Mini-Mental State Examination score trajectories and incident disabling dementia among community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

Aim: The present prospective study used repeated measures analysis to identify potential Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score trajectories and determine whether MMSE trajectory was associated with incident disabling dementia among community-dwelling older Japanese adults.

Methods: A total of 1724 non-demented adults (mean age 71.4 years [SD 5.

Multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase II study comparing S-1 alternate-day oral therapy with the standard daily regimen as a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Non-inferiority for overall survival (OS) following alternate-day treatment with the oral anticancer drug S-1 compared with standard daily treatment was assessed in Japanese patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer in a multicenter, randomized, phase II study. This trial was registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (no. 000008604).

Evaluation of the severity of capsular contracture using elastography after breast implant reconstruction.

Background: Capsular contracture around implants is a common complication after breast reconstruction. Strain elastography (STE) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) are noninvasive imaging techniques that can measure tissue stiffness and thickness of the capsule.

Objective: The purposes of the study were to compare STE and SWE for measurement of capsular contracture after breast implant reconstruction using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and to investigate the correlation of these data with the Baker score, which is the most frequently used clinical staging scale for capsule contracture.

Clinical Epidemiology and Treatment of Febrile and Afebrile Convulsions With Mild Gastroenteritis: A Multicenter Study.

Background: We investigated features and responses to treatment in patients with febrile and afebrile convulsions with mild gastroenteritis and characterized convulsions with rotavirus and norovirus gastroenteritis.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study to evaluate patients with febrile and afebrile convulsions with mild gastroenteritis who were hospitalized between November 2011 and March 2014 at 13 facilities in the National Hospital Organization. We classified the patients into two groups: presence or absence of fever.

Olmesartan with azelnidipine versus with trichlormethiazide on home blood pressure variability in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of olmesartan combined with azelnidipine versus olmesartan combined with trichlormethiazide, on home blood pressure (BP) and pressure variability in type II diabetes mellitus patients using home BP telemonitoring system. We performed an open-label cross-over pilot study of 28 patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Patients received combination treatment with either olmesartan 20 mg plus azelnidipine 16 mg or olmesartan 20 mg plus trichlormethiazide 1 mg for more than 6 weeks each in a cross-over method.

Examination time as a quality indicator of screening upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for asymptomatic examinees.

Background And Aim: The significance of examination time of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for asymptomatic examinees is yet to be established. We aimed to clarify whether endoscopists who allot more examination time can detect higher numbers of neoplastic lesions among asymptomatic examinees.

Methods: We reviewed a database of consecutive examinees who underwent EGD in our hospital from April 2010 to September 2015.

Gait Performance Trajectories and Incident Disabling Dementia Among Community-Dwelling Older Japanese.

Objectives: Initial gait speed is a good predictor of dementia in later life. This prospective study used repeated measures analysis to identify potential gait performance trajectory patterns and to determine whether gait performance trajectory patterns were associated with incident disabling dementia among community-dwelling older Japanese.

Design: A prospective, observational, population-based follow-up study.

Acquired Exchange Protein Directly Activated by Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Activity Induced by p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase in Primary Afferent Neurons Contributes to Sustaining Postincisional Nociception.

Background: The molecular mechanisms responsible for sustained pain after tissue injury are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of exchange protein directly activated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (EPAC) in sustained postincisional nociception, using tissue injury-induced nociceptor priming, and involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in EPAC-mediated nociceptor priming.

Methods: Plantar incisions were made in the hind paws of Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 144).

Nucleotide substitutions in CD101, the human homolog of a diabetes susceptibility gene in non-obese diabetic mouse, in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: Although genome-wide association studies have identified more than 50 susceptibility genes for type 1 diabetes, low-frequency risk variants could remain unrecognized. The present study aimed to identify novel type 1 diabetes susceptibility genes by newly established methods.

Materials And Methods: We carried out whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide copy-number analysis for a Japanese family consisting of two patients with type 1 diabetes and three unaffected relatives.

FUT2 non-secretor status is associated with Type 1 diabetes susceptibility in Japanese children.

Aim: To examine the contribution of the FUT2 gene and ABO blood type to the development of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children.

