Impact of body-height increase on gastrocnemius muscle stiffness in children with cerebral palsy: A one-year prospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate whether the impacts of height increase on gastrocnemius muscle (GM) stiffness are greater in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) than in those with typical development (TD).

Design: This one-year cohort study enrolled children (CP, 23; TD, 23) who underwent two measurements conducted at entry and after one year. Lateral and medial GM-strain ratios representing muscle stiffness were obtained using elastography.

Prediction of time-dependent bearing capacity of concrete pile in cohesive soil using optimized relevance vector machine and long short-term memory models.

The present investigation employs relevance vector machine (RVM) and long short-term memory (LSTM) models to predict the time-dependent bearing capacity of concrete piles. Each RVM model (SRVM) is configured by each linear, polynomial, gaussian, sigmoid, laplacian, and exponential kernel function. Each SRVM model has been optimized by each genetic (GA_SRVM) and particle swarm optimization (PSO_RVM) algorithm.

Definitions, epidemiology, and outcomes of persistent/chronic critical illness: a scoping review for translation to clinical practice.

Background: Medical advances in intensive care units (ICUs) have resulted in the emergence of a new patient population-those who survive the initial acute phase of critical illness, but require prolonged ICU stays and develop chronic critical symptoms. This condition, often termed Persistent Critical Illness (PerCI) or Chronic Critical Illness (CCI), remains poorly understood and inconsistently reported across studies, resulting in a lack of clinical practice use. This scoping review aims to systematically review and synthesize the existing literature on PerCI/CCI, with a focus on definitions, epidemiology, and outcomes for its translation to clinical practice.

Impact of long-term trends on outcomes in the management of colonic diverticular bleeding: mediation analyses in a large multicenter study.

Background: Despite accumulating evidence and recommendations for management of colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB), the changes in its clinical management and outcomes remain unknown.

Methods: We performed a retrospective tendency analysis on a biennial basis, a propensity score-matched cohort study between the first and latter half groups, and mediation analyses to compare the diagnostic and treatment methods between January 2010 and December 2019 (CODE BLUE-J Study).

Results: A total of 6575 patients with CDB were included.

Evaluating optimal rehabilitation strategies in ICU: study protocol for a multicentre cohort study to assess Physical Activity dosing, Muscle mass, and physICal outcomeS (IPAMICS study).

Background: Many patients who get discharged from the intensive care unit experience physical dysfunction that persists even after discharge. Physical dysfunction is associated with skeletal muscle atrophy and accompanying intensive care unit-acquired weakness in the early stages of intensive care unit admission, and early diagnosis and prevention with early mobilization are crucial. However, the amount of physical activity required for early mobilization remains controversial in critically ill patients.

Association between polypharmacy and the long-term prescription of hypnotics in Japan: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Hypnotic polypharmacy and its long-term prescriptions constitute the inappropriate use of hypnotics. However, the relationship between hypnotic polypharmacy and prolonged prescriptions remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the association between hypnotic polypharmacy and the duration of hypnotic prescriptions.

Management of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected femoral nonunion during lengthening in achondroplasia using circular external fixator: a case report.

Background: Achondroplasia, the most common form of rhizomelic dwarfism, occurs in approximately 1 in 25,000 individuals. Clinical features include attenuated growth, rhizomelic limb shortening, and craniofacial abnormalities. Limb-lengthening surgery is widely employed to improve quality of life.

Shakuyaku-Kanzo-To Prevents Angiotensin Ⅱ-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes.

The global incidence of mortality due to heart failure (HF) is on the rise, presenting a significant challenge in various regions, including Japan. There is an urgent need for innovative prevention and treatment strategies to address this issue. Traditional medicine, particularly Japanese Kampo medicine (JKM), has been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach and has undergone examination in clinical trials related to HF.

Impact of neurovascular bundle preservation on biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate functional and oncological outcomes in patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral nerve-sparing (NS) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for high-risk prostate cancer.

Methods: The cohort comprised 2683 patients with clinical stage T1-4, N0M0 high-risk prostate cancer who underwent RARP in Japanese tertiary care centers from August 2011 to April 2023. High risk was defined using the European Association of Urology risk stratification criteria.

Predictive factors for first dose reduction and interruption of lenvatinib after beginning of the standard dose in Japanese patients with thyroid cancer.

Purpose: The associations between first dose reduction or interruption by side effects and lenvatinib plasma trough concentration (C) after administration of a starting dose of 24 mg in 70 Japanese patients with thyroid cancer were evaluated.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected each week for 1 month and at the first incidence of side effects leading to dose reduction or interruption after beginning administration of 24 mg lenvatinib.

Results: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.

A Case of Subungual Exostosis With Early Postoperative Recurrence and Rapid Growth.

Subungual exostosis is a relatively rare benign bone tumor that occurs near the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes. Though it is similar to osteochondroma, it can be distinguished by its specific location and lack of communication with the medullary cavity. Although recurrence after surgical excision has been reported, no studies have examined the timing or progression of recurrence, nor have there been reports detailing the chronological imaging findings of recurrent cases.

