Novel Mutation in the Feline Gene in Cats with Niemann-Pick Disease.

Niemann-Pick disease (NP) type C is an autosomal, recessive, and inherited neurovisceral genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycolipids in cellular lysosomes and late endosomes, with a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes. This study aimed to determine the molecular genetic alterations in two cases of felines with NP in Japan, a Siamese cat in 1989 and a Japanese domestic (JD) cat in 1998. Sanger sequencing was performed on 25 exons of the feline gene and 4 exons of the feline gene, using genomic DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue specimens.

Risk factors and pathogen characteristics associated with unfavorable outcomes among adults with pneumococcal meningitis in Japan, 2006 to 2016.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to clarify the risk factors associated with unfavorable outcomes in adults with pneumococcal meningitis (PnM).

Methods: Surveillance was conducted between 2006 and 2016. Adults with PnM (n = 268) were followed up for outcomes within 28 days after admission using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS).

Cancer Antigen 125 Expression Enhances the Gemcitabine/Cisplatin-Resistant Tumor Microenvironment in Bladder Cancer.

Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is one of the mucin family proteins and is a serum tumor marker for various tumors, such as ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bladder cancer. CA125 is used to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors, monitor the response to chemotherapy, and detect relapse after initial treatment. Recently, CA125 was reported to be involved in chemoresistance through the physical characteristics of mucin or by modifying the immune tumor-microenvironment.

Adjacent Segment Degeneration after Short-Segment Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF).

Purpose: To investigate the influence on the adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) of short-segment lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) at 2 years postoperatively.

Methods: Ninety-seven consecutive patients who underwent one- or two-level LLIF were included from two institutions. We diagnosed radiographical adjacent segment degeneration with the appearance of adjacent spondylolisthesis (>3 mm) or deterioration of adjacent disk height (>3 mm) on plain radiographs or decrease of the intervertebral angle (>5 degrees).

Rare case of a patient with testicular torsion complicated by acute pneumonia, requiring emergency surgery, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been causing delay in patient arrival at hospital and starting surgery. We report a delay in a case of testicular torsion complicated by acute pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Case Presentation: A 17-year-old Japanese boy presented to our emergency room with acute left scrotum pain and fever in January 2021.

Nomogram predicting testicular torsion in Japanese patients with acute scrotal pain using physical examination findings and environmental conditions: Development and prospective external validation.

Objectives: To develop a prediction tool based on physical findings and environmental conditions without utilizing color Doppler ultrasonography to guide non-urologists and patients' families in determining the testicular torsion possibility among patients with acute scrotal pain.

Methods: Overall, 110 consecutive patients aged ≤30 years with acute scrotal pain at Saitama Medical Center between 2012 and 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. Physical examination results, including scrotal inspection, palpation and gait observation, and environmental conditions at pain onset (time range and ambient temperature) were collected.

Associations Between Neck and Shoulder Pain and Neuropathic Pain in a Middle-aged Community-living Population.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of NeP in subjects suffering from NSP to reveal the impact of NeP on the health-related QOL (HRQOL) in middle-aged and elderly people with NSP in a health checkup.

Summary Of Background Data: No previous studies have established the relationship between NSP and NeP as potential risk factors contributing to a decreased QOL in the general population.

Impact of Neck and Shoulder Pain on Health-Related Quality of Life in a Middle-Aged Community-Living Population.

Purpose: Neck and shoulder pain (NSP) is very common in the general population. However, scarce information exists on the relationship between NSP and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in this population. The present study described NSP prevalence and its impact on the HRQOL of middle-aged and older persons undergoing a routine medical checkup.

The dual presence of frailty and locomotive syndrome is associated with a greater decrease in the EQ-5D-5L index.

Japan's aging society is facing an increase in the prevalence of frailty and locomotive syndrome (LS) among older adults. To evaluate the association of these age-related declines on health-related quality of life (QOL) in Japan, we investigated this relationship among Japanese middle-aged and older adults who underwent general checkups and examined whether LS or frailty has a stronger association with the Japanese version of EuroQol's five-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) index. Participants were 231 middle-aged and older Japanese adults receiving routine health checkups.

Comparison of isolation methods using commercially available kits for obtaining extracellular vesicles from cow milk.

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are important for delivering biologically active substances to facilitate cell-to-cell communication. Milk-derived EV are widely known because of their potential for immune enhancement. However, procedures for isolating milk-derived EV have not been fully established.

Enoxaparin promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury by antagonizing PTPRσ.

The receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPRσ) regulates axonal regeneration/sprouting as a molecular switch in response to glycan ligands. Cell surface heparan sulfate oligomerizes PTPRσ and inactivates its enzymatic activity, which in turn promotes axonal growth. In contrast, matrix-associated chondroitin sulfate monomerizes PTPRσ and activates it.

Postoperative Syrinx Shrinkage in Spinal Ependymoma of WHO Grade II.

Study Design: A retrospective study of preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in spinal ependymoma.

Objective: The goal of the study was to examine MRI features, including the syrinx component volume, after surgical resection of spinal ependymoma, and to relate these features to extent of resection and improvement of postoperative neurological status.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal ependymomas have a variety of MRI findings preoperatively, including a hemorrhage cap sign, gadolinium enhancement, and a spinal tumor cyst.

Relationship between intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis and group B streptococcal colonization dynamics in Japanese mother-neonate pairs.

Introduction: In Japan, universal screening for group B streptococcal (GBS) colonization in pregnant women and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) are recommended to prevent neonatal GBS infection. However, the dynamics of GBS colonization in Japanese mother/neonate pairs have not been adequately studied.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from July 2018 to March 2019.

Drastic reduction in pneumococcal meningitis in children owing to the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: Longitudinal analysis from 2002 to 2016 in Japan.

Introduction: The characteristics of pneumococcal isolates and their associations with outcomes in pediatric meningitis are unclear. This study aimed to clarify serotypes and resistance genotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae from children with meningitis and evaluate the patient prognoses and backgrounds.

Methods: Large-scale surveillance was conducted from 2002 to 2016 through periods I-V.

Dynapenia and physical performance in community-dwelling elderly people in Japan.

Aging of society has increased the incidence of physical disability. The goal of this study was to examine the physical ability of elderly people classified as having sarcopenia, presarcopenia, or dynapenia (a low muscle function without low muscle mass) in a community in Japan. The subjects were volunteers aged >60 years who were participants in a health checkup in Yakumo, Hokkaido and were in good general health.

Molecular epidemiological characterization in mucoid-type Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates obtained from invasive pneumococcal disease patients in Japan.

Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae with a mucoid-type capsule is associated with invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs). Despite the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines, IPDs caused by mucoid-type isolates are still prevalent. The present study aimed to characterize mucoid-type S.

Trends in Medical Costs for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery in Japan.

Study Design: A retrospective review of clinical data and costs was performed for surgeries for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) conducted from 2008 to 2017.

Objective: Cost containment and healthcare value have become focal points in Japanese health care policy. The purpose of the study was to investigate trends over time in medical costs for surgery for AIS.

Sequence Type Changes Associated with Decreasing Macrolide-Resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Japan.

We compared sequence types (STs) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolates from Japan during 2002-2019. ST3 and ST14 dominated during 2002-2016, and ST7 and ST33 dominated during 2018-2019. These STs were associated with a decrease in macrolide-resistant strains after an epidemic of infection with M.

Scoliosis Caused by Limb-Length Discrepancy in Children.

Study Design: Single-center retrospective study in pediatric patients.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the presence and severity of leg-length discrepancy (LLD) on scoliosis in children.

Overview Of Literature: LLD is a common orthopedic problem that can result in standing imbalance, low back pain, and stress fractures.

Postoperative Kyphosis in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Cut-off Preoperative Angle for Predicting the Postlaminoplasty Kyphosis.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between preoperative cervical sagittal alignment and postoperative kyphosis in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and to determine the cut-off angle for predicting the postlaminoplasty kyphosis.

Summary Of Background Data: There have been several reports describing a cervical kyphosis after laminoplasty.

Risk Factors for Neuropathic Pain in Middle-Aged and Elderly People: A Five-Year Longitudinal Cohort in the Yakumo Study.

Objective: To determine the risk factors for new neuropathic pain (NeP) after five years in healthy middle-aged and elderly volunteers.

Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study (Yakumo study).

Setting: Clinical evaluation in a health checkup.

Association between locomotive syndrome and the Japanese version of the EQ-5D-5L in middle-aged and elderly people in Japan.

The Japanese version of the EuroQol 5 dimension, 5 level version (EQ-5D-5L) can now be used to quantitatively evaluate the health-related quality of life (QoL) in Japan. Locomotive syndrome (LS) is a concept advocated in Japan to describe a condition requiring care for musculoskeletal disorders. However, no detailed study on the relationship between this index and LS in Japanese health checkup has been reported.