Glucocorticoid tapering pace in microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis in Japanese real-world practice: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study from the J-CANVAS registry.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and outcomes among regimens of glucocorticoid tapering for microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in real-world practice.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the Japan Collaborative Registry of ANCA-associated Vasculitis (J-CANVAS) registry, and evaluated the prevalence of glucocorticoid tapering regimens in the PEXIVAS trial. In patients with newly diagnosed MPA and GPA, we compared outcomes among standard and reduced pace regimens.

Added Value of Shaking Chills for Predicting Bacteremia in Patients with Suspected Infection.

Background: Detailed grading of chills is more useful for diagnosing bacteremia than simply classifying the presence or absence of chills. However, its value added to other clinical information has not been evaluated.

Objective: To evaluate the value of adding chills grading to other clinical information compared to simply noting the presence or absence of chills for predicting bacteremia in patients with suspected infection.

Valuation survey for SF-6Dv2 in Japan based on the international protocol.

Purpose: The SF-6D Classification System was recently updated (SF-6Dv2). We performed a valuation survey to construct a value set for the SF-6Dv2 in Japan.

Methods: An online discrete choice experiment (DCE) with duration was used to estimate a value set for the SF-6Dv2 for Japan based on public preferences.

Added value of inflammatory markers to vital signs for predicting mortality in patients with suspected infection: external validation and model development.

It is crucial to identify high-risk patients with infectious conditions for appropriate management. We previously found that inflammatory markers added value to vital signs for predicting mortality in patients with suspected infection. In this study, the aim was to externally validate the added value of the inflammatory markers and to develop a new prediction model.

Clinical practice pattern of Pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis in systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study from lupus registry of nationwide institutions (LUNA).

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, such as glucocorticoid (GC) medication, for systemic autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Despite the confirmed effectiveness of PCP prophylaxis, its clinical administration, especially in conjunction with GC dosage, remains unclear. We aimed to describe the clinical practice of PCP prophylaxis in association with SLE in Japan, evaluate the relationship between GC dosage and PCP prophylaxis, and explore the practice patterns associated with PCP prophylaxis.

Association between discontinuity of care and patient trust in the usual rheumatologist among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Patient trust plays a central role in the patient-physician relationship. This study aimed to determine whether the number of outpatient visits with a covering rheumatologist is associated with patient trust in their usual rheumatologist.

Methods: Japanese adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who met the 1997 revised classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and had outpatient visits with a covering rheumatologist in the past year were included.

Long-Term Outcomes of Carbon Dioxide Insufflation in Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) with carbon dioxide (CO)insufflation is increasingly performed for esophageal cancer; however, there is limited evidence of the long-term outcomes of CO insufflation on postoperative survival.

Objectives: We investigated the long-term outcomes of TE with or without CO insufflation.

Methods: We enrolled 182 patients who underwent TE for esophageal cancer between January 2003 and October 2013 and categorized them into two groups: with and without CO insufflation.

Association of Nutritional Risk Index With Infection-Related Hospitalization and Death After Hospitalization in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Objective: Patients undergoing dialysis frequently experience hospitalization due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and infection. This population is also at high risk of rehospitalization and subsequent death. In addition to serious outcomes, hospitalization incurs substantial medical cost.

Melanoma Differentiation-associated Gene 5-Positive Rapidly Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease Successfully Treated with Tofacitinib.

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis is associated with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). We encountered a man in his 40s who presented with a history of a fever and dry cough. Based on laboratory tests and computed tomography scans of his chest, he was diagnosed with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis with RP-ILD refractory to antimicrobial agents.

Association Between Disturbed Serum Phosphorus Levels and QT Interval Prolongation.

Introduction: QT interval prolongation is a risk factor for fatal arrhythmias and other cardiovascular complications. QT interval prolongation in patients on hemodialysis (HD) is not well understood. Hypocalcemia is a suspected, but poorly verified etiology in these patients, and the association between serum phosphorus levels and QT interval prolongation is unknown.

