Eye lens dose in spine surgeons during myelography procedures: a dosimetry study.

To determine the eye lens dose (3 mm dose equivalent [Hp(3)]) received by spine surgeons during myelography and evaluate the effectiveness of radiation-protective glasses and x-ray tube system positioning in reducing radiation exposure. This study included spine surgeons who performed myelography using over- or under-table x-ray tube systems. Hp(3) was measured for each examination using a radio-photoluminescence glass dosimeter (GD-352M) mounted on radiation-protective glass.

Occupational radiation dose on the hand of assisting medical staff in diagnostic CT scans.

Chronic radiation exposure increases the risk of skin damage of medical personnel engaged in radiology. However, hand dose measurements in computed tomography (CT) for diagnostic purposes have not been evaluated. The occupational radiation dose to the hands of CT assistants was herein investigated to evaluate its compliance with the equivalent dose limit for the hand (500 mSv/year).

Anti-survival motor neuron complex antibodies as a novel biomarker for pulmonary arterial hypertension and interstitial lung disease in mixed connective tissue disease.

Objective: The presence of anti-U1 RNP antibodies (Abs) is critical for diagnosing MCTD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical relevance of anti-survival motor neuron (SMN) complex Abs, which often coexist with anti-U1 RNP Abs.

Methods: A total of 158 newly diagnosed consecutive cases of SLE, SSc or MCTD with anti-U1 RNP Abs were enrolled in this multicentre observational study between April 2014 and August 2022.

Effect of the personality traits of healthy Japanese workers on depressive symptoms and social adaptation, and on the achievement rate of exercise therapy to prevent major depression.

Background: This study determined the effects of personality traits on depressive symptoms and social adaptation in healthy workers, and the effects of depressive symptoms or social adaptation before and after exercise therapy, and personality traits before exercise therapy on the achievement rates of exercise therapy aimed at preventing major depression.

Methods: Two hundred fifty healthy Japanese workers were given an eight-week walking program as exercise therapy. After excluding 35 participants who had dropped or provided incomplete information, 215 were included in the analysis.

An elderly man with mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) without neuropsychiatric sequelae.

Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is less common in the elderly, and most have some sequelae. However, even in the elderly, MERS may have a good prognosis, and a specific treatment is not always required.

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Nelfinavir in Patients with Mild COVID-19.

Nelfinavir, an orally administered inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus protease, inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) . We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of nelfinavir in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included unvaccinated asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic adult patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within 3 days before enrollment.

Image-quality characteristics in the longitudinal direction from different image-reconstruction algorithms during single-rotation volume acquisition on head computed tomography: A phantom study.

Background: A multi detector computed tomography (CT) scanner with wide-area coverage enables whole-brain volumetric scanning in a single rotation.

Purpose: To investigate variations in image-quality characteristics in the longitudinal direction for different image-reconstruction algorithms and strengths with phantoms.

Material And Methods: Single-rotation volume scans were performed on a 320-row multidetector CT volume scanner using three types of phantoms.

Left atrial function and not volume predicts mid-to-late atrial fibrillation after mitral valve repair.

Objectives: Patients undergoing surgical mitral valve repair (MVr) for degenerative mitral regurgitation are at risk of even late postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial (LA) function has been shown superior to LA volume in evaluating the risk of AF in diverse cardiac conditions. We therefore investigated the prognostic value of LA function and volume in predicting mid-to-late postoperative AF after MVr (>30 days postoperatively).

Endoscopic Technique to Remove Endobutton After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Suture button-based femoral cortical suspension constructs of anterior cruciate ligament grafts may facilitate fast and secure fixation. The necessity of Endobutton removal is controversial. Many current surgical techniques do not allow direct visualization of the Endobutton(s), making it challenging to remove; the buttons are fully flipped without soft tissue interposition between the Endobutton and femur.

The protein kinase R modifies gut physiology to limit colitis.

Here we investigate the function of the innate immune molecule protein kinase R (PKR) in intestinal inflammation. To model a colitogenic role of PKR, we determine the physiological response to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) of wild-type and two transgenic mice strains mutated to express either a kinase-dead PKR or to ablate expression of the kinase. These experiments recognize kinase-dependent and -independent protection from DSS-induced weight loss and inflammation, against a kinase-dependent increase in the susceptibility to DSS-induced injury.

