Impact of multiple ballooning on coronary lesions as assessed by optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Optimal lesion preparation for coronary lesions has been reappraised in the interventional community, given the increasing use of drug-coated balloons for de novo lesions; however, whether multiple ballooning could achieve more favorable angiographic results compared with single ballooning remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the incremental effect of multiple ballooning on de novo coronary lesions over single ballooning as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) undergoing PCI were enrolled.

The effect of early surgery on clinical outcomes in proximal femoral fracture patients receiving chronic anticoagulation: A japanese nationwide database study.

Introduction: Surgery is often delayed in patients with proximal femoral fractures who receive oral anticoagulants, to avoid complications related to perioperative bleeding. However, surgery delay may increase the risk of postoperative mortality. Our primary goal was to understand whether anticoagulated patients benefit from early surgery in terms of survival and perioperative complications.

Association between smoking and duration of regional anesthesia - A propensity score matching study.

Background: Previous studies have shown shorter duration of general anesthesia in smokers but it is unclear in regional anesthesia among smokers. We investigated the association between smoking status and the duration of regional anesthesia.

Methods: A total of 77 patients with a mean age of 47.

Impact of hyper-polypharmacy due to non-cardiovascular medications on long-term clinical outcomes following endovascular treatment for lower limb artery disease: A sub-analysis of the I-PAD Nagano registry.

Background: Lower limb artery disease (LEAD) is accompanied by multiple comorbidities; however, the effect of hyperpolypharmacy on patients with LEAD has not been established. This study investigated the associations between hyperpolypharmacy, medication class, and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with LEAD.

Methods: This study used data from a prospective multicenter observational Japanese registry.

Analysis of Differences in Characteristics of High-Risk Endemic Areas for Contracting Japanese Spotted Fever, Tsutsugamushi Disease, and Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

Background: Tick-borne infections, including tsutsugamushi disease, Japanese spotted fever, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), are prevalent in East Asia with varying geographic distribution and seasonality. This study aimed to investigate the differences in the characteristics among endemic areas for contracting each infection.

Methods: We conducted an ecologic study in Japan, using data from a nationwide inpatient database and publicly available geospatial data.

The postoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts the outcome of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer.

Purpose: The preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been reported as an important prognostic index for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, the significance of the postoperative (post-op) PLR for this disease has not been elucidated.

Methods: We analyzed data on 118 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head PDAC, collected from a prospectively maintained database. The post-op PLR was obtained by dividing the platelet count after surgery by the lymphocyte count on post-op day (POD) 14.

A Comparison of Spinopelvic Alignment and Quality of Life between Farmers and Non-Farmers: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study in a Japanese Rural Area.

Background: It may be difficult to define what would constitute an abnormal spinal sagittal alignment. The same degree of malalignment may be found both in patients with pain and disability and in asymptomatic individuals. This study focuses on elderly farmers who characteristically have a kyphotic spine, in addition to local residents.

Comparison of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion as Corrective Surgery for Patients with Adult Spinal Deformity-A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is increasingly performed as corrective surgery for patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). This paper compares the surgical results of LLIF and conventional posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in ASD using a propensity score matching analysis. We retrospectively reviewed patients with ASD who received LLIF and PLIF/TLIF, and investigated patients' backgrounds, radiographic parameters, and complications.

Body composition and mortality in patients undergoing endovascular treatment for peripheral artery disease.

An inverse correlation between body mass index and mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been reported. However, little information is available regarding the impact of body composition on the clinical outcomes in patients with PAD. This study evaluated the relationships between the lean body mass index (LBMI), body fat % (BF%), and mortality and major amputation rate in patients with PAD.

A 10-year follow-up of infliximab monotherapy for refractory uveitis in Behçet's syndrome.

Infliximab (IFX) was the first biologic introduced for refractory uveitis treatment in Behçet's syndrome (BS). However, there have been few reports on the safety and efficacy of IFX monotherapy over follow-up periods of more than 10 years. This retrospective study evaluated the 10-year safety and efficacy of IFX monotherapy compared to IFX combination therapies with colchicine or corticosteroid for refractory uveitis in BS patients.

Cross-Reactivity of Palladium in a Murine Model of Metal-Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis.

Metal allergy is usually diagnosed by patch testing, however, the results do not necessarily reflect the clinical symptoms because of cross-reactivity between different metals. In this study, we established the novel mouse model of cross-reactive metal allergy, and aimed to elucidate the immune response in terms of T-cell receptor repertoire. This model was classified into two groups: the sensitization to nickel and challenge with palladium group, and the sensitization to chromium and challenge with palladium group.

Kidney transplant patient with immunoglobulin A nephropathy subsequently diagnosed as concurrent autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease during 17-year follow-up.

A 14-year-old Japanese boy was diagnosed with immunoglobulin A nephropathy resulting in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). He underwent ABO-compatible living kidney transplantation from his father at the age of 27. In the process of selecting a donor before the transplantation, it turned out that his mother had polycystic kidneys and that her family had a history of hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases.

Spinal Cord Infarction with Aortic Dissection.

Spinal cord infarction is an uncommon but devastating disorder caused by various conditions. Aortic dissection is a possible etiological factor and is usually associated with severe chest or back pain. We encountered two cases of spinal cord infarction associated with aortic dissection that presented without typical severe pain, and each case resulted in a different clinical course.

Correction to: Comprehensive Registry of Esophageal Cancer in Japan, 2011.

In the original publication of the article, the below name of institutions were not included in the table of Institution-registered cases in 2011.

Plasma levels of n-3 fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese: The Japan Public Health Center-based (JPHC) study.

Background And Aims: Higher intake of fish or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is unclear whether increased blood levels of n-3 PUFAs are associated with reduced risk of CHD in the Japanese population.

Methods: The relationship between circulating levels of n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid + docosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid) and risk of CHD was examined in a nested case-control study among participants in the Japan Public Health Center (JPHC)-based Study Cohort.

Dietary magnesium intake and risk of incident coronary heart disease in men: A prospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: The associations between dietary magnesium intake and stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) incidences are inconsistent and not established in Asian. We aimed to determine the association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke and CHD in a Japanese population.

Subjects/methods: We studied 85,293 Japanese subjects by questionnaire at baseline (age 45-74 years, without cardiovascular disease or cancer in 1995 and 1998 for Cohorts I and II, respectively).

Dietary patterns and colorectal cancer risk in middle-aged adults: A large population-based prospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: A finding between dietary pattern and cancer may provide visions beyond the assessment of individual foods or nutrients. We examined the influence of dietary pattern with colorectal cancer (CRC) among a Japanese population.

Methods: A total of 93,062 subjects (43,591 men, 49,471 women) who participated in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study were followed from 1995-1998 to the end of 2012, during which 2482 cases of CRC (1514 men, 968 women) were newly identified.

Interferon Therapy Exacerbated Pulmonary Hypertension in a Patient with Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Pathogenic Interplay among Multiple Risk Factors.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is known to develop as a consequence of multiple genetic and/or non-genetic factors. A 27-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection developed severe PAH after interferon (IFN) therapy. Although most of the reported clinical courses of IFN-induced PAH are poor despite the discontinuation of IFN, the present patient was successfully treated with a triple combination therapy.

Efficacy of lymph node dissection by node zones according to tumor location for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The extent of node dissection in esophageal cancer surgery is usually estimated by the number of resected nodes, irrespective of the area of dissection. The efficacy of lymph node dissection by area was evaluated according to the location of the primary tumor.

Methods: The study group comprised the 3827 patients who underwent R0 esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for squamous cell carcinoma, registered in a nationwide registry in Japan.

KIR3DL1-HLA-Bw4 combination and IL28B polymorphism predict response to Peg-IFN and ribavirin with and without telaprevir in chronic hepatitis C.

Natural killer cells play a key role in the immune control of viral infections. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate natural killer cell activation and inhibition through the recognition of their cognate HLA class I ligands. We assessed the predictive factors of a sustained virological response (SVR) in 200 Japanese patients with chronic genotype 1b hepatitis C who were treated with telaprevir (TVR), pegylated-interferon-α2b (PEG-IFN), and ribavirin (RBV) triple therapy (92 patients) or PEG-IFN/RBV therapy alone (108 patients).