Purpose: To assess the feasibility and short-term efficacy of maintenance enzalutamide following first-line docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with high-volume, metastatic castration-naive prostate cancer (mCNPC). Materials and Methods: The present study included 38 consecutive patients with mCNPC who did not have disease progression with ADT plus docetaxel between October 2022 and October 2023. Patients received a switch maintenance therapy with enzalutamide until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. Endpoints included time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression and safety. Results: Among the 38 patients, the median age was 68 years, and the most frequently observed metastatic site was bone (n=36), followed by lymph nodes (n=28), lung (n=8), and liver (n=1). The median duration of firstline docetaxel was 2.8 months (range, 2.7–5.0 months). At the time of commencing maintenance enzalutamide, the median PSA was 3.2 ng/mL (range, 0.01–258 ng/mL). Maintenance enzalutamide was generally welltolerated. A total of 11 patients (28%) discontinued enzalutamide, and the main reasons included adverse events (prolonged fatigue of grade 1 or 2, n=6), disease progression (n=3) and financial burdens (n=2). Median time to PSA progression was not reached, and 93% were PSA progression-free at 12 months. Conclusions Maintenance enzalutamide is a feasible treatment option with potential clinical benefit for patients with high-volume mCNPC who were progression-free after first-line ADT+docetaxel.

Background and Objectives: We analyzed the treatment results and prognostic factors of stage IV oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) patients and explored the existence of subgroups with distinctive prognoses. In addition, the outcome of salvage therapy was analyzed in recurrent cases, and the survival rates and prognostic factors were investigated.Subjects and Method This study was conducted on patients who were diagnosed with OTSCC and underwent surgery at our hospital between June 2005 and January 2020. A total of 144 patients with stage IV OTSCC was enrolled. Results: A total of 64 recurrences, local (6), regional (21), distant metastasis (33), and locoregional (4), occurred. Seventy-five patients died because of disease progression during the course of study. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 54.5%, and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 49.2%. Surgical margins, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), T classification, and lymph nodes (LNs) metastasis exhibited significant correlation with mortality. LVI and advanced T were statistically important factors for predicting distant metastasis. The treatment outcome of the T4N0 patient group without LN metastasis fared the best, while the treatment outcome of the T4N1-3 patient group with advanced T and N findings was the worst. Conclusion The major type of treatment failure in stage IV OTSCC patients was distant metastasis, and the related predictors of distant metastasis were LVI and advanced T. In the stage IV OTSCC patient group, there were subgroups with distinct prognosis according to the combination of T and N classification. The T4N0 group had the best survival rate, and the T4N1-3 group had the worst prognosis.

Background and Objectives: We analyzed the treatment results and prognostic factors of stage IV oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) patients and explored the existence of subgroups with distinctive prognoses. In addition, the outcome of salvage therapy was analyzed in recurrent cases, and the survival rates and prognostic factors were investigated.Subjects and Method This study was conducted on patients who were diagnosed with OTSCC and underwent surgery at our hospital between June 2005 and January 2020. A total of 144 patients with stage IV OTSCC was enrolled. Results: A total of 64 recurrences, local (6), regional (21), distant metastasis (33), and locoregional (4), occurred. Seventy-five patients died because of disease progression during the course of study. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 54.5%, and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 49.2%. Surgical margins, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), T classification, and lymph nodes (LNs) metastasis exhibited significant correlation with mortality. LVI and advanced T were statistically important factors for predicting distant metastasis. The treatment outcome of the T4N0 patient group without LN metastasis fared the best, while the treatment outcome of the T4N1-3 patient group with advanced T and N findings was the worst. Conclusion The major type of treatment failure in stage IV OTSCC patients was distant metastasis, and the related predictors of distant metastasis were LVI and advanced T. In the stage IV OTSCC patient group, there were subgroups with distinct prognosis according to the combination of T and N classification. The T4N0 group had the best survival rate, and the T4N1-3 group had the worst prognosis.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Objective: To determine the clinical impact of the baseline sagittal imbalance severity in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent ≥ 5-level fusion including the pelvis, for ASD with a ≥ 2-year follow-up. Using the Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab classification system, patients were classified into 3 groups according to the severity of the preoperative sagittal imbalance: mild, moderate, and severe. Postoperative clinical and radiographic results were compared among the 3 groups. Results: A total of 259 patients were finally included. There were 42, 62, and 155 patients in the mild, moderate, and severe groups, respectively. The perioperative surgical burden was greatest in the severe group. Postoperatively, this group also showed the largest pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis mismatch, suggesting a tendency towards undercorrection. No statistically significant differences were observed in proximal junctional kyphosis, proximal junctional failure, or rod fractures among the groups. Visual analogue scale for back pain and Scoliosis Research Society-22 scores were similar across groups. However, severe group’s last follow-up Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores significantly lower than those of the severe group. Conclusion Patients with severe sagittal imbalance were treated with more invasive surgical methods along with increased the perioperative surgical burden. All patients exhibited significant radiological and clinical improvements after surgery. However, regarding ODI, the severe group demonstrated slightly worse clinical outcomes than the other groups, probably due to relatively higher proportion of undercorrection. Therefore, more rigorous correction is necessary to achieve optimal sagittal alignment specifically in patients with severe baseline sagittal imbalance.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Objective: To determine the clinical impact of the baseline sagittal imbalance severity in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent ≥ 5-level fusion including the pelvis, for ASD with a ≥ 2-year follow-up. Using the Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab classification system, patients were classified into 3 groups according to the severity of the preoperative sagittal imbalance: mild, moderate, and severe. Postoperative clinical and radiographic results were compared among the 3 groups. Results: A total of 259 patients were finally included. There were 42, 62, and 155 patients in the mild, moderate, and severe groups, respectively. The perioperative surgical burden was greatest in the severe group. Postoperatively, this group also showed the largest pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis mismatch, suggesting a tendency towards undercorrection. No statistically significant differences were observed in proximal junctional kyphosis, proximal junctional failure, or rod fractures among the groups. Visual analogue scale for back pain and Scoliosis Research Society-22 scores were similar across groups. However, severe group’s last follow-up Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores significantly lower than those of the severe group. Conclusion Patients with severe sagittal imbalance were treated with more invasive surgical methods along with increased the perioperative surgical burden. All patients exhibited significant radiological and clinical improvements after surgery. However, regarding ODI, the severe group demonstrated slightly worse clinical outcomes than the other groups, probably due to relatively higher proportion of undercorrection. Therefore, more rigorous correction is necessary to achieve optimal sagittal alignment specifically in patients with severe baseline sagittal imbalance.

