Scoping review of initiation criteria for inhaled nitric oxide in preterm infants (born <34 weeks) after 7 days of age.

Objectives: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a known treatment for pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants after 7 days of age (postacute phase). However, a consensus regarding the optimal criteria for initiating iNO therapy in this population in the postacute phase is currently lacking. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the criteria for initiating iNO therapy, alongside the associated clinical and echocardiographic findings, in this population.

Intratumoral Flow Void Diameter as a Predictor of High Intraoperative Blood Loss in Palliative Excisional Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Tumors.

Massive intraoperative blood loss (IBL) is one of the major complications in metastatic spinal tumor surgery (MSTS), and understanding the predictors of this risk is essential. This study aimed to determine the impact of the intratumoral flow void (IFV) observed on standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its association with IBL in palliative surgery for metastatic spinal tumors. This retrospective analysis included 88 palliative excisional surgeries performed at a single hospital between 2010 and 2024.

Efficacy of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib as first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma with multiple brain metastases.

Introduction: Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma have a poor prognosis and its specific pathogenesis remains unelucidated.

Case Presentation: At 78 years of age, a Japanese male patient was diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (cT3N2M1 stage) and multiple brain metastases that were responsive to stereotactic radiation therapy followed by systemic combination induction therapy of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib. Adverse events, including grade 3 hypertension, grade 2 eruption, and elevated grade 2 fever, were controlled by a dose reduction or suspension of drugs.

The HNH endonuclease domain of the giant virus MutS7 specifically binds to branched DNA structures with single-stranded regions.

Most giant viruses including Mimiviridae family build large viral factories within the host cytoplasms. These giant viruses are presumed to possess specific genes that enable the rapid and massive replication of their large double-stranded DNA genomes within viral factories. It has been revealed that a functionally uncharacterized protein, MutS7, is expressed during the operational phase of the viral factory.

Assessment of Atmospheric and Surface Energy Budgets Using Observation-Based Data Products.

Accurate diagnosis of regional atmospheric and surface energy budgets is critical for understanding the spatial distribution of heat uptake associated with the Earth's energy imbalance (EEI). This contribution discusses frameworks and methods for consistent evaluation of key quantities of those budgets using observationally constrained data sets. It thereby touches upon assumptions made in data products which have implications for these evaluations.

Observational Assessment of Changes in Earth's Energy Imbalance Since 2000.

Satellite observations from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System show that Earth's energy imbalance has doubled from 0.5 ± 0.2 Wm during the first 10 years of this century to 1.

Adjunctive effects of eltrombopag on immunosuppressive therapy for childhood aplastic anemia.

Eltrombopag is used with first-line immunosuppressive therapy for adult aplastic anemia, although its practical utility in childhood remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of pediatric patients who received eltrombopag in Japan. Of the 27 eligible patients, 23 (85%) were previously treated, and 15 (56%) had severe or very-severe disease.

Risk Factors and Prevalence of Sleep Disturbance in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Background: Sleep disturbances, especially those lasting more than one hour, are under-researched in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for such disturbances in DCM patients undergoing decompression surgery and to identify factors contributing to poor postoperative improvement.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted on consecutive patients diagnosed with DCM who underwent cervical decompression surgery between April 2018 and August 2022.

Characteristics of drugs with oral frailty patients among community pharmacy visitors: a cross-sectional study.

Background: With the rise in the older population, it has become important to understand the relationship between oral frailty and drug use to consider appropriate medical interventions and drug use for older persons.

Objective: To clarify the relationship among oral frailty, drug use, and other patient backgrounds and to identify relevant factors using information from patient questionnaires and pharmacy medication history records.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved community-dwelling older adults.

Hydrogenotrophic methanogens overwrite isotope signals of subsurface methane.

Methane, a greenhouse gas and energy source, is commonly studied using stable isotope signals as proxies for its formation processes. In subsurface environments, methane often exhibits equilibrium isotopic signals, but the equilibration process has never been demonstrated in the laboratory. We cocultured a hydrogenotrophic methanogen with an H-producing bacterium under conditions (55°C, 10 megapascals) simulating a methane-bearing subsurface.

