Birth and pregnancy numbers decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: A time series analysis with the ARIMA model.

Aim: The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth and pregnancy trends in Japan remain unclear. Although major sporting events are usually followed by an increase in births 9 months later, Japan's fifth wave of COVID-19 occurred during the Olympics held in Japan during the summer of 2021. In this study, we analyzed how the number of births and pregnancies changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and large-scale events in Japan.

Clinical impact of restless legs syndrome in patients with migraine: a 12-year, single-center, longitudinal study.

Although many studies have indicated a significant association between migraine and restless legs syndrome (RLS), few long-term longitudinal studies have examined RLS in patients with migraine. We conducted a single-center, 12-year, longitudinal study of migraine patients and assessed whether RLS was present in 2010, 2017, or 2022 to evaluate its associations with clinical factors. Headache-related disability was assessed using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS).

Short-Term and Intermediate Efficacy of Tacrolimus for Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis in Japan.

Background and aim Tacrolimus (tac) is used for induction therapy in refractory and severe ulcerative colitis (UC) cases. The aim of this study was to identify the factors contributing to the induction of remission and to assess the endoscopic or histologic improvement rates following induction of remission by tac. Methods This study examined data from 67 UC patients treated with tac for induction of remission out of 515 patients attending Dokkyo Medical University Hospital.

Mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells after implantation of CD34 antibody-covered sirolimus-eluting COMBO stent: assessment with EPC colony-forming assay.

The COMBO stent is a unique stent on which the CD34 antibody is mounted to capture CD34 + endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and from which sirolimus is eluted to suppress neointimal hyperplasia. The COMBO stent aims to induce early re-endothelialization and vascular healing and to prevent restenosis. In the clinical setting, however, the effects of the COMBO stent have not been validated in terms of EPC biology.

Case series of Li-Fraumeni syndrome: carcinogenic mechanisms in breast cancer with TP53 pathogenic variant carriers.

Background: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a hereditary condition attributed to TP53 pathogenic variants,(PV), is associated with high risks for various malignant tumors, including breast cancer. Notably, individuals harboring TP53 PVs are more likely (67-83%) to develop HER2 + breast cancer than noncarriers (16-25%). In this retrospective study, we evaluated the associations between TP53 variants and breast cancer phenotype.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

To determine the disease prevalence rate and clinical characteristics of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease among new patients before and after the declaration of a state of emergency (April 7, 2020) in Japan. New patients and patients with newly diagnosed VKH disease were categorized into "Before" and "After" groups based on the initial visit. The prevalence rate, sex ratio, and age of patients newly diagnosed with VKH were compared between the groups.

Comparison of BMI changes in Japanese adults receiving face-to-face versus online counseling for specific health guidance: a noninferiority prospective observational study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the noninferiority of online counseling over face-to-face counseling for specific health guidance (SHG).

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted using specific health checkup (SHC) and SHG data of individuals with health insurance in Japan. We analyzed data from 1431 participants who met the inclusion criteria, including those who underwent online or face-to-face counseling between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, and received an SHC in the following year but no earlier than 90 days after their first counseling session.

Clinical significance of a basophil activation test for Japanese beekeepers naturally sensitized to honey bee venom.

Background: The basophil activation test (BAT) has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing Hymenoptera venom allergy and is useful for predicting the clinical sensitivity of bee venom-allergic patients after venom immunotherapy. Patients sensitized to Hymenoptera venom are at risk for systemic reactions (SRs) to subsequent stings. Therefore, a tool that can predict the occurrence of SRs and the severity of Hymenoptera stings is needed.

Associations between the burdens of comorbid sleep problems, central sensitization, and headache-related disability in patients with migraine.

Objective: Sleep disturbances are common in migraine patients and affect quality of life. Central sensitization (CS) is likely to play a role in the increased severity and chronicity of migraine. We hypothesized that the number of comorbid sleep problems would affect headache-related disability through the effects of central sensitization (CS).

Meningeal Damage and Interface Astroglial Scarring in the Rat Brain Exposed to a Laser-Induced Shock Wave(s).

