Research on blood donation and supply of red blood cell products to medical institutions under the spread of COVID-19 disease in Japan.

Due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus infectious disease (COVID-19), blood donation events had to be cancelled, and there were concerns about a decrease in the number of blood donors from late February 2020 in Japan. The purpose of this study is to investigate the numbers of whole blood donation, manufacture and inventory adjustment of red blood cell (RBC) products at the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), and to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on the donation of blood and the supply of RBC products to medical institutions for transfusion medicine in Japan. We focused on RBC products, which are the most frequently used blood products and are easily reflected under the spread of COVID-19.

Utility of Free Fibula Flap With an Extended Banana-shaped Skin Paddle for Oro-mandibular Reconstructions.

The free fibula flap is a common technique for mandibular bone defects. However, its limited skin paddle is disadvantageous in cases with significant soft-tissue defects. A free fibula dual-skin paddle flap is used for medium-sized soft-tissue defects.

Robust circulating microRNA signature for the diagnosis and early detection of pancreatobiliary cancer.

Background: A new circulating biomarker superior to carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is needed for diagnosing pancreatobiliary cancer (PBca). The aim of this study was to identify serum microRNA (miRNA) signatures comprising reproducible and disease-related miRNAs.

Methods: This multicenter study involved patients with treatment-naïve PBca and healthy participants.

Renal anemia and hyporesponsiveness to ESA for preservation of residual kidney function in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Preservation of residual kidney function (RKF) is important in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). We aimed to examine the association between anemia management and residual urine output using data from a nationwide survey of dialysis patients. After excluding patients with anuria at baseline from the Total cohort of 2,712, 659 of 1,640 patients developed anuria during a median follow-up of 2.

A Systematic Literature Review on the Burden of Disease for Patients With Moderate to Severe Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: A vast amount of literature is available on the burden of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Yet, most information on AIS burden does not stratify by stroke severity, and the inclusion of mild strokes (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale < 5) might obscure the true impact of moderate-to-severe AIS. Therefore, it is important to understand the literature as it pertains to the epidemiological, clinical, humanistic, and economic burden of moderate-to-severe AIS from a global perspective.

A Longitudinal Study on Parent-Infant Rest-Activity Rhythms Using Actigraphy From Late Pregnancy to Eight Months After Birth.

Circadian rhythms develop from an ultradian to a circadian rhythm during a few months in the early human life stage. One of the strong factors in promoting the development of circadian rhythms during infancy is maternal rest-activity rhythms. However, few studies have examined comparing the rest-activity rhythms of parents and infants.

Increased Non-Relapse Mortality in Older People With Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Using Fludarabine and Myeloablative Dose of Busulfan-Based Regimen.

Fludarabine and myeloablative busulfan (FluBu4) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for older people have not been adequately examined. This retrospective study analyzed data from a large-scale, nationwide database in Japan. Adult patients (> 15 years old, y/o) who received their first HSCT with FluBu4 for hematological malignancies were included.

Longitudinal associations of flare and damage accrual in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of organ damage (damage) and flare and to examine longitudinal associations between flares and subsequent damage accrual, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Patients enrolled in the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration cohort with ≥3 years of prospectively captured data were studied. Flares were assessed at routine visits, while damage ((Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology) Damage Index) was assessed annually.

Anesthesia management for cesarean delivery in patients with an arterial switch operation: a single center case series (2015-2023).

Background: Arterial switch operation (ASO) for dextro-transposition of the great arteries was developed four decades ago, and women with ASO have reached childbearing age. Although over 40% of the pregnant women who received ASO gave birth via cesarean delivery, detailed information about anesthesia management has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate anesthesia and perioperative outcomes in pregnant women with ASO undergoing cesarean delivery.

2024 Update of the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis - secondary publication.

Objectives: To update the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (CPG for RA).

Methods: The recommendations were developed based on the evidence published until the end of June 2022 using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). The steering committee, CPG panel, systematic review (SR) group, and SR support team were organised.

