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Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome has been implicated in the onset and progression of periodontal diseases. An altered oral microbiome can significantly affect the concentration and composition ratio of bacterial-derived metabolites, thereby contributing to disease development. However, there is limited research on the role of metabolites derived from the oral microbiota. This study aimed to identify specific bacteria-derived metabolites and their contributions to pathogenicity. Mouth-rinsed water was collected from 24 patients with periodontal disease and 22 healthy individuals. We conducted a correlation analysis between periodontal disease-associated bacteria and metabolites present in mouth-rinsed water. We evaluated the effects of these metabolites on human gingival epithelial cells analysis of oral bacteria culture supernatants confirmed the origin of these metabolites. We identified 20 metabolites associated with bacteria that are significantly more prevalent in periodontal disease. Notably, propionate, succinate, citrulline, and homoserine—metabolites derived from the oral microbiome—were identified as being associated with periodontal disease. These results suggested that metabolites derived from the oral microbiota are involved in periodontal disease.

Enzalutamide (ENZ) and abiraterone plus prednisolone (ABI) can improve the survival of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, the agent that is more effective against nonmetastatic CRPC remains unclear. To evaluate the agent that can be used as the first-line treatment for CRPC, an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (ENABLE Study for PCa) including both metastatic and nonmetastatic CRPC was conducted in Japan. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate, overall survival, some essential survival endpoints, and safety of patients with nonmetastatic CRPC were also analyzed. In this subanalysis, 15 and 26 patients in the ENZ and ABI arms, respectively, presented with nonmetastatic CRPC. There was no significant difference in terms of the PSA response rate between the ENZ and ABI arms (80% and 64%, respectively; p = 0.3048). The overall survival did not significantly differ between the two arms (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.22–2.14, p = 0.5260). No significant differences were observed in terms of radiographic progression-free survival and cancer-specific survival between the ENZ and ABI arms (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.35–1.84; p = 0.6056 and HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.19–2.73; p = 0.6443, respectively). Only four and six patients in the ENZ and ABI arms, respectively, had ≥grade 3 adverse events. ABI and ENZ had similar efficacy and safety profiles in patients with nonmetastatic CRPC.

The human immune system consists of a balance between immune surveillance against non-self antigens and tolerance of self-antigens. CD8⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are the main players for immune surveillance and tolerance, respectively. We examined immunohistochemically the immunological balance at the tumor site using 94 surgically resected colorectal cancer tissues. Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)⁺ cells were considered to be Tregs in the present study. The number of intratumoral FOXP3⁺ cells (itFOXP3⁺ cells) was positively correlated with lymph node metastases (P = 0.030). itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio negatively correlated with pathological stages (P = 0.048). Next, relationship between the number of itCD8⁺ T cells or itFOXP3⁺ cells and survival prognosis in 94 patients who underwent a curative resection was analyzed. Only itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio positively correlated with disease-free survival (0.023) and overall survival (P = 0.010). Multivariate analysis indicated that itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio is an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.035) of overall survival. The number of itFOXP3⁺ cells positively correlated with transforming growth factor-beta TGF-β production at the tumor site (P = 0.020). In conclusion, itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio is a predictive marker for both disease-free survival time and overall survival time in patients with colorectal cancer. Importantly, itCD8⁺ T/itFOXP3⁺ cell ratio may be an independent prognostic factor. And, tumor-producing TGF-β may contribute to the increased number of itFOXP3⁺ cells.

Background Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare variety of a kidney neoplasm. We report a case of bilateral Xp11.2 translocation RCC occurring metachronously and discuss this very rare entity with reference to the literature. Case presentation The patient was a 56-year-old woman who presented with a right renal tumor. The patient had undergone left radical nephrectomy 7 years previously, which resulted in a histopathological diagnosis of clear cell RCC. Open right partial nephrectomy was performed under the presumptive diagnosis of recurrence of clear cell RCC. The present right renal tumor was pathologically diagnosed Xp11.2 translocation RCC. More than 70% of the tumor cells in the present right tumor were strongly positive for transcription factor E3 (TFE3) expression by immunohistochemical analysis with an anti-TFE3 antibody. A break-apart of the TFE3 genes in the bilateral tumors was identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Real time-polymerase chain reaction analysis for the alveolar soft part sarcoma locus-TFE3 fusion gene was performed, which gave a positive result in the bilateral tumors. Pathological comparison of each of the tumors might lead to a final diagnosis of Xp11.2 translocation RCC occurring metachronously. Conclusions We present the bilateral Xp11.2 translocation RCC. A combination of immunohistochemical, cytogenetic and molecular biological approaches allowed the final diagnosis of such a rare RCC.

Recently, it was reported that Hh signaling is activated in tumor stromal cells but not in tumor cells themselves and that stromal cells may play a role in the proliferation of cancer cells. This suggests the possibility that stromal cells have an important role in the proliferation of tumor cells that may be mediated through Hh signaling. In this report, we present for the first time that inflammation-stimulated monocytes produce Shh through activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and that the Shh produced promotes the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells in a paracrine manner through Hh signaling.

The density and surface tension of water in small pores of silicas have been investigated. These physical properties of water in the pores were calculated from a comparison of pore volumes and pore radii which were estimated from adsorption and desorption isotherms of nitrogen and water. Below a pore radius of about 5nm both the density and the surface tension of water in the pores were smaller than those of the bulk liquid and decreased with a decrease in pore size. The density of water in the pores decreased with an increase in the concentration of surface hydroxyl groups. Similarly the surface tension of water in the pores is influenced by the surface hydroxyl groups. Anomalous changes in the density and surface tension of the water in the pores are attributed to the interaction of water molecules with surface hydroxyl groups and hydrogen-bond formation among water molecules.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Interlayer hydroxyl groups of layered silicate kanemite have been modified with trimethylsilyl groups by the reaction between the hydroxyl groups and trimethylchlorosilane. Expansion of the interlayer space by intercalation of dimethyldialkylammonium ions into the silicate layers enables the silylating reagent to access the hydroxyl groups. An increase in specific surface areas was observed with increasing concentration of trimethylsilyl groups. This result suggests that the interlayer space of kanemite can be used as an effective molecular adsorption space by weakening the interaction between the interlayer hydrogen bonds of hydroxyl groups. The modification of kanemite with trimethylsilyl groups restricted the adsorption of water below a monolayer capacity and was favorable for benzene adsorption.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

We have investigated a practical lower limit of a pore-size estimation by the nitrogen desorption isotherms at 77K using the Kelvin equation. Changes in pore size of porous silica glasses before and after the monolayer preadsorption of n-propylalcohol were estimated by measuring the nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms. These changes should correspond to the thickness of monolayer of adsorbed n-propylalcohol. The thickness of monolayers obtained for the samples whose pore sizes are below ca. 2 nm were underestimated, when the Kelvin equation was applied to the nitrogen desorption isotherms using the values of surface tension and molar volume of bulk liquid nitrogen at 77K. Below ca. 2 nm pore radius a careful application of the Kelvin equation is required to estimate a pore size. These results suggest that a change in the physical properties of liquid nitrogen in such a small pore occurs. It is supposed that the interaction between the solid surface and adsorbate molecules causes the changes in the surface tension and density of liquid nitrogen in such a narrow pore.