Stereotactic radiosurgery results for brain metastasis patients with renal cancer: A validity study of Renal Graded Prognostic Assessment and proposal of a new grading index (JLGK2101 Study).

Background And Purpose: The Renal Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) is relatively new and has not been sufficiently validated using a different dataset. We thus developed a new grading index, the Renal Brain Metastasis Score (Renal-BMS).

Materials And Methods: Using our dataset including 262 renal cancer patients with brain metastases (BMs) undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) (test series), we validity tested the Renal-GPA.

Effect of high-dose sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and glucocorticoid use on hyperkalemic event: A retrospective observational study.

Introduction: Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim causes hyperkalemia; however, the effect of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim dose and co-administered glucocorticoids on hyperkalemia has not been clarified.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective, observational cohort, chart review study involving patients (>20 years) who were treated with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim was conducted at Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East from June 2015 to May 2019. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify risk factors for hyperkalemia (serum potassium level > 5.

Signet-ring cell/histiocytoid carcinoma of the axilla: a clinicopathological and genetic analysis of 11 cases, review of the literature, and comparison with potentially related tumours.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of axillary signet-ring cell/histiocytoid carcinoma (SRCHC) and the relationship between axillary SRCHC, eyelid SRCHC, and conventional apocrine carcinoma (AC).

Methods And Results: Eleven cases of axillary SRCHC, four cases of eyelid SRCHC, eight cases of axillary AC and five cases of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) were retrieved. Additionally, 14 axillary and 43 eyelid SRCHC cases from the literature were reviewed.

Anatomical and functional changes in the retina in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

Purpose: There is evidence that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) is accompanied by alterations in the retina. The current study was performed to investigate structural and functional changes in patients with systemic neurodegenerative disease.

Methods: A total of 47 patients with either MCI or AD and 43 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects were included.

Leishmania spp. seropositivity in Austrian soldiers returning from the Kosovo.

Leishmaniasis is a severe vector-borne disease with two main clinical forms, visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Both forms of leishmaniasis are also endemic in Mediterranean countries including the Balkan region from where mainly visceral leishmaniasis is reported. Austrian soldiers returning from Kosovo were screened for anti-Leishmania antibodies to assess the risk of infection during operations.

Low prevalence of maternal microchimerism in peripheral blood of Japanese children with type 1 diabetes.

Aim: To clarify the prevalence and degree of maternal microchimerism in Japanese children with type 1 diabetes, as well as its effect on phenotypic variation.

Methods: We studied 153 Japanese children with type 1 diabetes, including 124 children positive for β-cell autoantibodies, and their 71 unaffected siblings. The number of circulating microchimeric cells per 10 host cells was estimated by the use of quantitative-polymerase chain reaction targeting non-transmitted maternal human leukocyte antigen alleles.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of defects in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a fetal MRI study.

Objective: To assess the clinical feasibility and validity of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction to locate, classify and quantify diaphragmatic defects in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: This retrospective study included 46 cases of CDH which underwent a total of 69 fetal MRI scans (65 in-vivo and four postmortem) at the Medical University of Vienna during the period 1 January 2002 to 1 January 2017. Scans were performed between 16 and 38 gestational weeks using steady-state free precession, T2-weighted and T1-weighted sequences.

Augmented reality guidance in cerebrovascular surgery using microscopic video enhancement.

Cerebrovascular surgery treats vessel abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord, including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and aneurysms. These procedures often involve clipping the vessels feeding blood to these abnormalities, making accurate classification of blood vessel types (feeding versus draining) important during surgery. Previous work to guide the intraoperative identification of the vessels included augmented reality (AR) using pre-operative images, injected dyes, and Doppler ultrasound, but each with their drawbacks.

FUNDAMANT: an interventional 72-week phase 1 follow-up study of AADvac1, an active immunotherapy against tau protein pathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Neurofibrillary pathology composed of tau protein is closely correlated with severity and phenotype of cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's tauopathies. Targeting pathological tau proteins via immunotherapy is a promising strategy for disease-modifying treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Previously, we reported a 24-week phase 1 trial on the active vaccine AADvac1 against pathological tau protein; here, we present the results of a further 72 weeks of follow-up on those patients.

Estimation of glycaemic control in the past month using ratio of glycated albumin to HbA.

Aims: To evaluate comprehensively the use of the glycated albumin to HbA ratio for estimation of glycaemic control in the previous month.

Methods: A total of 306 children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus underwent ≥10 simultaneous measurements of glycated albumin and HbA . Correlation and concordance rates were examined between HbA measurements taken 1 month apart (ΔHbA ) and glycated albumin/HbA ratio fluctuations were calculated as Z-scores from the cohort value at enrolment of this study cohort (method A) or the percent difference from the individual mean over time (method B).

