Publications by authors named "Okamura M"

In recent years, reported cases of salmonellosis in cattle and horses in Hokkaido, Japan, have increased. To optimize antimicrobial therapy, we assessed the antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates from these animals. Among 112 bovine isolates, high resistance rates were observed for streptomycin (92.

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Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common and distressing condition among adolescents and young adults (AYAs). This study aims to investigate the efficacy of digital interventions, including distress screening-based information provision and smartphone problem-solving therapy, on common psychological distress, especially FCR, in AYA patients with cancer. Participants will be 224 AYA outpatients with cancer aged 15-39 years who will be randomly assigned to either an 8-week smartphone-based intervention or a waitlist control group.

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This study investigated the potential of the metaverse in providing psychological support for pediatric and AYA cancer patients, with a focus on those with rare cancers. The research involved ten cancer patients and survivors from four distinct regions in Japan, who participated in metaverse sessions using customizable avatars, facilitating interactions across geographical and temporal barriers. Surveys and qualitative feedback were collected to assess the psychosocial impact of the intervention.

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Background: Tailored, preventive cancer care requires the identification of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) among potentially at-risk blood relatives (BRs). Cascade testing is carried out for BRs of probands who are positive for PGVs of an inherited cancer but not for negative probands. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of PGVs for BRs of PGV-negative probands.

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Electron transfers in multinuclear metal complexes are the origin of their unique functionalities both in natural and artificial systems. However, electron transfers in multinuclear metal complexes are generally complicated, and predicting and controlling these electron transfers is extremely difficult. Herein, we report the precise manipulation of the electron transfers in multinuclear metal complexes.

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The lateral amygdala (LA) encodes fear memories by potentiating sensory inputs associated with threats and, in the process, recruits 10-30% of its neurons per fear memory engram. However, how the local network within the LA processes this information and whether it also plays a role in storing it are still largely unknown. Here, using ex vivo 12-patch-clamp and in vivo 32-electrode electrophysiological recordings in the LA of fear-conditioned rats, in combination with activity-dependent fluorescent and optogenetic tagging and recall, we identified a sparsely connected network between principal LA neurons that is organized in clusters.

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serovar Gallinarum () is an important host-specific pathogen that causes fowl typhoid, a severe systemic, septicemic, and fatal infection, in chickens. causes high morbidity and mortality in chickens and poses a significant burden and economic losses to the poultry industry in many developing countries. However, the virulence factors and mechanisms of -induced systemic infection in chickens remain poorly understood.

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The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) faces members who encounter annual disease epidemics and natural disasters that necessitate immediate deployment and a trained health workforce to respond. The gaps in this regard, further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, led to conceptualizing the Strengthening and Utilizing Response Group for Emergencies (SURGE) flagship in 2021. This study aimed to present the experience of the WHO/AFRO in the stepwise roll-out process and the outcome, as well as to elucidate the lessons learned across the pilot countries throughout the first year of implementation.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored treatment preferences of Japanese patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) through interviews with 20 patients.
  • While effectiveness and safety of treatments were prioritized, factors like convenience and quality of life also played important roles in their decision-making process.
  • Patients expressed varying and evolving preferences throughout their treatment journey and indicated a gap between their desired and actual involvement in shared decision-making with healthcare providers.
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Introduction: Older patients with cancer are less likely to express their treatment preferences than younger patients. Question prompt lists (QPLs) facilitate communication between patients and physicians. Geriatric assessment (GA) is recommended when older patients with cancer make treatment decisions.

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Self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) was introduced for the treatment of obstructive colorectal cancer (CRC) a few decades ago. However, its long-term outcomes remain controversial, especially for stage IV CRC. The aim of this study was to clarify the outcomes of SEMS as a "bridge to surgery" (BTS) for obstructive and symptomatic primary tumors in stage IV CRC by one-to-one propensity-score matching.

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Objectives: Physical exercise is known to induce expression of the neuroprotective brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. This study examined the effects of physical exercise on hippocampal BDNF expression and the potential benefits for preventing remote secondary hippocampal damage and neurological impairment following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Materials And Methods: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated, ICH, and ICH followed by exercise (ICH/Ex) groups.

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Epigenetic regulation is involved in post-stroke neuroplasticity. We investigated the effects of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) on histone acetylation and gene expression related to neuronal plasticity in the bilateral sensorimotor cortices, which may affect post-stroke sensorimotor function. Wistar rats were randomly divided into the SHAM and ICH groups.

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Objective: To describe patients' perceptions of the patient-centeredness of their communication with healthcare providers in Japan, and to examine factors associated with these perceptions.

Methods: We analyzed the cross-sectional data from the INFORM Study 2020, which is a nationwide survey on health information access in Japan. A total of 3605 respondents completed the survey.

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Background & Aims: Nutritional status is a significant issue in an aging society; however, the impact of the nutritional status of older individuals using long-term care services on the caregiving burden remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of nutritional issues on adverse outcomes in older individuals using long-term care services.

Methods: We used data from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Ichu-shi Web databases.

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Background: This study aimed to clarify the effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on patients with heart failure.

Methods And Results: Patients were divided into groups according to intervention duration (<6 and ≥6 months). We searched for studies published up to July 2023 in Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library, without limitations on data, language, or publication status.

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Background: Studies on informal caregivers in Japan have been limited to family caregivers and largely conducted where family caregivers generally gather. Family caregivers who do not visit such places or non-family caregivers are generally overlooked, and data on these informal caregivers remains scant. Consequently, a framework is needed through which healthcare professionals can approach the informal caregivers of community-dwelling older persons.

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  • The study examined the impact of ice cream consumption on chyle leakage in patients with thyroid cancer who underwent left lateral neck dissection.
  • Among 491 patients, 18 experienced chyle leakage post-surgery, with the majority treated conservatively and showing a significant decrease in drainage volume.
  • The findings suggest that while ice cream does not eliminate chyle leakage risk, it allows for quicker drain removal due to mild leakage.
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Peer support, which is given by people with similar life experiences and experiential knowledge, has been shown to be effective for patients with diabetes and mental illness. However, the impact of such peer support on patients coping with heart failure remains indeterminate. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to scrutinize the potential benefits of peer support for patients with heart failure.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to address the challenges of assessing post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) in ICU survivors by identifying effective assessment instruments through a scoping review and consensus process.
  • A total of 6972 records were reviewed, leading to 20 recommended instruments spanning various domains, including physical health, cognition, and mental health.
  • The findings provide a structured approach to evaluating PICS, highlighting tools like the 6-min walk test and MoCA, ensuring comprehensive assessment for ICU survivors and their families.
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Providing standardized, high-quality rehabilitation for critically ill patients is a crucial issue. In 2017, the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine (JSICM) promulgated the "Evidence-Based Expert Consensus for Early Rehabilitation in the Intensive Care Unit" to advocate for the early initiation of rehabilitations in Japanese intensive care settings. Building upon this seminal work, JSICM has recently conducted a rigorous systematic review utilizing the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.

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Objective:  To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Brazilian physicians about immediate postpartum and postabortion intrauterine device insertion.

Methods:  Cross-sectional online survey involving physicians on duty in public Brazilian hospitals. Participants answered an anonymous questionnaire with close-ended questions to assess their knowledge, attitude, and experience on the immediate postpartum and postabortion insertion of copper intrauterine devices.

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