A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of the Effect of 1-Kestose on Defecation Habits in Constipated Kindergarten Children: A Pilot Study.

Constipation is common in children and can significantly affect quality of life. Prebiotics are reportedly helpful for constipation in adults, but few studies have examined their use in young children. In this study, the effect of 1-kestose (kestose), which has excellent bifidobacterial growth properties, on constipation in kindergarten children ( = 11) was compared with that of maltose ( = 12) in a randomized, double-blind study.

A Phase Ib Study of Durvalumab (MEDI4736) in Combination with Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy and Weekly Cisplatin for Patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer (DECISION Study): The Early Safety and Efficacy Results.

We conducted a phase Ib study to examine the safety of a combination of carbon-ion RT (CIRT) with durvalumab (MEDI4736; AstraZeneca) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. This was an open-label, single-arm study with a modified 3 + 3 design. Patients with newly diagnosed histologically proven locally advanced cervical cancer were enrolled.

Use of the Newborn Behavioral Observations System as an early intervention for infants and their parents: A scoping review.

Background: The Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system is an infant-focused, family-centered, relationship-based tool designed to help parents become aware of their baby's abilities and to promote a positive parent-child relationship from the very beginning of birth.

Aims: The aim of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the key characteristics of the research and evidence accumulated over the past 17 years on the early NBO intervention for infants and their parents to identify the existing research gaps and to inform the future direction of research on the NBO System.

Study Design: A scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework and the PRISMA-ScR Checklist was conducted.

Comparison of 30 Cytokines in Human Breast Milk between 1989 and 2013 in Japan.

Milk cytokines play a vital role in mucosal immunity during infancy by supporting immune development and functions. Although the maternal background characteristics influence milk cytokines, changes in cytokine levels across generations remain unclear. Colostrum (C, = 48) and mature milk (MM, = 49) samples were collected from lactating Japanese women in 1989 (2727 samples) and 2013 (1408 samples).

Guided parent-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for Japanese children and parents: a single-arm uncontrolled study.

Background: Guided parent-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (GPD-CBT) is an effective low-intensity treatment for childhood anxiety disorder in Western countries and can increase access to evidence-based psychological therapies.

Aim: This study aimed to examine its feasibility in a Japanese sample.

Method: Twelve children with anxiety disorders and their parents participated in the study, and ten children and parents completed the program.

Comparison between neonatal outcomes of labor and delivery with labor neuraxial analgesia and without analgesia: A propensity score-matched study.

Aim: This single-center observational study aimed to investigate the association between labor neuraxial analgesia (LNA) and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary perinatal center and included all vaginal deliveries performed between November 2015 and December 2021. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between deliveries with LNA (LNA group) and without analgesia (control group).

Fetal outcomes with and without the use of sugammadex in pregnant patients undergoing non-obstetric surgery: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: The influence of sugammadex exposure during pregnancy on progesterone withdrawal and miscarriage is unknown. We aimed to compare the fetal outcomes in pregnant patients who had undergone non-obstetric surgery with and without sugammadex.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of pregnant women who underwent non-obstetric surgery at three tertiary perinatal care centers in Japan from January 2013 to December 2020.

Efficacy of a breastfeeding support education program for nurses and midwives: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Nutritional support influences the growth and development of late preterm infants (LPIs) and their long-term health status. However, healthy LPIs have a shorter hospital stay and may not receive adequate care after discharge. In this study, we developed and evaluated the effectiveness of an educational program for nurses and midwives to enable them to support breastfeeding of healthy LPIs.

A meta-synthesis of phenomenological studies on experiences related to diabetes in Sweden focusing on learning to live with diabetes.

Aim: We aimed to survey the findings of phenomenological studies built up in the field of diabetes care in Sweden.

Design: This is a meta-synthesis of phenomenological studies on experiences related to diabetes in Sweden focusing on learning to live with diabetes.

Method: We proceeded by reference to the seven phases of Noblit & Hare.

The impact of sleep-wake problems on health-related quality of life among Japanese nursing college students: a cross sectional survey.

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the impact of sleep-wake problems on health-related quality of life of Japanese nursing college students.  METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 on 150 third and fourth-year nursing college students from two locations in Japan. Insomnia severity was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and health-related quality of life using the SF-8 questionnaire.

Cocreation from Emerging Opportunities: Occupational Therapists' Perspectives on Supporting Older Persons, in Japan.

Introduction: Practices of occupational therapists, particularly those supporting older persons with physical impairments, remain overly focused on remediating impairments, and implementation of occupation-centered practices remains fraught with difficulties. In Japan, this issue exists across the continuum from acute care to rehabilitation settings and into the community. This is despite the existence of international models and frameworks that place occupation at the core of the profession.

