Autistic symptoms and clinical features of individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and first-episode psychosis.

Introduction: Autistic symptoms in schizophrenia are reportedly associated with cognitive and social functions. However, few studies have investigated the association between autistic symptoms and clinical features in individuals with a clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and first-episode psychosis (FEP). We aimed to determine the association between autistic symptoms and clinical features in a cohort of individuals with CHR-P or FEP.

Drug-induced liver injury related to avacopan therapy.

Objectives: The efficacy of avacopan as remission induction therapy for Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is well-established. However, concerns regarding liver injury post-avacopan treatment remain, especially in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate drug-induced liver injury (DILI) associated with avacopan treatment.

Increased structural covariance of cortical measures in individuals with an at-risk mental state.

An anomalous pattern of structural covariance has been reported in schizophrenia, which has been suggested to represent connectome changes during brain maturation and neuroprogressive processes. It remains unclear whether similar differences exist in a clinical high-risk state for psychosis, and if they are associated with a prodromal phenotype and/or later psychosis onset. This multicenter magnetic resonance imaging study cross-sectionally examined structural covariance in a large at-risk mental state (ARMS) sample with different outcomes.

Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Ankle Osteoarthritis Affects Contralateral Ankle Alignment and Postoperative Outcome of Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: This study investigated the impact of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on the alignment of the ankle joint, focusing on changes in coronal alignment of both ankles.

Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at our hospital, included 64 patients older than 70 years who underwent TKA for varus knee osteoarthritis (OA). Using full-length standing radiographs of both lower extremities taken preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively, we assessed ankle OA grading based on the Takakura-Tanaka classification and measured mechanical hip-knee-ankle (mHKA) and the tibiotalar angle (TTA) on both the surgical and contralateral side.

Ureteral cancer successfully treated with laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with temporary intraoperative occlusion of the internal iliac artery for pelvic arteriovenous malformation.

Introduction: Pelvic arteriovenous malformation is often a source of intraoperative bleeding. Here, we report our experience with a case of ureteral cancer with pelvic arteriovenous malformation treated using laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with temporary intraoperative occlusion of the internal iliac artery.

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old man presented to our hospital with asymptomatic macro-hematuria.

Skin health survey on atopic dermatitis among Japanese children: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Background: Precise skin phenotypic data are indispensable in accurately diagnosing atopic dermatitis (AD). Therefore, this study examined the interobserver concordance for AD and non-AD diagnoses between two dermatologists. AD prevalence determined by the self-reported physician diagnoses and the diagnoses determined from the United Kingdom (UK) diagnostic criteria were compared with the diagnoses made by the two dermatologists, using data from a skin health survey.

Rapid deterioration of steatotic liver disease due to portal vein stenosis after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Steatotic liver disease after pancreatoduodenectomy occurs due to various factors, such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, impaired intestinal absorption, and malnutrition. The mechanism of steatogenesis differs to that of conventional steatotic liver disease associated with obesity and insulin resistance. We experienced a rare case of rapidly progressive steatotic liver disease accompanied by portal vein stenosis in the early postoperative period after subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Endothelium-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Expressing Intercellular Adhesion Molecules Reflect Endothelial Permeability and Sepsis Severity.

Background: Currently, clinical indicators for evaluating endothelial permeability in sepsis are unavailable. Endothelium-derived extracellular vesicles (EDEVs) are emerging as biomarkers of endothelial injury. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin are constitutively expressed endothelial intercellular adhesion molecules that regulate intercellular adhesion and permeability.

Increase in Acute Cholecystitis and Laparoscopic Resection after COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Single Center Experience.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as viral pandemic in the year 2019 and surgical intervention was forced to be restricted during the pandemic. This study aims to compare the perioperative outcomes of surgeries for acute cholecystitis in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the demographic and perioperative data of 246 cholecystectomy cases performed between June 2017 and November 2022.

Prophylactic management of cerebral vasospasm with clazosentan in real clinical practice: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Clazosentan, a selective endothelin receptor subtype A antagonist, reduces vasospasm-related morbidity and all-cause mortality following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the Japanese population, as demonstrated by a recent randomized phase 3 trial. However, evidence to suggest clazosentan should be prioritized over the current standard of care to prevent cerebral vasospasm is still lacking. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy and safety of clazosentan in comparison with conventional postoperative management in real-world clinical practice.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide distribution and its relevant factors in the general adult population and its healthy subpopulation.

Background: Measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) has been used in the diagnosis and management of asthma. Understanding the distribution of Feno in a larger resident population and its "healthy" subpopulation would contribute to the interpretation of Feno in clinical practice.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the distribution and its associated factors in the adult population and its healthy subpopulations.

Association between being breastfed in infancy and adult colorectal cancer risk among Japanese men and women.

It has been postulated that being breastfed in infancy affects not only health status in childhood but also disease risk in adulthood. To investigate the association of being breastfed with the risks of adult colorectal cancer and benign tumor, we conducted a case-control study including 1190 colorectal cancer and 1585 benign tumor cases and 5301 controls, admitted to a single hospital in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, between 1997 and 2013. History of having been breastfed was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire, and odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression.

Two Cases of a Portal Annular Pancreas in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Introduction: Portal annular pancreas (PAP) is a congenital anomaly resulting from aberrant fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds around the portal vein (PV). PAP was classified into three types by Joseph et al., based on the location of the main pancreatic duct around the PV.

Risk stratification of synchronous gastric cancers including alcohol-related genetic polymorphisms.

Background And Aim: We previously identified that ever-smoking and severe gastric atrophy in pepsinogen are risk factors for synchronous gastric cancers (SGCs). This study aimed to determine the association of alcohol drinking status or alcohol-related genetic polymorphism with SGCs and also stratify their risk.

Methods: This multi-center prospective cohort study included patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for the initial early gastric cancers at 22 institutions in Japan.

Tumor Response Predicts Survival Time of Nivolumab Monotherapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Subgroup Analysis of the DELIVER Trial (JACCRO GC-08).

Background: This prospective observational study evaluated the real-world effectiveness of nivolumab monotherapy in previously treated advanced gastric cancer (GC). A preplanned 2-year final analysis was performed to confirm survival and tumor behavior with nivolumab monotherapy.

Patients And Methods: The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS).

Identification of Siglec-1-negative alveolar macrophages with proinflammatory phenotypes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) orchestrate persistent inflammation in the airway. However, subpopulations of AMs participating in chronic inflammation have been poorly characterized. We previously reported that Siglec-1 expression on AMs, which is important for bacteria engulfment, was decreased in COPD.