Systemic steroid therapy for pneumonic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: A retrospective cohort study.

The effectiveness of systemic steroid therapy on mortality in patients with pneumonic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is unclear. We evaluated the association between systemic steroid therapy and 30-day mortality after adjusting for known confounders, using data from the Health, Clinic, and Education Information Evaluation Institute in Japan, which longitudinally followed up patients in the same hospital. We selected patients aged ≥40 years admitted for pneumonic COPD exacerbation.

Hyperoxia but not high tidal volume contributes to ventilator-induced lung injury in healthy mice.

Background: Mechanical ventilation is a supportive therapy used to maintain respiratory function in several clinical and surgical cases but is always accompanied by lung injury risk due to improper treatment. We investigated how tidal volume and oxygen delivery would contribute independently or synergistically to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

Methods: Under general anesthesia and tracheal intubation, healthy female C57BL/6 N mice (9 weeks old) were randomly ventilated for 2 h by standard (7 ml/kg) or high (14 ml/kg) tidal volume at positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 2 cmHO, with room air, 50% O (moderate hyperoxia), or 100% O (severe hyperoxia); respectively.

Importance of the Number and Location of Lymph Node Metastasis in Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Background/aim: The 8 edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system classifies oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) by the expression of p16. The discrepancy observed in this system between pathological and clinical N-stages in p16-positive OPC has provoked controversy. Therefore, this study investigated prognostic factors not included in the new staging system for p16-positive OPC patients.

Effectiveness of Immediate Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Empyema: A Multicentre, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Because of limitations in previous randomised controlled trials and observational studies, the effectiveness of immediate video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for patients with empyema in real-world settings remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether immediate VATS improves clinical outcomes in patients with empyema.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective cohort study included 744 patients with physician-diagnosed empyema from six hospitals between 2006 and 2021.

Relationship Between Suppression Scotomas and Stereoacuity in Anisometropic Amblyopia With Successfully Treated Visual Acuity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among suppression scotoma size, stereoacuity, and four-prism base-out test (4ΔBOT) results in anisometropic amblyopia with successfully treated visual acuity.

Methods: We included 103 cases of anisometropic amblyopia successfully treated for visual acuity without strabismus. Stereoacuity was measured using a Randot Stereotest.

Application of first-generation high- and low-dose drug-coated balloons to the femoropopliteal artery disease: a sub-analysis of the POPCORN registry.

Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have significantly changed endovascular therapy (EVT) for femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease, in terms of the expansion of indications for EVT for symptomatic lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). However, whether there is a difference in the performance among individual DCBs has not yet been fully discussed. The present sub-analysis of real-world data from a prospective trial of first-generation DCBs compared the clinical outcomes between high- and low-dose DCBs using propensity score matching methods.

Validation of the Usefulness of the Diameter Reduction, Spiral Shape, Flow Impairment, or Adverse Morphology Classification System in Real-World Clinical Practice.

Aim: The accuracy of the DISFORM (diameter reduction, spiral shape, flow impairment, or adverse morphology) classification system has not been validated.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter observational study enrolled 288 consecutive patients with lower extremity artery disease who underwent endovascular therapy with drug-coated balloons for femoropopliteal lesions between January 2018 and December 2021. Patients were classified into DISFORM I-IV groups.

Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia is a Residual Bleeding Risk Factor among Patients with Lower Extremity Artery Disease.

Aim: Lower-extremity artery disease (LEAD) is a high-risk factor for bleeding. However, the specific risk factors for bleeding in patients with LEAD remain unclear. We aimed to identify risk factors for bleeding in patients with LEAD after endovascular treatment (EVT).

Extravesicular, two-layer, side-to-side ureteroneocystostomy combined with tension-relieving techniques for feline proximal ureteral obstruction: A retrospective study.

Objective: To describe the surgical technique for extravesicular, two-layer, side-to-side ureteroneocystostomy combined with tension-relieving techniques (ETSUTT) for feline proximal ureteral obstruction and report clinical outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: Ten privately-owned cats with ureteral obstruction near the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ).

Examination of stabilization of sedation by Nasal High Flow in patients with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography during sedation using Dexmedetomidine.

Introduction: Dexmedetomidine is used for the sedation method in the case of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the purpose of relieving patient anxiety. It has been reported that CO2 accumulated during sedation causes an arousal reaction, so how to normalize CO2 during sedation can be improved by administration of the minimum necessary sedative.Nasal High Flow oxygen therapy (NHF) uses a mild positive pressure load that improves carbon dioxide washout and reduces rebreathing to improve respiratory function and therefore is widely used to prevent hypoxemia and hypercapnia.

