Intraluminal washout in rectal and sigmoid colon cancer surgeries with double-stapling technique anastomosis: A single-institution prospective study.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the necessity of intraluminal washout through cytological assessment to prevent implantation of exfoliated cancer cells (ECCs) in patients with rectal and sigmoid cancers.

Methods: We studied 140 patients with either sigmoid or rectal cancer who underwent anastomosis surgery using a double-stapling technique. An intraluminal washout sample was collected before and after irrigation with 1000, 1500, or 2000 mL of physiological saline or distilled water.

Identifying the appropriate measurement environment for laser speckle flowmetry of cerebral blood flow in rats.

Laser speckle flowmetry (LSF) is a noninvasive tool for cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement via a cranial bone window. LSF is influenced by various factors including the extent of removal of bone and dura mater and tissue wetness in the bone window. In this study, we aimed to characterize the effect of these conditions on LSF signals and identify optimal measurement conditions for CBF LSF measurements in rats.

Long-Term Impact of Gender Differences After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: The short-term and midterm impact of gender differences on transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been studied. However, the impact on long-term clinical outcomes remains unclear. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of gender differences after TAVI on long-term clinical outcomes and structural valve deterioration (SVD).

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Congenital Syphilis in Japan, 2023: Executive Summary.

Congenital syphilis (CS) is a mother-to-child infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, transmitted through the placenta. In Japan, the number of syphilis cases has recently increased, accompanied by an increase in CS cases. Thus, automated methods for serum antibodies with serial values, without a 2× dilution sequence, have been widely used.

Silicone oil, an intraocular surgical adjuvant, induces retinal ferroptosis.

Vitrectomy with silicone oil (SO) endotamponade is an effective treatment for vision-threatening retinal diseases. However, unexplained vision impairment has been reportedly critical side effects. Previously, we reported that the eyes with ocular toxoplasmosis showed retinal ferroptosis with the clinical sign of reduced intravitreal iron (Fe).

[Current Status and Future Perspective of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement].

The number of patients eligible for transcatheter aortic valve replacement( TAVR) has expanded significantly since its initial approval in 2013, and a wealth of evidence has led to TAVR being considered for all patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS), based on the overall judgment of the heart team. Clinical results of TAVR in moderate- and low-risk patients, as well as in chronic hemodialysis patients, are expected to emerge in the coming years. We believe that the heart team, including cardiovascular surgeons and cardiologists, needs to be further matured to consider "life-time management" of each patient from various perspectives and comprehensively.

Removal efficiency of antineoplastic drug cyclophosphamide by hypochlorous acid.

Hypochlorous acid (HClO), one of the major reactive oxygen species, is obtained by electrolyzing a sodium chloride solution. HClO is a safe and effective disinfectant and decomposing agent widely used as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of HClO generated by electrolyzing sodium chloride as a decontaminant.

Quality of Life Report Associated With Pain Response and Patient Classification System for Palliative Radiation Therapy: A Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: A novel classification system has been proposed to stratify patients undergoing palliative radiation therapy based on their pain response and time to progression. This study used prospective observational data to quantify quality of life (QoL) changes associated with pain response and the classification system.

Methods And Materials: Between August 2021 and September 2022, 366 painful lesions with a numerical rating scale of 2 or more from the 261 eligible patients underwent palliative radiation therapy.

Aggressive Multidisciplinary Treatment for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Achievement of a Pathologic Complete Response and Long-Term Survival.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus is generally considered to be borderline resectable because of its poor prognosis. This report describes a patient who underwent multidisciplinary treatment for HCC with massive IVC tumor thrombus.

Methods: The 56-year-old woman in this study had diffuse HCC of the medial and anterior segments.

ERCP catheter or dilator? Which is best for fistula dilation following guidewire placement in EUS-guided transhepatic biliary drainage?

