Association between the HAL score and the development of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: A prospective observational study.

Background: Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a critical concern in interstitial lung disease (ILD) management. The HAL score, which incorporates honeycombing (H), age >75 years (A), and serum lactate dehydrogenase >222 U/L (L), can predict acute exacerbations in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). This study aims to evaluate the predictive utility of the HAL score for PPF development.

Fibrosis-4 index is closely associated with future development of hypertension in the Japanese general population.

The fibrosis-4 index, a noninvasive method for evaluating liver fibrosis, is closely associated with cardiovascular events. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the fibrosis-4 index is associated with new-onset hypertension in the general population. A total of 15,502 individuals (51.

Factors associated with uncontrolled severe asthma in the biologic era.

Background: Despite the development of biologics for severe asthma, individuals with uncontrolled status persist, posing a significant social problem. This multicenter prospective study aimed to identify factors associated with the uncontrolled status of patients with severe asthma in the biologic era assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ).

Methods: Subjects with severe asthma diagnosed by respiratory specialists were enrolled from 11 hospitals.

Machine learning-based detection of sleep-disordered breathing in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is often concomitant with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which can cause adverse cardiovascular events. Although an appropriate approach to SDB prevents cardiac remodelling, detection of concomitant SDB in patients with HCM remains suboptimal. Thus, we aimed to develop a machine learning-based discriminant model for SDB in HCM.

Impact of Work Environment on Job Satisfaction among Interventional Radiologists in Japan: A Cross-sectional Study.

Purpose: This study aims to measure job satisfaction among interventional radiology physicians in Japan and analyze the factors affecting job satisfaction.

Material And Methods: A web-based survey was conducted among the members of the Japanese Society of Interventional Radiology between October and December 2021. Participants were questioned regarding their job satisfaction, workplace, work status, and demographic information.

Significance of blood pressure variability in normotensive individuals as a risk factor of developing hypertension.

Purpose: Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a strong predictor of the incidence of cardiovascular events and target organ damage due to hypertension. The present study investigated whether year-to-year blood pressure variability predicts the risk of hypertension in the Japanese general population.

Materials And Methods: This study analysed 2806 normotensive individuals who participated in our physical check-up program for five years in a row from 2008 to 2013.

Long-term prognosis after stapled and hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomoses for familial adenomatous polyposis: a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: The long-term prognosis of stapled and hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomoses in familial adenomatous polyposis patients in Japan remains unknown. This study aimed to compare the overall survival in familial adenomatous polyposis patients who underwent stapled or hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study was conducted at 12 institutions in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Radiological and histopathological features and treatment response by subtypes of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features: A prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Background: Patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) have a favourable prognosis when they have interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF). However, precise IPAF-related findings from high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and lung histopathological specimens and the treatment response have not been fully determined. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between findings on HRCT or lung histopathological specimens and the progression of interstitial pneumonia in patients with IPAF.

Denosumab-induced hypocalcemia in patients with solid tumors and renal dysfunction: a multicenter, retrospective, observational study.

Background: Bone metastases are frequently observed in advanced cancer, and bone modifying agents are used to prevent or treat skeletal-related events. Zoledronic acid is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment (Ccr < 30 mL/min), but it is not completely known whether denosumab can be used in them. We aimed to determine the association between renal function and hypocalcemia development during denosumab treatment.

Skin care by washing with water is not inferior to washing with a cleanser in children with atopic dermatitis in remission in summer: WASH study.

Background: Washing with water is not inferior to washing with soaps and detergents in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in remission during the fall-winter seasons. We investigated whether this finding varies during summer based on the type of cleanser (soaps and detergents).

Methods: This evaluator-blinded, pragmatic, randomized, and non-inferiority study enrolled patients with AD whose eczema was controlled following regular steroid ointment application 2 days/week.

Distinctive left ventricular-arterial and right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling observed in patients with heart failure and a higher left ventricular ejection fraction range.

Aims: Higher left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) is related to unfavourable prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The cause of this finding needs to be haemodynamically explained. Thus, we investigated this crucial issue from the perspective of LV-arterial (A) and right ventricular (RV)-pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling.

Impact of medical checkup parameters on major adverse cardiovascular events in the general Japanese population.

Medical checkups play a role in the identification of individuals at increased cardiovascular risk. However, the impact of each medical examination parameter on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) has not been intensively studied. Here we assessed the predictors of MACE among parameters examined during medical checkups in the general Japanese population.

agliflozin for the attenuation of albuminuria in atients with hat failure and type 2 diabetes (DAPPER study): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, parallel-group, standard treatment-controlled trial.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in patients with elevated levels of albuminuria in the presence or absence of heart failure (HF) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, these effects have not yet been reported in the presence of both HF and T2D. This lack of evidence prompted us to conduct a clinical trial on the effects of dapagliflozin on UACR in patients with HF and T2D.

Sotos syndrome with marked overgrowth in three Japanese patients with heterozygous likely pathogenic NSD1 variants: case reports with review of literature.

We report three Japanese patients with Sotos syndrome accompanied by marked overgrowth, i.e., a 2 8/12-year-old boy with a height of 105.

Urinary Na/K ratio is a predictor of developing chronic kidney disease in the general population.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases as well as end-stage kidney disease. Increased dietary sodium (Na) or decreased dietary potassium (K) deteriorates kidney function; however, findings regarding the association of dietary Na/K ratio with kidney function are limited and conflicting. Therefore, the present study investigated the impact of urinary Na/K ratio on the development of CKD, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.

A multicenter explanatory survey of patients' and clinicians' perceptions of motivational factors in rehabilitation.

Background: Patient motivation is an important determinant of rehabilitation outcomes. Differences in patients' and clinicians' perceptions of motivational factors can potentially hinder patient-centered care. Therefore, we aimed to compare patients' and clinicians' perceptions of the most important factors in motivating patients for rehabilitation.

Excessive salt intake reduces bone density in the general female population.

Background: Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disorder in which nutrition is associated with its onset and progression. Excessive salt intake is closely associated with the onset and progression of various diseases, such as osteoporosis and hypertension. We investigated the effects of dietary salt intake on bone density in the general female population.

Impact of Radiation Dose on Treatment of Maxillary Cancer With Superselective Intra-arterial Cisplatin With Radiotherapy.

Background/aim: Maxillary sinus cancer is a relatively rare disease, and treatment is still evolving. We compared the efficacy of superselective intra-arterial infusion of high-dose cisplatin (CDDP) with concomitant radiotherapy (RADPLAT) using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and analyzed the relationship between the total radiation dose and the treatment outcome in localized maxillary sinus cancer.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the cases of 58 patients with localized maxillary sinus cancer treated with RADPLAT at our institution from March 2004 to November 2020.