Lack of an association between spleen volume and risk of pneumococcal infection in cancer patients: a nested case-control study.

Background: The spleen is a key organ in preventing pneumococcal infection, especially in patients with immunocompromised condition such as those with cancer. Previous studies have shown that a small spleen volume in pneumococcal pneumonia patients is associated with severe disease course. However, it is unknown whether a small spleen increases risk of pneumococcal infection.

Hyperenhancement of LA Wall by Three-Dimensional High-Resolution Late Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI and Recurrence of AF After Catheter Ablation.

: This study investigated the relationship between LA (LA) enhancement on three-dimensional (3D) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI and recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with AF (AF). : A total of one hundred patients with AF (mean age: 68 ± 9 years, 50% with paroxysmal AF) were included in this study. Each patient underwent a high-resolution 3D LGE MRI prior to catheter ablation, allowing for detailed imaging of the LA wall.

Factors associated with awareness of chronic kidney disease, and impact of awareness on renal prognosis.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) awareness could help prevent disease progression through modifiable risk factors. However, few patients with CKD are aware of their disease. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with CKD awareness and impact of CKD awareness on renal prognosis.

Evaluation of mild cognitive impairment in older patients with essential tremor.

Introduction: Recent studies have reported that essential tremor (ET) presents with not only motor symptoms but also cognitive dysfunction. However, detailed pathological mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we evaluate the characteristics of cognitive changes in older patients.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with rapid kidney enlargement after induction of hemodialysis in a patient with IgG4-related disease.

A 76-year-old Japanese man was incidentally diagnosed with a pancreatic head tumor on computed tomography after surgery for colon cancer. He underwent pancreatoduodenectomy and was diagnosed with IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis. Concurrent chronic kidney disease gradually progressed and chronic hemodialysis was introduced 2 years later.

Controlled aggregative assembly to form self-organizing macroscopic human intestine from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Human intestinal organoids (HIOs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are promising resources for intestinal regenerative therapy as they recapitulate both endodermal and mesodermal components of the intestine. However, due to their hPSC-line-dependent mesenchymal development and spherical morphology, HIOs have limited applicability beyond basic research and development. Here, we demonstrate the incorporation of separately differentiated mesodermal and mid/hindgut cells into assembled spheroids to stabilize mesenchymal growth in HIOs.

Fallopian tube carcinoma mimicking inguinal hernia: A case report with imaging and histological insights.

Fallopian tube carcinoma, presenting as an inguinal hernia, is a rare entity. We report the case of a woman in her 70s with a history of hysterectomy and right oophorectomy 29 years prior who presented with left cervical lymphadenopathy and elevated CA125 levels. Imaging revealed a tubular structure in the left pelvic region extending into the inguinal hernia sac.

Is Intraoperative Blood Loss Volume in Elderly Cervical Spine Injury Surgery Greater in Patients with Ankylosis? A Multicenter Survey.

Introduction: Preoperative estimations of blood loss are important when planning surgery for cervical spine injuries in older adults. The association between ankylosis and blood loss in perioperative management is of particular interest. This multicenter database review aimed to evaluate the impact of ankylosis on surgical blood loss volume in elderly patients with cervical spine injury.

Noninvasive Skin Autofluorescence of Advanced Glycation End Products in Patients with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Objective: To clarify the association between skin autofluorescence of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and clinical outcomes and pain in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Methods: Consecutive patients with DCM were prospectively enrolled. AGEs assessed by skin autofluorescence (the AGE score) were examined at the middle fingertip in eligible patients.

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.

Lymph node metastasis risk factors in T2 colorectal cancer.

Objectives: This study evaluates risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in T2 colorectal cancer to refine patient selection for endoscopic resection.

Methods: We reviewed records from consecutive patients who had undergone curative surgical resection of T2 colorectal cancer at our institution in Japan between April 2001 and December 2021. Data on conventional clinicopathologic variables were retrieved from the pathology reports at the time of surgery.