Aspiration pneumonia after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection frequently induced physical functional decline in Japan.

Nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP) mainly occurs in older people whose physical functions have declined, and it is the most common type of pneumonia in Japan, a super-ageing society. In older people who meet NHCAP criteria, respiratory tract infections are often accompanied by aspiration pneumonia. The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant frequently causes aspiration pneumonia and has induced a decline in physical function.

Efficacy of ensitrelvir for cough due to COVID-19 Omicron variant in medical healthcare workers.

We evaluated the efficacy of ensitrelvir for the treatment of cough due to coronavirus disease 2019 Omicron variant in medical healthcare workers. A total of 633 patients were registered in this study: 206 patients chose ensitrelvir and 427 patients chose symptomatic treatment. Difference in score changes using the Leicester Cough Questionnaire between groups was 3.

Long-Term Outcomes of the Treatment for Gastric Tube Cancer After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.

Background: The long-term outcomes of gastric tube cancer (GTC) are unclear. This study therefore aimed to clarify clinicopathologic features and the long-term outcomes of patients with GTC.

Methods: The 25 patients who were diagnosed with GTC between April 2003 and December 2022 at our hospital were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective study, and this included 27 lesions.

Robotic gastrectomy using hinotori™ Surgical Robot System: Initial case series.

Background: This study aims to prove the feasibility and safety of robotic gastrectomy using the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System (Medicaroid Corporation, Kobe, Japan).

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled the 16 patients who underwent gastrectomy by the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System for gastric cancer at our hospital between June 2023 and January 2024. Console surgeons performed almost all lymphadenectomies, including the clipping of vessels.

Double-decker cage reduces mount frequency and ejaculation latency, resulting in reduced weight loss in male rats after mating behavior.

Rats were the first mammals to be domesticated for scientific research, and abundant physiological data are available on them. Rats are expected to continue to play an important role as experimental animals, especially with advancements such as CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Environmental enrichment aims to promote species-specific behaviors and psychological well-being.

Invalidity of JRS atypical pneumonia prediction score in Omicron variant of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: We evaluated whether the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) atypical pneumonia prediction score can be adapted for the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia due to Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.

Functional decline at 1 year in hospitalized elderly pneumonia with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: Comparison with the ancestral strain and Alpha variant.

In the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron period, the pattern of pneumonia changed from primarily viral pneumonia to pneumonia mixed with bacteria in the elderly. We investigated functional outcomes at 1 year after hospital discharge in patients with primary Omicron pneumonia and pneumonia mixed with bacteria, mainly aspiration pneumonia. Functional decline rates calculated using the Barthel Index at 1 year after hospital discharge were significantly higher in the pneumonia mixed with bacteria group than the primary viral pneumonia group (42.

Clinical impact of proteinuria on renal function and treatment outcomes in patients with radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer treated with lenvatinib.

Proteinuria has been described as a major on-target adverse event of lenvatinib, although its long-term impact on renal function and clinical outcomes remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective observational study to assess renal function and prognosis in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) receiving lenvatinib. Overall, 70 patients with RR-DTC treated with lenvatinib were enrolled.

Nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

Background: There were many differences in the clinical characteristics between nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain, Alpha variant and Delta variant. With the replacement of the Delta variant by the Omicron variant, the Omicron variant showed decreased infectivity to lung and was less pathogenic. We investigated the clinical differences between NHCAP and CAP due to the Omicron variant.

Is the JRS atypical pneumonia prediction score useful in detecting COVID-19 pneumonia under nursing or healthcare settings?

Background: SARS-CoV-2 causes frequent outbreaks in elderly care facilities that meet the criteria for nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP). We evaluated whether the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) atypical pneumonia prediction score could be adapted to the diagnosis of nursing and healthcare acquired COVID-19 (NHA-COVID-19) with pneumonia.

Methods: We analyzed 516 pneumonia patients with NHA-COVID-19 and compared them with 1505 pneumonia patients with community-associated COVID-19 (CA-COVID-19).

