Serum Glucose-To-Potassium Ratio as a Prognostic Predictor for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: Initial management of severe traumatic brain injury is important and includes treatment decision-making and prediction of prognosis. We examined whether biomarkers at admission could be useful prognostic predictors. We focused on electrolytes and blood glucose, which can be measured easily at any facility and for which results can be obtained promptly, before those of other biomarkers, such as D-dimer.

Effects of empagliflozin versus placebo on cardiac sympathetic activity in acute myocardial infarction patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the EMBODY trial.

Background: Protection from lethal ventricular arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a crucial challenge after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activity can be noninvasively assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT). The EMBODY trial was designed to determine whether the Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor improves cardiac nerve activity.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease Classification on New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in the General Population - The TAMA MED Project-AF and CKD.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are known risk factors for each other. In Tama City in Tokyo, 12-lead ECG and serum creatinine concentration have been included as essential examinations in specific health checkups to diagnose AF and CKD. In the present study, we investigated the impact of CKD classification on new-onset AF in the general population.

Risk factors, etiology, and outcome of ischemic stroke in young adults: A Japanese multicenter prospective study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors, etiology, and outcomes of ischemic stroke (IS) in Japanese young adults.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study. We enrolled patients aged 16 to 55 years with IS within seven days of the onset of symptoms.

Possible Dissemination of a Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 Clone in Tokyo, Japan.

In the last decade, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been identified in livestock animals, such as swine, poultry, and veal calves, and has been termed livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). LA-MRSA sequence type (ST) 398 strains can effectively infect and colonize humans, with subsequent human-to-human transmission in both community and hospital settings. Unlike other countries, LA-MRSA had not been reported in Japanese patients until 2019.

Predictive ability of creatinine clearance versus estimated glomerular filtration rate for outcomes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: Subanalysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Background: Renal impairment is a risk factor for various adverse events, especially for death. In general, creatinine clearance (CrCl) is used for dose-adjustments of many drugs including oral anticoagulants, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is adopted for the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. Predictive ability of CrCl versus eGFR for outcomes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) remains controversial; therefore, this was compared using data from the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Immune Checkpoints Contribute Corneal Immune Privilege: Implications for Dry Eye Associated with Checkpoint Inhibitors.

The eye is provided with immune protection against pathogens in a manner that greatly reduces the threat of inflammation-induced vision loss. Immune-mediated inflammation and allograft rejection are greatly reduced in the eye, a phenomenon called 'immune privilege'. Corneal tissue has inherent immune privilege properties with underlying three mechanisms: (1) anatomical, cellular, and molecular barriers in the cornea; (2) an immunosuppressive microenvironment; and (3) tolerance related to regulatory T cells and anterior chamber-associated immune deviation.

Relationship Between Institutional Volume of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Cases and 1-Month Neurologic Outcomes: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Prospective Observational Study.

Background: The influence of institutional volume of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases on outcomes remains unclear.

Objectives: This study evaluated the relationship between institutional volume of adult, nontraumatic OHCA cases and 1-month favorable neurologic outcomes.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data between January 2012 and March 2013 from a prospective observational study in the Kanto area of Japan.

Relationship between Flow-mediated Endothelial Vasodilation and the Pulse Wave Velocity, and Cervical Carotid Artery Stenosis.

Carotid artery stenosis is elicited by atherosclerosis and is the main cause of cerebral thrombosis. Flow-mediated endothelial vasodilation (FMD) can be measured noninvasively to assess vascular endothelial function related to atherosclerosis. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) is used to evaluate the vascular media involved in atherosclerosis.

Effective improvement of minimal change nephrotic syndrome with uncontrollable high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level using evolocumab accompanied by the development of acute pancreatitis.

Nephrotic syndrome is sometimes refractory; however, it is rarely accompanied by acute pancreatitis. A 47-year-old Japanese woman complaining of limb edema was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome. Blood and urine examinations suggested minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), and pulse intravenous methylprednisolone was administered, followed by oral prednisolone.

Risk Factors Associated With Ischemic Stroke in Japanese Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Importance: Despite the development of risk stratification schemes that have been widely used to determine the risk for thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), risk stratification schemes in Asian patients with NVAF remain undetermined.

Objective: To determine risk factors for ischemic stroke in Japanese patients with NVAF.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study analyzed individual patient data from 5 AF registries in Japan: J-RHYTHM (Japanese Rhythm Management Trial for Atrial Fibrillation) Registry, Fushimi AF Registry, Shinken Database, Keio Interhospital Cardiovascular Studies (Keio Study), and Hokuriku-Plus AF Registry.

Association of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features with Angioleiomyoma Histologic Subtype.

Background: Angioleiomyomas typically present as small, painful, soft-tissue tumors less than 2 cm in diameter. The features of angioleiomyomas on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are not well understood, and the association of MR findings with histologic subtype is unclear. In the present study, the MR features of angioleiomyomas of average size were compared in relation to histologic subtype.

