Efficacy and Safety of Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, and Edoxaban for Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Based on Blood Coagulation Activity and Drug Plasma Concentration: SETtsu and North Osaka Multicenter Direct Oral AntiCoagulant (SET DOAC) Registry.

The therapeutic effects of oral anticoagulant drugs for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) suggest that the three factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors may have distinct safety profiles, though this is not yet fully conclusive. This study investigated the current dosing of rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban by monitoring drug plasma concentration (PC) and coagulation activity from the viewpoint of the safety. This multicenter clinical study monitored the drug PC and two coagulation biomarkers (fibrinogen and fibrin monomer complex [FMC]) at peak and trough timing in 268 outpatients taking rivaroxaban (n = 72), apixaban (n = 71), and edoxaban (n = 125) for NVAF.

Development of an compound screening system that replicate the spine phenotype of idiopathic ASD model mice.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition characterized by core symptoms including social difficulties, repetitive behaviors, and sensory abnormalities. Aberrant morphology of dendritic spines within the cortex has been documented in genetic disorders associated with ASD and ASD-like traits. We hypothesized that compounds that ameliorate abnormalities in spine dynamics might have the potential to ameliorate core symptoms of ASD.

Learning Curve Effect of Combined Technique Thrombectomy as First-Line Attempt for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Objectives: We retrospectively examined the initial experience and learning curve after the introduction of thrombectomy with the combined technique using an aspiration catheter and a stent retriever as first-line attempt for acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke at our institution between January 2020 and December 2022 were divided into 3 groups according to the year of thrombectomy. Patient characteristics and procedural, safety, and clinical outcomes were compared between the three year periods to determine predictors of favorable clinical outcome.

Aortogenic calcified cerebral embolism diagnosed with an embolus retrieved by thrombectomy: illustrative case.

Background: Calcified cerebral embolism has been reported as a cause of acute cerebral infarction, but an aortogenic origin has rarely been identified as the embolic source. The authors describe a case of aortogenic calcified cerebral embolism in a patient with other embolic sources.

Observations: In a patient with cerebral infarction and atrial fibrillation, a white hard embolus was retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy.

Basilar artery occlusion due to vertebral artery injury treated with thrombectomy and distal vertebral artery embolization through the unaffected side.

Background: There is no established opinion regarding embolization of asymptomatic traumatic vertebral artery injuries that do not require cervical spine repair and fixation.

Case Description: A 78-year-old man fell backward from a height of about 1 m and was rushed to his previous hospital. He had a fracture of the left transverse process of the 6 cervical vertebra.

Efficacy comparison of 3CL protease inhibitors ensitrelvir and nirmatrelvir against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo.

Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become established in the human population, making the need to develop safe and effective treatments critical. We have developed the small-molecule antiviral ensitrelvir, which targets the 3C-like (3CL) protease of SARS-CoV-2. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of ensitrelvir compared with that of another SARS-CoV-2 3CL PI, nirmatrelvir.

Prognostic Impact of Peak Aortic Jet Velocity on Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Aortic valve stenosis (AS) leads to increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and recent studies reported that even mild-to-moderate AS was associated with poor prognosis in the general population. This study investigated the prognostic impact of mild or moderate AS, defined as 2.0 m/s ≤ peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) ≤3.

Pulmonary Pleomorphic Carcinoma Harboring EGFR Mutation Successfully Treated with Osimertinib: A Case Report.

Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) is well-known for its aggressive nature that is usually resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy. On the other hand, the efficacy of an immune checkpoint inhibitor-based regimen in PPC has been elucidated. PPCs harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are extremely rare, and the efficacy of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in PPC is limited compared to their efficacy in EGFR-mutated adenocarcinoma.

Atezolizumab in combination with carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel for managing combined large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report.

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs), categorized as high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas, account for approximately 3% of resected lung cancers. LCNECs containing other components are called 'combined LCNECs' and have no standard treatment. A 73-year-old male with a metastatic brain tumour from a combined LCNEC of the lung containing adenocarcinoma and sarcomatoid components was referred to our department.

Silicosis-related pleural effusion diagnosed using elemental analysis of the pleural fluid cell block: A case report.

Pleural disease in silicosis remains an underrecognized entity. Herein, we describe the case of an 85-year-old man with a 20-year history of silica exposure between the ages of 9-28 years. He presented with bilateral exudative pleural effusions, and chest computed tomography revealed typical silicosis findings.

Entrectinib for -rearranged non-small cell lung cancer after crizotinib-induced interstitial lung disease: A case report.

Chromosomal rearrangements involving the c-ros oncogene 1 () are identified in approximately 1% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Crizotinib is the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) against -rearranged NSCLC. G2032R, a secondary resistant mutation, is observed in 41% of patients treated with crizotinib.

[Environmental factors for the development of hematopoietic neoplasms in children].

Parental age at birth has been investigated in patients diagnosed with pediatric cancer. The Japan Children's Cancer Registry1985-2007 recruited 5,510 patients with leukemia and 8,782 with other cancers. The proportion of patients born to mother and father aged >40 years showed a higher trend in leukemia than that in other cancers (odds ratio [OR] 1.

