Validation of the Japanese version of the Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale for esophageal symptoms.

Background: The Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale (EHAS) is an English questionnaire created in the USA to assess these factors in all patients with esophageal diseases. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Japanese version of EHAS and investigate the relationship between EHAS scores and symptoms in untreated disorders of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow.

Methods: This prospective study recruited patients who underwent high-resolution manometry (HRM) at six tertiary centers in Japan.

Relationship between skeletal muscle mass change and swallowing function improvement among stroke patients with dysphagia during rehabilitation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between changes in skeletal muscle mass and improvements in swallowing function in stroke patients with dysphagia during rehabilitation.

Methods: The study included 145 patients with a stroke or dysphagia. The two groups were divided into two groups: those with improved skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) at discharge and those without.

Improved trunk muscle quality in patients with stroke increases improvements in activities of daily living.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether an increased trunk muscle quality index (TMQI) is associated with activities of daily living (ADL) in patients ≥ 65 years of age with cerebral infarction in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted for post-stroke rehabilitation in Okinawa, Japan, between May 2018 and December 2022. The TMQI was calculated at admission and discharge using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of CTX-M-type Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated in Chubu Region, Japan.

The widespread prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli limits treatment options and is a worldwide problem. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility and ESBL types of 204 strains of CTX-M-type ESBLsproducing E. coli isolated from 2011 to 2017 in the Chubu region of Japan and to identify factors correlated with susceptibility.

Reduced trunk muscle mass in patients with stroke is associated with reduced balance function recovery.

Background & Aims: Skeletal muscles are essential for postural retention and balance function. However, the relationship between trunk muscle mass (TMM) and balance function has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to examine the impact of TMM on the change in balance function in patients with stroke from admission to a rehabilitation hospital to discharge.

Low muscle mass in patients with stroke on admission reduces walking ability at discharge.

Background & Aims: Reduced skeletal muscle mass may negatively influence postural retention and walking function. This study aimed to examine the influence of the skeletal muscle mass index on walking function in patients with stroke.

Methods: This study included patients with cerebral infarction aged ≥65 years.

Assessment of patients' characteristics associated with the efficacy and safety of oral valganciclovir treatment for infants with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus disease.

Introduction: Insurance coverage for oral valganciclovir (VGCV) began in Japan in April 2023 on the basis of results, including our clinical trials for symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. The VGCV treatment is available throughout Japan, so clinicians must consider the likelihood of hearing improvement and the possibility of neutropenia before dosing.

Materials And Methods: We performed a substudy of an investigator-initiated, single-arm, prospective, multicenter, clinical trial in which 24 infants with symptomatic congenital CMV disease were orally administered 16 mg/kg VGCV twice daily for 6 months as an intervention.

Impact of increased trunk muscle mass on trunk function and activities of daily living in older individuals with cerebral infarction.

Background & Aims: The association between trunk muscle mass or trunk function or trunk muscle strength and activities of daily living (ADLs) has been reported, but no studies have examined the impact of increased trunk muscle mass on trunk function or ADL. This study aimed to determine whether increased trunk muscle mass is associated with trunk function and ADL in older individuals with cerebral infarction during rehabilitation.

Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled 158 patients with cerebral infarction aged ≥65 years who were admitted for post-stroke rehabilitation.

Comparative Study of Surgical Outcomes of Occipitocervical and Atlantoaxial Fusion for Retro-Odontoid Pseudotumor.

Objective: To compare the surgical and radiographic outcomes of occipitocervical fusion (OCF) with those of atlantoaxial fusion (AAF) in patients with cervical myelopathy caused by retroodontoid pseudotumors (ROPs).

Methods: This retrospective, comparative study included 26 patients; 12 underwent occipitocervical fusion (OCF) (group O) and 14 retroodontoid pseudotumor (AAF) (group A) with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Neurologic outcomes were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score.

＜Editors' Choice＞ Long-term outcomes of lateral skull base reconstruction with a free omental flap and facial nerve reconstruction.

In lateral skull base reconstruction, it is necessary to seal the defect in the lateral skull base, fill the dead space, and, sometimes, reconstruct the facial nerve. However, this procedure is difficult to perform with a standard musculocutaneous flap. Therefore, for such cases, an omental flap is used in our hospital because of its flexibility.

Volume-outcome relationship in complication-related mortality after percutaneous coronary interventions: an analysis on the failure-to-rescue rate in the Japanese Nationwide Registry.