Background and Objectives: We analyzed the treatment results and prognostic factors of stage IV oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) patients and explored the existence of subgroups with distinctive prognoses. In addition, the outcome of salvage therapy was analyzed in recurrent cases, and the survival rates and prognostic factors were investigated.Subjects and Method This study was conducted on patients who were diagnosed with OTSCC and underwent surgery at our hospital between June 2005 and January 2020. A total of 144 patients with stage IV OTSCC was enrolled. Results: A total of 64 recurrences, local (6), regional (21), distant metastasis (33), and locoregional (4), occurred. Seventy-five patients died because of disease progression during the course of study. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 54.5%, and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 49.2%. Surgical margins, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), T classification, and lymph nodes (LNs) metastasis exhibited significant correlation with mortality. LVI and advanced T were statistically important factors for predicting distant metastasis. The treatment outcome of the T4N0 patient group without LN metastasis fared the best, while the treatment outcome of the T4N1-3 patient group with advanced T and N findings was the worst. Conclusion The major type of treatment failure in stage IV OTSCC patients was distant metastasis, and the related predictors of distant metastasis were LVI and advanced T. In the stage IV OTSCC patient group, there were subgroups with distinct prognosis according to the combination of T and N classification. The T4N0 group had the best survival rate, and the T4N1-3 group had the worst prognosis.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Objective: To determine the clinical impact of the baseline sagittal imbalance severity in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent ≥ 5-level fusion including the pelvis, for ASD with a ≥ 2-year follow-up. Using the Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab classification system, patients were classified into 3 groups according to the severity of the preoperative sagittal imbalance: mild, moderate, and severe. Postoperative clinical and radiographic results were compared among the 3 groups. Results: A total of 259 patients were finally included. There were 42, 62, and 155 patients in the mild, moderate, and severe groups, respectively. The perioperative surgical burden was greatest in the severe group. Postoperatively, this group also showed the largest pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis mismatch, suggesting a tendency towards undercorrection. No statistically significant differences were observed in proximal junctional kyphosis, proximal junctional failure, or rod fractures among the groups. Visual analogue scale for back pain and Scoliosis Research Society-22 scores were similar across groups. However, severe group’s last follow-up Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores significantly lower than those of the severe group. Conclusion Patients with severe sagittal imbalance were treated with more invasive surgical methods along with increased the perioperative surgical burden. All patients exhibited significant radiological and clinical improvements after surgery. However, regarding ODI, the severe group demonstrated slightly worse clinical outcomes than the other groups, probably due to relatively higher proportion of undercorrection. Therefore, more rigorous correction is necessary to achieve optimal sagittal alignment specifically in patients with severe baseline sagittal imbalance.