Objectives: EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is performed after endoscopic transpapillary biliary drainage fails. Although fistula dilation is one of the most difficult steps of EUS-BD, whether an ultratapered ERCP catheter or a dilator is the best choice for fistula dilation is unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the optimal device for fistula dilation after guidewire placement.

Yeast diversity during the spontaneous fermentation of wine in a winery and in a laboratory using sterilized equipment.

A recent trend in some wineries is the return to using spontaneous fermentation, but it is not clear whether winery flora or vineyard microorganisms drive fermentation. We compared fungal communities during the spontaneous fermentation of wine produced in a winery and in a laboratory with sterilized equipment using three grape cultivars (Chardonnay, Merlot, and Muscat Bailey A) obtained from the same harvest. High-throughput sequencing analysis based on the ITS1 region showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the dominant species in winery batches at the end of fermentation, but it was not always dominant in laboratory batches.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Three Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Ulcerative Colitis: A Real-World Multicentre Study in Japan.

Background: Three Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are approved for ulcerative colitis (UC) in Japan.

Aim: To compare the real-world efficacy and safety of these three JAK inhibitors in UC.

Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective study of patients with UC started on JAK inhibitors.

Long-Term Course and Prognostic Factors in Pediatric Ulcerative Proctitis: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Although ulcerative proctitis (UP) in children is considered relatively mild, some patients have proximal disease extension and require immunosuppressive treatment. We investigated clinical characteristics and course of refractory UP in a multicenter pediatric cohort.

Methods: Analyzing data obtained between 2013 and 2022 at 10 institutions specializing in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, we elucidated natural history and factors predicting a need for immunosuppressive UP treatment.

Phase 1 Studies of the Anti-Tau Monoclonal Antibody JNJ-63733657 in Healthy Participants and Participants with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: JNJ-63733657 (posdinemab) is a humanized IgG1/kappa monoclonal anti-phospho tau antibody that binds with high affinity to phosphorylated amino acid 217 (pT217) in the proline-rich domain. The parent molecule, PT3, was raised against Alzheimer's disease brain purified paired helical filament, and preclinical studies with the humanized version, JNJ-63733657, have demonstrated reductions in tau seeding. The results of the first-in-human clinical trial of JNJ-63733657 and a separate single ascending dose study in Japanese participants are presented.

Persistent Liver Injury Following Avacopan Discontinuation in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: A Rare Case of Liver Biopsy in the Chronic Phase of Liver Injury.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major concern associated with the use of avacopan, a new therapeutic agent for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Here, we report a rare instance of liver biopsy performed for persistent liver injury following discontinuation of avacopan in an elderly woman with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). The patient developed cholestatic liver injury after 2 months of avacopan therapy, which led to drug cessation.

The outcomes of electronic personal health records in patients with heart failure or coronary artery disease.

Background: There are limited data on the efficacy of smartphone-based personal health records (PHRs) in patients with cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to examine the processes, outcomes and challenges associated with the implementation of integrated PHRs in patients with heart failure (HF) or coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This prospective single-group study evaluated the effects of a PHR system with the capability to capture electronic health records and vital signs in patients with HF or CAD.

Sectional measurements of shoulder muscle volume and computed tomography density in anterior shoulder instability.

In patients with anterior shoulder instability (ASI), a chronic imbalance might exist between the anterior and posterior shoulder muscles (i.e., subscapular [Ssc] vs.

Long-term clinical and endoscopic outcomes of ustekinumab in pediatric Crohn's disease with anti-tumor necrosis factor failure.

Background And Aim: Only a few studies have reported the long-term effects of ustekinumab on pediatric Crohn's disease. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the long-term clinical and endoscopic outcomes of ustekinumab and its safety profile in pediatric-onset Crohn's disease with anti-tumor necrosis factor failure.

Methods: Medical records of patients with pediatric-onset Crohn's disease in whom anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy failed and ustekinumab treatment was initiated from 2017 to 2022 at a Japanese tertiary children's hospital were retrospectively reviewed.