Utility and safety of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation with small-incision sphincterotomy for small bile duct stones: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) for bile duct stones (BDS) can cause basket impaction with stone, complicating the procedure. In this study, we evaluated the utility and safety of small incision ES combined with endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (sES + EPBD) (balloon dilated up to the stone size), compared with ES alone for BDS <12 mm.

Methods: The primary endpoint was the frequency of mechanical lithotripsy (ML), indicating the risk of basket impaction with stone; however, the secondary endpoints were procedure time, successful stone removal, and early adverse events.

FLT3 inhibitors and hematopoietic cell transplantation prolong survival in patients with FLT3-ITD-positive AML.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy with genetic alterations. The FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene is frequently mutated in adult de novo AML, with two types of mutations: internal tandem duplication (ITD) and point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain. This study aimed to investigate the impact of FLT3 inhibitors and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) on survival outcomes in patients with FLT3-ITD AML in a real-world setting.

High-concentration continuous local antibacterial perfusion therapy: safety and potential efficacy for acute and chronic periprosthetic knee joint infection.

Background: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are among the most challenging pathologies to manage. Recently, continuous local antibiotic perfusion (CLAP) therapy has been introduced for treating musculoskeletal infections in orthopedics. This study aimed to determine the outcomes and risks of CLAP therapy combined with conventional treatment for PJIs after TKA.

Non-small cell lung cancer with synchronous brain metastases: Identification of prognostic factors in a retrospective multicenter study (HOT 1701).

Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with a high incidence of brain metastasis (BM), and the prognosis of patients with NSCLC and BM is poor. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors and elucidate the survival rates of Japanese patients with NSCLC and BM at initial diagnosis.

Methods: HOT 1701 is a retrospective multicenter study of patients with NSCLC and BM at initial diagnosis.

A case of intraoperative detection of a central venous catheter in azygos vein arch during esophageal cancer surgery.

Background: Central venous catheter (CVC) is often used in the perioperative management of esophageal cancer. The position of the CVC tip has been reported to shift with body positioning and, although infrequent, may traverse into the azygos vein arch. Herein, we describe a case where a migrated CVC tip in the azygous vein arch was identified during esophageal cancer surgery, preventing CVC dissection concurrent with azygous vein arch resection.

Efficacy of superficial femoral artery as a recipient in free flap reconstruction around the knee: Four case reports and a literature review.

Purpose: Reconstructing soft tissue defects around the knee with free flaps presents challenges in recipient vessel selection. Although the superficial femoral artery (SFA) offers exposure ease and anatomical stability, concerns arise regarding its distance from the defect site, difficulty in performing anastomosis and potential peripheral ischaemia. This study aimed to reassess the suitability of SFA as a recipient vessel for knee reconstructions by examining our cases and those from previous reports.

Neurosarcoidosis Complicated by Noncommunicating Hydrocephalus with Atypical Presentation, Diagnosed and Treated with Endoscopic Surgery: A Case Report.

Neurosarcoidosis is a condition that is characterized by the occurrence of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas in various organs throughout the body, including the lungs, heart, and central nervous system. It is particularly prevalent in cases of noncommunicating hydrocephalus. While its clinical presentations may vary, neurological deficits such as hemiparesis are extremely uncommon.

Changes in the Articular Cartilage Thickness in Patients with Symptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears: A Prospective Study with a Mean 5-Year Follow-Up.

The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the progression of cartilage thinning in patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears using MRI. Two hundred twenty-five consecutive patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears visited our institute between 2009 and 2019. Of these, 28 shoulders of 27 patients (mean age, 65 years) who underwent at least two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were prospectively enrolled.

Relation between hydroxychloroquine dose and continuation rate in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is recommended at a target dose of 5 mg/kg per actual body weight to reduce the risk of retinopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the efficacy of HCQ has been established at doses of 6.5 mg/kg per ideal body weight.

Adipsic hypernatremia with marked hyperprolactinemia and GH deficiency in a 9-year-old boy.

Adipsic hypernatremia is typically caused by congenital dysplasia of the hypothalamus and pituitary or brain tumors. However, cases of adipsic hypernatremia without underlying organic abnormalities are rare, and some cases have been reported to be complicated by hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. The patient in this case was a 9-yr-old boy who was referred to our hospital because of hypernatremia.

