Publications by authors named "Masumi Ai"

Objective: To analyze the recent status of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign adrenal tumors, focusing on the relationship between the number of surgeries and complication rates per facility.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, covering surgeries performed between April 2012 and March 2020. The inclusion criteria were laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign adrenal tumors.

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Objective: To evaluate in-hospital fees and surgical outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC), laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) and open radical cystectomy (ORC) using a Japanese nationwide database.

Methods: All data were obtained from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database between April 2020 and March 2022. Basic characteristics and perioperative indicators, including in-hospital fees, were compared among the RARC, LRC and ORC groups.

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Background And Aims: The evidence is inconsistent regarding associations between relative proportions of macronutrient intake and disease risk, potentially due to limitations in accounting for differential effects of simple sugars and dietary fiber, grouped as "carbohydrates." We examined the association between the ratio of dietary fiber to carbohydrate intake (FC-R) measure, the relative proportion of macronutrients, and mortality risk in a nationally representative sample of U.S.

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Background: The association between lipoprotein subclasses and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression has yet to be fully evaluated. We assessed which lipoprotein subclasses were associated with maximum cIMT levels in the general population.

Methods: In this study, cholesterol and triglyceride content of 20 lipoprotein subclasses were analyzed using gel permeation high-performance liquid chromatography (GP-HPLC) in 864 Japanese women and men (mean age 57 y, free of chronic liver or kidney diseases and off lipid-lowering, hormone replacement, or adrenocorticosteroid medications).

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Objective: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in octogenarian or older patients based on a Japanese nationwide database.

Methods: The diagnosis procedure combination database was used to extract the data on radical cystectomy cases. Surgical outcomes of RARC in octogenarian or older patients (older group) were initially compared to those of patients younger than 80 years (younger group).

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Excessive retakes of X-ray images increase labor and material costs, as well as result in excess radiation exposure for patients and a long waiting time. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the token economy method as a management method for reducing X-ray retake rate among radiology technicians. The results showed a 2.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study analyzed the rates and impact of respiratory bacterial infections in Japanese patients hospitalized with COVID-19, finding that 7.5% of patients experienced such infections.
  • The most common causes of these infections included Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, with more severe outcomes linked to hospital-acquired infections and pre-existing health conditions.
  • The research highlights the importance of monitoring and assessing bacterial complications in COVID-19 patients, as these infections can significantly increase mortality rates.
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Aims: Skipping breakfast is known as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Recently, eating and dietary patterns have been varied in many countries, however, the mechanisms of promoting CVD are still unclear. Our goal was to assess the effects of eating and dietary patterns on CVD risk factors, with a focus on lipid parameters including serum concentration of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C).

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  • The study examined the impact of non-respiratory bacterial and fungal infections on hospitalized COVID-19 patients, focusing on the types of infections, their causative organisms, and their effects on mortality rates.
  • Out of 1914 patients, 4.2% developed non-respiratory bacterial infections, predominantly bacteremia, which was linked to a higher risk of death, particularly in patients with certain predisposing factors.
  • The findings highlight the need for effective medical strategies to manage secondary infections in COVID-19 patients, especially those at a greater risk, such as older individuals and those admitted to intensive care.
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Objective: To clarify the trends in radical cystectomy and to compare surgical outcomes among surgical approaches focusing on robot-assisted radical cystectomy based on a Japanese nationwide database.

Methods: The Diagnosis Procedure Combination database was used to extract data on radical cystectomy cases. Trends in open radical cystectomy, laparoscopic radical cystectomy, minimum incision endoscopic radical cystectomy, and robot-assisted radical cystectomy between April 2012 and March 2021 were evaluated.

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  • * Researchers analyzed RNA-seq data from 465 blood samples, uncovering 1169 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and 1549 splice QTLs (sQTLs) linked to COVID-19 severity, including immune-related expressions.
  • * The study highlights the impact of disease severity on gene expression, identifying specific eQTLs that interact with COVID-19 phenotypes, and provides an extensive resource for understanding gene regulation in response to the virus.
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  • Researchers conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 2,393 COVID-19 patients and 3,289 controls in Japan, identifying a specific genetic variant (rs60200309-A) on chromosome 5 linked to severe cases in individuals under 65.
  • The variant is more common in East Asians and associated with reduced expression of the DOCK2 gene, which was found to be lower in severe COVID-19 cases, particularly in non-classical monocytes.
  • Additionally, inhibiting DOCK2 in hamsters worsened pneumonia symptoms, indicating its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for severe COVID-19.
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The LipoSEARCH® System is an innovative lipoprotein class analysis method based on gel-permeation high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This system uses a gel permeation column to separate the major lipoprotein subclasses (chylomicron, very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein) in serum according to particle size and splits them into two pathways to measure total cholesterol (TC; esterified + unesterified cholesterol) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations simultaneously to obtain chromatograms for each. These chromatograms were analyzed based on the results of the calibration serum by fitting Gaussian curves to profile the 20 lipoprotein subclasses defined in detail.

