262 results match your criteria: "Harbor Medical Center[Affiliation]"

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists are used in addition to steroids for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. A 55-year-old male with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, treated with eltrombopag, developed a rapid decline in renal function following the increase in eltrombopag dose. Renal biopsy showed glomerular endothelial disorder and platelet thrombus, which suggested eltrombopag-induced renal-limited thrombotic microangiopathy.

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, a rare human pathogen, has limited clinical data. This case report presents a case of sepsis, pyelonephritis, and septic spondylitis treated successfully with ampicillin. An 82-year-old woman was hospitalized for acute pyelonephritis and sepsis, presenting with fever and abdominal pain.

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Immune complexome analysis reveals an autoimmune signature predictive of COVID-19 severity.

Clin Biochem

January 2025

Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan; Department of Molecular Pathochemistry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: The factors contributing to the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain unclear. Although the presence of immune complexes (ICs), formed between antibodies and their antigens, has been linked to COVID-19 severity, their role requires further investigation, and the antigens within these ICs are yet to be characterized.

Method: Here, a C1q enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay and immune complexome analysis were used to determine IC concentrations and characterize IC antigens, respectively, in the sera of 64 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, enrolled at seven participating centers in 2020.

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  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to cardiac amyloidosis (CA), which can lead to diastolic dysfunction and atrial damage.
  • A study of 27 patients found that those with AF had worse diastolic function (higher E/e' values) and more severe atrial lesions compared to patients with sinus rhythm (SR).
  • The findings suggest that AF might worsen heart conditions in CA patients, highlighting the need for further investigation into this association.
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Introduction: Neonatal ventilators are managed by monitoring the inspiratory gas temperature with a probe placed outside the incubator, although the temperature decreases as the gases passe through the ventilator circuit extension tube and endotracheal tube (ETT). There are no established methods for measuring the internal temperature of the ETT. This bench study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using infrared thermography (IRT) to predict the internal temperature of the ETT.

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Fat embolism syndrome (FES) occurs when fat droplets from bone marrow or adipose tissue enter the circulation due to bone fractures or surgical interventions. It typically develops 12 to 72 hours after injury. However, fulminant FES, characterized by its rapid onset, is rare and can rapidly progress to a life-threatening condition.

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Background: Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are extremely rare. Published information on their clinical features, pathological findings, and prognosis is lacking. The optimal treatment for esophageal NECs has not yet been determined because they appear extremely malignant histologically and have a poor prognosis.

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Background/aim: Owing to underlying diseases and decreased physiological functions, frailty in elderly patients may be associated with adverse postoperative complications and mortality. To date, there are various frailty assessment methods, with the five-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) being an objective and concise evaluation tool. This study aimed to clarify whether mFI-5 scoring, a measure of frailty, can predict postoperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

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We measured intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) levels, a useful marker of small intestinal mucosal injury, in patients with cirrhosis to determine their relationship with liver function and complications. This cross-sectional study included 71 patients with cirrhosis admitted for treatment of cirrhotic complications or hepatocellular carcinoma (cohort A) and 104 patients with cirrhosis who received direct-acting antiviral therapy for HCV (cohort B). I-FABP levels, measured by ELISA, were evaluated relative to hepatic reserve and compared with non-invasive scoring systems for diagnostic performance in cirrhotic complications.

