Publications by authors named "Kobayashi A"

Background: Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is a highly effective procedure for corneal endothelial dysfunction; however, once a DMEK graft is deployed, repositioning can be challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a technique that utilizes infusion and small air bubbles to reposition a misaligned deployed graft.

Methods: This retrospective interventional case series enrolled patients who underwent DMEK between January 2022 and July 2023, including cases where the DMEK graft was attached and unfolded in off-center positions".

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Long-term blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) is associated with adverse prognosis in patients with heart failure. However, the clinical significance of very short-term (beat-to-beat) BPV is unclear. We collected data on nighttime pulse transit time-based continuous beat-to-beat BP measurement in patients with heart failure (n = 366, median age 72.

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The appearances of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus (SSF) and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (SCF) are very similar. Thus, being able to distinguish between SSF and SCF is useful for the quality control of these herbal medicines. In this study, two kinds of electrochemical fingerprint analyses using voltammetry or HPLC with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) were developed in combination with multivariate analysis for discriminating between SSF and SCF.

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Objective: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is generally considered to have fewer enteral feeding problems than nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) or nasal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV). However, the effects of HFNC on the feeding outcomes in preterm infants are still controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of HFNC on postnatal growth and feeding.

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Article Synopsis
  • PAX2 is identified as an endometrial tumor suppressor frequently inactivated through a unique epigenetic mechanism, rather than promoter hypermethylation.
  • In 80% of endometrial cancers, the loss of PAX2 is linked to transcriptional silencing, which alters chromatin features, contributing to cancer development.
  • The research highlights new pathways for understanding endometrial cancer origins, potentially influencing future diagnosis and treatment approaches.
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A method for correlating reaction conditions with device performance was developed by combining Design-of-Experiments and machine-learning strategies in multistep device fabrication processes. This method allowed the "from-flask-to-device" optimisation of a macrocyclisation reaction yielding a mixture of methylated []cyclo--phenylenes, and a crude raw material was directly applied to the fabrication of Ir-doped organic light-emitting devices spin-coating. The method succeeded in eliminating energy-consuming and waste-producing separation and purification steps during device fabrication.

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Introduction: Preoperative identification of the site of rectal cancer surgery is crucial for ensuring accurate tumor localization and resection. Commonly employed methods include contrast-enhanced enterography and endoscopic marking techniques, such as clipping and India ink tattooing. However, India ink tattooing poses challenges, including obstruction of the surgical field, ink leakage into the abdominal cavity, and potential complications such as peritonitis and adhesive bowel obstruction.

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Purpose: To identify areas of consensus among experts on the performance of endothelial keratoplasty by using a modified Delphi approach, to help create a framework for novice surgeons to adopt these procedures.

Methods: Thirty-one international experts in endothelial keratoplasty participated. Two rounds of electronic survey were followed by a hybrid, virtual meeting.

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Background: In total hip arthroplasty (THA), soft tissue retraction is crucial, but traditional methods may cause damage. This study addresses the issue by introducing the Gripper Table Mounted System, a pulley-based retraction system. The research compares THA outcomes with and without the Gripper system, whether reducing soft tissue damage and postoperative pain.

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Background: The combined anteversion theory is used for implant placement in total hip arthroplasty (THA). While majority of the research emphasizes the precise placement of the acetabular cup, there's less focus on stem alignment. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the discrepancy between the preoperatively planned femoral neck osteotomy level and the actual osteotomy level during surgery on stem alignment.

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This report delves into the challenges and potential solutions associated with flexible, customized subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) infusion regimens for patients with primary antibody deficiency disease (PAD). Advances in the treatment of inborn errors of immunity, particularly PAD, have converted fatal diseases into chronic, complex, long-term conditions that make adherence to treatment a critical issue. Conventional SCIG infusion regimens, while clinically effective, may not always align with the varied lifestyles, changing lifestyles and commitments of patients which can lead to missed doses, diminishing adherence thus posing potential health risks and compromising the overall effectiveness of treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hematoma expansion (HE) occurs in a significant portion of patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), impacting their outcomes; the study focuses on the predictive accuracy of the Black-&-White (B&W) sign in identifying HE.
  • In a multicenter cohort from the PREDICT study, the association between the B&W sign and HE was analyzed, revealing that patients with the B&W sign had a higher frequency of HE and more substantial growth of hematomas compared to those without it.
  • The B&W sign strongly predicts HE, with an adjusted odds ratio of 7.83 for HE and 5.67 for severe HE, indicating that its presence significantly increases the risk of hematoma expansion.
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Whether or not vascular endothelial growth factor pathway inhibitors (VPIs) increase the risk of artery dissection is still unknown. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the possibility of artery dissection as a class effect of VPIs using nationwide real-world data. This cohort study was conducted based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB), which spans nearly the entire Japanese population of over 100 million individuals.

