A Severe Case of Infectious Necrotizing Anterior Scleritis Caused by after Vitreoretinal Surgery.

Introduction: This report describes a case of necrotizing scleritis caused by infection soon after vitreous surgery, which caused severe scleral melting and rapidly progressive necrosis that led to scleral perforation and bacterial endophthalmitis.

Case Presentation: The patient was an 86-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for vitreous hemorrhage in his right eye. On postoperative day 10, he complained of severe ocular pain and was found to have conjunctival edema and eyelid swelling, which was treated by topical and general systemic antibiotics.

Resolution of Molluscum Contagiosum After Discontinuation of Topical Corticosteroids During Dupilumab Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis: A Case Report.

A 35-year-old male patient with atopic dermatitis (AD) was referred to our department for exacerbated AD lesions. His sudden discontinuation of topical corticosteroid had induced erythroderma on his face, extremities, and trunk. Additionally, he presented small multiple whitish papules, mainly on the trunk and thighs, diagnosed as molluscum contagiosum (MC).

What is "eczema"?

Eczema is the most common category of inflammatory skin disorders as dermatologists see many patients with eczematous diseases in daily practice. It is characterized by the three major morphological features: multiple-pinpoint condition, polymorphism, and itch. To describe polymorphism, "eczema triangle" has been used in German/Japanese dermatology.

Anti-monkeypox virus-neutralizing activities of human immunoglobulin manufactured between 1999 and 2021 and derived from donors in the United States and Japan.

Background And Objectives: In May 2022, the United Kingdom reported the first case of chained transmission of the monkeypox (mpox) virus without any known epidemiological links to west or central Africa. The monthly number of mpox patients currently has passed a peak and is declining globally, and infected patients include both non-vaccinated and vaccinated individuals. Herein, the virus-neutralizing (VN) activity against vaccinia viruses, which are considered to cross-react with the mpox virus, in the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) lots derived from donors, including vaccinated Japanese populations, was evaluated to clarify the status of the Japanese blood donor population.

Substance P promotes transforming growth factor-β-induced collagen synthesis in human corneal fibroblasts.

Corneal fibroblasts maintain homeostasis of the corneal stroma by mediating the synthesis and degradation of extracellular collagen, and these actions are promoted by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), respectively. The cornea is densely innervated with sensory nerve fibers that are not only responsible for sensation but also required for physiological processes such as tear secretion and wound healing. Loss or dysfunction of corneal nerves thus impairs corneal epithelial wound healing and can lead to neurotrophic keratopathy.

A Comprehensive Review of Pyogenic Spondylitis Management for Neurosurgeons.

Older populations have been increasing recently, resulting in an increase in cases of pyogenic spondylitis. Neurosurgeons who frequently treat the elderly are at a higher risk of encountering this condition. Therefore, this article provides a summary of the literature and our experience to help neurosurgeons effectively manage pyogenic osteomyelitis.

Changes in Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Titers of Pooled Plasma Derived From Donors in Japan: A Potential Tool for Mass-Immunity Evaluation.

The anti-spike (S), anti-nucleocapsid (N), and neutralizing activities of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) of pooled plasma derived from donors in Japan from January 2021 to April 2022 were evaluated. Anti-S titers and neutralizing activities showed a wave-like trend affected by daily vaccinations and/or the number of reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections, whereas anti-N titers remained at negative levels. These results suggest that anti-S and neutralizing titers would fluctuate in pooled plasma in the future.

Decline in intravenous immunoglobulin titer against influenza virus A/H2N2 derived from donors in Japan.

Human influenza A/H2N2 can induce a pandemic in the future. This study evaluated the hemagglutination inhibition and neutralizing titers of intravenous immunoglobulin against A/H2N2 viruses, indicating the status of the donor population. In this study, the antibody titers decreased during the study period-2012-2021-suggesting a reduction in the immunity of the studied population.

Occipital condyle fracture caused by minor head trauma.

Background: Occipital condyle fractures (OCF) are commonly identified in patients suffering from severe craniocerebral trauma. Here, we present a 57-year-old male whose computed tomography (CT)-documented atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD), due to just minor trauma was successfully managed with bracing alone.

Case Description: A 57-year-old male presented with the right upper neck pain following a motor vehicle accident.

A Case of Pseudoaneurysm of the Superficial Temporal Artery Causing a Massive Subcutaneous Hematoma after Craniotomy.

We present a case of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery (STA) after surgery for intracranial hemorrhage. To our knowledge, only three similar cases have been reported. A 47-year-old man underwent left frontal craniotomy for a left frontal subcortical hematoma.

Surgical Outcomes of Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy in the Early Adoption Phase.

 We adopted full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) in 2019 with the assistance of the Japanese Society for Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Techniques of Spinal Neurosurgery (JASMETS). This study analyzed short-term outcomes in our initial FELD cases and compared them with microdiscectomy cases performed during the same period.  FELD was performed in 21 patients over a period of 2 years and 6 months (15 men and 6 women; mean age, 57.