Impact of prolonged QTc interval on mortality risk with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: The association between corrected QT (QTc) interval and life-threatening cardiac events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unclear. This study sought to investigate whether the prolonged QTc was associated with HCM-related death in patients with HCM.

Methods: We included 445 patients with HCM (mean age 51 ± 16 years, 67% men).

Effects of digital-based interventions on the outcomes of the eligibility criteria for sarcopenia in healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: While the digital-based interventions targeting older adults to prevent age-related health problems such as sarcopenia have grown rapidly in recent years, there are no meta-analyses indicating synthesized pooled estimates.

Objective: To examine the effects of digital-based interventions on sarcopenia-related measures, including physical performance and muscle mass, in healthy community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Systematic searches were performed on MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for eligible studies published up to 31 March 2023.

The impact of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with left-sided resectable pancreatic cancer: an international multicenter study.

Background: Left-sided pancreatic cancer is associated with worse overall survival (OS) compared with right-sided pancreatic cancer. Although neoadjuvant therapy is currently seen as not effective in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC), current randomized trials included mostly patients with right-sided RPC. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between neoadjuvant therapy and OS in patients with left-sided RPC compared with upfront surgery.

A Comparative Review of the Terms Epipharyngitis and Nasopharyngitis in Medical Literature.

This review explores the usage of the term "epipharyngitis" in medical literature, particularly in non-English-speaking contexts. The term, although rarely used in contemporary English-language medical literature, may lead to confusion due to its overlap with more commonly used terms like "nasopharyngitis." This review aims to trace the origins of the term, analyze its usage across different languages, and discuss the implications of term differences in clinical practice and medical education.

Morphology and functionality in biomimetic cultured meat produced from various cellular origins.

Alternative meat production technologies offer the potential to alleviate many of the ethical, environmental, and public health concerns associated with conventional meat production. Cultured meat produced using cell culture technology promises to become a viable alternative to animal-raised meat for the future of the food industry. The process of cultured meat production relies on cell sources harvested from livestock such as bovine, swine, and chicken.

Machine learning validation of a simple prediction model for the correlation between advanced age and clinical outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Adverse effects of advanced age and poor initial neurological status on outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have been documented. While a predictive model of the non-linear correlation between advanced age and clinical outcome has been reported, no previous model has been validated. Therefore, we created a prediction model of the non-linear correlation between advanced age and clinical outcome by machine learning and validated it using a separate cohort.

Maternal asthma imprints fetal lung ILC2s via glucocorticoid signaling leading to worsened allergic airway inflammation in murine adult offspring.

The root of asthma can be linked to early life, with prenatal environments influencing risk. We investigate the effects of maternal asthma on the offspring's lungs during fetal and adult life. Adult offspring of asthmatic mothers show an increase in lung group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) number and function with allergen-induced lung inflammation.

Association between Mortality and Time Spent Out of Bed in Older-Adult Nursing Home Residents.

Objectives: For older adults, spending time out of bed is important for preventing functional decline, but its relationship to mortality is not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between mortality and time spent out of bed in Japanese older-adult nursing home residents.

Design: We conducted a cohort study using data from the Long-term Care Information System for Evidence database.

Treatment of facial reactive B-cell rich lymphoid proliferation with dapsone.

Reactive B-cell rich lymphoid proliferation (rB-LP), once called pseudolymphoma, is a benign lymphoproliferative disorder, which is histologically characterized by dense dermal infiltrate forming reactive germinal centers with tingible body macrophages. The disease frequently involves the face, scalp, and ear lobes. Treatment includes topical or intralesional steroids, surgical resection, ultraviolet therapy, laser treatment, and radiation therapy.

Release of apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) from pentameric IgM in serum predicts prognosis after hemodialysis initiation.

Background: The optimal timing for initiating dialysis and prognostic markers in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are under debate, with mortality and cardiovascular risks varying among patients. This study investigates whether the apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM), which is mostly bound to pentameric IgM, could serve as an effective indicator.

Methods: We prospectively followed 423 patients at dialysis initiation and 563 at various CKD stages.