Labial adhesions due to vulvovaginal lichen planus suspected to be caused by angiotensin II receptor blocker.

Introduction: Lichenoid drug eruption, induced by gold or cardiovascular drugs, is one of the causes of lichen planus, and vulvovaginal erosive lichen planus can cause labial adhesions. However, few studies have focused on drugs as a cause of labial adhesions.

Case Presentation: We encountered a 78-year-old woman with labial adhesions, vulvodynia, and itching of the vulva.

Postmortem genetic diagnosis of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome: Identification through normal kidney tissues after surgical removal.

Introduction: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by germline mutations in the gene and is associated with poor prognosis of aggressive renal cancer.

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old man presented with asymptomatic gross hematuria and was diagnosed with a right renal tumor, cT3aN1M0. He underwent open radical nephrectomy, and pathological examination revealed papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Suppressive role of fukutin on cell proliferation in uterine cervical carcinoma in relation to Aurora-A kinase.

, the gene responsible for Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), is involved in the glycosylation of α-dystroglycan (α-DG). On the other hand, fukutin is expressed in various organs, and the roles of fukutin in non-neuromuscular tissues are not fully elucidated. In the present immunohistochemical study of uterine cervical carcinoma, Ki-67-positive cells tended to be more in areas showing weaker expression of fukutin.

Overexpression of plasmalemmal vesicle-associated protein-1 in patient with cyanotic nephropathy: a case report.

Background: Cyanotic nephropathy (CN) is a known complication of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). However, many aspects of its pathophysiology remain unclear.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 29-year-old male with a history of tetralogy of Fallot.

Clinical features by disease duration in ulcerative colitis-associated cancers.

Aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a known contributor to the development of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), although the exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. CAC typically presents as a flat type macroscopically and manifests histologically as mucinous carcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma. While the relationship between disease duration and chronic inflammation has been studied, the impact of disease duration on CAC outcomes has yet to be thoroughly investigated.

Analysis of SMN protein in umbilical cord blood and postnatal peripheral blood of neonates with SMA: a rationale for prompt treatment initiation to prevent SMA development.

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe genetic neuromuscular disease caused by insufficient functional survival motor neuron protein (SMN). The SMN expression level in the spinal cord is highest during the 2nd trimester of the foetal period. We previously reported the SMN spot analysis in peripheral blood using imaging flow cytometry (IFC) as a biomarker of functional SMN protein expression.

The relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant epidemic and acute myocardial infarction: A self-controlled case series study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to various complications, including cardiovascular events. Despite the widespread impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant in 2022, no studies have evaluated the relationship between the Omicron variant epidemic and acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: We utilized a Japanese claims database to identify patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.

Effect of basic-fibroblast growth factor on tympanic membrane perforation in a mouse model of blast injury.

Background: Tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) caused by blast injury result in poor TMP closure and pathological regeneration of the tympanic membrane (TM). TM regeneration therapy using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has demonstrated good outcomes for chronic otitis media.

Aims/objectives: To investigate the efficacy of bFGF treatment in the management of blast-induced TMP.

Association between bed-rest time, food intake, and constipation in older nursing home residents.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the associations between bed-rest time and food intake and between bed-rest time and constipation in older nursing home residents.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Long-term Care Information System for Evidence (LIFE) database. We used data collected from older nursing home residents registered in the LIFE database between April 2022 and March 2023.

Effect of administration and withdrawal of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, tofogliflozin, on renal protection in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy: A multicenter, single-arm study (RESTORE-nephropathy study).

Aims/introduction: The mechanisms of the renoprotective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of tofogliflozin on urinary albumin by administration, withdrawal, and re-administration.

Materials And Methods: Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and stage 2 or 3 diabetic nephropathy were enrolled.

A Case of Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Grade V Traumatic Pancreatic Injury in an Elderly Patient.

Traumatic pancreatic injury is a rare condition, but cases involving main pancreatic duct injury often require surgical intervention and are associated with high mortality rates. Recently, two-stage surgical approaches, with initial damage control surgery followed by delayed pancreatic resection and reconstruction, have been increasingly reported. However, we argue that not all cases need a two-stage approach; instead, surgical strategies should be tailored based on the patient's vital signs.

Frequency and Determinants of Flare and Persistently Active Disease in a Large Multinational Prospective Lupus Cohort.