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Background/objectives: Opting to perform emotion regulation when facing high-arousal stimuli enhances the reduction in negative emotions. Previous research has indicated that self-choice, that is, personally choosing from multiple alternatives, can improve performance. However, it is unclear whether the emotion regulation strategy chosen among multiple alternatives in daily life enhances stress reduction compared to a forced strategy.

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Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency typically presents as a severe combined immunodeficiency in early infancy, although its onset may be delayed in some cases. We encountered two patients diagnosed with ADA deficiency in adulthood. In addition to previously reported cases, we aimed to identify and characterize the clinical and immunological features associated with delayed- and late-onset ADA deficiency.

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The clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) still depends on subjective information in terms of various symptoms regarding mood. Detecting the characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in blood may result in finding a diagnostic biomarker that reflects the depressive stage of patients with MDD. Here, we report the results on the glycosylation pattern of enriched plasma EVs from patients with MDD.

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Over the last several years, foot rot caused by has become the most destructive sweetpotato disease in the southernmost region of Japan. Breeding of cultivars resistant to foot rot is required for effective and low-cost management. Field tests are often used to evaluate resistance of cultivars, but this approach has several limitations, including a long test period of several months and the requirement of field isolation and labor-intensive procedures.

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Background: Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) offers good cosmetic outcomes with minimal pain for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Moreover, the early removal of postoperative chest drains reduces postoperative pain and hospitalization duration for patients with PSP. We aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of drainless U-VATS in patients with PSP and compare postoperative outcomes between specialists and residents.

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Background: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting HER2-positive gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC). Although effective, T-DXd has notable toxicities, including interstitial lung disease (ILD). This study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors associated with T-DXd for GC/GEJC.

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Article Synopsis
  • The neoDRATS technique is a new method in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery that uses four robotic arms independently, reducing the need for skilled assistants during procedures.
  • Patients undergo surgery while positioned laterally under general anesthesia, using the da Vinci Xi Surgical System with specific setups for each side.
  • The results show that neoDRATS leads to successful surgeries with less postoperative discomfort and smoother operations, making it a promising alternative for facilities with limited access to skilled surgical assistants.
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Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is a rare disease characterized by arterial calcification. GACI is caused by a mutation in the ENPP1 or ABCC6 genes. GACI causes severe hypertension and heart failure, and approximately 50% of patients die within the first 6 months.

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Flowering time is a crucial rice trait that influences its adaptation to various environments, cropping schedules, and agronomic characteristics. Rice breeders have exploited spontaneous mutations in heading date genes to regulate the flowering time. In the present study, we investigated how breeders in Fukui Prefecture regulated days to heading while developing promising rice varieties.

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Photosynthetic organisms have developed mechanisms to regulate light reactions in response to varying light conditions. Photosynthetic electron transport leads to the formation of a ΔpH across the thylakoid membrane (TM), which is crucial for regulating electron transport. However, other pH modulators remain to be identified, particularly in cyanobacteria.

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  • Sarcopenia, the decline of muscle mass with age, is worsened in women post-menopause due to lowered estrogen levels, and isoflavones may help combat this issue.
  • In a study with ovariectomized mice on a high-fat, high-sucrose diet, those treated with isoflavones showed increased grip strength, despite no significant changes in body weight or glucose metabolism.
  • The analysis revealed isoflavone treatment positively influenced gut microbiota diversity and specific gene expressions related to muscle strength, highlighting its potential benefits for menopausal women facing sarcopenia.
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A 48-year-old woman with a history of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis presented with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and was resuscitated by defibrillation. Coronary angiography revealed coronary vasospasm. Various antispastic agents were unable to control recurrent coronary spasms.

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