Risk factors for ischemic complications in vascular reconstructive surgeries.

Objective: There have been reports on postoperative ischemic complications with vascular reconstructive surgery. However, various factors, such as lesions, operative technique, and perioperative treatment, prevent analyzing the causes of ischemic complications in vascular reconstruction surgeries. In the present study, we analyzed the cause of ischemic complications for vascular reconstruction surgeries with the same operator, surgical procedure, and perioperative treatment and without focusing on the lesions.

Medical and Dental Visits of Chronic Kidney Disease-Diagnosed Participants Analyzed From the Specific Health Checkups Results in Japan: TAMA MED Project-CKD.

Background: Since 2012, Tama City has promoted the early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD), through an initiative that measures serum creatinine as part of the specific health checkups. We examined preventive measures against CKD deterioration based on the outcomes of this initiative.

Methods: The complications, medication status, body mass index, smoking status and other determining factors were surveyed among CKD-diagnosed participants over 3 years between 2013 and 2015.

Change during an 8-Year Period in Streptococcus Pyogenes emm Types in Pharyngeal Isolates from Children with Noninvasive Infections.

Background: Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus (GAS), is one of the most common bacterial pathogens in children. GAS can cause such nonserious and noninvasive diseases as pharyngitis and skin infection, as well as serious, invasive diseases like streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. One factor that makes GAS pathogenic is the type-specific M protein on its cell surface.

Association of Respiratory Tract Infection after Gastroenterological Surgery with Postoperative Duration of Hospitalization and Medical Expenses: Subanalysis of Data from a Multicenter Study.

Background: Postoperative infections can be classified as surgical site infections and remote infections. Postoperative respiratory tract infections (PRTI) are a type of remote infection and may be associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased medical expenses. This study compared postoperative duration of hospitalization and medical expenses between patients with and without PRTI after gastrointestinal surgery.

Postoperative Infection after Colorectal Surgery: Subanalysis of Data from the 2015 Japan Postoperative Infectious Complications Survey.

Background: Most surveillance programs for postoperative infection focus on surgical site infections (SSI). However, postoperative remote infections are of emerging clinical importance. Using data from a multicenter survey administered to patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery, we investigated the incidence of SSI and remote infection after colorectal surgery.

Outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by anaphylaxis: A nationwide population-based observational study.

Aim: The objective of this study was to focus on outcomes of anaphylaxis-associated out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in non-cardiac cases.

Methods: All residents with OHCA due to non-cardiac cause in Japan from 2013 to 2015 were included for analysis. Propensity score matching and logistic regression analyses were used to assess outcome-related factors in anaphylaxis cases and non-anaphylaxis cases.

Hoarseness as an Initial Symptom of Thymic Carcinoma: A Case Report.

A 65-year-old man was referred to our hospital for evaluation of hoarseness and deteriorating voice. Computed tomography revealed an area of poor contrast enhancement in soft tissue (size, 30 mm) in the inferior pole of the thyroid gland, extending to the upper margin of the sternum. No infiltration of blood vessels or bones, and no significant swelling of neck lymph nodes, was observed.

VISTA Is Crucial for Corneal Allograft Survival and Maintenance of Immune Privilege.

Purpose: V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel immune checkpoint receptor and ligand for regulating T cell proliferation and cytokine production. The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of VISTA in the immune privilege of corneal allografts.

Methods: Expression of VISTA mRNA in mouse eyes was assessed with reverse-transcription PCR.

Impact of hemoglobin concentration and platelet count on outcomes of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A subanalysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Background: To clarify the influence of hemoglobin concentration and platelet count on adverse outcomes of Japanese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), a post hoc analysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry was performed.

Methods: A consecutive series of outpatients with atrial fibrillation were enrolled from 158 institutions and followed up for 2 years or until an event occurred (thromboembolism, major hemorrhage, or all-cause death). Among 7406 patients with NVAF, 6536 with complete blood count data (69.

Capecitabine + Epirubicin + Cyclophosphamide Combination Therapy (CEX Therapy) as Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for HER-2-Negative Breast Cancer: A Retrospective, Single-Center Study.

Background: We modified and administered capecitabine + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide combination therapy (CEX) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for HER-2-negative breast cancer and retrospectively analyzed its effectiveness and tolerability at our center.

Methods: The inclusion criteria were presence of breast cancer negative for HER-2 and positive lymph node metastasis, or negative lymph node metastasis when tumor diameter was 20 mm or greater without distant metastasis. Additional inclusion criteria were a performance status of 0 or 1, an EF >60%, and an age of 75 years or less.

The developmental effects of isoflavone aglycone administration on early chick embryos.

Soybeans contain the isoflavone aglycone, an endocrine disrupter. To determine the effects of small amounts of isoflavones on developmental processes, we administered 6.25, 62.