Progression Rate of Visual Function and Affecting Factors at Different Stages of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

We reviewed medical records of 121 patients/235 eyes of typical retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients who could be followed up for at least 5 years with the aim of investigating the long-term course of visual function progression at each RP stage and appropriate assessment methods. Patients were classified into three groups: mild RP (baseline mean deviation (MD) ≥ -5), moderate RP (-25 < baseline MD < -5), and late RP (baseline MD ≤ -25). Linear mixed-effect models were used to follow MD, the average retinal sensitivity of the central four points of the Humphrey field analyzer 10-2 program (S4), and visual acuity (VA) with increasing time.

Mental foramen in panoramic radiography can be a reference for discrimination of punched-out lesions in the mandible in patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma: A cross-sectional study.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells. MM features bony radiolucencies called punched-out lesions (POLs), which require appropriate diagnosis due to increased risk of surgically-related adverse events. Although dental surgeons can identify dental focal infections (DFIs) in MM patients, the prevalence and characteristics of POLs in the jawbone of MM patients have not been investigated.

Development of a scale for parent-to-baby emotions: Concepts, design, and factor structure.

Aim: Although infant crying is a prerequisite for a baby's survival, it often leads to negative consequences for the caregivers. We hypothesized that this would be mediated by a primary emotion that we feel directly in response to an internal or external event. Hence, this study aimed to develop a new scale to measure basic and self-conscious emotions as primary emotions towards an infant's cry.

Randomized clinical trial comparing intravitreal aflibercept combined with subthreshold laser to intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy for diabetic macular edema.

To compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept with three loading doses + pro re nata regimen combined with subthreshold laser application to that of IVA monotherapy on eyes with diabetic macular edema. This was a phase 4 clinical trial with a prospective, randomized, and parallel investigator-driven protocol. Patients with DME were randomly assigned to the IVA monotherapy group (n = 25) or the IVA + SL combination therapy group (n = 26).

Factors related to a sense of security with medical and long-term care services among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in Japan.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify factors related to a sense of security with regard to medical and long-term care services among middle-aged and older adults. These are for consideration of strategies for the establishment of a community-based integrated care system.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2400 men and women aged ≥40 years in two cities.

Automated detection of anterior cruciate ligament tears using a deep convolutional neural network.

Background: The development of computer-assisted technologies to diagnose anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury by analyzing knee magnetic resonance images (MRI) would be beneficial, and convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning approaches may offer a solution. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a CNN system in diagnosing ACL ruptures by a single slice from a knee MRI and to compare the results with that of experienced human readers.

Methods: One hundred sagittal MR images from patients with and without ACL injuries, confirmed by arthroscopy, were cropped and used for the CNN training.

Oral antibiotics and a low-residue diet reduce the incidence of anastomotic leakage after left-sided colorectal surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Anastomotic leakage is a potential complication after colorectal surgery. We investigated the effects of oral antibiotics and a low-residue diet on the incidence of anastomotic leakage after left-sided colorectal surgery.

Methods: Outcomes were retrospectively compared between 64 patients who underwent mechanical bowel preparation alone (group A) and 183 patients who underwent mechanical bowel preparation with addition of oral kanamycin and metronidazole (group B) on the day before left-sided colorectal surgery.

Two Cases of Liver Transplantation With a High Ionized Magnesium to Total Magnesium Ratio.

Magnesium (Mg), an important cation, is involved in the activation of enzymes important for life support. The incidence of hypomagnesemia in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is high and has been reported to be a factor in worsening prognosis. Ionized magnesium (iMg) is physiologically active, although total magnesium (tMg) is often used to evaluate the concentration of magnesium because of the limited availability of instruments that can measure iMg.

Preoperative nutritional evaluation, surgical site infection, and prognosis in patients with oral cancer.

Objectives: The risk of postoperative infection after reconstructive oral cancer surgery is high and poses a problem in perioperative management. The objective of this study was to verify the association between preoperative nutritional indicators, surgical site infection (SSI), and long-term prognosis after reconstruction for oral cancer.

Study Design: Sixty-seven patients admitted to a dental hospital were enrolled.

Quality of End-of-Life in Cancer Patients With Dementia: Using A Nationwide Inpatient Database.

Context: The growing number of older people significantly affects end-of-life care. However, few studies have assessed the quality of end-of-life care among cancer patients with dementia.

Objectives: To assess the quality of end-of-life care among non-small cell lung cancer patients with or without dementia using a nationwide inpatient database from Japan.