Identification of Early and Late Responders to Anti-IL-13 Antibody Tralokinumab in Atopic Dermatitis: A Real-World Japanese Study.

Tralokinumab, an anti-IL-13 antibody, is an effective treatment for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). However, predictive factors for responders to tralokinumab remain unclear in real-world practice. This study aimed to identify predictive factors for early and late responders to tralokinumab treatment.

Predictive factors for responders to deucravacitinib treatment in patients with psoriasis.

The tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor deucravacitinib is therapeutically effective for psoriasis. However, predictive factors for high responses to deucravacitinib have not been examined in a real-world clinical study. Our study aimed to identify predictive factors for responders to deucravacitinib.

Pancreatectomy with Celiac Axis Resection and Reconstruction for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: With the advent of effective chemotherapy, conversion surgery (CS) has been performed in patients who have responded to pretreatment, even for pancreatic cancer diagnosed as unresectable (UR) at the time of initial diagnosis. In CS, major arterial resection and reconstruction are necessary for complete radical resection.

Methods: We discuss the key points for safely performing pancreatectomy with celiac axis (CA) resection combined with reconstruction, divided into resection and arterial reconstruction.

Long-term effectiveness and safety of deucravacitinib in psoriasis: A 52-week real-world study of genital, scalp, and nail lesions.

Background: The long-term (around 1-year) effectiveness and safety of deucravacitinib for the treatment of psoriasis have not been extensively studied in real-world settings, particularly in difficult-to-treat areas, such as the genital, scalp, and nail regions.

Objectives: To evaluate the 52-week real-world effectiveness and safety of deucravacitinib in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis of the genital, scalp, and nail regions.

Methods: This prospective study analyzed 104 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with deucravacitinib.

Age-specific differences of Impella support in Japanese patients: The Japanese Registry for Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device (J-PVAD) registry analysis on outcomes and adverse events.

Background: The association between the clinical significance and prognostic impact of catheter-based micro-axial ventricular assist device Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) support and age has not been sufficiently investigated.

Methods And Results: A total of 5282 patients treated with Impella were analyzed from the Japanese registry for Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device (J-PVAD). Patients were categorized into four age groups: <50 years old (Group A, n = 670), 50-69 years old (Group B, n = 2009), 70-79 years old (Group C, n = 1716), and ≥80 years old (Group D, n = 887).

Determining optimal pretreatment in cardiac surgery: an experimental study.

Objectives: Heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction are currently treated with four drug combinations: angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitors, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, resulting in improved survival outcomes. Herein, we examined whether myocardial protection by esaxerenone or sacubitril/valsartan may present a counter-effect to the harm caused by cardioplegic arrest.

Methods: Male Wistar rats fed a normal diet were orally administered esaxerenone (3 mg/kg; Esax) or sacubitril/valsartan (68 mg/kg; SaV) once a day for 2 weeks from 6 weeks of age.

Artery of Percheron Infarction with Bilateral Thalamic Lesions in a 14-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report.

The artery of Percheron (AOP), a common anatomic vascular variation of the P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery, provides arterial blood supply to the paramedian thalami and rostral midbrain. Occlusion of the AOP can lead to infarction of the bilateral paramedian thalamus, with or without midbrain involvement, but is rare in children. Here, we describe a case involving a 14-year-old girl with sudden onset of disturbance of consciousness, hypersomnia, and global aphasia.

Physiological Studies of the Palatopharyngeal Muscle as a Speech Muscle in the Adjustment of Velar Position during Speech Production.

Background: We aimed to investigate the contribution of the palatopharyngeal muscle (PP) as a speech muscle in adjusting the velar position.

Methods: X-ray kinematic analysis of the position of the palatopharyngeal arch and an electromyographic study of the PP during speech were performed in two healthy volunteers.

Results: X-ray kinematic analysis revealed that the palatopharyngeal arch was positioned lower during the production of the low-back vowel /a/.

Machine Learning Predicts the Need for Surgical Intervention in Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction.

Objectives: To explore the predictive performance on the need for surgical intervention in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) using machine-learning (ML) algorithms and investigate the optimal timing for transition to surgery.

Methods: One hundred and six patients with ASBO who initially underwent long transnasal intestinal tube (LT) decompression were enrolled in this retrospective study. Traditional logistic regression analysis and ML algorithms were used to evaluate the risk of need for surgical intervention.

The Role of Cardiovascular Surgeons in Oncovascular Surgery for Resection of Retroperitoneal Tumors: A Case Report.

A 43-year-old man diagnosed with a giant retroperitoneal tumor with suspected invasion of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava underwent surgery. Complete en bloc tumor resection could be achieved by transection and reconstruction of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. This case highlights the need for aggressive, complete tumor resection when major vessels are invaded.

Awareness-Raising Activities to Identify Children with Short Stature.

Background: Although short stature is sometimes treatable in children, family members do not always realize that their children have short stature. To develop better educational materials for identifying short stature, we conducted a questionnaire survey on children with short stature. Using the results of the survey, we revised educational activities regarding short stature.