Minimally Invasive Spine Stabilization for Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis: A 23-Case Series and Review of Literature.

The incidence of pyogenic spondylodiscitis has been increasing due to the aging of the population. Although surgical treatment is performed for refractory pyogenic spondylodiscitis, surgical invasiveness should be considered. Recent minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) using percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) can be a less invasive approach.

A Practical Grading Scale for Predicting Outcomes of Radiosurgery for Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: JLGK 1802 Study.

Background And Purpose: To assess the long-term outcomes of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone or embolization and SRS (Emb-SRS) and to develop a grading system for predicting DAVF obliteration.

Methods: This multi-institutional retrospective study included 200 patients with DAVF treated with SRS or Emb-SRS. We investigated the long-term obliteration rate and obliteration-associated factors.

Efficacy and Safety of Naldemedine for Patients with Cancer with Opioid-Induced Constipation in Clinical Practice: A Real-World Retrospective Study.

The efficacy and safety of naldemedine for opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer has not been investigated in clinical practice. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study to assess the effects of naldemedine among 10 Japanese institutions between June 2017 and August 2019. We evaluated the number of defecations 7 days before and after naldemedine administration.

A "Catlike Cry" as a Symptom of Congenital Tracheoesophageal Fistula.

Congenital tracheoesophageal fistula is usually diagnosed at an early age, but may remain undetected into adulthood if atresia is absent and if the fistula is small. A tracheoesophageal fistula should be suspected in patients with unexplained episodes of respiratory distress or pneumonia; however, more subtle signs can be an important symptom for early recognition of the disease. Ono's sign is a well-known symptom of tracheoesophageal fistula, characterized by paroxysmal coughing triggered by swallowing of fluids.

Analysis of subgingival microbiota in monozygotic twins with different severity and progression risk of periodontitis.

The study aims to reveal the composition of subgingival bacteria in monozygotic twins with discordant in severity and progression risk of periodontitis. Microbiome analysis indicated that most bacteria were heritable but differed in their abundance and immune response. The dysbiotic bacteria can be considered as risk markers for periodontitis progression.

Influences of Vitamin B Supplementation on Cognition and Homocysteine in Patients with Vitamin B Deficiency and Cognitive Impairment.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with cognitive impairment, hyperhomocysteinemia, and hippocampal atrophy. However, the recovery of cognition with vitamin B12 supplementation remains controversial. Of the 1716 patients who visited our outpatient clinic for dementia, 83 had vitamin B12 deficiency.

Antimicrobial prescription practices for outpatients with uncomplicated cystitis in Japan.

To promote antimicrobial stewardship, we studied antimicrobial prescription rates for uncomplicated cystitis, a common outpatient disease requiring antibiotic treatment. This multicenter retrospective study was performed from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, in Japan, targeting outpatients aged ≥ 20 years whose medical records revealed International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes suggesting uncomplicated cystitis (N300). The data of 1445 patients were collected and that of 902 patients were analyzed.

Association between the Suita Score and Stroke Recurrence in Patients with First-ever Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective The Suita score is used to predict the 10-year prognosis of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). This study examined the association between the Suita score and stroke recurrence within one year in Japanese patients who experienced first-ever ischemic stroke. Methods This prospective cohort study at a stroke center in Japan included patients who experienced first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Risk stratification for predicting postoperative recurrence/metastasis of colorectal cancer by grade of venous invasion coupled with histological subtype.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) consists of several histological subtypes that greatly affect prognosis. Venous invasion (VI) has been implicated in the postoperative recurrence of CRC, but the relationship between the VI grade and postoperative recurrence in each histological subtype has not been clarified thus far.

Methods: A total of 323 CRCs without distant metastasis at surgery (pathologic stage III or lower), including 152 well-to-moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas (WMDAs), 98 poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas (PDAs), and 64 mucinous adenocarcinomas (MUAs), were analyzed.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors from ovarian cancer: histopathological analysis of survival and local control. A Japanese multi-institutional cooperative and retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Brain metastasis is rare in ovarian cancer patients. The results of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for the treatment of patients with brain metastases from ovarian cancer were retrospectively analyzed to derive the efficacy and prognostic factors for survival and local tumor control. Further histopathological analysis was also performed.

Prior direct oral anticoagulant dosage and outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke and non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A sub-analysis of PASTA registry study.

Background And Purpose: Prescribing under-dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is alerted to increase cardiovascular events or death. However, the association between dose selection of DOACs and the clinical course remains unclear. This study aimed to propose a novel criterion for selecting the DOAC dose and investigate clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke (IS) under this criterion.

The Contribution of Deleterious Rare Alleles in ENPP1 and Osteomalacia Causative Genes to Atypical Femoral Fracture.

