[Current status of relocation among terminally ill older residents of nursing facilities: Observational study using anonymous long-term care receipt information].

Objectives　In Japan, efforts to provide "end-of-life care" in nursing homes are increasing and its introduction through long-term care insurance in 2006 is a major step forward. However, previous studies have shown that relocating older adults to their end-of-life care affects their burden. This study examined individuals' end-of-life care use under long-term care insurance in older care facilities and investigated the relocation frequency among terminally ill older residents of nursing facilities using receipt data.

Association between burnout and job-quitting intentions among public health center staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide survey in Japan.

Objective　The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has imposed considerable stress on public health centers (PHCs) in Japan, raising concerns over staff burnout and intention to quit. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between burnout and job-quitting intention among PHC staff members and estimated the prevalence of burnout and job-quitting intentions among these staff members.Methods　This study employed a cross-sectional design.

Scoring model for the diagnosis of colorectal perforation and its differentiation from gastroduodenal perforation.

Purpose: Distinguishing colorectal from gastroduodenal perforations is clinically important and challenging. We aimed to establish a scoring model based on objective findings (excluding computed tomography findings) for the diagnosis of colorectal perforation and its differentiation from gastroduodenal perforation.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with colorectal or gastroduodenal perforations between January 2014 and December 2021 were retrospectively studied.

New definition of borderline resectable colorectal liver metastasis based on prognostic outcomes.

Background: Although surgical resection is the curative treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been discussed due to recent remarkable advances in chemotherapy. The definition of borderline resectable (BR) is most important, where neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be administered. This study aimed to examine a new definition of BR CRLM based on the results of the treatment outcomes.

[Association between the uptake rates of countermeasure-type colorectal cancer screening, new cancer detection indices, and number of municipal public health nurses: An ecological study].

Objective　We conducted an ecological analysis of the structures and processes of municipalities implementing countermeasure-type colorectal cancer screening services, which are associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. We analyzed the populations' demographic characteristics, number of public health nurses (PHNs), and human base for such services. The process was evaluated using the screening uptake rates for countermeasure-type cancer screening and detection indices.

Marangoni Droplets of Dextran in PEG Solution and Its Motile Change Due to Coil-Globule Transition of Coexisting DNA.

Motile droplets using Marangoni convection are attracting attention for their potential as cell-mimicking small robots. However, the motion of droplets relative to the internal and external environments that generate Marangoni convection has not been quantitatively described. In this study, we used an aqueous two-phase system [poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran] in an elongated chamber to generate motile dextran droplets in a constant PEG concentration gradient.

Primary hepatic chronic expanding hematoma: a case report and literature review.

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH), first reported in 1968, is a hematoma that gradually enlarges over a long course of time after an initial period of bleeding. It can occur anywhere in the body; however, there are many reports of its occurrence in the thoracic cavity. Primary hepatic CEH is extremely rare.

Early Identification of Patients with Potential Failure of Nonoperative Management for Gastroduodenal Peptic Ulcer Perforation.

Introduction: We aimed to identify objective factors associated with failure of nonoperative management (NOM) of gastroduodenal peptic ulcer perforation (GDUP) and establish a scoring model for early identification of patients in whom NOM of GDUP may fail.

Methods: A total of 71 patients with GDUP were divided into NOM (cases of NOM success) and operation groups (cases requiring emergency operation or conversion from NOM to operation). Using logistic regression analysis, a scoring model was established based on the independent factors.

Preoperative scoring system for prediction of extended resection during emergency surgery for acute appendicitis.

Purpose: Appendicectomy is the primary treatment for acute appendicitis. However, extended resection (ER) may be required in difficult cases. Preoperative prediction of ER may identify challenging cases but remains difficult.

Brain-to-gut trafficking of alpha-synuclein by CD11c cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Inflammation in the brain and gut is a critical component of several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). One trigger of the immune system in PD is aggregation of the pre-synaptic protein, α-synuclein (αSyn). Understanding the mechanism of propagation of αSyn aggregates is essential to developing disease-modifying therapeutics.

Development of a scoring model based on objective factors to predict gangrenous/perforated appendicitis.

Background: The mortality rate of gangrenous/perforated appendicitis is higher than that of uncomplicated appendicitis. However, non-operative management of such patients is ineffective. This necessitates their careful exam at presentation to identify gangrenous/perforated appendicitis and aid surgical decision-making.

Risk factors for postoperative disseminated intravascular coagulation in surgical patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia.

Purpose: The prognostic impact of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in surgical patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is unclear. This study aimed to confirm the association between postoperative DIC and prognosis and to identify preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative DIC.

Methods: This retrospective study included 52 patients who underwent emergency surgery for NOMI between January 2012 and March 2022.

Partial cooling of the upper body with a water-cooled vest in an environment exceeding body temperature.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of water-cooled clothing that continuously cools restricted body areas to suppress body temperature increase as an anti-heatstroke measure for workers in hot environments that exceed body temperature.