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Aims: We established automated assay kits for quantifying small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL)-cholesterol (C), LDL-triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)3-C, and apolipoprotein (apo)E-rich HDL-C, and these have been recognized as sensitive biomarkers for predicting coronary artery disease. We investigated the circadian rhythms of these novel lipids to determine if fasting is required to determine basal levels.

Methods: Forty-eight inpatients with type 2 diabetes and 19 healthy volunteers were studied.

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Background: Small dense low-density lipoprotein a smaller and denser subfraction among whole low density lipoprotein particles is known to be highly atherogenic. The reference interval (RI) is not strictly defined for serum concentration of sdLDL-cholesterol (sdLDL-C) in Japan. The purpose of this study is to set the reference interval for sdLDL-C in healthy subjects.

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Objectives: To evaluate the trends and safety of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy during the initial 2-year period after government approval for this type of procedure in April 2016.

Methods: This nationwide retrospective study included 3722 received robot-assisted partial nephrectomy cases carried out from April 2016 to March 2018 in 124 participating institutions. The institutions were divided into lower- and higher-volume institutions according to the median of 19 robot-assisted partial nephrectomy cases during the study period.

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Objectives: In 2009, the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry (JSCC) recommended a reference method for the measurement of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. This automated method uses cholesterol esterase-cholesterol dehydrogenase to measure cholesterol levels in fractions obtained after ultracentrifugation and dextran sulfate/magnesium chloride precipitation. In the present study, using fresh samples, we compared the LDL-C and HDL-C levels measured using this method with those measured using the traditional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-beta-quantification (BQ) method.

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Aims: Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death and disability. Other CVD risk factors include age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Our goal was to assess relationships between smoking status and CVD risk factors, with a focus on direct LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides (TG) and small dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C).

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Metformin plus a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) is the most common therapy for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. This 24-week, multicentre, open-label, parallel-group trial randomized patients on dual therapy to add-on tofogliflozin (20 mg/day, n = 33) or glimepiride (0.5 mg/day, n = 31).

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Aim: The association between small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) levels and carotid intimal medial thickness (cIMT) progression has not been evaluated fully. We assessed specialized lipoproteins, including sdLDL-C, with regard to cIMT progression in a prospective observational study in Japan.

Methods: Plasma total cholesterol, direct LDL-C, sdLDL-C, LDL-triglycerides (LDL-TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL2-C, HDL3-C, triglycerides, Lp(a), and adiponectin were measured in 2,030 men and women (median age 59 years, free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and off cholesterol lowering medication).

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Background: Increases in circulating LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed direct LDL-C and hsCRP concentrations compared to standard risk factors in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Methods: We used stored frozen plasma samples (-80 °C) obtained after an overnight fast from 3147 male and female participants (mean age, 58 years) free of CVD at cycle 6 of the Framingham Offspring Study.

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Aims: Prediabetes and diabetes are associated with increased insulin resistance and decreased insulin production, dyslipidemia, and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Our goals were to assess lipoprotein subfractions using novel assays in such subjects.

Methods: Fasting normal, prediabetic, and diabetic Taiwanese men and women (n=2,049) had their serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL3-C, apolipoprotein E-HDL-C, direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), small dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C), LDL-TG, and remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) levels measured using novel assays.

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Background: The global pandemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an enormous clinical and socioeconomic burden. Biguanides and DPP-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) are the most commonly used therapies in Japanese T2DM patients. When glycemic control is not adequate despite combination of these drugs, there is no consensus on the next step drug.

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Treatment-related quality of life (QOL) is an important aspect of diabetes management. However, no studies have compared the influence of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors versus alpha-glucosidase inhibitors on treatment-related QOL. This prespecified sub-analysis of the Linagliptin Study of Effects on Postprandial blood glucose (L-STEP) compared the effects of linagliptin (5 mg once daily) and voglibose (0.

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