Context: Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are very rare atraumatic or mild trauma fractures in the subtrochanteric region or femoral shaft. Some unique genetic variants in Asian populations might confer susceptibility to AFF, since the incidence of AFFs is higher in Asian populations.

Objective: Because rare variants have been found to be causative in some diseases and the roles of osteomalacia causative genes have not been reported, we investigated rare variants in genes causing abnormal mineralization.

Stereotactic radiosurgery results for brain metastasis patients with renal cancer: A validity study of Renal Graded Prognostic Assessment and proposal of a new grading index (JLGK2101 Study).

Background And Purpose: The Renal Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) is relatively new and has not been sufficiently validated using a different dataset. We thus developed a new grading index, the Renal Brain Metastasis Score (Renal-BMS).

Materials And Methods: Using our dataset including 262 renal cancer patients with brain metastases (BMs) undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) (test series), we validity tested the Renal-GPA.

Histopathological Analysis of Decellularized Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa after Treatment of Skin Ulcer.

Background: Decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS), commercialized as an extracellular matrix rich in cell-inducing substrates and factors, has been clinically applied to treat intractable skin ulcers and has shown therapeutic effects. The SIS reportedly induces cell infiltration and integrates with the ulcer bed after 3-7 days of application. The attached SIS degenerates over time, and the remaining mass appears as slough, below which is granulation tissue that is essential for healing.

Rehabilitation in Acute COVID-19 Patients: A Japanese Retrospective, Observational, Multi-Institutional Survey.

Objective: To investigate the changes in activities of daily living (ADLs) and the conditions of rehabilitation for acute COVID-19 patients in Japan.

Design: Retrospective, observational survey.

Setting: Four tertiary hospitals with intensive care units and one secondary hospital in Japan.

[What are the Criteria for Deciding Posterior Cervical Decompression with/without Fusion?].

We herein report on the knowledge regarding posterior cervical decompression with or without posterior fusion mainly performed in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy in the past decade(2011-2020). In cases of preoperative cervical kyphosis >15° in the C2-7 Cobb angle, with a horizontal displacement >3 mm, and severe local kyphosis at an intervertebral space in dynamic lateral radiography, posterior fusion should be considered over laminoplasty. However, a short fusion may be sufficient in cases with apparent single local instability.

Various effects of nutritional status on clinical outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Although the assessment of nutrition is essential for stroke patients, detailed associations between nutritional status at admission, subsequent complications, and clinical outcomes in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are unclear. We aimed to elucidate these associations using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score. Consecutive patients with acute ICH were investigated.

Real-World Patient Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Naldemedine for the Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Chart Review Study.

: Naldemedine is a peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonist that improves opioid-induced constipation. Although clinical trials have excluded patients with poor performance status (PS) and those started on naldemedine early after opioid initiation, clinical practice has used naldemedine for the same patients. Therefore, we investigated the treatment patterns of naldemedine in a real-world setting.

Pneumonia incidence and oral health management by dental hygienists in long-term care facilities: A 1-year prospective multicentre cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the association between oral health management (OHM) by dental hygienists and the occurrence of pneumonia, and determine the effectiveness of OHM in pneumonia prevention.

Background: In long-term care facilities in Japan, the need for professional OHM is increasing with an increase in the number of severely debilitated residents.

Materials And Methods: A 1-year prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted using data from 504 residents (63 men; mean age: 87.

Temporal Validation of an Assessment Tool that Predicts a Possibility of Home Discharge for Patients with Acute Stroke.

Objectives: Several prediction models have been developed to assess discharge destinations for patients with acute stroke; however, few studies have performed external validation. We aimed to perform a temporal external validation of a prediction tool to identify stroke patients with a high possibility of discharge to home.

Materials And Methods: From December 2017 to July 2019, consecutive patients with acute stroke were included.

Bidirectional Sling Technique with Biopsy Forceps for Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval.

Although the importance of the retrieval of an optional inferior vena cava filter (o-IVCF) has gained attention because of the awareness of a high complication rate with long indwelling time, the o-IVCF retrieval rate remains low. The advanced retrieval technique of o-IVCF may increase the retrieval rate, which in turn diminishes future adverse events. Through two cases, we describe how to perform the novel approach "bidirectional sling technique with biopsy forceps.

Characteristics of Ischemic Versus Hemorrhagic Stroke in Patients Receiving Oral Anticoagulants: Results of the PASTA Study.

Objective Limited data exist regarding the comparative detailed clinical characteristics of patients with ischemic stroke (IS)/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) receiving oral anticoagulants (OACs). Methods The prospective analysis of stroke patients taking oral anticoagulants (PASTA) registry, a multicenter registry of 1,043 stroke patients receiving OACs [vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOACs)] across 25 medical institutions throughout Japan, was used. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to analyze differences in clinical characteristics between IS/TIA and ICH patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were registered in the PASTA registry.