Association Between Dietary Habit Changes and COVID-19 Prophylaxis During the Pandemic Among Japanese Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Following COVID-19, dietary habits have been altered frequently along with other societal lifestyle modifications. However, changes in the dietary habits of maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHPs) before and during COVID-19 have not been investigated.

Methods: A total of 132 MHPs were assessed for changes in their dietary habits before and during the pandemic and their association with COVID-19 prevention.

Fatal Spitz Melanoma With MAD1L1::BRAF Fusion: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Spitz melanoma is extremely rare, and only a few cases of distant metastases have been reported. Herein, we describe a case of Spitz melanoma with multiple distant metastases. A 37-year-old woman presented with a 5.

A significant outbreak of respiratory human adenovirus infections among children aged 3-6 years in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2023.

Human adenovirus (HAdV) infections present diverse clinical manifestations upon infecting individuals, with respiratory infections predominating in children. We surveyed pediatric hospitalizations due to respiratory HAdV infections across 18 hospitals in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, from July 2019 to March 2024, recording 473 admissions. While hospitalizations remained below five cases per week from July 2019 to September 2023, a notable surge occurred in late October 2023, with weekly admissions peaking at 15-20 cases from November to December.

Predicting surgical outcomes of acute diffuse peritonitis: Updated risk models based on real-world clinical data.

Aim: The existing predictive risk models for the surgical outcome of acute diffused peritonitis (ADP) need renovation by adding relevant variables such as ADP's definition or causative etiology to pursue outstanding data collection reflecting the real world. We aimed to revise the risk models predicting mortality and morbidities of ADP using the latest Japanese Nationwide Clinical Database (NCD) variable set.

Methods: Clinical dataset of ADP patients who underwent surgery, and registered in the NCD between 2016 and 2019, were used to develop a risk model for surgical outcomes.

Migration of various ions based on pH shifts triggered by the application of sediment microbial fuel cells.

Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) represent a technology that can enhance sediment quality through processes such as nutrient suppression while simultaneously generating electricity from microorganisms. Despite its importance in elucidating the principles of nutrient suppression, the complex behavior of various ions within this context has been rarely explored. Herein, we applied an SMFC and systematically evaluated alterations in ion concentrations in interstitial and overlying waters.

Resurgence of human metapneumovirus infection and influenza after three seasons of inactivity in the post-COVID-19 era in Hokkaido, Japan, 2022-2023.

Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in February 2020, incidences of various infectious diseases decreased notably in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. However, Japan began gradually easing COVID-19 infection control measures in 2022. Here, we conducted a survey of children hospitalized with human metapneumovirus (hMPV), influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus infections in 18 hospitals across Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, spanning from July 2019 to June 2023.

Morbidity after left trisectionectomy for hepato-biliary malignancies: An analysis of the National Clinical Database of Japan.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the nationwide surgical outcome of a left trisectionectomy (LT) and to identify the perioperative risk factors associated with its morbidity.

Methods: Cases of LT for hepato-biliary malignancies registered at the Japanese National Clinical Database between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the perioperative risk factors associated with a morbidity of Clavien-Dindo classification (CD) ≥III.

Development of overlying water aeration system powered by sediment-microbial-fuel-cell for nutrient suppression.

Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) represent a burgeoning technology that allows the remediation of sediments, such as nutrient suppression, while concurrently generating electricity. However, there is a limitation in that the nutrient suppression effect is restricted to a narrow range near the electrode. To address this issue, we developed an SMFC-aeration system, which intermittently aerates the overlying water with the power of SMFCs, thereby enhancing the nutrient suppression effect of SMFCs.

Changing Patterns of Infectious Diseases Among Hospitalized Children in Hokkaido, Japan, in the Post-COVID-19 Era, July 2019 to June 2022.

Background: Many reports have reported a reduction in respiratory infectious diseases and infectious gastroenteritis immediately after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but data continuing into 2022 are very limited. We sought to understand the current situation of various infectious diseases among children in Japan as of July 2022 to improve public health in the post-COVID-19 era.