Methods: We analysed FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes in a total of 531 Japanese children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and 448 control subjects. The possible association of FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes with the onset of Type 1 diabetes was statistically examined.

A Simple Risk Stratification Model for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) from the Combination of Blood Examination Variables: Acute Myocardial Infarction-Kyoto Multi-Center Risk Study Group.

Background: Many mortality risk scoring tools exist among patients with ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). A risk stratification model that evaluates STEMI prognosis more simply and rapidly is preferred in clinical practice.

Methods And Findings: We developed a simple stratification model for blood examination by using the STEMI data of AMI-Kyoto registry in the derivation set (n = 1,060) and assessed its utility for mortality prediction in the validation set (n = 521).

Complete adherence to evidence-based quality-of-care indicators for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia resulted in better prognosis.

Purpose: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a serious clinical condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have revealed that adherence to evidence-based quality-of-care indicators (QCIs) for the management of SAB could result in reduced mortality. We aimed to determine whether compliance with QCIs was associated with mortality and whether compliance with QCIs predicted the mortality of patients with SAB.

Evaluation of factors associated with psychiatric patient dropout at a university outpatient clinic in Japan.

Background: Patient dropout from treatment can lead to a deterioration in clinical condition, thereby increasing the need for more intensive therapy that incurs substantial social and economic losses. The aim of this study was to identify factors related to psychiatric patient dropout at a university outpatient clinic in Japan.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the medical charts of new psychiatric patients who were diagnosed with either a mood disorder (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, code: F3) or an anxiety disorder (F4) in the outpatient clinic at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital in Kyoto, Japan, between April 2010 and March 2013.

Measurement of Corneal Endothelial Surface Area Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Normal Subjects.

Purpose: To calculate the number of corneal endothelial cells (CEC) on the posterior surface of the normal human cornea by measuring specific surface areas through anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The effects of age, sex, and variations between the right and left eyes were also investigated.

Methods: This study involved 60 eyes of 30 normal subjects with no history of corneal disease.

[Comparative Study of Seven-year Outcomes Following Laser In Situ Keratomileusis with those of Trans-epithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy].

Purpose: To compare the long-term outcomes of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and trans-epithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK). Methods: In this retrospective study, 23 eyes of LASIK patients were compared with 23 eyes of patients who underwent tPRK; none of who underwent retreatment. The cases were matched for refractive power and patient age.

Variants associated with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children: implications for age-specific effects of cis-regulatory haplotypes at 17q12-q21.

Aims: The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of previously reported susceptibility variants in the development of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in non-white children. Tested variants included rs2290400, which has been linked to Type 1 diabetes only in one study on white people. Haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 are known to determine the susceptibility of early-onset asthma by affecting the expression of flanking genes.

A Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker Panel for Endothelial Cell Damage-Related Complications in Allogeneic Transplantation.

Noninfectious transplantation-related complications (TRCs), such as graft-versus-host disease or TRC with endothelial cell damage (TRC-EC), remain as the major obstacle for successful allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). However, the diagnosis and prognosis for the emergence of these complications are difficult to define during the early post allo-HCT period. Here, we tried to generate a novel diagnostic system for TRC-EC by analyzing 188 adult patients who received allo-HCT.

Curtain osteophytes are one of the risk factors for the poor outcome of rotational acetabular osteotomy.

Purpose: Rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) is one of the surgical procedures for painful dysplastic hips. Although several risk factors for poor outcome of RAO have been reported, the presence of a curtain osteophyte in the acetabulum has not been evaluated as a possible risk factor. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors affecting the outcome of RAO and to clarify whether curtain osteophytes are one of the risk factors.

Prospective Study of Trajectories of Physical Performance and Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Japanese.

Objective: Physical performance measures (PPMs) are good predictors of adverse health outcomes in later life. This prospective study used repeated measures analysis to examine sex-specific age trends in PPMs, identify potential PPM trajectory patterns, and determine whether PPM trajectory patterns were associated with all-cause mortality among older Japanese.

Methods: Among 1,524 adults aged 65 years or older who participated in a baseline survey, 1,048 adults (mean [SD] age, 71.