Methods: Ten healthy men were placed in Room A (air temperature: 25°C, relative humidity: 50%) for 15 min. They were then transferred to Room B (air temperature: 40°C, relative humidity: 50%), where they rested for 10 min, then put on cooling clothing, and again rested for 15 min (the control group rested for 25 min).

Efficacy and Safety of Synbiotics in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.

Objective High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is an effective treatment option for relapsed and refractory aggressive malignant lymphoma. However, patients frequently experience treatment-induced gastrointestinal symptoms. Synbiotics, including live microorganisms and nondigestible food ingredients, reportedly ameliorate chemotherapy-induced mucosal damage.

Efficacy of CT Value Along Portal Vein for Preoperative Prediction of Portal Vein Resection in Pancreatic Head Cancer.

Background: It is important for surgeons to determine whether combined portal vein (PV) resection (PVR) is necessary before surgery. The present study aimed to determine the ability of computed tomography (CT) value along the PV in predicting the necessity for concomitant PVR.

Methods: A total of 107 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreatic head at our institute between September 2007 and September 2020 were reviewed retrospectively.

Impact of atherosclerosis on the postoperative complications of colorectal surgery in older patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: Atherosclerosis is associated with various comorbidities; nonetheless, its effect on the postoperative complications of colorectal surgery in older patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of atherosclerosis on the postoperative complications of colorectal surgery in older adults with CRC.

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent surgery for CRC between April 2017 and October 2020 were enrolled.

Prediction model for irreversible intestinal ischemia in strangulated bowel obstruction.

Background: Preoperatively diagnosing irreversible intestinal ischemia in patients with strangulated bowel obstruction is difficult. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a prediction model for irreversible intestinal ischemia in strangulated bowel obstruction.

Methods: We included 83 patients who underwent emergency surgery for strangulated bowel obstruction between January 2014 and March 2022.

Advanced magnetic resonance imaging findings of cerebellar hemangioblastomas: A report of three cases and a literature review.

On conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hemangioblastomas typically appear as mural nodules with an adjacent surrounding cyst or a solid mass in the cerebellum. However, hemangioblastomas sometimes cannot be reliably distinguished using this imaging technique from other tumors, especially pilocytic astrocytomas and metastatic tumors, because of their similar imaging findings and locations. Herein, we report three cases of cerebellar hemangioblastomas and review their findings on conventional and advanced MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion-weighted imaging (DSC-PWI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

Efficacy of ice slurry and carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions for firefighters.

Objectives: To examine the thermoregulatory and fluid-electrolyte responses of firefighters ingesting ice slurry and carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions before and after firefighting operations.

Methods: Twelve volunteer firefighters put on fireproof clothing and ingested 5 g/kg of beverage in an anteroom at 25°C and 50% relative humidity (RH; pre-ingestion), and then performed 30 minutes of exercise on a cycle ergometer (at 125 W for 10 minutes and then 75 W for 20 minutes) in a room at 35℃ and 50% RH. The participants then returned to the anteroom, removed their fireproof clothing, ingested 20 g/kg of beverage (post-ingestion), and rested for 90 minutes.

Utility of 3T single-voxel proton MR spectroscopy for differentiating intracranial meningiomas from intracranial enhanced mass lesions.

Background: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides structural and metabolic information that is useful for the diagnosis of meningiomas with atypical radiological appearance. However, the metabolite that should be prioritized for the diagnosis of meningiomas has not been established.

Purpose: To evaluate the differences between the metabolic peaks of meningiomas and other intracranial enhanced mass lesions (non-meningiomas) using MR spectroscopy in short echo time (TE) spectra and the most useful metabolic peak for discriminating between the groups.

Prediction Model for Failure of Nonoperative Management of Uncomplicated Appendicitis in Adults.

Background: Prediction of failure of nonoperative management (NOM) in uncomplicated appendicitis (UA) is difficult. This study aimed to establish a new prediction model for NOM failure in UA.

Methods: We included 141 adults with UA who received NOM as initial treatment.

New risk factors of postoperative complications in elective gastrointestinal surgery of elderly patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Gastrointestinal surgery in elderly individuals presents unexpected postoperative complications. However, predicting postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries is challenging because of the lack of a reliable preoperative evaluation system. We aimed to prospectively evaluate three new preoperative assessment methods to predict the postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgery.

Massive Leak in CO2 Absorber of Perseus A500 Did Not Inhibit Mechanical Ventilation but Manual Bag Ventilation: A Case Report With Experimental Reproduction.

Massive leaks in the anesthesia circuit may cause intraoperative hypoventilation and awareness; we experienced this with a disposable CO2 absorber in Perseus A500, which uses turbine ventilation to create positive-pressure ventilation. Consequently, manual ventilation was rendered impossible. During prolonged surgeries, CO2 absorbers may be replaced by a new one.