Transnasal transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia to the brain of immunocompetent mice.

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain, and play essential roles in neuronal development, homeostatic function, and neurodegenerative disease. Human microglia are relatively different from mouse microglia. However, most research on human microglia is performed in vitro, which does not accurately represent microglia characteristics under in vivo conditions.

Nasogastric administration of osimertinib suspension for an epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated lung cancer causing an esophageal stricture: case report.

An esophageal stricture is an abnormal esophageal narrowing, usually caused by esophageal diseases and rarely by lung cancer. They cause malnutrition, performance status (PS) deterioration, and difficulty in the oral administration of antitumor drug tablets. A 78-year-old female patient with lung adenocarcinoma, harboring an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-sensitizing mutation, experienced dysphagia due to an esophageal stricture caused by retrotracheal lymph node metastases.

Bevacizumab-Containing Chemoimmunotherapy for Recurrent Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Chemoradiotherapy: Case Report.

Chemoimmunotherapy has become the standard of care as the first-line treatment of advanced or recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The bevacizumab-containing chemoimmunotherapy regimen is theoretically more effective than a non-bevacizumab-containing regimen via two mechanisms: a superior outcome of bevacizumab-containing chemothrerapy than the standard platinum doublet regimen, and the synergistic effect of bevacizumab with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Bevacizumab effectively normalizes vascularization, especially when the vascular bed is damaged by previous treatment.

Nationwide surveillance of bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis in 2018: Conducted by the Japanese Research Group for Urinary Tract Infections (JRGU).

Introduction: The aim of this study was to monitor the development of drug-resistant bacteria isolated from acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) and to evaluate methodology of the survey conducted by collecting only clinical data.

Methods: We enrolled female patients at least 16 years of age diagnosed with AUC in 2018. Patient information including age, menopausal status, and results of bacteriological examination were collected and analyzed regardless of bacterial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) detection method.

Malnutrition by European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism criteria predicts prognosis in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer.

Background & Aims: The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) proposed the ESPEN diagnostic criteria (EDC) for malnutrition in 2015. There is no report on the association between the EDC and prognosis in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary-pancreatic (HBP) cancer. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of EDC malnutrition, (2) investigate the validity of the EDC as a nutritional and prognostic indicator, and (3) examine which components of the EDC are most related to long-term prognosis in patients with GI and HBP cancers.

Reliability of a novel wearable device to measure chewing frequency.

Purpose In recent years, the chewing frequency, i.e., the number of chewing cycles, has decreased owing to changes in dietary habits.

Impact of phase angle on postoperative prognosis in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer.

Objective: Phase angle (PhA), by bioelectrical impedance analysis, has been used in patients with several diseases; however, its prognostic value in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary-pancreatic (HBP) cancer is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PhA on postoperative short- outcomes and long-term survival in these patients.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed data from 501 patients with GI and HBP cancers who underwent first resection surgery.

Successful Peritoneal Dialysis for the Treatment of Inotrope-Dependent End-Stage Heart Failure.

Extra- and/or intracorporeal renal replacement therapy can improve the cardiorenal hemodynamics in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) refractory to medical therapy and renal failure. Here, we report the case of a 51-year-old woman with inotrope-dependent end-stage HF and chronic renal failure due to anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy, in whom the induction of hemodiafiltration and subsequent chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) provided a dramatic improvement of her cardiac hemodynamics from restrictive to almost normal physiology assessed by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. The patient returned to office work with New York Heart Association functional class I-II symptoms for at least 3 years with continuous ambulatory PD after hospital discharge.

[Survey of the Implementation Status of Personal Counseling among Cancer Patients in Red Cross Hospitals].

Red Cross Pharmaceutical Association conducted a questionnaire-based survey to evaluate the status of implementation of pharmaceutical intervention as well as personal counseling for outpatients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Based on the survey results from 93 hospitals across the country, it was found that pharmacists performed an intervention on outpatients receiving chemotherapy in 68 hospitals(73.1%)and conducted personal counseling for outpatients with cancer in 48 hospitals(51.

Characterization of amylolytic enzyme overproducing mutant of Aspergillus luchuensis obtained by ion beam mutagenesis.

Aspergillus luchuensis is a kuro (black) koji fungus that has been used as a starch degrader for the awamori- and shochu-making industries in Japan. In this study, we investigated the effect of ion beam irradiation on A. luchuensis RIB2601 and obtained a high starch-degrading mutant strain U1.

A novel method for the quantitative evaluation of diurnal respiratory instability in patients with heart failure: A pilot study.

Background: There is no established method to quantitatively measure the presence and the severity of respiratory instability (RI). The purpose of this pilot study was to propose a novel index of diurnal RI as a surrogate measure of clinical severity of heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 60 patients with symptomatic HF [70±14 years, 75% male, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes II-IV] who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC), and recorded diurnal respiration using a nasal pressure sensor during bed rest while awake within 2 days before or after RHC.