In-hospital mortality following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) varies across institutions with different annual PCI volumes. The failure to rescue (FTR) rate, defined as the mortality rate following PCI-related complications, may account for the volume-outcome relationship. The Japanese Nationwide PCI Registry, a consecutive, nationally mandated registry between 2019 and 2020, was queried.

Comparative Study of Anterior Transvertebral Foraminotomy and Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Unilateral Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy.

Objective: To study the compared surgical and radiographic outcomes of Transvertebral foraminotomy (TVF) with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients with unilateral cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR).

Methods: We performed a retrospective comparative study of 72 consecutive patients with 1- or 2-level CSR treated with ACDF or TVF. 27 patients who underwent TVF (group T) and 45 patients who underwent ACDF (group A) with a minimum 2-year follow-up were enrolled.

Spontaneous regression of asymptomatic tumefactive perivascular spaces in the anterior temporal lobe.

Perivascular spaces are fluid-filled spaces that surround the perforating vessels of the brain and are normal findings on brain imaging. These are usually asymptomatic and are considered a manifestation of aging. Perivascular spaces occasionally undergo significant enlargement and are referred to as tumefactive perivascular spaces, which are often indistinguishable from neoplastic lesions.

Development of a clinical prediction model for recurrence and mortality outcomes after Clostridioides difficile infection using a machine learning approach.

Objectives: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with a large burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Previous studies have developed models for predicting recurrence and mortality following CDI, but no machine learning predictive models have been developed specifically using data from Japanese patients.

Methods: Using a database of records from acute care hospitals in Japan, we extracted records from January 2012 to September 2016 (plus a 60-day lookback window).

The surveillance of colistin resistance and mobilized colistin resistance genes in multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated in Japan.

Background: The plasmid-mediated bacterial colistin-resistant gene, mcr, is of global concern in clinical healthcare. However, there are few reports of surveillance for mcr in Japan. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of colistin resistance by identifying nine mcr genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates in Japan.

MIYAIRI 588 Modifies Bacterial Composition under Antibiotic-Induced Dysbiosis for the Activation of Interactions via Lipid Metabolism between the Gut Microbiome and the Host.

The gut microbiome is closely related to gut metabolic functions, and the gut microbiome and host metabolic functions affect each other. MIYAIRI 588 (CBM 588) upregulates protectin D1 production in host colon tissue following G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 120 activation to protect gut epithelial cells under antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. However, how CBM 588 enhances polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites remains unclear.

MIYAIRI 588-Induced Protectin D1 Has an Anti-inflammatory Effect on Antibiotic-Induced Intestinal Disorder.

Metabolites are thought as the end products in cellular regulatory processes and their levels show the strongest relationships with the phenotype. Previously, we showed that the administration of MIYAIRI 588 (CBM 588) upregulated protectin D1, an anti-inflammatory lipid metabolite, in colon tissue under antibiotic therapy. However, how CBM 588 induces protectin D1 expression and whether the metabolite has anti-inflammatory effects on antibiotic-induced inflammation are unclear.

Serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae associated with invasive pneumococcal disease among adults in Japan.

Objectives: This study evaluated the serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from adults (aged ≥20 years) with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Japan.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in 49 participating Japanese hospitals. S.

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of nitrofurantoin against clinical isolates of E. coli in Japan and evaluation of biological cost of nitrofurantoin resistant strains using a mouse urinary tract infection model.

Introduction: Nitrofurantoin is a well-established antibiotic, and is an important first-line oral treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections. However, little information is available with respect to its antibacterial activity in Japan, in vivo efficacy, or the in vivo biological cost of resistant strains.

Methods: We compared the susceptibility of six representative antibacterial agents-nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, fosfomycin, mecillinam, ciprofloxacin, and cefdinir-against E.

Retroperitoneal tumors: Review of diagnosis and management.

Retroperitoneal tumors are extremely rare tumors occurring in the retroperitoneum. Retroperitoneal tumors are divided into benign tumors and malignant tumors, including retroperitoneal sarcoma. Approximately 70-80% of primary retroperitoneal soft-tissue tumors are malignant; however, these only account for 0.

Can smoking duration alone replace pack-years to predict the risk of smoking-related oncogenic mutations in non-small cell lung cancer? A cross-sectional study in Japan.

Objective: To investigate whether smoking duration alone can replace pack-years to predict the risk of oncogenic mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Design: A cross-sectional study using the baseline dataset from the Japan Molecular Epidemiology for Lung Cancer Study.

Setting: Forty-three medical institutions nationwide in Japan.