Changes in Clinical Features and Severity of COVID-19 with the Emergence of Omicron Variants: A Shift Towards a Common Disease.

Background: The emergence of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has significantly altered the clinical features and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether the clinical factors that previously predicted COVID-19 remain valid following the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital from April 2022 to March 2023.

[Metastatic Lung Tumor with Bronchial Cast Shadow in Which Intraoperative Bronchoscopy Was Useful During Robotic Surgery].

A man in his 60s, who had undergone surgery for rectal cancer, liver metastases, and lung metastasis, had a past history of myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation with reduced cardiac functions. He was referred to our department because of a pulmonary nodule shadow in the S2 right upper lobe and a bronchial cast shadow along the B2 bronchus. Robot-assisted thoracoscopic right S2 segmentectomy was performed and intraoperative bronchoscopy revealed a polyp-like tumor within B2a.

Sporadic inclusion body myositis-derived myotube culture revealed muscle cell-autonomous expression profiles.

Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is a muscle disease in older people and is characterized by inflammatory cell invasion into intact muscle fibers and rimmed vacuoles. The pathomechanism of sIBM is not fully elucidated yet, and controversy exists as to whether sIBM is a primary autoimmune disease or a degenerative muscle disease with secondary inflammation. Previously, we established a method of collecting CD56-positive myoblasts from human skeletal muscle biopsy samples.

[Assessment of Incidental Prostate Carcinoma Cases and Predictors by Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate].

Surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has greatly advanced with the development of laser technology ; and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), which can be performed safely and with minimal invasiveness regardless of prostate size. Incidental prostate carcinoma (iPCa) following HoLEP occurs at a certain rate. Predictors, include age, biopsy, history, preoperative prostate specific antigen, and prostate volume.

Updated outcomes of surgical treatment for recurrent thymic tumour: a report from the Japanese nationwide database.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the surgical outcomes for recurrent thymic epithelial tumours and identify the factors associated with post-recurrence survival, using an updated Japanese nationwide database.

Methods: The cohort that developed recurrence after the initial resection was extracted from an updated database of patients whose thymic epithelial tumours were treated surgically between 1991 and 2010. Furthermore, we reviewed clinicopathological and prognostic factors of re-resected cases.

A case diagnosed with IgA nephropathy during a complete remission of minimal change nephrotic syndrome treated with rituximab.

We herein report a case of IgA nephropathy in a 20-year-old male who maintained a complete remission of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) through the administration of rituximab (RTX). He was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at 4 years of age. After he relapsed frequently, he was diagnosed with MCNS at 8 years of age based on the findings of a kidney biopsy.

Liver Injury Due to Penetration of the Common Iliac Vein by an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Cannula.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulas inserted through the femoral vein can stray into the ascending lumbar vein. No case has been reported in which the cannula has penetrated the common iliac vein and entered the abdominal cavity. A 52-year-old man was brought to the emergency room with ventricular fibrillation, and the cannula inserted from the left femoral vein for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation penetrated the common iliac vein, passed between the pancreas and horizontal portion of the duodenum, and entered the abdominal cavity to reach the hepatic left lateral lobe.

Dual-color FISH analyses of xenogeneic human fibroblast sheets transplanted to repair lung pleural defects in an immunocompromised rat model.

Background: Pulmonary air leaks (PALs) due to visceral pleura injury during surgery is frequently observed after pulmonary resections and the complication is difficult to avoid in thoracic surgery. The development of postoperative PALs is the most common cause of prolonged hospitalization. Previously, we reported that PALs sealants using autologous dermal fibroblast sheets (DFSs) harvested from temperature-responsive culture dishes successfully closed intraoperative PALs during lung resection.

Bilaterally Aligned Electroosmotic Flow Generated by Porous Microneedle Device for Dual-Mode Delivery.

Here, a novel porous microneedle (PMN) device with bilaterally aligned electroosmotic flow (EOF) enabling controllable dual-mode delivery of molecules is developed. The PMNs placed at anode and cathode compartments are modified with anionic poly-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid and cationic poly-(3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethylammonium, respectively. The direction of EOF generated by PMN at the cathode compartment is, therefore, reversed from cathode to anode, countering the unwanted cathodal suctioning of interstitial fluid caused by reverse iontophoresis.

Intraoperative robotic surgical system-related problems in robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Background: Malfunctions of robotic instruments during robotic surgery are well known to occur; however, detailed reports on the inherent problems associated with robotic instruments and robotic surgical systems are scarce. The objective of this study was to retrospectively investigate the intraoperative problems associated with robotic surgical systems and robotic instruments.

Materials And Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study.

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.

Solid-State Generation of Diarylisonaphthofuran and Its Mechanochemical Diels-Alder Reaction with Epoxynaphthalene.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Toshiyuki Hamura and co-workers at Kwansei Gakuin University. The image depicts solid-state generation of diarylisonaphthofuran from 1,3-diaryl-1,3-dihydronaphthofuranol and its mechanochemical Diels-Alder reaction with epoxynaphthalene. Read the full text of the article at 10.

First-Time Parents' Bonding with Their Baby: A Longitudinal Study on Finnish Parents during the First Eight Months of Parenthood.

Early positive bonding between parents and babies promotes the development of parenting skills and parents' sensitivity to their infant's needs. Positive bonding has been suggested to decrease the risk of maltreatment. There is less research into the differences between primiparae's and their spouses' bonding with their baby and changes in the parent-to-infant bonding during the first year of the baby's life.

The Clinical Course and Treatment of a Case of Refractory Systemic Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis Successfully Treated with Thymectomy.

Juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) exhibits a more favorable response to glucocorticoids and has a better prognosis than adult myasthenia gravis. However, no established treatment exists for refractory JMG. Although thymectomy has been performed in several patients with refractory systemic JMG, there are few detailed clinical descriptions of patients who underwent thymectomy.

LRRK2 negatively regulates glucose tolerance via regulation of membrane translocation of GLUT4 in adipocytes.

Epidemiological studies have shown that abnormalities of glucose metabolism are involved in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)-associated Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the physiological significance of this association is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of LRRK2 on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced glucose intolerance using Lrrk2-knockout (KO) mice.

Solid-State Generation of Diarylisonaphthofuran and Its Mechanochemical Diels-Alder Reaction with Epoxynaphthalene.

A solid-state method was developed for generating diarylisonaphthofurans from 1,3-diaryl-1,3-dihydronaphthofuranols. The generated reactive molecules were stable in the solid state and could be stored without any extra precautions. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a typical quinoidal structure.

[Improved Surgical Technique for Closing the Tracheocutaneous Fistula].

The tracheocutaneous fistula is a late complication after tracheotomy decannulation, which decreases the quality of life. Though several procedures to close tracheocutaneous fistula were reported, postoperative wound dehiscence was frequently noted. We developed new surgical technique to prevent this complication and report a case in which the technique was successfully applied.

Hemoptysis due to ruptured lung abscess successfully treated by exploratory thoracoscopy: report of a case.

Background: Ruptured lung abscess is rare and a serious medical concern. We reported a rare case of exploratory thoracoscopy for hemoptysis and empyema due to ruptured lung abscess.

Case: A 49-year-old man visited our hospital due to hemoptysis.

Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection following Blunt Trauma: A Case Report.

Isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) is rare, with symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to acute intestinal ischemia. Risk factors for ISMAD include hypertension, atherosclerosis, abnormal elastic fibers, and pregnancy. In the present case, blunt trauma, which has not been previously reported, was suggested as a risk factor.