Dynamic changes in longitudinal stretching of the spinal cord in thoracic spine: Focus on the spinal cord occupation rate of dural sac.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the anteroposterior diameters and cross-sectional areas of the dural sac and spinal cord in the thoracic spine, to elucidate the spinal cord occupation rate of the dural sac in these dynamic changes for each level using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT).

Patients And Methods: Fifty patients with cervical or lumbar spinal disease were prospectively enrolled. After preoperative myelography, MDCT was performed at maximum passive flexion and extension.

Oral anticoagulant use and the development of new cerebral microbleeds in cardioembolic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker for cerebral small vessel disease. Existing CMBs and those that newly develop are associated with the risks of stroke incidence and recurrence. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association of oral anticoagulant (OAC) use and the development of new CMBs in cardioembolic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation.

Effect of Care Capacity on Stroke Patients' Recovery in Activities of Daily Living: A Multi-Hospital Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether care capacity for patients following stroke contributes to improved activities of daily living (ADL) at discharge from hospital based on the degree of stroke severity.

Design: Retrospective, observational, longitudinal study.

Setting: Acute phase hospitals.

Seasonal variation in incidence and causal organism of surgical site infection after PLIF/TLIF surgery: A multicenter study.

Background: Postoperative SSI is a common and potentially serious complication in spine surgery. Seasonal variation occurs in rates of nosocomial infection, with higher rates found in the summer, during which hot, humid conditions may be optimal for proliferation of bacteria. This might also influence the rate of SSI.

Clinical characteristics of bloodstream infection by Parvimonas micra: retrospective case series and literature review.

Background: Gram-positive anaerobic (GPA) bacteria inhabit different parts of the human body as commensals but can also cause bacteremia. In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed GPA bacteremia pathogens before (2013-2015) and after (2016-2018) the introduction of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Method: We conducted a retrospective observational study by searching the microbiology database to identify all positive GPA blood cultures of patients with GPA bacteremia diagnosed using the new technique, MALDI-TOF MS, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018; and using a conventional phenotypic method between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015 at a single tertiary center in Japan.

Age-related changes in upper and lower cervical alignment and range of motion: normative data of 600 asymptomatic individuals.

Purpose: To identify age-related changes and the relationship between upper and lower cervical sagittal alignment and the range of motion (ROM).

Methods: A total of 600 asymptomatic volunteers were enrolled. There were 50 males and 50 females in each decade of life between the third and the eighth.

Periprocedural Management of Cardiac Tamponade During Catheter Ablation for AF Under Uninterrupted DOAC and Warfarin.

Objectives: This was a retrospective analysis of a registry of patients who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) under uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) and warfarin administration.

Background: Uninterrupted DOAC used during catheter ablation for AF causes a life-threatening bleeding risk of cardiac tamponade.

Methods: Of 3,149 catheter ablation procedures for AF with uninterrupted oral anticoagulants used in 2,406 patients in 3 institutions, DOAC and warfarin were administered in 1,896 and 1,253 procedures, respectively.

Postoperative iatrogenic spinal cord herniation: three case reports with a literature review.

Although a majority of spinal cord herniation reportedly occurs idiopathically, postoperative iatrogenic spinal cord herniation is rare. Therefore, the incidence rate, pathogenic mechanism, and clinical outcomes are not clear. We present three cases of postoperative iatrogenic spinal cord herniation and present a literature review.

Better remission rates in elderly Japanese patients with primary membranous nephropathy in nationwide real-world practice: The Japan Nephrotic Syndrome Cohort Study (JNSCS).

Background: The aim of the present study was to clarify the prevalence of immunosuppressive drug use and outcomes in elderly and non-elderly patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN) in nationwide real-world practice in Japan.

Patients And Methods: Between 2009 and 2010, 374 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome were enrolled in the cohort study (The Japan Nephrotic Syndrome Cohort Study, JNSCS), including 126 adult patients with MN. Their clinical characteristics were compared with those of nephrotic patients with primary MN registered in a large nationwide registry (The Japan Renal Biopsy Registry, J-RBR).

Trends in Reoperation for Surgical Site Infection After Spinal Surgery With Instrumentation in a Multicenter Study.

Study Design: A multicenter retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database.

Objective: To examine the characteristics of reoperation for surgical site infection (SSI) after spinal instrumentation surgery, including the efficacy of treatment for SSI and instrumentation retention.

