Clinical Characteristics of Punctate Hyperfluorescence Spots in the Fellow Eye of Patients with Unilateral Macular Neovascularization with No Drusen.

: To assess the clinical characteristics of patients with macular neovascularization (MNV) with no drusen in the fellow eye, we investigated the incidence of MNV in fellow eyes and the outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) monotherapy in MNV eyes of patients with unilateral MNV with a punctate hyperfluorescence spot (PHS) in the fellow eye. : We retrospectively studied 58 treatment-naïve patients with unilateral MNV with no drusen in the fellow eye. Patients were classified into a PHS group ( = 29) or no-PHS group ( = 29) based on the presence of PHS.

Clinical Characteristics of Unilateral Macular Neovascularization Patients with Pachydrusen in the Fellow Eye.

: To approach the clinical properties of pachydrusen that differ from conventional drusen, we investigated the incidence of macular neovascularization (MNV) in fellow eyes and the treatment outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) in MNV eyes of unilateral MNV patients with pachydrusen in the fellow eye. : We retrospectively studied 261 consecutive patients with treatment-naïve unilateral MNV. Patients were classified into four groups according to the type of drusen in the fellow eye: the pachydrusen group ( = 49), the soft drusen group ( = 63), the subretinal drusenoid deposit (SDD) group ( = 24), and the no drusen group ( = 125).

Improved Preservation of Rat Small Intestine Transplantation Graft by Introduction of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secreted Fractions.

Segmental grafts from living donors have advantages over grafts from deceased donors when used for small intestine transplantation. However, storage time for small intestine grafts can be extremely short and optimal graft preservation conditions for short-term storage remain undetermined. Secreted factors from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that allow direct activation of preserved small intestine grafts.

Preoperative osteopenia is associated with prognosis in patients after resection of esophageal cancer.

Background: Osteopenia reflects frailty and has been shown to be associated with outcomes in cancer patients. This study was undertaken to examine whether osteopenia is an independent prognostic factor in patients with esophageal cancer after resection.

Methods: A total of 214 patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer were analyzed retrospectively.

Preoperative Bone Loss Predicts Decreased Survival Associated with Microvascular Invasion after Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Osteopenia is a well-known risk factor for survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma; however, it is unclear whether osteopenia can apply to both genders and how osteopenia is associated with cancer progression. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether osteopenia predicts reduced survival in regression models in both genders and whether osteopenia is associated with the pathological factors associated with reduced survival.

Methods: This study included 188 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy.

Changes in thoracic radio density after living donor liver transplantation.

Background: The outcomes after liver transplantation have greatly improved, which has resulted in greater focus on improving non-hepatic outcomes of liver transplantation. The present study aimed to evaluate thoracic spine radio density in children and adolescents after liver transplantation.

Methods: A total of 116 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed.

Vibrio fluvialis Bacteremia in an Immunocompetent Patient with Acute Cholangitis.

Vibrio fluvialis is a bacterium that can be found in both seawater and freshwater, and it is responsible for causing gastroenteritis and cholangitis. V. fluvialis bacteremia has rarely been reported.

The Effect of a Loading Dose Regimen in the Switch to Brolucizumab for Patients with Aflibercept-Resistant nAMD.

Purpose: To evaluate the one-year outcomes of switching to brolucizumab with and without a loading dose regimen (three monthly injections) in eyes with aflibercept-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: We retrospectively studied nAMD patients who had retinal exudate under bimonthly injections of aflibercept and were switched to brolucizumab from aflibercept. Patients were grouped into intravitreal brolucizumab injection (IVBr) with a loading dose regimen (loading group) and without a loading dose regimen (nonloading group).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Highest-Grade or Predominant Histological Differentiation of T1 Colorectal Cancer in Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Treatment guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) suggest 2 classifications for histological differentiation-highest grade and predominant. However, the optimal predictor of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in T1 CRC remains unknown. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of the use of highest-grade or predominant differentiation on LNM determination in T1 CRC.

Combined Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel and Systemic Chemotherapy for Patients with Massive Malignant Ascites Secondary to Pancreatic Cancer: A Report of Two Patients.

The prognosis of patients with peritoneal metastases from pancreatic cancer is poor, largely due to massive ascites, which precludes systemic treatment. Two patients with a poor performance status and malignant ascites were treated with cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy followed by combined chemotherapy with intraperitoneal paclitaxel, intravenous gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel. These patients achieved a survival of 19 and 36 weeks with a relatively good quality of life.

Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Patients Undergoing Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative pain is a major cause of delayed recovery following inguinal hernia repair. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a simple, low-cost method of noninvasive analgesia. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of TENS for pain management following inguinal hernia repair.

A case of Marfanoid-progeroid-lipodystrophy syndrome: experimental proof of skipping exons and escaping nonsense-mediated decay.

We report a Japanese patient with tall stature, dolichocephaly, prominent forehead, narrow nasal ridge, mild retrognathia, subcutaneous fat reduction, bilateral entropion of both eyelids, high arched palate, long fingers, and mild hyperextensible finger joints as a case of Marfanoid-progeroid-lipodystrophy syndrome. Genetic investigation revealed a heterozygous variant NC_000015.10(NM_000138.

Additional staining for lymphovascular invasion is associated with increased estimation of lymph node metastasis in patients with T1 colorectal cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a critical risk factor for lymph node metastasis (LNM), which requires additional surgery after endoscopic resection of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the impact of additional staining on estimating LNM is unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of additional staining on determining LNM in T1 CRC.

Remnant liver function is associated with long-term survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatectomy.

It is important to assess the prognosis and intervene before and after surgery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to elucidate the association of outcomes and residual liver function after hepatectomy. A total of 176 patients who underwent the initial resection for hepatocellular carcinoma between January 2011 and March 2021 at Jichi Medical University were included.

The Efficacy and Safety of Somatostatin Analog after Axillary Node Dissection in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Somatostatin analogs are expected to reduce lymphatic leakage. However, whether they can be used after axillary lymphadenectomy is unclear. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of somatostatin analogs in axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer patients.

Structure-function relationship between magnetic resonance imaging lesion areas and visual field defects in initial optic neuritis with altitudinal hemianopsia.

Purpose: To study the spatial association of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement (CE) areas with visual field defect (VFD) asymmetry in initial cases of optic neuritis (ON) with altitudinal hemianopsia (AH) with reference to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with AH.

Study Design: Multicenter, cross-sectional study.

Methods: The present study comprised 19 ON patients and 20 NAION patients with AH who underwent orbital contrast fat-suppressed MRI.

Impact of Preoperative Stoma Site Marking on Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Colorectal Perforation: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Preoperative stoma site marking reduces the incidence of complications from elective surgery. However, the impact of stoma site marking in emergency patients with colorectal perforation remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of stoma site marking on morbidity and mortality in patients with colorectal perforation who underwent emergency surgery.

Efficacy and safety of surgical energy devices for axillary node dissection: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Various surgical energy devices are used for axillary lymph-node dissection. However, those that reduce seroma during axillary lymph-node dissection are unknown. We aimed to determine the best surgical energy device for reducing seroma by performing a network meta-analysis to synthesize the current evidence on the effectiveness of surgical energy devices for axillary node dissection for breast cancer patients.

Osteopenia Is Associated with Shorter Survival in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: The prognostic importance of osteopenia in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) undergoing hepatectomy is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of osteopenia on survival in patients with ICC.

Methods: A total of 71 patients who underwent hepatectomy at Jichi Medical University between July 2008 and June 2022 were included in this study.

National survey of amblyopia treatment in Japan: comparison with amblyopia treatment study results of the pediatric eye disease investigator group.

Purpose: To investigate the treatment policy for amblyopia in Japan as of 2017 through a survey of multiple facilities and to compare the findings with those obtained by the Amblyopia Treatment Study (ATS) of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group.

Study Design: Questionnaire survey study.

Subjects And Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 181 facilities where patients with amblyopia are being treated.

Clearance of the liver remnant predicts short-term outcome in patients undergoing resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Estimation of the functional reserve of the remnant liver is important to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Aim: To estimate the functional reserve of the remnant liver in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 199 patients who underwent resection of HCC.

Telomere Attrition in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas Associated With Carcinogenesis and Aging.

Objectives: It is challenging to preoperatively distinguish malignant and benign forms of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas. The aims of this study were to investigate whether telomere length is associated with pathological grade of IPMNs and age and to clarify the utility of telomere length as a marker to identify malignant IPMNs.

Methods: Pancreas tissue was obtained from 28 patients after resection.

Photopic negative response recorded with RETeval system in eyes with optic nerve disorders.

Electroretinography (ERG) is used to evaluate the physiological status of the retina and optic nerve. The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of ERGs recorded with the RETeval system in diagnosing optic nerve diseases. Forty-eight patients with optic nerve disorders, including optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy, traumatic optic neuropathy, and dominant optic atrophy, and 36 normal control subjects were studied.