A novel scoring system for the prediction of disease severity in STEC-HUS.

Background: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is a life-threatening condition complicated by acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and central nervous system disorders. The early identification of high-risk patients is required to facilitate timely and appropriate treatment.

Methods: The medical records of patients with STEC-HUS treated at 11 hospitals in Hokkaido, Japan, were reviewed retrospectively.

Phosphatidylserine-Dependent Anti-prothrombin Antibodies as a Key Predictor for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Patients with Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Objectives: Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. Although PAPS is distinct from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the two conditions share clinical features and susceptibility genes. Progression from PAPS to SLE is well-recognized.

Molecular evolutionary analysis of novel NSP4 mono-reassortant G1P[8]-E2 rotavirus strains that caused a discontinuous epidemic in Japan in 2015 and 2018.

In the 2010s, several unusual rotavirus strains emerged, causing epidemics worldwide. This study reports a comprehensive molecular epidemiological study of rotaviruses in Japan based on full-genome analysis. From 2014 to 2019, a total of 489 rotavirus-positive stool specimens were identified, and the associated viral genomes were analyzed by next-generation sequencing.

A significant outbreak of respiratory human adenovirus infections among children aged 3-6 years in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2023.

Human adenovirus (HAdV) infections present diverse clinical manifestations upon infecting individuals, with respiratory infections predominating in children. We surveyed pediatric hospitalizations due to respiratory HAdV infections across 18 hospitals in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, from July 2019 to March 2024, recording 473 admissions. While hospitalizations remained below five cases per week from July 2019 to September 2023, a notable surge occurred in late October 2023, with weekly admissions peaking at 15-20 cases from November to December.

Pre-first-line chemotherapy risk stratification for overall survival in advanced urothelial carcinoma in sequential therapy era.

Purpose: To explore pre-treatment risk factors for overall survival (OS) in advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients treated with first-line (1L) chemotherapy in sequential therapy (ST) era. Additionally, to evaluate the proportion of patients who were not able to undergo subsequent immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy according to the subgroups stratified by the risk factors.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted.

A case of tick-borne Yezo virus infection: Concurrent detection in the patient and tick.

A 76-year-old woman infected with Yezo virus (YEZV) developed liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia following a tick bite. Despite the severity of her elevated liver enzymes and reduced platelet counts, the patient's condition improved spontaneously without any specific treatment. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented case where the YEZV genome was detected simultaneously in a patient's serum and the tick (Ixodes persulcatus) that bit the patient.

Resurgence of human metapneumovirus infection and influenza after three seasons of inactivity in the post-COVID-19 era in Hokkaido, Japan, 2022-2023.

Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in February 2020, incidences of various infectious diseases decreased notably in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. However, Japan began gradually easing COVID-19 infection control measures in 2022. Here, we conducted a survey of children hospitalized with human metapneumovirus (hMPV), influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus infections in 18 hospitals across Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, spanning from July 2019 to June 2023.

Collision tumor of spindle cell lipoma arising from perirenal tissue and acquired cystic disease-associated renal cell carcinoma: A rare case report.

Introduction: Collision tumors are a rare phenomenon defined as two or more histologically distinct tumors that are in contact with each other.

Case Presentation: The patient was a man with a history of end-stage diabetic nephropathy under hemodialysis treatment for 15 years. A plain computed tomography scan showed a 4.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy using self-check sheet for patients with nocturia in real-world clinical practice.

Objectives: We previously demonstrated the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) using a self-check sheet for patients with nocturia in a randomized controlled study. Additionally, we investigated the efficacy of the intervention in real-world clinical practice.

Methods: Two hundred forty-three outpatients with complaint of nocturia who practiced CBT for 4 weeks using a self-check sheet were included in this trial, which took place from April 2021 to March 2022 in 20 institutions.

Changing Patterns of Infectious Diseases Among Hospitalized Children in Hokkaido, Japan, in the Post-COVID-19 Era, July 2019 to June 2022.

Background: Many reports have reported a reduction in respiratory infectious diseases and infectious gastroenteritis immediately after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but data continuing into 2022 are very limited. We sought to understand the current situation of various infectious diseases among children in Japan as of July 2022 to improve public health in the post-COVID-19 era.

Methods: We collected data on children hospitalized with infectious diseases in 18 hospitals in Japan from July 2019 to June 2022.

Additional effect of anthracycline in preoperative chemotherapy with a sequential anthracycline‑containing regimen preceded by pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel combination therapy.

