Prevalence of common aneuploidy in twin pregnancies.

The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in twin pregnancies is not well-studied. In this retrospective study, we investigated the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in twin pregnancies and compared the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in dichorionic diamniotic (DD) and monochorionic diamniotic (MD) twins. We used data from 57 clinical facilities across Japan.

Ineffectiveness of antenatal guidance intervention for vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in pregnant women in Kyoto, Japan.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the vitamin D status among healthy pregnant women in Japan, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the antenatal health guidance intervention for the pregnant women who were informed about their low vitamin D levels.

Methods: We measured the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) using chemiluminescent immunoassay among the singleton pregnant women who received at antenatal routine check-up (8-24 weeks of gestation) with written consent during September 2017-September 2018. The measurement values were informed by the concerned physician and health guidance intervention was given to the pregnant women with inadequate Vitamin D status (25[OH]D < 30 ng/mL).

Evaluation of the clinical performance of noninvasive prenatal testing at a Japanese laboratory.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in high-risk pregnant women.

Methods: Pregnant women who underwent GeneTech NIPT, the most commonly used NIPT in Japan, between January 2015 and March 2019, at Japan NIPT Consortium medical sites were recruited for this study. The exclusion criteria were as follows: pregnant women with missing survey items, multiple pregnancy/vanishing twins, chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus other than the NIPT target disease, and nonreportable NIPT results.

Factors associated with prolonged length of hospital stay of elderly patients in acute care hospitals in Japan: a multilevel analysis of patients with femoral neck fracture.

Objective: To analyze possible factors associated with prolonged length of stay (LOS) in hip fracture patients in Japan, such as the availability of beds in medical and nursing care facilities at the community level, as well as patient factors, clinical factors and hospital structural characteristics.

Methods: The sample for analysis consisted of 8318 hip fracture cases from 199 hospitals throughout Japan. We conducted multilevel analyses to investigate whether LOS and the discharge destinations of patients are associated with the availability and utilization of medical and nursing care resources in the communities where each hospital is located.

Effects of the per diem prospective payment system with DRG-like grouping system (DPC/PDPS) on resource usage and healthcare quality in Japan.

Objectives: In 2003, Japan introduced the prospective payment system (PPS) with diagnosis-related groups (DRG) rearranged grouping system called the diagnostic procedure combination/per-diem payment system (DPC/PDPS). Even after eight years, little is known about the effects of DPC/PDPS. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of DPC/PDPS on resource usage and healthcare quality.

Factors affecting survival after lobectomy with pulmonary artery resection for primary lung cancer.

Objective: Prognostic factors in patients who underwent pulmonary angioplasty remain controversial. Here, we report a case-series study of this surgical procedure based on our 20-year single-center experience.

Methods: Medical records of patients, who underwent a major lung cancer operation with pulmonary artery resection, were reviewed retrospectively.