Higher Noncalcified Plaque Volume Is Associated With Increased Plaque Vulnerability and Vascular Inflammation.

Background: Recently, it was reported that noncalcified plaque (NCP) volume was an independent predictor for cardiac events. Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation is a marker of vascular inflammation and has been associated with increased cardiac mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between NCP volume, plaque vulnerability, and PCAT attenuation.

Robust and Objective Evaluation of Superficial Punctate Keratopathy in a Murine Dry Eye Model.

Purpose: To establish a robust and objective method to evaluate (SPK) superficial punctate keratopathy in a murine dry eye model by developing a reliable photographic system.

Design: Experimental study.

Subjects: A murine dry eye model was generated by exorbital lacrimal gland excision.

Early itch relief with upadacitinib predicts later skin clearance in Atopic dermatitis.

Background: Though Janus kinase inhibitors such as upadacitinib rapidly relieve itch in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, how early itch relief impacts later skin clearance is not examined.

Objectives: This study aims to determine if early itch relief by upadacitinib could predict complete skin clearance in later phases.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 105 patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with upadacitinib 15 mg/day.

Effectiveness of switching from baricitinib 4 mg to upadacitinib 30 mg in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a real-world clinical practice in Japan.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous disease with severe pruritus. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, upadacitinib, baricitinib, and abrocitinib, are systemic treatments for AD. The outcomes of switching from one JAK inhibitor to another have not been examined.

Atypical Clinical Courses of Graves' Disease Confound Differential Diagnosis of Hyperthyroidism.

Background: This study examined the appropriateness of the current paradigm for differential diagnosis of painless thyroiditis and Graves' disease (GD) in patients with thyrotoxicosis.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course of 343 consecutive patients with hyperthyroidism diagnosed by Tc-99m pertechnetate thyroid uptake (TcTU) testing at our hospital from January 2011 to December 2017.

Results: Of the 263 patients with normal or high TcTU levels (≥1.

Distribution of Splenic Arterial Flow and Segmental Spleen Volume for Partial Splenic Arterial Embolization.

Introduction: The spleen is a lymphatic organ that manages immune surveillance of the blood, produces blood cells, and helps filter the blood, remove old blood cells, and fight infection. The normal splenic weight is approximately 65-265 g. This study evaluated spleen volume and segmental volume.

Safety and Feasibility of Laparoscopic Liver Resection with the Clamp-Crush Method Using the BiSect.

Background: Various energy devices are available for resection of the liver parenchyma during laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). We have historically performed liver resections using the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA). More recently, we have used new bipolar forceps (BiSect; Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, Tübingen, Germany) to perform clamp-crush dissection with good results.

Methylation of PLK-1 Potentially Drives Bendamustine Resistance in Leukemia Cells.

Background: Drug resistance remains a significant impediment in leukemia treatment. While Bendamustine hydrochloride (BH) stands out as a promising therapeutic agent for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma, the mechanisms of resistance to BH are not yet fully understood. Our study focuses on elucidating the mechanisms behind bendamustine resistance in leukemia cells, with a specific emphasis on epigenetics.

Effect of esaxerenone on ischaemia and reperfusion injury in rat hearts.

Objectives: In myocardial infarction, the addition of mineralocorticoid receptor blockers to standard therapies, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or beta-blockers, reportedly reduces mortality and cardiac events. We investigated whether the non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor blocker esaxerenone has cardioprotective effects and its protective mechanisms.

Methods: Isolated rat hearts were Langendorff-perfused (constant pressure, 80 mmHg) with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer and reperfused for 60 min; afterwards, recovery of function (left ventricular pressure, measured with an intraventricular balloon) and myocardial injury were measured.

Immediate Reduction in Spasticity of Ankle Plantar Flexors in a Stroke Patient after Treatment with a Spinning Permanent Magnet Device.

Background: Magnetic stimulation devices can be large because of the need for cooling systems. We developed a compact and lightweight Spinning Permanent Magnet (SPM) device that generates magnetic fields with intensities below the motor threshold. In this report, we present the case of a post-stroke patient in which an immediate reduction in spasticity of the ankle plantar flexors was achieved after SPM treatment.

Clinical significance of programmed cell death-ligand expression in small bowel adenocarcinoma is determined by the tumor microenvironment.

Background: Comprehensive genomic analysis has shown that small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) has different genomic profiles from gastric and colorectal cancers. Hence, it is essential to establish chemotherapeutic regimens based on SBA characteristics. The expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death-ligand 2 (PD-L2) in SBA is not fully understood.

Effectiveness and Safety of Upadacitinib in Combination with Topical Corticosteroids in Adolescent Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of Janus kinase 1 inhibitor upadacitinib in adolescent patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Patients And Methods: This study examined therapeutic effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib for 39 Japanese adolescent patients (aged 12-17 years) diagnosed with moderate-to-severe AD from August 2021 to January 2023. The patients were treated with upadacitinib 15 mg/day plus twice daily topical corticosteroids.

Gallbladder strangulation caused by a fibrotic band due to chlamydia infection: A case report.

Acute cholecystitis, a very common disease, is usually caused by gallstone obstruction of the cystic duct. Meanwhile, strangulated cholecystitis is extremely rare, and it develops when the gallbladder is strangled by a band. It is very similar to gallbladder torsion in terms of imaging findings and obstruction of blood and biliary flow, and it requires emergency surgery.

A Case of Binocular Metastatic Choroidal Tumor Originating from Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Successfully Treated with Molecular Target Therapy.

The occurrence of ocular metastasis from lung cancer is uncommon. In our current case, we report on a 64-year-old male patient found to have metastatic lesions in both choroids after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. As the patient was found to have a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), he was treated with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI), afatinib.

Successful surgical experience for acute severe aortic valve regurgitation with acquired Gerbode defect: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: The incidence of acquired Gerbode defect has been increasing due to advances in cardiac imaging technology, and some closure methods have been introduced.

Presentation Of Case: A 58-year-old man developed cardiogenic shock due to acute severe aortic valve regurgitation with an acquired Gerbode defect caused by infective endocarditis. Emergency surgery was performed.

Diagnosis and Prognostic Value of the Underlying Cause of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background The prognostic impact of optical coherence tomography-diagnosed culprit lesion morphology in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been systematically examined in real-world settings. Methods and Results This investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted at 22 Japanese hospitals to identify the prevalence of underlying ACS causes (plaque rupture [PR], plaque erosion [PE], and calcified nodules [CN]) and their impact on clinical outcomes. Patients with ACS diagnosed within 24 hours of symptom onset undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled.