Early initiation of intravenous cyclophosphamide and one-year outcome in super-refractory cryptogenic-new onset refractory status epilepticus.

To explore the potential efficacy of early initiation of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCPA), we reviewed consecutive four cases of super-refractory cryptogenic-new onset refractory status epilepticus (C-NORSE) between 2015 and 2023. We compared functional outcomes at 3 months and 1 year after the onset between patients who received IVCPA within 20 days (early-treated) and those who received it later (late-treated). All patients (median age: 43 years) had a prodromal fever.

Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension.

The rare disease Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension (FHHt) is caused by mutations in the genes encoding Cullin 3 (CUL3), Kelch-Like 3 (KLHL3), and two members of the With-No-Lysine [K] (WNK) kinase family, WNK1 and WNK4. In the kidney, these mutations ultimately cause hyperactivation of NCC along the renal distal convoluted tubule. Hypertension results from increased NaCl retention, and hyperkalemia by impaired K secretion by downstream nephron segments.

Inadequate Efficacy of Biologics for Treating Proximal Ileal Lesions in Crohn's Disease; a prospective multicenter study.

Background And Aims: While biologic therapy has revolutionized the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), surgery remains unavoidable in cases involving ileal complications. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of biologics on proximal ileal lesions using balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE).

Methods: This open-label multicenter prospective study was conducted at tertiary referral centers in Japan.

Radiological, clinical, and molecular analyses reveal distinct subtypes of butterfly glioblastomas affecting the prognosis.

Background: Glioblastoma (GB) is known for its highly invasive nature. Images of butterfly GB (bGB) often illustrate this characteristic, but the molecular background and origins of bGB remain unknown.

Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 34 bGB patients from our dataset (K-cohort) and 46 bGB patients from publicly available datasets, including TCGA-GBM, CPTAC-GBM, IvyGAP, and UPENN-GBM.

Impact of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the treatment of cancer, including radiotherapy and its future potential in esophageal cancer.

Despite advances in multimodality therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and chemoradiation, the fatality rate for esophageal cancer remains high. Specifically, Fusobacterium nucleatum, due to its aggregation capacity, has shown a tendency to form biofilms. The biofilm-forming capabilities of microbial communities are of utmost importance in the context of cancer treatment, as they have been shown to drive significant losses in the efficaciousness of various cancer treatments.

Long-term outcome of chemoimmunotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer according to key clinical trial eligibility: 3-year outcomes from a prospective cohort study.

Background: Chemoimmunotherapy is the standard first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC); however, its real-world long-term outcomes associated with patient backgrounds are still unclear. We explored this association using an updated large real-world prospective cohort with a minimum follow-up of 3 years.

Methods: This prospective cohort study, conducted across 32 hospitals, enrolled patients with ES-SCLC receiving carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab between September 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020.

Linked Color Imaging with Light-Emitting Diode Light Enhances the Visibility of Gastric Neoplasm: A Prospective, Multicenter, Comparative Trial.

Background: Early detection of gastric cancer can play a key role in improving prognosis. Recently, light-emitting diodes (LED) have been developed as novel endoscopic systems. However, the differences in the visibility of gastric neoplastic lesions between LED and laser endoscopy remains unclear.

Association of obesity or metabolic syndrome with various allergic diseases: An overview of reviews.

The relationship between obesity, metabolic syndrome, related disorders, and various allergic diseases remains unclear. An overview of reviews investigating potential associations between obesity or metabolic syndrome and various allergic diseases was conducted. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched.

Prediction of Seizure Outcome Using Combinations of Four Noninvasive Presurgical Modalities in Magnetic Resonance Imaging-negative Focal Intractable Epilepsy.

In focal epilepsy cases, precise identification and resection of the epileptogenic zone increase the likelihood of achieving a seizure-free outcome. Nevertheless, localizing the source of epilepsy in magnetic resonance imaging-negative epilepsy cases presents significant challenges for clinicians. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic efficacy and impact on the seizure outcome by using 4 noninvasive modalities, including scalp video electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, and iomazenil single-photon emission computed tomography, in a cohort of patients with magnetic resonance imaging-negative focal epilepsy who underwent resective surgery.

Serum IL-6 concentration is a useful biomarker to predict the efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This study aims to identify biomarkers for treatment response of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo+Bev) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: 96 patients who received Atezo+Bev or lenvatinib as a first-line systemic therapy were enrolled as the training group after propensity score matching (PSM), and 42 patients treated with Atezo+Bev were enrolled as the validation group. 17 serum cytokines were measured by Luminex multiplex assay at the start of treatment.

Artificial Intelligence's Performance on the Japanese National Dental Examination.

Background/purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) has developed rapidly and is applied to many fields including dental education. In this study, we evaluated AI performance on the Japanese National Dental Examination.

Materials And Methods: We extracted 349 of 400 compulsory questions from the National Dental Examinations over the past five years.

Association Between Introduction of the 23-valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23) and Pneumonia Incidence and Mortality Among General Older Population in Japan: A Community-Based Study.

BackgroundWith global aging, especially in Asia, preventing pneumonia among seniors is vital. The necessity of introducing pneumococcal vaccines among the elderly has been highlighted but there is a paucity of community-based real-world evidence on their effect. Sera Town in Hiroshima Prefecture, a super-aged community, launched a distinctive pneumococcal vaccination support project for elderly residents and conducted a 5-year follow-up survey.

Myelin measurement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with synthetic MRI: A potential diagnostic and predictive method.

Background: Myelin damage has recently been highlighted as a major causative factor of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although myelin damage has been pathologically identified in ALS, it has not been clinically evaluated. This study aimed to quantify myelin volume using synthetic MRI to evaluate myelin damage in patients with ALS, and determine its association with clinical parameters.

The relationship between continuation of exercise habit for three years and endothelial function in patients with hypertension.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between continuation of exercise habit for a long period and endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in patients with hypertension. This study was a multicenter retrospective observational study. A total of 639 patients with hypertension were enrolled in this study.

Development of the Japanese Anticholinergic Risk Scale: English translation of the Japanese article.

Background: Anticholinergic burden, reflecting the cumulative impact of medications with anticholinergic properties, significantly predicts adverse drug reactions and geriatric syndromes in older adults. Although anticholinergic risk scales (ARS) have been developed and validated in various countries, none have been tailored specifically for Japan. The Japanese Anticholinergic Risk Scale (JARS) was developed to adapt the existing ARS frameworks to the Japanese context, considering unique medication profiles and cultural factors.

A case of malignant lymphoma of the extrahepatic bile duct diagnosed by detailed imaging examination and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration.

A 70-year-old woman presented to our hospital with abdominal pain. Imaging examinations showed diffuse and extensive wall thickening at the perihilar bile duct; however, the degree of stricture was mild, and the mucosal epithelium was smooth. A transpapillary biopsy was performed considering cholangiocarcinoma and IgG4 sclerosing cholangitis as differential diagnoses; however, no pathologic diagnosis was obtained.

Alteration of Gene Expression After Entecavir and Pegylated Interferon Therapy in HBV-Infected Chimeric Mouse Liver.

Cross-sectional analyses using liver tissue from chronic hepatitis B patients make it difficult to exclude the influence of host immune responses. In this study, we performed next-generation sequencing using the livers of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected uPA/SCID mice with humanized livers before and after antiviral therapy (AVT) with entecavir and pegylated interferon, and then performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of gene expression alteration. After HBV infection, the expression of genes involved in multiple pathways was significantly altered in the HBV-infected livers.

Factors Influencing Self-Management Behaviors Among Patients with Post-Kidney Transplantation: A Qualitative Study of the Chronic Phase Transition.

Background: Kidney transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with kidney failure. Despite the advances in technology, a certain number of patients still deteriorate due to improper management. The purpose of this study was to identify the promoting and inhibitory factors that influence recipients' self-management behaviors after a kidney transplant.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor promotes bone regeneration in a canine model of peri-implantitis.

Purpose: The present study aims to determine whether the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) complex could regenerate bone around implants lost due to peri-implantitis.

Methods: Dogs had their three premolars extracted, and three implants were placed on each side. After osseointegration, 3-0 silk threads were ligated around the healing abutment for 12 weeks.

Role of transglutaminase 2 in promoting biglycan synthesis in idiopathic gingival fibromatosis.

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of idiopathic gingival fibromatosis (IGF).

Methods: Human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) were isolated from patients with IGF and periodontitis. Differential gene expression in the hGFs was analyzed using RNA sequencing.