Validation of the Japanese version of the Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale for esophageal symptoms.

Background: The Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale (EHAS) is an English questionnaire created in the USA to assess these factors in all patients with esophageal diseases. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Japanese version of EHAS and investigate the relationship between EHAS scores and symptoms in untreated disorders of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow.

Methods: This prospective study recruited patients who underwent high-resolution manometry (HRM) at six tertiary centers in Japan.

Long-term efficacy of on-demand vonoprazan treatment for mild reflux esophagitis: success rates and predictors of treatment failure.

Background: Concerns surrounding long-term proton pump inhibitor use have prompted the exploration of alternative treatments for reflux esophagitis (RE). We previously demonstrated that 24 weeks of on-demand treatment with vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, effectively managed mild RE (Los Angeles classification grade A/B) in more than 80% of patients. However, its long-term efficacy remains unknown.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical treatment for thoracic malignant tumor cases in Japan: a national clinical database analysis.

Objective: Surgical care has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on lung cancer and mediastinal tumor surgery.

Methods: Changes in the number of surgical procedures for lung cancer and mediastinal tumors were analyzed using the National Clinical Database of Japan.

[Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Functional Dyspepsia].

Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)and functional dyspepsia are common gastrointestinal disorders. GERD primarily manifests as heartburn and regurgitation, whereas functional dyspepsia is diagnosed in the absence of a discernible organic disease, despite persistent epigastric discomfort. Both GERD and functional dyspepsia can substantially worsen the patient's quality of life, although they do not typically influence prognosis.

[Robotic Mediastinal Tumor Surgery Using da Vinci SP Surgical System].

The da Vinci single-port (SP) surgical system is a new system in which a camera and three robotic forceps are inserted into the body through a single small wound for surgical manipulation. This paper outlines the basic techniques and tips for mediastinal tumor surgery using the da Vinci SP, especially the subxiphoid single-port approach. In addition, we will discuss the subcostal approach single-port middle or posterior mediastinal tumor surgery.

An "esophageal rosette" sign is useful for predicting favorable outcomes in peroral endoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia.

Background: An "esophageal rosette" (ER) sign is one of the endoscopic findings in primary esophageal achalasia. We investigated whether ER was associated with the therapeutic efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

Methods: The clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes of POEM were retrospectively evaluated in 69 patients who underwent the procedure for esophageal achalasia.

Clinical characteristics of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis and eosinophilic esophageal myositis based on esophageal motility.

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) presents with various esophageal motility disorders, and some cases of hypercontractile esophagus (HE) are associated with eosinophilic esophageal myositis (EoEM). This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with EoE and EoEM according to their esophageal motility.

Methods: The 28 patients with EoE and 2 patients with EoEM were divided into three groups based on esophageal motility: normal motility group, hypomotility group, and spastic contraction group.

Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux and Sleep Depth in Healthy Adults, as Measured by Portable High-Resolution Manometry, Esophageal pH, and Electroencephalography.

Background: The primary mechanism of diurnal gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) in both healthy persons and patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, few studies have examined nocturnal GER. Using portable high-resolution manometry (HRM), esophageal pH, and electroencephalography (EEG), we investigated the association of onset of nocturnal GER with sleep depth in healthy Japanese adults.

Single Lung Transplantation After Open Window Thoracotomy for Empyema: A Case Report.

A 41-year-old woman with lymphangioleiomyomatosis developed a bronchial anastomotic stenosis after left single lung transplantation (LTx). A part of the hyperinflated right native lung was excised in an attempt to remedy the left lung compression, which appeared to affect the bronchial anastomotic stenosis and ventilation/perfusion mismatch. However, a persistent air leak after the surgery caused empyema and an open window thoracotomy (OWT) was performed.

Difference in badminton-specific endurance evaluated by a newly developed on-court test between competitive levels: A pilot study of female players.

We developed a test to evaluate badminton-specific endurance. The study included 10 female badminton players. Five participants were ranked in Japan's top 100 national rankings (ranked), whereas the others were unranked (unranked).

Factors associated with prevalence and severity of erosive tooth wear in patients with reflux oesophagitis.

Background: Extrinsic factors for erosive tooth wear (ETW) have been widely reported, but the intrinsic factors for wear remain unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with the prevalence of ETW in patients with reflux oesophagitis (RO). To prevent severe ETW with RO, factors associated with severity of ETW were also evaluated.

Effect of revised organ transplant law in Japan on lung transplantation.

