (High-T) group and low T level (Low-T) group (distinguished based on median split of the T level) were examined. The mean FACT-P scores were significantly higher in the High-T than Low-T group after both 4 and 12 weeks of ENZ treatment (98.5 vs. 84.6 and 96.4 vs. 82.2, respectively, both p < 0.05). The mean FACT-P score was significantly lower in the Low-T group after 12 weeks than before ENZ treatment (p < 0.05).
The serum T level before treatment may be useful for predicting QoL changes after ENZ treatment in CRPC patients.
We herein report a rare case of idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH)-like disease that developed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). A 53-year-old woman who ...underwent allo-HSCT for acute myeloid leukemia showed portal hypertension with radiological and histopathological findings consistent with IPH, distinct from veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the liver. This case highlights the importance of considering IPH-like disease as a potential cause of portal hypertension after allo-HSCT. Awareness of this complication can aid in the early diagnosis and appropriate management of patients post allo-HSCT.
In 2001-2002, six of seven Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) died after developing hemorrhagic syndrome at the Kyoto University Primate Research Institute (KUPRI). While the cause of death was ...unknown at the time, we detected simian retrovirus 4 (SRV-4) in samples obtained from a similar outbreak in 2008-2011, during which 42 of 43 Japanese macaques died after exhibiting hemorrhagic syndrome. In this study, we isolated SRV-4 strain PRI-172 from a Japanese macaque showing severe thrombocytopenia. When inoculated into four Japanese macaques, the isolate induced severe thrombocytopenia in all within 37 days. We then constructed an infectious molecular clone of strain PRI-172, termed pSR415, and inoculated the clone-derived virus into two Japanese macaques. These animals also developed severe thrombocytopenia in just 31 days after inoculation, and the virus was reisolated from blood, bone marrow, and stool. At necropsy, we observed bleeding from the gingivae and subcutaneous bleeding in all animals. SRV-4 infected a variety of tissues, especially in digestive organs, including colon and stomach, as determined by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, we identified the SRV-4 receptor as ASCT2, a neutral amino acid transporter. ASCT2 mRNA was expressed in a variety of tissues, and the distribution of SRV-4 proviruses in infected Japanese macaques correlated well with the expression levels of ASCT2 mRNA. From these results, we conclude that the causative agent of hemorrhagic syndrome in KUPRI Japanese macaques was SRV-4, and its receptor is ASCT2.
During two separate outbreaks at the KUPRI, in 2001-2002 and 2008-2011, 96% of Japanese macaques (JM) that developed an unknown hemorrhagic syndrome died. Here, we isolated SRV-4 from a JM developing thrombocytopenia. The SRV-4 isolate and a molecularly cloned SRV-4 induced severe thrombocytopenia in virus-inoculated JMs within 37 days. At necropsy, we observed bleeding from gingivae and subcutaneous bleeding in all affected JMs and reisolated SRV-4 from blood, bone marrow, and stool. The distribution of SRV-4 proviruses in tissues correlated with the mRNA expression levels of ASCT2, which we identified as the SRV-4 receptor. From these results, we conclude that SRV-4 was the causative agent of hemorrhagic syndrome in JMs in KUPRI.
This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the anatomical differences of the teeth (differences in tooth locations and types) and the degree of progression of periodontitis. We ...examined whether the stages and grades of periodontitis according to the classification system of the American Academy of Periodontology/European Federation of Periodontology might vary according to the tooth type.Over a period of 5 years, we evaluated the clinical attachment loss, probing depth, tooth loss, and degree of tooth mobility of 99,277 teeth of 1,375 Japanese patients with periodontitis. We calculated the number of teeth in each category according to whether they were classified the teeth into maxillary or mandibular teeth, teeth on the right or left sides, and anterior, premolar or molar teeth for the analyses in this study.Differences in the staging were found between the maxillary and mandibular teeth, and among the anteriors, premolars and molars, whereas almost no differences were found between the right and left sides. Periodontitis progresses rapidly to a significantly greater degree of severity in the maxillary teeth and molar teeth than in the mandibular or other types of teeth.These differences depending on the tooth locations and types need to be considered when classifying the stages of periodontitis according to the new classification system.
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