Randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of forest walking compared to urban walking in enhancing mucosal immunity.

Scientific research on forest therapy's preventive medical and mental health effects has advanced, but the need for clear evidence for practical applications remains. We conducted an unblinded randomized controlled trial involving healthy men aged 40-70 to compare the physiological and psychological effects of forest and urban walking. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to either the forest or urban group, with 78 completing 90-min walks and analysis.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with chondroblastoma undergoing surgery with various adjuvant procedures: a retrospective study of 59 cases.

Background: Chondroblastoma is classified as a benign bone tumor. However, postoperative local recurrence remains a concern. We analyzed the factors contributing to chondroblastoma local recurrence and the clinical challenges associated with treating these patients.

A case of Staphylococcus saprophyticus bacteremia caused by obstructive pyelonephritis.

Herein, we present the case of a 64-year-old woman diagnosed with left calculous pyelonephritis. Gram-positive cocci in clusters were isolated from two sets of her blood culture. These cocci were later identified as Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Coronary Artery Calcification on Chest Computed Tomography as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Adverse Events in Patients With COVID-19 - A Multicenter Retrospective Study in Japan.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) detected through chest computed tomography (CT) strongly predicts cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals undergoing primary prevention. Few studies with limited sample sizes have investigated the predictive value of CAC for cardiovascular complications in COVID-19. This study examined the impact of CAC on cardiovascular complications using a large-scale COVID-19 database.

Role of risk alleles in the pathogenesis of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of severe irreversible blindness worldwide in the elderly population. AMD is a multifactorial disease mainly caused by advanced age, environmental factors, and genetic variations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have strongly supported the link between locus on chromosome 10q26 and AMD development, encompassing multiple variants, rs10490924 (c.

Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Atezolizumab for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Japan: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis.

Atezolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), was used in a phase III clinical trial, i.e., the OAK trial, of previously treated patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Genetic landscape in undiagnosed patients with syndromic hearing loss revealed by whole exome sequencing and phenotype similarity search.

There are hundreds of rare syndromic diseases involving hearing loss, many of which are not targeted for clinical genetic testing. We systematically explored the genetic causes of undiagnosed syndromic hearing loss using a combination of whole exome sequencing (WES) and a phenotype similarity search system called PubCaseFinder. Fifty-five families with syndromic hearing loss of unknown cause were analyzed using WES after prescreening of several deafness genes depending on patient clinical features.

Bortezomib With High-dose Melphalan Conditioning Regimen in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients: Long-term Follow-up.

Background/aim: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard strategy after induction therapy for newly diagnosed transplant-eligible multiple myeloma. High-dose melphalan (HDM) conditioning has been the recommended treatment regimen for a long time. No other conditioning regimen has been proven safer and more effective.

An open-label, randomized, controlled trial on the benefit of β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate, l-arginine, l-glutamine combination beverages and locomotion training as supportive care for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using lenvatinib: A pilot study (HELLO study).

Introduction: Hand-foot-skin reaction (HFSR) is the most common side effect of multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Sarcopenia has been reported to be a poor prognostic factor for HCC. Here, we performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the efficacy of a β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate/l-arginine/l-glutamine (HMB/Arg/Gln) beverage and locomotion training as supportive care in the treatment of uHCC with lenvatinib.

A homozygous structural variant of is frequently associated with achromatopsia in Japanese patients with IRD.

Purpose: Achromatopsia (ACHM) is an early-onset cone dysfunction caused by 5 genes with cone-specific functions (, , , and ) and by , a transcription factor with ubiquitous expression. To improve the relatively low variant detection ratio in these genes in a cohort of exome-sequenced Japanese patients with inherited retinal diseases (IRD), we performed genome sequencing to detect structural variants and intronic variants in patients with ACHM.

Methods: Genome sequencing of 10 ACHM pedigrees was performed after exome sequencing.

Association Between the Development of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Blood NAD Levels.

Background: Hearing loss prevalence increases with age, affecting over 25% of the global population aged 60 years or older. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the development of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and the blood levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).

Methods: A single-center, observational study was conducted at Kawagoe Otology Institute in Japan.

Auditory agnosia progressing to cortical deafness. Long-term follow up of a one-year-old child to age 37.

