A Comparison of Subjective Symptoms of Two Types of Silicone Hydrogel One-Day Disposable Contact Lenses.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the comfort and discomfort of two types of soft contact lenses (SCLs) by comparing their quality of vision, fit, subjective dryness, and handling.

Methods: A total of 62 SCL wearers with contact lens (CL) discomfort were recruited. They were fitted with narafilcon A and verofilcon A for two weeks each by crossover.

Antihypertensive combinations: mind the potassium.

Antihypertensive medications that can affect potassium homeostasis in the body. JGA, juxtaglomerular apparatus; ACEIs, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; ARBs, angiotensin receptor blockers; MR, mineralocorticoid receptor.

Dose compensation for decreased biological effective dose due to intrafractional interruption during radiotherapy: integration with a commercial treatment planning system.

While the biological effective dose (BED) has been used to estimate the damage to tumor cells in radiotherapy, BED does not consider intrafractional interruption (IFI) occurring during irradiation. We aim to develop a framework to evaluate the decrease in BED [ΔBED] and to create a plan compensating for the decrease by IFI.ΔBEDwas calculated using a model based on the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM) for four brain tumor cases treated using a volumetric-modulated arc therapy.

Comprehensive data of 5085 patients newly diagnosed with colorectal liver metastasis between 2013 and 2017: Fourth report of a nationwide survey in Japan.

The Joint Committee for Nationwide Survey on colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) was established to improve treatment outcomes in patients with CRLM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transition in the characteristics and treatment strategies of patients with CRLM and to analyze the prognostic factors. The data of 5085 patients newly diagnosed between 2013 and 2017 were compared with those of 3820 patients from 2005 and 2007.

Efficacy and safety of carmustine wafers, followed by radiation, temozolomide, and bevacizumab therapy, for newly diagnosed glioblastoma with maximal resection.

Background: To improve the outcome in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients with maximal resection, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of implantation of carmustine wafers (CWs), radiation concomitant with temozolomide and bevacizumab, and maintenance chemotherapy with six cycles of temozolomide and bevacizumab.

Method: This prospective phase II study enrolled glioblastoma patients considered candidates for complete resection (> 90%) of a contrast-enhanced lesion. The CWs were intraoperatively implanted into the resection cavity after achieving maximal resection.

Impacts of low birthweight on kidney development and intergenerational growth of the offspring.

Low birthweight (LBW) increases the risk of adult-onset diseases, including kidney diseases, with intergenerational consequences; however, the underlying mechanisms and effective interventions are unclear. To examine the cross-generational effects of LBW, we established an LBW mouse model through reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) and investigated the therapeutic potential of tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, on LBW-associated consequences. RUPP-pups (R1) had lower fetal and birth weights, delayed renal development, and fewer glomeruli than Sham-pups.

In vivo dynamic migration of the posterior interosseous nerve across various elbow and forearm positions.

Background: The posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) is at risk of iatrogenic nerve injury during elbow surgery when using a lateral or posterolateral approach. Results of cadaveric studies indicated that maintaining forearm pronation throughout the surgery can help move the PIN away from the surgical window. However, in vivo dynamic migration of the PIN in response to changes in the elbow and forearm position is unclear.

Raman Spectroscopic Algorithms for Assessing Virulence in Oral Candidiasis: The Fight-or-Flight Response.

This study aimed to test the effectiveness of Raman spectroscopy in the characterization of the degrees of physiological stress and virulence in clinical swab samples collected from patients affected by oral candidiasis. Raman experiments were conducted on a series of eight isolates, both in an as-collected state and after biofilm purification followed by 3 days of culture. The outputs were matched to optical microscopy observations and the results of conventional chromogenic medium assays.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of a Newly Proposed Criteria for Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Background/objectives: Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder traditionally diagnosed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria in 1998. Recently, Hermann et al. proposed updated diagnostic criteria incorporating advanced biomarkers to enhance early detection of sCJD.

Development and accuracy of an artificial intelligence model for predicting the progression of hip osteoarthritis using plain radiographs and clinical data: a retrospective study.

Background: Predicting the progression of hip osteoarthritis (OA) remains challenging, and no reliable predictive method has been established. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict hip OA progression via plain radiographs and patient data and to determine its accuracy.

Methods: This retrospective study utilized anteroposterior pelvic radiographs of consecutive patients with hip OA who underwent primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty.

Changes in Municipal-Level Social Capital and Socioeconomic Inequalities in Sports Group Participation and Walking Time Among Older Adults.