Prognosis of Postoperative Cholangitis Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Single-Centered Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction Postoperative cholangitis (POC) after pancreaticoduodenectomy is a serious complication. However, the prognostic factors are unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationships between biliary lesions and prognosis in patients with cholangitis after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Effectiveness of psychological first aid in infectious disease pandemics: An overview of systematic reviews.

There is insufficient research on the usefulness of psychological interventions, such as psychological first aid (PFA), during outbreaks. We searched for and critically appraised systematic reviews that examined the effectiveness of PFA during infectious disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Systematic reviews that examined the efficacy of PFA in the severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Ebola virus disease, and COVID-19 outbreaks were searched through PubMed on February 19, 2021.

Management of anaemia and prognosis of patients undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Clinical data supporting the target haemoglobin range in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are scarce. This study investigated the association between haemoglobin levels and all-cause mortality in Japanese patients undergoing PD using data from a nationwide dialysis registry.

Methods: A total of 4875 patients aged ≥18 years who were undergoing PD at the end of 2012 were analysed.

Effects of the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on mortality in patients with lung cancer: A multiple mediation analysis in Japan.

COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial effect on healthcare systems worldwide, including the care of patients with lung cancer. The impact of healthcare disruptions and behavioral changes on lung cancer mortality is unclear. Patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer during the pandemic period 2020-2021 were compared with those diagnosed in the pre-pandemic 2018-2019.

Association between comorbidities at ICU admission and post-Sepsis physical impairment: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Few studies have measured the association between pre-existing comorbidities and post-sepsis physical impairment. The study aimed to estimate the risk of physical impairment at hospital discharge among sepsis patients, adjusting for pre-existing physical impairment prior to ICU admission and in-hospital mortality.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed all consecutive adult patients admitted to an ICU in a tertiary community hospital, Kameda Medical Center, with sepsis diagnosis from September 2014 to October 2020.

Combining endpoint and change data did not affect the summary standardised mean difference in pairwise and network meta-analyses: An empirical study in depression.

When studies use different scales to measure continuous outcomes, standardised mean differences (SMD) are required to meta-analyse the data. However, outcomes are often reported as endpoint or change from baseline scores. Combining corresponding SMDs can be problematic and available guidance advises against this practice.

Steroid Therapy for Patients with Septic Shock: A Multicenter Observational Study Conducted in Japan.

Objective The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock weakly recommend steroids for septic shock resistant to fluid resuscitation and vasopressors. This study aimed to describe the clinical practices for septic shock in the real world and to compare the association between the intermittent or continuous infusion of steroids and the prognosis. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study based on the AMOR-VENUS, in which Japanese intensive care unit (ICU) inpatients were enrolled between January and March 2018.

Initial intravenous immunoglobulin therapy without aspirin for acute Kawasaki disease: a retrospective cohort study with a Bayesian inference.

Objective: To clarify the necessity of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) administration combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in the treatment of acute Kawasaki disease.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Multicentre.

Added value of non-contrast CT for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis in older patients with suspected infection with an unknown focus: a retrospective diagnostic study.

Objectives: In older patients, the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is challenging. The aim was to evaluate the added value of CT to history, physical examination and urinalysis for the diagnosis of APN in older patients with suspected infection with an unknown focus.

Design: Retrospective diagnostic study.

Effect of Attending Rheumatologists' Big 5 Personality Traits on Patient Trust in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The TRUMP2-SLE Project.

Objective: Differences in communication styles based on physicians' personality traits have been identified, particularly in primary care, and these physician-related factors can be important in building patient-physician trust. This study examined the effects of rheumatologists' personality traits on patients' trust in their attending rheumatologists.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adult Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at 5 academic medical centers between June 2020 and August 2021.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality among patients with colorectal cancer in Hiroshima, Japan: A large cancer registry study.

Background: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer care and mortality using a large cancer registry in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The study aimed to estimate the all-cause mortality rates within 1 year of diagnosis among colorectal cancer patients diagnosed during the pandemic period (2020 and 2021) compared to those diagnosed during the pre-pandemic period (2018 and 2019).

Methods: The day of diagnosis was set as Day 0 and Cox regression models were utilized to estimate crude hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted HRs, accounting for age, sex, cancer stage, and treatment status.