Predictors and clinical outcomes of true mitral stenosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: Predictors of true degenerative mitral stenosis (MS) in patients with aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the predictors and prognostic value of true degenerative MS in this population.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 760 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI.

Efficacy of Tailored Treatment Strategies for Chronic Subdural Hematoma Based on Hematoma Characteristics and Volume: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Objective: We assessed the effectiveness of a treatment strategy based on hematoma characteristics and volume.

Methods: From September 2022 to December 2023 (the Study period), a 2-center retrospective observational study of initial chronic subdural hematoma was performed. The baseline period was from January 2018 to December 2019.

Feasibility, efficacy, and safety of mechanical thrombectomy via sheathless transradial access as a first-line strategy: A case series.

Objective: Although mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is primarily performed via transfemoral access (TFA), transradial access (TRA) is a potential alternative in older patients or those with tortuous vessels. However, the small radial artery diameter restricts the use of large-bore balloon guides and aspiration catheters, a limitation that may be overcome using the sheathless technique. Thus, we aimed to explore the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of sheathless TRA-MT as a first-line treatment approach for acute ischemic stroke.

Effects of a Stimulus Response Task Using Virtual Reality on Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a stimulus response task using virtual reality (VR) for unilateral spatial neglect (USN).

Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Acute phase hospital where stroke patients are hospitalized.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Diagnosing Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma Infiltrating Liver Sinusoids.

BACKGROUND Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare extranodal large B-cell lymphoma characterized by the selective growth of lymphoma cells within vasculature. This presents a diagnostic challenge due to non-specific symptoms and lack of tumor formation. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) provides useful information in diagnosing FDG-avid lymphoma, but is not specific to  IVLBCL.

Feasibility and Challenges of Transradial Approach in Neuroendovascular Therapy: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Objective: Transradial approach (TRA) is increasingly used as a viable alternative to the traditional transfemoral approach (TFA) in neuroendovascular therapy (NET) owing to its potential anatomical benefits and lower puncture-site complication rates. However, the real-world challenges of implementing TRA-NET have not been thoroughly studied, particularly those related to guide catheter (GC) placement. In this study, we aimed to explore the feasibility and challenges of TRA-NET, with a specific focus on GC placement.

Bifidobacterium breve M-16V regulates the autonomic nervous system via the intestinal environment: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the potential of Bifidobacterium breve M-16 V to improve mood in humans. In this evaluation, we incorporated the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which has been used to evaluate mood states in studies with small sample sizes. Participants were given B.

Carotid Artery Stenting via Radial Access with Modified Flow Reversal Method: Case Series.

Objective: Neuroendovascular treatment via transradial access (TRA) has gained popularity as a minimally invasive technique. However, the flow reversal (FR) system, reported useful in carotid artery stenting (CAS), cannot be applied via TRA because it requires an access route of more than 8 F. Herein, we report the utility of a modified FR system applied via TRA using a sheathless 8-F balloon guide catheter and a 2.

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Nelfinavir in Patients with Mild COVID-19.

Nelfinavir, an orally administered inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus protease, inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) . We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of nelfinavir in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included unvaccinated asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic adult patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within 3 days before enrollment.

The Short-Term Outcome of Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Chronic Subdural Hematoma with Mild Symptom: Case Series.

Objective: A few reports have demonstrated the efficacy of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) alone for mildly symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH); however, the clinical course in the early posttreatment period remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the short-term outcomes of this technique at our center.

Methods: This study was based on a retrospective analysis of a single-center consecutive case series.

Usefulness of SMART-COP score in prognosis of aspiration pneumonia.

Introduction: Aspiration pneumonia is becoming a common syndrome in the elderly in aging societies such as Japan. Although a number of tools have been validated for prediction of mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, none have been established for aspiration pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to access the correlations of the A-DROP, CURB-65 and SMART-COP scores at the emergency visit with the 30-day mortality risk in patients with aspiration pneumonia.

A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of camostat mesilate in patients with COVID-19 (CANDLE study).

Background: In vitro drug screening studies have indicated that camostat mesilate (FOY-305) may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection into human airway epithelial cells. This study was conducted to investigate whether camostat mesilate is an effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).

Methods: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study.

The skill qualification system for portal hypertension in Japan.

Objectives: The diverse treatments available for portal hypertension require specialized knowledge of hemodynamics and include endoscopic treatments, interventional radiology (IVR), and surgery. The Japan Society for Portal Hypertension has developed the skill qualification system (SQS) for portal hypertension and began examination in 2014. Here, the status and validity of the judgment of the SQS examination were evaluated.

Development of stimulus-driven attention test for unilateral spatial neglect - Accuracy, reliability, and validity.

We developed a simple method to assess stimulus-evoked attention function in unilateral spatial neglect (USN), and examined its accuracy, reliability, and validity. Thirty-one patients with USN and sixteen patients with right hemisphere damage without USN were given a task of reading Japanese characters that suddenly appeared on a display, and a reading or touching task of red Japanese characters that are arranged on the display. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated from the measurement results, and the cutoff value was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Clinical course of left spatial neglect with a focus on the assessment of stimulus-driven attention.

We developed Stimulus-driven Attention Tests (SAT) for a patient with unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and longitudinally investigated the results and compared them to two conventional assessments. The patient suffered a right putaminal hemorrhage resulting in left-side USN. On the 12th, 22nd, and 28th days from the onset, the Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT) and the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS), which are conventional USN assessments, and our two Stimulus-driven Attention Tests (SAT-1 and SAT-2) were performed.

A rare case of atypical bone marrow sarcoidosis without pulmonary involvement in a Japanese woman.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin characterised by the presence of non-caseating granulomatous lesions. Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis with bone marrow involvement is rare and even more so without pulmonary involvement. Here, we describe a case of 69-year-old woman diagnosed as having bone marrow and hepatic sarcoidosis without pulmonary involvement based on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings.

Comparison between Invasive and Non-Invasive Streptococcus agalactiae Isolates from Human Adults, Based on Virulence Gene Profiles, Capsular Genotypes, Sequence Types, and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns.

This study assessed whether invasive group B Streptococcus (GBS) isolates were similar to non-invasive isolates from adult patients. Invasive and non-invasive GBS isolates were collected from three hospitals and two laboratory centers between January 2015 and October 2019. The isolates were identified by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and amplification of the GBS-specific dltS gene.

Distal Transradial Approach in Mechanical Thrombectomy: Technical Note.

Objective: We report a case of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) via the distal transradial approach (dTRA) and technical tips.

Case Presentation: An 89-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital due to back pain after a fall and sudden-onset left hemiparesis. We performed MT because three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA) revealed right middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion.