Causative diseases of bloody sputum and hemoptysis in respiratory clinics in Japan.

Background: No previous studies have compared respiratory clinics and respiratory specialized facilities regarding causative diseases for bloody sputum and hemoptysis in Japan.

Methods: We retrospectively compared causative diseases for bloody sputum and hemoptysis between 3 respiratory clinics (clinic group) and 7 departments of respiratory medicine at hospitals (hospital group) in Japan.

Results: We collected data from 231 patients (median age, 51 years; age range, 24-96 years; 109 men (47.

Silicone oil, an intraocular surgical adjuvant, induces retinal ferroptosis.

Vitrectomy with silicone oil (SO) endotamponade is an effective treatment for vision-threatening retinal diseases. However, unexplained vision impairment has been reportedly critical side effects. Previously, we reported that the eyes with ocular toxoplasmosis showed retinal ferroptosis with the clinical sign of reduced intravitreal iron (Fe).

Prevalence and causes of subacute cough in Japan.

Background: Subacute cough is subdivided and distinguished from chronic cough, because post-infectious cough is considered to be the main cause of subacute cough and differs from acute and chronic cough. However, the details of the spectrum and frequency of causes of subacute cough remain unclear because only two studies on subacute cough have been published.

Methods: Patients who presented with cough that lasted for 3-8 weeks and visited respiratory clinics or hospitals affiliated with the Japan Cough Society during 2 years were studied.

Cycle-to-cycle analysis for high-repeatability optical-heterodyne interferometry.

Optical-heterodyne interferometry enables high-precision measurement of displacement, surface topography, and retardation via the introduction of an optical frequency shift. However, certain types of frequency-shifters including rotating half-waveplates may induce repetitive intensity variation, resulting in precision degradation. To address this issue, the heterodyne signals are split at the local minima during analysis.

Conservation units and the origin of planted individuals of an endangered endemic species Lobelia boninensis in the Ogasawara Islands.

The Ogasawara Islands, one of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site located about 1000 km south of Japan's main island, harbor numerous endemic species, many of which are as endangered. One of the endemic plant species, Lobelia boninensis, found in the Mukojima, Chichijima, and Hahajima archipelagoes, is endangered due to predation. As part of conservation efforts, translocation is now underway, especially on Chichijima.

Distal Aortic Events following Emergent Aortic Repair for Acute DeBakey Type I Aortic Dissection: An Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Analysis.

Objective:  The goal of this study is to examine early and midterm results after surgical treatment of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection (AIAD) and the effect of the range of aortic arch replacement on overall survival and prevention of distal aortic events.

Methods:  Between March 2002 and July 2020, a total of 374 AIAD aortic repairs were reviewed. A total of 154 (41.

Complement activation and lung injury in Japanese patients with COVID-19: a prospective observational study.

Background The production of inflammatory cytokines is reportedly increased in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), causing the migration of neutrophils and monocytes to lung tissues. This disrupts the air-blood barrier by damaging the bronchial epithelial and vascular endothelial cells. As multiorgan dysfunction in sepsis is considered to be partly caused by complement activation, which can cause lung injury in patients with COVID-19.

Long-term outcome of tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive treatment for patients with paediatric-onset lupus nephritis.

Aim: We have previously reported the mid-term efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (Tac)-based immunosuppressive therapy in such patients, and herein, we aimed to determine their long-term outcomes (over 10 years).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluate the data of 13 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven long-standing LN who underwent a long-term Tac-based treatment regimen. Tac was administered once daily at a dose of 3 mg as reinduction or maintenance treatment.

Recovery from rituximab-associated persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia in children with nephrotic syndrome.

Background And Hypothesis: There are limited data on the long-term outcomes and risk factors for non-recovery after development of rituximab (RTX)-associated persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia among children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS).

Methods: A nationwide Japanese survey was conducted to determine the prognosis of patients with childhood-onset idiopathic NS who developed persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia after RTX administration. Specifically, predictors of IgG level recovery and risk factors for serious infection were examined.

