Early Clinical Experience of Finerenone in People with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes in Japan-A Multi-Cohort Study from the FOUNTAIN (FinerenOne mUltidatabase NeTwork for Evidence generAtIoN) Platform.

In the phase 3 clinical trials FIGARO-DKD and FIDELIO-DKD, finerenone reduced the risk of cardiovascular and kidney events among people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Evidence regarding finerenone use in real-world settings is limited. A retrospective cohort study (NCT06278207) using two Japanese nationwide hospital-based databases provided by Medical Data Vision (MDV) and Real World Data Co.

Effect of photobiomodulation on lower urinary tract dysfunction in rat cystitis model.

Objective: Photobiomodulation selectively controls the activity of the sensory nervous system associated with A-delta and C fibers. Hypersensitivity involving the afferent A-delta and C fibers occurs in cystitis and decreases urinary function. This study aimed to investigate the effect of photobiomodulation on urinary storage dysfunction and voiding functions in cystitis model rats.

Upper Respiratory Symptoms as Long COVID: Insight from a Multicenter Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of long COVID cases presenting with upper respiratory symptoms, a topic not yet fully elucidated.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: A multicenter study involving 26 medical facilities in Japan.

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for respiratory management after postoperative re-intubation/re-extubation in patients with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13: Two case reports.

We present two cases of general anesthesia in children with 18, 13 trisomy. One patient had difficulty with intubation and had to be reintubated postoperatively, another developed postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome. The use of postoperative high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy to avoid reintubation is considered a feasible strategy.

Apparent diffusion coefficient by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is useful for grading cholecystitis and surgery planning.

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a standard procedure for treating cholescytitis, but severe inflammation may cause complications. Our previous study showed that the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values could predict difficult surgery. In the present study, relevance of ADC values in grading the severity of cholecystitis was pathologically investigated.

Dual orexin receptor blocker suvorexant attenuates hypercapnic ventilatory augmentation in mice.

Suvorexant (Belsomra(R)), a dual orexin receptor antagonist widely used in the treatment of insomnia, inhibits the arousal system in the brain. However, the drug's ventilatory effects have not been fully explored. This study aims to investigate the expression of orexin receptors in respiratory neurons and the effects of suvorexant on ventilation.

Different brain activation patterns in the prefrontal area between self-paced and high-speed driving tasks.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on prefrontal cortex brain activity when participants attempted to stop a car accurately at a stop line when driving at different speeds using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty healthy subjects with driving experience drove their own cars for a distance of 60 m five times each at their own pace or as fast as possible. The variation in the distance between the stop line and the car was not significantly different between the self-paced and high-speed tasks.

Changes in muscle strength and endurance of professional cyclists due to PycnoRacer.

[Purpose] Changes in the muscle performance of professional motorized athletes using pycnogenol-containing supplements have not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in muscle strength and endurance of professional cyclists during 4 weeks of training with the use of PycnoRacer. [Participants and Methods] Eight professional cyclists were requested to consume PycnoRacer twice/day for 4 weeks.

Effects of Normoxic Recovery on Intima-Media Thickness of Aorta and Pulmonary Artery Following Intermittent Hypoxia in Mice.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients are at risk for increased blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), with pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure potentially developing as well. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH) has been used as an OSA model in animals, but its effects on vascular beds have not been evaluated using objective unbiased tools. Previously published and current experimental data in mice exposed to IH were evaluated for IMT in aorta and pulmonary artery (PA) after IH with or without normoxic recovery using software for meta-analysis, Review Manager 5.

[A Case of Malignant Pleural Effusion Implanted Subcutaneous Pleural Port].

A 74-year-old man with malignant pleural effusion due to recurrent gastric cancer underwent a failed pleurodesis. He subsequently underwent subcutaneous implantable pleural port implantation surgery followed by outpatient chemotherapy for 1 month. His disease progressed and he was unable to go to the hospital.

Author Correction: Visualization and quantification of the degenerative pattern of the talus in unilateral varus ankle osteoarthritis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Visualization and quantification of the degenerative pattern of the talus in unilateral varus ankle osteoarthritis.

The aim of this study was to quantify and visualize the degenerative patterns of the talus in ankle osteoarthritis (OA). The differences in talar morphology between sides of patients with unilateral varus ankle OA (medial talar tilt > 4°) were compared. Computed tomography images of both feet of 35 patients (OA: 22 patients, control: 13 patients) were analyzed.

Elevated haemoglobin A1c but not fasting plasma glucose conveys risk of chronic kidney disease in non-diabetic individuals.

Aims: To compare impact of elevated HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) on incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a non-diabetic cohort.

Methods: Data from diabetes- and CKD-free 25,109 health examinees were retrospectively analysed with a mean observation period of 5.3 years.

Pharmacokinetics of insulin disappearance after massive overdosing.

Long-term glucose supplementation is required to prevent hypoglycemia after massive insulin overdosing. We fitted the blood insulin concentration-time profile to the model: I = A·exp + B·exp, where I (μU/mL) is the serum/plasma insulin concentration, A (μU/mL) and B (μU/mL) are the peak insulin concentrations of each component, a (time) and b (time) are the time constants of each component, and t (h) is the time elapsed from the peak of blood insulin level. Additional components were considered as needed.

Possible involvement of monoamine neurons in the emotional abnormality in Kir6.2-deficient mice.

ATP-sensitive potassium (K) channels consist of two structurally different subunits: a pore-forming subunit of the Kir6.0-family (Kir6.1 or Kir6.

Safety and Efficacy of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Placement Using a Power Tool.

Introduction: This study compared traditional manual methods and power tool use with regard to the speed and accuracy of percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) placement and determined the advantages associated with the use of power tools. Although the indication of PPS placement in minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) procedures has been recently expanded, there are no reports on PPS insertion using a power tool.

Methods: We evaluated 35 patients who underwent PPS insertion using a power tool during MISt procedures.

Quantification of L5 radiculopathy due to foraminal stenosis using three-dimensional magnetic resonance myelography.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate morphological changes in the L5 nerve roots in control and symptomatic patients using magnetic resonance myelography [MRM]. Moreover, the utility of MRM for the diagnosis of intraforaminal or extraforaminal lesions in patients with L5 radiculopathy was evaluated using healthy subjects as controls.

Methods: Of 270 subjects who underwent MRM of the lumbar spine at our institution between April 2007 and December 2010, 135 patients (78 men and 57 women; average age: 61.

The first case report of septic abortion resulting from β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant non-typeable infection.

This is the first case report of septic abortion due to β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) non-typeable infection. In Japan, BLNAR is widespread and has become a clinical concern, especially in paediatrics and otolaryngology, but has not been previously recognized as a causative agent of obstetric or gynaecological infection. A 31-year-old pregnant woman presented at 17 weeks and 6 days of gestation with a high fever; she was admitted with a diagnosis of threatened premature delivery.

Efficacy of prophylactic doses of intravenous nitroglycerin in preventing myocardial ischemia under general anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Study Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous nitroglycerin (TNG) in preventing intraoperative myocardial ischemia (MI) under general anesthesia. Moreover, we analyzed the hemodynamic changes in heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MBP), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) associated with TNG administration both before and after the induction of anesthesia.

Design: Meta-analysis.