A Systematic Review of Parental Occupational Pesticide Exposure and Geographical Proximity to Agricultural Fields in Association with Neural Tube Defects.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common congenital anomaly and have been widely associated with exposure to pesticides. This systematic review which analyzes the association between parental exposure to pesticides and NTDs was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The search strategy was designed considering the population, exposure, controls, outcomes, and study design (PECOS).

Kawasaki disease preceded by acute appendicitis treated with intravenous immunoglobulin without surgery.

Graphical Abstract.

Surgery versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study with propensity score matching.

Background: No study has directly compared the outcomes of surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to date. This study aimed to compare the treatment efficacy of complete resection and definitive cCRT.

Methods: Patients were recruited in this retrospective study from Yokohama Municipal Citizens' Hospital between January 2013 and December 2022.

A comparative psychological evaluation of a robotic avatar in Dubai and Japan.

Introduction: This study focused on the psychological evaluation of an avatar robot in two distinct regions, Dubai in the Middle East and Japan in the Far East. Dubai has experienced remarkable development in advanced technology, while Japan boasts a culture that embraces robotics. These regions are distinctively characterized by their respective relationships with robotics.

Avelumab + axitinib treatment in older patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma in Japan: Subgroup analyses of post-marketing surveillance data by age.

Introduction: Avelumab + axitinib was approved in Japan in December 2019 for the treatment of curatively unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) based on results from the JAVELIN Renal 101 trial.

Materials And Methods: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of avelumab + axitinib in older patients in general clinical practice in Japan, an ad hoc analysis of data from post-marketing surveillance (PMS) by age group was conducted.

Results: The analysis population included 328 patients who had received ≥1 dose of avelumab and were enrolled between December 2019 and May 2021.

Final Analysis of Post-Marketing Surveillance for Avelumab + Axitinib in Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma in Japan.

Introduction: Avelumab, an anti-programmed death ligand 1 antibody, was approved in combination with axitinib for curatively unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Japan in December 2019. Because the pivotal JAVELIN Renal 101 study included a limited number of Japanese patients, post-marketing surveillance (PMS) was required to evaluate outcomes (safety and effectiveness) in patients with RCC who received avelumab + axitinib treatment in clinical practice in Japan.

Materials And Methods: We report data from prospective, noncomparative, multicenter, observational PMS in patients with RCC who received ≥ 1 dose of avelumab.

Baseline magnetic resonance imaging findings associated with short-term clinical outcomes after intraarticular administration of autologous adipose-derived stem cells for knee osteoarthritis.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the association between the baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical outcomes after articular injection of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: This retrospective study included 149 patients with varus-type KOA treated with a single intraarticular ASC injection. All patients underwent a MRI evaluation before treatment.

[Elucidation of Coloring Molecule Using a Simple Identification Method with a Color Reaction for Omphalotus japonicus].

For Omphalotus japonicus, the coloring molecule was found and characterized using a simple method of identification with a color reaction. The compound that chang color under basic conditions was isolated from a methanolic extract of O. japonicus by liquid-liquid extraction.

Sacubitril-Valsartan in Cancer Therapy-Induced Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Functional and Hemodynamic Parameters.

Background: Cancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicity (CTRCD), in the form of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), is being increasingly recognized. However, the potential benefits of sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) in managing HFrEF secondary to CTRCD remain unclear.

Objective: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of S/V in preventing cardiotoxicity.

Differences in health care expenditure due to the comorbidity status of periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus.

Background: To investigate the differences in health care expenditure (HCE) due to the comorbidity status of periodontal disease (PD) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This cohort study used health care claims and oral health screening data to identify participants with PD or DM and followed them for 1 year to assess their HCE. PD and DM were determined based on PD screening and medical claims data, respectively.

Retrospective evaluation of a novel ultrasound-based imaging analysis software for predicting radiofrequency ablation areas.

Objective: This study aimed to introduce and evaluate a novel software-based system, BioTrace, designed for real-time monitoring of thermal ablation tissue damage during image-guided radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: BioTrace utilizes a proprietary algorithm to analyze the temporo-spatial behavior of thermal gas bubble activity during ablation, as seen in conventional B-mode ultrasound imaging. Its predictive accuracy was assessed by comparing the ablation zones it predicted with those annotated by radiologists using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) 24 hours post-treatment, considered the gold standard.

Little influence of the abandoned sac on seroma formation following laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair of lateral inguinal hernia.

Background: The impact of completely reducing or transecting a hernia sac on seroma formation in laparoscopic surgery for lateral inguinal hernias remains debated. To date, no studies have compared the incidence of seroma in hernia sacs left untouched versus other surgical approaches. Abandoning the hernia sac involves avoiding manipulation of the inguinal canal, unlike the manipulation required for transection or reduction of the hernia sac.

Physiological and Psychological Differences Between 20% Grade Incline Walking and Level-Grade Jogging at Isocaloric Intensity.

