Treatment-free Survival After First-line Therapies for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: An International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium Analysis.

Background And Objective: Patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy may experience periods of prolonged disease control without a need for systemic therapy. Treatment-free survival (TFS) is an important measure for this period, but no data are available for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) starting first-line agents. Our aim was to analyze TFS outcomes for patients with mRCC starting first-line therapy.

The HNH endonuclease domain of the giant virus MutS7 specifically binds to branched DNA structures with single-stranded regions.

Most giant viruses including Mimiviridae family build large viral factories within the host cytoplasms. These giant viruses are presumed to possess specific genes that enable the rapid and massive replication of their large double-stranded DNA genomes within viral factories. It has been revealed that a functionally uncharacterized protein, MutS7, is expressed during the operational phase of the viral factory.

Successful treatment of cardiac dysfunction due to left main trunk obstruction and severe acute aortic regurgitation secondary to acute type A aortic dissection using Impella: a case report.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (A-AAD) with severe acute aortic regurgitation (AR) and coronary involvement is a potentially fatal condition that causes left ventricular volume overload and catastrophic acute myocardial infarction. We present the successful management of a patient using Impella 5.5 following cardiopulmonary arrest caused by A-AAD with severe acute AR and left main trunk (LMT) obstruction.

Pediatric blunt liver and spleen injury treated in hospitals with pediatric intensive care units: Post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, retrospective observational study.

Background: We evaluated the outcomes of pediatric patients with blunt liver and spleen injury (BLSI) admitted to hospitals with pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Methods: A post-hoc analysis of a multicenter observational study on pediatric patients (≤16 years) with BLSI at 83 hospitals between 2008 and 2019 was conducted. Thirty-day mortality and BLSI-associated adverse events were compared between patients treated in hospitals with and without PICUs.

Development of a quantitative assessment for abnormal flexor synergy index in patients with stroke: a validity and responsiveness study.

Background: Arm-lifting movements (shoulder flexion) are essential for upper extremity rehabilitation after a stroke. Abnormal flexor synergy (elbow flexion) is frequently observed during shoulder flexion, impeding functional improvement. However, no quantitative method exists for assessing abnormal flexor synergy.

Effectiveness of sequential bilateral repetitive transcranial stimulation versus bilateral theta burst stimulation for patients with treatment-resistant depression (BEAT-D): A randomized non-inferiority clinical trial.

Background: Bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (BL-rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Owing to a shorter treatment time, bilateral theta burst stimulation (BL-TBS) can be more efficient protocol. The non-inferiority of BL-TBS to BL-rTMS was established in late-life TRD; however, this has not been determined in adults of other age groups.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment: A Two-Institution Retrospective Study.

Background: Anemia in patients with cancer negatively affects their quality of life and cancer outcomes. However, most patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) are not appropriately evaluated or treated, and the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in CIA remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic records of patients with gynecological cancer in two tertiary hospitals, between March 2023 and July 2023, and evaluated their anemia status.

[Interictal burden of migraine and its evaluations: a literature review].

We conducted a targeted literature review on patient burden during the interictal period of migraine. The results of the literature review revealed that: (1) migraine-associated burden persists into the interictal period and is not confined to the headache episodes themselves; (2) anxiety over the possible recurrence of headache episodes is a factor that reduces daily activities and quality of life (QOL); and (3) prophylactic treatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antibody drugs may reduce the burden during the interictal period. From these findings, it is considered important in migraine treatment to identify the unmet needs of patients, including the burden during the interictal period, and to select an appropriate treatment method based on the burden experienced by individual patients.

Analysis of COVID-19 nosocomial clusters in an Omicron strain epidemic: importance of patient education on infection control measures.

A cluster of 129 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nosocomial infections was analysed during the Omicron strain epidemic. The incubation period for nosocomial Omicron strain infections was found to be 3 days. The transmission route of the first patient with COVID-19 (FCP) in each room is a critical factor within these clusters.

Real-world Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.

Background: Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) encompasses pure NEPC and tumors with mixed adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine histology. While NEPC is thought to confer a poor prognosis, outcome data are sparse, making risk stratification and treatment decisions difficult for clinicians.