Risk factors for recurrent biliary obstruction following endoscopic biliary stenting in patients with unresectable ampullary cancer: A multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: Unresectable ampullary cancer (AC) is a rare disease entity. The risk factors for recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) following endoscopic biliary stenting (EBS) for unresectable AC remain unknown. In this study we aimed to evaluate the cumulative RBO rate and to identify risk factors for RBO following palliative EBS in patients with unresectable AC.

[A CASE OF A GIRL WITH ANAPHYLAXIS INDUCED BY INHALATION OF SOYBEAN DUST].

The patient was a 3-year-old girl whose father was employed sorting and washing soybeans. She exhibited transient respiratory distress and loss of activity on the same day or the next day after her father came home wearing work clothes with soybean dust on them. One day, she developed anaphylaxis after being lifted into her father's arms while he was wearing his work clothes.

Successful Internal Trapping of Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysm Located between Double Origin of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery, Resulting in Antegrade Blood Flow: A Case Report.

Objective: The double origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (DOPICA) is a rare variant of PICA. Vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA) with DOPICA is an extremely rare occurrence. Herein, we report a case of VADA located between DOPICA that was successfully treated with endovascular internal trapping.

Identification of Rare Variants in Patients With Williams Syndrome and Severe Peripheral Pulmonary Stenosis.

Background: Peripheral pulmonary stenosis (PPS) is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the pulmonary arteries, which impairs blood flow to the lung. The mechanisms underlying PPS pathogenesis remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic background of patients with severe PPS to elucidate the pathogenesis of this condition.

Clinical outcomes of perforator-based propeller flaps versus free flaps in soft tissue reconstruction for lower leg and foot trauma: a retrospective single-centre comparative study.

Background: The efficacy and safety of perforator-based propeller flaps (PPF) versus free flaps (FF) in traumatic lower leg and foot reconstructions are debated. PPFs are perceived as simpler due to advantages like avoiding microsurgery, but concerns about complications, such as flap congestion and necrosis, persist. This study aimed to compare outcomes of PPF and FF in trauma-related distal lower extremity soft tissue reconstruction.

Clinical Outcomes of Total Wrist Arthroplasty in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Minimum 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

Purpose: We developed a semiconstrained total wrist prosthesis that was used in a series of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We previously reported favorable clinical outcomes for up to 5 years after surgery; however, the longer-term outcomes remain unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of this wrist prosthesis for the treatment of severe wrist rheumatoid arthritis during a minimum 10 years of follow-up.

Initial patient demographics affecting return to original work after traumatic hand injury in a rural area in Japan: A retrospective single-center study.

Background: Time off work after traumatic hand injury not only affects individuals but also has socioeconomic repercussions, becoming a serious problem from the viewpoint of labor shortages. In depopulated rural areas, the impact of labor shortages due to time off work is more serious than in urban areas; however, few studies have examined return to original work in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patient demographics at the time of hand injury that affect return to original work in a rural area of Japan.

A simple free flap strategy using end-to-side anastomosis to the main vessels in injured extremity.

Background: During free flap surgery, the surgeon sometimes encounters problems with anastomosis such as intractable arterial spasms or vessel size discrepancy in venous anastomoses. End-to-side (ETS) anastomosis has the advantages of limited chance of vessel spasm and easy handling by adjusting for vessel size discrepancy. We introduced the arterial and venous end-to-side anastomosis (AV-ETS) strategy, which is based on the ETS anastomosis to the main artery and accompanying veins, to avoid intraoperative anastomotic problems when creating a free flap.

Pernicious Anemia in an Adult with Trisomy 21.

Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease caused by the malabsorption of vitamin B12. It usually appears in the elderly. People with trisomy 21 are susceptible to autoimmune diseases.

Dominant-negative type of IKZF1 deletion showed a favorable prognosis in adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

IKZF1 deletion is a recurrent genomic alteration in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and is divided into dominant-negative (DN) and loss of function (LOF) deletions. The prognostic impact of each deletion has not been fully elucidated. We retrospectively analyzed 117 patients with adult B-ALL including 60 patients with BCR::ABL1-positive B-ALL and 57 patients with BCR::ABL1-negative B-ALL by the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method for IKZF1 deletion and multiplex PCR for the 4 most common IKZF1 deletions (∆4-7, ∆2-7, ∆2-8, and ∆4-8).