Immunological influence of serum-free manufactured umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease.

This study investigated the safety, efficacy, and immunological influence of allogeneic umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (IMSUT-CORD) processed in serum-free medium and cryoprotectant, for treating steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). In a phase I dose-escalation trial, IMSUT-CORD were infused intravenously twice weekly over two cycles with up to two additional cycles. Four patients received a dose of 1 × 10 cells/kg, while three received 2 × 10/kg.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Opponensplasty for Low Median Palsy: A Cadaver Study.

Purpose: Impaired thumb opposition associated with advanced carpal tunnel syndrome may be treated by opponensplasty at the time of open carpal tunnel release. However, it is unclear which opponensplasty technique achieves the greatest functional improvement. This study aimed to compare the biomechanics of thumb opposition after Camitz, modified Camitz, and Burkhalter opponensplasties.

Agr virulence is critical for epidermal colonization and associates with atopic dermatitis development.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is commonly associated with colonization by in the affected skin. To understand the role of in the development of AD, we performed whole-genome sequencing of strains isolated from the cheek skin of 268 Japanese infants 1 and 6 months after birth. About 45% of infants were colonized with at 1 month regardless of AD outcome.

Quality and quantity of visceral fat tissue are associated with insulin resistance and survival outcomes after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Recent studies suggest that the quality and quantity of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) play significant roles in adipocyte function, and are related to insulin resistance. We tested the hypothesis that high amounts of upper VAT (aVAT) and low-quality VAT worsen treatment outcomes via altered insulin metabolism.

Methods: Cohort 1 included 106 women with breast cancer who were undergoing surgery.

Risk score system for late aortic events in patients with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection.

Objective: Several risk factors for late aortic events in patients with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (UTBAD) have been reported; however, they remain controversial. We developed and validated a new risk prediction score system for late aortic events in patients with UTBAD.

Methods: We reviewed 187 consecutive patients diagnosed with UTBAD from 2004 to 2017 at 2 centers (derivation cohort) and 219 consecutive patients diagnosed with UTBAD from 2012 to 2016 in 4 other centers (validation cohort).

Author Correction: Development of new method to enrich human iPSC-derived renal progenitors using cell surface markers.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Patients with 10 or More Brain Metastases.

The JLGK0901 study showed the non-inferiority of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone as the initial treatment for 5-10 as compared to 2-4 brain metastases (BM) in terms of overall survival and most secondary endpoints [Lancet Oncol 2014;15:387-395]. A trend for patients with 5-10 tumors to undergo SRS alone has since become apparent. The next step is to reappraise whether results of SRS treatment alone for tumor numbers ≥10 differ from those for 2-9 tumors.

Comparing the effects of ipragliflozin versus metformin on visceral fat reduction and metabolic dysfunction in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes treated with sitagliptin: A prospective, multicentre, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomized controlled study (PRIME-V study).

A prospective, multicentre, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomized controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with ipragliflozin (sodium-dependent glucose transporter-2 inhibitor) versus metformin for visceral fat reduction and glycaemic control among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes treated with sitagliptin, HbA1c levels of 7%-10%, and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 22 kg/m . Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive ipragliflozin 50 mg or metformin 1000-1500 mg daily. The primary outcome was change in visceral fat area as measured by computed tomography after 24 weeks of therapy.

The Basic Science Behind Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Scoping Review of Pre-Clinical Studies.

Introduction: Despite recent promising clinical results, the underlying mechanism of action of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) for erectile dysfunction (ED) is mostly unclear and currently under investigation.

Aim: To systematically identify and evaluate evidence regarding the basic science behind Li-ESWT for ED, discuss and propose a putative mechanism of action, address the limitations, and imply insights for further investigation in the field.

Methods: Using Cochrane's methodologic recommendations on scoping studies and systematic reviews, we conducted a systematic scoping review of the literature on experimental research regarding Li-ESWT for ED and other pathologic conditions.

Vulnerable combinations of functional dopaminergic polymorphisms to late-onset treatment resistant schizophrenia.

Background: A significant portion of patients with schizophrenia who respond to initial antipsychotic treatment acquire treatment resistance. One of the possible pathogeneses of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) is antipsychotic-induced dopamine supersensitivity psychosis (Ai-DSP). Patients with this disease progression might share some genetic vulnerabilities, and thus determining individuals with higher risks of developing Ai-DSP could contribute to preventing iatrogenic development of TRS.

Displacement of the hyoid bone by muscle paralysis and lung volume increase: the effects of obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: Animal studies suggest a pivotal role of the hyoid bone in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed to explore the role of the hyoid bone in humans by testing the hypotheses that muscle paralysis and lung volume (LV) changes displace the hyoid bone position particularly in people with obesity and/or OSA.

Methods: Fifty patients undergoing general anesthesia participated in this study (20 participants with nonobese, non-OSA; 8 people with nonobese OSA; and 22 people with obese OSA).

Proposal of new clinical diagnostic criteria for POEMS syndrome.

Objective: To propose the optimal diagnostic criteria for polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome using appropriate statistical methods and disease controls.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 104 consecutive patients with suspected POEMS syndrome, among whom a gold standard group of 60 patients with definitive POEMS syndrome diagnosis were followed for at least 12 months to strictly exclude other disorders mimicking POEMS syndrome and to confirm response to POEMS syndrome-specific treatment. Thirty patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy controls) and 30 with multiple myeloma or immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (monoclonal plasma cell proliferation controls) were also included.