Background: There are two types of central auditory disorders due to pathology of the bilateral auditory cortices in adult patients: with residual hearing; with total hearing loss. However, long-term changes of hearing acuity over physical development time are unknown.

Objective: The aim of this case report was to illustrate the pathophysiology of auditory changes in a 1 year-3 months old child who was diagnosed with auditory agnosia as a sequel of herpes encephalitis and later developed cortical deafness during a 36-year follow-up.

Effect of basic activities of daily living independence on home discharge and long-term outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) experience impairments in functional status, primarily affecting basic activities of daily living (ADL). We investigated the independent effect of functional status for ADL on patient-centered outcomes (i.e.

A cross-sectional study of anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome at a Japanese emergency department.

Background: Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is the most common cause of abdominal wall pain. This study aimed to clarify the proportion of ACNES cases among those of abdominal pain and the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the disease in an emergency department (ED) of a Japanese general hospital.

Methods: The medical records of patients from January 2014 to December 2023 were reviewed, and patients aged 15 years or older with abdominal pain with positivity for Carnett's sign, a good response to trigger point injection (TPI), and an ACNES diagnosis were included.

The characteristics of general practitioners and geriatricians who take overall responsibility for the care of older patients with multimorbidity.

Background: Older patients with multimorbidity often seek care from multiple health care providers and visit several medical institutions. Having a primary care provider who takes overall responsibility for their care may be beneficial. We conducted a survey to identify the characteristics of general practitioners and geriatricians who frequently assume such responsibility for older patients with multimorbidity.

Comparison of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate to Calcium Polystyrene Sulfonate for Acute Hyperkalemia Among Hospitalized Elderly Patients.

Background Our aim was to investigate the effect of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) on acute hyperkalemia in hospitalized elderly patients. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted. All consecutive patients aged 65 years or older who were hospitalized in our hospital between January 2020 and September 2023 were screened.

Ten-Year Outcomes of a Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial (SHIP0804) With 3-Month Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Prior to I-Seed Transperineal Prostate Brachytherapy Followed by Nil Versus 9-Month Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy in Patients With Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: To analyze the effects of adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) on time to event after neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and I-transperineal prostate brachytherapy (TPPB), compared with neoadjuvant ADT and TPPB only, in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPC).

Methods And Materials: In this multicenter, open-label, phase 3 randomized controlled trial (SHIP0804), 421 patients with IRPC were randomly assigned to either 9-month AHT (AHT arm) or no AHT (non-AHT arm) after 3 months of neoadjuvant ADT and TPPB. The primary endpoint was biochemical progression-free survival, and secondary endpoints included overall survival and clinical progression-free survival.

Osteosynthesis using Scorpion plate for neer type V distal clavicle fracture.

Background: Neer type V distal clavicle fractures are considered the most unstable fracture type and are characterized by the disruption of continuity between the coracoclavicular (C-C) ligaments and proximal or distal bone fragments. However, owing to the rarity of such fractures, there is currently no universally accepted surgical procedure for their treatment. Recently, the scorpion plate, an anatomical, non-locking, pre-contoured plate with two grasping arms to fix the distal or inferior clavicular fragments, was introduced.

Survey of Citizens' Preferences for Combined Contact Tracing App Features During a Pandemic: Conjoint Analysis.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased need for novel solutions such as digital contact tracing apps to mitigate virus spread became apparent. These apps have the potential to enhance public health initiatives through timely contact tracing and infection rate reduction. However, public and academic scrutiny has emerged around the adoption and use of these apps due to privacy concerns.

Investigating Microperimetric Features in Bietti Crystalline Dystrophy Patients: A Cross-Sectional Longitudinal Study in a Large Cohort.

Purpose: To assess the clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) with a focus on potential of microperimetry in monitoring macular function.

Methods: A total of 208 genetically-confirmed BCD patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients were categorized into subgroups based on their fundus characteristics (fovea sparing and fovea involved), optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings (presence/absence of retinal pigment epithelium [RPE] or ellipsoid zone [EZ] line at the fovea/parafovea), and genetic profiles (Mis/Mis, Tru/Mis, Tru/Tru).