Effectiveness of Immediate Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Empyema: A Multicentre, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Because of limitations in previous randomised controlled trials and observational studies, the effectiveness of immediate video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for patients with empyema in real-world settings remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether immediate VATS improves clinical outcomes in patients with empyema.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective cohort study included 744 patients with physician-diagnosed empyema from six hospitals between 2006 and 2021.

Detection bias in open-label trials of anticancer drugs: a meta-epidemiological study.

Objectives: In anticancer clinical trials, particularly open-label trials, central reviewers are recommended to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) to avoid detection bias of local investigators. However, it is not clear whether the bias has been adequately identified, or to what extent it consistently distorts the results. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the detection bias in oncological open-label trials by confirming whether local investigators overestimate the PFS and ORR compared with the findings of central reviewers.

Association between Undergraduate Education for Community-Based Medicine and General Practice Majors: A Longitudinal Study in Japan.

Background: There is a shortage of general practitioners in Japan. With the revision of educational guidelines, general practice (GP) education has improved. However, the amount of education on GP in medical schools remains inconsistent.

An open competition involving thousands of competitors failed to construct useful abstract classifiers for new diagnostic test accuracy systematic reviews.

There are currently no abstract classifiers, which can be used for new diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) systematic reviews to select primary DTA study abstracts from database searches. Our goal was to develop machine-learning-based abstract classifiers for new DTA systematic reviews through an open competition. We prepared a dataset of abstracts obtained through database searches from 11 reviews in different clinical areas.

Follow-up focused on psychological intervention initiated after intensive care unit in adult patients and informal caregivers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Psychological dysfunction is one of the considerable health-related outcomes among critically-ill patients and their informal caregivers. Follow-up of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors has been conducted in a variety of different ways, with different timing after discharge, targets of interest (physical, psychological, social) and measures used. Of diverse ICU follow-up, the effects of follow-ups which focused on psychological interventions are unknown.

Fenofibrate for diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains a major cause of sight loss worldwide, despite new therapies and improvements in the metabolic control of people living with diabetes. Therefore, DR creates a physical and psychological burden for people, and an economic burden for society. Preventing the development and progression of DR, or avoiding the occurrence of its sight-threatening complications is essential, and must be pursued to save sight.

A case of gangrenous cystitis with bilateral hydronephrosis 10 years after radiotherapy.

An 84-year-old woman who was admitted for protein-losing gastroenteropathy associated with radiation enteritis 10 years after pelvic radiotherapy developed pyelonephritis. She became anuric despite having an indwelling bladder catheter. Imaging studies revealed bladder wall thickening, bilateral hydroureter formation, and hydronephrosis.

Prognostic Value of Computed Tomography in Empyema: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Chest computed tomography is performed in patients with empyema for various reasons. However, its predictive ability for patient outcomes in empyema has not been evaluated. To evaluate the predictive ability of computed tomography findings (pleural thickness, loculation, interlobar pleural effusion, lung abscess, and bronchopleural fistula) for 90-day mortality in empyema.

Postoperative clinical outcomes for kinematically, restricted kinematically, or mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty (MATKA) is a well-established procedure. Kinematically aligned TKA (KATKA) has been proposed to restore and preserve pre-arthritic knee anatomy. However, normal knee anatomy varies widely, and there have been concerns regarding restoring unusual anatomy.

Skeletal muscle atrophy and short-term mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: an observational cohort study.

Background: Skeletal muscle atrophy, a common complication of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and its presence upon diagnosis can indicate a poor prognosis. Patients with IPF frequently experience acute exacerbations (AE), which is associated with a high mortality rate. However, the association between skeletal muscle atrophy and short-term mortality remains unknown.

Efficacy and safety of surgical energy devices for axillary node dissection: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Various surgical energy devices are used for axillary lymph-node dissection. However, those that reduce seroma during axillary lymph-node dissection are unknown. We aimed to determine the best surgical energy device for reducing seroma by performing a network meta-analysis to synthesize the current evidence on the effectiveness of surgical energy devices for axillary node dissection for breast cancer patients.

Half Dose Pegfilgrastim for Patients With Breast Cancer During Chemotherapy: A Case-series.

Background/aim: This study aimed to show the trend of neutrophil counts and frequency of febrile neutropenia after changing pegfilgrastim from 3.6 mg to 1.8 mg.

The Impact of Visitor Restrictions During COVID-19 Pandemic on Bereaved Family Members of Patients in Palliative Care Units.

COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the families of patients in Palliative Care Units because of the visitor restrictions which were introduced to reduce the risk of infection. This study investigates how the bereaved families of the patients who died in end-of-life care during the pandemic evaluate the visitor restrictions and how the lack of direct communication with the patient affected them. We conducted a quantitative survey using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire.

Efficacy of pre-emptive kidney transplantation for adults with end-stage kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pre-emptive kidney transplantation (PEKT), i.e., transplantation performed before initiation of maintenance dialysis, is considered an ideal renal replacement therapy because there is no exposure to long-term dialysis therapy.

Development and Initial Psychometric Validation of the COVID-19 Pandemic Burden Index for Healthcare Workers.

Background: The burden of COVID-19 on healthcare workers (HCWs) is reported to be increasing, yet the psychometric scales now in use evaluate only single aspects; few measure the pandemic-specific burden on HCWs comprehensively.

Objective: To develop a scale to quantify the physical, mental, and socioeconomic burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on HCWs.

Design: Scale development and cross-sectional survey.

Body Weight Measurement for Adjusting Diuretics Is Not Associated With Hospitalization and Mortality of Heart Failure Patients Under Home Medical Care.

Introduction: The post-discharge readmission rate for heart failure (HF) is high. Although some previous studies have shown the efficacy of clinic-based patient education of regular weighing in preventing readmission; however, none of these studies were conducted in home care settings.

Methods: This retrospective observational study aimed to assess whether using body weight as an indicator for treating HF with diuretics reduced hospitalization and mortality in home medical care settings.

Development of a novel COMPAssion focused online psyChoTherapy for bereaved informal caregivers: the COMPACT feasibility trial protocol.

Introduction: An easy-to-access and effective psychotherapy for bereaved informal caregivers has not been established. People with higher self-compassion status tend to have lower bereavement related grief, psychotherapy focused on self-compassion can be promising for this population. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of online self-compassion focused psychotherapy for bereaved informal caregivers.

Promoters of BRCA testing under insurance coverage for non-metastatic breast cancer patients in Japan: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: We investigated the barriers to and promoters of taking BRCA testing, after the start of national healthcare insurance coverage for non-metastatic breast cancer patients in Japan.

Patients And Methods: This was a multi-center, retrospective, cohort study. We included stage 0 to III breast cancer patients who were diagnosed and met the criteria for insurance coverage of BRCA testing between April 2020 and December 2021.

Evaluation of Complexity Measurement Tools for Correlations with Health-Related Outcomes, Health Care Costs and Impacts on Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review.

Various tools to measure patient complexity have been developed. Primary care physicians often deal with patient complexity. However, their usefulness in primary care settings is unclear.

High versus low blood pressure targets for cardiac surgery while on cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Cardiac surgery is performed worldwide. Most types of cardiac surgery are performed using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Cardiac surgery performed with CPB is associated with morbidities.