Ropinirole Patch Versus Placebo, Ropinirole Extended-Release Tablet in Advanced Parkinson's Disease.

Background: A dopamine agonist patch is an important treatment option for PD.

Objectives: A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate superiority of ropinirole hydrochloride patch over placebo and noninferiority to ropinirole hydrochloride extended-release tablet.

Methods: PD patients using levodopa received ropinirole patch (up to 64 mg/d), ropinirole tablets (up to 16 mg/d), or placebo once-daily (double-dummy technique).

Sex difference in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with HCV infection.

Sex differences in the predictors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy was investigated. DAA therapy was given to 1438 (663 male, 775 female) patients. Sex differences in the HCC development rate and the factors contributing to HCC development after DAA therapy were investigated.

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of duloxetine for pain in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Duloxetine proved effective for treating pain in people with Parkinson's disease in a single-arm, open-label study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of duloxetine in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Methods: We randomly assigned 46 patients with Parkinson's disease with pain to either the duloxetine 40 mg/day arm or the placebo arm.

Surveillance of Hepatitis Viruses in Several Small Islands of Japan by Ship: A Public Health Approach for Elimination of Hepatitis Viruses by 2030.

Aim: In 1990, an epidemiological survey by ship in some Japanese islands revealed high prevalence of hepatitis viruses and human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV). A second prevalence study of these viruses were accomplished in 2018, 28 years after initial survey. Analysis of these studies provide insights about strategies of elimination of hepatitis viruses at remote areas.

Treatment intensity and control rates in combining external-beam radiotherapy and radioactive iodine therapy for metastatic or recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer.

Background: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with or without radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) for metastatic or recurrent lesions of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Methods: Between August 1997 and March 2018, 73 lesions (distant metastases, 50; regional lymph-node metastases, 17; postoperative tumor-bed recurrences, 6) in 36 patients that had received EBRT with or without RAIT were reviewed. Doses of EBRT were 8-70 Gy (median 40 Gy).

Acute mitral valve endocarditis at the 24th gestational week.

Infective endocarditis during pregnancy and subsequent cardiac surgery are rare and carry a high mortality risk for both the mother and fetus. We report our experience with a previously healthy, 22-year-old woman affected by acute active mitral endocarditis due to Streptococcus gordonii at the 24th gestational week, who wished to continue with the pregnancy. Due to cardiogenic shock, an intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted.

Low Serum Levels of Zonulin in Patients with HCV-Infected Chronic Liver Diseases.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the implication of Zonulin, a mediator protein synthesized by intestine and the liver,in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six patients with chronic liver diseases due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were enrolled in this study. Out of total 26 patients, 17 were diagnosed as chronic hepatitis (CH) and 9 were patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).

Predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence after direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Aim: The predictors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment were investigated.

Methods: A total of 1174 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection were treated with DAA therapy (sofosbuvir and ledipasvir [n = 615], sofosbuvir and ribavirin [n = 380], and daclatasvir and asunaprevir [n = 179]) and achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). The HCC development rate and the factors that might contribute to the development of HCC after the end of DAA treatment were analyzed.

Relationship between pressure levels on the occipital region and intrafraction motion using an individualized head support for intracranial treatment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pressure on the occipital region and intrafraction motion using an individualized vacuum pillow and a thermoplastic mask for intracranial treatment. We calculated head displacement during treatment from 8811 image verifications in 59 patients and divided them into two groups according to the magnitude of the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the displacement in the 59 patients. Pressure was compared between the small (n = 29) and large (n = 30) displacement groups using Welch's t-test for the mean and SD of displacement.

Current Ventilator and Oxygen Management during General Anesthesia: A Multicenter, Cross-sectional Observational Study.

Background: Intraoperative oxygen management is poorly understood. It was hypothesized that potentially preventable hyperoxemia and substantial oxygen exposure would be common during general anesthesia.

Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted to describe current ventilator management, particularly oxygen management, during general anesthesia in Japan.

Characteristics and Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Japanese Patients Undergoing Dialysis.

Patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing dialysis may be at high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the characteristics and prognosis of HCC in patients undergoing dialysis in Japan. Patients characteristics, progression of HCC at diagnosis, and survival rates after diagnosis were compared between 108 HCC patients undergoing dialysis and 526 non-dialysis patients followed up at liver center.

Efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer: a multicenter review of 895 patients.

Background: The efficacy of chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer has improved. However, it is occasionally difficult to make treatment decisions for elderly patients. We reviewed the outcomes of elderly patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer by using a large cohort and evaluated whether they had received chemotherapy and the reason why.

Macrovascular Complications and Prevalence of Urgency Incontinence in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Dogo Study.

Objective Macrovascular diseases and urgency incontinence are common among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, little evidence exists regarding the association between stroke and urgency incontinence among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We examined the associations between macrovascular complications and urgency incontinence among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Clinical features of hemodialysis patients treated for hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison between resection and radiofrequency ablation.

There is no consensus regarding which therapeutic option is better and/or safer for treating hemodialysis (HD) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study compared surgical resection (Hx) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with regard to therapeutic efficacy in HD patients with HCC. Of 108 HD patients with naïve HCC treated at 15 institutions between 1988 and 2014 enrolled in the present study, 58 fulfilled the up-to-7 criteria [7 as the sum of the size of the largest tumor (cm) and the number of tumors] and were treated with Hx (n=23) or RFA (n=35); their clinical features, complications and prognosis were assessed.

Comparable effect of aliskiren or a diuretic added on an angiotensin II receptor blocker on augmentation index in hypertension: a multicentre, prospective, randomised study.

Background: The effects of antihypertensive drug combination therapy on central blood pressure (BP) and augmentation index (AI) have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the effects of the direct renin inhibitor, aliskiren, or a diuretic added to an angiotensin II receptor blocker on AI in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: A 24-week, prospective, multicentre, randomised, open-label study enrolled 103 patients already treated with valsartan.

Effect of remote ischemia or nicorandil on myocardial injury following percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary artery disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) and nicorandil on periprocedural myocardial injury (pMI) in patients with planned percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains controversial. The aim of this randomized trial was to evaluate the effect of RIPC or nicorandil on pMI following PCI in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with a control group.

Methods: Patients with stable CAD who planned to undergo PCI were assigned to a 1:1:1 ratio to control, RIPC, or intravenous nicorandil (6mg/h).

Predictors of treatment efficacy and ALT non-normalization with sofosbuvir/ribavirin therapy for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2.

The tolerability and efficacy of sofosbuvir and ribavirin in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 were investigated under actual clinical conditions. A total of 208 patients with chronic HCV genotype 2 infection were treated with sofosbuvir 400 mg and ribavirin (weight-based dosing) for 12 weeks. Treatment discontinuation and sustained virological response 12 (SVR12) were evaluated.

Depressive symptoms and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Dogo Study.

In several studies of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, a positive association between depressive symptoms and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been reported. No evidence exists, however, regarding the association between depressive symptoms and ED among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, we examined this issue among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Alcohol consumption and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Baseline data from the Dogo Study.

Diabetes mellitus and heavy alcohol consumption are both associated with vascular disease, a category that includes erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the association between alcohol consumption and ED among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus remains unclear. The aim of the present multicenter cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between drinking frequency, weekly alcohol consumption, daily alcohol consumption, and ED among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients aged <65 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Dogo Study.

Only limited epidemiological evidence exists regarding the relationship between diabetic neuropathy and erectile dysfunction (ED) among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. To investigate the relationship between diabetic neuropathy and ED among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, a multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 287 male Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, age (19-65 years). Diabetic neuropathy was diagnosed if the patients showed two or more of the following three characteristics: neuropathic symptoms, decreased or disappeared Achilles tendon reflex and/or abnormal vibration perception.

Smoking and prevalence of nocturia in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a post-hoc analysis of The Dogo Study.

Aims: No evidence exists regarding the association between smoking status and nocturia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We evaluated this association among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by post-hoc analysis.

Methods: Study subjects were 817 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Early pancreatic volume reduction on CT predicts relapse in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis treated with steroids.

Background: Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is clinically characterized by a response to steroid therapy. Despite having a favorable prognosis, AIP has a high relapse rate and factors predicting relapse in AIP patients treated with steroids have not yet been established.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 32 newly diagnosed type 1 AIP patients who had undergone enhanced computed tomography (CT) pre- and post-steroid therapy.