Impact of zero anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy followed by whole stomach reconstruction for esophageal cancer: prospective cohort study.

Purpose: The stomach is the most common organ which is used for reconstruction after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. It is controversial which is better narrow gastric tube reconstruction or whole stomach reconstruction to prevent anastomotic leakage.

Methods: From August 2022 to March 2023, we started a prospective cohort study of whole stomach reconstruction after esophagectomy.

Comparison of pneumonia severity scores for COVID-19 patients with the Omicron variant.

Introduction: We demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between the severity measured using the A-DROP scoring system and the mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the ancestral strain, Alpha variant, and Delta variant. We investigated the usefulness of the A-DROP scoring system in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant CAP and compared it with severity scores, the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and CURB-65 score.

Methods: We analyzed a total of 547 patients with COVID-19 CAP Omicron variant; 198 cases were the BA.

Comparison of Paclitaxel plus Carboplatin versus Observation in Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Introduction: Although systemic therapy, including multi-kinase inhibitors and cytotoxic chemotherapy, is an option for recurrent or metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck (HNACC), it is not proven whether these therapies can prolong overall survival (OS). The present study investigated the impact of cytotoxic chemotherapy on survival outcomes compared with observation without chemotherapy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients diagnosed with recurrent or metastatic HNACC.

Real-world clinical profile, treatment patterns and patient-reported outcomes for thyroid cancer in Japan.

To provide a real-world snapshot of the clinical profile, management, and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) for advanced medullary and papillary thyroid cancer prior to the availability of rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibitors in Japan. Physicians completed patient-record forms for eligible patients seen during routine clinical practice. Physicians were also surveyed about their routine practice and patients were asked to provide PRO data.

Laparoscopic reconstruction in McKeown esophagectomy is a risk factor for postoperative diaphragmatic hernia.

Diaphragmatic hernia is a very rare but high-risk complication after esophagectomy. Although there are many studies on the Ivor Lewis esophagectomy procedure for diaphragmatic hernia, there are fewer studies on the McKeown procedure. The present study aimed to estimate the incidence of diaphragmatic hernia after esophagectomy, describing its presentation and management with the McKeown procedure.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a prognostic factor in older adult patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy with tri-weekly cisplatin.

Introduction: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is a standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC) in the definitive setting. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a screening tool to predict the risk of morbidity and mortality in the older adult. Nutritional management is key during CCRT but the association between prognosis and initial nutritional status in older adults with LAHNC undergoing CCRT remains unknown.

Validation of JRS atypical pneumonia score in patients with community-acquired Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia.

Introduction: The Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) atypical pneumonia score is a useful tool for the rapid presumptive diagnosis of atypical pneumonia. We investigated the clinical features of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to Chlamydia psittaci and validated the JRS atypical pneumonia score in patients with C. psittaci CAP.

Clinical characteristics of sarcoma cases in which long-term disease control was achieved with trabectedin treatment: A retrospective study.

Trabectedin is a therapeutic option for patients with advanced sarcoma. While a randomized trial demonstrated its prolonged progression-free survival (PFS), the reported PFS was <6 months. Some patients can achieve long-term disease control with this treatment.

Assessment of the pneumonia severity score in community-acquired and nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia due to COVID-19.

Introduction: The Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) pneumonia guidelines recommend simple predictive rules, the A-DROP scoring system, for assessment of the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP). We evaluated whether the A-DROP system can be adapted for assessment of the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Methods: Data from 1141 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were analyzed, comprising 502 patients observed in the 1st to 3rd wave period, 338 patients in the 4th wave and 301 patients in the 5th wave in Japan.

Treatment efficacy of ramucirumab-containing chemotherapy in patients with alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric cancer.

Background: Alpha-Fetoprotein Producing Gastric Cancer (AFPGC) is an aggressive subgroup of gastric cancer. Recently ramucirumab has shown survival benefits in hepatocellular carcinoma, but only in those with higher Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) levels. However, the efficacy of ramucirumab-containing chemotherapy in AFPGC remains unclear.