Unveiling Clinical and Genetic Distinctions in Pure-Apical Versus Distal-Dominant Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Original apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy confined to the apex below the papillary muscle level. In contrast, apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Western countries often includes hypertrophy extending to the midventricular septum. Recognizing these phenotypic differences is essential as they may influence the clinical prognosis.

Association between maternal history of mental illness and neurodevelopment of children during the first 3 years: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Aim: The impact of maternal mental illness on children's neurodevelopment has been insufficiently investigated, particularly in large populations. In this study, we examined the association between maternal mental health history and child neurodevelopment during the first 3 years postpartum, using large-scale data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

Methods: We analyzed data from 64,389 mother-offspring pairs enrolled in JECS.

Prevalence and risk factors of stress urinary incontinence in a 2023 Japanese community health survey - differences between males and females.

Objectives: The aim of the present epidemiological study was to evaluate the sex-related prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and the associated factors using data from the 2023 Japan Community Health Survey.

Methods: We investigated 3097 males and 3056 females aged 20-99 years. All participants answered web-based questionnaires on their health status and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Lymph node metastasis risk factors in T2 colorectal cancer.

Objectives: This study evaluates risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in T2 colorectal cancer to refine patient selection for endoscopic resection.

Methods: We reviewed records from consecutive patients who had undergone curative surgical resection of T2 colorectal cancer at our institution in Japan between April 2001 and December 2021. Data on conventional clinicopathologic variables were retrieved from the pathology reports at the time of surgery.

Elevated Proportions of Circulating CXCR5 Follicular Helper T Cells Reflect the Presence of Airway Obstruction in Asthma.

Materials And Methods: Using flow cytometry, we identified and quantified Group 2 innate lymphocytes, T helper 2 cells, follicular helper T cells, and T helper 17 cells in peripheral blood samples from 49 individuals with asthma. We then conducted cross-sectional analyses to assess relationships between levels of these immune cells and lung function parameters, including the percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV1). We also examined correlations between the proportions of immune cells and type 2 biomarkers.

Predictors of probable attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment visiting a memory clinic.

Aim: Characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that persist into old age are often confused with symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the actual rate of probable ADHD in people with MCI is unknown. This study estimated the proportion of MCI patients with probable ADHD and investigated the factors to identify MCI patients with probable ADHD.

Methods: We recruited 36 elderly patients (11 males, 25 females, mean age 72.

Autologous rectus abdominis fascia sling surgery following unsuccessful synthetic midurethral sling.

Introduction: We performed autologous rectus abdominis fascia sling surgery using Advantage™ following an unsuccessful synthetic midurethral sling.

Case Presentation: At the age of 76 years, the patient experienced stress urinary incontinence recurrence. A 1-h pad test resulted in 259 g of leakage.

Relationship of Mild to Moderate Impairment of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction With Fatal Ventricular Arrhythmic Events in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Background: Current guidelines recommend placing an implantable cardiac defibrillator for patients with cardiac sarcoidosis and a severely impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤35%. In this study, we determined the association between mild or moderate LVEF impairment and fatal ventricular arrhythmic event (FVAE).

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analyzed 401 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis without sustained ventricular arrhythmia at diagnosis.

Early neurodevelopmental problems and risk for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in 4-7-year-old children: A Japanese birth cohort study.

Background: An overrepresentation of neurodevelopmental problems (NDPs) has been observed in individuals with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Previous studies on the association between ARFID and NDPs have been limited by cross-sectional data from clinical samples of small size. This study aimed to extend previous research by using prospectively collected data in a non-clinical child cohort.

Questionnaire survey on the conceptual framework, optimal evaluation, and support measures for children's language disorders in Japan using the Delphi method.

Objectives: To compile the opinions of native Japanese speakers on the conceptual framework, optimal evaluation, and support measures for children with language disorders to devise materials on which a consensus can be formed.

Design: A quantitative descriptive study using the Delphi method.

Setting: Using the Delphi method, 43 clinicians with at least 15 years of experience working professionally with children's language disorders in Japan were surveyed three times via a web-based questionnaire.

The Prognostic Value of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis Without Heart Failure: Insights From ILLUMINATE-CS.

Background The prognostic role of BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis without evident heart failure is unknown. Methods and Results This is a post hoc analysis of ILLUMINATE-CS (Illustration of the Management and Prognosis of Japanese Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis), a multicenter, retrospective, and observational study that evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. We analyzed patients with cardiac sarcoidosis without evident heart failure at the time of diagnosis.

