Clinical significance of cerebrospinal fluid presepsin as adjunctive biomarker for postneurosurgical meningitis: A single-center prospective observational study.

Background: Postneurosurgical meningitis (PNM) is a serious complication in neurocritical care patients, leading to clinical deterioration and worsening outcomes. Accurate diagnosis of PNM is often difficult due to the lack of definitive diagnostic criteria. This study investigates the potential utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) presepsin (PSP), blood PSP, and the CSF/blood PSP ratio as adjunctive biomarkers for the diagnosis of PNM.

Von Willebrand Factor Antigen Levels Predict Poor Outcomes in Patients With Stroke and Cancer: Findings From the Multicenter, Prospective, Observational SCAN Study.

Background: Patients with acute ischemic stroke and active cancer have more severe neurological symptoms, elevated risks of stroke recurrence, and death compared with the general population. We examined whether von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen levels at stroke onset were associated with the poor outcomes of patients with stroke and cancer.

Methods And Results: Using data from 90 patients with acute ischemic stroke and active cancer who were registered in the SCAN (Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Cancer and Neoplasia) study, a prospective multicenter, observational study in Japan, we divided patients into 2 groups according to their median vWF antigen levels (high, n=46; or low, n=44).

Association of Antipsychotic Drugs with the Risk of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Study of Data from a Japanese Inpatient Database.

Background: Approximately a decade has passed since the addition of venous thromboembolism to the list of significant adverse reactions of antipsychotic drugs. However, only a few studies have investigated the relationship between antipsychotic use and venous thromboembolism in the Japanese population.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism in users of antipsychotic drugs and update the evidence on venous thromboembolism in the Japanese population.

Pharmacological profile of upacicalcet, a novel positive allosteric modulator of calcium-sensing receptor, in vitro and in vivo.

Upacicalcet (formerly SK-1403/AJT240) is a novel non-peptide calcimimetic agent that acts as a calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) agonist for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We compared upacicalcet with other calcimimetics (etelcalcetide or cinacalcet) and examined its in vitro and in vivo characteristics in terms of its human CaSR agonistic activity, its efficacy in normal and CKD rats after a single administration, and its effect on gastric emptying in rats. Upacicalcet activated human CaSR depending on the extracellular calcium (Ca) concentration without exhibiting an agonistic action when the extracellular Ca level was below the physiological level.

Predictors of Survival in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Active Cancer: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study.

Background Limited data exist on the prognostic factors for patients with ischemic stroke and active cancer. Methods and Results We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study in Japan, including patients with acute ischemic stroke and active cancer, to investigate the prognostic factors. We followed up the patients for 1 year after stroke onset.

Association between urate-lowering therapy and cardiovascular events in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Introduction/objectives: To investigate the role of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia using the Japanese healthcare record database.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the JMDC Claims Database, which includes records of medical check-ups and Japanese health insurance claims. Subjects aged at least 18 years with a serum uric acid (sUA) level ≥ 7.

Association between dose reduction of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors before coronary artery angiography and acute kidney injury: a propensity score-matched study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dose reduction of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis) and Acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI, which is commonly observed in hospitalized patients, increases mortality. Although RAASis and coronary artery angiography (CAG) are reported to be risk factors for AKI, whether dose reduction of RAASis can prevent AKI after CAG remains unknown.

Predictive value of computed tomography for short-term mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review.

The best available evidence and the predictive value of computed tomography (CT) findings for prognosis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are unknown. We systematically searched three electronic databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov).

[Secondary Contamination by Wheat Allergens across Cooking Bowls through the Use of Sponge Scourers].

After washing the cooking utensils used to prepare liquid batter, flour may remain in the scrubbing sponge. Secondary contamination of cooking devices with wheat allergens is a concern if such scrubbing sponges are used to clean other equipment. Therefore, in this study, bowl washing with detergent, using a scrubbing sponge was evaluated as a cleaning method following liquid batter cooking.

Mixed Reality Needle Guidance Application on Smartglasses Without Pre-procedural CT Image Import with Manually Matching Coordinate Systems.

Purpose: To develop and assess the accuracy of a mixed reality (MR) needle guidance application on smartglasses.

Materials And Methods: An MR needle guidance application on HoloLens2, without pre-procedural CT image reconstruction or import by manually matching the spatial and MR coordinate systems, was developed. First, the accuracy of the target locations in the image overlay at 63 points arranged on a 45 × 35 × 21 cm box and needle angles from 0° to 80°, placed using the MR application, was verified.

Scald Burns While Bathing Among Elderly People in Japan.

Night baths are an essential and beloved tradition in Japanese households. The main purpose of taking a bath at the end of the day, besides hygiene, is relaxation. The aging population is rapidly growing in Japan, as one in three people are approaching the age of 65 years or older.

Clinical Utility of Surgical Lung Biopsy for Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Surgical lung biopsy (SLB) is performed in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); however, its clinical utility remains unclear.

