Publications by authors named "Saji"

Using the solid-state reaction technique, varied YSiO phosphors activated by europium (Eu) ions at varied concentrations were made at calcination temperatures of 1000 °C and 1250 °C during sintering in an air environment. The XRD technique identified the monoclinic structure, and the FTIR technique was used to analyze the generated phosphors. Photoluminescence emission and excitation patterns were measured using varying concentrations of Eu ions.

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Ever since de Saussure [Course in General Lingustics (Columbia University Press, 1916)], theorists of language have assumed that the relation between form and meaning of words is arbitrary. However, recently, a body of empirical research has established that language is embodied and contains iconicity. Sound symbolism, an intrinsic link language users perceive between word sound and properties of referents, is a representative example of iconicity in language and has offered profound insights into theories of language pertaining to language processing, language acquisition, and evolution.

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Purpose: Trastuzumab-pertuzumab (HP) plus taxane is a current standard first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)+ breast cancer (BC). We investigated noninferiority of eribulin to a taxane when combined with dual HER2 blockade as first-line systemic treatment for locally advanced/metastatic HER2+ BC.

Methods: In the phase III EMERALD trial (target sample size, 480; ClinicalTrials.

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Archived FFPE cardiac tissue specimens are valuable for molecular studies aimed at identifying biomarkers linked to mortality in cardiovascular disease. Establishing a reliable and reproducible RNA extraction method is critical for generating high-quality transcriptome sequences for molecular assays. Here, the efficiency of four RNA extraction methods: Qiagen AllPrep DNA/RNA method (Method QP); Qiagen AllPrep DNA/RNA method with protocol modification on the ethanol wash step after deparaffinization (Method QE); CELLDATA RNA extraction (Method BP) and CELLDATA RNA extraction with protocol modifications on the lysis step (Method BL) was compared on 23 matching FFPE cardiac tissue specimens (n = 92).

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Background: Guidelines recommend palliative care (PC) for patients with heart failure. However, little research has been performed assessing the effect of PC consultation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of PC consultation on symptom burden and health care utilization among individuals with HFpEF during the last 3 years of their lives.

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Background: A small mitral valve area (MVA) is one of the challenging anatomies for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation, but the relationship between baseline MVA and clinical outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association of baseline MVA with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TEER with MitraClip from the OCEAN-Mitral registry (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention-Mitral).

Methods: A total of 1768 patients undergoing TEER were divided into 3 groups according to baseline MVA: group 1: <4.

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Background: Complex segmentectomy for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) remains controversial due to procedural complexity and the risk of increased complications, unlike multiportal VATS. Demonstrating the perioperative results and proficiency of individual surgeon is believed to influence future dissemination for uniportal VATS. In this study, we aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes and learning curves of complex versus simple segmentectomy for uniportal VATS.

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Aim: To clarify the current situation and outcomes of vasa previa (VP) in Japan.

Methods: A questionnaire survey on VP was conducted at all 408 perinatal centers in Japan. The content of the survey included (1) the management strategy for pregnant women who were diagnosed with VP and (2) the number and outcomes of VP cases managed between January 2020 and December 2022.

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Objectives: Morphine is the cornerstone of pain management in a palliative care setting. Nausea with or without vomiting usually occurs when patients are initiated on morphine for the 1 time or when the dose is substantially increased.

Materials And Methods: A total of 90 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into two groups of 45 each.

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Purpose: Cardiac dysfunction as a result of anthracycline treatment is a major concern regarding the management of patient life after therapy. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical characteristics of cancer patients at high risk of developing cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), in order to improve the risk management for the appropriate treatment.

Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study of patients with breast cancer who underwent anthracycline treatment and had regular consultations with cardiologists.

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Article Synopsis
  • Co-infections with multiple HPV genotypes in Japan are linked to increased sexual activity, with a study analyzing data from 8,128 women under 40 diagnosed with cervical abnormalities from 2012 to 2023.
  • Significant declines in multiple HPV infections were observed across different categories of cervical disease (CIN1/2, CIN3/AIS, ICC) over the past decade.
  • The study suggests that this decline may correlate with reduced sexual activity among Japanese women, as indicated by a survey of sexual behavior showing a strong link between the number of sexual partners and increased HPV infections.
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Background: Research on the impact of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is limited.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and clinical implications of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after LAAC using the WATCHMAN device.