Knowledge, attitude, perception, and factors associated with the risk perception of COVID-19 among nursing college students in Japanese universities: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aim: The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the world has brought different attitudes and perceptions among social strata. Nursing students being future first-line healthcare workers are more at risk of being infected and exposed to various stressors from shared information. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and perception of COVID-19 among nursing students and to estimate predictors of their risk perception.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder torsion in a 3-year-old child.

Background: Gallbladder torsion is a congenital abnormality of the gallbladder and is a rare cause of acute abdomen. Although gallbladder torsion is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder torsion in pediatric patients has seldom been reported.

Case Presentation: A 3-year-old boy with abdominal pain and vomiting was admitted to our hospital.

Cartilage tympanoplasty for recurrent cholesteatoma using a single sliced cartilage graft: Our experience in 14 ears.

Our procedure may provide a useful alternative in cases where previous surgeries have failed to eradicate the cholesteatoma.

Added value of anxiolytic benzodiazepines in predictive models on severe delirium in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Delirium in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Although some medications have been reported as risk factors for delirium, their impact on patients with ADHF is still unclear. This study aimed to determine the association of specific medication use with delirium and their additive predictive value in models based on conventional risk factors.

Correlation between cerebral blood flow and olfactory function in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: Olfactory dysfunction is common in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). We sought to elucidate brain regions associated with olfactory dysfunction in patients with MCI and early AD by using 123I-IMP-SPECT to detect regional cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Methods: We included 218 patients diagnosed with AD or MCI, who underwent a comprehensive battery of neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological tests, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Part (ADAS-Cog), and forward- and backward-digit span.

Association between Psychological Factors and Evacuation Status and the Incidence of Cardiovascular Diseases after the Great East Japan Earthquake: A Prospective Study of the Fukushima Health Management Survey.

Evidence regarding the effect of psychological factors and evacuation on cardiovascular disease occurrence after large-scale disasters is limited. This prospective study followed up a total of 37,810 Japanese men and women aged 30-89 years from the Fukushima Prefecture with no history of stroke or heart disease at baseline (2012), until 2017. This period included 3000 cardiovascular events recorded through questionnaires and death certificates.

Successful endovascular treatment of endoscopically unmanageable hemorrhage from a duodenal ulcer fed by a renal artery: A case report.

A 52-year-old woman was admitted with hypovolemic shock. Emergency endoscopy revealed three hemorrhagic duodenal ulcers (all stage A1) with exposed vessels. Two ulcers were successfully treated by endoscopic clipping; however, the remaining ulcer on the posterior wall of the horizontal portion of the duodenum could not be clipped.

Fabry disease and its cardiac involvement.

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder that results from a deficiency of α-galactosidase A activity. This enzymatic defect leads to the progressive accumulation of glycosphingolipids throughout the body and causes multisystemic problems including neurological, ocular, skin, renal, and cardiac manifestations in classical type of FD. The majority of patients with this disease have cardiac involvement that is mainly manifested as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Src regulates insulin secretion and glucose metabolism by influencing subcellular localization of glucokinase in pancreatic β-cells.

Aims/introduction: Src, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, regulates a wide range of cellular functions, and hyperactivity of Src is involved in impaired glucose metabolism in pancreatic β-cells. However, the physiological role of Src in glucose metabolism in normal, unstressed β-cells remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of Src in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism.

Palmitate induces reactive oxygen species production and β-cell dysfunction by activating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase through Src signaling.

Aims/introduction: Chronic hyperlipidemia impairs pancreatic β-cell function, referred to as lipotoxicity. We have reported an important role of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction by activation of Src, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, in impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS) from diabetic rat islets. In the present study, we investigated the role of ROS production by Src signaling in palmitate-induced dysfunction of β-cells.

Barrier abnormality due to ceramide deficiency leads to psoriasiform inflammation in a mouse model.

It has been recognized that ceramides are decreased in the epidermis of patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Here, we generated Sptlc2 (serine palmitoyltransferase long-chain base subunit 2)-targeted mice (SPT-cKO mice), thereby knocking out serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), the critical enzyme for ceramide biosynthesis, in keratinocytes. SPT-cKO mice showed decreased ceramide levels in the epidermis, which impaired water-holding capacity and barrier function.