Accuracy of robotic arm-assisted versus computed tomography-based navigation in total hip arthroplasty using the direct anterior approach: a retrospective study.

Background: A robotic arm-assisted and a computed tomography (CT)- based navigation system have been reported to improve the accuracy of component positioning in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, no study has compared robotic arm-assisted THA (rTHA) to CT-based navigated THA (nTHA) concerning accuracy of cup placement and acetabular fractures using the direct anterior approach (DAA). This study aimed to compare the accuracy of cup placement and the presence of intraoperative acetabular fractures between rTHA and nTHA using DAA in the supine position.

Developing a workflow for the isolation of hybridoma cells producing fully human antigen-specific antibodies using a surface IgG detection method.

The antigen-mediated B cell isolation method, based on the detection of surface IgG (sIgG), has increased the efficiency of therapeutic antibody (Ab) discovery. However, the reduction in sIgG expression on B cells during plasma cell differentiation presents challenges as it enables Ab production from only a small subset of B cells (e.g.

Clustered ARPE-19 cells distinct in mitochondrial membrane potential may play a pivotal role in cell differentiation.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with the dysfunction and degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Here, we examined how the formation and expansions of cell clusters are regulated by the differentiation of the RPE　cells. In this study, ARPE-19 cells were cultivated in standard or differentiation media, i.

A comprehensive long-term follow-up study of Brown-McLean syndrome.

Purpose: This report aims to document a long-term follow-up of a rare case of Brown-McLean syndrome where high-density central corneal endothelial cells (CECs) were maintained, yet the peripheral area developed corneal edema.

Observations: A 72-year-old Japanese male was referred to our hospital. He had a history of three instances of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in the right eye, requiring three intraocular surgeries.

Axial-flow polymer bridge pump with hydrodynamic bearings.

A portable axial-flow polymer bridge pump with hydrodynamic bearings has been developed for bridge-to-bridge use. The pump is inexpensive to manufacture and disposable. It weighs 185 g and was verified to have a lifetime of 3 months with silent operation.

Cylindromatosis lysine 63 deubiquitinase (CYLD) suppress TLR3-mediated CCL5 expression in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Background: One of the causes of tubulointerstitial nephritis is viral infection, with innate immune responses affecting its pathogenesis. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes viral infections and acts antivirally by activating signaling to produce inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, including C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) and interferon-β (IFN-β). Although cylindromatosis lysine 63 deubiquitinase (CYLD) is known to be associated with tubulointerstitial nephritis and renal function, its role in the antiviral innate immune response in tubular epithelial cells remains unknown.

Orthotic treatment for unstable hip joints in children with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis: A case series with follow-up until skeletal maturity.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis is an extremely rare disorder characterized by congenital generalized loss of pain and thermal sensation, decreased sweating, intellectual disability, and self-mutilating behavior. Skeletal complications can develop even after minor trauma or an unknown cause, and management is difficult and sometimes unsuccessful, leading to the development of Charcot joints. We report 3 patients whose hip instability was treated with a hip action brace (HAB) that allowed for free abduction but prevented adduction.

New non-contrast MRI of endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière's disease considering inversion time.

Objectives: Three-tesla MRI with gadolinium-based contrast agents is important in diagnosing Ménière's disease. However, contrast agents cannot be used in some patients. By using the compositional difference between the inner ear endolymph and perilymph, we performed basic and clinical research focused on potassium ions and protein to find the optimal parameters for visualizing endolymphatic hydrops on MRI without contrast.

Interferon-stimulated gene 56 positively regulates Toll-like receptor 3-mediated CXCL10 expression in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Viral infections in tubular epithelial cells lead to the production of inflammatory cytokines by innate immunity, causing tubulointerstitial nephritis. TLR3 recognizes viral infections and acts via the activation of interferon (IFN)/IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). This study investigates the role of ISG56, a representative ISG, in TLR3 signaling in cultured human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (hRPTECs).