Purpose: To investigate how revision of the organ transplant law in Japan affected lung transplantation in this country.

Methods: Lung transplant candidates registered between January, 2000 and December, 2009 were designated as the pre-revision group (n = 396) and those registered between January, 2011 and December, 2020, as the post-revision group (n = 1326). Both groups were analyzed retrospectively using data collected by the Japanese Society of Lung and Heart-Lung Transplantation.

In females, salivary secretion was significantly lower in patients with severe reflux esophagitis than in healthy controls.

Background: The salivary secretion in patients with mild reflux esophagitis (RE) and non-erosive reflux disease is significantly lower in females, but not in males. However, sex differences in salivary secretion in patients with severe RE remain unknown. Therefore, the present study investigated sex differences in saliva secretion in patients with severe RE.

Donor management and extremely high donor lung utilization rate in Japan.

Owing to the extremely short supply of donor lungs in Japan, a unique medical consultant (MC) system was initiated in 2002 to increase the organ availability through intensive management of donors. First, heart transplant surgeons were sent to procurement hospitals as MCs to assess donor organ function and provide intensive care to donors. MCs requested that donor attending doctors perform frequent phlegm aspiration with a bronchoscope, leading to a higher lung availability and better outcomes after lung transplantation.

RedirectedDoors+: Door-Opening Redirection with Dynamic Haptics in Room-Scale VR.

RedirectedDoors is a visuo-haptic door-opening redirection technique in VR, and it has shown promise in its ability to efficiently compress the physical space required for a room-scale VR experience. However, its previous implementation has only supported laboratory experiments with a single door opening at a fixed location. To significantly expand this technique for room-scale VR, we have developed RedirectedDoors+, a robot-based system that permits consecutive door-opening redirection with haptics.

Investigation of treatment volume versus circulating blood volume during Rheocarna treatment.

Introduction: Rheocarna's therapeutic effect is associated with fibrinogen (Fib) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) adsorptive removal. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the association between treatment volume (TV) and circulating blood volume (CBV) and the Fib removal rate (Fib-RR) and LDL-C-RR.

Methods: CBV and TV/CBV, cut-off value (CO value), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were calculated.

Effect of acute moderate-intensity cycling on cfDNA levels considering menstrual cycle phases.

Introduction: We aimed to determine the effects of exercise on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels and concentration changes during the menstrual cycle in participants with regular menstrual cycles and no exercise habits.

Methods: Eleven sedentary female students with regular menstrual cycles and ovulation performed bicycle exercises at 60% VO for 30 min during the menstrual, ovulatory, and luteal phases. Blood samples were collected before (Pre), immediately after (Post 0), 30 min after (Post 30), and 60 min after (Post 60) exercise.

Improved Efficiency of the Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Children: A Comparison of the Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines of 2017 and 2022.

Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, which increases the risk of premature coronary artery disease. Early detection and treatment are vital, especially in children. To improve FH diagnosis in children, the Japan Atherosclerosis Society (JAS) released new guidelines in July 2022.

A Comparison of Sleep Duration Accuracy Between Questionnaire and Accelerometer in Middle Childhood.

Purpose Healthy sleep is vital to children's well-being, and assessing sleep efficiently and accurately can help understand children's lifestyles. Due to the difficulty in objectively measuring sleep duration using wearable sensors in large-scale surveys of children, self-administered questionnaires are often used in Japan; however, their accuracy is uncertain. We evaluated and compared the accuracy of questionnaire-based sleep times to those of wearable sensors.

The consecutive impact of COVID-19 on thoracic surgical procedures in Japan: an analysis of data from the National Clinical Database.

Purpose: The current study was designed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on general thoracic surgeries in Japan.

Methods: Changes in surgeries for lung cancer and metastatic lung tumors were evaluated based on National Clinical Database data regarding cancer screening.

Results: In 2021, surgeries for primary lung cancer increased by 3.

Esophageal Dilation in Patients with Achalasia Is a Predictive Factor for the Inability to Traverse the Esophagogastric Junction with a Manometric Catheter.

Introduction: The insertion of a high-resolution manometry (HRM) catheter into the stomach is essential for accurate manometric diagnoses; however, it is impossible in some cases due to the inability to traverse the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Predictive factors for these patients have not been investigated in detail, necessitating time-consuming and burdensome procedures for investigators and patients. Therefore, the present study investigated the percentage of and risk factors for failed intubation at the EGJ.