Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Therapy in Patients With Sepsis: A Feasibility Study.

Background: The pathogenesis of sepsis is thought to be linked to a dysregulated immune response, particularly that involving neutrophils. We have developed a granulocyte adsorption column as a "decoy organ," which relocates the massive inflammation in organs in the body to a blood purification column. This study was conducted to assess the safety and experimental effectiveness of granulocyte monocyte adsorption apheresis-direct hemoperfusion (G1-DHP) in the treatment of patients with sepsis, using a prospective, multicenter design.

Real-World Oncological Outcomes of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study in Japan.

A combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab (NIVO + IPI) is the only approved combination of two immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic or advanced renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Inadequate evidence of treatment with NIVO + IPI has been reported in Japanese cohorts. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of NIVO + IPI treatment.

Impact of Below-the-Knee Runoff in Patients With Lower Extremity Artery Disease Who Underwent Endovascular Therapy Using Drug-Coated Balloons in Femoropopliteal Lesions.

Background: The impact of below-the-knee (BK) runoff after drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment in femoropopliteal (FP) lesions has not been well investigated.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter observational study enrolled 291 consecutive patients with lower extremity artery disease who underwent endovascular therapy with DCBs for FP lesions between January 2018 and December 2021. Patients were classified into four groups based on the BK runoff.

Early administration of anamorelin improves cancer cachexia in gastrointestinal cancer patients: an observational study.

To report the efficacy of anamorelin in patients with colorectal and gastric cancer with cachexia and in those receiving systemic chemotherapy. We retrospectively collected real-world data from patients diagnosed with colorectal and gastric cancers experiencing cachexia who were treated with anamorelin. We evaluated the efficacy of treatment by measuring the improvements in appetite and body weight (BW) gain.

Effect of repeated hot and cold stimulation for the neck and shoulders on muscle fatigue recovery: a pilot study.

Increased use of electronic devices such as smartphones has led to an increase in neck and shoulder stiffness to the forefront of the public people. It is said that prolonged posture with the head tilted forward causes excessive muscle activity in the head and neck region, resulting in muscle fatigue symptoms such as stiff shoulders. Various bathing methods have been proposed as a means of recovering from muscle stiffness, and in particular, contrast water therapy (CWT) is said to be highly effective in recovering from muscle fatigue.

[National Survey on Procedure Dose of Endovascular Treatment for Lower Extremity Artery Disease].

Purpose: The objective of this study is to elucidate the current status of procedural radiation doses for endovascular treatment (EVT) of lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) in Japan and to validate the diagnostic reference level (DRL) quantity.

Methods: Survey requests were mailed to 493 facilities across Japan. The study targeted cases of EVT for LEAD performed between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022, with a maximum of 10 cases collected per facility.

Clinical effectiveness of baricitinib and abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: The objective of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of baricitinib and abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This study included 274 patients treated with abatacept and 241 treated with baricitinib who were followed for >52 weeks. Potential treatment selection bias was addressed by using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Long-term quality of life after open and laparoscopic total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer: A prospective multi-institutional study (CCOG1504).

Background: Little information is available from prospective clinical trials on the influences of surgical approaches on postoperative quality of life (QOL). We aimed to prospectively compare chronological changes in postoperative body weight and QOL between laparoscopic and open total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective study (CCOG1504) of patients who undergo laparoscopic or open total gastrectomy.

Randomized Phase II Trial of Amrubicin Plus Irinotecan Versus Cisplatin Plus Irinotecan in Chemo-naïve Patients With Extensive-Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Results of the Japan Multinational Trial Organization (JMTO) LC 08-01.

Background: We conducted a randomize phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topoisomerase II inhibitor amrubicin plus topoisomerase I inhibitor irinotecan (AI) compared with cisplatin plus irinotecan (PI) as first-line therapy in patients with extensive-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Patients And Methods: Chemo-naïve patients with pathologically proven ED-SCLC (including limited disease (LD) SCLC with malignant effusion) were enrolled. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either AI (amrubicin 90mg/m on day 1 and irinotecan 50mg/m on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle) or PI (cisplatin 60mg/m on day 1 and irinotecan 60mg/m on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle).

