[Efficacy and Adverse Events of Low-Dose Intravesical BCG Therapy for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer].

We examined the efficacy and adverse effects of low-dose intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Patients who underwent intravesical BCG therapy (n＝176 ; 198 courses) at our hospital between April 2012 and December 2022 were enrolled. After assigning patients to either the low-dose or regular-dose (40 or 80 mg of BCG Tokyo 172 strain) groups, treatment efficacy and incidence of adverse events were compared.

Predictive factors in difficult postoperative airway management of severe odontogenic deep neck infection.

In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors that predict the postoperative need for advanced or prolonged airway management in patients with severe odontogenic deep neck infections (DNIs). This retrospective case-control study included patients of both sexes aged ≥ 18 years who had undergone surgical drainage including debridement of necrotic tissues of odontogenic deep neck abscesses and necrotizing soft tissue infection under general anesthesia between April 2016 and September 2023 at a single center. The patients' characteristics, laboratory tests, and computed tomography (CT) findings were analyzed and compared between the difficult postoperative airway group, which required prolonged intubation or tracheostomy, and the short-term intubation group.

New virtual contrast enhancement boost technique can reduce the dose of intravenous contrast medium used in computer tomography angiography of the abdominal aorta.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the image quality of computed tomography (CT) angiograms obtained using a virtual contrast augmentation technique, adding an iodine map to the contrast-enhanced images, obtained through a digital subtraction technique, reducing the dose of intravenous iodinated contrast medium compared to the conventional institutional standard technique.

Methods: This prospective investigation enrolled patients previously diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms, who underwent two successive computed tomography angiographies (CTAs) of the aorta. One CTA was performed employing the virtual contrast enhancement boost technique with a 40% decrease in the intravenous contrast medium dose, while the other adhered to the conventional protocol without any reduction in contrast medium volume.

The Radiographic Characteristics of Mandibular Wisdom Teeth That Can Cause Severe Deep Neck Infection.

Purpose: Mandibular wisdom teeth can occasionally cause infections, which can progress to severe deep neck infections (DNIs) including deep neck abscesses or necrotizing soft tissue infections, which are fatal. This study aimed to identify the radiographic characteristics of mandibular wisdom teeth that developed severe DNIs.

Methods: This study included patients who were admitted for the treatment of severe mandibular wisdom tooth infection between July 2012 and June 2024 at a single center.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms and brain volumes in community-dwelling older persons from the Nakayama Study.

The frequency of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is high, and it is a challenge to elucidate its neural substrates underlying their development. In recent years, many findings have been reported on the relationship between BPSD and brain volume in dementia patients. However, the results are not fully conclusive.

Dynamic computed tomography angiography for noninvasive diagnosis of bow Hunter's syndrome: a case report.

The focus of this case report is to technically describe a noninvasive diagnostic evaluation of bow Hunter's syndrome using a dynamic computed tomography angiography protocol and discuss its advantages. In addition, we aimed to exemplify the quality of the study by presenting images of a 3D-printed model generated to help plan the surgical treatment for the patient. The dynamic computed tomography angiography protocol consisted of a first image acquisition with the patient in the anatomic position of the head and neck.

Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and dementia in a community-dwelling Japanese older population (JPSC-AD).

In recent years, the association between neuroinflammatory markers and dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD), has attracted much attention. However, the evidence for the relationship between serum-hs-CRP and dementia including AD are inconsistent. Therefore, the relationships of serum high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) with dementia including AD and with regions of interest of brain MRI were investigated.

Impact of Complete Surgical Resection of Metastatic Lesions in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Complete metastasectomy (CM) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has demonstrated efficacy in the cytokine era, but its effectiveness in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains unclear. A multi-institutional database included clinicopathological data of 367 patients with mRCC. Patients were divided into two groups: the CM group and the non-CM group.

[Efficacy of Recombinant Thrombomodulin for Sepsis-Associated Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Caused by Urinary Tract Infections].