Impact of Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Blood Purification Therapy on Early Mobilization in the Intensive Care Unit: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To investigate the effect on early mobilization in patients undergoing extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and acute blood purification therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: We conducted this multicenter retrospective cohort study by collecting data from six ICUs in Japan. Consecutive patients who were admitted to the ICU, aged ≥18 years, and received mechanical ventilation for >48 hours were eligible.

Peritoneal Expression of Membrane Complement Regulators Is Decreased in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with Infected Peritonitis.

In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, fungi and are considered important causative microorganisms for peritonitis with poor prognosis. Our objective was to explore expressions of membrane complement (C) regulators (CRegs) and tissue injuries in the peritoneum of patients with PD-related peritonitis, including fungal and peritonitis. In peritoneal biopsy tissues obtained at PD catheter removal, we investigated the severity of peritonitis-associated peritoneal injuries and the expression of CRegs, CD46, CD55, and CD59 against peritoneal tissues without any episode of peritonitis.

Care needs of Japanese men for sexual dysfunction associated with prostate cancer treatment.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PC) treatment causes sexual dysfunction (SD) and alters fertility, male identity, and intimate relationships with partners. In Japan, little attention has been paid to the importance of providing care for SD associated with PC treatment. This study is aimed at clarifying the care needs of Japanese men regarding SD associated with PC treatment.

Clinical Outcomes Based on High Bleeding Risk in Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease Who Have Undergone Endovascular Therapy.

Purpose: Endovascular therapies (EVTs) for symptomatic lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) are efficient and minimally invasive. However, patients with PAD tend to have high bleeding risk (HBR), and there are limited data regarding the HBR for patients with PAD after EVT. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and severity of HBR, as well as its association with clinical outcomes in the patients with PAD who underwent EVT.

Comparison of clinical outcome and repair integrity after arthroscopic suture-bridge and triple-row rotator cuff repairs of Fosbury flop tears.

Background: The Fosbury flop tear (FFT) has recently been described as a rotator cuff tear that has flipped upon itself and adhered medially. FFT is known to have a high retear rate after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The cause of the high postoperative retear rate after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is believed to be due to the inability to achieve anatomical reduction because of difficulties in reducing the torn tendon stump.

Large or multiple pseudocysts can impede or complicate the nonsurgical treatment of pancreatolithiasis.

Objectives: We aimed to determine when a coexisting pseudocyst was likely to complicate the nonsurgical treatment of pancreatolithiasis.

Methods: We treated 165 patients with pancreatolithiasis nonsurgically between 1992 and 2020, including 21 with pseudocysts. Twelve patients had a single pseudocyst less than 60 mm in diameter.

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia is safe but poses challenges for long-term maintenance of molecular remission: Results of the Auto-Ph17 study.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is not a standard treatment option for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL); however, its position has been reassessed since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We prospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of autologous peripheral blood SCT (auto-PBSCT) for Ph+ALL patients aged between 55 and 70 years who had achieved complete molecular remission. Melphalan, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and dexamethasone were used for conditioning.

Prognostic value of various nutritional risk markers in patients hospitalized for the treatment of genitourinary cancer: A retrospective study.

Background & Aims: Because malnutrition adversely affects the prognosis of patients with cancer, accurate nutritional status assessment is important. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the prognostic value of various nutritional assessment tools and compare their predictability.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 200 patients hospitalized for genitourinary cancer between April 2018 and December 2021.

Exploring Indicators of Subcutaneous Tissue Fluid Accumulation in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Patients Using Fractal Analysis with Virtual Volume.

Breast cancer treatment sometimes causes a chronic swelling of the arm called breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Its progression is believed to be irreversible and is accompanied by tissue fibrosis and lipidosis, so preventing lymphedema from progressing by appropriate intervention at the site of fluid accumulation at an early stage is crucial. The tissue structure can be evaluated in real time by ultrasonography, and this study aims at assessing the ability of fractal analysis using virtual volume in detecting fluid accumulation within BCRL subcutaneous tissue via ultrasound imaging.

Association Between Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness and Early Nutrition and Rehabilitation Intensity in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Muscle weakness in the intensive care unit (ICU), referred to as ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), is a common complication observed in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to investigate whether rehabilitation intensity and nutrition during ICU admission are associated with the incidence of ICUAW.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients aged ≥18 years who were admitted to the ICU between April 2019 and March 2020 and who received mechanical ventilation for >48 h were eligible.

Relationship between tinnitus and olfactory dysfunction: audiovisual, olfactory, and medical examinations.

Introduction: Sensory dysfunctions and cognitive impairments are related to each other. Although a relationship between tinnitus and subjective olfactory dysfunction has been reported, there have been no reports investigating the relationship between tinnitus and olfactory test results.

Methods: To investigate the relationship between tinnitus and olfactory test results, we conducted sensory tests, including hearing and visual examinations.