Association of Pretreatment Albumin-bilirubin Grade With Hepatotoxicity and Efficacy in EGFR-TKIs Therapy for NSCLC.

Background/aim: The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade is an assessment tool for hepatic function and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its significance in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) remains unclear. We retrospectively investigated the relationship between pre-treatment ALBI grade and hepatotoxicity and treatment efficacy in patients with NSCLC receiving EGFR-TKIs.

Prognostic Value of Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium Criteria in Older Patients with Heart Failure.

Objectives: The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019 (AWGS 2019) emphasized muscle mass measurements. In contrast, the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) prioritizes functional strength and mobility. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the prognostic utility of the SDOC and AWGS 2019 criteria for all-cause mortality in older patients with heart failure.

Diagnostic utility of pharyngeal follicular structures in COVID-19: A large-scale cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Pharyngeal follicles similar to those seen in influenza have been observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), suggesting their potential as early-stage diagnostic markers. In this study, we examined the diagnostic potential of pharyngeal follicles for COVID-19, particularly the Omicron variant and its subtypes, to obtain basic data for AI-based diagnostic imaging tools.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 21, 2022, to March 31, 2023, at the Tokyo Shinagawa Hospital's fever clinic.

Prognostic value of Borg scale following 6-min walk test in hospitalized older patients with heart failure.

Aims: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a widely accepted tool for evaluating exercise tolerance and physical capacity, and the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) is an established prognostic factor in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the prognostic implications of post-6MWT dyspnoea remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of Borg scores after the 6MWT in patients with HF.

Lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio and score in patients with heart failure: Nutritional status, physical function, and prognosis.

Aims: In heart failure (HF), inflammation is linked to malnutrition and impaired physical function. In this study, we aimed to assess how novel nutritional-inflammatory markers and lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) and score (LCS) are associated with the nutritional status, physical function, and prognosis of patients with HF.

Methods And Results: This study was a secondary analysis of the FRAGILE-HF study, a prospective observational study conducted across 15 hospitals in Japan.

Nonepisodic angioedema with eosinophilia following a rose-thorn prick injury.

Background: Nonepisodic angioedema with eosinophilia (NEAE) is a condition marked by angioedema and significant eosinophilia and often linked with atopic dermatitis. It predominantly affects young Asian women and occurs more frequently in the autumn and winter. Despite over 100 reported cases, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear.

Prognostic Value of Objective Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Patients With Heart Failure: Subanalysis of FRAGILE-HF and Kitasato Cohort.

Background: Social factors encompass a broad spectrum of nonmedical factors, including objective (social isolation [SI]) and perceived (loneliness) conditions. Although social factors have attracted considerable research attention, information regarding their impact on patients with heart failure is scarce. We aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of objective SI and loneliness in older patients with heart failure.

Prognostic impact of MitraScore in elderly Asian patients with heart failure: sub-analysis of FRAGILE-HF.

Aims: MitraScore is a novel, simple, and manually calculatable risk score developed as a prognostic model for patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation. As its components are considered prognostic in heart failure (HF), we aimed to investigate the usefulness of the MitraScore in HF patients.

Methods And Results: We calculated MitraScore for 1100 elderly patients (>65 years old) hospitalized for HF in the prospective multicentre FRAGILE-HF study and compared its prognostic ability with other simple risk scores.

Surveillance of seasonal influenza viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan, 2018-2023, a single-center study.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic led to significant reductions in influenza detection worldwide, fueling debates on whether influenza truly ceased circulating in communities. The number of influenza cases decreased significantly in Japan, raising concerns about the potential risk of decreased immunity to influenza in the population. Our single-center study aimed to investigate influenza trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan.

Association and Prognostic Value of Multidomain Frailty Defined by Cumulative Deficit and Phenotype Models in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: Frailty is associated with a poor prognosis in older patients with heart failure (HF). However, multidomain frailty assessment tools have not been established in patients with HF, and the association between the frailty phenotype and the deficit-accumulation frailty index in these patients is unclear. We aimed to understand this relationship and evaluate the prognostic value of the deficit-accumulation frailty index in older patients with HF.

Prognostic impact of cachexia by multi-assessment in older adults with heart failure: FRAGILE-HF cohort study.

Background: Cachexia substantially impacts the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF); however, there is no standard method for cachexia diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate the association of Evans's criteria, consisting of multiple assessments, with the prognosis of HF in older adults.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of the data from the FRAGILE-HF study, a prospective multicentre cohort study that enrolled consecutive hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with HF.

Sustained Myocarditis following Messenger RNA Vaccination against Coronavirus Disease 2019: Relation to Neutralizing Antibody and Amelioration by Low-Dose Booster Vaccination.

We recently reported that sub-acute myocarditis occurred following the initial two doses of messenger RNA-based vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (0.3 mL Comirnaty) in elderly Japanese patients with cardiac dysfunction. The present retrospective study of 76 patients revealed that myocarditis following the initial doses persisted for 12 months, was associated with low levels of neutralizing antibodies, and was ameliorated by reducing the third vaccine dose.

Estimation of adverse events associated with P2Y12 receptor inhibitors stratified by academic research consortium for high bleeding risk criteria in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The usefulness of the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) criteria in the selection of P2Y12 receptor inhibitors for acute coronary syndrome is unknown. This study investigated whether the selection of antiplatelet agents according to the ARC-HBR criteria could improve clinical outcomes.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 1261 patients with acute coronary syndrome who received dual antiplatelet therapy, namely clopidogrel (75 mg, n = 529) or prasugrel (3.

Histological evaluation of vascular changes after excimer laser angioplasty for neointimal formation after bare-metal stent implantation in rabbit iliac arteries.

Background: Excimer laser is used to treat coronary artery disease, especially in case of lesions with thrombus and in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, there are no in vivo preclinical studies that have evaluated the pathological reactions of the vessel wall after excimer laser ablation.

Methods: Bare-metal stents were placed in the external iliac arteries of six healthy rabbits.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the management of portal hypertension in cirrhosis.

Portal hypertension is a major pathophysiological condition in patients with cirrhosis. This accounts for the occurrence and severity of the various manifestations. The degree is determined by the portal pressure or hepatic venous pressure gradients, both of which are obtained by invasive interventional radiological procedures.

Microstructure Evaluation of the Potential of Additive Manufactured Dissimilar Titanium-Aluminum Alloys.

Pure titanium (Ti) ERTi-2 was accumulated on an aluminum (Al) alloy ER5356 component via wire and arc additive manufacturing. The effect of processing parameters, mainly the input heat per unit length, on Ti/Al components was investigated. The microstructure of the Ti deposited layer and the Ti/Al reaction layer was analyzed using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and an X-ray diffractometer.

Ablation for Benign Liver Tumors: Current Concepts and Limitations.

Percutaneous ablation under imaging guidance is a curative treatment that can induce complete tumor necrosis with advantages of minimal invasiveness and a low risk of complications. Thermal ablation, which includes radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation, is a representative technique that has sufficient antitumor effects in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with ≤3 lesions measuring ≤3 cm and preserved liver function. The short- and long-term outcomes of patients are comparable with those achieved with surgical resection.

The Clinical Impact of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy New-FP for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Preserved Liver Function.

Background: Systemic treatments are recommended for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in preserved liver function. However, their effects are unsatisfactory in some tumor conditions, particularly macrovascular invasion (MVI) including major portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). We compared the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) regimens New-FP and sorafenib for various tumor conditions in preserved liver function.