Retrospective evaluation of a novel ultrasound-based imaging analysis software for predicting radiofrequency ablation areas.

Objective: This study aimed to introduce and evaluate a novel software-based system, BioTrace, designed for real-time monitoring of thermal ablation tissue damage during image-guided radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: BioTrace utilizes a proprietary algorithm to analyze the temporo-spatial behavior of thermal gas bubble activity during ablation, as seen in conventional B-mode ultrasound imaging. Its predictive accuracy was assessed by comparing the ablation zones it predicted with those annotated by radiologists using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) 24 hours post-treatment, considered the gold standard.

promotes cell apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in osteosarcoma via the modulation of CDCA8/ATF3 by targeting NUSAP1.

Background: () is associated with a variety of malignancies. However, the role of in osteosarcoma and its underlying mechanism are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to explore the role and the mechanism of in osteosarcoma.

2024 Update of the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis - secondary publication.

Objectives: To update the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (CPG for RA).

Methods: The recommendations were developed based on the evidence published until the end of June 2022 using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). The steering committee, CPG panel, systematic review (SR) group, and SR support team were organised.

Association of Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) remains challenging.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on SCD in NICM patients.

Methods: Our study cohort included 173 consecutive patients (age 53 ± 14 years, 73% men) scheduled for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) implantation who underwent preimplant cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Effects of digital-based interventions on the outcomes of the eligibility criteria for sarcopenia in healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: While the digital-based interventions targeting older adults to prevent age-related health problems such as sarcopenia have grown rapidly in recent years, there are no meta-analyses indicating synthesized pooled estimates.

Objective: To examine the effects of digital-based interventions on sarcopenia-related measures, including physical performance and muscle mass, in healthy community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Systematic searches were performed on MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for eligible studies published up to 31 March 2023.

Association Between Mortality and Time Spent Out of Bed in Older-Adult Nursing Home Residents.

Objectives: For older adults, spending time out of bed is important for preventing functional decline, but its relationship to mortality is not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between mortality and time spent out of bed in Japanese older-adult nursing home residents.

Design: We conducted a cohort study using data from the Long-term Care Information System for Evidence database.

Distinct prognostic impacts of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index and geriatric nutritional risk index in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

The optimal surgical indication for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) remains highly contentious. We aimed to determine the preoperative predictive factors of malignancy and independent prognostic factors in patients with IPMN who underwent curative-intent resection. In this study, 104 patients with a pathological diagnosis of IPMN who underwent curative-intent resection were included.

Application of Original Prostate Cancer Progression Model Interacting with Fibroblasts in Preclinical Research.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease that exhibits androgen sensitivity and responsiveness to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, ADT induces only temporary remission, and the majority of PCa cases eventually progress to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). During the development and progression of CRPC, androgen sensitivity and androgen receptor (AR) dependency in PCa cells are often deceased or lost due to ADT or spontaneously arising AR variants even before starting ADT.

Special Issue "Nephrotic Syndrome: Pathomechanism, Diagnostics, and Novel Treatment Options".

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by massive proteinuria, hypoproteinemia, and edema [...

A 15-Year Observational Cohort of Acute Empyema at a Single-Center in Japan.

Despite the advancements in diagnostic methods and antibiotic treatment, empyema is a critical respiratory infection, showing a high mortality rate of 10-25%. To evaluate the bacterial etiology and prognostic factors of acute empyema, we conducted this long-term retrospective cohort study at our institute between 2008 and 2022. A total of 80 patients were enrolled in this cohort.

H and B Blood Antigens Are Essential for In Vitro Replication of GII.2 Human Norovirus.

Background: Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major cause of enteric infectious gastroenteritis and is classified into several genotypes based on its capsid protein amino acid sequence and nucleotide sequence of the polymerase gene. Among these, GII.4 is the major genotype worldwide.

Cystoid macular oedema after flanged intraocular lens scleral fixation using the Yamane technique: a multicentre cohort study.

This retrospective observational multicentre cohort study compared the rate of postoperative cystoid macular oedema (CME) between two intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation (SFIOL) techniques: a flanged IOL fixation technique (Yamane technique) and a suture IOL transscleral fixation technique (conventional technique). The study included 207 eyes with postoperative CME that had undergone SFIOL and were observed for > 12 weeks between January 2019 and January 2021. The primary endpoint was a comparison of the rate of postoperative CME at 3 months between groups.

Virtual Reality-Applied Home-Visit Rehabilitation for Patients With Chronic Pain: Protocol for Single-Arm Pre-Post Comparison Study.

Background: Pain inhibits rehabilitation. In rehabilitation at medical institutions, the usefulness of virtual reality (VR) has been reported in many cases to alleviate pain. In recent years, the demand for home rehabilitation has increased.

Dynamic CT-perfusion parameters as indicators of microcirculation: investigation in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between each CTP parameter and that between CTP parameters and patient characteristics in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-seven (28 female; 65.0±10.

SWI brush sign of cerebral parenchymal veins in central nervous system diseases.

Brush sign (BS) was first reported as prominent hypointensity of deep medullary veins and subependymal veins on T2*-weighted images at 3 T MRI in patients with acute stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery. Subsequently, BS in central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as moyamoya disease, cerebral venous thrombosis, and Sturge-Weber syndrome was also described on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), and the clinical implications of BS were discussed. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate BS on SWI in various CNS diseases and its mechanisms in the above-mentioned diseases.

Updated imaging markers in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: What radiologists need to know.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is an age-related small vessel disease pathologically characterized by the progressive accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide in cerebrovascular walls, affecting both cortical and leptomeningeal vessels. Amyloid deposition results in fragile vessels, which may lead to lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cognitive impairment. To evaluate the probability and severity of CAA, the imaging markers depicted on CT and MRI techniques are crucial, as brain pathological examination is highly invasive.

High Shear Stress Reduces ERG Causing Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Computational modeling indicated that pathological high shear stress (HSS; 100 dyn/cm) is generated in pulmonary arteries (PAs; 100-500 µm) in congenital heart defects causing PA hypertension (PAH) and in idiopathic PAH with occlusive vascular remodeling. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a feature of PAH. We hypothesize that HSS induces EndMT, contributing to the initiation and progression of PAH.

Preventive effect of Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI against pouchitis in children with ulcerative colitis.

Purpose: Pouchitis is a major complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis in children (UCc). In this study, we investigated whether the oral administration of Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM) can reduce the incidence of pouchitis after IPAA in UCc.

Methods: We reviewed the data for pediatric patients with UC, who underwent IPAA in Mie University Hospital between 2004 and 2022.

Associations of malnutrition factors with dysphagia mediated by ADL among nursing home residents.

Objective: The potential link between malnutrition and dysphagia along with its underlying mechanisms remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between malnutrition factors and dysphagia mediated by a decline in activities of daily living (ADL) among nursing home residents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from 705 nursing home residents.

A Steerable Microcatheter Effectively Worked in Tumor Embolization.

Objective: A Leonis Mova (LM; SB Kawasumi, Kanagawa, Japan), one of the steerable microcatheters, has a remote-controlled flexible catheter tip manipulated with a dial in the hand grip, which enables operators to overcome complicated branching in endovascular surgeries. We report a case of a pituitary tumor in which the LM worked effectively as a distal access catheter (DAC) in tumor embolization.

Case Presentation: A female patient in her 70s complained of bitemporal hemianopsia, and an MRI revealed a pituitary tumor that appeared hypervascular.