Comparison of meniscal extrusion and osteophyte formation at the intercondylar notch as a predictive biomarker for incidence of knee osteoarthritis-Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Background: Medial meniscal extrusion (ME) is a biomarker to predict later development of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). On the other hand, we have reported osteophyte formation at the posterior condylar notch of the femur served as a biomarker for the same purpose. The purpose of this study is to compare capacity of the two biomarkers in predicting KOA development.

Development of a self-efficacy questionnaire, 'Insulin Therapy Self-efficacy Scale (ITSS)', for insulin users in Japanese: The Self-Efficacy-Q study.

Aims/introduction: Although patient self-efficacy is known to affect adherence to therapy, no available tool measures self-efficacy of insulin therapy administration while addressing the entire therapeutic process and management. In light of this, we developed the 'Insulin Therapy Self-efficacy Scale (ITSS).'

Materials And Methods: Development of the ITSS involved three phases: (i) item generation and creation of a questionnaire draft; (ii) testing and correcting the items through interviews with patients; and (iii) a multicenter, single-arm study to validate the questionnaire.

Phase II feasibility study of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil and elective lymph node irradiation for clinical stage II/III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a standard treatment for stage II/III esophageal cancer. Preoperative chemotherapy is also considered a standard treatment for stage II/III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in patients who undergo radical lymph node dissection. We conducted a feasibility study of preoperative CRT with cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (CF) and elective lymph node irradiation followed by esophagectomy with radical lymph node dissection in patients with stage II/III ESCC.

Modern management for brain metastasis patients using stereotactic radiosurgery: literature review and the authors' gamma knife treatment experiences.

Historically, whole brain radiotherapy was administered to most patients with brain metastases. However, over the past three decades, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), targeted at individual cranial lesions, has been accepted widely. In this study, based on the authors' experiences along with published data, recent trends in SRS for brain metastases are discussed.

Medical costs attributable to overweight and obesity in Japanese individuals.

Objective: We aimed to reveal the association between body mass index (BMI) and medical costs in the current Japanese population, and to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of medical costs due to overweight and obesity.

Methods: A generalized linear mixed model with log link function and gamma distribution was used to evaluate the association between BMI and medical costs in 34,537 beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance aged 40-69 years in Chiba City. Medical cost data were obtained from insurance claims submitted between April 2012 and March 2016.

Imaging peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer with F-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography/computed tomography: a proof-of-concept study.

Objective: Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is the most frequent form of metastasis in gastric cancer (GC). The sensitivity of detecting PM by pre-operative imaging modalities is low. Utility of positron emission tomography (PET) with F-fluodeoxyglucose (FDG) for GC is limited, because diffuse-type tumors are not FDG-avid.

The effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitor in patients with chronic heart failure complicated with hyperuricemia: a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial of topiroxostat vs allopurinol-study protocol.

Background: Hyperuricemia has a close relationship with cardiovascular diseases including heart failure. However, it is controversial whether xanthine oxidase inhibition has benefits for patients with chronic heart failure. We designed the Effect of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor in Chronic Heart Failure Patients Complicated with Hyperuricemia study (Excited-UA study) to compare the beneficial effects between a novel xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, topiroxostat, and a conventional agent, allopurinol, in patients with chronic heart failure and hyperuricemia.

Identifying improvable employment-related factors in schizophrenia patients.

Although many studies report various factors related to future employment of schizophrenia patients, few identify the treatable or improvable ones. The responses to the first year of treatment and daily antipsychotic drug doses may be the treatable and improvable factors. We surveyed 235 schizophrenia outpatients in three facilities, of whom 129 and 106 were employed and unemployed, respectively.

Intravenous nicorandil versus adenosine for fractional flow reserve measurement: a crossover, randomized study.

Nicorandil has vasodilatory effects on both the epicardial coronary arteries and the coronary microvasculature, thereby increasing coronary blood flow. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) nicorandil infusion for fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. In this crossover randomized study, 49 patients underwent FFR measurement with a consecutive randomized order of patient-blind infusions of continuous IV adenosine administration and a single bolus IV administration of nicorandil.

Bronchoscopic assessment of bronchial anastomosis by visualizing local circulation status-index of hemoglobin (IHb) imaging.

Background: Healing of airway anastomosis is largely affected by local circulation. Index of hemoglobin (IHb) imaging is a color enhancement technique that clarifies local circulation in the gastrointestinal endoscopic field. In this study, we investigated the relationship between bronchoscopic assessment of bronchial anastomosis using IHb mode and occurrence of anastomosis-related complications.

Is ganglionated plexus ablation effective for treating atrial fibrillation?

Purpose: Very few studies have investigated the efficacy of ganglionated plexus ablation during the conventional maze procedure. In this study, we sought to evaluate its additive effect in reducing recurrent atrial fibrillation after concomitant maze surgery.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 79 patients who underwent Cox maze IV concomitantly with open-heart surgery with (GP group) or without (Maze group) ganglionated plexus mapping.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Analysis of the National Database of Japan.

This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. The National Database of Japan, in which insurance claim data have been comprehensively accumulated, was utilized. The subjects were 76 641 RA patients who were plausibly initiated on immunosuppressive therapy from April 2013 to March 2014.