Alfacalcidol-Induced Kidney Injury in Patients with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities.

Patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) often experience insufficient physical activity, leading to osteoporosis. The active form of vitamin D is commonly prescribed for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis. We observed four cases of kidney injury believed to be associated with the administration of 1α-OH vitamin D (alfacalcidol) preparations.

Prognostic impact of postoperative management by an intensive care unit intensivist after colonic perforation.

Purpose: Postoperative management for colonic perforation is an important prognostic factor, but whether intensivists perform postoperative management varies between institutions.

Methods: We investigated 291 patients with colonic perforation between 2018 and 2022. Patients were divided into those managed by an intensivists (ICU group; n = 40) and those not managed by an intensivists (non-ICU group; n = 251).

Characteristics, Treatment, and Prognosis in Octogenarian and Older Patients With Acute Heart Failure in Japan　- Prospective Observational Study on Acute Pharmacotherapy and Prognosis in Management of Acute Heart Failure (POPEYE-AHF Registry).

Background: The number of older people in Japan is increasing more quickly than in other countries; with this aging of society, the number of elderly patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (HF) is also increasing. The treatment and prognosis of acute HF may be changing, but there are insufficient recent data, especially for octogenarian and older patients.

Methods And Results: This study investigated the characteristics and treatment of acute HF patients in Japan.

Salvage radiotherapy for locoregional recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery.

Objective: There is no consensus on the optimal treatment for patients with locoregional recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcomes and prognostic factors associated with salvage radiotherapy in patients with locoregional recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery.

Methods: We reviewed 80 patients with locoregional recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery who were treated with radiotherapy.

Ultrasonography for confirmation of gastric tube placement.

Background: Gastric tubes are commonly used for the administration of drugs and tube feeding for people who are unable to swallow. Feeding via a tube misplaced in the trachea can result in severe pneumonia. Therefore, the confirmation of tube placement in the stomach after tube insertion is important.

Long-term clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention in patients aged 90 years and older.

Background: In an aging society, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for super-elderly patients is commonly performed in clinical practice. However, data are scarce regarding the clinical features and outcomes of this population.

Methods: This multicenter observational study enrolled patients aged over 90 years who underwent PCI across 10 hospitals between 2011 and 2020.

Secondary carnitine deficiency during refeeding in severely malnourished patients with eating disorders: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Secondary carnitine deficiency in patients with anorexia nervosa has been rarely reported. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of carnitine deficiency in severely malnourished patients with eating disorders during refeeding and assess its potential adverse effects on treatment outcomes.

Method: In a cohort study of 56 female inpatients with eating disorders at a single hospital from March 2010 to December 2020, we measured plasma free carnitine (FC) levels and compared to those of a healthy control group (n = 35).

Nilotinib vs dasatinib in achieving MR4.5 for de novo chronic myeloid leukemia: the randomized JALSG CML212 study.

Deep molecular response (DMR) is a prerequite for treatment-free remission (TFR) in chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). The JALSG (Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group) conducted a prospective randomized phase 3 CML212 study for de novo CML-CP to compare the cumulative achievement of molecular response 4.5 (MR4.

Optimal Body Weights for Adults with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities.

Determining the optimal body weight for individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) lacks a standardized approach. In this study, we aimed to develop a formula to estimate the ideal body weight for each SMID patient, considering factors such as reduced muscle and bone mass. We analyzed data from 111 SMID patients (56 male, 55 female; age range 20 to 73 y) who underwent blood tests measuring creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C (cysC) for clinical reasons between Feb.

Impact of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in the Management of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

In this study, we aimed to determine the utility of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in real-world clinical practice and investigate whether CN contributes to improved oncological outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This retrospective multicenter cohort study enrolled patients with mRCC who received systemic therapy at six institutions between May 2005 and May 2023. The patients were divided into those who did not undergo CN (Group I) and those who underwent CN (Group II).