Background: This study aimed to examine trends in socioeconomic inequalities in sports group participation and daily walking time among older adults in Japan from 2016 to 2019, and to elucidate the association of municipal-level social capital in these trends.

Methods: Using data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study across 2 waves (2016 and 2019), this repeated cross-sectional ecological study included 50 municipalities with 102,575 and 94,022 participants, respectively. We investigated inequalities in sports group participation, and daily walking time by income and education, using the slope index of inequality and relative index of inequality with municipal-level social capital variables, such as civic participation, reciprocity, social cohesion, and social network.

Association Between Direct Oral Anticoagulant Score and Bleeding Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) Score can predict bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation taking DOACs; however, it lacks external validation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between the DOAC Score and bleeding events in patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Methods And Results: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement, as registered in a Japanese multicenter registry.

Evaluation of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum by examining depressive symptoms and self-harm ideation during the early postpartum period: Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum, using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) total score and its subitem regarding self-harm ideation (SHI) at 1 month postpartum.

Methods: A sample of 12,358 postpartum women answered the EPDS and questionaries at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum longitudinally.

Results: For participants with postpartum depression (PPD; EPDS total score ≥9) and SHI (SHI sub-score ≥1) at 1 month postpartum, the risk of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] at 6 and 12 months postpartum: 20.

Effects of speech tracking method using hearing aids for hearing disorder in older people.

Objectives: Speech tracking is defined as a complex act or task of listening in which the learner tracks the speech heard and repeats it as accurately as possible while paying attention to incoming contextual information. This ability involves auditory input, speech output, repetition, and divided attention. In this small-scale study, we aimed to use a speech-tracking method to train older adults with hearing loss and examine its effects on hearing loss from multiple perspectives, including hearing handicap, frailty, and neuropsychological testing.

Phase II Trial of Pathology-based Tripartite Treatment Stratification for Patients with CNS Germ Cell Tumors: A Long-term Follow-up Study.

Background: A previous Phase II clinical trial, conducted from 1995 to 2003, evaluated CNS germ cell tumors (GCTs) using a three-group treatment stratification based on histopathology. The primary objective of the study was to assess the long-term efficacy of standardized treatment regimens, while the secondary objective focused on identifying associated long-term complications.

Methods: Total 228 patients were classified into three groups for treatment: germinoma (n=161), intermediate prognosis (n=38), and poor prognosis (n=28), excluding one mature teratoma case.

Real-World Experience of 3-Year Treatment With Dupilumab: Significant Decrease in Circulating Neutrophils and Eosinophils in Japanese Patients With Atopic Dermatitis.

Dupilumab, an anti-interleukin (IL)-4 receptor α-antibody, was approved in 2018 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in Japan. Although real-world data have accumulated on the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in patients with AD in the short term, real-world data on its long-term use are limited. In this study, we retrospectively investigated its effectiveness, safety and laboratory data in patients with AD who received dupilumab for 3 years.

Differences in the effects of exercise on blood pressure depending on the physical condition of the subject and the type of exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, the control of blood pressure (BP) is insufficient worldwide. Exercise is an effective treatment for reducing BP, but the differences in the blood pressure lowering effects of exercise according to the underlying pathophysiological condition, the type of exercise, and the geographic region are not fully understood. An umbrella review with a meta-analysis of 435 randomized controlled trials that investigated the BP-lowering effects of exercise was performed using Ovid MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library, covering the period from inception to August 1, 2023.

Estimating influenza vaccine effectiveness among older adults using an integrated administrative database and the implications of potential bias: A population-based cohort study in Japan.

Background: Japan lacks an established framework for routine seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (SIVE) assessment at the national and municipal levels. This study aimed to estimate SIVE among older adults using an innovative population-based administrative database linking medical fee claims data with vaccination records, while also exploring its potential bias.

Methods: In this retrospective population-based cohort study, we assessed SIVE against medically attended influenza during the 2017/18 season among older adults aged ≥65 years in a Japanese city.

Improving Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty Through Target Endpoint Optimization With Pressure Catheter and Angiographic Lung Perfusion.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has exhibited substantial progress in the management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, nearly one-half of the patients with CTEPH experience persistent pulmonary hypertension after undergoing BPA, emphasizing the need for enhanced therapies.

Objectives: The authors sought to investigate the clinical significance of functional assessment-guided dilation of the pulmonary artery (PA) in patients with CTEPH undergoing BPA treatment.