Receptor for Hyaluronic Acid-mediated Motility (RHAMM) Is Associated With Prostate Cancer Migration and Poor Prognosis.

Background/aim: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a large glycosaminoglycan composed of an extracellular matrix. The HA-rich microenvironment and receptors of HA have been suggested to play roles in cancer progression. The biological and clinical significance of receptor for HA-mediated motility (RHAMM), known as CD168 in prostate cancer (PC) remains unknown.

Reduced homovanillic acid, SDF-1α and SCGF-β levels in cerebrospinal fluid are related to depressive states in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: This study aimed to seek a new method of evaluation and surrogate markers for diffuse neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE).

Methods: We enrolled 44 patients with SLE between 2017 and 2020 who fulfilled at least one of three specific inclusion criteria: high disease activity, abnormal findings (cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] examination, brain MRI, or electroencephalography), or history of neuropsychiatric illness. Psychiatric symptom rating scales (PSYRATS) were evaluated retrospectively.

The effects of telecommuting and family cohabiting situation on psychological distress in Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether telecommuting's impact on psychological distress differed depending on the status of workers' cohabiting family members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We collected data from 33 302 workers in Japan through an Internet survey, and included 27 036 valid responses in the analysis. The survey included items on family cohabitation and telecommuting status during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled study of the efficacy and safety of favipiravir and nafamostat mesilate in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nafamostat combined with favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel assignment study in hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were randomly assigned to receive favipiravir alone (n = 24) or nafamostat with favipiravir (n = 21).

The Effect of Pre-Operative Verbal Confirmation for Interventional Radiology Physicians on Their Use of Personal Dosimeters and Personal Protective Equipment.

Interventional radiology (IR) physicians must be equipped with personal passive dosimeters and personal protective equipment (PPE); however, they are inconsistently used. Therefore, we aimed to explore practical measures to increase PPE usage and ascertain whether these measures could lead to an actual decrease in exposure doses to IR physicians. Dosimeters and PPE were visually inspected.

Differences in the microbiota of oral rinse, lesion, and normal site samples from patients with mucosal abnormalities on the tongue.

The oral microbiota associated with mucosal diseases, including oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders, have been extensively analyzed at the phylum and genus levels. However, the details of the oral microbiota remain unclear at the species and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) levels. We aimed to determine differences in the microbiota of oral rinse, lesion and normal site swab samples of patients with mucosal abnormalities on the tongues.

Potential link between high FIB-4 score and chronic kidney disease in metabolically healthy men.

Although the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been well known, it is unclear whether Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score is a predictor of CKD development. We performed this retrospective cohort study, with a longitudinal analysis of 5-year follow-up data from Japanese annual health check-ups. Participants with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 60 mL/min/1.

Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors for the Incidence and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in the Healthy Young and Middle-Aged Population.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) increased by 88% from 1990 to 2016. Age of onset of lifestyle-related diseases (such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia), which are risk factors for incident CKD, is lower now compared with the past. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the risk factors for the incidence and progression of CKD in the young and middle-aged population.

Impact of Interferon-Free Direct-Acting Antivirals on the Incidence of Extrahepatic Malignancies in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Background: The incidence of extrahepatic malignancies (EHMs) after hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication by interferon (IFN)-based and IFN-free direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment remains unclear.

Aims: The aim was to evaluate the cumulative incidence of EHMs diagnosed for the first time after the antiviral treatments.

Methods: We analyzed a total 527 patients with chronic HCV infection and without prior history of any malignancies who achieved sustained virological response by antiviral treatments, including IFN-based (n = 242) or IFN-free DAAs (n = 285).

CONTRIBUTION OF ORGAN-BASED TUBE CURRENT MODULATION TO THE REDUCTION OF LENS EXPOSURE DOSE IN HEAD 4D CT IMAGING: A PHANTOM STUDY.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of organ effect modulation (OEM) in reducing the lens dose in 4D computed tomography (CT) of the head in volume-acquisition (NVA) mode. Six radiophotoluminescent dosemeters were placed on the head of a RANDO phantom. The doses absorbed by the organs and image noise change rate were determined.