Characteristics and prognosis of patients with Edwardsiella tarda bacteremia at a single institution, Japan, 2005-2022.

Background: Edwardsiella tarda is a member of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from freshwater and sea. E. tarda infection in humans commonly causes gastroenteritis, but rarely causes bacteremia.

Bim downregulation by activation of NF-κB p65, Akt, and ERK1/2 is associated with adriamycin and dexamethasone resistance in multiple myeloma cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) frequently acquires multidrug resistance (MDR), which is due to poor prognosis. Our previous study indicated that high expression of Survivin and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and decreased expression of Bim are associated with MDR in adriamycin- and dexamethasone-resistant cells. However, the fundamental mechanism of MDR in adriamycin- and dexamethasone-resistant MM cells is still unidentified.

High versus low blood pressure targets for cardiac surgery while on cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Cardiac surgery is performed worldwide. Most types of cardiac surgery are performed using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Cardiac surgery performed with CPB is associated with morbidities.

Morphine Versus Oxycodone for Cancer Pain Using a Catechol-O-methyltransferase Genotype Biomarker: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase III Clinical Trial (RELIEF Study).

Background: We hypothesized that the high-dose opioid requirement in patients carrying the rs4680-GG variant in the COMT gene encoding catechol-O-methyltransferase would be greater for patients taking morphine than for those taking oxycodone, thus providing a much-needed biomarker to inform opioid selection for cancer pain.

Methods: A randomized, multicenter, open-label trial was conducted at a Japanese hospital's palliative care service. Patients with cancer pain treated with regular doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen were enrolled and randomized (1:1) into morphine (group M) and oxycodone (group O) groups.

Clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019-associated pulmonary aspergillosis on mechanical ventilation: A single-center retrospective study in Japan.

Background: Aspergillus is one of the important pathogens that contribute to high mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in intensive care units (ICUs). Although incidence rates of Aspergillus coinfection are high globally, a Japanese national survey reported a low incidence. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis at our institute.

Adverse effect of donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies directed at HLA-DP/-DQ on engraftment in cord blood transplantation.

Background Aims: While donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (DSAs) in the recipient before transplantation are associated with graft failure in cord-blood transplantation (CBT), effects of DSAs other than against HLA-A, -B or -DRB1 on transplantation outcomes remained poorly understood.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 567 single-unit CBT recipients to evaluate impact of DSAs against HLA-DP and -DQ on CBT outcomes.

Results: Among 143 recipients (25.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 in a Japanese Male.

April 2021 saw a widespread outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Osaka, Japan. We encountered the case of a 52-year-old man who had Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). After the relief of the respiratory symptoms owing to COVID-19, the patient experienced muscle weakness, which spread from his fingers to his extremities, and was unable to walk.

MRI features of extraocular muscle metastases compared to those of other extraocular muscle diseases of non-thyroid origin.

Aim: To identify the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of metastases to the extraocular muscles (EOM metastases).

Material And Methods: The MRI features of 19 patients with EOM metastases were compared with those of 24 patients with EOM diseases of non-thyroid origin. MRI was used to assess the number of tumours, morphology, signal intensity on T2-weighted images, enhancement patterns, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.

Evaluating Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Lower Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Measuring Esophageal Wall Thickness.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy for stage II-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on an objective computed tomography method.

Patients And Methods: A total of 82 patients who underwent preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from January 2006 to June 2019 were included. Treatment effect was evaluated by measuring the esophageal wall thickness before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using contrast-enhanced thoracoabdominal computed tomography.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer surgery in Japan: Clinical Study Group of Osaka University-A multicenter retrospective study.

Aim: Due to the overwhelming spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its disruption of the healthcare system, delays and reduced numbers were reported for colorectal cancer screening, colonoscopies, and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This multicenter retrospective study investigated the still poorly understood impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer treatment in Japan.

Methods: This study was organized by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, which comprised 32 major institutions in Osaka.

Comparing the clinical significance and antigen specificity of insulinoma-associated antigen-2 autoantibodies between radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and antigen specificity of autoantibodies to insulinoma-associated antigen-2 (IA-2A) by radioimmunoassay (RIA; IA-2A-RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; IA-2A-ELISA) in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 338 type 1 diabetic patients were enrolled, including 38 fulminant type 1 diabetes, 168 acute-onset type 1 diabetes and 137 slowly-progressive type 1 diabetes (SPIDDM). The concordance, correlation of autoantibody titer, and the relationship between IA-2A and progression to the insulin-deficient state were examined.

Analysis of the risk factors for osteoporosis and its prevalence after gastrectomy for gastric cancer in older patients: a prospective study.