Methods: We analyzed 1350 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing LAAC using the WATCHMAN device from the OCEAN-LAAC registry, which is a prospective ongoing, multicenter Japanese registry.

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We present a portable polarimeter capable of real-time visualization of partial and fully polarized light over a broad band of wavelengths. Our system utilizes a Raspberry Pi computer with a low-cost data acquisition "HAT" and an integrated photodetection circuit. Wide bandwidth operation is achieved through digital calibration of an arbitrary retardance waveplate presented herein.

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Aim: Injudicious usage of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistance which is a major health-care problem in developing countries such as India. Our aim was to show how antibiotic therapy based on serial procalcitonin (PCT) assay can help in antibiotic de-escalation in septic patients.

Materials And Methods: A pre-post interventional study was conducted among 300 septic patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU).

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  • This study explores the relationship between handgrip strength and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for heart issues, suggesting that weaker grip strength could indicate a higher risk of death post-procedure.
  • It includes data from the OCEAN-Mitral Registry, which analyzed handgrip tests of 2077 patients before TEER, with follow-ups showing varied changes in strength based on the success of the procedure.
  • The findings suggest that improving mitral regurgitation (MR) post-TEER can positively impact frailty and resilience, making this research a significant insight into patient outcomes in heart-related treatments.
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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined how left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) changes after a specific heart valve repair procedure called transcatheter edge-to-edge valve repair (TEER) in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR).
  • Findings revealed that 32% of patients experienced worsened LVEF after the procedure, linked to increased end-systolic volumes in the heart and certain predictors like higher LVEF and levels of B-type natriuretic peptide.
  • Despite the LVEF worsening, long-term outcomes (like death or hospitalization for heart failure) were similar for both patients with worsened and preserved LVEF, indicating that LVEF change might not significantly impact overall health results post-TEER
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A few studies have reported on the variability of the variant allele frequency (VAF) of gene mutations and the relationship between VAF and the therapeutic effect of molecular-targeted drugs. This joint study was conducted from May 2020 to January 2022 between St. Marianna University School of Medicine and the DNA Chip Research Institute.

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Patients with epilepsy often require long-term treatment with antiseizure medications, and their impact on daily activities, particularly driving, is of significant concern. The recently published "Guideline for Evaluating Effects of Psychotropic Drugs on the Performance to Drive a Motor Vehicle" in Japan provides a framework that can be referred to for not only the evaluation of new drugs but also the reevaluation of approved drugs. This study conducted a literature review regarding the effects of carbamazepine, valproate, lamotrigine, lacosamide, and levetiracetam, which are frequently prescribed for epilepsy, on driving performance following the guideline's tiered evaluation approach.

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Background: The immunostimulatory actions of innate and adaptive immune responses play a crucial role in the cancer-immunity cycle. Although cervical cancer (CC) exhibits a high recurrence rate, the relation with lymphocytes in the tumor tissue have not been analyzed.

Methods: We analyzed NKT, NK, and T cells, not only in peripheral blood (PB), but also tumor tissue through histological analysis from 23 patients with CC collected before treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) helps reduce stroke and bleeding events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, particularly those who cannot take anticoagulants, but patients with heart failure remain at risk.
  • In a study involving 937 patients, researchers evaluated the effect of baseline plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels on outcomes after LAAC, with 98% of the procedures being successfully completed.
  • Results showed that higher baseline plasma BNP levels were linked to an increased risk of stroke, bleeding events, and mortality, indicating the need for further research to optimize treatment strategies for these patients.
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Background: The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a useful frailty marker for predicting clinical outcomes in patients undergoing invasive therapy. However, the clinical impact of CFS after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the association between the baseline frail status defined by the CFS and clinical outcomes with or without postprocedural MR ≥2+ (post-MR ≥2+) after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

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Purpose: The usefulness of urine dipstick tests (UDTs) in patients with diabetes has been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the utility of self-performed UDTs and patient diaries in the management of impaired glucose tolerance, one of the adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods: Patients receiving ICIs underwent self-checks with UDTs twice a week for up to 6 months.

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