Background Endoscopic transoral thyroidectomy is a recently introduced technique of remote access thyroidectomy. We previously reported the feasibility of the robotic approach (TORT). Nevertheless, experience to date is limited, with scant data on outcomes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Patients with PTC, who underwent TORT at a single center between March 2016 and February 2017, were analyzed. Results There were a total of 100 patients (85 women, 15 men) with a mean age of 40.7 ± 9.8 years, and a mean tumor size of 0.8 ± 0.5 cm. Nine patients underwent a total thyroidectomy, and 91 underwent a lobectomy. The operative time for a total thyroidectomy and lobectomy was 270.0 ± 9.3 and 210.8 ± 32.9 min, respectively. Ipsilateral prophylactic central neck compartment dissection was performed routinely with retrieval of 5.0 ± 3.6 lymph nodes. Perioperative morbidity was present in nine patients including transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (n = 1), postoperative bleeding requiring surgical intervention (n = 1), zygomatic bruising (n = 2), chin flap perforation (n = 1), oral commissure tearing (n = 2), and chin dimpling (n = 2). There was no conversion to endoscopic or conventional open thyroid surgery. Conclusion In this study, TORT could be safely performed in a large series of patients with PTC without serious complications. In selected patients, TORT by experienced surgeons could be considered an alternative approach for remote access thyroidectomy.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria through the abuse and long-term use of antibiotics is a serious health problem worldwide. Therefore, novel antimicrobial agents that can cure an infection from MDR bacteria, especially gram-negative bacteria, are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides, part of the innate immunity system, have been studied to find bactericidal agents potent against MDR bacteria. However, they have many problems, such as restrained systemic activity and cytotoxicity. In a previous study, we suggested that the K58–R78 domain of Romo1, a mitochondrial protein encoded by the nucleus, was a promising treatment candidate for sepsis caused by MDR bacteria. Here, we performed sequence optimization to enhance the antimicrobial activity of this peptide and named it as AMPR-22 (antimicrobial peptide derived from Romo1). It showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against 17 sepsis-causing bacteria, including MDR strains, by inducing membrane permeabilization. Moreover, treatment with AMPR-22 enabled a remarkable survival rate in mice injected with MDR bacteria in a murine model of sepsis. Based on these results, we suggest that AMPR-22 could be prescribed as a first-line therapy (prior to bacterial identification) for patients diagnosed with sepsis.

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Purpose Trastuzumab is effective in early and advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. However, few studies have reported the effect of trastuzumab on ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), whose incidence is higher in the HER2-positive subtype than in other subtypes. Methods We retrospectively investigated 959 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS), chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer between 2000 and 2017. IBTR was compared between the patients who received neoadjuvant or adjuvant trastuzumab (Tmab group) for a total duration of 1 year and those who received no trastuzumab (N-Tmab group). Results Propensity score matching designated 426 and 142 patients in the Tmab and N-Tmab groups, respectively. The median follow-up period for all patients after matching was 73.79 months. The IBTR-free survival rate was significantly higher in the Tmab group than in the N-Tmab group (10-year IBTR-free survival rate, 92.9% vs. 87.3%; p = 0.002). The multivariate analysis showed a significant association between the N-Tmab and Tmab group (hazard ratio, 3.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–8.59) and IBTR in addition to close or positive resection margin and hormone receptor (HR) positivity. The subgroup analysis showed that adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab significantly reduced IBTR among the patients with HR-negative or lymph node-negative breast cancer. Conclusion Significantly reduced IBTR after BCS was observed in the patients who received 1 year of adjuvant/neoadjuvant trastuzumab treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) p7 is known to be a nonselective cation channel for HCV maturation. Because the interaction of HCV proteins with host lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is crucial for the budding process, the identification of p7–lipid interactions could be important for understanding the HCV life cycle. Here, we report that p7 interacts with phosphatidylserine (PS) to induce membrane permeabilization. The interaction of p7 with PS was not inhibited by Gd3+ ions, which have been known to interact with negatively charged lipids, but channel activity and p7-induced mitochondrial depolarization were inhibited by Gd3+ ions. From the present results, we suggest that the p7–PS interaction plays an essential role in regulating its ion channel function and could be a potential molecular target for anti-HCV therapy.