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  • A multicenter phase III trial is being conducted to evaluate a dexamethasone-based mouthwash for preventing chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in early breast cancer patients.
  • The study will involve 230 patients, randomly assigned to either the dexamethasone mouthwash group or a control group using tap water as mouthwash.
  • The main goal is to measure the effectiveness of the mouthwash in reducing the incidence of stomatitis, tracked through electronic patient-reported outcomes.
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  • The study aimed to evaluate the impact of pemafibrate (PEM) on patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hyperlipidemia.
  • A retrospective analysis of 43 patients was conducted, assessing clinical factors and liver stiffness using FibroScan before and after 0.5 years of PEM treatment.
  • Results showed that while liver stiffness (LS) and other key liver function metrics did not decrease overall, improvements were noted in patients with more significant liver stiffness at baseline, suggesting PEM may be a potential treatment option for MASLD.*
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  • A clinical pathway was implemented in Nagasaki hospitals for managing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to improve patient outcomes.
  • The study found that the percentage of patients achieving the LDL-C target of <70 mg/dL increased from 37.2% to 54.6% after the pathway was introduced.
  • Overall, the implementation of this pathway significantly enhanced lipid-lowering therapy effectiveness in hospitals performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).
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  • A study of 289 patients starting dialysis revealed that 42% had aortic valve changes, with 11% meeting the criteria for aortic stenosis (AS), indicating a significant prevalence among dialysis patients.
  • Age was found to be the only factor significantly associated with these aortic valve changes, with older patients more likely to be affected.
  • Aortic stenosis was identified as an independent risk factor for increased mortality post-dialysis, highlighting the importance of monitoring aortic valve status in older patients undergoing dialysis.
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  • The study explored the connection between immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels and chronic liver disease in 478 patients at Nagasaki Harbor Medical Center, highlighting that higher IgA levels were found in patients with more severe conditions, such as Child-Pugh classification B and C and alcoholic liver disease.
  • Analysis revealed that factors like high IgG levels, diabetes, and certain liver disease types contribute to elevated IgA levels, suggesting that elevated IgA might indicate increased liver disease severity.
  • Results also showed a significant association between IgA levels and visceral fat, particularly in women, reinforcing the role of IgA as a potential marker for liver disease severity amidst rising cases of steatotic liver disease.
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  • Functional decline often occurs during the start of hemodialysis, especially when it’s unplanned, prompting researchers to investigate factors surrounding its initiation and patient outcomes in Japan.
  • A study involving 257 patients revealed that unplanned hemodialysis is linked to conditions like heart failure and infections, leading to poorer health outcomes compared to planned dialysis starts.
  • To enhance patient care, the findings suggest that improving hygiene and managing heart failure could minimize unplanned dialysis occurrences and enhance overall patient health.
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  • A new multipoint traction device was developed to improve endoscopic submucosal dissection, and it was tested in both ex vivo and in vivo studies.
  • The study found that using this device increased resection speeds significantly compared to traditional methods, and no complications occurred during the procedures.
  • The results suggest that this device enhances safety and efficiency in endoscopic submucosal dissection, potentially simplifying the procedure for medical professionals.
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Factors associated with readmission for community-onset pneumonia among older people: A retrospective study.

Respir Investig

September 2024

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tenshindo Hetsugi Hospital, 5956 Nihongi, Nakahetsugi, Oita, 879-7761, Japan; Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates factors contributing to pneumonia recurrence in older adults, focusing on lifestyle and health conditions.
  • Out of 117 patients surveyed, 27% were readmitted for pneumonia within a year, with cerebrovascular disease and needing assistance at mealtime identified as significant risk factors.
  • The findings suggest that underlying health issues, rather than lifestyle choices like oral care or body position, primarily influence pneumonia relapse in senior patients.
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We present a case of an angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and tubulointerstitial nephritis with storiform fibrosis in a 76-year-old man. The patient exhibited lymphadenopathy, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and renal dysfunction and was diagnosed with AITL on the basis of lymph node biopsy findings. The serum IgG4 level was highly elevated.

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Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is associated with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of patients with MRSA-IE in Japan and identify the factors associated with prognosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IE caused by MRSA, between January 2015 and April 2019.

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Seizure Assessment and Forecasting With Efficient Rapid-EEG: A Retrospective Multicenter Comparative Effectiveness Study.

Neurology

July 2024

From the Department of Neurology (M.K.-A., R.M., A.F.S.), and Epilepsy Division of the Department of Neurology (S.F., A.S., G.A., P.V.K., J.L., S.H.), University of Wisconsin-Madison; Department of Neurology (S.F.), Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; Department of Neurology (A.S.), UCLA Harbor Medical Center, Torrance, CA; Epilepsy Division of Department of Neurology (I.S.S., K.G.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (J. Cormier, J. Cespedes, L.J.H.), Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT; University of Connecticut School of Medicine (J. Cormier), Farmington; Epilepsy Division of Department of Neurology (K.G.), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; UHS Wilson Square Neurology (G.A.), Johnson City, NY; Universidad Autonoma de Centro America (UACA) School of Medicine (J. Cespedes), Granadilla, Cipreses, Costa Rica; Neurology Department (A.A.E., N.K., M.D.), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; University of South Dakota (A.A.E.), Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion; Comprehensive Epilepsy Team (O.M.H.), Neurology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Center for Neuroengineering and Therapeutics (J.L.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Department of Neurology (B.W.), Massachusetts General Hospital; and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (B.W.), Boston, MA.

Background And Objectives: Approximately 30% of critically ill patients have seizures, and more than half of these seizures do not have an overt clinical correlate. EEG is needed to avoid missing seizures and prevent overtreatment with antiseizure medications. Conventional-EEG (cEEG) resources are logistically constrained and unable to meet their growing demand for seizure detection even in highly developed centers.

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Background And Objective: The identification of factors associated with long-term prognosis after community-onset pneumonia in elderly patients should be considered when initiating advance care planning (ACP). We aimed to identify these factors and develop a prediction score model.

Methods: Patients aged 65 years and older, who were hospitalized for pneumonia at nine collaborating institutions, were included.

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