Purpose: Osteoporosis leads to fragility fractures and is a major public health problem. We conducted this study to analyze the prevalence of and risk factors for osteoporosis after gastrectomy in older patients.

Methods: This multicenter prospective trial comprised older patients without recurrence of gastric cancer for > 3 years after curative surgery.

No Association of Early Postoperative Heart Rate With Outcomes After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Elevated perioperative heart rate potentially causes perioperative myocardial injury because of imbalance in oxygen supply and demand. However, large multicenter studies evaluating early postoperative heart rate and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) are lacking.

Objective: To assess the associations of 4 postoperative heart rate assessment methods with in-hospital MACCEs after elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Dimethyl Fumarate Induces Apoptosis via Inhibition of NF-κB and Enhances the Effect of Paclitaxel and Adriamycin in Human TNBC Cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the poorest prognosis of all breast cancer subtypes. Recently, the activation of NF-κB, which is involved in the growth and survival of malignant tumors, has been demonstrated in TNBC, suggesting that NF-κB may serve as a new therapeutic target. In the present study, we examined whether dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an NF-κB inhibitor, induces apoptosis in TNBC cells and enhances the apoptosis-inducing effect of paclitaxel and adriamycin.

Efficacy of electrocoagulation hemostasis: a study on the optimal usage of the very-low-voltage mode.

Background: The very-low-voltage (VLV) mode in electrosurgery can stably and deeply energize tissues even if the local electrical resistance changes with energization. Therefore, in electrosurgical hemostasis, the VLV mode is more reliable than other coagulation modes. In clinical practice, the appropriate use of combined saline drip and blood suction under the VLV mode can further enhance coagulation ability.

[Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy in a Short-Statured Man : A Case Report].

A 72-year-old man, who was extremely short-statured, underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RARP) for treatment of localized prostate cancer (cT1cNOMO). We report a case of congenital vertebral tip dysplasia with type II collagen dysplasia in a patient who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Congenital vertebral tip dysplasia is characterized by short stature, and in this case, the height was 130 cm, which was equivalent to that of an 8-year-old child.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Scalp Arising in a Site of Synthetic Hair Grafts.

Synthetic hair implantation was developed in the 1970s and initially gained popularity until major cutaneous complications, such as facial swelling, severe dermatitis, recurrent cellulitis, and cicatricial alopecia, became an issue. In particular, the procedure has been suggested to have a possible causal relationship with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This article describes the third reported case in the English literature of SCC arising in a site of synthetic hair grafts.

Cellular analysis of SOD1 protein-aggregation propensity and toxicity: a case of ALS with slow progression harboring homozygous SOD1-D92G mutation.

Mutations within Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), accounting for approximately 20% of familial cases. The pathological feature is a loss of motor neurons with enhanced formation of intracellular misfolded SOD1. Homozygous SOD1-D90A in familial ALS has been reported to show slow disease progression.

[Administration Period of Olanzapine as an Antiemetic Drug for Patients on FEC Therapy-A Survey].

Olanzapine(OLZ)is a multi-acting receptor-targeted antipsychotic drug approved in Japan in December 2017 for the treatment of anticancer drug-induced nausea and vomiting. However, the recommended doses and administration periods of OLZ in the literature and guidelines are varied. Reports on the efficacy and safety of OLZ combined with perioperative chemotherapy for breast cancer in Japanese patients are few.

Development and external validation of a deep learning-based computed tomography classification system for COVID-19.

Background: We aimed to develop and externally validate a novel machine learning model that can classify CT image findings as positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Methods: We used 2,928 images from a wide variety of case-control type data sources for the development and internal validation of the machine learning model. A total of 633 COVID-19 cases and 2,295 non-COVID-19 cases were included in the study.

Characteristics of colorectal neuroendocrine tumors in patients prospectively enrolled in a Japanese multicenter study: a first report from the C-NET STUDY.

Background: This is the first report from a multicenter prospective cohort study of colorectal neuroendocrine tumor (NET), the C-NET STUDY, conducted to assess the long-term outcomes of the enrolled patients. This report aimed to elucidate the clinicopathological features of the enrolled patients and lesions.

Methods: Colorectal NET patients aged 20-74 years were consecutively enrolled and followed up at 50 institutions.

Doppler trans-thoracic echocardiography for detection of pulmonary hypertension in adults.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, which leads to a substantial loss of exercise capacity. PH ultimately leads to right ventricular overload and subsequent heart failure and early death. Although early detection and treatment of PH are recommended, due to the limited responsiveness to therapy at late disease stages, many patients are diagnosed at a later stage of the disease because symptoms and signs of PH are nonspecific at earlier stages.