The efficacy and safety of intrinsic antitachycardia pacing.

Background: The clinical outcomes of a novel antitachycardia pacing (ATP) algorithm-intrinsic ATP (iATP)-compared to conventional ATP (cATP) have yet to be fully elucidated.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 128 patients and 1962 ventricular tachycardia (VT) episodes treated with the iATP or the cATP at Kokura Memorial Hospital. Patients were categorized into two groups: the iATP group (23 patients, 182 episodes) and the cATP group (105 patients, 1780 episodes).

High-density mapping in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in Asia Pacific region: An observational study.

Background: Few clinical studies of atrial fibrillation (AF) have focused on Asian patients; data are lacking on current mapping and ablation strategies in the Asia Pacific region (APAC).

Objective: The HD Mapping Observational Study (NCT04022954) was designed to characterize electroanatomic mapping (EAM) with market-released high-density mapping (HDM) catheters in subjects with AF in APAC.

Methods: Subjects undergoing HDM and indicated for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat AF were prospectively enrolled in APAC.

Epiploic appendagitis on the vermiform appendix is often misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis.

Epiploic appendagitis of the vermiform appendix is a rare cause of right lower abdominal pain that can mimic acute appendicitis and result in unnecessary surgery. Despite this, the condition can be managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone. Due to the lack of characteristic physical or laboratory findings, accurate diagnosis by imaging is crucial.

Mapping-Guided Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (MAP-AF): A Multicenter, Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The clinical outcome of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is suboptimal. Mapping studies have demonstrated atrial sites outside of the pulmonary veins displaying focal activation patterns during AF. We sought to determine whether adding catheter ablation of focal activation sites to PVI improves clinical outcomes of catheter ablation for persistent AF.

Prognostic Evaluation of HER2-positive Early Breast Cancers Using Clinico-pathological Criteria.

Background/aim: HER2-positive breast carcinomas (BCs) generally behave more aggressively and show higher cytological and histological grade than HER2-negative BCs. However, the clinical properties of HER2-positive early BCs have not been studied extensively. Hence, the therapeutic significance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for this BC remains debatable.

Guidelines for Pathologic Diagnosis of Mesothelioma: 2023 Update of the Consensus Statement From the International Mesothelioma Interest Group.

Context.—: Mesothelioma is an uncommon tumor that can be difficult to diagnose.

Objective.

Outcomes of left bundle branch area pacing compared to His bundle pacing and right ventricular apical pacing in Japanese patients with bradycardia.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) emerge as better alternatives to right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP) in patients with bradycardia requiring permanent cardiac pacing. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of LBBAP, HBP, and RVAP in Japanese patients with bradycardia.

Methods: A total of 424 patients who underwent successful pacemaker implantation (HBP,  = 53; LBBAP,  = 75; and RVAP,  = 296) were retrospectively enrolled in this study.

Pulmonary Vein Intervention for Severe Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation - A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis (PVS) is a serious complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. The objective of this study was to describe interventional treatments for PVS after AF ablation and long-term outcomes in Japanese patients.

Methods and results: This multicenter retrospective observational study enrolled 30 patients (26 [87%] male; median age 55 years) with 56 severe PVS lesions from 43 PV interventional procedures.

LAG3 is an independent prognostic biomarker and potential target for immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a retrospective study.

Background: Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3) is an immune checkpoint receptor; novel LAG3 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) exhibit therapeutic activity in melanoma. The role of LAG3and ICIs of LAG3 are unknown in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This study aimed to uncover the prognostic landscape of LAG3 in multiple cancers and investigate the potential of using LAG3 as an ICIs target in patients with MPM.

A novel ablation strategy for recurrent atrial fibrillation: Fractionated signal area in the atrial muscle ablation 1-year follow-up.

Introduction: Treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) is sometimes challenging due to non-pulmonary vein (PV) foci. Fractionated signal area in the atrial muscle (FAAM) is a valid predictor of the location of non-PV foci. FAAM ablation has the potential to decrease the recurrence rate of atrial tachyarrhythmia in patients with recurrent AF.

Influence of the irrigation flow pattern and catheter tip design on the lesion formation: an ex vivo experimental model.

Background: Lesion formation during catheter ablation is influenced by the power, contact force (CF), time, and catheter stability. However, the influence of the irrigation effects on lesion formation remains unknown.

Methods: An ex vivo experiment using conductive gel was performed.

Subcutaneous ICDs implantation following removal of normally functioning non-infected transvenous ICDs in two young patients.

Unlabelled: In young patients with transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillations (TV-ICDs), the possibility of device infection or lead fracture would be high in their long lifetimes. Furthermore, the risk of lead removal will gradually increase over the years. We reported two cases of subcutaneous ICDs implantation following removal of TV-ICDs.

A brief review of the WHO reporting system for lung cytopathology.

The International Academy of Cytology has joined with the International Agency for Research on Cancer to bring together a group of experts in lung cytopathology to develop a WHO Reporting System for Lung Cytopathology (WHO System). This System aims to improve and standardize the reporting of cytopathology, facilitate communication between cytopathologists and clinicians, and improve patient care. The WHO System describes 5 categories for reporting lung cytopathology: 'Insufficient/Inadequate/Nondiagnostic', 'Benign', 'Atypical', 'Suspicious for malignancy', and 'Malignant', each one with a clear descriptive term, a definition, a risk of malignancy, and a suggested management algorithm.

Metaplastic breast carcinoma producing prominent basal lamina with neuroendocrine differentiation: A case report.

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a heterogeneous group of invasive breast carcinomas (IBCs) characterized by the differentiation of the neoplastic epithelium toward squamous cells and/or mesenchymal-appearing elements. The present study describes the case of a 42-year-old woman who underwent a mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy for two tumors in their left breast. One of the resected tumors was diagnosed as MBC with neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation and the other was diagnosed as IBC of no special type.

Registry for Evaluating Healthy Life Expectancy and Long-Term Outcomes after Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in the Very Elderly (REHEALTH AF) study: rationale and design of a prospective, multicentre, observational, comparative study.

Introduction: Data are lacking on the extent to which patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) who are aged ≥80 years benefit from ablation treatment. The question pertains especially to patients' postablation quality of life (QoL) and long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods And Analysis: We are initiating a prospective, registry-based, multicentre observational study that will include patients aged ≥80 years with non-valvular AF who choose to undergo treatment by catheter ablation and, for comparison, such patients who do not choose to undergo ablation (either according to their physician's advice or their own preference).

The Molecular Basis of Heat-Stable Enterotoxin for Vaccine Development and Cancer Cell Detection.

Heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) produced by Enterotoxigenic is responsible for causing acute diarrhea in infants in developing countries. However, the chemical synthesis of ST peptides with the native conformation and the correct intra-molecular disulfide bonds is a major hurdle for vaccine development. To address this issue, we herein report on the design and preparation of ST analogs and a convenient chemical method for obtaining ST molecules with the correct conformation.

Initial multicenter clinical experience with the first-generation endoscopic guided laser balloon in Japan.

Background: Isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) is the golden standard for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. To achieve a permanent PV isolation, the endoscopic guided HeartLight laser balloon system was invented. We analyzed the safety and efficacy of this laser balloon system.

Differential Expression of Claudin 1 and 4 in Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy. The biological behavior of this entity is remarkably indolent. Claudin plays an important role in tight junctions, regulating paracellular passage of variable substance including growth factors and maintaining the polarity of epithelia.

The World Health Organization Reporting System for Lung Cytopathology.

The International Academy of Cytology has joined with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to bring together a group of experts in lung cytopathology to develop a WHO Reporting System for Lung Cytopathology (WHO System). This WHO System defines five categories for reporting lung cytopathology, that is, "Insufficient"/"Inadequate"/"Non-diagnostic," "Benign," "Atypical," "Suspicious for malignancy," and "Malignant," each with a clear descriptive term for the category, a definition, a risk of malignancy and a suggested management algorithm. The key diagnostic cytopathology features of each of the lesions within each category have been established by consensus and will be presented more fully in a subsequent IARC e-book and published hard cover book.

Usefulness of NF2 hemizygous loss detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in diagnosing pleural mesothelioma in tissue and cytology material: A multi-institutional study.

Objectives: BAP1, CDKN2A, and NF2 are the most frequently altered genes in pleural mesotheliomas (PM). Discriminating PM from benign mesothelial proliferation (BMP) is sometimes challenging; it is well established that BAP1 loss, determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and CDKN2A homozygous deletion (HD), determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), are useful. However, data regarding the diagnostic utility of NF2 FISH in PM is limited.

Usefulness of malignant pleural effusion for early cytological diagnosis of mesothelioma : A case report.

Mesothelioma (MIS) is defined as a preinvasive mesothelioma that forms a single layer of mild atypical mesothelial cells lining on the serosa surface of pleura. The atypical mesothelial cells present loss of BRCA-1 associated protein-1 (BAP-1) and/or methylthioadenosine phosphorylase as examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or homozygous deletion of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/p16 as examined by fluorescence hybridization. It is difficult to diagnose because of the unremarkable clinical findings except for pleural effusion.