Severe urinary tract infections occasionally cause sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). We examined the efficacy of recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) for treating DIC caused by urosepsis. We enrolled 40 patients who were diagnosed with DIC caused by urosepsis at our hospital between April 2018 and May 2022.

[Adrenal Hemangiomatous Endothelial Cyst That was Difficult to Differentiate from Adrenal Malignant Tumor: A Case Report].

A 65-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for fever and diagnosed with pyelonephritis. Abdominal computed tomography showed a right adrenal tumor incidentally, that was 6.5 cm in diameter.

Direct screening for effective shRNA with a single mismatch in human cells without laborious cloning.

We have devised a method for the direct screening of efficient short hairpin (sh)RNA molecules in human cells, eliminating the need for the time-consuming process of cloning in Escherichia coli. Our screening suggested that single mismatches to shRNAs can significantly alter their activity.

Composite pheochromocytoma associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Introduction: Composite pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor, occurring in only 3% of pheochromocytomas. We report a case of composite pheochromocytoma with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Case Presentation: A 42-year-old man was referred to our department for further evaluation of an incidentally detected right adrenal tumor.

Association between Reaction Times in the Joint Simon Task and Personality Traits.

Joint go and no-go effects (joint Simon effects; JSEs) are considered to have a stimulus-response compatibility effect on joint reaction time tasks (joint Simon task) caused by the presence of other people. Additionally, JSEs are known to be associated with various social factors and are therefore a potential clinical marker for communicative function; however, the relationship with the personality that is associated with communication skills remains unclear. In this study, we focused on the association between JSE and personality traits.

Late-Life High Blood Pressure and Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in the Putaminal Regions of Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Persons.

Background: Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) of the brain may be involved in dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Hypertension has been reported to be a risk factor for dementia and CSVD, but the association between blood pressure (BP) and perivascular spaces is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between BP and EPVS volumes and to examine the interactions of relevant factors.

Clinical impact of catheter insertion for peritoneal dialysis on patient survival and catheter-related complications.

Objectives: The stepwise initiation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) using Moncrief and Popovich's technique (SMAP) for catheter insertion is recommended for the systemic introduction of PD and prevention of catheter-related infections. In this study, we investigated patient outcomes in patients who underwent insertion of a PD catheter with a direct method versus the SMAP method.

Methods: We enrolled 295 consecutive patients who underwent PD as a primary renal replacement therapy and underwent insertion of a PD catheter at our institute between 2006 and 2021.

Analysis of factors related to cognitive impairment in a community-based, complete enumeration survey in Japan: the Nakayama study.

Background: The number of patients with cognitive disorders is rapidly increasing in the world, becoming not only a medical problem, but also a social problem. There have been many reports that various factors are associated with cognitive dysfunction, but the factors have not yet been fully identified. This was a community-based complete enumeration study which aimed to identify risk and protective factors for dementia.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for pharyngeal cancer: removal of supra-oropharyngeal cancer.

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Endoscopic Nasopancreatic Drainage Contributes to Early Resolution of Postgastrectomy Gastropancreatic Fistula.

A 76-year-old man experienced abdominal pain 43 days after gastric cancer resection. Computed tomography revealed a gastric wall defect extending to the pancreas, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed a gastropancreatic fistula. Afterward, a nasopancreatic duct drainage tube was inserted.

Incidence of antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: A multicenter retrospective epidemiological study in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Background/purpose: The incidence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is increasing worldwide, mostly due to the use of antiresorptive agents (ARAs) such as bisphosphonate (BP) and denosumab (Dmab). However, the proportion of BP-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) and Dmab-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (DRONJ) among all ARA-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) cases is not clear; this hinders appropriate treatment, recurrence-prevention planning, and avoidance of unnecessary Dmab withdrawal. Moreover, the causative drug administered at each disease stage remains unknown.