NT-proBNP and Risk of Dementia in a General Japanese Elderly Population: The Hisayama Study.

Background Epidemiological evidence implies a link between heart disease and dementia. However, few prospective studies have assessed the association between serum NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) levels and dementia. Methods and Results A total of 1635 community-dwelling Japanese elderly aged ≥60 years without dementia (57% women, mean age±SD 70.

Prognostic significance of inflammatory biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma following hepatic resection.

Background: Cancer-related inflammation has been correlated with cancer prognosis. This study evaluated inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), programmed death ligand (PD-L) 1 expression, and tumour microenvironment in relation to prognosis and clinicopathological features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing curative hepatic resection.

Methods: Patients who had liver resection for HCC in 2000-2011 were analysed.

Brown adipose activation and reversible beige coloration in adipose tissue with multiple accumulations of F-fluorodeoxyglucose in sporadic paraganglioma: A case report.

In pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma, nontumorous high F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulations are observed in both beige and brown adipose tissues. Recognizing this feature of F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation can help physicians make precise diagnoses and help them avoid the pitfalls of a false-positive F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography result, preventing unnecessary interventions.

The surgical anatomy of soft tissue layers in the mastoid region.

Background: An understanding of the soft tissue layers in the mastoid region has become important for otologic reconstructive surgery. The objective of this study was to clarify the surgical anatomy of the soft tissue layers in the mastoid region and reveal its clinical significance.

Methods: Cadaveric study.

Survival outcomes of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms by histological type and stage: Analysis of 266 cases in a multicenter collaborative retrospective clinical study.

Aim: Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are rare, and thus the literature is sparse with regard to histological types, staging, and prognosis. In particular, it is unclear how long-term outcome may differ between mucinous adenocarcinomas and other adenocarcinomas. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the histological types and stages of appendiceal neoplasms, and to evaluate the prognostic impacts of these factors in patients with mucinous adenocarcinomas and non-mucinous adenocarcinomas.

Predictive value of the induction test with atrial burst pacing with regard to long-term recurrence after ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Induction test of atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of endpoint measures in catheter ablation (CA). However, its predictive value in long-term outcome remains controversial.

Methods: Ninety-eight patients (61 years, 77 males) with persistent AF who underwent pulmonary vein antrum isolation-based CA were retrospectively analyzed.

A novel model for treatment of hypertrophic pachymeningitis.

Objective: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease is a major cause of hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP), presenting as a progressive thickening of the dura mater. HP lacks an animal model to determine its underlying mechanisms. We developed a suitable animal model for the treatment of HP.

Prevalence of adult epilepsy in a general Japanese population: The Hisayama study.

The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence and causes of adult epilepsy in a general Japanese population. We examined a total of 3333 Japanese residents in the town of Hisayama aged ≥40 years in 2012-2013. The examination was performed mainly at the municipal center for health promotion, but some subjects were examined in their homes, hospitals, or nursing homes.

Microvascular invasion of single small hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm: Predictors and optimal treatments.

Background: Small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC ≤3 cm) are generally considered to have low malignant potential; however, some of them display pathological microvascular invasion (MVI).

Methods: Between 1991 and 2013, 414 patients with a single HCC ≤3 cm underwent curative hepatic resection (HR). Predictors for MVI were identified.

Recent advances in treatment for colorectal liver metastasis.

A major challenge for the management of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is the multidisciplinary approach including surgery. Resection is the most important treatment strategy to prolong the survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Even when resection is not possible as a primary treatment, it may still be carried out for curative intent after effective chemotherapy.

Liver-enriched transcription factor expression relates to chronic hepatic failure in humans.

The mechanisms by which the liver fails in end-stage liver disease remain elusive. Disruption of the transcription factor network in hepatocytes has been suggested to mediate terminal liver failure in animals. However, this hypothesis remains unexplored in human subjects.

Design and baseline characteristics of the Xarelto Post-Authorization Safety & Effectiveness Study in Japanese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (XAPASS).

Background: The phase III Japanese Rivaroxaban Once-Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (J-ROCKET AF) showed that the rivaroxaban group had a lower event rate of intracranial bleeding than the warfarin group and that rivaroxaban was noninferior to warfarin for the principal safety outcome. However, safety and effectiveness data from unselected patients with AF in everyday clinical practice in Japan are lacking.

Methods: The Xarelto Post-Authorization Safety & Effectiveness Study in Japanese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (XAPASS) is a real-world, prospective, single-arm, observational study mandated by the Japanese authority as postmarketing surveillance.

A change in objective sleep duration is associated with a change in the serum adiponectin level of women with overweight or obesity undergoing weight loss intervention.