A Simple Prediction Model for Clostridioides difficile Infection: A Hospital-Based Administrative Database Study.

Background And Aim: Few prediction scores for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), a potentially life-threatening nosocomial diarrhea, combine high accuracy with simplicity. A simple prediction score for routine clinical practice is needed.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all inpatients aged ≥ 18 at a secondary care hospital in Japan.

Improved prognosis of de novo metastatic prostate cancer after an introduction of life-prolonging agents for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: In Japan, since 2014, new treatments such as androgen receptor signaling inhibitors and cabazitaxel have become applicable for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), leading to dramatic changes in treatment options.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of recent advancements in treatment options on the overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2450 Japanese men diagnosed with de novo mCSPC between 2008 and 2018.

A Novel Technique for Monitoring Carbonate and Scale Precipitation Using a Batch-Process-Based Hetero-Core Fiber Optic Sensor.

Techniques for monitoring calcium carbonate and silica deposits (scale) in geothermal power plants and hot spring facilities using fiber optic sensors have already been reported. These sensors continuously measure changes in light transmittance with a detector and, when applied to field tests, require the installation of a power supply and sensor monitoring equipment. However, on some sites, a power supply may not be available, or a specialist skilled in handling scale sensors is required.

A practice-oriented genome-profiling study for acute myeloid leukemia using the novel HANDLE system: HM-screen-JAPAN02.

HM-SCREEN-Japan is a multicenter collaborative project in Japan to evaluate the clinical utility of a cancer genome panel in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The HM-SCREEN-JAPAN02 study used the Amoy Myeloid Panel with the HANDLE system, which enables efficient and rapid sequencing, as the genomic testing kit. The Amoy Myeloid Panel targets 53 genes with established clinical significance or high prevalence.

Association Between Verbal Communication With Families and Delirium in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) significantly impacts patient outcomes. While family involvement may help prevent delirium in ICU patients, its effect during mechanical ventilation remains unclear. This study investigated the association between verbal communication during family visits and early post-extubation delirium in mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

Effects of CYP3A5 polymorphism and renal impairment on the drug interaction between venetoclax and fluconazole in acute myeloid leukaemia patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of renal function and polymorphism on the drug interaction between venetoclax and fluconazole in thirty acute myeloid leukaemia patients.The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and trough concentration (C) of venetoclax and the fluconazole C were obtained from plasma samples on day 7 later after initiation of venetoclax 200 mg/day combined with fluconazole.The fluconazole C values in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment were significantly higher than those in patients with normal or mild impairment (median values 7037, 6234, and 4813 ng/mL, respectively,  = 0.

Efficacy and Safety of High-Power Short-Duration Ablation for Cavo-Tricuspid Isthmus With a Flexible-Tip Temperature-Controlled Power Regulation Catheter Performed by Electrophysiology Trainees.

Introduction: The suitability of high-power short-duration (HPSD) cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation (CTI-Abl) for electrophysiology (EP) trainees, as well as the underlying mechanisms of its efficacy, remain unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy and safety of HPSD CTI-Abl performed by EP trainees and assess lesion characteristics between HPSD and moderate-power long duration (MPLD) ablations.

Methods: Study 1: CTI-Abl was performed by first- to fourth-year EP trainees in consecutive 113 patients (67 ± 11 years, 27.

Influence of Change in Echo Intensity of the Pretalar Fat Pad in Young Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability.

This study aimed to investigate the echo intensity (EI) of the pretalar fat pad (PFP) in young individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and clarify the relationship between changes in the PFP and the clinical characteristics of CAI. Using the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) scores, 26 limbs of 15 participants were divided into CAI (IdFAI score ≥11, male: eight limbs, female: six limbs, age: 21±1 years) and normal (IdFAI score <11, male: nine limbs, female: three limbs, age: 20±1 years) groups. The EI of the PFP was measured, and the luminosity ratio (LR) to the EI of the subcutaneous adipose tissue was calculated.

Prognostic value of coronary calcification detected via non-electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography in patients with cardiovascular disease: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The correlation between coronary artery calcification (CAC) detected via electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography (ECG-gated CT) and future cardiovascular events has been well-established. Non-ECG-gated CT is simple and widely used, making it suitable for screening. However, the correlation between CAC observed via non-ECG-gated CT and cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular events remains unclear.

Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes of the Full-thickness Macular Hole Without Focal Vitreomacular Traction: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Purpose: This study investigated the clinical features and surgical outcomes of full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs) without focal vitreomacular traction (VMT) and discusses possible underlying mechanisms.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study included patients aged 18 years or older with stage 2 FTMHs who underwent pars plana vitrectomy at three hospitals between December 2016 and March 2024. Patients diagnosed without focal VMT in the macula were classified as VMT- and those with focal VMT were classified as VMT+.