Protein-altering variants of PTPN2 in childhood-onset Type 1A diabetes.

Aim: To examine the contribution of PTPN2 coding variants to the risk of childhood-onset Type 1A diabetes.

Methods: PTPN2 mutation analysis was carried out for 169 unrelated Japanese people with childhood-onset Type 1A diabetes. We searched for coding variants that were absent or extremely rare in the general population and were scored as damaging by multiple in silico programs.

Introduction of thromboelastometry-guided administration of fresh-frozen plasma is associated with decreased allogeneic blood transfusions and post-operative blood loss in cardiopulmonary-bypass surgery.

Background: Cardiac surgery is frequently associated with excessive blood loss requiring multiple blood transfusions which are, in turn, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the effectiveness of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM)-guided administration of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) with regards to blood loss, transfusion requirements, and major post-operative complications.

Materials And Methods: Coagulation management in 68 prospective patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass was based on a treatment algorithm guided by ROTEM measurements.

Safety and immunogenicity of the tau vaccine AADvac1 in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 trial.

Background: Neurofibrillary pathology composed of tau protein is a main correlate of cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Immunotherapy targeting pathological tau proteins is therefore a promising strategy for disease-modifying treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We have developed an active vaccine, AADvac1, against pathological tau proteins and assessed it in a phase 1 trial.

FUT2 non-secretor status is associated with Type 1 diabetes susceptibility in Japanese children.

Aim: To examine the contribution of the FUT2 gene and ABO blood type to the development of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children.

Methods: We analysed FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes in a total of 531 Japanese children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and 448 control subjects. The possible association of FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes with the onset of Type 1 diabetes was statistically examined.

Dissecting the taxonomic heterogeneity within Propionibacterium acnes: proposal for Propionibacterium acnes subsp. acnes subsp. nov. and Propionibacterium acnes subsp. elongatum subsp. nov.

Propionibacterium acnes subsp. acnes subsp. nov.

A randomized trial of iron isomaltoside 1000 versus oral iron in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients with anaemia.

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia is common in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) and is often treated with oral or intravenous (IV) iron therapy. This trial compared the efficacy and safety of IV iron isomaltoside 1000 (Monofer®) and oral iron in NDD-CKD patients with renal-related anaemia.

Methods: The trial was a Phase III open-label, comparative, multicentre, non-inferiority trial conducted in 351 iron-deficient NDD-CKD patients, randomized 2:1 to either iron isomaltoside 1000 (Group A) or iron sulphate administered as 100 mg elemental oral iron twice daily (200 mg daily) for 8 weeks (Group B).

Pilot study on novel skin care method by augmentation with Staphylococcus epidermidis, an autologous skin microbe--A blinded randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objective: Staphylococcus epidermidis is an autologous bacterium that is beneficial to skin health. Our goal was to develop a novel, personalized basic cosmetic that exploits this characteristic.

Methods: We conducted a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial on augmentation with S.

Decreased granulomatous reaction by polyurethane-coated stent in the trachea.

Background: Reducing granulomatous reaction for stent implantation is important for the treatment of tracheobronchomalacia because formation of granuloma leads to refractory complication causing further respiratory distress. The purpose of this study was to clarify granulomatous reaction of newly innovated coated stents compared to non-coated metal stents.

Methods: Materials and animal experiments were performed using the newly invented metallic stent (laser-cut stainless steel with a coating of polyurethane).

Acute psychiatric inpatient care: a cross-cultural comparison between two hospitals in Germany and Japan.

Background: Intercultural differences influence acute inpatient psychiatric care systems.

Aims: To evaluate characteristics of acute inpatient care in a German and a Japanese hospital.

Method: Based on a sample of 465 admissions to the Psychiatric State Hospital Regensburg (BKR) and 91 admissions to the Hirakawa Hospital (HH) over a six-month period in 2008, data from the psychiatric basic documentation system (BADO) were analysed with regard to socio-demographic characteristics, treatment processes and outcome indicators.

Disaster-related psychiatric disorders among survivors of flooding in Ladakh, India.

Background: Heavy rainfall in northern India in August 2010 caused flash floods, seriously damaging homes and infrastructure. There have been no major disasters in the history of Ladakh, and no surveys on post-disaster psychiatric disorders have been conducted in this area.

Aims And Methods: To examine the impact of this disaster in Ladakh one month post-disaster, we visited Choglamsar, located near the town of Leh, where the flood had the most severe impact.