Background: Although the serum adiponectin level is inversely correlated to body mass index and closely associated with obesity and related diseases, neither the impact of weight loss on the adiponectin level nor other factors that might influence the adiponectin level during weight loss intervention are well documented.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the change in the serum adiponectin level during weight loss intervention and to determine if sleep parameters affect the serum adiponectin level.

Methods: Ninety women with overweight or obesity aged 25 to 65 years completed a 7-month cognitive behavioural therapy based weight loss intervention that included dieting, exercise and stress management.

Ezetimibe reduced hepatic steatosis induced by dietary oxysterols in nonhuman primates.

Oxidized cholesterol (oxysterols) plays an important and multifaceted role in lipid metabolism. Here we examined whether dietary oxysterols accelerate hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation in nonhuman primates. We also examined the effect of the Niemann-Pick C1-like1 inhibitor, ezetimibe (Ez).

Primary aortoduodenal fistula with a history of distal gastrectomy.

Case: A 69-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of an aortoduodenal fistula with hematemesis and pre-shock vital signs. He had a history of alcoholism, malnutrition, and distal gastrectomy and Billroth I reconstruction. Endovascular aneurysm repair was successfully carried out; however, the presence of comorbidities affected further radical treatment.

Emergent transcatheter arterial embolization for norovirus-associated life-threatening ulcer bleeding to achieve successful hemostasis in 2-year-old boy.

Case: We report a 2-year-old boy with duodenal ulcer with active bleeding that occurred as a result of norovirus gastroenteritis. On admission, the patient presented with shock accompanied with vomiting and melena. Abdominal contrast enhanced computed tomography scan showed signs of duodenal bleeding.

Targeted age, device deployment, and problems associated with pediatric defibrillation in pediatric prehospital emergency medical care settings in Japan.

Aim: The use of automated external defibrillators was expanded to include infants according to the 2010 cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines in Japan. However, deployment has been slower for pediatric patients in Japan, because there are fewer appropriate pediatric patients for automated external defibrillators than adults. This study aimed to investigate the targeted age range for pediatric defibrillation and device deployment of defibrillators for pediatric patients in prehospital emergency medical care settings in Japan, and present the issues associated with automated external defibrillators.

Testicular dysgenesis/regression without campomelic dysplasia in patients carrying missense mutations and upstream deletion of SOX9.

SOX9 haploinsufficiency underlies campomelic dysplasia (CD) with or without testicular dysgenesis. Current understanding of the phenotypic variability and mutation spectrum of SOX9 abnormalities remains fragmentary. Here, we report three patients with hitherto unreported SOX9 abnormalities.

Simultaneous operation for cancer-related sigmoid colon perforation and abdominal aortic aneurysm of 76 mm in diameter.

Case: A 92-year-old woman was emergently admitted to our hospital for peritonitis caused by sigmoid colon cancer perforation, with a coexistent abdominal aortic aneurysm of 76 mm in diameter.

Outcome: A 92-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of abdominal pain and fever of 24-h duration. On physical examination, severe tenderness with muscular defense and a palpable, pulsating mass were detected in the upper abdomen.

Risk of hospitalization for diabetic macrovascular complications and in-hospital mortality with irregular physician visits using propensity score matching.

Aims/introduction: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the risk of diabetic macrovascular complications and in-hospital mortality among diabetic patients with irregular physician visits.

Materials And Methods: We carried out a health insurance-based retrospective cohort study using claims data from diabetic patients who were newly hospitalized between April 2010 and September 2010 among beneficiaries of the Fukuoka National Health Insurance Organization. Regular visits were defined as physician visits for diabetes mellitus at least every 3 months between April 2009 and March 2010, whereas other visits or no visits were defined as irregular visits.

A simple predictive formula for the blood requirement in patients with high-energy blunt injuries transferred within one hour post-trauma.

Aims: To recognize patients who require massive transfusion at the early stage of blunt trauma, we retrospectively investigated patients with high-energy blunt injuries transferred within 1 h post-trauma.

Methods: Between August 2007 and July 2011, 233 trauma patients were: (i) injured by a high-energy blunt mechanism with Injury Severity Score ≥9; (ii) not dead on arrival; (iii) older than 9 years; and (iv) at our center within 1 h after injury. The findings for 113 of those patients were analyzed, including those produced by ultrasonography, computed tomography, and arterial blood gas analyses.

Trends in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in community-dwelling Japanese subjects: The Hisayama Study.

Aims/introduction: We examined secular trends in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in community-dwelling Japanese subjects.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2,490 subjects in 1988 and 2,852 subjects in 2002 aged 40-79 years underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and their glucose tolerance status was defined by the 1998 World Health Organization criteria.

Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of type 2 diabetes increased significantly from 1988 to 2002 in men (14.