[Thymectomy via Trans-subxiphoid Approach].

Minimally invasive thoracoscopic thymectomy has been indicated in patients with non-invasive thymic epithelial tumors or myasthenia gravis. Sub-xiphoid thymectomy has an advantage of similar surgical view of median sternotomy as compare to lateral approach. Since anterior mediastinum is anatomically limited space, robotic approach with carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation has led a drastic innovation in thymectomy.

Efficacy of liposomal irinotecan + 5-FU/LV vs. S-1 in gemcitabine-refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer: a real-world study using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Background: S-1 monotherapy had previously been widely used as a second-line treatment for pancreatic cancer (PC) after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy mainly in Japan. Based on the results of the NAPOLI-1 trial, the recommended second-line therapy is now liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/folinic acid (nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV). However, there have been no studies comparing nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV therapy with S-1 monotherapy.

Patients' Trajectory With Lung Cancer From Treatment Initiation to End-Of-Life: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Claims Data in Japan.

Introduction: This study aimed to describe the course of patients with lung cancer from treatment initiation to end-of-life.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used Claims Data from the National Health Insurance and Advanced Elderly Medical Service System. We analyzed data from patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer between April 2013 and March 2021 who had been hospitalized at our University Hospital in urban area.

The "invisible ceiling" of bystander CPR in three Asian countries: Descriptive study of national OHCA registry.

Background: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has increased in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea following the implementation of several public health, bystander-focused interventions, such as dispatcher-assisted CPR and community CPR training. It is unclear whether bystander CPR prevalence will continue on this trajectory over time. This study aimed to investigate the temporal trends of bystander CPR prevalence over a ten-year period in these three Asian countries.

Simultaneous surgery for gastrostomy and laryngotracheal separation in a patient with Tay‒Sachs disease.

Genetic testing identified novel compound heterozygous missense variants in the HEXA gene (NM_00520.6: c.775A>C and NM_000520.

Impact of longitudinal changes in serum uric acid levels and weight gain on new-onset atrial fibrillation-The Nishimura Health Survey: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Uric acid (UA) and obesity are significant risk factors for new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Based on the pathogenesis mechanisms of new-onset AF involving obesity and UA, it is possible that UA and weight gain may interact with each other. We investigated the impact of UA and weight gain on new-onset AF using a simple measure of weight change over time, 'weight gain of ≥10 kg after age 20'.

Anti-integrin αvβ6 antibody as a biomarker for diagnosing ulcerative colitis: a nationwide multicenter validation study.

Background: A serum biomarker for diagnosing ulcerative colitis (UC) remains to be established. Although we recently reported an anti-integrin αvβ6 antibody (V6 Ab) for diagnosing UC with high sensitivity and specificity, no large-scale validation study exists. This study aimed to validate the diagnostic value of V6 Ab for UC using a nationwide multicenter cohort study.

Clinical profile of IgG4-related disease in Japan based on the rare disease data registry.

We started a registry for cases of immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in December 2019 to clarify the clinical profile of IgG4-RD. In this study, clinical information from 854 cases registered by February 16, 2024 was analyzed from multiple perspectives. Diagnosis of IgG4-RD was made in 808 cases, comprising 638 definite, 38 probable, and 132 possible.

Dynamic FDG PET/CT for differentiating focal pelvic uptake in patients with gynecological cancer.

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of serial whole-body dynamic PET/CT to differentiate physiological from abnormal F-FDG uptake in the abdomen and pelvis of gynecological cancer patients. We conducted a retrospective study of 61 F-FDG PET/CT examinations for suspected gynecological malignancies or metastases between March 2018 and January 2020. Our protocol included four-phase dynamic whole-body scans.

Validity of High-Dose-Rate Interstitial Brachytherapy as Monotherapy for Mobile Tongue Cancer in Terms of the Acute Mucosal Reaction.

Background: The present study investigated the acute mucosal reaction (AMR) after high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy at 54 Gy/9 fractions (HDR54) as monotherapy administered twice a day for tongue cancer in 13 patients, and attempted to validate HDR54 by comparing the AMR with that of our previously reported HDR at 60 Gy/10 fractions (HDR60), and low-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy at approximately 70 Gy (LDR70).

Methods: The European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer/ Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring system with modifications (score: 1-4.5) was used to evaluate AMR.

Histological Improvement of Hepatic Fibrosis of Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis after Prednisolone and Azathioprine Treatment in a Patient with Autoimmune Hepatitis.

The treatment of the underlying cause of liver disease may potentially reverse hepatic fibrosis. However, it remains uncertain whether improvement in fibrosis can be observed in decompensated liver cirrhosis (LC). Here, we present a case of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)-related LC in which histological improvement of fibrosis was achieved despite the presence of decompensated LC.

The Prognostic Impact of Adipophilin Expression on Long-Term Survival Following Liver Resection in Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastases.

: Adipophilin (ADP) is a protein associated with lipid droplets, and its expression is related to poor prognosis in certain cancers. However, its impact on the survival of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of ADP expression on long-term survival following hepatectomy in patients with CRLM.

Minimal Clinically Important Differences With the Outcomes of the App-Based Japanese Allergic Conjunctival Diseases Quality of Life Questionnaire: Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Background: Assessing changes in quality of life in patients with hay fever-related allergic conjunctivitis requires validated and clinically meaningful metrics. A minimal clinically important difference (MCID) that can be applied to assess Domain II of the Japanese Allergic Conjunctival Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (JACQLQ) in a smartphone app setting has yet to be determined.

Objective: This cross-sectional observational study aimed to determine MCIDs for the app-based JACQLQ in assessing hay fever-related allergic conjunctivitis.

Incidence of Elbow Injury Patterns in Japanese Adolescent Judo Players: Analysis from a Nationwide Insurance Database.

Elbow injuries are common in judo, particularly among adolescents. This study investigated the incidence and patterns of three types of elbow injuries (sprain, dislocation, and fracture-dislocation) among Japanese adolescent judo players (12 to 18 years old) using data from a nationwide insurance database, covering the period from 2010 to 2019. A total of 4614 elbow injuries were recorded, with sprains being the most frequent (67.

Role of gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis.

The role of the gut microbiota, especially bacterial flora, in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming clearer. Advances in gut microbiota analysis and the use of gnotobiotics models have underscored the importance of gut bacteria and their metabolites in the progression of IBD. Fecal microbiota transplantation has shown promise in clinical trials for ulcerative colitis started as Advanced Medical Care B in Japan, raising expectations for its outcomes.

Association Between Oral Hypofunction and Maximum Gait Speed in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Previous studies have reported an association between oral hypofunction and normal gait speed as a marker for physical function; however, the association between maximum gait speed as a more sensitive marker for physical function and poor oral function has not been investigated.

Objectives: To elucidate associations of oral hypofunction, comprising seven elements, with both normal and maximum gait speeds in an older population.

Methods: Participants were recruited in 2018 from a hospital-based health checkup in Kyoto Prefecture.

Pemafibrate for treating MASLD complicated by hypertriglyceridaemia: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial study protocol.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a phenotype of the metabolic syndrome in the liver and is clearly associated with metabolic abnormalities such as hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Although the prevalence of MASLD is increasing worldwide, there is currently no consensus on the efficacy and safety of the drugs used to treat MASLD/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, was designed to have higher peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alfa (PPARα) agonist activity and selectivity than existing PPARα agonists, and in development trials, without increasing creatinine levels, lipid parameters and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly improved.