Summary Of Background Data: Aging of the population and advances in surgical techniques have increased the demand for spinal surgery in elderly patients.

Postoperative Kyphosis in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Cut-off Preoperative Angle for Predicting the Postlaminoplasty Kyphosis.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between preoperative cervical sagittal alignment and postoperative kyphosis in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and to determine the cut-off angle for predicting the postlaminoplasty kyphosis.

Summary Of Background Data: There have been several reports describing a cervical kyphosis after laminoplasty.

Identification of molecules associated with response to abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Abatacept (ABA) is a biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to identify molecules that are associated with therapeutic responses to ABA in patients with RA.

Methods: Peripheral blood was collected using a PAX gene Blood RNA kit from 45 bDMARD-naïve patients with RA at baseline and at 6 months after the initiation of ABA treatment.

Incidence of remission and relapse of proteinuria, end-stage kidney disease, mortality, and major outcomes in primary nephrotic syndrome: the Japan Nephrotic Syndrome Cohort Study (JNSCS).

Background: Despite recent advances in immunosuppressive therapy for patients with primary nephrotic syndrome, its effectiveness and safety have not been fully studied in recent nationwide real-world clinical data in Japan.

Methods: A 5-year cohort study, the Japan Nephrotic Syndrome Cohort Study, enrolled 374 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome in 55 hospitals in Japan, including 155, 148, 38, and 33 patients with minimal change disease (MCD), membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and other glomerulonephritides, respectively. The incidence rates of remission and relapse of proteinuria, 50% and 100% increases in serum creatinine, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), all-cause mortality, and other major adverse outcomes were compared among glomerulonephritides using the Log-rank test.

Prognostic Factors in the New Katagiri Scoring System After Palliative Surgery for Spinal Metastasis.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine survival after surgery for a metastatic spinal tumor using prognostic factors in the new Katagiri score.

Summary Of Background Data: Surgery for spinal metastasis can improve quality of life and facilitate treatment of the primary cancer.

Fatal and extensive multiorgan hemorrhages in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis: An autopsy case report.

Introduction: Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (anti-MDA5 Ab) is an autoantigen associated with dermatomyositis (DM). Anti-MDA5 Ab-positive DM patients frequently exhibit clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), and develop rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD). Even with early detection and potent combination immunosuppressive therapy, anti-MDA5 Ab-positive DM patients have a poor prognosis.

Neurological function following early versus delayed decompression surgery for drop foot caused by lumbar degenerative diseases.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of early (<72 h) versus late (≥72 h) decompression surgery after the onset of drop foot caused by root disorder in lumbar degenerative diseases (LDDs). Data were included from 60 patients who underwent decompression surgery for drop foot caused by LDDs, including lumbar disk herniation or lumbar spinal stenosis. The primary outcome was ordinal change in the manual muscle test (MMT) at 2 years follow-up.

Impact of Sarcopenia on Surgical Outcomes in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Sarcopenia influences overall survival (OS) and tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the impact of postoperative complications and the outcome of limited surgery have not been highlighted. Therefore, the aim of this study is to elucidate the prognostic impact of sarcopenia on surgical outcomes.

A Comparison of Cervical and Thoracolumbar Fractures Associated with Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis-A Nationwide Multicenter Study.

In diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis (DISH), the ankylosed spine becomes susceptible to spinal fractures and spinal cord injuries due to the long lever arms of the fractured segments that make the fracture extremely unstable. The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to examine the differences in DISH-affected spine fractures according to fracture level. The data of 285 cases with fractures of DISH-ankylosed segments diagnosed through computed tomography (CT) imaging were studied and the characteristics of 84 cases with cervical fractures were compared to 201 cases with thoracolumbar fractures.

A new era for research publication: Will Open Access become the norm?

The progress of JDI travels in optimistic paces with optimistic persons. A remarkable rise in Impact Factor was observed after the introduction of Open Access. It seems that there is a positive relationship between online usage and Impact Factor.

Prospective comparison of periprocedural coagulation markers among uninterrupted anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: The difference in coagulation state during the periprocedural period of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation among patients with uninterrupted anticoagulation has not been fully elucidated.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare periprocedural trends in coagulation markers among patients on uninterrupted anticoagulation for AF ablation.

Methods: In total, 275 consecutive patients who underwent AF ablation were evaluated.