Objectives: We categorized the pathological diagnoses and investigated the predictive value for short-term mortality.

Method: Three electronic databases (MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.

Injectable Biocatalytic Nanocomposite Hydrogel Factories for Focal Enzyme-Prodrug Cancer Therapy.

Systemic enzyme-prodrug therapy (EPT) using nanofactories, nanoparticles encapsulating prodrug-activating enzymes, is a promising concept for anticancer therapy. However, systemic delivery systems can be problematic. As nanofactories are typically carried by the blood circulation to tissues throughout the body, conversion of anticancer drugs in normal tissues can cause severe side effects.

Association between biopsies for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis and prognosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a systemic vasculitis with unknown aetiology. Although biopsies are helpful for diagnosing AAV, whether they improve the outcomes of AAV patients remains unknown. The objective of this study was to elucidate the association between biopsies and prognosis.

Radiation dose for 320-row dose-modulated dynamic coronary CT angiography.

Objectives: The area detector 320-row CT scanner, which can cover the whole heart in one rotation, can aid in reducing radiation exposure during electrocardiography (ECG)-gated coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Recently, researchers have proposed dose-modulated dynamic CCTA with a 320-row scanner for the detection of functional myocardial ischemia. In the present study, we compared and validated the radiation dose of this method with that of the standard CCTA method and the latest diagnostic reference levels (DRLs).

A clinical and statistical analysis of abscess in cellulitis.

The features of abscess that forms in cellulitis patients were investigated. Among 449 cellulitis cases, about 15% developed abscess, and about 70% of teenaged patients were abscess cases. Furthermore, abscess in the younger age group occurred almost exclusively among male patients.

Duplicated Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms Treated by Coil Embolization; A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

Background: Duplication of the middle cerebral artery (DMCA) is an anomalous vessel arising from the internal carotid artery (ICA). Aneurysms at the origin of a DMCA have been reported; however, most have been treated with clipping surgery. Here, we describe two cases of aneurysms at the origin of a DMCA treated with coil embolization.

Decline in subarachnoid haemorrhage volumes associated with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased volumes of stroke admissions and mechanical thrombectomy were reported. The study's objective was to examine whether subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions demonstrated similar declines.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study across 6 continents, 37 countries and 140 comprehensive stroke centres.

Global Impact of COVID-19 on Stroke Care and IV Thrombolysis.

Objective: To measure the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of IV thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with 2 control 4-month periods.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study across 6 continents, 70 countries, and 457 stroke centers. Diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes or classifications in stroke databases.

Global impact of COVID-19 on stroke care.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to profound changes in the organization of health care systems worldwide.

Aims: We sought to measure the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volumes for mechanical thrombectomy, stroke, and intracranial hemorrhage hospitalizations over a three-month period at the height of the pandemic (1 March-31 May 2020) compared with two control three-month periods (immediately preceding and one year prior).

Methods: Retrospective, observational, international study, across 6 continents, 40 countries, and 187 comprehensive stroke centers.

Locking versus nonlocking superior plate fixations for displaced midshaft clavicle fractures: A prospective randomized trial comparing clinical and radiografic results.

Background: It is unknown whether locking or nonlocking superior plate fixation is better for managing displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of locking and nonlocking superior plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures.

Methods: A total of 102 consecutive patients with displaced midshaft clavicle fractures (2B1 and 2B2 in Robinson classification) participated in this randomized controlled trial; 12 patients were excluded.

Isolation and structural elucidation of unique γ-oryzanol species in rice bran oil.

Even though γ-oryzanol (OZ) such as 24-methylenecycloartanyl ferulate (24MCAFA) is abundant in purified rice bran oil, we realized that the oil contained the prospect of two additional novels of OZ species. To identify this, we isolated and analyzed their chemical structures by using HPLC-UV-MS, NMR, and IR. We revealed for the first time that the oil had also contained cyclobranyl ferulate (CBFA) and cyclosadyl ferulate (CSFA) which are likely to be exist due to the isomerism of 24MCAFA under acid condition.

Revealing the thermal oxidation stability and its mechanism of rice bran oil.

Although the stability of rice bran oil (RBO) has been showed on several studies, the factors which make it capable on maintaining its stability under thermal oxidation has not been sure yet. We hypothesized that its fatty acid composition [high composition of oleic acid (OA), lower composition of linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (LnA)] and/or its antioxidant agents [γ-oryzanol (OZ)] and vitamin E [tocopherol (Toc), tocotrienol (T3)] might be the biggest factor. To prove the hypothesis, we thermally oxidized RBO under 40 °C for 17 days to mimic the harsh daily storage condition, and compared it with soybean oil (SO) and rapeseed oil (RPO) then monitoring their primary oxidation products [triacylglycerol hydroperoxide (TGOOH)] from easily oxidized fatty acid contained in triacylglycerol (TG) and the amount loss of antioxidant agents.