Tissue degrading and remodelling molecules in giant cell arteritis.

Objectives: GCA is a granulomatous vasculitis affecting large vessels, leading to intimal occlusion accompanied by the accumulation of myofibroblasts. Histopathologically, GCA is characterized by destruction of the tunica media and hypertrophy of the intima with invasion of activated CD4+ T cells, macrophages and multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs). Despite these well-defined histopathological features, the molecular pathology of GCA has largely remained elusive.

Impact of glucocorticoids on muscle biopsy findings in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Several studies have examined the utility of quadriceps femoris muscle biopsies for diagnosing antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We aimed to investigate the effects of glucocorticoid therapy on the muscle biopsy findings of patients with AAV. Data from patients with AAV who underwent a biopsy of the bilateral vastus lateralis of the quadriceps femoris at Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center between January 2015 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.

Outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with synchronous and metachronous oligometastatic urothelial carcinoma with visceral metastases.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of oligometastatic disease (OMD) in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) with visceral metastases when classified into synchronous and metachronous metastases.

Methods: Of 957 cases of de novo mUC treated between 2008 and 2023, 374 with visceral metastases were analyzed. Cases were classified into OMD with up to three metastatic lesions and polymetastatic disease (PMD), and into synchronous and metachronous metastases.

Implementation of multifaceted diagnostic stewardship for infection during the COVID-19 pandemic at a small Japanese hospital.

Objective: infection (CDI) is a common, healthcare-associated infection. However, in Japan, testing for CDI is infrequent, suggesting that its incidence may be underestimated. This study aimed to examine the implementation of a multifaceted, diagnostic stewardship (DS) for CDI in a small Japanese hospital during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic.

Gustave Roussy Immune score as a prognostic biomarker in patients with platinum-refractory metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab: YUSHIMA study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the Gustave Roussy Immune score (GRIm-score) in platinum-refractory metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) treated with pembrolizumab.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study (YUSHIMA study) evaluated 331 patients with metastatic UC treated with pembrolizumab after platinum-based chemotherapy between January 2018 and June 2023 at 13 institutions. We collected pretreatment variables, including the GRIm-score based on serum albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Evaluation after implementation of chemical bowel preparation for surgical site infections in elective colorectal cancer surgery and role of antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist: Retrospective cohort study.

Background: We evaluated the predictive factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) in elective colorectal cancer surgery and the role of antimicrobial stewardship (AS) pharmacists in modifying the clinical pathway.

Main Body: Between February 2017 and January 2022, 414 elective colorectal cancer surgeries were performed. The results of multivariate analysis by SSI incidence were adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.

Efficacy and safety of single-dose ivermectin in mild-to-moderate COVID-19: the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled CORVETTE-01 trial.

Background: To investigate whether ivermectin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 proliferation in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 using time to a negative COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Methods: CORVETTE-01 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (August 2020-October 2021) conducted in Japan. Overall, 248 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using RT-PCR were assessed for eligibility.

Treatment-resistant idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease with thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin fibrosis, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly managed with Janus kinase inhibitors: A case report.

Rationale: Thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin fibrosis, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly (TAFRO) syndrome are nonmalignant but life-threatening systemic inflammatory disorders. However, many patients are refractory to treatment, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Additionally, established treatment options are unavailable.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on antimicrobial consumption and antimicrobial resistance at a small, local hospital in Japan.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic negatively affected antimicrobial stewardship programs at hospitals throughout Japan by diverting resources toward managing the pandemic. However, antimicrobial stewardship needs to continue regardless of hospital size or supervening crises. Herein, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on antimicrobial stewardship at a small, local hospital in Japan.

Prognostic Accuracy of the qSOFA Score for In-Hospital Mortality in Elderly Patients with Obstructive Acute Pyelonephritis: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Prognostic accuracy of the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score for mortality may be limited in elderly patients. Using our multi-institutional database, we classified obstructive acute pyelonephritis (OAPN) patients into young and elderly groups, and evaluated predictive performance of the qSOFA score for in-hospital mortality. qSOFA score ≥ 2 was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality, as was higher age, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) ≥ 2.

The influence of esophagogastroduodenoscopy using carbon dioxide insufflation on abdominal ultrasonographic imaging efficiency.

Purpose: The ability to perform abdominal ultrasonography after esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is hypothesized to improve examination efficiency. Therefore, we performed abdominal ultrasonography before and after EGD to verify the effects of EGD on abdominal ultrasonographic imaging efficiency.

Methods: We performed abdominal ultrasonography before, immediately after, 30 min after, and 60 min after EGD with carbon dioxide (CO) insufflation in 23 consecutive patients who visited our center between July 2015 and December 2016.

[IMPACT OF MEMBRANOUS URETHRAL LENGTH IN DE NOVO STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE FOLLOWING HOLMIUM LASER ENUCLEATION OF THE PROSTATE].

(Purpose) Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is widely performed in recent years; however, difficulties of surgical techniques and high frequency of postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) remain as significant problems. We determined the predictive factors for de novo SUI after HoLEP. (Patients and methods) A total of 303 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent HoLEP were retrospectively evaluated between July 2013 and April 2019.

Impact of Bladder Neck Involvement on Recurrence in Patients With Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: An Analysis Based on a Time-dependent Model.

Background: Tumor location in bladder neck has reported to be a prognostic factor for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We investigated the impact of bladder neck involvement (BNI) on recurrence in NMIBC using time-dependent covariate analysis.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 585 Japanese patients who underwent transurethral resection for bladder tumors at a single center from 2000 to 2016 and were pathologically diagnosed with Ta and T1 NMIBC.

DWI as an Imaging Biomarker for Bladder Cancer.

Objective: DWI has been increasingly applied in the management of bladder cancer. In this article, we discuss the role of DWI as an imaging biomarker for bladder cancer.

Conclusion: The DWI signal is derived from the motion of water molecules, which represents the physiologic characteristics of the tissue of interest.

Predictive risk factors of postoperative urinary incontinence following holmium laser enucleation of the prostate during the initial learning period.

Purpose: To determine the predictive factors for postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) following holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) during the initial learning period.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated 127 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent HoLEP between January 2011 and December 2013. We recorded clinical variables, including blood loss, serum prostate-specific antigen levels, and the presence or absence of UI.

Continued administration of antithrombotic agents during transperineal prostate biopsy.

Purpose: To determine the safety of continued administration of antithrombotic agents during transperineal (TP) prostate biopsy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 811 men who underwent transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided TP biopsy from January 2008 to June 2012 at our two institutions were retrospectively analyzed. Among these 811 men, 672 received no antithrombotic agents (group I), 103 received and continued administration of antithrombotic agents (group II), and 36 interrupted administration of antithrombotic agents (group III).