External validation of a genitourinary cancer-specific prognostic scoring system to predict survival for patients with bone metastasis (modified B-FOM scoring model): Comparison with other scoring models in terms of accuracy.

Objective: We previously developed genitourinary (GU) cancer-specific scoring system for prediction of survival in patients with bone metastasis (the Bone-Fujimoto-Owari-Miyake [B-FOM] scoring model) based on five prognostic factors: the type of primary tumor (prostate cancer (PCa) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and PCa urothelial carcinoma (UC)), poor performance status (PS), visceral metastasis, high Glasgow-prognostic score (GPS), elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The aim of this study was to externally validate and further improve the performance of the B-FOM score.

Methods: The external validation cohort comprised 309 patients with GU cancer with bone metastasis from multiple institutions.

A Metagenome-Wide Association Study of Gut Microbiome in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Revealed Novel Disease Pathology.

While microbiome plays key roles in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), its mechanism remains elusive. Here, we conducted a comprehensive metagenome-wide association study (MWAS) of the relapsing-remitting MS gut microbiome ( = 26, = 77) in the Japanese population, by using whole-genome shotgun sequencing. Our MWAS consisted of three major bioinformatic analytic pipelines (phylogenetic analysis, functional gene analysis, and pathway analysis).

Reduced lifespan of erythrocytes in Dahl/Salt sensitive rats is the cause of the renal proximal tubule damage.

We studied the mechanisms of anemia and the influence of anemia on renal pathology in Dahl/Salt Sensitive (Dahl/SS) rat, a model of cardio-renal-anemia syndrome. Erythrocyte lifespan was shortened and associated with decreased hemoglobin level in the Dahl/SS rats given high-salt diet. Serum haptoglobin decreased, reticulocytes increased, and erythropoiesis in the bone marrow and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen was markedly stimulated by increased serum erythropoietin in them.

Uncontrolled, Open-Label Pre-Dinner Administration of Elobixibat in Japanese Adults with Chronic Constipation: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Background: Elobixibat has been approved as a new therapeutic drug for chronic constipation. Only the pharmacological efficacy and safety profile of pre-breakfast administration of elobixibat had been previously demonstrated.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy and safety profile of pre-dinner administration of elobixibat in patients with functional constipation in a retrospective observational study.

Parallel plate fixation for distal humeral fracture: Computer simulation to determine the appropriate screw insertion sequence.

Background: Parallel plate fixation for distal humeral fractures provides good clinical outcomes. However, few studies have investigated the insertion sequence of the distal screws, although long screw insertion into the distal fragment is technically demanding. The purpose of this study was to investigate a correlation between the insertion sequence of the distal screws and the screw insertion difficulty.

Clustered Circulating Tumor Cells in Lung Adenocarcinoma: Implications of Test Results of Continuous Variables.

Background/aim: We investigated the relationship between solid component size (SS), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as continuous variables and postoperative clustered circulating tumor cell (C-CTC) detection in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery.

Patients And Methods: C-CTC detection was the main evaluation item, which was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve to calculate areas under the curves (AUCs) for the variables. Additionally, the two-year recurrence-free survival rates (2Y-RFSRs) were analyzed.

Amelioration in Ankle Pain and Improvement in Function After Total Knee Arthroplasty for Ipsilateral Knee and Ankle Osteoarthritis: A Report of Two Cases.

We report 2 cases of ipsilateral ankle and knee osteoarthritis (OA), with the chief complaint being chronic ankle and knee pain. In the first patient, the ankle pain was more severe than the knee pain, whereas the second patient had more severe pain in the knee than in the ankle. In both cases, varus malalignment of the knee and varus tilt of the ankle joint were detected on standing radiographs.

Circulating tumor cells detected only after surgery for non-small cell lung cancer: is it a predictor of recurrence?

Background: Surgical manipulation of a tumor can lead to shedding of tumor cells that can enter the circulation and lead to metastasis. The present study evaluated the clinical relevance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that were identified immediately after non-small cell lung cancer resection in patients without preoperative CTCs, and whether postoperative CTC detection was associated with recurrence.

Methods: Immediate preoperative testing for CTCs was performed for 147 patients with pulmonary nodules.

Total Knee Arthroplasty with Concomitant Corrective Tibial Osteotomy Using Patient-Specific Instrumentation and Computed Tomography-Based Navigation in Severe Post-High Tibial Osteotomy Valgus Collapse.

We report the case of a 78-year-old woman with lateral knee osteoarthritis and severe valgus knee deformity after high tibial osteotomy. The patient's severe valgus tibial deformity with a valgus angle of 45° was evaluated using a 3-dimensional bone model, and a closing-wedge osteotomy was planned. Combined total knee arthroplasty and closing-wedge tibial osteotomy were performed using patient-specific instrumentation and a computed tomography-based navigation system.

Does Atherosclerosis Have Negative Impacts on Early Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion?

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To examine whether atherosclerosis has negative impacts on early adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after posterior lumbar interbody fusion using traditional trajectory pedicle screw fixation (TT-PLIF).

Methods: The subjects were 77 patients who underwent single-level TT-PLIF for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Clinical impact of a self-reference mapping technique to detect non-pulmonary vein triggers: A multi-center study.

Background: The method to perform a precise mapping of non-pulmonary vein (PV) triggers has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of self-reference mapping for eliminating non-PV triggers in a large series of patients including the long-term outcomes.

