Preoperative factors affecting the two-year postoperative patient-reported outcome in single-level lumbar grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Background: The choice of operative method for lumbar spinal stenosis with Meyerding grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to identify the preoperative factors affecting the 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcome in Meyerding grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Methods: Seventy-two consecutive patients who had minimally invasive decompression alone (D group; 28) or with fusion (DF group; 44) were enrolled.

Rapid progressive spontaneous hemothorax caused by carcinoma of unknown primary: A very rare case.

We present a very rare case of spontaneous hemothorax which was caused by carcinoma of unknown primary. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other such cases reported worldwide. The patient was 72-year-old male who was referred to our department for massive hemothorax.

Usefulness of Tumor Marker Score for Predicting the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a previously reported tumor marker (TM) score involving alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), fucosylated AFP (AFP-L3), and des gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) as TMs in predicting the prognosis and therapeutic efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients administered atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) as first-line treatment.

Materials/methods: The study period covered September 2020 to December 2022 and involved 371 HCC patients treated with Atez/Bev. The values of the TMs AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP were measured upon introducing Atez/Bev.

Mutation Heterogeneity Detected Using Circulating Tumor DNA Sequencing in Synchronous Colon Cancer: A Case Report.

Background/aim: Synchronous colorectal cancer, which occurs in approximately 4.8-8.4% of all colorectal cancers, has a genetic profile with a higher rate of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutation and microsatellite instability-high than solitary colorectal cancer.

Mechanism of sac expansion without evident endoleak analyzed with X ray phase-contrast tomography.

Objective: Synchrotron radiation-based X ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) was used in this study to evaluate abdominal aorta specimens from patients with sac expansion without evidence of an endoleak (endotension) following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aim of this study was to analyze the morphologic structure of the aortic wall in patients with this condition and to establish the cause of the endotension.

Methods: Human aortic specimens of the abdominal aorta were obtained during open repair, fixed with formalin, and analyzed among three groups.

Circulating level of β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), a novel myokine-like molecule, is inversely associated with fat mass in patients with heart failure.

Results of experimental studies have shown that β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), an exercise-induced myokine-like molecule, is an endogenous negative regulator of fat mass in mice, but it remains unclear whether that is the case in humans, though an enhanced BAIBA concentration in patients receiving sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors was found in our recent study. The objective of this study was to analyze the determinants of circulating BAIBA concentration in humans, with focus on the possible link between circulating BAIBA and body composition including fat mass. Data for 188 consecutive patients with heart failure (HF, 64 ± 13 years; 70% male) who received a dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan for assessment of body composition including fat mass index (FMI) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) were used in this study.

Guselkumab in Patients With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: QUASAR Phase 2b Induction Study.

Background & Aims: The QUASAR Phase 2b Induction Study evaluated the efficacy and safety of guselkumab, an interleukin-23p19 subunit antagonist, in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) with prior inadequate response and/or intolerance to corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and/or advanced therapy.

Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, induction study, patients were randomized (1:1:1) to receive intravenous guselkumab 200 or 400 mg or placebo at weeks 0/4/8. The primary endpoint was clinical response (compared with baseline, modified Mayo score decrease ≥30% and ≥2 points, rectal bleeding subscore ≥1-point decrease or subscore of 0/1) at week 12.

Continuous positive airway pressure versus high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objective: The relative effectiveness of initial non-invasive respiratory strategies for acute respiratory failure using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, open-label, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of CPAP and HFNC on reducing the risk of meeting the prespecified criteria for intubation and improving clinical outcomes of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. The primary endpoint was the time taken to meet the prespecified criteria for intubation within 28 days.

Characteristic of Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma by Algorithm of Potential Biomarkers for Uterine Mesenchymal Tumor.

The benign tumor uterine leiomyoma (UL) develops from the smooth muscle tissue that constitutes the uterus, whereas malignant tumor uterine sarcoma develops from either the smooth muscle tissue or stroma and is different from UL and endometrial cancer. Uterine sarcoma is broadly classified into three types: uterine leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS), and carcinosarcoma. Although uterine leiomyosarcoma and ESS are both classified as uterine sarcoma, they significantly differ in terms of their sites of occurrence, symptoms, and treatment methods.

Impact of GVHD on lymphoma progression: Nationwide study from Japanese Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

The graft-versus-lymphoma (GVL) effect and its association with acute and chronic GVHD (aGVHD, cGVHD) has not been comprehensively elucidated. We retrospectively analysed 2204 Japanese patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs; indolent B-NHLs, n = 689; aggressive B-NHLs, n = 720; mature T/NK-NHLs, n = 795) receiving a first allo-HSCT in 2003-2017. Pre-transplant lymphoma control showed complete response (CR) in 759 and non-CR in 1445.

Relationship of Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab Treatment with Muscle Volume Loss in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: Multicenter Analysis.

Background/aim: There is no known report regarding the relationship of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) treatment with muscle volume loss (MVL) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC) patients. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical relationship between MVL and Atez/Bev.

Materials/methods: From September 2020 to December 2021, 229 u-HCC patients treated with Atez/Bev and with muscle volume data obtained by computed tomography at the baseline available were analyzed (median age, 74 years; males, 186 (81.

Intraoperative control of air leak using a sutureless free pericardial fat pad covering method in lung cancer resection.

Here, we introduce a new method for intraoperative control of air leak using a free pericardial fat pad covering to lung damage with sutureless fixation. We covered the damaged lung tissue with a free pericardial fat pad with a polyglycol acid sheet and fibrin glue fixation. This method provides a good air leak controlling effect with the use of a free pericardial fat pad and relatively short operative time with sutureless fixation.

Diagnostic errors in uncommon conditions: a systematic review of case reports of diagnostic errors.

Objectives: To assess the usefulness of case reports as sources for research on diagnostic errors in uncommon diseases and atypical presentations.

Content: We reviewed 563 case reports of diagnostic error. The commonality of the final diagnoses was classified based on the description in the articles, Orphanet, or epidemiological data on available references; the typicality of presentation was classified based on the description in the articles and the judgment of the physician researchers.

Efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients with esophageal-gastric varices.

Background: Bevacizumab inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), though is known to increase bleeding risk as an adverse event (AE). This study examined whether atezolizumab/bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) can be used for patients with esophageal-gastric varices (EGV).

Methods: From October 2020 to December 2022, 506 uHCC patients (median 74 years) underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy examination were enrolled, after exclusion of those with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).

Successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with type I CD36 deficiency: a case study and literature review.

Background: CD36-deficient individuals may produce anti-CD36 antibodies through antigenic exposure to CD36, in situations including blood transfusions. Therefore, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from CD36-positive donors to CD36-negative patients remains a challenge.

Case Report: A 64-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia became refractory to platelet transfusions during chemotherapy.

Positive outcome of diaphragm covering and total pleural covering techniques for catamenial pneumothorax.

Catamenial pneumothorax (CP) is reported to be caused by the endometriosis of diaphragm, lung and parietal pleura. Therefore, the resection of endometriotic lesion in these organs is reported as effective surgical treatment. Overlooking of endometrial tissues during the operation is believed to be the cause of recurrence after surgical treatment.

Rechallenge of afatinib for -mutated non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with osimertinib: a multicenter phase II trial protocol (REAL study).

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and contributed to the development of precision medicine. Osimertinib is a standard first-line (1L) treatment for -mutated NSCLC and has demonstrated superior survival benefits over previous-generation TKIs. However, resistance to osimertinib is nearly inevitable, and subsequent treatment strategies remain unmet medical needs in this setting.