Comparisons of echocardiographic findings of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units before and after the omicron variant propagation.

Purpose: Few investigational reports have evaluated the status of cardiovascular manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the Omicron dominance period. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cardiac function parameters and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 before and after the Omicron variant (OV) propagation.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 88 adult patients with COVID-19 who underwent clinically indicated standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in intensive care wards.

Usefulness of pemafibrate for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with hypertriglyceridemia.

Aim Of The Study: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a pathological condition associated with inflammation owing to fat deposition in the liver. Managing hypertriglyceridemia is essential for patients with NAFLD, including treatment with pemafibrate. However, whether pemafibrate affects fat deposition in the liver and whether hypertriglyceridemia is the primary treatment target remain unclear.

Association of Baseline Mitral Valve Area With Procedural and Clinical Outcomes of Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Insights From the OCEAN-Mitral Registry.

Background: A small mitral valve area (MVA) is one of the challenging anatomies for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation, but the relationship between baseline MVA and clinical outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association of baseline MVA with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TEER with MitraClip from the OCEAN-Mitral registry (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention-Mitral).

Methods: A total of 1768 patients undergoing TEER were divided into 3 groups according to baseline MVA: group 1: <4.

Alginate vs. Hyaluronic Acid as Carriers for Nucleus Pulposus Cells: A Study on Regenerative Outcomes in Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a leading cause of chronic low back pain, affecting millions globally. Regenerative medicine, particularly cell-based therapies, presents a promising therapeutic strategy. This study evaluates the comparative efficacy of two biomaterials-hyaluronic acid (HA) and alginate-as carriers for nucleus pulposus (NP) cell transplantation in a beagle model of induced disc degeneration.

In vivo functional significance of direct physical interaction between Period and Cryptochrome in mammalian circadian rhythm generation.

In the current model, the auto-negative feedback action of Period (Per) and Cryptochrome (Cry) on their own transcription is the hallmark mechanism driving cell-autonomous circadian rhythms. Although this model likely makes sense even if Per and Cry undertake this action in a mutually independent manner, many studies have suggested the functional significance of direct physical interaction between Per and Cry. However, even though the interaction is a biochemical process that pertains to the fundamentals of the circadian oscillator, its in vivo contribution to circadian rhythm generation remains undefined.

Atomoxetine-Induced Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Crisis Managed With Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Pheochromocytoma and paragangliomas (PPGLs) crises can be triggered by various factors, including norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which worsen symptoms in patients with PPGLs. Therefore, attention should be paid to the potential for serious adverse reactions in patients with PPGLs taking ADHD medications. A 21-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute onset of severe respiratory and circulatory failure after initiating atomoxetine treatment.

Delayed development of the inferior mesenteric vein in human fetuses.

Background: The superior mesenteric vein appears as a fusion between irregularly-shaped slits of the midgut mesentery tissue at 5-6 weeks. In contrast, there might be no report when and how the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) develops. We aimed to find the human initial IMV.

Impact of smoking on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in human and mice: Implications for COPD.

We aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by the gut microbiota following smoking exposure and their role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. SCFA concentrations were measured in human plasma, comparing non-smokers (n = 6) and smokers (n = 12). Using a mouse COPD model induced by cigarette smoke exposure or elastase-induced emphysema, we modulated SCFA levels through dietary interventions and antibiotics to evaluate their effects on inflammation and alveolar destruction.

Estimating the probability of multiple incidences of the same cancer type in a single workplace.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the probability of observing 2 cases of the same cancer type in a workplace with 300 employees, to help investigation of occupational cancer.

Methods: We assumed a workplace where chemicals are handled, employing 300 males aged 15 to 64, with an age distribution standardized to Japan's population from 2016 to 2019. Using national cancer statistics for newly diagnosed cases among males in this age range and period, we calculated the expected number of cancer cases for the workplace over a 1- and 10-year period.

Nephrotic syndrome induces the upregulation of cell proliferation-related genes in tubular cells in mice.

Background: Massive proteinuria, dyslipidemia, and hypoalbuminemia induced by nephrotic syndrome (NS) secondarily affect tubular cells. We conducted an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis using a mouse model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis to clarify the impact of NS on tubular cells.

Methods: We used transgenic mice expressing hCD25 in podocytes (Nep25) to induce NS by injecting human CD25-specific immunotoxin (LMB2) at a dose of 0.

Early progressive disease within 2 years in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant astrocytoma may indicate radiation necrosis.

Background: Isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant astrocytoma without cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B (CDKN2A/B) homozygous deletion typically follows a slow clinical course. However, some cases show early progression on magnetic resonance imaging, and these characteristics remain under-reported. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant astrocytoma showing early progression on magnetic resonance imaging.

Is Intraoperative Blood Loss Volume in Elderly Cervical Spine Injury Surgery Greater in Patients with Ankylosis? A Multicenter Survey.

Introduction: Preoperative estimations of blood loss are important when planning surgery for cervical spine injuries in older adults. The association between ankylosis and blood loss in perioperative management is of particular interest. This multicenter database review aimed to evaluate the impact of ankylosis on surgical blood loss volume in elderly patients with cervical spine injury.

Efficacy and safety of mosunetuzumab monotherapy for Japanese patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma: FLMOON-1.

Background: In a global phase I/II study (GO29781; NCT02500407), single-agent mosunetuzumab had a manageable safety profile and induced durable complete responses in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including in patients with R/R follicular lymphoma (FL). In this analysis, the efficacy and safety of mosunetuzumab monotherapy were evaluated in an expansion cohort, FLMOON-1, in Japanese patients with R/R FL who had received  ≥ 2 prior lines of therapy in a phase I study (JO40295, jRCT2080223801).

Methods: Mosunetuzumab was administered intravenously at the recommended phase II dose (with cycle 1 step-up dosing) for eight cycles or up to 17 cycles, or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Prolonged severe cytopenia followed by fatal CAR T-cell-mediated encephalitis in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome usually occurs within the first four weeks of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. In addition, prolonged cytopenia is a long-term adverse effect following the use of CAR T-cell therapies. Here, we present a case of prolonged severe cytopenia followed by fatal CAR T-cell-mediated encephalitis.

Establishment of a surveillance program for anal cancer in Crohn's disease.

This letter discusses the incidence of anal cancer among Crohn's disease (CD)-related malignancies. Patients with CD have been demonstrated to be at a higher risk of developing small bowel and colorectal cancers than healthy individuals. Although CD-associated anal cancer is relatively rare, patients with CD accompanied by anal or perianal lesions are at increased risk of anal cancer.

Identification of the Novel Allele HLA-C*04:535 by Next-Generation Sequencing.

The novel HLA-C*04:535 allele differs from HLA-C*04:01:01:01 by two substitutions in exon 3 and 3'UTR.

Impact of Angiographically Detected Residual Trabeculation After Left Atrial Appendage Closure Using the WATCHMAN Device: Insight From the OCEAN-LAAC Registry.

Background: Research on the impact of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is limited.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and clinical implications of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after LAAC using the WATCHMAN device.

Methods: We analyzed 1350 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing LAAC using the WATCHMAN device from the OCEAN-LAAC registry, which is a prospective ongoing, multicenter Japanese registry.