Effects of Acute Phase Intensive Exercise Training in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) leads to hospitalizations and functional decline in older adults. Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is effective for stable heart failure, its impact on ADHF patients, particularly those without frailty, is unclear.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early in-hospital CR for patients hospitalized with ADHF who are not frail.

A machine learning model to predict neurological deterioration after mild traumatic brain injury in older adults.

Objective: Neurological deterioration after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been recognized as a poor prognostic factor. Early detection of neurological deterioration would allow appropriate monitoring and timely therapeutic interventions to improve patient outcomes. In this study, we developed a machine learning model to predict the occurrence of neurological deterioration after mild TBI using information obtained on admission.

Transcriptome analysis of human oral squamous cancer SAS cells as an early response after boron neutron capture therapy.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is based on nuclear reactions between thermal neutron and boron-10 preferentially distributed in the cancer cells. B-boronophenylalanine (BPA) is the approved drug for treatment of oral cancers for BNCT. However, the predictive biomarkers to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and side-effects have not been clarified yet.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related diabetes mellitus associated with high signal intensity in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the pancreas at an early clinical stage.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment but can give rise to immune-related adverse events such as ICI-related diabetes mellitus (DM).

Case Presentation: We herein present the case of a 59-year-old Japanese man with malignant melanoma who developed ICI-related DM after 18 months of nivolumab treatment. He experienced marked hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis without a personal or family history of diabetes.

Real-world clinical practice of current periprocedural anticoagulation management in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: Data from a large prospective ablation registry.

Background: The guidelines recommend anticoagulation management with uninterrupted warfarin or direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) during the atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation periprocedural period.

Objectives: To clarify the Japanese real-world latest periprocedural anticoagulation management during AF ablation.

Methods: This multicenter observational study included 6232 consecutive AF patients (68.

Real-world comparative outcomes and toxicities after definitive radiotherapy using proton beam therapy versus intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a retrospective, single-institutional analysis.

This retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam therapy (PBT). A total of 606 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer between January 2008 and December 2018 were included. Of these patients, 510 received PBT up to a dose of 70-78 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) and 96 patients received IMRT up to a dose of 70-78 Gy.

Changes in swallowing response on patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) often causes dysphagia. The risk of dysphagia increases during CRT tends to become more severe after finishing CRT, and persists for a few weeks thereafter. Thus, understanding the changes in swallowing physiology during and immediately after CRT is essential.

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors diminish systemic proinflammatory responses to bacterial pathogens.

Bacterial infections can induce exuberant immune responses that can damage host tissues. Previously, we demonstrated that systemic infection in mice causes tissue damage in the liver. This liver necrosis is associated with the expression of endogenous retroviruses, chromosomally integrated retroviruses that encode a reverse transcriptase.

Association between daytime sleepiness and quality of life in outpatients with schizophrenia.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of daytime sleepiness (DS) and its impact on quality of life (QOL) in outpatients with schizophrenia in the maintenance phase, as well as to identify the factors associated with DS. A total of 191 outpatients with schizophrenia completed a self-administered questionnaire including questions on lifestyle, sleep habits, DS, QOL, and sleep disorders. Insomnia, DS, and QOL were evaluated by the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the MOS 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8), respectively.

Parental occupational exposure to anticancer drugs and radiation: Risk of fetal loss and physical abnormalities in The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Background: Many studies have indicated an association between maternal occupational exposure to hazardous agents, such as anticancer drugs and ionizing radiation, and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirths or miscarriages and physical abnormalities in offspring. However, the effects of recent advancements in protective measures to reduce these risks have not been clarified. Aim To investigate the current impact of parental occupational exposure to anticancer drugs and ionizing radiation on stillbirths or miscarriages as well as physical abnormalities under the circumstances of the developed safety protocols.

Novel Drug Delivery Particles Can Provide Dual Effects on Cancer "Theranostics" in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

Boron (B) neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a novel non-invasive targeted cancer therapy based on the nuclear capture reaction B (n, alpha) Li that enables the death of cancer cells without damaging neighboring normal cells. However, the development of clinically approved boron drugs remains challenging. We have previously reported on self-forming nanoparticles for drug delivery consisting of a biodegradable polymer, namely, "AB-type" Lactosome nanoparticles (AB-Lac particles)- highly loaded with hydrophobic B compounds, namely -Carborane (Carb) or 1,2-dihexyl--Carborane (diC6-Carb), and the latter (diC6-Carb) especially showed the "molecular glue" effect.

The influence of repeated frowning and smiling on corrugator muscle activity and wrinkles between eyebrows.

Like the lines themselves, concerns about facial wrinkles, particularly glabellar lines - the prominent furrows between the eyebrows - intensify with age. These lines can inadvertently convey negative emotions due to their association with negative facial expressions. We investigated the effects of repeated frowning on the development of temporary glabellar lines through the activation of the corrugator muscle.

Evaluation of dose calculation method with a combination of Monte Carlo method and removal-diffusion equation in heterogeneous geometry for boron neutron capture therapy.

