Vagus Nerve Ultrasonography Helps Distinguish Multiple System Atrophy from Other Parkinsonian Syndromes.

Background: Distinguishing multiple system atrophy from other parkinsonian syndromes is challenging.

Objectives: To evaluate vagus nerve ultrasonography for differentiating parkinsonian syndromes.

Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional, observational study assessed 85 consecutive adult patients with de novo parkinsonism between June 2020 and December 2022, using 12 MHz ultrasonography of the vagus nerve cross-sectional area.

A case report of interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma originating from the oropharynx.

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma is an extremely rare tumor and typically originates from lymph nodes. Here, we report a patient with tumor originated from the oropharynx who received successful surgical treatment.

Auto-brewery syndrome caused by oral fungi and periodontal disease bacteria.

Background: Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) is often caused by fungi in the intestinal tract. We describe a rare case of alcohol production by and periodontal disease bacteria in the oral cavity.

Case Presentation: A man aged in his 60s had a car accident, and alcohol was detected on his breath.

Analysis of the safety of pretransplant corticosteroid therapy in patients with acute liver failure and late-onset hepatic failure in Japan.

Background And Aim: In Japan, corticosteroids have been commonly used as a part of multidisciplinary therapy for patients with acute liver failure and late-onset hepatic failure. However, there is controversy regarding the development of infections and other complications. In this study, the influence of corticosteroids on patient outcomes after liver transplantation was investigated.

Detection of microstructural white matter alterations in functional gastrointestinal disorders assessed by diffusion kurtosis imaging.

Background And Aim: We evaluated whether diffusion kurtosis and tensor imaging (DKI/DTI) could reveal microstructural alterations in the brains of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), and whether imaging findings were correlated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: Twelve patients with FGIDs fulfilling the Rome IV criteria, and seven healthy controls were examined using a 3 T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. Tract-based spatial statistics and regions of interest analyses were performed to compare the mean kurtosis (MK), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) between patients with FGIDs versus controls.

Regulatory T cells in Crohn's disease following anti-TNF-α therapy.

Background And Aim: Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy is an effective therapy for Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated FoxP3 and CD127 regulatory T cells (Tregs) before and after administration of anti-TNF-α therapy in CD.

Methods: Eight patients with active CD who had received anti-TNF-α antibodies were enrolled.

Clinical Characteristics and In-Hospital Mortality According to Left Main and Non-Left Main Culprit Lesions - Report From the Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (JAMIR).

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to an unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesion is a critical condition, but there are limited data available on in-hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry is a nationwide, real-world database. The clinical data on 13,548 ACS patients hospitalized between January 2011 and December 2013 were retrospectively collected from 10 representative regional ACS registry groups.

Quantification of metal-induced susceptibility artifacts associated with ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging of spinal implants.

Reports on spinal-implant metallic artifacts in 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are lacking. Thus, we investigated the magnitude of metal artifacts derived from spinal implants in 7-T MRI and analyzed the differences obtained with spinal rods manufactured from pure titanium, titanium alloy, and cobalt-chrome (5.5-mm and 6.

Amplification and attenuation of lung metastases depending on glucocorticoid dosage implicating long-acting activated memory cells induced by nivolumab against malignant melanoma.

Firstly, glucocorticoids such as prednisolone can attenuate the effect of anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab. Secondly, malignant melanoma cells survived latently and unnoticeably in places other than those of previous metastatic lesions. Thirdly, effector T cells activated by nivolumab sustained their memory to attack malignant melanoma cells for several months.

Prolonged sinus arrest on electrocardiogram recording during apheresis donation in young female donor with convulsive syncope.

An 18-year-old young female with a convulsive syncope during apheresis donation demonstrated a prolonged sudden sinus arrest continued for approximately 30-second on monitor ECG. This prolonged sinus arrest may relate accidental serious complications in ordinal apheresis donation. Continuous electrocardiogram monitor and correspondence are indispensable.

Determination of β-d-glucan and endotoxin levels in Kampo extracts.

Aims: Kampo medicine is based on the use of established formulations combining natural extracts with no "brand-name" products or corresponding "generic" formulation. Due to differences in manufacturing practices, products of different pharmaceutical companies may contain different concentrations of β-d-glucan and endotoxins. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of β-d-glucan and endotoxins in five Kampo extracts from four pharmaceutical companies.

Report of the Committee of the Japan Diabetes Society on the Research of Fulminant and Acute-onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: New diagnostic criteria of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (2012).

We have revised a part of the diagnostic criteria for fulminant type 1 diabetes. The new criteria were set both to express the essence of this disease of rapid increase of patients' blood glucose and to be highly sensitive to reduce the misdiagnosis. After analyzing the data of 382 patients with newly-diagnosed fulminant type 1 diabetes, we adopted the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 8.