Medical research spurred by radiation exposure is a critically important theme for modern society. Accordingly, studies of this contemporary problem should be based on a perspective that is focused on that origin, medical investigations into the effects of radiation exposure on survivors of the atomic bombs. Therefore, we organized and evaluated survey programs and research of atomic bomb survivors that have been conducted by ABCC (Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission) –RERF (Radiation Effects Research Foundation) and RIRBM (Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine) between 1949 and 1975.

ABCC established a set of carefully defined cohorts and launched an integrated research program based on three phases of pure research. That work has formed the foundation for the research that the RERF is engaged in today. And among surveys and studies worldwide that have generated fundamental data on radiation protection standards, the findings of ABCC-RERF surveys and studies have provided important information. It has thus provided various international research organizations (WHO (World Health Organization), ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection), UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation), etc.) with important information and indicators.

RIRBM has pursued studies and surveys that are distinct from the undertakings led by ABCC-RERF. RIRBM was able to do something that ABCC-RERF would have found difficult to implement: namely, flexibly launching projects on themes that directly met the needs of the local society at the time.

Atomic bomb survivors’ medical data continue to grow, from the bombing to the present, and to the future. Data sharing, joint research, and collaboration by research institutions in this field will be effective ways to foster rationally coordinated surveys and studies.

In trauma management, damage control surgery is an effective approach to decrease the incidence of preventable trauma death. In this study, we aimed to investigate the survival outcomes and clinical factors in patients undergoing damage control surgery for severe abdominal trauma, in relation to trauma severity based on the trauma and injury severity score and lethal triad (hypothermia, metabolic acidosis, and coagulopathy), to assess the indicators of mortality and criteria for performing damage control surgery. Fifteen patients with severe abdominal trauma underwent damage control surgery from January 2011 to September 2017. We compared the short-term outcomes and perioperative factors associated with the trauma and injury severity score and the lethal triad between survivors and non-survivors. Of the 15 included patients, eight (53.3%) survived and seven (46.7%) died. No preventable deaths occurred. The patient characteristics, including age, sex, and mechanism of injury were not related to survival. The injury severity score (p = 0.035) and abbreviated injury scale score of the head (p = 0.005) were significantly higher among the non-survivors than among the survivors. Of the lethal triad, the incidence of metabolic acidosis was significantly higher in the non-survivors (p < 0.050). This study found that head injury and metabolic acidosis are predictors of mortality. These indications provide a practical basis for determining whether to use damage control surgery and postoperative management.

Many previous studies on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based evaluation of muscle oxygenation, have assessed the association of muscle oxygenation with muscle fatigue and exercise tolerance. To examine the changes in oxyhemoglobin (O₂Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) levels, some studies performed occlusion of arterial blood flow in the upper arm and measured the biarticular forearm muscle oxygenation; however, these muscles are subject to contractions based on the position of the arm, which could have led to discrepancies in the findings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between muscle oxygenation and vascular occlusion in the tibialis anterior muscle during isometric exercise using NIRS. Twenty-nine women of mean age of 20.00 ± 1.56 years were included. Maximum isometric contraction performed for successive 30 sec and 60 sec was assessed under occlusive and non-occlusive conditions of the unilateral femoral artery, with and without the use of a tourniquet, at the same time. The O₂Hb level was reduced in both conditions, with a significant decrease observed earlier during an initial quarter of the exercise (p < 0.05). This significant decrease in the O₂Hb level may be due to decreased oxygenation in the muscle associated with muscle contraction, primarily during aerobic exercise. Under the occlusive condition, the total rate of increase in the HHb levels was smaller than the total rate of decrease in the O₂Hb levels. Therefore, adequate oxygen supply to meet the increased demand for the O₂Hb cannot be achieved and the increase in the HHb level is suppressed during muscle contractions.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anticancer profile of a new cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitor, UD-017, by examining its mechanism of action using HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells.

Methods: The anticancer properties of UD-017 were assessed using several assays, including in vitro kinase, proliferation, and apoptosis assays, western blot analysis, and an in vivo xenograft mouse model.

Results: UD-017 significantly inhibited CDK7 activity (IC₅₀ = 16 nM) with high selectivity in an in vitro kinase assay testing a panel of over 300 proteins and lipid kinases. UD-017 also inhibited the growth of HCT-116 cells (GI₅₀ = 19 nM) and inhibited the phosphorylation of various downstream mediators of CDK7 signaling. In cell cycle and apoptosis assays using HCT-116 cells, UD-017 increased the number of cells in both G1 and G2/M phases and induced apoptosis. In vivo, UD-017 inhibited tumor growth in an HCT-116 xenograft mouse model by 33%, 64%, and 88% at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively, with clear dose-dependency. Co-administration of 5-FU and 50 mg/kg UD-017 had a strong synergistic effect, as reflected in the complete inhibition of tumor growth.

Conclusion: CDK7 may play a major role in colorectal cancer growth by regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis. UD-017 is a promising candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer involving CDK7 signaling.