Objective: In contrast to relapsing-remitting patterns, persistently active disease (PAD) is a disease activity pattern in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that is inadequately studied. We sought to identify the frequency and determinants of flare and PAD in SLE.

Methods: Flare was defined using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI flare index), and PAD was defined as an SLEDAI-2K score of ≥4, excluding serology only, on two or more consecutive visits with a maximum six-month interval.

A cohort study in HigAshi-nippon of Pulmonary hyPertensIoN in systEmic SclerosiS (HAPPINESS study): protocol and baseline data for an observational study.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is the leading cause of death among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Recently, early therapeutic intervention to improve the prognosis was suggested, and the definition of PH was recently revised by lowering the cut-off value of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) from ≥ 25 to > 20 mmHg. However, the optimal threshold for therapeutic intervention remains unclear.

Urinary prostaglandin D and E metabolites are elevated with disease severity in patients with Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy.

Treatment approaches are lacking for Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), the second most common type of pediatric muscular dystrophy after Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the Japanese population. Recent studies demonstrating the involvement of prostaglandin (PG) D in DMD progression has led to the development of novel inhibitors targeting hematopoietic PGD synthase. This study aimed to determine the role of PGD in FCMD etiology in 42 patients with FCMD and 77 healthy age-matched individuals.

A comparison of the diagnostic ability of 1-mm computed tomography and 3-mm magnetic resonance imaging for detecting lateral pelvic lymph node metastases from rectal cancer.

Aim: The best modality for evaluating lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastases from rectal cancer remains unclear. This study compared the diagnostic ability of 1-mm computed tomography (CT) and 3-mm magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying LPLN metastases based on size.

Methods: This observational study analyzed not individual patients but 191 sides from 100 rectal cancer patients without preoperative treatment for whom preoperative CT and MRI and corresponding pathological results for LPLNs were available.

Mortality and Predictive Factors for Death Following the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective, Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

The aim of this study was to determine mortality and predictive factors for death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed with and without interstitial lung disease (ILD). We retrospectively performed a long-term follow-up study of patients diagnosed with RA at our medical center between April 2001 and June 2023. The diagnosis and classification of ILD were made based on pulmonary high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), taken at RA diagnosis and during follow-up.

Development of a Dedicated X-Ray Fluoroscopic Apparatus for Therapeutic Pancreatobiliary Endoscopy: A Review.

In recent years, pancreaticobiliary endoscopy (PBE) has evolved to include a wide range of endoscopic procedures used to treat various diseases. Several interventional endoscopic ultrasonography procedures have been developed for conditions that cannot be treated with conventional endoscopic methods. As PBE continues to advance, it is crucial to improve fluoroscopic systems to enhance image quality, ensure patient safety, reduce radiation exposure, and ensure the operation of video-recording systems.

Effective cell sheet preparation using thermoresponsive polymer brushes with various graft densities and chain lengths.

Various cell sheets have been used as effective and useful cellular tissues in tissue engineering and regenerative therapy. Poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-modified surfaces have been investigated for effective cell sheet preparation. In this study, the effective PNIPAAm graft density and chain length of PNIPAAm brushes for various cell types were investigated.

The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2024.

The 2024 revised edition of the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock (J-SSCG 2024) is published by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. This is the fourth revision since the first edition was published in 2012. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist healthcare providers in making appropriate decisions in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock, leading to improved patient outcomes.

Investigation of the Usefulness of Hanger and Retention Bag and Double Suture Hanger Technique in Preventing Tumor Spillage During Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgery for Mature Cystic Teratoma.

Since the laparoscopic surgical technique and quality for ovarian cystectomy largely depend on the primary surgeon, we investigated the usefulness and feasibility of the hanger and retention bag (HRB) and double suture hanger technique (DSHT) as surgical maneuvers to prevent ovarian tumor spillage, minimizing reliance on the surgeon's skill to the greatest extent possible. HRB and DSHT present several advantages. First, requiring only a retrieval bag and suture, HRB and DSHT are feasible, simple, and cost-effective, and can be performed at any facility with endoscopic surgical equipment.

Development of iPSC-derived FIX-secreting hepatocyte sheet as a novel treatment tool for hemophilia B treatment.

Background: Hemophilia B is an inherited disorder caused by a mutation in the FIX gene, which results in insufficient blood clotting factor IX (FIX) production from hepatocytes. Currently, there are no treatments for hemophilia B patients. The patients should be continuously administrated with clotting factor concentrates 2-3 times a month to prevent bleeding.