Reduction of ischemic time using the pull-through technique for scapular free flap.

Purpose: Current scapular free flap (SFF) harvest in mandibular reconstruction often requires repositioning, hindering simultaneous harvest and resection and potentially increasing ischemic time. This study evaluated the efficacy of the pull-through technique (PTT) for SFF harvest, aiming to reduce ischemic time during mandibular segmental resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction using SFF at two maxillofacial surgery departments between January 2015 and May 2022.

Blood DNA virome associates with autoimmune diseases and COVID-19.

Aberrant immune responses to viral pathogens contribute to pathogenesis, but our understanding of pathological immune responses caused by viruses within the human virome, especially at a population scale, remains limited. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing datasets of 6,321 Japanese individuals, including patients with autoimmune diseases (psoriasis vulgaris, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) or multiple sclerosis) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or healthy controls. We systematically quantified two constituents of the blood DNA virome, endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and anellovirus.

Pleural Tuberculoma Presenting as a Solitary Pleural Mass in a Child.

Pleural tuberculoma is often observed during treatment for tuberculous pleurisy; however, this condition is rarely found as a solitary pleural nodule in patients without a history of tuberculosis treatment, and no cases have been reported in children. We report a case of a 12-year-old boy with pleural tuberculoma presenting as a solitary mass. He had a fever and cough that prompted chest radiography, which revealed a mass in the right lung.

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer, 2023.

The Japanese Society of Oral Oncology and Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have jointly developed clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma) to improve and standardize the quality of oral cancer treatment in Japan. The first, second, and third editions were published in 2009, 2013, and 2019, respectively, and the 2023 edition was recently developed. In the development of the 2023 edition, 60 clinical questions (CQs) were listed.

Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis: Insights From the CURRENT AS Registry-2.

Background: Low-gradient (LG) aortic stenosis (AS) has not been fully characterized compared with high-gradient (HG) AS in terms of cardiac damage, frailty, aortic valve calcification, and clinical outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes between each hemodynamic type of LG AS and HG AS.

Methods: The current study included 3,363 patients in the CURRENT AS (Contemporary outcomes after sURgery and medical tREatmeNT in patients with severe Aortic Stenosis) Registry-2 after excluding patients without indexed stroke volume or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) data.

Safety of Calcium Channel Blockers in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis and Hypertension.

Background: There is a paucity of data on safety of calcium channel blockers (CCB) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and hypertension.

Methods And Results: Among 2,460 patients with severe AS and hypertension receiving antihypertensive therapy in the CURRENT AS registry-2, we compared the clinical outcomes between patients taking antihypertensive therapy with CCB (CCB group) and without CCB (no CCB group). In the entire study population, CCB was prescribed in 1,763 patients (71.

Association between the HAL score and the development of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: A prospective observational study.

Background: Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a critical concern in interstitial lung disease (ILD) management. The HAL score, which incorporates honeycombing (H), age >75 years (A), and serum lactate dehydrogenase >222 U/L (L), can predict acute exacerbations in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). This study aims to evaluate the predictive utility of the HAL score for PPF development.

Hybrid surgery for imminent rupture of superior mesenteric artery aneurysms.

A case of a superior mesenteric artery aneurysm presented with an impending rupture. The aneurysm was located in the right side branch of the superior mesenteric artery. The patient underwent an emergency hybrid procedure, which included aneurysm embolization and exclusion of the aneurysm with an endoluminal stent graft.

Factors associated with uncontrolled severe asthma in the biologic era.

Background: Despite the development of biologics for severe asthma, individuals with uncontrolled status persist, posing a significant social problem. This multicenter prospective study aimed to identify factors associated with the uncontrolled status of patients with severe asthma in the biologic era assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ).

Methods: Subjects with severe asthma diagnosed by respiratory specialists were enrolled from 11 hospitals.

Evaluating Laparoscopic Skills: Report on the Origami Crane Folding Competition Using Laparoscopic Instruments With Objective Criteria.

Purpose: To evaluate the importance of daily laparoscopic training using laparoscopic forceps to fold origami paper cranes (a traditional Japanese paper craft) and assess the performance of laparoscopic origami crane folding in an actual competition.

Method: A competition, named the "Kaminote Challenge World Championship," was used to evaluate the effectiveness of training. The participants folded the paper cranes using laparoscopic forceps.

Rivaroxaban for 18 Months Versus 6 Months in Patients With Cancer and Acute Low-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial (ONCO PE Trial).

Background: The optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for patients with cancer and acute low-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is clinically relevant, but evidence is lacking. Prolonged anticoagulation therapy could have a potential benefit for prevention of thrombotic events; however, it could also increase the risk of bleeding.

Methods: In a multicenter, open-label, adjudicator-blinded, randomized clinical trial at 32 institutions in Japan, we randomly assigned patients with cancer and acute low-risk PE of the simplified version of the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index score of 1, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive either an 18-month or a 6-month rivaroxaban treatment.

Bioprosthetic Valve Positions in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation - Insights From the BPV-AF Registry.

Background: Data on the impact of valve position on clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and bioprosthetic valves (BPVs) are limited.

Methods And Results: The BPV-AF Registry was a multicenter, prospective, observational study involving 894 patients with BPVs and AF. In this post-hoc substudy, patients were classified according to BPV position: aortic (n=588; 65.

Epidemiological study of the relationship between meteorological factors and onset of acute aortic dissection in Japan.

Several factors influence the onset of acute aortic dissection (AAD). However, few studies have examined AAD onset, weather conditions, and meteorological factors in Japan. This study aimed to identify meteorological factors associated with the onset of AAD in Japan.

Skill Mastery and Learning Curve Analysis in Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair with Physician-Modified Endograft.

This study aims to delineate the unique learning curve for fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR) at our institution. We measured the FEVAR-specific procedure time (FSPT) as the duration from device deployment to bridging stent completion. To maintain consistency in technical complexity, the study focused on 38 cases with four-fenestration FEVAR for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms, selected from 103 of all FEVAR procedures between June 2011 and February 2024.