Comparison of Open Microscopic and Biportal Endoscopic Approaches in Multi-Level Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy: Radiological and Clinical Outcomes.

This study compares clinical and radiological outcomes of open microscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) and biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) PCF in multi-level cases. While BESS PCF is effective in single-level surgeries, its role in multi-level procedures remains unclear. : This retrospective cohort study included 60 patients treated for cervical radiculopathy from 2016 to 2023, divided into two groups, open microscopic PCF (Group M, = 30) and BESS PCF (Group B, = 30).

The Efficacy of FOLFIRI Plus Ramucirumab in Recurrent Colorectal Cancer Refractory to Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin/Fluoropyrimidine-Including Biomarker Analyses.

Background: FOLFIRI (5-FU + leucovorin + irinotecan) plus ramucirumab is one of the standards in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients progressing after treatment with oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine with bevacizumab, but there is no evidence on its efficacy without prior bevacizumab. Moreover, VEGF-D has not been confirmed as a predictive biomarker for ramucirumab's efficacy, either.

Methods: The RAINCLOUD study was a multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial conducted in Japan.

Ibuprofen-Induced Multiple Fixed Drug Eruption Confirmed by Re-Challenge: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a type of drug-induced skin inflammation characterized by the recurrence of lesions in the same region following repeated exposure to the causative drug. FDE typically presents as localized spots or plaques without systemic symptoms; however, it can manifest in other forms, such as blisters and papules. In FDE, effector memory CD8-positive T cells that remain dormant in the basal layer after a previous inflammation are reactivated upon re-exposure to the causative drug, leading to the development of erythema at the same sites.

Annual report on National Clinical Database 2021 for gastroenterological surgery in Japan.

Aim: The Japanese National Clinical Database, which covers more than 95% of the surgeries performed in Japan, is the largest nationwide database. This is the 2021 annual report of the Gastroenterological Section of the National Clinical Database, which aims to present the short-term outcomes of cases registered in 2021 and discuss significant changes and insights into gastroenterological surgeries observed over the decade.

Methods: We reviewed the data of patients registered in the National Clinical Database between 2012 and 2021.

Effectiveness of tacrolimus therapy in refractory ulcerative colitis compared to infliximab with propensity score matching.

There is insufficient evidence comparing the outcomes of tacrolimus-based remission induction therapy with infliximab in refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) and evidence regarding optimal strategies after tacrolimus-based remission induction therapy. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study of patients with UC treated with tacrolimus or infliximab between January 2010 and March 2019. The proportion of clinical remission at week 8 and cumulative colectomy-free rate were examined using propensity score matching analysis.

National and regional trends in the prevalence of Perthes' disease among the male population in South Korea.

Aims: We evaluated the national and regional trends from 2013 to 2022, in the prevalence of Perthes' disease among adolescent males in South Korea.

Methods: This retrospective, nationwide, population-based study included a total of 3,166,669 Korean adolescent males examined at regional Military Manpower Administration (MMA) offices over ten years. Data from the MMA were retrospectively collected to measure the national and regional prevalence per 100,000 and 95% CI of Perthes' disease according to the year (1 January 2013 to 31 December 2022) and history of pelvic and/or femoral osteotomy in South Korea.

Relationship between Heated Tobacco Product Use and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2018-2021 (VII-1 and VIII).

Background: The use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) among Korean adults has been steadily increasing since they were first introduced in 2017. It is known that smoking combustible cigarettes (CCs) adversely affects the serum lipid profile and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the health impacts of HTPs remain under- researched.

A Case of Early-Stage Lower Uterine Segment Carcinoma With Hysteroscopic Observation of Visual Changes Induced by a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Antagonist.

Endometrial carcinomas in the isthmus are called lower uterine segment (LUS) cancers. It is a rare location among uterine cancers and is known to be associated with Lynch syndrome, which tends to occur at a young age. Preoperative diagnosis may be difficult due to its anatomical location, and the prognosis is poorer than that of uterine cancer in general.

Four cardiomyopathy patients with a heterozygous DSG2 p.Arg119Ter variant.

DSG2, encoding desmoglein-2, is one of the causative genes of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. We previously identified a homozygous DSG2 p.Arg119Ter stop-gain variant in a patient with juvenile-onset cardiomyopathy and advanced biventricular heart failure.

Effects of Vacuum Phenomenon on Cage Subsidence and Fusion Outcomes in Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Cohort Study.

Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) is a minimally invasive technique used to manage degenerative lumbar conditions. The presence of vacuum phenomenon (VP) and associated endplate sclerosis may increase the risk of cage subsidence. This study evaluated the relationship between VP grade, endplate sclerosis, and subsidence in OLIF.

Outcomes of Surgical Resection of Primary Lung Cancer After Pancreatic Cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic significance of lung resection for primary lung cancer after pancreatic cancer surgery in contemporary cases.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who had lung nodules and performed pulmonary resection after pancreatic cancer surgery at seven hospitals affiliated with the Thoracic Surgery Study Group of Osaka University between January 2009 and December 2021. Patients in which surgery was performed for biopsy purposes, those with a history of other cancers with potential for lung metastasis, patients who did not give their consent for enrollment, and patients determined to be ineligible by the attending physician were excluded from the study.

Critical heart failure associated with beta-blocker-induced cardiac phospholipidosis: a case report.

Background: Drug-induced phospholipidosis (DIPL) is an acquired lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of lamellar bodies and phospholipids, typically associated with the use of cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs). Over 200 marketed CADs, including widely prescribed β-blockers, have the potential to induce phospholipid deposition in various organs. In rare cases, DIPL may lead to secondary cardiomyopathy.

Onychomycosis with gray-green staining caused by .

We report a case of onychomycosis due to Fusarium solani with gray-green staining, which improved after nail plate removal and antifungal liquid of effinaconazole. Fungal cultures revealed light-brown and dark-green colonies. Gray-green nail might have occurred due to the combination of these colonies, which necessitated differentiation from green nail.

Comparative analysis of gut microbiota in hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer in Japanese men.

Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development and progression of prostate cancer, with previous studies indicating that certain bacterial taxa are more abundant in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) compared to hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC). Notably, the composition of gut microbiota can vary significantly by geographic region, and Japanese individuals have a distinct microbial profile. However, research exploring these differences within Japanese populations remains limited.

Thrombus Extruded From the Re-Entry Point of an Aortic Dissection in the Common Carotid Artery.

This case highlights the fact that in Stanford type A aortic dissection, there are cases of re-entry points in the common carotid artery from which thrombus protrudes. If it is a thrombus, there is a possibility of embolization, requiring immediate therapeutic intervention.

Selection of anti-cytokine biologics by pretreatment levels of serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) can monitor disease activities during biologics treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is unclear whether the pretreatment serum LRG level can predict clinical effectiveness including serum trough levels of ustekinumab in patients with IBD. This multicenter prospective cohort study included 184 patients (Crohn's disease, 104; ulcerative colitis, 80) who received ustekinumab (n = 119) or anti-tumor necrosis factor (n = 65) between January 2019 and March 2023.

Efficacy and safety of LB-P9 on hair health: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Numerous factors influence hair health, including genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, stress, nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions, or medications. With the rising interest in maintaining hair health, alternative approaches such as functional cosmetics and food products are gaining attention. Probiotics, health-beneficial live microorganisms, are emerging as potential candidates for improving hair health.