Design and implementation of an adaptive confirmatory trial in Japanese patients with palmoplantar pustulosis.

Background/aims: More and more literature describes how to overcome challenges in the implementation of adaptive designs for trials for drug approval process. Most adaptive trials were conducted in Western Europe or USA for Phase II or Phase II/III settings; however, examples of non-oncology pivotal adaptive trials used for regulatory approval in Japan are rare. This article elaborates on our experience with designing and implementing a Phase III adaptive confirmatory trial permitting unblinded sample size re-estimation and futility analysis after a single interim analysis in Japanese patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) receiving guselkumab.

Long-term monitoring of antibody titers against microorganisms in human intravenous immunoglobulin lots derived from healthy donors in Japan manufactured during 1998-2018.

Background: Studies evaluating long-term trends of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) titers against microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi have not been conducted. We herein evaluated long-term trends of titers of IVIG lots manufactured from 1998 to 2018, derived from donors in Japan, against microorganisms affecting patients with primary or secondary immunodeficiency diseases.

Study Design And Methods: Titers against four strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, three strains of Staphylococcus aureus, four strains of Haemophilus influenzae, two strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, one strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, Bordetella pertussis, Serratia marcescens, and Candida albicans, were tested immediately after lot release in a commercial clinical testing facility in 1998.

A Case of Coil Embolization for a Ruptured Anterior Spinal Artery Aneurysm Associated with Bilateral Vertebral Artery Occlusion.

Anterior spinal artery (ASA) aneurysms are rare, and the majority are associated with vascular lesions such as arteriovenous malformations, moyamoya disease, and aortic stenosis. Herein, we report a case of a ruptured anterior spinal artery aneurysm caused by bilateral vertebral artery (VA) occlusion, which was treated by coil embolization. An 83-year-old man was found collapsed at home, and was brought in by emergency.

Cauda equina syndrome due to lumbar disc herniation and ossification of the yellow ligament.

Background: Patients with lumbar disc herniation at a level with significant stenosis due to ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL) may rarely present with rapid neurological deterioration warranting emergent surgery.

Case Description: A 40-year-old female developed an acute cauda equina syndrome (CES) attributed to an acute lumbar disc herniation and to marked canal stenosis due to OYL. As the patient underwent a 9 h delayed removal of the ossified ligament and discectomy, she sustained only minimal recovery.

Screening for parvovirus B19 antigen through chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay is equivalent to B19 nucleic acid amplification test-based screening of pooled plasma.

Background: Human parvovirus B19 (B19) is a pathogen that threatens the quality of plasma products. Therefore, health authorities have mandated measures against B19 contamination of plasma pools. The US FDA has recommended a B19 genome level of 10  IU/ml or lower in pooled plasma lots.

Polyethyleneimine-modified resins effectively remove porcine circovirus and cellular prion protein.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) possesses various molecular weights (MWs), structures, and virus capture capacities. However, whether PEI can capture porcine circovirus (PCV) and animal cell-derived prion protein (PrP) that may contaminate source materials is unclear. Therefore, we conducted a feasibility study to assess the effectiveness of PEI in removing PCV and PrP as a model of pathogenic prions.

Virus Neutralization by Human Intravenous Immunoglobulin Against Influenza Virus Subtypes A/H5 and A/H7.

Purpose: Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are a threat to human health. Although donor populations have not experienced pandemic, they have been immunized by natural infections and/or vaccinations of influenza viruses such as A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B. Therefore, it is considered that human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) derived from healthy donors does not include IgG against avian influenza viruses.

A surgical case of C1 arch stenosis: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Isolated symptomatic cervical stenosis of the atlas is quite rare; there have been 11 cases reported in literature.

Case Description: A 76-year-old male presented with myelopathy attributed to C1 arch stenosis. Neuroimaging studies revealed posterior atlas compression of the spinal cord.

Primary Central Nervous System Methotrexate-associated Lymphoproliferative Disorder in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunosuppressor that is widely used to treat autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it can have serious adverse effects including a lymphoma: MTX-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-LPD). Extranodal lesions are common in MTX-LPD patients.

Analysis of Surgical Cases of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome in Our Department: Case Series and Literature Review.

Background: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy in which the tibial nerve is compressed within the tarsal tunnel and causes sensory disturbance in the sole of the foot. In this manuscript, we summarized our early surgical cases of TTS.

Materials And Methods: Six feet in five patients with TTS were treated surgically.

Occurrence of Trigger Finger Following Carpal Tunnel Release.

Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) was recently started in our department, and we noticed that the development of trigger finger (TF), with which neurosurgeons are generally unfamiliar, is not rare after such treatment. We summarized the clinical and pathogenetic aspects of TF and retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all 39 patients who underwent CTR in our department to investigate the occurrence of TF. In 39 patients with CTS, 46 surgical interventions were performed in our department.