Once Monthly Elotuzumab and Lenalidomide Plus Dexamethasone for Multiple Myeloma: A Multicenter Observation Study.

Introduction: Elotuzumab and lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (ERd) is a standard salvage chemotherapy for multiple myeloma, and elotuzumab is commonly administered every 2 weeks after cycle 3 (conventional ERd). Alternatively, elotuzumab may often be used every 4 weeks (monthly ERd) in real-world practice. The purpose of this multicenter observational study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of monthly ERd.

Real-World Data of Trifluridine/Tipiracil for Patients With Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study.

Background: A trial with trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) versus placebo in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic gastric cancer showed that FTD/TPI is effective with manageable toxicity in these patients. However, real-world data on the effects of FTD/TPI in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) are limited.

Methods: We retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinicopathological data of patients with AGC who received FTD/TPI monotherapy at our institutions (Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Osaka Red Cross Hospital, Himeji Red Cross Hospital, and Kansai Medical University Hospital) between September 2019 and July 2021.

Utility of ultrasonography for predicting indications for tolvaptan in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Purpose: Tolvaptan is the first approved treatment for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) that targets a mechanism directly contributing to the development and growth of renal cysts. We investigated the ability of ultrasonography to predict total kidney volume (TKV) of 750 mL or more, which is an indication for tolvaptan therapy in patients with ADPKD.

Methods: A total of 46 patients with ADPKD were evaluated.

Clinical outcomes of antithrombin III-based therapy for patients with portal vein thrombosis: A retrospective, multicenter study.

Aim: The association between thrombolytic therapy and the outcome in patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome in patients with PVT who received antithrombin III-based therapy.

Methods: This study was a retrospective, multicenter study to investigate the liver-related events and the survival rates in 240 patients with PVT who received the therapy.

Development of artificial intelligence for automated measurement of cervical lordosis on lateral radiographs.

Cervical sagittal alignment is an essential parameter for the evaluation of spine disorders. Manual measurement is time-consuming and burdensome to measurers. Artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of convolutional neural networks has begun to be used to measure x-rays.

Diagnosis of hepatic steatosis based on ultrasound attenuation imaging is not influenced by liver fibrosis.

Aim: Recently, a new technique using attenuation imaging (ATI) was developed to diagnose hepatic steatosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ATI for the evaluation of hepatic steatosis is influenced by liver fibrosis.

Methods: A total of 328 patients with chronic liver disease were enrolled to study the associations between histological hepatic steatosis or liver fibrosis and ATI findings.

[Cunninghamella bertholletiae-infective endocarditis complicated by tricuspid valve giant vegetation in a patient with aplastic anemia].

A 62-year-old female was presented to the hospital of the current study for pancytopenia and was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia. She was treated with a combination therapy of antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine A, and eltrombopag. The patient also presented with febrile neutropenia after commencement of the treatment and did not respond to the various antibiotics and antifungal agents.

Fibrosis-3 Index: A New Score to Predict Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Without Age as a Factor.

Background And Aims: The Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index has been used to predict liver fibrosis in various liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Because the FIB-4 formula uses age, different cutoff values may be required for different age groups, making the interpretation difficult. To avoid the influence of age, we attempted to create a new score, the Fibrosis-3 (FIB-3) index.

Characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus who received direct-acting antiviral therapy and achieved sustained virological response: The impact of a hepatologist on surveillance.

Background And Aim: The relationship between the characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed after sustained virological response (SVR) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy and surveillance status has not been sufficiently investigated. This study investigated the clinical risk factors for HCC development and HCC characteristics according to which type of physician performed follow-up after SVR.

Methods: A total of 1070 patients in whom hepatitis C virus (HCV) was eradicated with DAA therapy were evaluated.

General evaluation score for predicting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with advanced liver fibrosis associated with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 or 2 after direct-acting antiviral therapy.

Background And Aim: To validate a composite predictive model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with advanced liver fibrosis associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) who have received direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy and achieved sustained virologic response (SVR).

Methods: This study included 1258 patients with advanced liver fibrosis associated with HCV genotype 1, 2, or both. General evaluation score (GES), which is based on sex, age, fibrosis stage, albumin, and α-fetoprotein, was used as a composite predictive model.

Real-World Data on Ramucirumab Therapy including Patients Who Experienced Two or More Systemic Treatments: A Multicenter Study.

Background: The present study aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab in a real-world setting, including patients who experienced two or more systemic treatments or whose hepatic reserve was deteriorated.

Methods: In total, 79 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from 14 institutes throughout Japan were retrospectively analyzed. The response was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.

Higher incidence of thrombocytopenia during obinutuzumab plus bendamustine therapy for untreated follicular lymphoma: a retrospective analysis by the Okayama Hematology Study Group.

Progression-free survival in patients with untreated follicular lymphoma (FL) has significantly improved with obinutuzumab plus chemotherapy followed by obinutuzumab maintenance, compared with rituximab plus chemotherapy. However, the survival outcome and adverse event profile in Japanese FL patients treated with obinutuzumab plus bendamustine (GB) therapy are not well investigated. Recently, we encountered some cases of grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia during GB therapy in patients with FL.

Remimazolam anaphylaxis confirmed by serum tryptase elevation and skin test.

Anaphylactic reactions during the induction of general anaesthesia are rare. Anaesthetists should determine the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis in order to establish appropriate treatment and prevent recurrence. Very little clinical information has been published to date about anaphylaxis induced by the recently launched drug remimazolam.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Superficial Barrett's Adenocarcinoma in a Japanese Population: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study.

Objective Although Barrett's adenocarcinoma (BA) remains a minor disease in Japan, its incidence has been gradually increasing. We analyzed the characteristics of BA in Japanese populations. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records and analyzed the clinicopathological differences between short-segment Barrett's esophagus (SSBE) and long-segment Barrett's esophagus (LSBE), as well as metastasis.

Dural Entry Point of the Vertebral Artery: An Overlooked Route of Spinal CSF Leaks.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is no longer considered rare. Its estimated annual incidence is 5 cases per 100,000 individuals, which is half the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Epidural blood patch (EBP) is indicated for SIH patients who do not improve with conservative treatment.

Protective effect of tin chloride on rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury in rats.

The heme component of myoglobin plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of rhabdomyolysis-associated acute kidney injury (RM-AKI). Heme oxiganenase-1 (HO-1) is the rate-limiting enzyme of heme catabolism, and its metabolites, iron, biliverdin, and carbon monoxide, have antioxidant properties. Tin chloride (SnCl2) is a kidney specific HO-1 inducer.

The fine-needle aspiration cytology and clinical findings of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in pediatric patients: a retrospective clinical study.

Background: Histological evaluation of lymph node is crucial for the definitive diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD). However, lymph node biopsy under local anesthesia is often difficult in pediatric patients.

Objectives: We evaluated cytological findings for pediatric patients with prolonged cervical lymphadenitis clinically suggestive of KFD and investigated the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with KFD by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).