In the past decade, signature clinical neuropathology of blast-induced traumatic brain injury has been under intense debate, but interface astroglial scarring (IAS) seems to be convincing. In this study, we examined whether IAS could be replicated in the rat brain exposed to a laser-induced shock wave(s) (LISW[s]), a tool that can produce a pure shock wave (primary mechanism) without dynamic pressure (tertiary mechanism). Under certain conditions, we observed astroglial scarring in the subpial glial plate (SGP), gray-white matter junctions (GM-WM), ventricular wall (VW), and regions surrounding cortical blood vessels, accurately reproducing clinical IAS.

The COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan: a large-scale nationwide population-based longitudinal study.

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnancy outcomes in Japan at the national level is unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan using nationwide population-based longitudinal data. Secondary data from the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2016 to 2020 were analyzed.

Real-world experience with monthly and quarterly dosing of fremanezumab for the treatment of patients with migraine in Japan.

Background: The effectiveness of fremanezumab in treating migraine has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials. However, real-world study results are still limited.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, observational study that included patients with episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) who received fremanezumab monthly or quarterly over 6-month periods.

Origin of Unexpected Ir in a Superconducting Candidate SrIrO System Analyzed by Photoelectron Holography.

The reason for the absence of superconductivity in SrIrO was estimated by photoelectron spectra and photoelectron holograms. The analysis of the La photoelectron hologram concluded that La atoms are substituted to Sr sites. Two O 1s peaks were observed and were identified as the oxygens in the IrO and SrO planes by photoelectron holography and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Effectiveness of three calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies for migraine: A 12-month, single-center, observational real-world study in Japan.

Background: Real-world data on the effectiveness of calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) in migraine patients are needed.

Methods: We performed a single-center, real-world study with an observation period of up to 12 months (mean 7.5 ± 3.

The Factors Influencing Pregnant Women's Selection of Media Sources to Obtain Information on COVID-19 in Japan in 2021.

Pregnant women presumably gather information about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from various sources. However, it is difficult for pregnant women who are not medical professionals to source the appropriate information because of the infodemic related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate how pregnant women gathered information about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination.

Comparison of Three Diagnostic Definitions of Metabolic Syndrome and Estimation of Its Prevalence in Mongolia.

We sought to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the urban population of Mongolia and suggest a preferred definition. This cross-sectional study comprised 2076 representative samples, which were randomly selected to provide blood samples. MS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adults Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the Joint Interim Statement (JIS).

Impact of the coverage of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy by the national insurance system for women with BRCA pathogenic variants in Japan.

To determine the impact of the coverage of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and mastectomy (RRM) as well as genetic testing for BRCA pathogenic variants by the national insurance system in Japan. We compared the clinical background of women who underwent RRSO at our institution before and after its coverage by the national insurance system. Those who underwent RRSO between January 2017 and December 2019 and between April 2020 and March 2022 were classified as Period.

Natural History of Small Gastric Subepithelial Lesions Less than 20 mm: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study (NUTSHELL20 Study).

Background And Aim: Small gastric subepithelial lesions (SELs) are sometimes encountered in daily esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) practice, but whether once-annual or twice-annual endoscopy can provide sufficient follow-up remains unclear. Because follow-up based on small-SEL characteristics is important, this study clarified the natural history of gastric SELs less than 20 mm.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter observation study conducted at 24 Japanese hospitals during April 2000 to March 2020 examined small gastric SELs of ≤20 mm diameter.

Usefulness of Adding Maspin Staining to p53 Staining for EUS-FNA Specimens of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided puncture aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly diagnostic, but it is difficult to distinguish from benign disease. Our objective was to determine the usefulness of maspin staining, in addition to conventional p53 staining, in the diagnosis of PDAC by EUS-FNA. Methods: Of the patients who underwent EUS-FNA and were diagnosed with PDAC, we retrospectively identified 90 cases in which both maspin and p53 staining were performed.

Association between the interval of worksite dental check-ups and dental and medical expenditures: a single-site, 12-year follow-up study in Japan.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the effective intervals of worksite dental check-ups to reduce cumulative dental expenditures (CDEs) and cumulative medical expenditures (CMEs), based on 12 years of follow-up dental check-ups.

Setting, Design And Participants: A longitudinal study was conducted between 2002 and 2014 fiscal years. A total of 2691 full-time employees (2099 males and 592 females) aged 20-59 years in a manufacturing company in Japan were recruited.