Left Atrial Thrombus after Transcatheter Mitral Edge-to-Edge Repair in a Patient with Left Appendage Occlusion.

A 67-year-old man with a history of heart failure (HF) secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) developed worsening HF secondary to severe functional mitral regurgitation. Consequently, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) was performed. Despite successful TEER, a large thrombus in the left atrium (LA) was unexpectedly discovered on postoperative day 3.

Pharmacogenomic study of gemcitabine efficacy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: A multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study (GENESECT study).

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of molecules are known to cause individual differences in the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs. However, to date, germline mutations (but not somatic mutations) for anticancer drugs have not been adequately studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between germline polymorphisms of gemcitabine metabolic and transporter genes with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) response (decrease ≥50% from the pretreatment level at 8 weeks) and overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who receive gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

Retrospective multicentre study on the effectiveness of first-line direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus genotype-1.

What Is Known And Objective: In Japan, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir are recommended as first-line treatments for patients with untreated hepatitis C virus genotype 1. Although they have demonstrated a high efficacy in clinical trials, there are no direct comparative studies. Clarification of their effectiveness and safety in real-world clinical practice is required.

Physical characteristics of patients with symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis who have recurrent low back pain after returning to sports.

Introduction: To determine the physical characteristics of patients with symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis (LS) who have recurrent low back pain after returning to sports.

Method: Fifty-three adolescent patients with symptomatic LS participated in this study. Patients with symptomatic LS were assessed for flexibility, trunk muscle strength, and Functional Movement Screen (FMS) score, and then divided into two groups according to the degree of pain experienced one month after returning to sport.

Extra-endocrine phenotypes at infancy in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B: A case series of six Japanese patients.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) is an extremely rare disease, most often caused by a p.Met918Thr mutation. Medullary thyroid carcinoma of MEN2B has a good prognosis if diagnosed by one year of age.

Risk Factors for Cervical Deformity After Posterior Cervical Decompression Surgery: A Multicenter Study.

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: Posterior decompression surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a common surgery; however, it can cause postoperative cervical deformity (CD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for CD.

Preoperative prognostic nutritional index as a predictive factor for medical complication after cervical posterior decompression surgery: A multicenter study.

Study Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To investigate postoperative medical complications in patients with malnutrition after cervical posterior surgery.

Methods: A total of 256 patients were participated and divided into PNI < 50 group (group L) or PNI ≥ 50 (group H).

FOLFIRINOX for Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer After Pancreatic Resection: A Secondary Analysis of the Nationwide Multicenter Observational Study Conducted by the Japan Adjuvant Study Group of Pancreatic Cancer 06.

Objectives: The multidrug regimen with fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) is widely used for recurrent pancreatic cancer after pancreatic resection. However, there are concerns about severe toxicities and poor tolerability of FOLFIRINOX in these patients because some suffer from surgery-associated malnutrition, weight loss, and diabetes mellitus. We evaluated the toxicity and tolerability of FOLFIRINOX in these patients.

FOLFIRINOX as second-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer: A subset analysis of data from a nationwide multicenter observational study in Japan.

Background: Data on FOLFIRINOX as a second-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer are limited. In the JASPAC06 study-a nationwide, multicenter, observational study-FOLFIRINOX for patients with unresectable or recurrent pancreatic cancer as any line of treatment showed favorable efficacy and safety in Japanese clinical practice.

Methods: We performed exploratory analyses of patients with unresectable or recurrent pancreatic cancer who received FOLFIRINOX as the second-line chemotherapy in Japanese clinical settings.

A Workshop on Writing Letters to the Editor.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Writing letters to the editor based on critical appraisal can serve as the first step in scholarly activity.

Effect of Perioperative Mental Status on Health-related Quality of Life in Patients With Adult Spinal Deformities.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the impact of mental status on the clinical outcomes of patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Summary Of Background Data: Limited information is currently available on how preoperative mental status affects postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with ASD.

Present status of prophylactic thyroidectomy in pediatric multiple endocrine neoplasia 2: a nationwide survey in Japan 1997-2017.

Background In Japan, prophylactic thyroidectomy involves out-of-pocket expense. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends prophylactic thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) during early childhood in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). The ATA reports a high frequency of postoperative complications in childhood, which also influenced the delay of prophylactic thyroidectomy in Japan.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound is effective for progressive-stage lumbar spondylolysis with MRI high-signal change.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the treatment effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on progressive-stage spondylolysis. Spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis. Based on the results of computed tomography, spondylolysis was classified into three categories: early, progressive, and terminal.

Methods for estimating causal relationships of adverse events with dietary supplements.

Objective: Dietary supplement use has increased over past decades, resulting in reports of potentially serious adverse events. The aim of this study was to develop optimised methods to evaluate the causal relationships between adverse events and dietary supplements, and to test these methods using case reports.

Design: Causal relationship assessment using prospectively collected data.

Effects of green tea gargling on the prevention of influenza infection in high school students: a randomized controlled study.

Background: The anti-influenza virus activity of green tea catechins has been demonstrated in experimental studies, but clinical evidence has been inconclusive. School-aged children play an important role in the infection and spread of influenza in the form of school-based outbreaks. Preventing influenza infection among students is essential for reducing the frequency of epidemics and pandemics.

[Efficacy of high-dose toremifene as a second-line hormone therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer resistant to aromatase inhibitor].

Background: Aromatase inhibitors(AIs)are frequently employed for advanced or metastatic postmenopausal breast cancer as first-line hormone therapy. However, it is unknown which hormonal agent is the most appropriate after AI has failed.

Patients And Methods: Five hormone-responsive postmenopausal women who used AI as a first-line hormone therapy for advanced or metastatic breast cancer, but AI failed, received high-dose toremifene therapy(HD-TOR: 120mg/day)in our hospital.

Adenomyoma of the ileum leading to intussusception.

Adenomyoma of the ileum is a rare condition. A 68-year-old Japanese man presented with nausea and distension of the abdomen. Enhanced computed tomography of his abdomen revealed wall thickening in the ileum and dilation of the proximal small intestine.

A case of AFP-producing early gastric carcinoma with rapid growth liver metastasis.

An 84-year-old man presented with complaints of epigastric discomfort. Upper gastrointestinal series and endoscopy showed an elevated lesion at the posterior wall of greater curvature on the gastric fundus. Diagnosed as moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma by biopsy, wedge resection and 4sa regional lymph node dissection were carried out.