Publications by authors named "Kobayashi T"

Purpose: The International Bladder Cancer Group designated the subgroup that is resistant to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) but does not meet the criteria for BCG-unresponsive NMIBC as "BCG-exposed high-risk NMIBC" to guide optimal trial design. We aimed to investigate the treatment patterns and prognoses of patients with BCG-exposed NMIBC.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 3283 patients who received intravesical BCG therapy for NMIBC at 14 participating institutions between January 2000 and December 2019.

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We have adopted a simple and reproducible approach, "minimal manipulation approach," since January 2021 in five patients to minimize the risk of thromboembolic events during Zone 1 and 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVARs) with shaggy aorta. The approach consists of two parts: ① Use of a 65-cm-long sheath (dry seal) to deliver the endografts without touching the protruding atheroma. Covering the atheroma with the first endograft delivered at Zone 3 to the mid-descending aorta (paving the aorta), and second endograft insertion and deployment through the paved aorta with first endograft.

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Background: Water homeostasis is essential for inner ear function. Several aquaporins (AQPs), which are water transport proteins in the cell or plasma membrane, have been reported in the lateral wall of the rat inner ear (cochlea). However, the presence of AQP-10, -11 and -12 has not been reported in the rat stria vascularis (SV) to date.

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Introduction: Treatment goals for ulcerative colitis (UC) are evolving from the achievement of clinical remission to more rigorous goals defined by endoscopic and histologic healing. Achievement of deeper remission targets aims to reduce the risk of colectomy, hospitalizations, and colorectal cancer.

Areas Covered: This review covers histologic assessments, histologic remission as a clinical trial endpoint, and the association between histologic disease activity and clinical outcomes.

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RAD51 is the central eukaryotic recombinase required for meiotic recombination and mitotic repair of double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs). However, the mechanism by which RAD51 functions at DSB sites in chromatin has remained elusive. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of human RAD51-nucleosome complexes, in which RAD51 forms ring and filament conformations.

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  • Fibrinogen concentrate (FC) became covered by public health insurance in Japan in September 2021 for treating critical obstetrical hemorrhage (COH) related to low fibrinogen levels.
  • A study reviewed the usage of FC before and after insurance coverage across 428 medical facilities, finding that its adoption increased significantly (from about 51.5% to 78.6%).
  • The increased use of FC correlated with a rise in COH cases treated with it and a decrease in the number of red blood cells transfused, along with a lower incidence of pulmonary edema and transfusion allergies, while other serious complications remained unchanged.
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The phrase "skin as a mirror of internal medicine," which means that the skin reflects many of the diseases of the internal organs, is a well-known notion. Despite the phenotypic differences between the soft skin and hard bone, the skin and bone are highly associated. Skin and bone consist of fibroblasts and osteoblasts, respectively, which secrete collagen and are involved in synthesis, while Langerhans cells and osteoclasts control turnover.

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Purpose: To analyze the fertilization, developmental, and pregnancy potentials in oocytes with narrow perivitelline space.

Methods: Perivitelline space (PVS) of oocytes was evaluated at the time of ICSI, and those without sufficient PVS were judged as oocytes with narrow PVS (NPVS oocytes), and those with sufficient PVS formation were judged as oocytes with non-narrow PVS (non-NPVS oocytes). The analysis included 634 NPVS oocytes from 278 cycles and 12,121 non-NPVS oocytes from 1698 cycles.

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To report an instructive case involving destructive spondylitis and synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome, presenting with torticollis and postoperative dysphagia without hoarseness, attributed to hidden myotonic dystrophy (DM). A 51-year-old male patient with a cervical deformity, who was previously managed conservatively for a metastatic tumor, underwent reconstruction surgery and subsequently experienced postoperative dysphagia. The presence of destructive spondylitis with torticollis, warranting prompt assessment to prevent paralysis, adds complexity to the delayed identification of DM.

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  • A multi-institutional study examined 100 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were ineligible for transplants after their initial treatment, aiming to create a predictive model for outcomes.
  • Key findings revealed that the median age of these patients was 76, with median progression-free survival of 11.5 months and overall survival of 21.9 months.
  • Three factors (low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, high lactate dehydrogenase, and high C-reactive protein) were identified as strong predictors of overall survival, leading to the development of the Kyoto Prognostic Index for assessing treatment response in these patients.
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  • The study analyzed clinical features and outcomes of ipsilateral inguinal hernias in 11 kidney transplant patients from 2011 to 2022.
  • The majority of patients had direct-type hernias, and many experienced urinary tract obstruction due to the hernia.
  • Surgical repair using mesh resulted in improved kidney function with no hernia recurrences, although one patient reported chronic pain post-surgery.
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Background: Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is crucial in mucociliary clearance. High-speed video analysis (HSVA) is commonly used to measure CBF but lacks standardization. We compared visual observation and computer-assisted calculation using fast Fourier transformation (FFT) in freshly collected bronchial ciliary epithelial cells and cultured cells.