The proper use of anthracycline-containing regimens in combination with anti-HER2-targeted therapy in a neoadjuvant setting for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer has not been resolved. Regimens preceded by anthracyclines have become the standard of care, and although the order has no significant impact on HER2-negative breast cancer, it is inconclusive as to whether a taxane-first sequence would have a similar effect on HER2-positive breast cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the benefit of a taxane-first sequence and of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC) in patients with non-clinical complete response (non-cCR) to pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel (PTD).

Correlation between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance: A multicenter study using the Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) system in Hokkaido, Japan.

Background: The Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) system aggregates information related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) measures in participating medical institutions nationwide and is intended to be used for promotion of AMR measures in participating facilities and their communities. This multicenter study aimed to determine the usefulness of the J-SIPHE system for evaluating the correlation between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Hokkaido, Japan.

Methods: Data on antibiotic use and detection rate of major resistant Gram-negative bacteria at 19 hospitals in 2020 were collected from the J-SIPHE system, and data correlations were analyzed using JMP Pro.

Are there differences in the characteristics of patients who respond to gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy and those who respond to pembrolizumab therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma? Multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: To evaluate factors to predict overall survival of metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy or pembrolizumab therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated two metastatic urothelial carcinoma cohorts treated with (i) gemcitabine plus cisplatin or (ii) pembrolizumab. The gemcitabine plus cisplatin cohort was treated from December 2005 through December 2014 while the pembrolizumab cohort was treated from January 2018 through December 2020.

Prediction of the intolerance or non-responder to Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a preliminary retrospective study with integrative cluster analysis.

Objectives: To identify the subpopulation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) non-responders to Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) using cluster analysis.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled RA patients who had been treated with JAKis (tofacitinib or baricitinib) between July 2013 and September 2019 in six centres. The endpoint was set as inadequate response to JAKis (JAKis-IR), defined as either non-response to JAKis or their intolerance.

Surveillance in hospitalized children with infectious diseases in Japan: Pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019.

Introduction: The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide, and the various infection control measures have a significant influence on the spread of many infectious diseases. However, there have been no multicenter studies on how the number of hospitalized children with various infectious diseases changed before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective survey for hospitalized pediatric patients in 18 hospitals in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, from July 2019 to February 2021.

Therapeutic options to reduce intravesical recurrence in newly diagnosed Ta high-grade bladder cancer according to risk stratification: A multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors for intravesical recurrence in patients with newly diagnosed Ta high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and the optimal management to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated Ta high-grade bladder cancer in patients who were newly diagnosed by transurethral resection from January 2007 through October 2018. Using multivariate analyses, we evaluated the risk factors and therapeutic options affecting intravesical recurrence and stratified the patients according to the risk numbers.

[Fever after Gemcitabine Administration is a Poor Prognostic Factor in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma : Multicenter Retrospective Study].

Gemcitabine (GEM) is currently a standard chemotherapeutic agent for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). Fever isknown to be an adverse effect of GEM ; however, itsincidence, etiology and clinical significance have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to elucidate the characteristics and clinical significance of fever associated with GEM in patients with mUC receiving GEM plus cisplatin (GC) chemotherapy.

Antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) in urological malignancies: a multi-center retrospective study.

Introduction: We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) in prostate and kidney cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 547 patients from 13 hospitals. Prostate and kidney cancer patients with bone metastases who were treated with a bone-modifying agent (BMA) between January 2012 and February 2019 were enrolled.

Molecular and clinical characterization of the equine-like G3 rotavirus that caused the first outbreak in Japan, 2016.

Since 2013, equine-like G3 rotavirus (eG3) strains have been detected throughout the world, including in Japan, and the strains were found to be dominant in some countries. In 2016, the first eG3 outbreak in Japan occurred in Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture, and the strains became dominant in other Hokkaido areas the following year. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of eG3 and non-eG3 rotavirus infections.

TEMPS-A (short version) plays a supplementary role in the differential diagnosis between major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Aim: Early differential diagnosis between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), and subsequently providing appropriate treatments are essential. There has been increased interest regarding the association between affective temperaments and mood disorder diagnosis. Our aim was to analyze the diagnostic validity of affective temperaments assessed by the short version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A), in mood disorder patients.

Head Rotation Reduces Oropharyngeal Leak Pressure of the i-gel and LMA® Supreme™ in Paralyzed, Anesthetized Patients: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Second-generation supraglottic airway (SGA) devices are useful for airway management during positive pressure ventilation in general anesthesia and emergency medicine. In some clinical settings, such as the anesthetic management of awake craniotomy, SGAs are used in the head-rotated position, which is required for exposure of the surgical field, although this position sometimes worsens the efficiency of mechanical ventilation with SGAs. In this study, we investigated and compared the influence of head rotation on oropharyngeal leak pressures (OPLP) of the i-gel and LMA® Supreme™, which are second-generation SGA devices.