Four Cases of Proximal Release-Type Colon Stents for Obstructive Rectal Cancer.

Malignant colonic obstruction can cause necrosis, bacterial translocation, electrolytic imbalance, and death; therefore, immediate decompression should be performed. Self-expandable metallic colonic stents are an established treatment for the decompression of malignant colonic obstructions. The use of stents that open from the distal side, which have been commonly used until now, requires caution because placing a stent on the dentate line can cause severe pain, and there is a possibility of cutting the stent during rectal resection of the distal side of the tumor.

Factors associated with symptomatic urinary tract infection in persons with spinal cord lesions who perform clean intermittent catheterization with single-use catheters.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with symptomatic urinary tract infection (sUTI) in persons with chronic spinal cord lesion (SCL) who were using single-use catheters for intermittent self-catheterization (ISC).

Methods: Among respondents to an internet survey on the burden of illness on persons with SCL who were considered to be able to perform ISC, 111 persons using single-use catheters were included to examine factors associated with self-reported sUTI by univariate as well as multivariable analysis.

Results: The incidence of sUTI was significantly higher in males than in females (56.

Edoxaban, Rivaroxaban, or Apixaban for Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism in the Real World: Insights from the COMMAND VTE Registry-2.

Background:  Real-world data on clinical characteristics and outcomes related to the use of different direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) is lacking.

Methods:  The COMMAND VTE Registry-2 is a multicenter registry enrolling 5,197 consecutive patients with acute symptomatic VTE from 31 centers in Japan from January 2015 to August 2020. Our study population comprised 1,197 patients with active cancer who were divided into the edoxaban ( = 643, 54%), rivaroxaban ( = 297, 25%), and apixaban ( = 257, 22%) groups.

Glaucoma progression due to refraining examination amid the pandemic of COVID-19.

Purpose: Some patients refrained from seeking an ophthalmologist due to the anxiety and morbidity associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We investigated progressive visual field defects in patients with glaucoma who refrained from ophthalmological examinations.

Methods: This was a retrospective study.

Ten-year fracture risk in Japanese patients with myasthenia gravis: A comprehensive assessment using the fracture risk assessment tool.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune disorder that causes muscle weakness with an increasing prevalence, particularly among the elderly in Japan. Glucocorticoid treatment for MG is problematic for bone health because of reduced bone density and increased fracture risk. The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX®) can estimate fracture risk, but its applicability in patients with MG remains uncertain.

Two cases of laparoscopic deroofing of giant liver cysts using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging.

Laparoscopic deroofing (LD) for giant liver cysts using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging was performed in two patients: a 53-year-old man with a 26-cm, symptomatic cyst and a 50-year-old woman with a 13-cm, symptomatic cyst. ICG fluorescence imaging can be used to easily identify the boundary between the liver parenchyma and the liver cyst. No postoperative bile leakage was observed in both patients.

Safety and effectiveness of certolizumab pegol in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Up to 3-year results from a postmarketing surveillance study.

Objectives: To report up to 3-year safety and effectiveness of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis from a postmarketing surveillance study.

Methods: Patients enrolled previously completed 24 weeks of CZP in the 24-week postmarketing surveillance study. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were recorded for patients who received ≥1 CZP dose.

Comparative Study of Postmortem MRI and Pathological Findings in Malignant Brain Tumors.

This study compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of postmortem brain specimens with neuropathological findings to evaluate the value of postmortem MRI. Postmortem MRI was performed on five formalin-fixed whole brains with malignant tumors. Postmortem T2-weighted images detected all neuropathological abnormalities as high-signal regions but also showed histological tumor invasion in areas without edema.

Impact of High-Voltage Device Implantation in Elderly Japanese Patients With Heart Failure as Primary Prevention - Post Hoc Analysis of HINODE.

Background: Despite an increased incidence of chronic heart failure (HF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD), the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is much lower in Japan than in Western countries. The HF Indication and SCD Prevention Trial Japan (HINODE) prospectively assessed the mortality rate, appropriately treated ventricular arrhythmias (VA), and HF in Japanese patients with a higher risk of HF.

Methods and results: HINODE consisted of ICD, CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D), pacing, and non-device treatment cohorts.

[Pouchitis showed complete response to ustekinumab].

Pouchitis is the most common long-term complication following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients with ulcerative colitis. Although several agents, including probiotics, steroids, and immunomodulators, have been used, the treatment of pouchitis remains challenging. Owing to the proven efficacy of biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease, there is now growing evidence suggesting the potential benefits of biological therapy in refractory pouchitis.

Three-year efficacy and safety of omidenepag isopropyl in patients with normal tension glaucoma.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the 3-year efficacy and safety of single-agent omidenepag isopropyl in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).

Study Design: Retrospective.

Methods: One hundred patients (100 eyes) who had newly been administered omidenepag isopropyl were enrolled in this study.

The Absorb GT1 Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold System - 5-Year Post-Market Surveillance Study in Japan.

Background: The 1-year clinical outcomes of the Absorb GT1 Japan post-market surveillance (PMS) suggested that an appropriate intracoronary imaging-guided bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation technique may reduce the risk of target lesion failure (TLF) and scaffold thrombosis (ST) associated with the Absorb GT1 BVS. The long-term outcomes through 5 years are now available.

Methods and results: This study enrolled 135 consecutive patients (n=139 lesions) with ischemic heart disease in whom percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the Absorb GT1 BVS was attempted.