Significance of prophylactic urethrectomy at the time of radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Background: Prophylactic urethrectomy at the time of radical cystectomy is frequently recommended for patients with bladder cancer at a high risk of urethral recurrence without definitive evidence. The present study attempted to clarify the survival benefits of performing prophylactic urethrectomy.

Methods: We identified 214 male patients who were treated by radical cystectomy with an incontinent urinary diversion in our seven institutions between 2004 and 2017.

A prospective cohort study on the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in Japanese patients with relapsed ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.

Objective: this prospective cohort study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in Japanese patients with relapsed ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.

Methods: in this study, 40 Japanese patients with relapsed ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer selected to receive bevacizumab with chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients in poor general condition were excluded.

A prospective feasibility study of one-year administration of adjuvant S-1 therapy for resected biliary tract cancer in a multi-institutional trial (Tokyo Study Group for Biliary Cancer: TOSBIC01).

Background: Although surgery is the definitive curative treatment for biliary tract cancer (BTC), outcomes after surgery alone have not been satisfactory. Adjuvant therapy with S-1 may improve survival in patients with BTC. This study examined the safety and efficacy of 1 year adjuvant S-1 therapy for BTC in a multi-institutional trial.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Low Free Testosterone Levels in Japanese Men with Well-controlled Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Background: The change in the prevalence of hypogonadism with age in men with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is subject to debate.

Objective: To address this issue, we diagnosed hypogonadism based on serum levels of free testosterone (fTST) rather than total testosterone which is thought to be an inaccurate indicator. We also determined the relationship between age and fTST levels and identified risk factors for hypogonadism in men with HIV infection.

Discrepancy in recognition of symptom burden among patients with atrial fibrillation.

Our aim was to investigate the variability in physician recognition of atrial fibrillation (AF)-related symptoms, which greatly contributes to the management of AF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 1493 newly-referredAF patients (67 ± 11 y/o, 1057 men) consecutively registered in an outpatient-based Japanese multicenter database (KiCS-AF) from September 2012 to December 2016 were analyzed. Self-reportedAF symptom burden was assessed via symptom and daily activities domains within the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life (AFEQT) questionnaire.

Exploring Triaging and Short-Term Outcomes of Early Invasive Strategy in Non-ST Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Report from Japanese Multicenter Registry.

This observational study aimed to examine the extent of early invasive strategy (EIS) utilization in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) according to the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) CathPCI risk score, and its association with clinical outcomes. Using a prospective multicenter Japanese registry, 2968 patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention within 72 hours of hospital arrival were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of EIS utilization.

Horibe GI bleeding prediction score: a simple score for triage decision-making in patients with suspected upper GI bleeding.

Background And Aims: Although upper GI bleeding (UGIB) is a significant cause of inpatient admissions, no scoring method has proven to be accurate and simple as a standard for triage purposes. Therefore, we compared a previously described 3-variable score (1 point each for absence of daily proton pump inhibitor use in the week before the index presentation, shock index [heart rate/systolic blood pressure] ≥1, and blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ≥30 [urea/creatinine≥140]), the Horibe gAstRointestinal BleedING scoRe (HARBINGER), with the 8-variable Glasgow-Blatchford Score (GBS) and 5-variable AIMS65 to evaluate and validate the accuracy in predicting high-risk features that warrant admission and urgent endoscopy.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with suspected UGIB between 2012 and 2015 were prospectively enrolled in 3 acute care Japanese hospitals.

Epicardial adipose tissue is tightly associated with exercise intolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with asymptomatic left ventricular structural and functional abnormalities.

Aims: This study aimed to elucidate whether the volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with left ventricular (LV) structural and functional abnormalities and exercise capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: EAT thickness and LV structural and functional abnormality components (e.g.

[Impact of Respiratory Waveform on Gate Signal Generation on Respiratory Gated Irradiation and Evaluation Method of Respiratory Waveform to Be Used].

Purpose: The respiratory gated irradiation using the real-time position management system (RPM) was used to clarify the generation of the gated signal when the respiration waveform changed, and also the evaluation method of the respiration waveform was also examined.

Methods: The respiratory waveform was changed using a moving phantom. Respiratory waveform was analyzed from the data recorded in RPM, and the out-of-phase gated rate was examined.

A Novel Risk-based Approach Simulating Oncological Surveillance After Radical Nephroureterectomy in Patients with Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: The current guideline lacks evidence for creating individualized surveillance strategies for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Objective: To create a novel risk model and to simulate individualized surveillance duration that dynamically illustrates the changing risk relationship of UTUC-related death and non-UTUC death, considering the impact of cigarette smoking.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter cohort study comprised 714 pTa-T4N0M0 UTUC patients, with a median follow-up duration of 65mo.

Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes of Laparoscopic Versus Open Radical Nephroureterectomy for Patients with T3N0M0 Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Multicenter Cohort Study with Adjustment by Propensity Score Matching.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LRNU) and open radical nephroureterectomy (ORNU) for patients with clinical and pathologic T3N0M0 upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: Among 375 UTUC patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy, this study identified 144 pT3N0M0 patients as cohort 1 after propensity score (PS) matching. Among 399 UTUC patients, the study identified 110 cT3N0M0 patients as cohort 2 after PS matching.

Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in children by vaccine dose, 2013-18.

Objectives: We assessed the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) by vaccine dose in children aged 6 months to 12 years for whom two doses are recommended in Japan to ascertain the appropriate vaccine doses.

Methods: VE was assessed according to a test-negative case-control design based on rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) results. Children aged 6 months to 12 years with a fever ≥38 °C who had received an RIDT in outpatient clinics of 24 hospitals were enrolled for all five seasons since 2013/14.

Comparison of Coronary Culprit Lesion Morphology Determined by Optical Coherence Tomography and Relation to Outcomes in Patients Diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome During Winter -vs- Other Seasons.

Patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during winter have worse outcomes; however, mechanisms driving this trend are unclear. We examined coronary culprit lesion morphologies using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Features and outcomes were retrospectively compared between patients admitted with ACS in winter (W-ACS; n = 390) and in other seasons (O-ACS; n = 1,027).

Complete Genome Sequences of Staphylococcus argenteus TWCC 58113, Which Bears Two Plasmids.

TWCC 58113 was isolated from a specimen from a 12-year-old boy with purulent lymphadenitis. The TWCC 58113 genome was completely sequenced. The TWCC 58113 chromosome was 2,761,442 bp in size with a GC content of 32.

Round pneumonia due to in a child.

Round pneumonia is a disease commonly recognized in the pediatric age group, especially under the age of 8 years. is the most common agent causing this characteristic type of pneumonia. We herein report a case of a 6-year-old boy with only mild cough and low-grade fever who was then diagnosed with round pneumonia due to .

Local recurrence of diminutive colorectal polyps after cold forceps polypectomy with jumbo forceps followed by magnified narrow-band imaging: a multicenter prospective study.

Background: Cold polypectomy has been increasingly used to remove diminutive colorectal polyps. We evaluated the local recurrence rate of diminutive polyps at the 1-year follow-up after cold forceps polypectomy (CFP).

Methods: In a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study, patients with diminutive colorectal polyps ( ≤ 5 mm) were treated by CFP using jumbo forceps followed by magnified narrow-band imaging (NBI).

VEGF-C and Mortality in Patients With Suspected or Known Coronary Artery Disease.

Background The lymphatic system has been suggested to play an important role in cholesterol metabolism and cardiovascular disease. However, the relationships of vascular endothelial growth factor-C ( VEGF -C), a central player in lymphangiogenesis, with mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease are unknown. Methods and Results We performed a multicenter, prospective cohort study of 2418 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease undergoing elective coronary angiography.

Stroke After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Era of Transradial Intervention.

Background: Periprocedural stroke is a rare but life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Transradial intervention (TRI) is more beneficial than transfemoral intervention for periprocedural bleeding and acute kidney injuries, but its effect on periprocedural stroke has not been fully investigated. Our study aimed to assess risk predictors of periprocedural stroke according to PCI access site.

Contemporary trend of reduced-dose non-vitamin K anticoagulants in Japanese patients with atrial fibrillation: A cross-sectional analysis of a multicenter outpatient registry.

Background: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been widely used to prevent stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. Stringent monitoring is not required for NOACs, albeit dose adjustments are needed based on specific patient factors, such as renal function, body weight and age, or concomitant medications. We investigated the NOAC dosing patterns and evaluated the predictors of the non-standardized dose reduction (NSDR).

Efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin plus prednisolone therapy in patients with Kawasaki disease (Post RAISE): a multicentre, prospective cohort study.

Background: The RAISE study showed that additional prednisolone improved coronary artery outcomes in patients with Kawasaki disease at high risk of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance. However, no studies have been done to test the steroid regimen used in the RAISE study. We therefore aimed to verify the efficacy and safety of primary IVIG plus prednisolone.

Effects of body habitus on contrast-induced acute kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Limiting the contrast volume to creatinine clearance (V/CrCl) ratio is crucial for preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the incidence of CI-AKI and the distribution of V/CrCl ratios may vary according to patient body habitus.

Objective: We aimed to identify the clinical factors predicting CI-AKI in patients with different body mass indexes (BMIs).

Inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness and an analysis of repeated vaccination for children during the 2016/17 season.

Objectives: We assessed the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in children 6 months to 15 years of age during the 2016/17 season. In addition, we estimated the impact of repeated vaccination in children on VE.

Methods: Our study for VEs in preventing influenza and admission due to influenza were conducted according to a test-negative case-control design (TNCC) based on influenza rapid diagnostic test results.

Transient Pulmonary Interstitial Lesions in Aquaporin-4-positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

We herein report the case of a 76-year old man with aquaporin-4-Immunoglobulin-G (AQP4-IgG)-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), in whom transient interstitial pulmonary lesions developed at the early stage of the disease. Chest X-ray showed multiple infiltrative shadows in both upper lung fields, and computed tomography revealed abnormal shadows distributed randomly in the lungs. Surgical lung biopsy showed features of unclassifiable interstitial pneumonia, characterized by various types of air-space organization, which resulted in obscure lung structure.