Blood Pressure Level and Variability During Long-Term Prasugrel or Clopidogrel Medication After Stroke: PRASTRO-I.

Background And Purpose: High blood pressure increases bleeding risk during treatment with antithrombotic medication. The association between blood pressure levels and the risk of recurrent stroke during long-term secondary stroke prevention with thienopyridines (particularly prasugrel) has not been well studied.

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of the randomized, double-blind, multicenter PRASTRO-I trial (Comparison of Prasugrel and Clopidogrel in Japanese Patients With Ischemic Stroke-I).

Safety and activity of trifluridine/tipiracil and ramucirumab in previously treated advanced gastric cancer: an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Background: Findings of preclinical and clinical trials in colorectal cancer have shown promising antitumour effects of the co-formulation trifluridine/tipiracil and VEGF inhibition. We aimed to investigate the safety and activity of trifluridine/tipiracil and ramucirumab for previously treated advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: We did an open-label, single-arm, two-cohort, phase 2 study at eight centres in Japan.

Benefit of Early Add-on of Linagliptin to Insulin in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Randomized-Controlled Open-Label Trial (TRUST2).

Introduction: This trial was conducted to assess the long-term safety, efficacy, and benefit of early add-on of linagliptin to insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This trial enrolled 246 subjects. The subjects were randomized to the linagliptin group or the control group and were observed for 156 weeks.

[Ascending Colon Cancer with Hemophilia A Treated with Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy under Control of a Blood Coagulant Factor-A Case Report].

Here, we report a case of ascending colon cancer successfully treated with laparoscopic right hemicolectomy in a 74- year-old man with a medical history of hemophilia A. He was admitted to our hospital because of bloody stool and diagnosed with type 2 ascending colon cancer based on colonoscopy findings. Preoperatively, blood transfusion and administration of recombinant factor Ⅷ products were performed.

A case of "ETV6-FISH-negative" secretory carcinoma of the parotid gland: immunohistochemical study.

Secretory carcinoma of the salivary glands is a relatively new disease concept, and is characterized by "morphological resemblance to mammary secretory carcinoma and ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion." Herein we describe a confusing case and briefly discuss practical diagnostic problems. The patient was a 71-year-old Japanese man who had a tumor consistent with secretory carcinoma at the microscopic and immunohistochemical levels.

Prognostic value of desmoplastic reaction characterisation in stage II colon cancer: prospective validation in a Phase 3 study (SACURA Trial).

Background: The characterisation of desmoplastic reaction (DR) has emerged as a new, independent prognostic determinant in colorectal cancer. Herein, we report the validation of its prognostic value in a randomised controlled study (SACURA trial).

Methods: The study included 991 stage II colon cancer patients.

Histologic factors associated with nintedanib efficacy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Histopathologic factors predictive of nintedanib efficacy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have not been studied. We aimed to describe the characteristics, focusing on histopathology, of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients who did and did not respond to nintedanib.

Methods: This study retrospectively examined the clinicoradiopathologic features of 40 consecutive patients with surgical lung biopsy-confirmed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treated with nintedanib.

Occurrence and incidence rate of peripheral intravascular catheter-related phlebitis and complications in critically ill patients: a prospective cohort study (AMOR-VENUS study).

Background: The lack of precise information on the epidemiology of peripheral intravascular catheter (PIVC)-related phlebitis and complications in critically ill patients results in the absence of appropriate preventive measures. Therefore, we aimed to describe the epidemiology of the use of PIVCs and the incidence/occurrence of phlebitis and complications in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: This prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in 23 ICUs in Japan.

Activation of Serum/Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinase 1/Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway Are Correlated with Low Sensitivity to Bortezomib and Ixazomib in Resistant Multiple Myeloma Cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignancy often associated with primary and acquired resistance to therapeutic agents, such as proteasome inhibitors. However, the mechanisms underlying the proteasome inhibitor resistance are poorly understood. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of primary resistance to bortezomib and ixazomib in the MM cell lines, KMS-20, KMS-26, and KMS-28BM.

Helicobacter pylori eradication prevents secondary gastric cancer in patients with mild-to-moderate atrophic gastritis.

Background And Aim: Whether Helicobacter pylori eradication prevents metachronous recurrence after endoscopic resection (ER) of early gastric cancer remains controversial. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate the long-term (> 5 years) effects of H. pylori eradication by stratifying patients' baseline degrees of atrophic gastritis.

Gabapentin and Duloxetine Prevent Oxaliplatin- and Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy by Inhibiting Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) Phosphorylation in Spinal Cords of Mice.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common factor in limiting therapy which can result in therapy cessation or dose reduction. Gabapentin, a calcium channel inhibitor, and duloxetine, a serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, are used to treat a variety of pain conditions such as chronic low back pain, postherpetic neuralgia, and diabetic neuropathy. It has been reported that administration of gabapentin suppressed oxaliplatin- and paclitaxel-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in rats.

Clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion (MERS) associated with pneumonia: An adult case and review of the literature.

Mycoplasma pneumonia with mild CNS involvements should be considered of MERS, even in adult. From the case series, splenial single lesions by MRI and prodromal fever with varied neurological manifestations recovered completely by antibiotics were seen.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis-like lesions in patients with interstitial pneumonia diagnosed by multidisciplinary discussion with surgical lung biopsy.

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the significance of Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE)-like lesions in predicting prognosis in patients with chronic interstitial pneumonia (IP).

Method: The present study enrolled 207 patients with IP in whom surgical lung biopsy was performed. Among the patients enrolled in the present study, 77 had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 15 had nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), 13 had chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP), 41 had connective tissue disease (CTD), three had PPFE, and 58 had unclassifiable diagnosis.

Influenza H1N1 virus-associated pneumonia often resembles rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease seen in collagen vascular diseases and COVID-19 pneumonia; CT-pathologic correlation in 24 patients.

Purpose: To describe computed tomography (CT) findings of influenza H1N1 virus-associated pneumonia (IH1N1VAP), and to correlate CT findings to pathological ones.

Methods: The study included 24 patients with IH1N1VAP. Two observers independently evaluated the presence, distribution, and extent of CT findings.

Gastrectomy with or without neoadjuvant S-1 plus cisplatin for type 4 or large type 3 gastric cancer (JCOG0501): an open-label, phase 3, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Specific treatment strategies are sorely needed for scirrhous-type gastric cancer still, which has poor prognosis. Based on the promising results of our previous phase II study (JCOG0210), we initiated a phase III study to confirm the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in type 4 or large type 3 gastric cancer.

Methods: Patients aged 20-75 years without a macroscopic unresectable factor as confirmed via staging laparoscopy were randomly assigned to surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 (Arm A) or NAC (S-1plus cisplatin) followed by D2 gastrectomy plus adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 (Arm B).

Assessing the effects of exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 re-positive patient in healthcare personnel.

Objective: To evaluate whether patients with COVID-19 who have tested re-positive with the PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus are infectious is a challenge in the current circumstances. A follow-up survey was conducted with healthcare personnel (HCP) who were exposed to a patient whose PCR test results for SARS-CoV-2 were re-positive 18 days after the initial confirmation of negative PCR results.

Results: We studied a total of 15 HCP who had contact exposures (15/15) and aerosol exposures (7/15).

Bioactivity of alginetin, a caramelization product of pectin: Cytometric analysis of rat thymic lymphocytes using fluorescent probes.

Alginetin is the major product formed from pentoses and hexurionic acids. Alginetin is producted by cooking process of food including pection, a naturally-occurring polysacharride found in many plants. However, the biological interaction and toxicity of alginetin are not known at all.

Effect of early tumor response on the health-related quality of life among patients on second-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer in the ABSOLUTE trial.

Background: This study evaluated the association between early tumor response at 8 weeks, previously reported as a positive outcome prognosticator, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients enrolled in the ABSOLUTE trial.

Methods: HRQOL was assessed using the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) utility index score in patients with complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) and progressive disease (PD) at 8 weeks, and time-to-deterioration (TtD) of the EQ-5D score, with the preset minimally important difference (MID) of 0.05, was compared between these populations.

Multicenter prospective trial of total gastrectomy versus proximal gastrectomy for upper third cT1 gastric cancer.

Background: The appropriate surgical procedure for patients with upper third early gastric cancer is controversial. We compared total gastrectomy (TG) with proximal gastrectomy (PG) in this patient population.

Methods: A multicenter, non-randomized trial was conducted, with patients treated with PG or TG.

Monitoring antimicrobial cross-resistance with cross-resistance rate correlation diagrams: Changes in antibiotic susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa due to hospital relocation.

What Is Known And Objective: Though most medical institutions calculate antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance rates of microbes isolated at their own facility as part of their efforts to promote the proper use of antibiotics, very few, if any, regularly monitor cross-resistance rates between antimicrobial agents. The authors have devised a tool in the form of a cross-resistance rate correlation diagram (CRR diagram) that allows easy identification of increases or decreases in, or changes in the pattern of, antimicrobial cross-resistance. The objective was to perform an analysis by CRR diagrams of the effect of relocation to a newly built facility on antimicrobial resistance and cross-resistance rates at a medical facility.

Fulminant type 1 diabetes: 20 years of discovery and development.

Twenty years have passed since the first article on fulminant type 1 diabetes (FT1D) was published. FT1D is characterized by an extremely rapid onset of ketoacidosis, high plasma glucose and, conversely, a near-normal glycosylated hemoglobin level. Digestive or flu-like symptoms frequently precede the onset of ketoacidosis.