Method: Among 446 atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedures in 431 patients at 2 institutions, we prospectively enrolled patients who had reproducible non-PV triggers.

Development and Validation of the Japanese Version of Quality of Life Assessment of Spina Bifida in Children (QUALAS-C-J).

Background: We previously developed the Japanese version of The Quality of Life Assessment of Spina Bifida in Teenagers, a health-related quality-of-life instrument specific to children aged 13-17 years with spina bifida (SB). The Quality of Life Assessment of Spina Bifida in Children is a version of this questionnaire for children aged 8-12 years. The purpose of this study was to develop a Japanese version of the Quality of Life Assessment of Spina Bifida in Children (QUALAS-C-J) and verify its reliability and validity.

Iron and cardiovascular diseases.

Iron is a necessary element for life; however, excess iron leads to oxidative stress by the Fenton reaction. Iron deficiency is prevalent in patients with heart failure, while iron overload is associated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. These findings suggest the "iron paradox" in cardiovascular diseases.

Total small vessel disease score and functional outcomes following acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Individual cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) markers are independent predictors for poor prognosis following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), however, the impact of the cumulative SVD burden on outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between the global SVD burden and functional outcomes following ICH.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated a consecutive cohort of patients with ICH who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography, from a prospective registry.

Questionnaire in patients with aborted sudden cardiac death due to coronary spasm in Japan.

Objectives: We investigated the medical or mechanical therapy, and the present knowledge of Japanese cardiologists about aborted sudden cardiac death (ASCD) due to coronary spasm.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed regarding the number of cases of ASCD, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and medical therapy in ASCD patients due to coronary spasm. The questionnaire was sent to the Japanese general institutions at random in 204 cardiology hospitals.

Relationships between the clinical characteristics and copy numbers of DNA of cytomegalovirus determined by real-time PCR.

Purpose: To determine whether there is a correlation between the clinicals characteristics including various types of keratic precipitates and the copy numbers of the DNA of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in eyes with CMV corneal endotheliitis.

Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of four cases of corneal endotheliitis that were CMV-positive. We have classified types of clinical phenomenon into four types: coin-shaped KPs, sectoral corneal edema with or without Khodadoust line-like KPs, mutton-fat KPs, and fine KPs and have graded their severity.

Two-level Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion at the Lumbosacral Segment has a High Risk of Pseudarthrosis and Poor Clinical Outcomes: Comparison Between the Lumbar and Lumbosacral Segments.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate the fusion rate and clinical outcomes of 2-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).

Summary Of Background Data: PLIF provides favorable clinical outcomes and a high fusion rate.

Utility of Distal Forearm DXA as a Screening Tool for Primary Osteoporotic Fragility Fractures of the Distal Radius: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Osteoporotic fragility fractures frequently occur at the distal part of the radius. This suggests that initial osteoporosis evaluation at this site may inform screening and treatment to prevent additional fractures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of distal forearm dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as a screening tool to assess the risk of fragility fractures at the distal part of the radius.

Sema4A is implicated in the acceleration of Th17 cell-mediated neuroinflammation in the effector phase.

Background: Sema4A is a regulator of helper T cell (Th) activation and differentiation in the priming phase, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the role of Sema4A in the effector phase remains elusive. We aimed to investigate the role of Sema4A at the effector phase in adoptively transferred EAE model.

Echocardiography Tips in the Emergency Room.

The emergency room is a principal entrance for the initial management of patients with acute heart failure. Echocardiography may be performed by cardiologists and noncardiologists in the emergency room. Echocardiographic studies require effective technical skills and precise diagnostic knowledge.

Radiographic effects observed in the coronal view after medial malleolar osteotomy at total ankle arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis cases.

Background: When soft tissue balance is not acceptable at total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for rheumatoid varus deformity, medial malleolar osteotomy has been performed. At the same time, the shape of the ankle joint changes after soft tissue balancing with such an osteotomy, however there is few information for the radiographic findings after the osteotomy. Thus, radiographic changes in the coronal view of such cases were investigated.

On-lay grafting of a calcium hydroxyapatite bone substitute: A preliminary animal experimental study.

Background: Bone substitutes are widely accepted for various clinical applications. However, the usage is predominantly intraosseous implantation, whereas extraosseous on-lay grafting is rare and lacks scientific evidence. The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether osteoconduction occurs in on-lay grafted bone substitute.

Antigen specific B cells in myasthenia gravis patients.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease caused by pathogenic autoantibodies against the neuromuscular junction and is characterized by muscle weakness. Most MG patients produce antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), but a subset of patients have been found to produce autoantibodies against other components of the neuromuscular junction such as muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4). The pathogenicity of these autoantibodies has been studied using polyclonal IgG or serum from MG patients; however, pathogenic B cells and monoclonal antibodies from these patients have rarely been investigated because of the difficulty in isolating them.

A Phase II Study of Perioperative Capecitabine plus Oxaliplatin Therapy for Clinical SS/SE N1-3 M0 Gastric Cancer (OGSG 1601).

Lessons Learned: Perioperative capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapeOx) therapy showed favorable efficacy with sufficient pathological response. Small sample size limited the statistical power of this result. Perioperative CapeOx therapy showed good feasibility.