Methods: This retrospective study identified patients with morphological and/or immunohistochemical NEPC features on pathological review of high-grade prostate cancer cases.

A successful post-surgical treatment of cardiogenic shock using Impella via brachiocephalic artery.

Patients with low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis and ischaemic cardiomyopathy are at risk for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock and have a poor prognosis. Although Impella has emerged as a bridge therapy, traditional approaches for Impella insertion are infeasible in patients with peripheral vascular diseases. We successfully managed postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock in a patient with low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis and ischaemic cardiomyopathy and limited vascular access by introducing Impella via the brachiocephalic artery.

Application of an anaerobic reactor for the treatment of sulfide-rich wastewater using biogas for HS removal.

Anaerobic treatment of sulfur-rich wastewater is challenging because sulfide greatly inhibits the activity of anaerobic microorganisms, especially methanogenic archaea. We developed an internal phase-separated reactor (IPSR) that removed sulfide prior to methanogenesis by gas stripping using biogas produced in the reactor. The IPSR was fed with synthetic wastewater containing a very high sulfide concentration of up to 6,000 mg S L with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 30,000 mg L.

Effectiveness of benralizumab in the Tokyo Asthma Study (TOAST): A real-world prospective interventional trial.

Background: Biologics are integral in the management of severe asthma. As the effectiveness of the anti-IL-5 receptor antibody benralizumab in Japan remains elusive, this study aimed to assess its real-world effectiveness in Japanese patients with severe asthma.

Methods: This prospective, interventional, single-arm clinical trial was conducted across ten facilities in Japan between September 2020 and July 2022.

Carotenoid productivity in human intestinal bacteria and with functional analysis of their carotenoid biosynthesis genes.

The human intestinal microbiota that comprise over 1,000 species thrive in dark and anaerobic environments. They are recognized for the production of diverse low-molecular-weight metabolites crucial to human health and diseases. Carotenoids, low-molecular-weight pigments known for their antioxidative activity, are delivered to humans through oral intake.

Association between the COVID-19 pandemic and short-term outcomes after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in facilities with and without board-certified esophageal surgeons: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment procedures. We speculated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, sufficient medical resources were maintained in board-certified hospitals, resulting in favorable short-term outcomes, whereas hospital functions in non-board-certified hospitals declined, leading to mortality increase. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on short-term outcomes after esophagectomy, based on the scale of the facilities.

[Surgery of Segmentectomy for Lung Cancer].

Based on the results of the recent Japan Clinical Oncology Group( JCOG) 0802 trial, thoracic surgeons will have more opportunities to perform segmentectomy for primary lung cancer soon. Segmentectomy requires a high level of skill due to the importance of accurate anatomical understanding and proper intersegmental plane formation. This procedure involves the precise identification and dissection of anatomical structures within the lung, which is more complex than lobectomy.

Evaluating correlations between reading ability and psychophysical measurements of dynamic visual information processing in Japanese adults.

The reading ability of English readers has been shown to correlate with psychophysical measurements of dynamic visual information processing. This study investigated the relationship between reading ability and dynamic visual information processing in healthy adult native Japanese readers (n = 46). Reading ability was assessed using three different tests: the Japanese Adult Reading Test (JART), transposed-letter detection task, and oral reading.

Simplified technique in total pancreatectomy with islet cell autotransplantation after Frey's procedure: a case report.

Background: The selection of the surgical approach for chronic pancreatitis (CP) is determined by various factors including inflammatory location, presence of pancreatic duct dilatation, or possibility of cancer. Total pancreatectomy (TP), with or without islet cell autotransplantation, is considered for patients with refractory CP after the failure of other surgical treatments. Considering the increasing incidence of CP requiring surgical treatment, the number of cases in which TP is performed after previous surgical treatment is expected to increase.

Deep learning-based screening for locomotive syndrome using single-camera walking video: Development and validation study.

Locomotive Syndrome (LS) is defined by decreased walking and standing abilities due to musculoskeletal issues. Early diagnosis is vital as LS can be reversed with appropriate intervention. Although diagnosing LS using standardized charts is straightforward, the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of the process limits its widespread implementation.