High-incline walking is a relatively new trend with little comparative information. This study compared physiological and psychological differences between high-incline walking at 20% grade (HIW) and level-grade jogging (LGJ) at isocaloric intensities in young adults. Twenty-two participants (M = 11, F = 11) aged 19-31 years completed the study.

Royal jelly reduced non-rapid eye movement sleep fragmentation and restored sleep stability in diet-induced obese mice.

Royal jelly (RJ) is recognized due to its high nutritional value and potential health benefits. Previous research showed that RJ supplementation decreased fat accumulation, resulting in weight loss and improvements in hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. To expand the weight-reducing properties of RJ, this study aimed to investigate the effects of RJ supplementation on HFD-induced obese mice with impaired sleep stabilization.

Clinical practices on acute acquired comitant esotropia: A consensus statement proposed by the Council of Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Society.

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is a concomitant strabismus characterized by sudden onset, mostly associated with diplopia. The prevalence of AACE has significantly increased, and various management approaches have been recommended in recent years. This study by the Council of Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Society aimed to provide an overview of the clinical features, etiology and the nonsurgical and surgical treatment recommendations for the condition to equip strabismus specialists with the most updated knowledge.

Real-World Long-Term Effectiveness of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Elderly Patients.

Background: Because it is unclear whether implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are equally effective in patients of all ages, we investigated the association of age with long-term clinical outcomes of patients who underwent ICD implantation.

Methods And Results: A total of 416 consecutive patients (mean age: 69 years) from 4 tertiary hospitals who underwent ICD implantation or were upgraded from an existing permanent pacemaker between January 2011 and November 2022 were enrolled and divided into 3 groups based on age: <65 years (n=158), 65-74 years (n=138), and ≥75 years (n=120). We compared the incidence of all-cause death and adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiac death, appropriate ICD therapy, and heart failure hospitalization.

Keyhole decompression surgery for holospinal epidural abscess: a novel approach for spinal stability preservation.

Purpose: Spinal epidural abscesses are rare yet serious conditions, often necessitating emergency surgical intervention. Holospinal epidural abscesses (HEA) extending from the cervical to the lumbosacral spine are even rarer and present significant challenges in management. This report aims to describe a case of HEA with both ventrally-located cervical and dorsally-located thoracolumbar epidural abscesses treated with a combination of anterior keyhole decompression and posterior skip decompression surgeries.

The most important prognostic factors for predicting major adverse cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal events during 5-year follow-up of patients with chronic kidney disease with or without haemodialysis.

Objective: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic predictors over 5 years in patients with CKD including haemodialysis.

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective cohort study performed with the Gunma-CKD SPECT Study protocol, 311 patients with CKD [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 min/ml/1.

Remission of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A After Adrenalectomy.

A 37-year-old man presented with symptoms of polyuria and weight loss over the past year. Initial laboratory examination showed elevated blood glucose level (468 mg/dL [25.9 mmol/L]; normal reference range [RR], 75-109 mg/dL [4.

Improved Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure by Diaphragmatic Plication and Tracheal Resection.

The patient was a 66-year-old man who developed exacerbation of respiratory and heart failure that necessitated tracheal intubation. The exacerbation was considered to be largely caused by asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome and type 3 pulmonary hypertension. However, left diaphragmatic eventration and tracheal stenosis were also found.

CAMSAP2 is required for bridging fiber assembly to ensure mitotic spindle assembly and chromosome segregation in human epithelial Caco-2 cells.

In mammalian epithelial cells, cytoplasmic microtubules are mainly non-centrosomal, through the functions of the minus-end binding proteins CAMSAP2 and CAMSAP3. When cells enter mitosis, cytoplasmic microtubules are reorganized into the spindle composed of both centrosomal and non-centrosomal microtubules. The function of the CAMSAP proteins upon spindle assembly remains unknown, as these do not exhibit evident localization to spindle microtubules.

Long-term intake of Tamogi-take mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae) mitigates age-related cardiovascular dysfunction and extends healthy life expectancy.

Age-related declines in cardiac function and exercise tolerance interfere with healthy living and decrease healthy life expectancy in older individuals. Tamogi-take mushrooms (Pleurotus cornucopiae) are known to contain high levels of Ergothioneine (EGT), an antioxidant with potential health benefits. In this study, we assessed the possibility that long-term consumption of Tamogi-take mushrooms might attenuate age-related decline in cardiac and vascular endothelial function in mice.

Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous lung metastases in the conversion therapy era.

Purpose: The Japanese Grade Classification based on the status of pulmonary and mesenteric nodal metastases and the presence of extrapulmonary metastases had a prognostic value in patients with colorectal lung metastases previously. Because the survival of such patients has improved in the era of conversion therapy, this classification needs to be reaudited.

Methods: This study reviewed the treatment sequences of 126 colorectal cancer patients with synchronous lung metastases between 2010 and 2022 at our hospital.

Lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels as a predictive factor of future exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a pulmonary and systemic inflammatory disease, and the management of systemic comorbidities is important. We previously reported that a lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) at admission was an independent prognostic factor for death in patients with COPD exacerbation. This study aimed to determine the association between MCHC levels and prognosis in patients with stable COPD.