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The antidiabetic drug metformin has been shown to reduce cardiac injury under various pathological conditions, including anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity, which makes metformin a prime candidate for repurposing. However, the mechanisms that mediate the cardioprotective effects of metformin remain highly controversial. In this study, we tested a prevailing hypothesis that metformin activates autophagy/mitophagy to reduce DOX cardiotoxicity.

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  • Addressing vaccine hesitancy is crucial for managing the COVID-19 pandemic, as the study explores what factors encouraged hesitant individuals to eventually receive two or more vaccine doses within a year.
  • The research involved a longitudinal study of 3,870 participants surveyed at four different intervals in 2021, measuring vaccination intention, beliefs about COVID-19, and eventual vaccination completion.
  • Key findings revealed that social influences, confidence in the vaccine, and logistical challenges significantly impacted whether individuals got vaccinated, with higher acceptance rates correlating with strong social support and confidence in the vaccine's safety and efficacy.
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Importance: Although the cognitive components of behavioral therapy for overactive bladder (OAB) are widely recognized, there is a lack of studies evaluating the effectiveness of multicomponent interventions that include cognitive components as a treatment for OAB.

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a multicomponent intervention in improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for women with moderate to severe OAB.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial was conducted in Japan among women aged 20 to 80 years who had moderate to severe OAB.

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Introduction: Approved drug therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are lacking, for which various agents are currently being tested in clinical trials. Effective drugs for liver fibrosis, the factor most associated with prognosis in NASH, are important.

Areas Covered: This study reviewed the treatment of NASH with a focus on the effects of existing drugs and new drugs on liver fibrosis.

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This research investigated the impact of the number of talkers with whom children engage in daily conversation on their language development. Two surveys were conducted in 2020, targeting two-year-olds growing up in Japanese monolingual families. Caregivers reported the number of talkers in three age groups and children's productive vocabulary via questionnaires.

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This study aimed to assess the effects of thienopyridine-class antiplatelet agents (including ticlopidine, clopidogrel, and prasugrel) on bleeding complications in patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. This cohort study used a database for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy at 23 tertiary centers nationwide between 2011 and 2022. Patients who received thienopyridines (thienopyridine group) were compared with those who received aspirin monotherapy (aspirin group).

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A 35-year-old man with fever and diarrhea visited our hospital because of white string-like fecal excretion. Based on a morphological examination of the excreted object, a Diphyllobothrium infection was suspected. Additionally, Gram staining of a fecal sample revealed Campylobacter infection.

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  • Mirikizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-23, shows effectiveness in achieving and maintaining clinical remission in ulcerative colitis patients up to 104 weeks, particularly benefiting those who previously failed other biologic treatments.
  • Among patients who responded to mirikizumab after 52 weeks, high rates of clinical response (up to 96.7%) and remission (up to 98.3%) were observed at 104 weeks, showcasing the durable impact of the treatment.
  • The study indicated no new safety issues, with serious adverse events reported in only 5.2% of patients, confirming mirikizumab as a viable long-term treatment option for ulcerative colitis.
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The structure and decay of the most neutron-rich beryllium isotope, ^{16}Be, has been investigated following proton knockout from a high-energy ^{17}B beam. Two relatively narrow resonances were observed for the first time, with energies of 0.84(3) and 2.

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  • Mechanical forces are essential for various biological processes like cell movement and division, largely driven by the interaction between actin filaments and myosin motors in the actin cytoskeleton.
  • Recent research highlights the importance of two key factors in actin network contraction: F-actin buckling caused by motor activities and the tension-induced fragmentation of F-actins, which disrupts network integrity.
  • This study used experiments and computational models to reveal that tension-induced fragmentation not only contributes to network contraction but also creates different rupture dynamics compared to other mechanisms, emphasizing its significance in highly interconnected actomyosin networks.
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Background: Coagulopathy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Hypercoagulability in COVID-19 results in deep vein thrombosis, thromboembolic complications, and diffuse intravascular coagulation. Microbiome dysbiosis influences the clinical course of COVID-19.

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  • This study looked at early signs of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), specifically focal parenchymal atrophy and main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation, to better understand their progression over time.
  • Out of 1,832 patients with PDAC, 320 had CT scans prior to diagnosis, and 47.8% showed suspicious findings, with focal parenchymal atrophy being the earliest sign, detected an average of 2.7 years before diagnosis.
  • The research highlighted that focal parenchymal atrophy frequently appeared before MPD dilatation, with both findings progressing before diagnosis, suggesting potential markers for early detection in patients.
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Aims/introduction: This study aimed to identify risk factors that contribute to the progression of slowly-progressive type 1 diabetes by evaluating the positive predictive value (PPV) of factors associated with the progression to an insulin-dependent state.

Materials And Methods: We selected 60 slowly-progressive type 1 diabetes patients who tested positive for glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA) at diagnosis from the Japanese Type 1 Diabetes Database Study. GADA levels in these patients were concurrently measured using both radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques.

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