Methods: We collected data on children hospitalized with infectious diseases in 18 hospitals in Japan from July 2019 to June 2022.

Topical non-steroidal agents for the prevention of radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a common side effect of radiation therapy, affecting a majority of breast and head and neck cancer patients with a negative impact on quality of life. Currently, no consensus exists regarding the prevention of RD.

Methods: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases (1946 to December 2022) were searched using PRISMA guidelines to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the use of topical non-steroidal agents in the prevention of RD in patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Muscle pathology of antisynthetase syndrome according to antibody subtypes.

Identification of antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) could be challenging due to inaccessibility and technical difficulty of the serology test for the less common non-Jo-1 antibodies. This study aimed to describe ASS antibody-specific myopathology and evaluate the diagnostic utility of myofiber HLA-DR expression. We reviewed 212 ASS muscle biopsies and compared myopathologic features among subtypes.

Volume- and quality-controlled certification system promotes centralization of complex hepato-pancreatic-biliary surgery.

Background: Centralization of complex surgeries has made little progress when it only considers the minimum number of surgical procedures. We aim to assess the impact of certification system of Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery (JSHBPS) on centralization and surgical quality of advanced hepato-pancreatic-biliary (HPB) surgery.

Methods: The National Clinical Database was used to review 20 111 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and 9666 who underwent advanced hepatectomy defined as hepatectomy of more than one section during 2019 and 2020.

Sequence analysis of a feline- and porcine-origin G3P[9] rotavirus A strain in a child with acute gastroenteritis in Japan.

We isolated the rare G3P[9] rotavirus strain RVA/Human-wt/JPN/R11-035/2015/G3P[9] from a 2-year-old girl presenting with vomiting and diarrhea who had daily contact with cats in Japan, 2015. Full-genome analysis revealed that the R11-035 strain had an AU-1-like genetic constellation, except for the NSP3 (T) gene: G3-P[9]-I3-R3-C3-M3-A3-N3-T1-E3-H6. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain R11-035 is closely related to human/feline-like human strains, and only the NSP3 (T1) gene was clustered together with Taiwanese porcine strains.

An analysis modality for vascular structures combining tissue-clearing technology and topological data analysis.

The blood and lymphatic vasculature networks are not yet fully understood even in mouse because of the inherent limitations of imaging systems and quantification methods. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of the tissue-clearing technology for visualizing blood and lymphatic vessels in adult mouse. Clear, unobstructed brain/body imaging cocktails and computational analysis (CUBIC) enables us to capture the high-resolution 3D images of organ- or area-specific vascular structures.

Role of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues in the Pathophysiology of Secondary Lymphedema.

Secondary lymphedema (LE) occurs due to the disruption of lymphatic circulation. Lymphatic fluid accumulation in subcutaneous tissues induces adipocyte proliferation. Obesity is an important risk factor for the occurrence and deterioration of LE.

Ifenprodil for the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder: An exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Aim: No effective pharmacological interventions have been developed for patients with methamphetamine use disorder. Ifenprodil is a blocker of G protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels, which play a key role in the mechanism of action of addictive substances. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, exploratory, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trial to examine the clinical efficacy of ifenprodil for the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder.

Surveillance in hospitalized children with infectious diseases in Japan: Pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019.

Introduction: The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide, and the various infection control measures have a significant influence on the spread of many infectious diseases. However, there have been no multicenter studies on how the number of hospitalized children with various infectious diseases changed before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective survey for hospitalized pediatric patients in 18 hospitals in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, from July 2019 to February 2021.

[Analysis of Tin, Arsenic and Lead in Soft Drinks by Microwave Digestion and Its Applicability].

A microwave digestion method for the analysis of tin, arsenic and lead in soft drinks was studied and its performance was evaluated. The trueness, repeatability (RSD) and Intralaboratory reproducibility (RSD) of the method were estimated to be in the ranges of 93-100, 0.7-6.