Clinical research in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been conducted worldwide. Currently, the Monte Carlo (MC) method is the only dose calculation algorithm implemented in the treatment planning system for the clinical treatment of BNCT. We previously developed the MC-RD calculation method, which combines the MC method and the removal-diffusion (RD) equation, for fast dose calculation in BNCT.

Efficacy of Unsupervised YouTube Dance Exercise for Patients With Hypertension: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is linked to unhealthy lifestyles, and its treatment includes medications and exercise therapy. Many previous studies have evaluated the effects of exercise on BP improvement; however, exercise requires securing a location, time, and staff, which can be challenging in clinical settings. The antihypertensive effects of dance exercise for patients with hypertension have already been verified, and it has been found that adherence and dropout rates are better compared to other forms of exercise.

The association between difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis and probable sarcopenia.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with probable sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Probable sarcopenia was diagnosed using the SARC-F questionnaire. Patients with difficult-to-treat RA (D2T-RA) were defined as those with a history of using ≥2 biological/targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) who had moderate or high disease activity.

Economic evaluation of newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection: A systematic review.

Purpose: This systematic review analyzes economic evaluations of newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection to identify key factors influencing cost-effectiveness and differences in methodological approaches.

Methods: Following a pre-registered PROSPERO protocol (CRD42023441587), we conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases on July 4, 2024. The review included both full economic evaluations (cost and outcomes) and partial economic evaluations (cost only).

Hidden population turnover of small odontocetes in the northwestern North Pacific during the Holocene.

Despite numerous studies on the rise and fall of terrestrial megafauna in the late Quaternary, knowledge about marine megafauna from this period remains limited. In this study, we performed radiocarbon dating and partial mitochondrial DNA sequencing from the skeletal remains of three species of small odontocetes (Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall's porpoises and harbour porpoises) excavated from prehistoric archaeological sites around the Japanese shore dating back to 8500-1000 years ago (ya). Pacific white-sided dolphins that habituated the eastern coast of Hokkaido around 2000 ya belonged to different maternal groups than those from over 5000 ya and today.

Subglottic Stenosis After Double-Lumen Tube Intubation With Reintubation: A Case Report and Review of Japanese Cases.

Subglottic stenosis after double-lumen tube (DLT) intubation is more likely to occur when an oversized DLT, specifically a 35 Fr DLT, is used in older, shorter women. Reintubation in such cases is challenging and may cause additional traumatic laryngitis. Tracheostomy is the best management for subglottic stenosis after DLT intubation.

Metyrapone single administration, as a possible predictive tool of its dosage and timing in Cushing's syndrome.

Metyrapone is commonly used in the initial management of Cushing's syndrome to reduce hypercortisolemia, but its optimal dosage and timing can vary significantly between patients. Currently, there are limited guidelines on adjustment methods for its administration to individual needs. This study aimed to evaluate responsiveness of each patient to metyrapone and identify the patient characteristics associated with the indices of cortisol responsiveness following a low-dose metyrapone.

Access Program for Unapproved and Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatric BRAF V600E-Mutated Brain Tumors in Japan.

Programs allowing access to investigational drugs and off-label drug use for serious diseases have often been applied to pediatric cancers. A clinical study conducted under the Japanese "Patient-Proposed Healthcare Services" evaluated the efficacy and safety of dabrafenib plus trametinib in children with BRAF V600 mutant glioma (jRCTs071210071). This study successfully provided unapproved and off-label medications to four enrolled patients, two with low-grade glioma and two with high-grade glioma (median age: 10.

Efficacy and Limitations of Continuous Local Antibiotic Perfusion in Treating Surgical Site Infections Following Instrumented Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most serious postoperative complications following instrumented spinal surgery. We previously reported the potential of continuous local antibiotic perfusion (CLAP) to retain implants for patients with SSI following instrumented spinal surgery. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study to elucidate the efficacy and limitations of CLAP for patients with SSI following instrumented spinal surgery.

A Water-Soluble Small Molecule Boron Carrier Targeting Biotin Receptors for Neutron Capture Therapy.

A critical challenge in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is expanding its effectiveness through the development of novel boron agents with different mechanisms of action than the approved drug 4-borono-l-phenylalanine (BPA). In this study, we developed a small molecule boron carrier, biotinyl--dodecaborate conjugate with an iodophenyl moiety (BBC-IP), incorporating biotin as a ligand for biotin receptors overexpressed in various cancer cells, alongside an albumin ligand and boron source. BBC-IP exhibited high water solubility, minimal cytotoxicity, and superior cellular uptake compared to BPA in both human and mouse cancer cells.

Blood DNA virome associates with autoimmune diseases and COVID-19.

Aberrant immune responses to viral pathogens contribute to pathogenesis, but our understanding of pathological immune responses caused by viruses within the human virome, especially at a population scale, remains limited. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing datasets of 6,321 Japanese individuals, including patients with autoimmune diseases (psoriasis vulgaris, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) or multiple sclerosis) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or healthy controls. We systematically quantified two constituents of the blood DNA virome, endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and anellovirus.